Sex had never meant anything to me. Maybe once, when I was young and didn't know better. But I learned fast not to rely on emotions. They changed too quickly. A lover could hold you tenderly in the night and whisper words of love for weeks, even months, and then decide they don't want you anymore. Men got bored. They wanted something new and exciting. Just like the Sea King.
I took a breath. This was just infatuation. It would be fine. By the end of my visit, he'd forget what he'd said to me. He'd go back to his slaves, and I would go home. This was salvageable. In fact, it was great. This was what I'd wanted. If I could hold the Sea King's attention for a little longer, I could encourage him to become an ally of Zaru.
So, how should I play this?
Softening my gaze, I whispered, “It means something to me too.” Perfect delivery. So why was my heart racing again?
“It does?” Jucai stepped closer.
“Yes, of course it does.” I held out my hand, and he took it. “I didn't like it when you walked away from me this morning.”
“Nadar, I left because I was confused.”
“Don't do it again.”
“I won't. Don't flirt with other men again.”
“I wasn't flirting.”
“You appeared to be.”
“All right, because you're so upset, I'll avoid Lahi, but I can't avoid Claw Mahdred. I'm working with him to find the people behind the attack. But I can be more careful with my words around him and refrain from physical contact. Is that acceptable?”
“Yes.”
“And you will do the same?”
“Nadar, I only flirt to seduce, and I'm always successful. So, when I promised you I wouldn't be with anyone, that was included.”
“I see. So that’s why hearing about me smiling at another man upset you. You saw it as a precursor to sex.”
“Yes.”
“I will be mindful of that.” I chuckled and shook my head. “It's been two days, and we've made two sexual agreements, one of which we reconfirmed.”
“It's been nearly three days, and we wouldn't have had to reconfirm our previous agreement if you weren't such a flirt.”
“I am not a flirt!” I cleared my throat. “Not at the moment, anyway, and you can't hold me accountable for the actions of others.”
“Then you can’t hold me accountable for a slave who crawls under the table and sucks my cock?”
“You can tell them to stop.”
Jucai smirked.
I let out a heavy sigh. “Yes, all right, I heard it when I said it. I will tell them to stop. Good?”
“How long will you be visiting my kingdom?”
I went still, surprised by the question. “You know how long. I just said, I'll be there for a week.”
“But we've had to interrupt your visit. I think you should stay longer.”
A shiver went down my spine. I wanted to stay longer, and that scared me. “I might be convinced to add a day.”
“Just a day?” He lifted my hand and kissed it. “Stay another week.”
Damn those beautiful eyes of his!
