Page 41 of Ozma

“It just does. Quit asking questions unless you want to end up like them when Mombi returns for our next shipment.” He shrugged. “And don’t forget to lock the door this time. We don’t need the fucking wine disappearing again.”

Their feet pounded up the steps as they exited, followed by the echo of the lock turning.

Ozma relaxed against the wall of the ship. They would be trapped down here for a while, but they’d made it.

“Cozy place we have here for the night, isn’t it?” Jack leaned back beside her, stretching out his legs as much as he could.

“Is that sarcasm?”

“No.” His warm breath brushed her ear, and she held back a shiver at his nearness. “Now that we’re here … what did you plan on telling me? There’s nothing you could say that would make me leave your side. I’m the freest when I’m with you.”

The boat eased forward, the hull rocking side to side. Ozma’s nerves were on edge, but not because this was her first time on a ship. She had no idea how Jack would react to what she was about to say. She bit the inside of her cheek as she spoke, “I’m the queen.”

“That you are.” He tapped the end of her nose. “We can play all the games you want later, Blossom. But for now, tell me.”

She needed to be straightforward and tell him the entire truth—he deserved to know. Should have known earlier, but she couldn’t change the past several days. “Lurline, my mother, was a faerie, which is why I had wings before Mombi burned them. My father was King Pastoria, and because they’re both dead, that makes me queen.”

Jack’s brow furrowed. “Queen ofwhat?”

“Oz…”

He blinked several times, his mouth parting. “Oz,” he finally repeated.

“Yes. All of Oz.”

When he didn’t say anything else and remained still as a statue, she continued, “You’ve always wanted to be free, Jack. And I came to the conclusion recently that this would only be trapping you again. I wouldn’t be able to travel the world anytime I wanted. Like we’d talked about…”

“Is being queen something you want, though?”

Ozma had thought about it over and over, and had even contemplated giving the throne to Reva. But something in her couldn’t, as though she were created for this purpose—to make Oz good again and keep it that way. “Yes, it’s something I want.”

“I’m not worthy of you, Blossom. It took me forever to believe I was before, but now you’re a queen.Thequeen.” His shoulders remained tight, his throat bobbing.

“Jack, you’re not Mombi’s slave anymore. She made you feel this way—she made you believe you were nothing.”Made me believe I was nothing too.

“I’ve already proved what a bastard I am.” Jack’s head drooped. “While you were banished by Mombi, what was I doing? I fucked and I fucked and Ifucked. I’m such a piece of shit. But you, you can do anything you want. I always knew that.”

Her chest sank at his words because he truly believed this of himself. “You’re not nothing—you’re everything, and a king to me. You always have been. Even that damn pumpkin patch felt like a kingdom at times because you were by my side. But now we have choices. You can get to know the world … other fae.” As much as it ached to say it, he deserved to make his own decisions.

“That’s the thing.” He held her gaze. “I’ve been around other fae and know that there’s no one I’d rather have than you. Yet you haven’t—you’ve only known me. Perhaps it’s me who should free you to discover if there’s someone better suited.” He clenched his jaw, as though those last words had to be forced from his perfect lips.

“Damn it, Jack,” she whisper-shouted. “You know I choose you. Every time.” She threw her arms around him, holding him tight.

He lifted her into his lap and rested his chin on her head, his fingers interlacing with her hair. “Then we have that matter solved.”

For a long while, they stayed in that position, and even though the room remained silent, it was as if their bodies were speaking to each other, comforting, apologizing.

Finally, Ozma peered up at him, the angles of his face, his hazel irises. Those eyes that could sweep her anywhere.

Jack’s gaze fell to her and he smiled. “So, since you’re my queen, what are you going to order me to do first?”

Ozma shook her head, about to give him a sarcastic reply, when his lips crashed to hers, taking her by surprise. She inhaled, savoring the flavor of his lips as she kissed him back with equal hunger, her tongue tasting every inch of his mouth.

“I don’t think there will be much time for kissing once we get to Orkland,” he rasped.

“Keep kissing me then.”And don’t ever stop.

Jack’s strong body shifted as he lay her on the floor, hovering above her. A naughty grin formed on his face as he leaned forward and whispered in her ear, “I don’t want to kissonlyyour lips. I want to kiss here.” His tongue flicked the side of her neck. “Here.” He moved down her body, kissing her through her clothing, above her breast. “Certainly here.” Then he traveled to her navel, pressing his lips gently there. “And, finally, here.” His fingers skimmed up her dress, against her uncovered thigh, so very close to the place that desperately wanted to feel his caress.

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