Chapter Four

I always sleep lightly. It's something you learn when you're part of a ship's crew. That and to sleep anywhere. But laying beside King Vaxarion made me restless on top of that lightness. I kept waking to listen to the sound of his breathing and feel his arm still slung tightly around me. It was hard to slip out of that embrace when dawn arrived. One of the hardest things I've ever done. As I tucked the blanket around the Sea King, he sighed, and it made my chest ache.

Shaking my head at this odd sense of need and familiarity, I determinedly turned away and gathered my clothes. I got dressed as I watched Vaxarion, telling myself that I didn't want to wake him. But I knew it was simply my need to make as many memories of the Sea King as possible. At last, I was dressed and couldn't put it off any longer. I slipped out of the bedroom.

One of his guards stood outside the bedroom door. He lifted a brow at me, and I nodded at him. There was another Sea Dragon outside the suite's main door. He opened it for me as soon as I touched the handle.

"Thanks," I said. "And good morning."

"Good morning," he said. "Well done in lasting that long."

I chuckled, nearly telling him I could have lasted far longer. His King had invited me on their tour of land kingdoms. The thought put another ache in my chest, but I ignored it and focused on the pride it brought me. Vaxarion really liked me. King Vaxarion—a man accustomed to having an army of bed slaves attend to his every desire. He had wanted me to go with him. If I had, he may have even kept me awhile.

If only I was the kind of man who wouldn't balk at sharing. I mean, I didn't demand a relationship from my lovers. But if I couldn't take other lovers—which I'm certain would have been the case with the Sea King—then I wouldn't want to share him either. That's just fair.

Not that a pirate cared much about fairness, but still.

I knew I'd made the right decision. If I already felt so attached to him, I'd be clingy by the time we headed back to the sea. And then I'd do anything to keep him. I might even put up with him taking other lovers. Nope. I wouldn't allow myself to become that man. It was better to part ways now and return to the ship with a great story.

I grinned broader and put some swagger into my stride. It had been a grand night, and I would think about it for the rest of my life. I had a feeling I'd be imagining the Sea King whenever I had sex in the future. And not just because he was handsome. The man was also funny. He had a wit as sharp as a cutlass and could fuck with the strength and unending vigor of the sea. Oh, and the things we had done together. To each other. On each other. I liked a man who was inventive in bed.

I reached the front of the castle and paused, worried that the guards might stop me. But they only nodded at me when I passed by. I had nearly done a little looting on my way out, but I decided it wasn't worth the risk. If I got caught, it wouldn't be just me who got in trouble. King Vaxarion would be drawn into it, and so would the crew. Nope, wasn't worth it. Especially not if I had to face King Lyrandir. I had a feeling he was a no-mercy kind of guy.

Shops were just starting to open as I made my way through the city on foot. The sun rose quickly, warming me enough that I could ignore the chill in my chest. Yeah, I'd be pining for the Sea King for a while. But that was better than losing all my self-worth to him. Or all of myself.

"Damn," I muttered. "Why'd he have to ask me to join him?"

It was a huge compliment that he had, but it made leaving him even more difficult. Memories of the night before kept circling. I think the most erotic, despite all the unique positions he'd put me in (Water Magic has its perks), was that of him going down on me the second time. I had lain on my back and he sprawled across me to languidly feast. I'll never forget the way he groaned and his eyes closed in bliss as he moved up and down my length. His lips had been as tight as a fist, and his glorious hair draped my thighs. I had to use all of my control not to come in three seconds.

I shook my head to clear it and stopped at a bakery that had just opened. The scent of sugar and baked bread made me moan as deeply as the Sea King had. My stomach rumbled. Maybe I should have stayed for breakfast, but I knew it was easier this way. He would have tried to convince me to stay, and I don't know how long my will would have held out against his.

"Good morning, sir!" the baker said as I walked in.

He didn't even flinch at my ensemble, and that made me grin. I loved people who didn't judge me by my looks. I mean, yeah, it was probably an accurate assessment, but still.

"Good morning," I said to him as I pulled out my coin pouch. "It all looks wonderful. What's your favorite?"

The baker beamed at me. "The almond moons. They're flaky, buttery, and filled with sweet almond paste."

"Then I'll try one of those, please. And do you have anything filled with cream? I love a cream filling." I smirked at him.

He chuckled, proving I was right to like him. "I do indeed. Would you prefer something fried or baked? And chocolate, vanilla, cherry, lemon, or strawberry cream?"

"Dear Gods!" I exclaimed. "I think I've just fallen in love with you."

The man burst out laughing—a booming sound that shook the chill right out of me. This was life. This freedom to stroll into a bakery and laugh with a stranger, then eat all the sweets I wanted. I doubted that I'd be so free if I had gone with the Sea King. No, he would have ruled my life because that's what kings do. And I would have let him because my cock would have insisted on it.

"I'll take a chocolate fried, a strawberry baked, and whatever you recommend for the third option."

"Yes, sir!" The baker started popping pastries in a little box. "I think you'll very much enjoy a lemon cream fried cake along with these other flavors. It's filled with vanilla cream but topped with lemon curd."

"Yum! How much do I owe you?"

"A copper apiece, but since you bought so many, the almond moon is a gift."

I bowed to him. "Thank you for your generosity. It will not be forgotten."

"You're very welcome, sir." He handed me the box, and I handed him three coppers. "Are you a merchant?"

"I am indeed," I said as I fished out the almond moon. "I'm from the Lu-Ken."

"Ah! I've heard of your vessel. Very reputable indeed. And here I thought you might be a pirate." He winked at me.

"And yet, you didn't balk at my patronage?" I lifted a brow, then bit into the moon . . . and groaned. "Oh, fuck! This is fabulous!"

The baker laughed. "Thank you. And no, I don't mind pirates. As long as they don't steal from me. And you know what? I've never known of a pirate who steals baked goods."

I chuckled. "I think they would if you started exporting these things."

He laughed again, that same soul-lifting laugh. "Thank you. You've made my day."

"And you've brightened mine." I waved the almond moon at him as I left.

Happier than I had been before, I strolled through the city, eating my breakfast as I went. People thought Neraky only ate raw seafood, but we eat any type of food. Some of us—and by "some" I mean me—especially loved sweets. I could eat them all day. And a good sweet could make me feel sweet.

I hummed a tune as I continued to eat. But then I came into view of the Lu-Ken. There was activity all over the deck. Activity like that could only mean one thing—we were pulling anchor. After only a day in port. The Captain must have gotten wind of a target.

I shoved the rest of my lemon cake into my mouth and ran for the gangplank.

"There he is!" someone shouted.

I waved as I got aboard. "I'm here!"

Whatever the Captain was after must have been a big target indeed because as soon as I was on deck, someone pulled the plank and stowed it. I hurried to my cabin to change and hide the remaining pastries from the crew. By the time I got back up to the main deck, we were already moving. I didn't have time to pine for the Sea King and lament the fact that I was sailing away from him. I had to help with the rigging.

But several minutes later, I did lift my head and stare back toward land, all three of my hearts racing. I could have sworn I had heard the roar of a dragon.