Page 47 of Ruthless Scoundrel
“The next stop isn’t too far,” I say as I push the raft toward the sparkling blue sea. “We’ll paddle around to the west side of the island and there’s a small port.”
Her eyes light up and she sucks in a small gasp but quickly tries to smother her excitement by clearing her throat. “Good.”
“You can’t escape me there,” I say.
She glares. “And why not?”
I can’t help but smile as I lean closer to her. It ruffles her fins and I love that angry look on her. “Because I’m stronger thaneveryone else in that poor excuse for a town. You run from me, and you’re sealing their fate. I will killanyoneto keep you, Rei.”
Her heavy breaths fan over my chin as she stares up at me. “Then kill everyone. Iwillescape you.”
I can’t stop my eyebrow from lifting. “A morally grey princess. Be still, my shriveled black heart.”
She tuts and jumps onto our raft. “Push me into the sea. I don’t want to get wet.”
“Again,” I say, pushing on the raft.
The heat in her gaze burns through my chest—quite literally. “We will not speak of it,” she says.
“As you wish,” I say, thrusting her into the sea.
The water rocks the raft, making Reina sit back on her heels to stay steady. When the water is up to my waist, I jump onto the raft and grab my paddle.
“West is that way,” I say, pointing my paddle away from the rising sun behind us. The high clouds are tinged with gold and pink. It’s picturesque.
“I know which way west is,” she snaps.
Itwaspicturesque.
The more fire she brings, the more I want to tease. I can’t help but rise to the occasion for her.
“Forgive me. You’d said the queen didn’t educate you, so I was trying to…fill in some of the gaps,” I say with a salacious smirk.
She rolls her eyes. “So indecent.”
We paddle in silence for a solid half hour, keeping close enough to the shore that nothing too big will come investigate what we are.
Finally, the silence has eaten away my resolve. “Was that your first orgasm?”
“You’re disgusting.” She scoffs. “And who said I orgasmed?”
I laugh loudly, unable to contain it.
“Oh, shut up!” She slaps me with her wet paddle.
“Well, was it?” I ask, shaking the water from my back.
“I’m not answering you,” she mumbles.
So many firsts belong to me now.
I love it.
“You’re a virgin, aren’t you.”
“You are too bold, sir,” Reina declares, and I can hear the “princess” in her tone. I’ve truly offended her this time.
I turn and bow. “My apologies. I don’t know how Ki’ah Ohn make small talk.”
