Page 33 of Tik-Tok

“Stay,” Tik-Tok said, surprising himself. “You’re already here and, besides, I have a gift.”

“A gift?” Her brows lifted as she studied him.

He rose and crossed to one of the cabinets lining the wall of his quarters. The axe he’d acquired while she was bathing, before they’d departed Merryland, was from the finest bladesmith he knew. It would be easier for her to grip the slim handle, and the metal was nearly weightless. Carrying it back to the bed, he wondered if he should’ve skipped having the butt of the axe engraved with a star.

“Here.” He tossed it onto the bed where he’d lain moments ago. It landed, sinking slightly into the thick blanket. “You can’t say I don’t keep my word.”

She lifted the axe without looking at him, turning the weapon over, examining every inch, her delicate fingers slowly running up its length. Tik-Tok felt her careful scrutiny all the way down to his groin. Felt the imaginary touch of her doing the same thing to him—caressing, admiring.Fuck. If she showed his throbbing cock even a fraction of the attention she showed the new weapon, he would burst all over her pretty face.

“It’s perfect,” she whispered after what felt like an entire voyage across the sea.

Tik-Tok released a small, relieved breath, and joined her on the bed. He sprawled across his half of the mattress and tucked his hands behind his head. “I know.”

“It has a star…”

“I know,” he said again, closing his eyes. “Now, go back to sleep.”

He kept his breathing shallow as he waited for her to decide whether or not to listen. She could return to her room and he wouldn’t stop her, but he hoped she didn’t. He wanted her to stay. Even after the portal was open, she could choose to remain beside him. The irrational thought pierced him.No.She was going home. She missed her family—his enemies. She’d said as much.

Finally, North shifted, leaning sideways over his abdomen.And she would leave now too.Of course, she would. Why wouldn’t she? But a soft thunk hit the floor instead. Tik-Tok’s eyes cracked to find her face hovering over his chest. “What are you doing?” he asked.

“Putting the axe on the floor so we don’t injure ourselves.” She struggled to balance over him without touching—there was only an inch of space between his hip and the edge of the bed for her to hold herself up. After a moment of trying to shove herself back to her side of the mattress, she gave up and placed a hand on his lower stomach, below his navel. He wished he’d left his shirt off.

Tik-Tok’s gold hand immediately landed on top of hers, holding it there. “Careful, my star.”

She rolled her eyes and scrambled gracelessly away. When her head hit the pillow, Tik-Tok glared sideways at her, taking in the sight of her in his bed and enjoying how perfect it looked. He would have her there every night if he could.

North yanked at the covers, pulling the material from under his weight, and shimmied beneath them. “Don’t get any ideas.”

Tik-Tok chuckled. “I should be the one saying that, don’t you think?”

“Go to sleep,” she said with a tired groan.

“Land!”

Kaliko’s call radiated through the walls inside Tik-Tok’s quarters—which did, indeed, still smell like North despite her having left hours ago. She had tried to sneak away, but it was impossible not to feel her climb over him. He had kept his eyes closed, however, letting her believe it was all done in stealth.

Grabbing his jacket, he stalked onto the deck. Respen and Dax stood near the helm, working in tandem to bringThe Temptressas close to Isa Poso as possible, while North used her new axe to spar against Echo and the siren’s narrow blade. He paused only for a moment to watch her move effortlessly in a light pink skirt and a brown button-up bodice that showed her stomach. The scar on her chest was hidden beneath the bodice, and the silky skirt was knotted, bringing the fabric up above her knees. Her braided hair whipped over her shoulder as she spun to block one of Echo’s attacks.

“The boat’s ready for you,” Cyrx informed him. When had the goblin come up beside him?

Tik-Tok turned his back on North to find the brownies tying down the black sails. He’d been watching the sparring match longer than he realized. “I won’t be long,” he said loud enough for Respen to hear, and went straight for the rowboat.

“Wait!” North called. She ran up to him as he stepped into the boat, chest heaving, beads of perspiration clinging to her smooth skin. “Where are you going?”

His red eyes rose to meet her gaze. The look of longing on her face cut straight through him, but he brushed away the spark of pain. Who was she to question him and his methods? She was only there because he’dforcedher to be. What did it matter if he pleasured Celyna?

It didn’t. And North wasn’t accusing him of wrongdoing. That was him—putting words in her mouth. Why? Did he feel guilty about what he was going to do?

Absolutely not.

“To fuck the sea witch,” he said in a low voice.

The curious spark drained from North’s eyes, her cheeks burning bright red.

“Stay put and listen to Respen,” he added, then nodded at the brownies waiting to lower him down to the sea.

Once the rowboat hit the silver waves, he untied the ropes and pushed his rising anger into each stroke of the oars. He wasn’t doing anything wrong. He and Celyna had their arrangement long before North even existed. A mutually beneficial agreement that in no way involved the female that he’d stolen away to open his portal. He refused to give in to the urge to look back to see if she was still watching. An ache ran along his jaw from how hard he clenched it.

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