“How deep do you like it?” Jucai slipped it further in.
“No further than that.”
Jucai jerked the spoon out, and before I could miss it, his cock filled me. I almost wished the shell was open, so I could watch the sea while we had sex, but then I remembered the wall in my guest suite. That would be better. More space and more privacy.
The King grabbed my hips and sped up. The shell shook, the coral glowed, and the plates rattled. I didn't care. Ecstasy had taken over, running up and down my spine to turn me wanton. I stroked myself with more enthusiasm so that when Jucai locked up against me, I came with him, spilling all over the pretty pink bench.
Panting, we shuddered together—Jucai bent over me with his chest pressed to my back. After one last sigh, he angled his head to kiss my cheek and straightened. His flesh slid free of me, and I struggled to pull up my pants.
Jucai helped me, his hands sliding over my ass as he moved them away. I sat up and pulled on my tunic.
As he fastened his pants, he smirked. “Now, who's the sex-crazed maniac?
I grinned back. “Still you.”
He raised an eyebrow. “I guess Land Dragons aren't as virile as Sea Dragons.”
Instead of rising to the bait, I used diplomacy. “As you like, Your Majesty.”
Jucai shoved the lever to open the booth.
Chapter Seven
After breakfast, Jucai gave me a tour of Kansu. Bigger than Zaru, the city had a park, an amphitheater for performances, a racing track (for enormous crustaceans), schools for basic education and trades, a hospital, a compound for his soldiers, and a public library. Jucai was polite but distant during the tour. It annoyed me, but I couldn't complain. I knew he'd take it as a sign that I wanted more attention. And attention, by Jucai’s definition, would be fucking.
Like a beast hunting prey, the Sea King watched me even as he remained aloof. One misstep and he would pounce. I didn't like feeling hunted. Some men do. Not me. I preferred to be the hunter. I teased. I flirted. I lured. Running was not in my nature. I'd have to end things with Jucai or find another way to hunt.
Now, that was an interesting thought. Two predators hunting each other. A lot of men hated mind games, but that was only because they were bad at them. I excelled at mental manipulation. I just needed to figure out what I wanted. What was my goal?
Sex, of course. I wanted that from my first sight of Jucai. I would have been perfectly fine with just sex. If we were any other two people, I would have gone to his bedroom every night and left after we were both satisfied. No complications. No getting to know each other. I wouldn't have called him my lover, though.
Dragons on land saw sex as a foundation for a relationship. Not just because of our mating magic, but also because it made sense. We preferred to discover if we were sexually compatible before we moved on to the stuff that could lead to a lasting relationship. If you're not sexually compatible, there's no point in continuing as anything more than friends.
I, however, was not interested in finding my mate, not yet, nor was I looking for a lasting relationship. So, as I said, just sex would have been wonderful. But we weren't two courtiers in a Dragon court. He was a sea king, and I was a diplomat on a mission to his court to learn about him and his people in the hopes that our kingdoms might become allies or at least friendly enough to establish trade.
We needed to do more than fuck. When Jucai asked for a degree of commitment from me, albeit temporary, I assumed we would talk as well as fuck. But I was wrong. He simply wanted me at his beck and call. As much as I loved having sex with him, and would have happily spent the week doing only that, we both had jobs to do. He said we were lovers, calling it a great honor. Well, a lover requires conversation, and a diplomat needs it even more.
So, here we were—the Sea King throwing a royal fit, and me trying to figure out how to have my king and eat him too.
Perhaps this was my fault. I had set the course of our relationship by having sex with Jucai within minutes of meeting him. But that’s normal for Dragons. After Jucai's eager response, I assumed it was the same for Sea Dragons. Maybe I was wrong. Or maybe it was different for a Sea Dragon King. Had he made assumptions too? Of course, he had. It was why we were having problems.
I'd been clear that our relationship was temporary. At least the sexual aspects of it. We'd probably have dealings in the future, but they'd be purely diplomatic. So, I was being honest with him. I couldn't fuck him, act as if I were falling in love, and then abruptly leave. Not that I would do that to anyone, but I was especially trying to be honest with Jucai so there would be no hurt feelings in the future.
The problem wasn't that either of us was being deceitful. I believed he was being as honest with me as I was with him. The problem was that our honesty only confused each other. Or worse, we offended each other without meaning to. But I was a diplomat, and I knew how to handle a misunderstanding. I also knew how to handle men. I just needed a plan.
The goal was to have fun hunting a king while letting him hunt me in return, all while fulfilling my diplomatic duties.
Sex didn't sway Jucai. Having two harems probably made him immune to sexual manipulation. Honestly, I was the same way. Sex is just sex until you add emotions to it. I wouldn't let it influence me either. But if I met someone who seduced my mind, exciting me with more than his body, that would have an influence on me. I assumed it would be the same for Jucai. I wanted to influence him into becoming an ally for my king, but I didn't want him to get attached. That could be catastrophic.
What would the Sea King be like in love? Even more possessive and controlling, no doubt. Jucai would see love as eternal ownership, nothing temporary about it. Could he even be faithful? Truly faithful, not his type of faithful. Not likely. He'd see his slaves as property, and conclude that fucking them wouldn't be cheating. I couldn't imagine anyone or anything keeping this horny bastard committed, not even a mate. Lovewould make King Jucai even more unbearable. So, I had to foster his interest without fostering love.
This will be a lot of work. Easier to just end it and focus on my job.
Even as the thought entered my mind, Jucai turned to smile at me and direct my attention to a path that led down to the lake. When we arrived at the park, I told him I hoped it had a lake. A lake under the sea—I'd love to see that. Jucai had smirked and led me here. And there it was, shining under the fake sunlight of the city towers. And there Jucai was, looking amazing as he proudly shared it with me. Seeing him there, I knew I couldn't walk away from him yet. If I left Kansu without thoroughly enjoying the Sea King, I'd regret it for the rest of my immortal life.
I don't have regrets. Besides that, if I ended things between us, Jucai would be furious, and that would sour any relationship between our kingdoms.
Dear Gods, it's only been a day, and this has already gotten so complicated!
