Page 20 of Caged By the Ruthless Thief

“I guess they’re being descriptive. I can see why the translator had a hard time with it.” She pauses. “Do you think he’s dead?” I can feel her holding her breath.

“I don’t know.” I turn onto my side, facing her, and when I do, we slide even closer.

“But what does your gut say?”

“That either the government picked up a faint life signal or they’re delaying announcing he’s dead until the king is back from Viking territory.”

“Oh.” Her blue eyes go back to the screen and then flash up to me. “Thank you for telling me the truth.” She points at the screen. “And what does that mean?”

“Lobster’s anus.”

“Oh.” She frowns at the block.

“This doesn’t bother you too much? Reading bad things about Nico?”

She moves, and her elbow rubs up against my chest. “No, should it? Nico has done some questionable things since I’ve known him. And I would think that, before I knew him, there would be even more. But he’s changed. Maybe it’s the scientist in me, but I don’t believe everything I read.” Her eyes widen.

“He’s changed? Is that so?”

She tilts her head back and up so our faces are only a few inches apart. “Yes. He really has. I know it. Before I left, he said something to me that I know he wasn’t capable of saying when we first met. And while he does questionable things, his heart is always in the right place. He’s trying to help the Veiled City. Save it. But when he thought I was unhappy here, he let me leave.” She tilts toward me. “I really want to go to Glyden. But with the attack, I suppose staying here is the best thing for me. Maybe you should take me back to Athens.”

I hold her blue eyes. “Sunshine, did you enjoy your trip here?”

She squirms, and when she does, her leg brushes against mine. “No. I try not to use the word hate. But I really hated it. In the biggeromada, it wasn’t so bad. But all cramped up like that?” She breathes in, and her leg grazes mine again. Goosebumps trail up her arm. Her lips part when she looks at me.

“I understand. So, until we come up with a plan, you’ll have to stay put.” The wreckage around Glyden is burned into the back of my eyes. I can’t let her go back there. Not until it’s safe. I don’t even want her contacting Holter, not with regular tech. You never know who is listening or watching. Now I’m the one who moves so our legs are lined up against one another, her feet nestled between mine.

Her eyes close. Her neck is flushed, and I can smell the need on her. She’s a mermaid, and she’s got to be suffering. Fuck, I know I am, being this close to her. Wanting her. The smell of apples radiates from her. “I’ll figure something out. Tomorrow, when we’re rested, we’ll figure something out. Now let’s get some sleep. I think you’ve had enough Tinom hatred for one day.” I don’t take my hand from the block. I want it to be her choice.

She nods, and I transfer it to my other hand, placing it far away from me on the mattress.

“You ready to get some sleep?” Shit, I want her so much.

“Yes.” It’s soft, and there’s another meaning behind it.

“What?”

“Eros?”

“Yes.” Our breathing syncs. She looks at me, and I’m never looking away again.

“Can I...?”

“Yes.”

Sunshine leans in and kisses me. Fuck, the touch of her lips on mine, and I’m gone. Her hand is in my hair, and the other one grabs my biceps. She rolls on top of me. Our tongues fight for control. This is a battle I will gratefully lose. She tastes like honey and spices from whatever she found for dinner, and I’m going nuts. A leg flips over my waist, and I grab her hips with one hand as I tear the blanket out from between us. I need her touch. She doesn’t disappoint. A switch has turned on.

My hands are in her hair. “Sunshine, you make me burn for you.”

Annabelle rolls onto her back and puts her hands up. I can feel her rational brain and her desire fighting.

“It’s okay. Whatever you need. Whatever you need.” My whisper is rough and deep. Because I need her, but that doesn’t matter right now. It’s what she needs. “You’ve been through a lot.” If she wants me to hold her, I will.

Her hands are in my tunic. “Take this off.”

My fingers tingle as I do as she commands, letting it fall to the mattress. Her fingers trace my abs. I cling to her.

But then she sits straight up. “I shouldn’t do this. We shouldn’t do this.”

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