Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 76583 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76583 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
I curl up on the blankets and turn towards him, hands under my cheek. He puts away the water and towels, then approaches the pallet of blankets and joins me on it. I smile when he lies down and faces me. “How’s your leg?”
“Better every day.”
That’s the same answer he gives every time I ask. “I mean right now. Does it hurt?”
“No.” His gaze roams over me. “Do you have regrets?”
“Why would I have regrets?”
His expression turns solemn. “Because now you’re stuck with me.”
I reach out and flick his nose. “Don’t be silly. I’m here because I want to be. Or is this you fishing for compliments? If you are, I am happy to reassure you that the sex was incredible and I want to do all of that over and over again.”
Ranan’s hard mouth curves into a wry smile. He brushes a lock of tangled hair back from my brow. “I am not fishing for compliments. I just…want this to work. It feels too good to be true.”
“You won’t be saying that when I get cranky over eating fish every day,” I joke.
“Yes, I will.”
Gods, he’s making me want to kiss him all over again. Then again, there’s nothing stopping me from doing so. I lean in and press a kiss to his mouth, touching his chin as I do. “Don’t worry so much. I’m happy to be your wife.” I brush my fingers over his jaw and trace the lines of it. “So what happens now? Is this our new home?”
He pauses. “Do you want to stay with the flotilla?”
“I don’t know. Do you?”
“I want what will make you happy.”
By Belara, we’re still dancing around each other’s feelings, aren’t we? I move a little closer to him, until our noses touch and our breaths mingle as we lie down and gaze at each other. “I want us to be honest with each other.”
Ranan thinks for a moment and then says, “My mother would like for us to stay with the flotilla, but I’m not sure I’m ready to abandon Akara. She’s too young to join the flotilla.”
“I don’t want to abandon Akara either,” I tell him. “And I don’t mind going around on her back, but it’s nice to have a permanent home. We can’t stay at the grotto?”
He shakes his head slightly. “Not with a sea dragon in the area. It’ll chase off most of the larger fish—or devour them—and it’ll be dangerous for swimming. But there are plenty of other grottos along the coast. We can pick a new one and make it a home.”
“What about the stuff you have in your old one?” It seems so strange to me to just abandon it. I think of all the statues he has there, the trunks full of goods, the jewelry, the coin, the delicate dishware…
He moves closer, his nose rubbing against mine, as if he just wants to be that much closer to me. “We can retrieve what we need as long as we are quick and stay in the shallower waters. There’s nothing I require from there. If you want anything specific, we can always get it later.”
I consider that, running my fingers along his smooth jaw and stroking his skin. “I suppose we can always get that stuff later. There’s nothing I wanted. It’s just that it seems like a lot of treasure to abandon.”
“No one will find it. The grotto is impossible to access except underwater. It’s safe there.”
True. “And will you continue to rob ships? To pirate?”
He grins at me. “I like doing it. Most of the ships along this coast are merchants or slavers, and I don’t feel bad about robbing them.”
I wouldn’t feel bad about robbing them, either. “Can I help out?”
“It can be dangerous.”
“Not if we’re smart about it.” I tap the tip of his proud nose. “I’ll get some of those sea herbs you mentioned so I don’t conceive until we’re ready and we’ll work together. We can come up with some sort of storyline—that I’m your slave and being forced to help you out. I can do the talking for you so you can just stand there and look scowly and fearsome.”
He’s surprised at my enthusiasm. “You want to do the talking?”
“Yes, because if you ask for another bride, I’m going to pull her hair out.”
Ranan chuckles and then touches my ear. “I have the only bride I want.”
We gaze into each other’s eyes for a long moment, and it feels natural when he leans in and kisses me. Our lips meld, and time slips away, and there’s nothing but my husband and his hungry, tender mouth on mine. He pulls away and rubs his nose against mine once more.
“I still need my fish for Lord Vor,” I whisper.
Ranan groans, and then his hands are on me, tickling.