“Gone. Likely for good, so what’s the point of searching forsomeone who doesn’t want to be found? I have to face the facts. I got used.”
I hold in my smirk and exchange glances with Althea, who is doing the same.
“That must be so difficult,” I muse. “Knowing you were used.”
He rolls his eyes at me. “I see what you’re doing there, but I never used anyone. All those women were just as happy with the exchange as I was.”
I shrug. “If you say so.”
“Did you see that?!” Zayer cuts in, his eyes wide. “Mama. Look. Arthur’s so fast!”
I shoot upright as does Sebastian, our gazes locked before I turn back to Zayer. My throat clogs, and I can hardly swallow past the emotion I’m overwhelmed with.
“I did, sweetheart,” I manage, my heart swelling with a love I never imagined possible. “Sebastian?—”
“I know. I heard.”
He gathers me in his arms and kisses my temple. Zayer has absolutely no memory of Nora. He was four months old when she died, and I shouldn’t get all riled up over the fact that he called me Mama when Sebastian refers to me as their mother in front of them. I don’t expect the same from Sabrina and definitely not from Phaedra, as her memory of Nora is the clearest, but still, my heart just inflated like a balloon.
I don’t want to replace Nora. That’s impossible. But I want to be the next best thing for them.
It continues from there. The children’s laughter is like music to my ears, the sound filling me with a warmth that seems to chase away the lingering sadness within me. I’m smiling and it’s far from forced. This would make my father so, so happy and that’s what I hold to.
“Your Majesty,” Sebastian whispers into my ear, his breathtickling my neck. “Would you care to join me on the lower sundeck for a bit?”
A flush hits my cheeks as Althea and Rowan exchange knowing grins. “Of course,” I say, trying to be all regal and formal and not fooling anyone for a second.
“Phaedra, Sabrina, and Zayer, you have ten minutes before you have to go inside, get changed for bed, brush your teeth, and put yourselves and your pesky Arthur to sleep,” Sebastian calls out.
“Yes, Papa,” they all respond in unison, but between the staff, Rowan, and Althea, they’re in good hands.
The moment we reach the lower sundeck, the world seems to fall away. The only sounds are the gentle lap of water against the hull and the distant laughter of the children. As Sebastian pulls me into his arms, I melt into him, our bodies pressing together like two pieces of a puzzle finally finding their place. It’s been a while for us. I just haven’t had the desire, and he hasn’t pressed. Not even once.
“Sebastian,” I breathe, my voice barely audible. I have so much I want to say and hardly know where to begin.
“Shh,” he murmurs, pressing a finger to my lips before replacing it with a deep, passionate kiss. Our mouths move together hungrily as if trying to make up for lost time.
“God, I’ve missed this.”
I can’t help but agree, feeling a surge of desire course through me.
Sebastian seems to sense my need, his hands roaming over my body as if he’s trying to relearn every curve and contour. I gasp as his fingers find the clasp at the back of my bikini top, expertly unhooking it.
My hands cover my chest, holding the fabric against my tits. “Out here?”
“The children and everyone else will be inside. Out here, on this side of the boat, it’s just us.”
I gulp at that promise. At the wicked fire burning his eyes.
I step back and undo the string around my neck, letting the bikini top fall. His gaze burns through me, a match to accelerant, and suddenly I’m on fire.
“You’re so beautiful,” he rasps, his eyes drinking me in like a man starved of water.
I turn away from him and crawl onto the sunbed, putting myself on all fours with my ass facing him. My head swivels over my shoulder, and I smirk when I catch him blatantly staring at my ass. An ass I know he wants.
My pussy clenches.
“Your Majesty?” I goad. “Are you just going to stand there taking in the view?”
