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She smiled up at him, and her lower lip began to wobble.
I’m going to burn in hell. She’s crying! “Oh, my love! Please don’t cry. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I was selfish. I knew we should have waited or perhaps we shouldn’t have—”
Jade dug her hands into his chest and pulled him down. “No one’s ever let me do what I want, how I want. Not in bed. Another person has never, ever made me feel something good. Even I lost the knack a long time ago.”
“Oh. So those are happy tears?”
“I’m not crying. Am I?” Jade looked horrified and sat up. She reached for covers as if showing emotions left her more exposed than putting her body on display.
I suppose it might feel that way.
“Leopardine Knights and Kings are told they must not cry. It’s a sign of weakness.” Ardol helped her wrap the blanket over her shoulders like a cape but didn’t turn from her or leave her side. “It’s not to say that it never happens, but it’s rare, usually only for a great tragedy. But when you let me see your smile and hear about your life, I feel like you are truly mine to love.” His voice broke at the worst moment, and he turned it into a cough. “I never understood crying from happiness until now.” He cleared his throat again. “I’d prefer it to be our secret.”
“Yes. Exactly.” Jade looked up at him, a curious expression on her face, something between shy and contemplative. “Huh. I think we actually make a good match.”
His heart shot to the top of his head. “Me, too.”
“I prefer to let people see exactly what I want them to see. Cool, confident—drop-dead sexy.”
“Mm, agreed.”
“And you’re the same. You have a carefully cultivated public persona, don’t you? Mr. District-Lord-To-Be, Mr. Arrogant, Mr. This-Is-Just-Business. Inside,” Jade dropped her gaze, “you’re kind of like me. Softer. Scared.”
“I’m not scared! Well. No, I guess I was scared, or I wouldn’t have scrambled so hard to find a Queen,” he admitted, licking his lips, stealing another taste of her. His cock had lost a fraction of his rigidity, but it swelled back to full hardness as she nestled against him. “I’ve been promised that particular future, that particular role for my entire life. Yes, it is frightening to think of losing it—but I’m suddenly more scared of hurting you or losing you,” he confessed.
“You won’t. You said we could go back to sleep for another few hours, but I’m not tired. I’ve gotten so much rest in the past two days, and I’ve slept soundly, too.” Jade looked up at him. “Do you want to sleep?”
“Not at the moment.” I couldn’t sleep if I wanted to, not until I go into the shower and fix this problem, Ardol thought to himself.
“Can I try something?”
“Anything you want,” Ardol agreed—perhaps too quickly.
Jade’s eyes twinkled at him. “I want to go exploring.”
“The ship? Sure!”
“No. Something closer.” She shed her cape and rose with wobbly knees. “Follow me.”
Chapter Twelve
“Shh.” Jade forestalled Ardol’s protests as she led him into the shower. “Only hugging and kissing. I promise.” I promise that I genuinely want to touch and kiss that cock. I want to see it in the light and get to know it. There was still a hollow feeling when she thought about something hard and large pressing inside of her, but she was starting to separate those dark memories from her present situation.
He made me come so hard. I wonder how he’d feel in me...
Ardol turned on the shower and pressed some buttons. “It’s not that I don’t want to make love. I just want it to be so perfect for you.”
“Well, what just happened was perfection, believe me.” Jade changed a few settings. “I want to try the all-over lather you use,” she smiled.
“It’ll make you slippery,” Ardol warned.
“And that’s not a bad thing.” Jade moved closer to him, chest pressing to his abdomen, his erection rubbing against her silky skin.
Ardol gasped. “That’s not a good idea,” he said through clenched jaws.
“Because you don’t like it?”
“Because I don’t want to embarrass myself by begging for your touch or to put any sort of pressure on you. I want to take things at your pace. Or simply stay here, at this spot.” Ardol bent his head and kissed her forehead. “Being the one you curl up with, the one you showcase your gorgeous body to... I’m more fortunate than most Felids. To want more is selfish. Which I am, but... For you, not so much.” He gave her a softer version of the cocky smile that had initially annoyed her.
