“Yes. I gamble with my life all the time.”
“Then again, I ask, what is the problem?”
“I gamble with my life, but never my hearts. I know better.”
“I see,” he said stiffly.
“Be flattered.” I kissed the tip of his nose. “It means that after one night, I'm worried that you could become precious to me.”
“But you can't allow that to happen.”
“Not if I won't be precious to you.”
“You could be.”
“Not enough, Your Majesty. Not nearly enough.”
“Very well, Zixin.” He pulled me in close again. “I understand, and I respect your decision.”
“Thank you.” I snuggled back against him. “I'll still spend the night, if that's all right.”
“I insist, my beautiful pirate. I insist.” The Sea King pulled me into his arms and desire bloomed again between us.
Knowing this would be all we had brought on an almost desperate arousal. From both of us. Our exhaustion vanished, and we spiraled into an even more intense bout of lovemaking.
It was going to be a long night, but I would treasure every second. And pirates don't joke about treasure.
Chapter Four
I always sleep lightly. It's something you learn when you're part of a ship's crew. That and to sleep anywhere. But laying beside King Vaxarion made me restless on top of that lightness. I kept waking to listen to the sound of his breathing and feel his arm still slung tightly around me. It was hard to slip out of that embrace when dawn arrived. One of the hardest things I've ever done. As I tucked the blanket around the Sea King, he sighed, and it made my chest ache.
Shaking my head at this odd sense of need and familiarity, I determinedly turned away and gathered my clothes. I got dressed as I watched Vaxarion, telling myself that I didn't want to wake him. But I knew it was simply my need to make as many memories of the Sea King as possible. At last, I was dressed and couldn't put it off any longer. I slipped out of the bedroom.
One of his guards stood outside the bedroom door. He lifted a brow at me, and I nodded at him. There was another Sea Dragon outside the suite's main door. He opened it for me as soon as I touched the handle.
“Thanks,” I said. “And good morning.”
“Good morning,” he said. “Well done in lasting that long.”
I chuckled, nearly telling him I could have lasted far longer. His King had invited me on their tour of land kingdoms. The thought put another ache in my chest, but I ignored it and focused on the pride it brought me. Vaxarion really liked me. King Vaxarion—a man accustomed to having an army of bed slaves attend to his every desire. He had wanted me to go with him. If I had, he may have even kept me awhile.
If only I was the kind of man who wouldn't balk at sharing. I mean, I didn't demand a relationship from my lovers. But if I couldn't take other lovers—which I'm certain would have been the case with the Sea King—then I wouldn't want to share him either. That's just fair.
Not that a pirate cared much about fairness, but still.
I knew I'd made the right decision. If I already felt so attached to him, I'd be clingy by the time we headed back to the sea. And then I'd do anything to keep him. I might even put up with him taking other lovers. Nope. I wouldn't allow myself to become that man. It was better to part ways now and return to the ship with a great story.
I grinned broader and put some swagger into my stride. It had been a grand night, and I would think about it for the rest of my life. I had a feeling I'd be imagining the Sea King whenever I had sex in the future. And not just because he was handsome. The man was also funny. He had a wit as sharp as a cutlass and could fuck with the strength and unending vigor of the sea. Oh, and the things we had done together. To each other. On each other. I liked a man who was inventive in bed.
I reached the front of the castle and paused, worried that the guards might stop me. But they only nodded at me when I passed by. I had nearly done a little looting on my way out, butI decided it wasn't worth the risk. If I got caught, it wouldn't be just me who got in trouble. King Vaxarion would be drawn into it, and so would the crew. Nope, wasn't worth it. Especially not if I had to face King Lyrandir. I had a feeling he was a no-mercy kind of guy.
Shops were just starting to open as I made my way through the city on foot. The sun rose quickly, warming me enough that I could ignore the chill in my chest. Yeah, I'd be pining for the Sea King for a while. But that was better than losing all my self-worth to him. Or all of myself.
“Damn,” I muttered. “Why'd he have to ask me to join him?”
It was a huge compliment that he had, but it made leaving him even more difficult. Memories of the night before kept circling. I think the most erotic, despite all the unique positions he'd put me in (Water Magic has its perks), was that of him going down on me the second time. I had lain on my back and he sprawled across me to languidly feast. I'll never forget the way he groaned and his eyes closed in bliss as he moved up and down my length. His lips had been as tight as a fist, and his glorious hair draped my thighs. I had to use all of my control not to come in three seconds.
I shook my head to clear it and stopped at a bakery that had just opened. The scent of sugar and baked bread made me moan as deeply as the Sea King had. My stomach rumbled. Maybe I should have stayed for breakfast, but I knew it was easier this way. He would have tried to convince me to stay, and I don't know how long my will would have held out against his.
