“But we are lovers. I have the right to touch you. We've established this. I don't understand why you're upset.”
“I know you don't. That's why I'm still here.” When his anger turned to frustration, I went on, “You think sex is a way to be intimate with someone, and you're right. But it's physical intimacy, not mental. It doesn't tell you who I am. Don't get me wrong. It's fine if you don't want to know about me. I'm just saying that we have different views on what makes a lover. You see them as people to have sex with, while I call that fucking around. A lover ranks higher. They're someone you fuck and get to know.”
“We are talking right now, Nadar. Is this not me getting to know you?”
“Yes.” I rolled my eyes. “But we're only talking because I moved your hand.” I shook my head. “I don't want to argue about this. It's fine. I'm not looking for a lasting relationship. We don't have to know more than each other's sexual preferences. But to me, that makes us casual sex partners, not lovers. Again, that's fine, but either way, I'm not going to fuck you in the middle of a restaurant.”
Jucai frowned. “We can lower the cover.” He motioned to the top of the shell.
“For fuck's sake, Jucai. Can't you go without someone sucking your dick for an hour?”
The Sea King drew back, his expression blank. It looked as if he were going to rage at me. But he didn't. His expression turned to confusion. “Yes, but why would I?”
I burst out laughing. “You recall that I'm a diplomat? My job is to tour your city, meet your people, and perhaps negotiate trade agreements between our kingdoms. I can't be bending over for you every ten minutes.”
“Don't be absurd.”
I started to think I had misjudged him.
Then he went on, “I last longer than ten minutes, and then I would need some time to recover, perhaps eat or bathe.” He motioned at the server coming to our table with a glowing tray.
As I gaped at Jucai, our server set several dishes onto our table. Jucai exchanged a few words with the man, and then the server left. All without me making a sound. I shifted my gaze to the food, utterly at a loss for what to say. Honestly, I wouldn't mind spending a day just fucking, but not every day, all day, every week. That would be exhausting, and I had work to do. The only exception would be the settling of a mating bond. But it would be temporary and compelled by magic.
And I was not looking for a mate.
One look at the food shifted my interest. Steam curled up from soft white buns arranged on a bed of crispy kelp. There were packets of delicate egg ribbons wrapped around spiced fish, black rice that smelled of coconut, tiny jewel-colored fruitsfloating in chilled syrup, and translucent slices of something that shimmered silver. Cold platters held thin slices of fish cut and colored to resemble stained glass, and bowls of volcanic salt and sauces filled the space between the dishes.
“Try the moonfish belly.” Jucai pointed at the silver slices, acting as if we hadn't just argued about sex.
I frowned.
He must have thought I frowned about the belly because he said, “Try it before you judge it.”
“Now I'm suspicious. You're pushing the fish too hard.”
Jucai chuckled and picked up a silvery slice of fish to hold to my lips. “We can find physical pleasure with each other without having sex.”
Holding his gaze, I bit the fish and his finger, then sucked his finger clean as I leaned back. Then the taste registered, and I made a surprised sound of delight.
Jucai didn't laugh. He stared at my lips, his hand on the table with his wet finger still extended.
“Great Gods, look at you.” I shook my head.
He cleared his throat. “What do you find fault with now?”
“I'm sorry if it seems as if I'm judging you. I don't mean to.”
Jucai's expression folded into disbelief.
“I only said that because you looked aroused.”
“You sucked on my finger.”
I laughed. “Yes, I was teasing you. It amused me that it took so little to seduce you.”
“Why is that amusing? You are a seductive man.”
“Thank you, but you have two harems full of people who think only about pleasing you. It surprises me that my sucking on your finger would come close to anything they do.”
