Elder froze.

His eyes narrowed on me. “I thought you’d gone in.”

I stiffened.

You saw me?

My brain worked, trying to decide how I felt about being spied on just like I’d been spying on him.

Against my wishes, my eyes travelled south, taking in the way his black boxer-briefs glued to his body. The masculine bulge spiked my heart rate despite me hating that part of a man. Elder had done his best to switch some of my aversions the night he'd kissed me. Even two evenings ago when he’d pressed his erection against me, I hadn’t coiled in disgust.

I hadn’t wanted him.

But the thought of sleeping with him was marginally acceptable because at least he’d given me things in return.

Seawater continued to rivulet down his legs, catching in dark hair before pooling over his toes. Everything about him was exquisitely formed and perfect. Even his feet were in proportion to his height and build.

“Have something to say to me?” Elder smirked, not caring my eyes stalked over him. “You can, you know. Say whatever you want. I won’t get mad.”

I scowled. Was he going to bring up our fight or let it go? I was prepared to follow his lead, but once again, his wet body and chest tattoo drew my attention. The inked illusion hinted that the ocean had been allowed to swirl around his organs thanks to his ribs being exposed beneath his dragon.

Does that smoking thing have a name?

Why a dragon?

And wait…what is he doing swimming at this time of night?

At least my questions were saner and related to less harmful topics. I didn’t know if I’d evolved or just been successful at focusing on easier to handle queries.

When I didn’t respond, Elder strolled to another bollard holding yet more rigging and scooped up a towel wedged down the side. He never took his eyes off me, somehow stroking me with his vision in a way that evoked yet more goosebumps.

It seemed my skin reacted whenever he was around.

I don’t like it.

I don’t like feeling this way.

What way?

Hugging my knees closer, I tried to answer that.

Like a girl with a boy and not a slave with a master?

No, that wasn’t quite right. Elder would never be a boy, and he was far too dangerous to drop my guard and allow whatever remnants of the kiss we shared to have an effect. He was just different. And different people, scenarios, and locations were all taking a toll on me.

“Did the darkness give you the answers you were looking for?” Rubbing his face with the towel, he dragged it down his torso, before tying it around his waist. “Or maybe you’ve decided to give me the benefit of the doubt and behave?”

My teeth ground together.

Behave?

He chuckled, a lot more carefree than I’d seen him. A rogue droplet trailed over his pec; his dragon licked it up. “I’m not going to apologise for the other night. And I don’t expect one from you. I pushed too hard. I’ll try to be more understanding.”

I sat up in shock.

I’d expected a warning, not a vague admittance of equal guilt.

An uneasy silence fell, which for me was almost as foreign as the way my belly warmed while looking at his half-naked body.

Elder cleared his throat, his fingers twitching by his sides. “I hear Michaels came to see you this evening.”

Does your staff report everything I do?

“Not everything about you has to be such a bloody secret, Pim.” Rolling his eyes as I crossed my arms, he moved to shut the side of the ship and leaned against the railing. “I also heard you didn’t approve of my décor and decided to do a bit of home improvement. On an empty stomach, I might add.”

My arms tightened around myself.

Is that a crime?

I didn’t know why I antagonised him. If he hadn’t hurt me yet, why push and push, waiting for him to do the exact thing I didn’t want him to do?

What would a psychologist say? What would my mother?

It didn’t matter that I was raised with the matters of the mind. Sorting out another’s issues was easy, guessing their concerns wasn’t nearly as hard as diagnosing my own.

Elder looked me up and down. “I’m fully aware that your tongue isn’t healed and speech is still impossible. But you could give me what you gave Michaels.”

My legs jerked, causing one of my feet to slip off the bollard.

He’d told Elder I nodded for him? What happened to patient confidentiality?

“He didn’t tell me what you discussed or even how you communicated. He just said you answered his questions.” He rubbed his head again, dispelling another shower of sea. “I want to know how you answered him and why you won’t answer me.”

My shoulders hunched even as my swollen tongue itched. I’d done what Michaels had asked of me. After he’d gone, I’d eaten every mouthful of soup and bite of fluffy rice that a friendly faced maid had brought in.

I even sucked down a berry and banana smoothie and forced my very full stomach to tolerate the chocolate mousse. So much food. Much of it too sweet. But the range of savoury, sweet, and starch did wonders for my depleted system.

Within an hour, I didn’t feel so jittery or teary-eyed. My sad confusion faded, leaving curiosity in its wake. Hence my hesitant exploration and expedition onto the deck of Elder’s prized yacht.

“Pimlico.” His growl echoed in the night. “I asked a question. Answer me.”

My nostrils flared.

It didn’t work like that. Michaels had found me at my weakest. He’d been kind to me, and I respected that kindness. It wasn’t a weakness to answer him.