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My heart swelled, and I immediately changed into the outfit. The cotton brushed gently against my skin. I went to the mirror and checked my hair and face. Besides looking a little tired, everything was in place. I undid the messy braids and combed my fingers through my hair until everything was undone and hung in waves across my shoulders.
Grabbing the sides of my dress, I rushed out the door and down the stairs, my heart racing faster than my feet.
Leon stood by the entrance talking with Lily. When he saw me approach, he smiled wide. “Ready?”
I nodded.
He took my hand and pulled me through the doorway and past an angry Lily. She didn’t need to speak; I knew exactly why she glared at me. I promised I would tell Leon the truth and I hadn’t.
But I would.
Outside the brothel stood two white stallions with their manes braided with tiny baby’s breath and yellow flowers.
“Leon . . .”
He stroked the one on the right. “Are you okay riding alone?”
Though I’d much prefer to ride with Leon, I knew how to handle a horse. “Yes.”
I put a foot in the stirrup and grabbed the saddle. Leon placed a hand on my butt and heaved me up. Once I was settled, he climbed on the other horse and led us away. We rode through the town, passing the vivid scenery, and deep into the jungle until we reached a tree village.
Leon slowed down as we trotted to a magnificent wooden structure that resembled a giant open rose, each petal a platform with a netted structure at the very top. A carved winding wooden staircase wound around the tree leading to the flower part.
“What is this place?”
Leon dismounted, then came to help me off the horse. “A very quiet and secluded area that costs quite a bit of coin to rent.”
“But there’s no one else here?”
He reached out to me, and I grabbed his arms to get down. “That’s because I rented the whole village.”
“What? How?”
He smiled. “With that emerald you paid us with.”
“So really,Irented this village then?”
“Aye, love. I guess you did.”
Hand in hand, we walked up the stairs, Leon tugging at my hips and nearly growling anytime I purposefully stopped short. When we reached the top, he opened the door, and the view took my breath away.
Tiny flowers had been carved and painted all along the borders and walls. Hammocks and silk swings hung from the ceiling, and the large round bed had red rose petals all over the fluffy white blanket. Sheer red drapes swung in the breeze from the open walls around the room. A balcony circled this floor and another staircase spiraled up to the second platform where you could probably see the entire island.
A table made from a tree trunk sat in the center with a glass vase of wildflowers, fruit, and a carafe of red wine. Leon poured us a drink while I tried out one of the silk swings. Surprisingly, the orange and yellow fabric held. It molded around me, and I swung back and forth.
Leon grabbed the swing, stopping it. He balanced the two drinks in his other hand. I took one.
“This place is unlike anything I’ve seen before.”
“Glad you like it.” He sipped from the glass flute. The first three buttons of his black shirt were unbuttoned, revealing his muscular frame.
The red wine had a sweet flavor and the perfect hint of plum to accent. Leon had done all this for me.
Holding the drink, I swayed back and forth, eyeing the pirate before me.
He gulped the rest of his drink, gaze on me, and placed the flute on the floor. There were no words needed for the hunger in his darkened gaze. When I moved forward, he grabbed the swing and stepped between my legs.
The swing was high enough off the floor that I was level with his hips.
