“Isn’t always that easy though, is it?” Shadows danced in that silver and green gaze, the words a double edged sword. Itisn’talways easy, even if you care for the person. That I knew all too well. There were things he could never tell Kairen for the same reasons I couldn’t tell him my secrets.
I hummed thoughtfully as we walked, passing Taven at the wheel and beneath Malika who sat high above in the bird's nest of the ship. They were the only other two out for the night and neither seemed too concerned with what Roan or I were doing. It was clear we hadin fact earned a semblance of trust aboard the ship.
We rested against the bow, the spray of saltwater misting over us with each dip over the waves we travelled. It was so utterly darkupon the sea at night I could hardly see the water just below, the only light coming from the moon and glittering stars high above. I turned, arms crossing as I relaxed and took in the man before me.
His eyes were closed, head tilted back slightly as his hand rested over the edge, feeling the spray of water against his open palm. He looked so utterly at ease and I wondered in that moment if his blessed magic was singing to him as he once told me it did. How loud was it out here with water surrounding us for miles on all sides? Was it a hissing melody as my shadows were, or was it one of happiness?
“What life would you choose if you could?” My question came unprompted, breath stilling when his eyes opened and settled on me. There was a heaviness to them, not exactly narrowed, but relaxed. A euphoria that the ocean brought him as though he was high on the saltwater itself. His smile was lazy, carefree.
“What do you mean?”
My own head rolled back, muscles easing as I took in the stars above, a little smile playing upon my lips. “If you could do anything,beanything—what would you choose?”
“I think I would do exactly this.”
I glanced at him, taking in the sharpness of his jaw, the rough stubble that covered it, as he gazed out into the darkness. His hands flexed as he gripped the siding. “Antoni wasn’t wrong, being on a ship does feel freeing. Nothing but the ocean and the next adventure that awaits you. I think I would enjoy a life like that, a life of travel and the sea.”
My breath released into a soft laugh. “It does suit you. A Captain of a ship rather than the KingsGuard, far more fitting I'd say.”
“What about you?” His head turned, catching my eyes on him with a raised brow. I flushed, fighting the heat that rose as I tapped a finger playfully against my chin.
“I think a life at sea is what I would choose too.”
“A woman born to earth and fire wishes to make a life upon the open water?” He stepped closer, my breath catching as his hand reached for me, his fingers brushing against my cheek. The caress was soft and gentle and before I could will myself to break the contact, I was leaning into the touch, a path of heat travelling across my jaw as his finger trailed down to my chin, tilting my head to look up at him. Desire danced in the depths of his eyes, a challenge swirling in the silver of stars and the deep viridian of forests. “If I could haveanylife then, could it be aboard a ship with you? I think we’d make a rather good team in a crew, don’t you?”
My voice was breathless. “I’m not sure a ship could handle us both. Besides, the rivalry adds to the allure, don’t you think? Two captains fighting to take over the open water.”
His laugh was wicked, lost to the ocean air. “Who said I had to be captain, little menace? You’d be far better suited and you’re already excellent at getting me to follow orders.”
“My first mate then, if you could handle the demotion?” A little grin curved my lips as his hand moved from my chin to lightly hold my throat. He leaned closer, breath ghosting across my lips.
“Would you like me on my knees when I swear my allegiance? Just say the word.”
A small noise lodged in the back of my throat, my insides coiling and heating deep within. A desire I had never known pooling and overflowing the longer I met his gaze. My eyes trailed to his lips, soft with the corners tilting into the smirk that was so infuriatingly handsome. Would it truly be so bad to just give in? He said my secrets didn’t matter, that they wouldn’t change anything.
My hand lifted, my touch light as my nails ghosted across his shoulder. The muscles rippled with a shudder at that single touch, as thoughhe was restraining himself, allowing me to have all the control in this situation. He was offering me all the power.
A low growl sounded, a curse quick to follow as the hand at my throat tightened. The hold was light, but he pulled me closer as his body tensed, voice low as his lips brushed my ear, lightning running through my veins at the husky timbre. “My soul is already destined for the Nine Hells when this life is over, never will I rest in the Kingdom of the Goddesses. I’ve done so many things I could never repent for, but when I’m with you? I feel as if I’ve already found my salvation. As if knowing the taste of your lips could warm the frozen tortures of Dedrio. As if hearing the sound of my name upon your lips could light the dark pits of Yeov. As though the pleasure you could take would cool the scorched deserts of Javir.”
His thumb brushed across my lips, eyes searching mine. “Let me know when you wish for this game we’ve been playing to end. Goddesses be damned, I would be but a man at the altar of your feet for whatever years I have left. Your heart my religion, your soul my sacred texts, your body mine to worship.”
All of the anxieties that had been plaguing my mind emptied as those words washed over me. The image ofhowexactly he planned to worship my body crowded every dark corner, every thought. His hands moved to my hips, his hold light as my heart raced, as though he were giving me every opportunity to back away. Every opportunity to reject him once more.
But Goddess, I didn’t want to, I really didn’t.
“On your knees you said?” The words were a shaky exhale, said around desire and nerves all rolled into one. His answering smile was one of pure seduction as he slowly tightened the grip he had around my hips, fingers digging into flesh as he easily lifted me onto the bow of the ship and sank to his knees before me.
The spray of cold water as the ship rolled and dove into another wave had a gasp slipping from my lips, the frigid droplets such a contrast to the heat that flamed through my core at such a devastating sight.
His grip stayed firm on the curves of my body, the only thing keeping me from tumbling back into the water and being lost to the ocean. A position that required just as much trust as the pride he willingly sacrificed. He stared up at me, arms resting against my thighs, head tilting as my breath quickened.
A look of utter innocence fell over his face. “Was that a question or a command? I may have gotten confused.”
Perhaps I would have laughed. Perhaps I would have found the obvious teasing amusing, maybe I would have even thrown back an equally flirtatious remark if thosewordsweren’t echoing through my mind.
Your heart my religion, your soul my sacred texts, your body mine to worship.
Perhaps I wouldn’t have given in if the sight of him on his knees before me wasn’t the most delicious thing I had ever laid eyes upon. If the feel of his hands on my hips didn’t send sparks of flame through my veins to light every nerve ending into a blazing inferno of desire.
