Page 62 of Of the Stars and Sea

Grayson stares at me for a wavering moment.

Then his lips crash against mine.

Chapter 16

Not even the heavens could rival the magnificence that Grayson unleashes upon me with his kiss. He is everywhere at once, taking every part of me as his and I bow to it.

Slowly, he takes his time exploring. His lips moving gently over mine like we have all the time in the world and there isn’t a single threat lurking beyond the closed door to our room.

Teasing me with the sweep of his tongue against my teeth, I open for him. Delving my fingers into his hair, I bring him closer. That fire within me rises beyond anything I’ve ever felt before. Like a star in the darkness, I burn for him. Ignited with every touch of his tongue against mine.

Never parting from me, he grasps both my hands in one of his and pin them above my head against the wall.

Fully exposed, I have no way to get to my weapons—and there’s a flicker of something oddly peaceful about it.I am safe with him. The thought blooms, settling beneath my ribs and taking root.

Pressing himself against me, I moan into his mouth as he deepens the kiss, meeting every stroke of my tongue with his own. Everything he is and everything I am melts away. There is only this. Only us.

Hating all the clothing that separates us, I start moving my hips against him again, chasing that longing desire to be filled by him. He groans against my mouth and I can’t help the satisfied smirk that tugs at my lips.

“You wicked little thing.” He nips at my bottom lip and the quick sting of his teeth on my skin drives me mad.

“Still so much talking,” I murmur. “When there is so muchdoingto be had.”

He seals his lips to mine again just as a knock raps against the door. Neither of us pause, too consumed by one another. He releases my arms and they drape over the back of his neck before he wraps both of his arms tightly around my waist, pulling me away from the wall.

Delving my fingers into his hair, I stroke his scalp in long swirling movements, relishing in how soft his hair feels against my palms.

Another knock bangs against the door—this time louder than the first.

Grayson snarls as he breaks our kiss and calls out, “It better be fucking important!”

Zaos’s voice carries through the door. “It is, Captain.”

He looks to me again and there’s a hunger in his eyes that rivals my own. “We’ll finish this later.” There is no questioning in his tone as he slowly sets me down to my feet again.

Before he moves toward the door, he threads his fingers through my hair and pulls me in for a chaste kiss that does nothing but leave me wanting more.

“I’ve never hated Zaos more than this very moment,” I mutter beneath my breath, earning me a chuckle from Grayson as he turns the doorknob.

The door swings open and Zaos’s assessing eyes scan over the both of us and there’s no doubt in my mind that he knows whathad just transpired between his captain and me. But he gives no tell as to what he thinks about the matter.

“What is it?” Grayson asks.

Zaos rolls his shoulders once like the news he’s about to deliver might earn him a strike across the face. “It appears Blythe has become indebted to the sailmakers of Silvermoon Landing by working them overtime. Our scouts just informed me that theReaperis just outside the bay.”

All the warmth Grayson left me with trails out of my body. “Blythe ishere? Already?”

Zaos nods curtly.

“I all but destroyed his mainsail,” I comment. “He must have paid a fortune to have the sailmakers repair it so quickly.”

Grayson crosses his arms over his chest and leans against the door frame. “Or he made a promise they would share in the prize he’s after.”

I snort. “That’s a big risk knowing thatweare in possession of the one thing he needs to find it.”

“Blythe has always been pompous, but he’s not stupid,” Zaos says. “There’s another ship sailing with him toward the bay.”

“Do you know who he recruited?” Grayson asks.

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