Page 20 of Tik-Tok

North’s gaze lingered on the rough material of the sack, her interest piquing at what was inside. She knelt to untie the string, then drew the sack open. She dumped the contents on the floor and gasped at each piece of fabric.

She would never normally wear any of these revealing garments. But they were clean, so she would put something from the pile on. And perhaps, with these, she could revisit her plan to tempt Tik-Tok.

Chapter Nine

Tik-Tok

Tik-Tok tensed at the sight of North walking toward him with a new swing in her hips. Or, perhaps it was the same swing, just no longer hidden beneath flowing skirts. Now, she wore a deep red dress that clung to her curves. The material twisted and pleated in all the right places, accentuating her small waist. Thin gold-braided rope swirled beneath her breasts, looping upward over her shoulders in an intricate design. The sides were cut out, displaying skin down to her hips and the edges of her stomach. Two high slits in the skirt showed nearly her entire leg with each step.

“Why are you staring at me?” she asked with false innocence.

“What are you wearing?” he blurted.

North spun slowly. “Do you like it?”

Like it?He fucking loved it. That was the problem. Everyone on board would be gawking at her previously hidden attributes and thinking exactly what he was:I want to fuck her.But that wasn’t why she was onThe Temptress. Besides, if anyone was going to mix business with pleasure, it would be him and him alone.

“No,” he growled. “Go change.”

North grinned. “Sorry, I rather like this.”

“I let you pack a case.” He was overcome with a sudden urge to stand between her and his crew so they wouldn’t see her looking so delicious. Stepping closer, he widened his stance. “What did you bring?”

“I brought a nightgown. Would you rather I wear that? The material is thin, practically sheer.” Her soft lips tilted up. “Or should we end this discussion and begin our training for today?”

Practically sheer.A sudden desire to see the outline of her chest, her rosy nipples hard with the cool sea air, slammed into him.Shit. Focus.Tik-Tok swallowed hard and tossed a sword at her feet. “You’d better hope it doesn’t limit your movements. I won’t go easy on you.”

North bent slowly to retrieve the sword, her cleavage begging to be set free as she glanced at him from beneath her lashes. “I’d never expect you to.”

His mind filled with the image of her holding onto his headboard as he filled her—as hedidn’tgo easy on her.Damn.In a desperate bid to rid himself of his mounting thoughts, he lunged into the first attack.

Day after day, Tik-Tok continued to work with North on her swordsmanship. And, day after day, she continued to flail around like a baby bird pushed from the nest too early. His patience was wearing thin. Sure, he had decades of practice, but how hard was it toblock? Toduckwhen a blade came flying toward your head?

Extremely fucking difficult, apparently.

But he had a potential solution. Respen had whirled himself to the market in Merryland an hour ago. The daughter of Tin had practiced with an axe—so an axe she would have. If there wasn’t some form of improvement, he would simply chain her to his side for protection and focus on training her magic instead. That was more important, anyway.

“Captain,” Respen said from behind him. “I’m back.”

“Did you get it?” he asked, spinning to face him. North could only focus on mental exercises to find her magic for so long every day, and he needed to know she could wield a weapon.Anyweapon. If there was ever a time he couldn’t defend her, he needed to know she could defend herself. She couldn’t open his portal if someone killed her first.

Respen nodded and held out the handle of an axe. “Merryland is busy today. Should we wait to dock?”

They needed an enchantment to conceal their presence from Captain Salt, and Merryland was the best place to get it. Tik-Tok loathed the crowds with their hustle and bustle, the pickpockets, the loud-ass hawkers, but he would make an exception this time if it meant getting his portal even one day earlier.

“No.” Tik-Tok spun the smooth axe handle in his gold hand, his gloves forgotten in his room, testing its weight. It would be another forty minutes or so before they reached land. Maybe the crowd would thin by then. He turned toward the helm where Rizmaela stood, checking her own compass. “We’ll go as planned. Who knows how long it will be before we dock again? Let the crew have some fun while I take care of business.”

Rizmaela grunted and eyed the axe. “Is that forher?”

“Watch your tone, Riz,” Tik-Tok replied. “Without her, there’s no portal. Naturally, I’m going to take extra steps to make sure she’s safe.”

His first mate’s top lip curled into a sneer, but she said nothing else. Tik-Tok watched her for a moment, swinging the axe gently at his side.Not jealous,he decided. There was no reason for her to be, of course, since there had never been anything remotely sexual between Rizmaela and himself. But this reaction was unexpected.

“Straight to Merryland,” he said deliberately. “Call Dax if you need him to create enough wind.”

“Aye, Captain,” Rizmaela grumbled.

Respen caught Tik-Tok’s eye, and the elf lifted a brow, sharing a knowing look. Apparently, they had both noticed the dwarf’s unexpected dissatisfaction. “Want me to get North for you?”

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