Page 5 of Sunken Empire

My hand reaches out to his without my permission. I should be a little more hesitant with these men, but if I can always head back to my room if I want to. Letting Zephyr pull me from the room, I realize that I’m not wearing any shoes. Not a single one of the three Zs were either, so I’m not going to worry about it.

He takes the lead as we walk out into the hallway. Okay, they definitely dropped some serious green for their part of the ship. The carpet underneath my feet is plush and feels like it’s at least three inches deep. I would imagine someone could lay on it and sleep just as well as they could in a bed. It’s a tan color that goes great with the dark navy of the walls. I find it odd that I don’t see any of the standard cruise liner decorations hanging up, but at the price they probably paid, it could have been decorated to their preference. Distracted for a moment from my surroundings, I’d have to be completely blind to not notice the way that Zephyr’s long sandy hair sways across his naked back. The tips stop just above his ass.

When in Rome, right? I take a full thirty seconds to admire his form from the back in tight blue jeans. I am so not ashamed to say that I’d bang him like a storm door in a hurricane. As if my wicked thought spurs his actions, he flicks a devious smile over his shoulder.

Busted.

I bring my brain back into focus just in time to realize that we’re standing outside of a huge study.

As we walk into the book-filled room, I must say I'm impressed. Whoever designed it was a complete and utter genius. Floor to ceiling bookshelves cover three of the four walls. The fourth is a massive aquarium. I don’t know how they manage to do it, but it’s amazing to look out and see schools of colorful fish swimming by. The backdrop in the tank is perfect. It looks as though I’m staring out into the abyss of the ocean.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” a voice whispers in my ear.

Zephyr is still standing to my front, eyes locked on my face as he wears that amusing expression, which means the voice belongs to Zale. The brute wouldn’t speak to me like that.

Sure enough, I see I’m right as I flick a quick glance over my shoulder. His smile is so similar to Zephyr’s, and it’s one that I can’t help but return.

“That it is,” I tell him in awe for a different reason now.

It’s unnerving to realize that any three of these men can turn me into a puddle on the floor with nothing but a smile. Even Zanthus, I’m sure, if he attempted a real smile.

“That’s not even the best one,” a deeper voice says on my other side. Speak of the devil.

Before I can think of some witty but probably ridiculous thing to say back to him, Zale saves me. “Are you hungry?”

The hangover beat all else when I first woke up, but now that it’s dissolving, hunger is quickly taking its place. Zale’s inquiry only brings it to the surface. Then again, I have no idea what I put them through last night.

“Thanks, but I’d hate to impose. I really should be getting back,” I answer.

He opens his mouth to reply, and I hold up my hand to cut him off. “Look, I really appreciate you guys taking care of me last night because I don’t remember a lick of it, but I’m capable of getting back to my cabin by my lonesome. So, let me just get this walk of shame over already, okay?”

I go to step between the two blondes, and they close ranks going shoulder to shoulder. It’s cute that they think that will stop me. Ducking down, I make a mad dash between their bodies. If they really wanted to stop me, they could angle their hips and squish me between them. I try not to think about the feelings that image brings front and center.

I make it all the way to the door and almost do a victory dance. The good feeling is squelched as another man walks through it, and I nearly collide into him. Coming to a screeching halt, it’s enough hesitation to set one of the Zs into motion. A hand captures mine and twists me around.

Now facing Zephyr again, I fall victim to the enchantment of voice while those eyes simmer like liquid gold. “Just for breakfast.”

Sealing my decision, he brings my fingers to his lips and kisses the back of my hand.

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