Page 21 of Tik-Tok

“If you don’t mind,” Tik-Tok answered, returning his glare to Rizmaela until Respen disappeared. “Something you’d like to say now that we’re alone?”

“No,” she snarled.

But, clearly, there was. He scowled at the dwarf, rubbing his jawline. If she didn’t want to tell him, it was likely something he didn’t want to hear. Still, he was curious, but not curious enough to push the issue, so he checked his compass instead.Still spinning.

“You summoned me?” North said from across the deck.

Tik-Tok ground his teeth at the sight of her in yet another new outfit. Each one showed more skin than the last. If she kept it up, he wouldn’t be surprised if she walked across the ship stark naked by the end of the week. Today’s outfit was dark green and left a large strip of bare skin across her midriff. A wide golden ribbon circled the top of the skirt and beneath her breasts, bringing his attention straight to her stomach. He wanted nothing more than to lick the expanse of it. To nip and tease.Damn.

“It’s time to train,” he grunted.

North’s gaze fell to the weapon in his hand, and her eyes brightened. “Is that for me?” she asked, a hint of excitement entering her voice.

Tik-Tok’s chest swelled a little at seeing her happy, the more lecherous thoughts fading. She’d never smiled like that before. “You’re shit with a sword so I sent Respen after an axe.”

“I thought I needed to learnallweapons.” Her grin widened, reaching for it.

“Using my words against me, are you?” He released the weapon to her and turned to point at the mast. Shutting his eyes for a moment, he willed away the image of that dress on his floor. Of what she would feel like beneath both his calloused hand and his gold one as he slid the top of her dress off to palm her breasts. “Throw it there,” he instructed, his voice rougher than he would’ve liked.

When the axe didn’t automatically soar past him, he crossed his arms and looked over his shoulder. North stood, pretending to toss it, but not releasing when her arm came down.

He waved at the target again in a silent order to let go. “We have other things to do today, my star.”

She sighed and, after pretending twice more, let the axe fly. It flipped repeatedly in an expertly thrown arc … then landed ten feet from the intended target, right between Dax’s feet.

“The fuck?” the elemental elf called, his hands frozen mid-air where he was creating wind. The strong breeze he’d already built blew his light blond hair around his face, his vivid blue eyes wild with surprise.

Tik-Tok blinked. Then blinked again. She … missed. Bya lot. Whirling, one brow hiked up his forehead, he studied North as if he’d never seen her before. “You…” He rubbed a hand over his mouth, unsure of what to say. Had she missed on purpose?No.Judging by her flaming red cheeks, she had actually tried to hit the mast. “Your father isTin.”

“I am aware,” she said through gritted teeth.

“But…” He watched Dax pry the axe from the deck. “You said you could handle an axe. So I got you an axe…”

She took a deep breath and tilted her head in an attempt at being coy. “I never said I wasgoodat it. I said Itrainedwith one.”

“No shit. What the fuck was that?”

“You told me to throw it,” she said with a shrug.

A surprised snort escaped Tik-Tok. “If you were honest with me, you wouldn’t have almost killed one of my crew.”

“Iwashonest. I simply left out the details.” North shrugged. “And I may not be able to throw one, but I can swing them well.”

More than anything, he wanted to see her fight well. Not so he knew that she could defend herself, but because it would undoubtedly send blood rushing to his cock. He licked his bottom lip.

“Here, Captain.” Dax passed the axe back to him with a withering expression. “Maybe it’s a good thing she can’t access her power. She’d probably blast us out of the water.”

Tik-Tok suppressed a laugh, knowing it wouldn’t gain him North’s favor. While he enjoyed a good, old-fashioned hate fuck, he couldn’t risk her agreeing simply because she had concocted some insane plan to seduce him. It was obvious she’d never sought male attention in this way, but had she fucked many others? Not that it mattered. He wanted her no matter the answer, but he wouldn’t take her until she desperatelywantedhim to—until she begged him for release.

“Show me,” he dared North, handing her back the axe.

A twinkle lit North’s eyes as she found her grip on the wooden handle. Tik-Tok barely had time to draw his sword before she lunged forward. He brought his blade up to block and, an instant later, the hook of the axe twisted it from his hands. The sword clattered to the deck, leaving him wide-eyed, mouth parted.

“Have I shown you enough?” she asked with a smirk. “Or shall we go again?”

Tik-Tok stepped over his sword, into her space, and took in the sight of her. It had been so quick, so skillful, and made him fucking hard. It was all he could do to not steal a kiss right there on deck in front of the whole crew. “Oh, my star, I haven’t seennearlyenough.” When she blushed, he stepped back and reclaimed his sword. “But it will have to wait. We’ll be arriving in Merryland’s capital shortly.”

North scanned the horizon. “I’ve heard stories of that city. Isn’t that where pirates go to sell their stolen goods?”

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