Page 22 of Tik-Tok

Mostly. He shrugged. “Until you open the portal, you’re my first priority. No one will harm you.”

North leaned slightly to the side to see around him. “Are you sure about that?”

Tik-Tok followed her gaze to Rizmaela, who was studying North with fire in her eyes. “Don’t worry about her.”

She mumbled something he couldn’t quite hear before turning on her heel.

“Where are you going?” he called after her.

“You said training was finished.”

Tik-Tok hurried to her side, his gaze stuck on her ass the entire time. “That doesn’t mean I’m finished with you for the day. Wouldn’t you like to get off this ship for a while?”

North stopped walking and turned to face him, eyes narrowed. “Why?”

“So suspicious.” He tapped her nose with the tip of his golden finger. “We’re docking soon for food and supplies.”Very specific supplies so Captain Salt doesn’t locate us.“Most of the crew are going into town, and I can’t very well leave you here with a couple of brownies.”

She folded her arms, inadvertently drawing his attention to the swells of her breasts. They had been concealed before, but this dress clung to them, lifting them, drawing the eye. They were the perfect size to fit in his hands.

“Why not?” she asked. “I’ve proven I’m capable with an axe.”

Because she was too important to risk, even if that risk was infinitesimal. The best way to protect her was to have her beside him. “What if the ship is boarded by thieves while we’re gone?” he asked, cocking his head. “How many can you fight at once? The brownies are hard workers, but hardly warriors.”

“Willit be boarded?”

He laughed at the concern in her words. No, his ship wouldn’t be ransacked. Ozma likely had the entire continent looking for them too, but hedaredsomeone to try taking North. Besides, his reputation was too great to attract thieves and his stolen treasures well-hidden elsewhere. “Let’s use this opportunity to get to know each other,” he offered, “since we’ll be spending a long time together, it seems.”

“We’ll see about that.” Her gaze locked onto his, seeming to dare him to press the issue.

Tik-Tok grinned and gently pushed her hair behind her shoulders. “This dress suits you,” he said in a quieter voice.

And makes me want to rip it off.

His cock jerked at the thought. Of seeing her flesh. Touching it. Listening to the little sounds that he would draw from her. He bit his lip to keep from groaning in anticipation. They were indeed going to be together a long time… It wasn’t irrational to think she would end up in his bed. Enough females from the ports had sucked and fucked him on his sheets over the years, but none had made him anticipate the act as much as she did.

“You wouldn’t prefer the nightgown?” North asked, matching his tone.

He laughed brightly, genuinely. “You may succeed in seducing me, after all.”

“I—”

“Don’t worry.” Tik-Tok winked. “As I told Ozma, I’m the most gentlemanly of pirates.”

“Land!” Kaliko called from above in the crow’s nest.

“Land,” Tik-Tok repeated with a grin. “Are you coming with me, then?”

“Do I have a choice?” She arched a silver brow.

He held out his gold hand for her to take. “Not really, no.”

She placed her hand in his and shivered slightly when her palm touched the cold metal. “Fine, but you’re buying me a better axe.”

“I’ll buy you anything.” He leaned closer. “All you have to do is ask.”

Chapter Ten

North

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