DO NOT TELL HIM!the Eye shouted loud enough to make me wince.
“I guess that's an answer,” he whispered.
“No!” I laid my hand on his cheek. “No, that wasn't my answer. It was just a sudden pain in my head.”
“A headache?” Aras frowned. “Do Dragons get those?”
“When we're under extreme amounts of stress, we can.” I waved it away. “Forget about that. Idothink you could be my mate.”
“You do?” His eyes went wide and hopeful.
“Would you want that?” I countered. “Do you know what it would mean? How your life would change?”
Aras frowned as reality intruded. I could feel his hesitation. “I would have to leave the sea?”
“Not permanently,” I hurried to assure him. “But I'd need you with me more than you weren't.”
He stared at me, his expression unreadable.
I started to panic. It had never occurred to me that Aras might reject not me, but the life I offered him. “Aras?”
“We'll figure it out,” he finally said. “If I'm your mate, then we'll figure it out. We'll have to.”
A flood of relief made me go limp. Well, mostly limp.
You might as well tell him with that attitude,the Eye snapped.He'll think he has you wrapped around his little finger. If you recall, the whole point of not telling him he's your mate is to keep him submissive and afraid. He is neither of those things now.
And I don't want him to be!
Then he won't be as motivated to find me!
There are other things that motivate men.
She went silent for a few heartbeats. Long enough for me to kiss Aras and get back to what we were doing before a mouthful of fur distracted us.
I was just about to roll onto my back when she said,Very well. Motivate him as you will. But when it comes time to send Aras after me and he doesn't seem inspired, you had better do whatever it takes to see to his success.
I will,I replied absently.Now, please, give me some privacy.
As if I want to witness this,she huffed and left.
Chapter Seven
“My crew is probably gossiping about us,” Aras said.
“Sailors gossip?” I stroked my hand down his silken stomach.
“Sailors are the worst gossips. They take gossip from one shore to another. It's usually worth at least a drink or two.”
“A drink or two?” I sat up.
“In a tavern.” He sat up too. “People want to know what's going on in other kingdoms and sailors are the best way to find out, especially if you're interested in scandals.”
“Well, they're welcome to talk about us.” I started getting dressed.
“You don't have to leave.”
I grinned at Aras. “Now who's the one with a wild libido?”
