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Couldn’t Seth see that? Why the hell wasn’t he putting a stop to it? Did he … want that?
It was a relief when dancers spilled into the room and gave Raider something else to focus on. Both male and female, they were dressed only in silk ribbons and glittering, tinkling chains. They whirled into a shimmering, undulating belly dance to the beat of drums.
The sensuality intensified as the dancers began to strip away their ribbons. They twirled each ribbon they removed, incrementally baring themselves until only their chains remained. These shimmered over breasts and cocks, lifting to offer fleeting glimpses as the dancers whirled around one another. Their fingers brushed each other’s asses and throats. Lips offered passing kisses.
Raider couldn’t help but notice the extreme and varied beauty of the dancers. The skin tones ranged from nearly Seth’s fairness to deepest ebony. Some of the women had lush curves and full breasts; others were all light delicacy. The men, too, ranged from slender elegance to rippling power.
Instead of rendering the dance chaotic, the diversity made it all the more harmonious. A brown-skinned beauty lifted her slight, chestnut-toned partner into the arms of an ebony man of lean strength. With her chestnut legs hooked around the dark male’s torso, the slight female arched away from him, back bending to kiss the lips of her initial brown-skinned partner.
It was … fucking beautiful.
When the prince rose from his cushion and took to the floor, others followed, including Malik.
And Seth.
Seth had not wanted to join in the dance with the Sudai, but here he didn’t hesitate. Part of Raider recognized that Seth’s body language and expression were less comfortable than they had been at the campfire dance, but part of him only saw that lack of hesitation.
The diners moved among the almost-nude dancers in a blend of dance and flirtation. Raider watched the mingling until Malik once again touched Seth’s arm with the excuse of getting Seth’s attention. Then Raider looked away.
He didn’t know how much time passed, but suddenly Seth was beside him, reaching down his hand.
“Get up,” Seth commanded.
“I’m keeping watch.”
“You didn’t even see me coming.”
Seth’s hand flexed impatiently, and Raider looked up to see that Seth’s jaw was tight, his eyes intense. With Seth, that could mean anything, but the color deepening across his cheekbones and the darkening of his eyes gave him away.
Raider loved the way Seth looked when he was turned on. All that intensity and power channeled into something carnal and beautiful.
Raider wanted him. He wanted him like he’d never wanted anything in his life.
He took Seth’s hand. Seth pulled him up and into the crowd. A woman with skin of dark honey twirled by them, her chains shimmering in the arcane light, her fingers grazing their arms.
The erotic atmosphere, the tension, and Seth’s sudden nearness had Raider hard—and not entirely happy about it. Seth didn’t touch him, and they didn’t even pretend to dance, both of them standing amid the movement like rocks in a river.
Seth scowled. “You’re in a very strange mood.”
“Do you know my moods that well?”
“I don’t know this one.”
Raider didn’t know this one either, and he wasn’t enjoying it any more than he was enjoying their current location.
“This is unsafe, being here. These people. They want something.”
“I know that,” Seth said.
Raider’s heart twisted. “You do?”
“I need access here. Information. I can get that through—”
“Your new friend? Exactly how far are you willing to go to get that information?”
Seth’s eyes narrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Movement caught Raider’s eye. Malik. Approaching.
