Текст книги "The sea ogres eager bride"

Автор книги: Ruby Dixon

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Текущая страница: 7 (всего у книги 15 страниц)

That it is. I get to my feet, ignoring the drip of wet clothing sticking to my body, and marvel at the cave. The ceiling of it is tall, a bit like a bottle with a long neck. The chamber I stand in is the large, comfortable belly of the bottle, and the sunlit hole far above the neck. This is the grandest place I have ever seen, and the most cluttered. When I step over a chest, I see the “bed” that Ranan has prepared for me, a large stack of textiles and embroidered pillows all piled together. I want to fling myself down upon it and roll around, but I’m dripping seawater everywhere. “This is marvelous, Ranan. I swear I won’t breathe a word of it. Your secret is safe with me.”

“Why is it secret?” he asks, puzzled. “These are my things.”

“You are richer than a king,” I point out. “Anyone that knew of this would try to rob you.”

He snorts. “They can try.”

I continue to walk in the cave, pushing past piles of tapestries to examine a chair covered with gold-inlay. “This is all incredible.”

“You like it here, then?” There is an uncertain note in his voice, as if he wasn’t sure I’d approve.

I turn and give him a surprised look. “Do you jest? This is the most spectacular sight I have ever beheld.”

“Take any of it,” he says with a shrug. His body language is casual, but I sense he’s pleased. “You are my wife, so you are free to help yourself to any and all of it.”

This is the utter opposite of what I’ve been thinking. Instead of giving me away, he’s giving me his treasures. I’ve never felt more unbecoming, either. My hair is wet with seawater, my dress made from the ugly cloth shapeless and damp. I’m well aware of my menses and the sunburn on my face. Surely I cannot be his dream of a wife.

So I sit next to him, because I need to understand. I fold my legs under, tucking my skirts around them and compose myself. “Why me?” I ask him. “Why a human wife?”

Ranan gestures at me. “Why you? You volunteered. You were eager to go with me.”

I bite my lip. This is an easy explanation, and yet it doesn’t feel like the right one. “Ranan,” I gentle my voice in advance of my words, so he will realize the delicacy of the situation. “You are a man in the prime of your life. You are richer than any man I have ever met. You are good looking and strong. More than that, you are kind. You could have any woman, human or otherwise. Why get the first slave that volunteers and make her your wife?”

His eyes harden, and for a moment I think he’s going to avoid answering me. That he hates my questioning and wants me to be silent. But then his shoulders slump, just a little. He runs a hand down his broad, strange face. “I am…not good with people.”

My heart squeezes a bit. Is this why he picked me? Because I volunteered and he knew he would be awkward? That he’s lonely by himself on Akara’s back and wants company? I reach out and put my hand over one of his. “You’re good with me.”

Ranan shakes his head again, dismissing what I’ve said. “I’m not good with words.”

“Words aren’t everything.” I give him an encouraging smile. This is the closest I’ve been to him since our last swimming lesson, and I wonder if he feels anything for me. If he truly is as shy as he claims to be, it’s going to be impossible to tell.

I’ll be the one that has to make all the moves.

So I shift my weight, moving a little closer to him. “Aren’t you curious about kissing me?”

His eyes widen and he stares at me for a long moment. His strange, flat ears twitch, the muscles laying flat against his head. Ranan’s gaze dips to my mouth and then back to my eyes again. “I have considered it,” he says slowly. “But we are new to each other. You are seeking to anchor your place at my side by pleasing me. It is not the best environment in which to ask for a kiss.”

“You’re wrong. The asking is the important part.” I slide my fingers up his arm, exploring his skin. “Like now. I’m touching you. If I ask to touch you more, and you say no, that’s the end of it, right?”

“It is…different.” There’s a rasp to his voice, his gaze locked on me.

I wonder if anyone ever touches him. I wonder if he needs it. I have had days in the past where I have felt so achingly lonely that I’ve sought out a lover just to feel something. Yet I imagine Ranan lives like a monk out here on the waves.

“How is it different?” I ask, my finger dancing along the inside of one arm. “Would you like for me to stop?”

His nostrils flare. “No.”

“See, that wasn’t so hard, was it?” I smile at him and run my fingers along his skin. It has a slightly different texture than mine that I find fascinating. Is it because he’s in the water so much? Because his body is hairless? Whatever it is, I like the feel of it.

“It is different, because I hold all the power,” Ranan replies. “You will not tell me no simply because you want to please me. You will let me do whatever I want to you and you will not complain a word, because you are afraid of offending me.”

I still, because he’s not wrong. It’s how a slave survives. If the master’s happy, everyone breathes a sigh of relief. I can’t just simply change the way I think because he promises he will be kind to me. But I suspect he’s been avoiding me, and this is no way for us to build upon our marriage. We cannot be strangers forever, and the longer we leave distance between us, the more difficult it will be for us to conquer later.

I consider all of this as I study him. In the end, all we have are words and deeds. For now, I will have to accept his words. “Ranan, are you going to put me aside? Or send me back to the human settlements? Or make me a slave again?”

His lip curls as if I have offended him. “Of course not.”

Words are easy, though. I need more than that. “Swear it. Swear it upon the gods. Swear it upon Lord Vor.”

Ranan grabs my chin, our eyes meeting. “I swear it by Lord Vor and all the gods in the heavens.”

“That might not be many of them, given that there’s an Anticipation going on,” I tease, pulling free from his grip.

“You know what I mean,” he all but growls at me.

“I do.” I reach up and tap a finger on his nose, because when I’m comfortable, I like to be playful with my partner, and I want to see how he responds. He recoils in shock, rubbing the tip of his nose. “Very well then, I shall believe you. I will tell you no if I don’t feel like kissing you or touching you. And you should tell me no if I do something that makes you uncomfortable, like me touching your nose.”

He continues to rub the end of his nose, his face drawn in lines of disapproval. “I am not uncomfortable.”

I want to laugh because his words say one thing and his expression another. I am going to have to go by his words, then, and assume that Ranan’s scowls are just normal for him and not to be taken that he is in a poor mood. I reach for him again. “So I can tap your nose as much as I want?”

He snags my hand before I can do so. “I did not say that.”

There’s a teasing note in his voice that I like. It makes me a little bolder. “I know right now, I’m not at my best, but I would like to kiss you at some point. Just so we can see what it is like between us. It will be a strange marriage if we have no spark, after all.”

“And do you think that will happen? That there will be no spark?”

I give him a sly smile. “No. I’m good at making sparks.”

His ears go back against his head again, and I wonder if that’s the Ranan version of a blush. “I would like to kiss.”

Now we’re getting somewhere. I lean in close, full of curiosity and anticipation.

His gaze drops to my mouth again…and then he jumps to his feet. “Perhaps tomorrow we will try it,” he says, tone brusque. “After you have had a chance to rest and feel better. Explore the grotto. I will get some fish and make sure Akara is situated.”

Before I can say anything else, he dives into the pool and disappears, and I’m left surrounded by riches. I cross my arms over my chest and frown at the ripple he left. By all the gods, are all sea-ogres skittish or is it just this one? I wait for him to come back, to tell me that he changed his mind and he wants to kiss me now after all.

I wait for a long time.

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Chapter

Thirteen

RANAN

My heartbeat pounds in my ears as I swim into deeper waters. Vali is safe in my grotto, and so I can hunt for the bigger fish, the larger fin-backs with the tough hide and chewy meat. They reside in the darker waters of the sea, where the reefs drop off to colder temperatures, and they’re dangerous, but they also have the best skin. It dries and makes a flexible, waterproof leather if treated properly. Vali will need clothes and gear of her own. Belts, shoes—she needs everything.

I should be thinking about hunting a fin-back right now, but it will be impossible to do any sort of hunting with both of my cocks standing at attention.

All because she touched my arm.

I ignore it at first. There’s nothing to do but ignore my body’s reaction to her. I’m not going to return to her side and demand that she touch me. Just thinking about her, though, makes my cocks stay erect, and when the ache continues despite the chill of the water, I grit my teeth and take myself in hand. I tread water with two slashing arms while my other two hands frantically work my cocks. It’s not a satisfying release, and I swim away from the ropes of seed I’ve left behind, ashamed of my actions.

She’s my wife. She has agreed to be my female, and I have decided to keep her. Why am I being like this? If I went to her right now, she would welcome me with open arms.

And that is exactly the problem. Vali is far too eager, and we barely know each other. For her to fling herself at me feels…false. She is eager because she is anxious, not because she wants me. I know I am not a great speaker, and that I can be abrupt. I am more silent than talkative around her. We are strangers. Bedding her seems wrong.

Yet the more I push her away, the more I hurt her feelings and make her fret. There has to be a solution that will satisfy both of us.

I ponder this endlessly as I swim, looking for a school of fin-backs. I find nothing, though, and return to the cave empty-handed and chilled.

Vali has been busy while I was gone—a large area near the fire pit has been cleared out, the bags I toss carelessly into the grotto neatly organized and tidied. Statues have been lined up along the cave wall and golden dishes stacked in a semblance of organization. The fire is nothing but coals, but the scent of food lingers in the air.

My human wife is asleep in the pile of blankets I’ve left for her, her arms curled around one of the pillows. Her hair is combed out and neatly plaited, the ends tied with some of the ribbons I gave her. A few strands have come loose, the dark curls fanning over the blankets. My fingers itch to touch one, to see if it’s as soft when dry as it looks, but I don’t want to disturb her. She needs her sleep.

I’m so focused on the picture Vali makes that I almost step on the tray that she’s left for me. Atop a plate, she’s set several dried pieces of fruit, arranged in a flower pattern, and a handful of nuts accompanied by some of the dried meat I purchased for her. Beside it is a cup that has a fruity scent and a pink liquid in it. I bring it to my nose and sniff it. Another tea? I take a sip and the water is tepid but sweet. She clearly left this out for me, and my guilt returns.

When will I be at ease with what she offers? Something has to change between us.

I take the tray she left for me and carry it across the cave so I can eat without disturbing her. Sitting at the water’s edge, I munch on the treats and watch her sleep, considering. The dried food makes me think of the trader and his daughter. She’d suggested that I take Vali to my family, to have a ceremony there. That it will feel like a true marriage if done in front of family.

At that point, if Vali reaches for me, she does so because she knows she’s my wife, not because she feels the need to please me.

It’s the perfect solution—once she feels better, I will take her to the flotilla. We will go before the leader and speak vows in front of everyone, and then she will truly be my wife.

I wake up with a crick in my neck from sleeping on the edge of the pool, and something warm pressed up against my back.

Vali.

She must have woken up and joined me. I roll onto my back, looking over at her, and her eyes are open. She gives me a shy smile, her body wrapped in blankets. “You looked cold. I thought we might share heat. Is that all right?”

My throat seems full of knots. She is so near, her soft skin pressed against mine. “I am not cold.”

“Oh.” Her expression falls.

“But you can join me.”

Her smile returns, and she slips an arm around my waist, pulling the blanket with her. She tucks her chin against my shoulder, watching me. “Is this where you normally sleep when you’re here in the grotto?”

I shake my head. “No. I am only here because I didn’t wish to disturb you.”

“You can disturb me. I’m your wife.” And she beams another smile my way.

I do not know what to say to all of this, so I simply grunt.

Her hand strokes over my side and I freeze. It seems a small, simple gesture and that I should ignore it. I can’t, though, because both of my foolish cocks rise once more. “I hope it’s all right that I rearranged some things to give additional living space,” she murmurs, watching my expression. “I tried to remember where everything goes so if you don’t approve, I’ll move it back.”

“Do what you like.”

Vali grins at me. “Are you just being accommodating because I’m your wife?”

“Yes?”

She chuckles, running her fingers over my skin. “I should complain about that, but I can’t bring myself to. It’s rather nice.”

I just watch her, my heart thudding in my ears. Her nearness is distracting, to the point that thoughts float out of my head and disappear, and I am left with nothing but silence between my ears. All because she smiles and her face lights up.

She pokes my side. “How do you live here with all this clutter anyhow?”

“I…don’t live here?” At her confusion, I elaborate. “I spend more time on Akara’s back, raiding. Sometimes I visit family, but most of the time I just…drift.”

Vali bites her lip. “Am I going to be keeping you from your lifestyle? Or will you be leaving me behind when you go raiding?”

I frown. “Why would I leave you behind?”

She shrugs, the movement nudging her chin against my arm. “I don’t know. I just thought you wouldn’t want me around. You do leave a lot.”

“Because you can’t swim with me.”

“Oh, so when I feel better we’ll swim together?”

I haven’t given it much thought, but I also didn’t think about leaving her behind, either. So I grunt. It seems as good an answer as any.

“I do need to get a fish for Lord Vor,” she says. “I haven’t forgotten my prayer to him.”

“I can get it for you.”

She shakes her head. “No, it has to be me or it doesn’t mean as much. I want the god to know I am truly grateful that he’s looking out for me. So I need you to take me fishing.” She flinches, as if realizing how demanding that sounds. “Please.”

I grunt again, distracted by the hand playing against my side. “When you feel better.”

“Oh, I don’t know, I feel pretty good now.” Her tone takes on a singsong cadence, and her fingers tickle across my stomach. “The first two days are always the worst. I think the tea is helping, too. You⁠—”

She breaks off as her hand grazes over the head of one straining cock.

“Oh,” Vali breathes. A bright smile wreathes her face and she reaches down and firmly grips my cock in her hand, sending a near-ecstatic clench of pleasure through my sac. “Look at how hard you are. Shall I help you with this, my husband?”

I want to say no. That I have a plan. That we’re going to wait.

But my foolish mouth betrays me.

I don’t say no.

“Now.”

Her eyes light up. “Now’s a very good time, aye. You sit back and let me handle everything. I’ll make you feel so good.”

And there’s so much delight and pleasure on her face that I can’t backtrack my words…and gods help me, I don’t want to. Her excitement fuels mine. This can’t be real—her enthusiasm. I am trapped, and like the weak, selfish fool I am, I’m going to let her do with me as she pleases.

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Chapter

Fourteen

VALI

Ithink he likes me after all.

My happiness bubbles over this morning, like a pot of stew filled far too full. He’s here with me, he’s letting me touch him, and he wants me. A man can say all he wants that he’s not interested, but the moment a woman caresses him, he changes his mind. His cock will always rise.

And I’m so glad it does. This, I understand.

I give him a confident smile and tug his kilt down on his hips. The strange fabric falls away, and I make a mental note to ask him about it sometime. Not right now, though, because I want him focused. “Don’t worry about anything,” I tell him in what I hope is a sultry voice. “I’m an expert at⁠—”

He grabs my chin before I can finish the sentence and forces me to look up at him. “No lies between us, Valessa. I mean it.”

“I wasn’t going to say sea-ogres,” I protest, though I was going to embellish a little. “Just that I know what I’m doing with a cock. That’s all.” If I wanted to lie, I’d tell him I’m great in bed. I’m actually pretty rotten because if I don’t want to be there, I lie there like a dead fish.

But it’s different with Ranan. I haven’t forgotten that he saved me, but he’s been rather nice to me in his way, lately. I want to show him that I can be nice to him in my way, too. I want to show him that he made a good choice in taking me as his bride.

I reach down to grip his cock and not one but two cockheads brush against my fingers. Because he has two. I haven’t forgotten. I caress one, then reach down and stroke the other. “Just like I’ve seen before so many times,” I whisper. “Though not so much at once.”

He grunts, but his gaze is so very intense upon me. His ear fins flick, as if he’s wanting to touch me but doesn’t dare to interrupt.

I smile up at him, feeling confident for a change. This I know how to do. I might have lied about knowing all about sea-ogres, but I know men. I trail my fingers up and down one length, and then the other, keeping my touches exploratory and light. Like the rest of him, his skin has a faint greenish cast, like a glass bottle, and I’m entranced by how that color deepens in this most private area of his body. I stroke my hand up his lower cock, comparing it to the top one. They are stacked atop one another, like peas in a pod, though I don’t think he’d like my comparison. He’s only got one sac, a prominent bulge underneath his second cock. I reach down and toy with it, rolling the globes underneath the soft skin gently under my touch.

He’s being utterly silent as I caress him, and I’m used to more reaction from my lovers. I glance up, and his face is tight and hard and impossible to read. “Tell me if I do something that doesn’t feel good to you.”

“Should,” he blurts.

I pause, because no matter how many times I repeat it to myself mentally, it doesn’t make sense. “Should…?”

“Good,” Ranan enunciates, and his mouth pulls down in a frown. He looks furious for a moment, and then slowly admits, “I am silent for long periods of time when I am alone. Sometimes I get nervous about speaking and the wrong thing comes out.”

Oh. I can tell just by the expression on his face how difficult it was for him to admit that to me. There was a girl in our village that had a stutter, and the local boys teased her so much that she just stopped speaking around them. It makes me ache with sympathy and I stroke my fingers over his hard belly. “I understand. I’m just used to hearing something from a lover when I touch them. Would it be better for you if we set up some sort of physical cue? You can tap my arm twice if I do something you don’t like.” I give him a shy little smile. “And maybe touch my ear if I do something you do like. I enjoy knowing if I’m doing things right.”

Ranan reaches out and runs his fingers along the shell of my ear, his gaze flicking to mine.

“Then I’ll keep going?” I ask softly, even as I reach for his cocks again.

His fingers move along my ear, tracing. His response is soft but firm. “Yes.”

Encouraged, I lower my head and take him into my mouth. The first taste of him is salty and musky, and the tip of each cock is bigger against my tongue than anticipated. I make a little noise of surprised pleasure in my throat, because what woman wouldn’t be intrigued by a lover that has a healthy, fat cock? Two cocks initially threw me off. But a large, meaty cock? That excites me.

Two is just, well, double the excitement.

I wrap my fingers around the shaft of his first cock, not entirely surprised to notice that my fingertips don’t touch. “You’re very big,” I comment, even as I lap at the head of him as if he’s a sweet treat. I take his second cock in my other hand and give it gentle, teasing squeezes before I move over to lick the tip of it, too.

His breath huffs out and he touches my earlobe, a silent reassurance that he’s enjoying himself.

I’m enjoying myself, too. Initially I just thought to pleasure him because of the mercenary aspects of it—a happy husband makes a wife’s day easy. And if he’s happy with me, my place at his side is secured. But I’m liking exploring him. I’m liking that he’s big and unusual and yet somewhat shy. I like that he confessed to me about his words. It makes him seem less silent and broody and more quiet and thoughtful. It makes him vulnerable, and it’s that vulnerability that attracts me.

I move back and forth between both of his cocks, giving teasing licks to both heads. “I feel a bit greedy to have so much,” I confess. “I’m not entirely sure how to best handle things. Do I pleasure just one cock at a time, or do I give both small bits of my attention? What do you like better?”

He thinks for a moment and then reaches down. He takes his cock in his hand and then guides it towards my parted lips, the answer obvious.

I take him in my mouth, eager. My hands work his shaft, and his second cock presses against my breasts as I lean over him, and it gives me another idea. As I work his upper cock with one hand, I grip his lower one with my other. I drag the leaking head of him back and forth between the valley of my breasts until they’re lubricated, and then I focus my full attention back on his primary cock, the latter cradled between my breasts. I push my upper arms hard against my sides to make my breasts stay together and hold him tight, and I can tell by the way he sucks in his breath that he likes this idea.

Stroking his free cock, I use my tongue to toy with the underside even as I use my hands to work his length. His fingers touch my ear again, his breath heaving like a bellows, and his excitement makes mine pulse. Heat curls low in my belly and I touch him with greater enthusiasm, my mouth wet and hungry on the head of his cock.

Ranan groans, reaching up to touch my ear again. His hand goes flat and he cups the side of my face instead. I look up at him and our eyes meet just as he comes, flooding my mouth with hot salt. I jerk in response, surprised, and more warmth spreads across my breasts. Oh. So when he comes, he comes in both places. Why do I find that so fascinating? I swallow what I can of his release, still pumping his shaft with my hands to try and squeeze as much pleasure out of this moment for him as I can, and I’m entranced by the sounds he makes. Rough, ragged sounds that tell me more of his loss of control than anything else. I soak in every one of those heated breaths, knowing that I’ve pleased him.

He gently pulls away from me, his eyes hot with silent emotion. We’re sticky with his release, both of us, and I gently trace a finger through the mess he’s left atop my breasts. “My thanks, my husband. I enjoyed that thoroughly.”

Ranan’s eyes immediately narrow as he goes still. “I told you I didn’t like lies.”

I stare at him, open-mouthed. He thinks I’m deceiving him? “Why would I lie right now?”

“Because you’re still trying to please me.” He gestures at me. “You got nothing out of that. It was all for my benefit. I should have pleasured you, too. I didn’t think about it. It was…difficult to think.”

That makes me smile. “That was my intention—to make you feel so good that you couldn’t think. And just because you were the only one that came doesn’t mean I didn’t get pleasure out of it. I liked touching you. I liked knowing that you enjoyed my touch. I liked making you come. If that’s wrong, well then, I guess I’m wrong. Because I got a great deal of pleasure out of that.”

His expression remains skeptical.

With affectionate exasperation, I try a different tactic. “Do you pet a cat expecting it to reciprocate? Or do you pet a cat because the cat likes it and you enjoy making it happy?”

“I have never petted a cat.”

“Well, perhaps you should get one. They’re good at keeping mice and rats away.” I trace circles in his seed, noticing his gaze flicks there, and then lift my messy finger and lick it clean. “I promise you, if I don’t want to touch you, I will let you know. But I wanted to touch you today, and it pleased me to make you come.”

“Not as much as it pleased me,” he grumps, gesturing at my slick breasts. “Obviously.”

I giggle. That might be the first joke he’s ever made. “You make it sound like that’s a bad thing.”

He sits up, grimacing, and eyes me. “It is when you are in pain. I should have let you rest.”

In pain? It takes me a moment to realize that he’s talking about my menses. “I’m faring better today, and it’s just my moon flow. I can’t laze about clutching my stomach for a week every month or I’d never get anything done. I’ll just do like all the other women I know and grit my teeth through the worst of it.”

His expression still seems worried. He reaches out and affectionately brushes his fingers over my ear, and that small touch means more to me than a dozen flowery admissions of love. “Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?” he asks. “More tea?”

I shake my head, because I’m going to pace myself on the tea. My menses are a regular visitor and I don’t want to be greedy with the tea. I can make it stretch. “Perhaps a towel so I can clean off?”

He’s on his feet immediately, digging through the fabric. I grimace when he pulls out a dainty scrap of something that’s edged in what looks like very expensive, crumpled lace that manages to be pretty and delicate while soft at the same time. But when he kneels next to me and gently cleans off my skin, I decide it doesn’t matter how nice the material is because his touch is even better. Ranan is so sweet about taking care of me that it makes me want to preen under his touch, and my nipples harden as he moves the fabric over them.

“Can we talk a little?” I ask. “If you want to know what would make me feel better, I’d love to know more about my future as your wife.”

His gaze flicks over me and he goes back to wiping my skin, this time taking a clean corner of the lacy material and mopping my cheek and chin with it. He’s quiet for a long moment and I worry he’s going to ignore my request, but he finally speaks. “Tell me what you wish to know.”

“Well…is this where we’re going to live? Here in this grotto?” I gesture at our cluttered surroundings. It’s not the most ideal house, but I’m already thinking of ways I can make it more like a home. A makeshift hearth of some kind. A bed. An area that I can set up a loom in…

“Here?” He huffs, as if the idea is ridiculous. “No.”

“Oh.” I’m disappointed, strangely. Sure, it’s a cave, but it’s cozy enough and I feel safe, especially given that the only way in and out is through the tunnel in the water.

“It’s too isolated,” he adds.

“I don’t mind isolated. Not after running into those scoundrels on the beach.”

Ranan’s expression darkens and he shakes his head. He takes the fabric he used to clean me and drags it over his cocks, cleaning himself off, and I watch him discreetly, eyeing the still-solidly enormous lengths of him. “We’re going to the flotilla once you’ve recovered.”

I look up at his face in surprise. “We are?”

He nods. “We are going to visit my parents once you can swim again.” He eyes me as he finishes cleaning himself off and then tosses the priceless lace aside, adding, “Once you can swim properly.”

That might take a little time. No rush, then. I relax a bit. “So I’m to meet your family? Will they like that you have a human bride instead of a sea-ogre bride?”

“We call ourselves the seakind, not ogres. That’s a human term.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend.” Gods, I’m glad I didn’t say that in front of his family. “A seakind bride, then.”

He reaches out and touches my ear again, stroking my earlobe as if to comfort me. His face remains stony, but that small touch reassures me. “My uncle has a human partner.”

“And they like him? Your family?”

Ranan just keeps stroking my ear.

As the moments creep past and he doesn’t reassure me, I grow worried. I put my hand over his to stop his caresses and repeat my concerns. “Your family likes your uncle’s partner? They won’t mind that you have a human bride?”

“It is what I want.”

I study his face. “Is it?”

Ranan scowls and tugs his hand from mine. He gets to his feet, pacing away. “You ask too many questions.”

“I do,” I admit, keeping my voice light. “It’s gotten me slapped in the mouth a lot.”

That makes him stop in his tracks. He turns around, scowling. “I would not hit you.”

“Didn’t say you would. Just said it’s happened a lot in the past.”

“I don’t want you scared around me.”

I arch a brow at him, tossing my hair. “Then don’t act scary.”

His hands go to his hips and he shakes his head. I can’t decide if he’s annoyed or amused at my retort. Probably doesn’t know how to respond.

That’s fine, I’m a champion at carrying a conversation away from an awkward spot. “Once my menses are done, you’ll teach me how to swim, then?”

Ranan’s posture relaxes a bit. “Aye. So you can get Vor a fish. I haven’t forgotten.”

I beam at him. Honestly, a man that doesn’t beat me and remembers the small things I tell him? Lady Dywan never had it so good.