She pressed herself against him, feeling his hot breath on her lips.
I honor you with my body.
“Sitamun,” Femi murmured.
In the thousands and thousands of times someone had spoken her name, no one had ever said it quite like that.
I honor you with pleasure.
She slid her fingers across his jawbone, through his short-cropped hair, around to the nape of his neck. And then she kissed him. He lingered there, tasting her and rumbling with approval.
“So sweet,” he murmured, and pulled her toward him once more.
She smiled into his mouth and breathed him in, all salt andheat and longing.
I honor you with my whole self.
I honor you.
I—
An amused chuckle severed the moment like a blade. Sita jerked back from the embrace.
“Mery!” she gasped. “What are you doing?”
Her brother leaned in the cabin door, his face half-cloaked in shadow, a lotus cup in his hand. He took a long drink from it and smiled innocently. “What? You’re not the only one who likes to watch.”
Sita felt the blood drain from her face. She swallowed, feeling naked again and not in a good way.
Femi had taken several steps from her and glanced between them, his face filled with barely disguised terror.
“I apologize, my prince,” he said to Mery, bowing his head. “Forgive me, I—”
Mery waved a hand at him dismissively. “I don’t concern myself with my sister’s toys. Particularly when I have so many of my own. You don’t think me greedy, do you, soldier?”
“Of course not, my prince.”
Mery strolled past Sita toward the guard. “I am, in fact, immeasurably generous, am I not?” He trailed one elegant finger along Femi’s bare shoulder.
The guard stood rigid, his eyes downcast. “Yes, my prince.” A bead of sweat trickled down his temple to his throat.
“Mm,” Mery said, as if he were tasting a sweet and deciding whether it was worth eating. “Good. Now get out of my sight.”
It was almost imperceptible, but Sita saw Femi’s body sag with relief. He chanced one last look at her—half regret, half apology—before hurrying out of the cabin and back into the crowd.
Sita wrapped her arms around herself, embarrassed andshaking with anger.
“How could you?” she demanded. “Humiliating me like that? Youknowhow much tonight meant to me, and youstillthought it funny to—”
Mery scoffed. “You humiliateyourself, chasing common beasts. Not that I don’t see the appeal of him.” He stepped close to her, his fingers twisting in her hair. “In fact, I quite enjoyed seeing you get what you wanted. In a way, it’s almost like watching myself.” He tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “You know how much I love getting what I want.”
Sita recoiled, swatting his hand away. “You’re drunk.”
“So. Are. You.” Mery tapped her on the nose to punctuate each word. “Why else would you throw yourself at one of the guards?”
“I don’t interfere in your dalliances,” Sita shot back, trying to keep her feet under her as the boat swayed in the water. Or was it her head that was swaying? “What gives you the right to meddle in mine?”
She’d intended to be imperious, but instead sounded like a petulant child.
