“Oryou could stop being so handsy,” James suggested.
“I only have fifty-five more minutes with you, and this is how I want to spend them,” Cassian said.
His lips found James’s neck again. James sighed.
“Selfish bastard, you are,” he said.
“I’m not selfish. How is it selfish for me to have what’s mine?” Cassian retorted.
James couldn’t think of a proper response. Not with his half-formed scene still lingering in his mind, occupying preciousbrain space. Not while Cassian continued to shower him with the nicest little kisses, either. Rolling his eyes, James returned his focus to the page and resumed writing the scene, with Cassian clearly reading along as he scribbled words across the page.
Fifteen minutes later, James finally reached the part where Frederick and the sailor would meet and the sailor was taken prisoner. Before the sailor could be locked away in his cell, Frederick nearly kissed him, fisting the man’s hair and bringing their lips close before suddenly shoving him into the little room. James had the thought that perhaps he’d write the sailor pleasuring himself afterward, but with Cassian still watching, it felt strange to put that part in the notebook. So, James set his pen aside and cracked his knuckles, wondering if he ought to be finished for now instead.
“Why’d you stop?” Cassian asked. “I liked that bit.”
James could practically hear the man’s pout in his tone.
“I think I want to write the next part later. Or tomorrow. Whenever I have some time to myself.”
“But why? I’m not being as lovey now. I’m letting you focus,” Cassian reasoned.
“It’s not that,” James said. “It’s the fact that it’s a—a sensual scene. I was thinking of having the sailor... masturbate. And I feel a little funny writing it while you’re... hovering.”
“Excuse me?” Cassian scoffed. “I have you here with me inmystateroom—which is one of the nicest rooms on the ship, by the way, in case you’ve somehow forgotten—and I’m holding you close, being perfectly pleasant and affectionate, and showing you how much I appreciated the coffee this morning. I’m nothovering.”
Guilt twisted in James’s stomach.
“It’s just that I’ve never written like this before. Cuddling with someone,” he said, softening his tone. “I’ve never even let someone else read something I’ve written unless I’ve had the chance torework it a little. It’s new for me. And I’m still a novice, especially when it comes to the, uhm, the intimacy scenes. I can’t help but worry that you’ll think I’m mediocre if you read them.”
“I could never think that,” Cassian said. He caught James’s chin and forced James to face him as much as was possible in their current positioning. “You arewonderful, James.” James’s face warmed, and Cassian pressed a soft kiss to James’s lips. “Besides, even if youarea novice, your writing won’t improve unless you work at it.”
“Are you implying that it does, in fact, need improving?”
“I’m implying that you ought to seize opportunities to write as they present themselves. Even if it means writing while the man you love ishovering.” He moved to whisper into James’s ear. “I like watching you create, my sweet James. And I want to read along as you write the scene with the sailor thinking of Frederick. Don’t make me beg. Don’t make me be stern, either, which is what I’d be more likely to resort to rather than begging.”
James huffed a light laugh.
“You’dorderme to write it for you?” he asked. “Is that what you’re saying?”
“If I needed to.”
Arousal flared to life in James’s veins, making his blood turn hot and rush to his pelvic region. Rolling his bottom lip between his teeth, he shifted his positioning as his cock began to stiffen. He liked the thought of Cassian ordering him around a little.
“So, will you write it now?” Cassian asked, nuzzling James’s cheek with his nose.
James let out a shuddered breath.
“N-no.”
Cassian pulled back and caught James’s gaze.
“No?” Furrowing his brow, Cassian shook his head. “James, I’m being sweet with you. I was very kind with my request that you continue. Why are you resisting?”
“Because I...” James’s face burned hotter. “Because Iwantyou to order me to write it.”
His heart thudded while he waited for Cassian’s response.
After a pause, Cassian crooked an eyebrow. “You wouldn’t find that humiliating?”
