It was indeed a risk to carry around that much currency in a place such as Bilgewater, where greedy thugs waited for any opportunity to pounce on a hapless foreigner to plunder handfuls of coin. But as Renzus had already demonstrated on his way here, he was no hapless foreigner. Any Crow was a deadly and proficient adversary, and Renzus was First among them. He was in no great danger here, in the midst of thieves and rogues. The wise knew better than to antagonize him. The foolish would learn the consequences of doing so.
Privately, he wondered just how much Fortune knew about him and his organization. The Crows had never truly invested much efforts into maintaining their influence here in Bilgewater, considering how volatile things could be in the pirate haven. They were content to observe the various corsair gangs as they feuded, only moving to secure Crow-affiliated interests as they passed through the port. If memory served, there was at least one Crow that had taken to life here in Bilgewater, a rare soul that had come to enjoy the fast and dangerous living out on the open seas, while still remaining loyal to the oath.
He couldnât dwell much on that thought, however, as the bounty hunter rose from her seat and brazenly made herself comfortable on his lap, the press of bodies eliciting a reflexive shift of posture from Renzus. Her challenge came twinned with an aggressive closing of distances between them, and even someone as stoic as the First Crow couldnât quite stifle the leap of his heart when Fortune teased him with the gentlest brush of lips.
But he collected himself, and his smile only grew hungrier, half-lidded grey eyes smoldering as they locked their focus on the scarlet-haired womanâs green ones. He wrapped an arm around her waist, his free hand coming to rest on one of her shapely thighs, his voice a low, dangerous growl.Â
âWouldnât have come here if I didnât.â Renzus gave his reply, teasing her in turn with a caress of fingertips against her flank. âAlthough, perhaps youâd like to take thisâŚconversation somewhere with less prying eyes? I believe weâre drawing a few stares. Unless youâre in to that sort of thing.â
She could feel a sort of tension within him, and it seemed that even someone as professional as he was couldnât resist her allure fully. Surely there was a part of him that was fighting this, and fighting her. Most men took sheer pride in being able to deny her, but she always found a way. Like that salty old fool Gangplank, she could sense his resistance to give into her, and his own need to play a game he certainly thought he knew how to play. What he was unaware of was, that she was a master at this game...and she had yet to lose.
She offered him a coy little smile when she felt a protective arm around her waist, and while his other hand had no problem making itself at home it forced a slight blush onto fair colored cheeks, defining the soft freckles on them. Still, her eyes showed a strong defiance of their own reminding him, he wasnât in charge, and heâd never be. She was as wild as the seas that surrounded Bilgewater, and no man could ever hold her down.Â
Her body never left his, if anything she pressed herself closer to him, just to stir him up a bit. So? He thought he could handle her? An amused little smirk graced her lips as she brought her index finger up to his lips. She gently traced her finger on them, and while doing so she licked her own lips in a slow and seductive manner. Her ample chest pressed tightly against his as a low little chuckle escaped her lips. âDonât like being watched?â she cooed in a teasing yet playful tone as she leaned in close once more nudging her nose against his for a moment before pulling away from him completely, getting up and readjusting her blouse just a bit.Â
âWhile we might have made a verbal agreement to the terms I covered,â she said as she reached into her back pocket pulling out a small scroll. âThereâs a matter of a more legal way to make sure you don't double cross me,â she added while offering him a devious little grin. It was back to business as if she had never made that bold move on him a moment ago. She handed him the scroll.Â
âSorry love, but business comes first...pirate, remember?â she said with a chuckle. âIâm sure you donât need full explaining, but thatâs a contract. Youâre free to go over it before you sign it, but before anything takes place Iâve got to protect my interests and that must be signed in blood. When youâre ready to sign it and deal in any sordid affairs that we might engage in thereafter, youâre more than welcome to seek me out on my ship.â she said as she placed her hands on her hips. It wasnât that she didnât want him, if anything she wanted him rather badly. She always sought out those who thought they could resist her, and he seemed like heâd make VERY good company, however, she couldnât give into desire just yet. Business always had to be handled first.
âI trust youâll have no problem finding it, but if you do...just ask for the Syren and youâll be pointed in the right direction,â she said with a smirk as she offered him a tip of her hat and a nod, and turned to walk off. She then paused and looked over her shoulder at him. âOh..and a lady of my caliber likes to be romanced with rum... the best kind,â she added with a wink before strutting out of the tavern making her way back to her ship which had been located not that far off on the Slaughter Docks.Â
The contract she had left him with was simple enough, it simply stated all that she had asked for, declared her part in making sure she would deliver what he asked of her, and the terms should he back out on their deal. If he would ever dare to make a yellow-bellied move and back out or not make due on his promise, that made him her new bounty, and she wouldnât rest until he was behind bars or his head was mounted on her ship. It was a magical scroll already protected by blood magic so there would be no way he could alter the terms within, and once they both signed it theyâd be bound to fulfill the obligations stated inside.Â