Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 110079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 367(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 367(@300wpm)
Of course, Tyche had a few questions about that fondness. Pretty much starting with…
What the fuck?
Shey kissed me.
We kissed.
Lips touching. Breaths mingling. Heat growing. That kissing.
Even recalling it now, Tyche’s brain shorted out and his cheeks heated. If he’d known kissing was so nice, he would have investigated it centuries ago. No! Millennia ago.
However, he had a feeling that the reason for the kissing being so nice had more to do with who he was kissing and less to do with the specific act.
That girl had kissed him. Fuck, he couldn’t even remember her name now. In his defense, that had been over six hundred years ago. Even so, that kiss hadn’t felt nearly as exciting as the one he’d enjoyed with Shey.
He wanted to try it again. If one small, slow kiss felt that nice, wouldn’t several kisses be better? What if they weren’t so small or slow, but hungry and fierce? What if hands were involved and possibly other body parts?
“Are you ready to get off the ship?”
Shey’s innocent question ripped Tyche from his wandering thoughts. The God of Luck lost all credibility as he jumped, a sharp yelp escaping him. When he turned to look at the prince, he found Shey frozen, his eyes wide and his mouth hanging open as if he couldn’t believe Tyche’s response.
“Um…yeah. Sorry. Lost in important thought.” Tyche cleared his throat, determined to brazen his way through his lapse and ignore the fact that he might have been fantasizing about what Shey’s warm skin might taste like if he licked his throat. “What were you saying?”
Shey blinked and tried to smooth out his face, but Tyche could still see the hint of a smile tugging up the corners of his mouth. “I asked if you were excited to get off the ship.”
“Oh, yes. Definitely. Apparently, Haru has beaten me to exploring your city and finding out what kind of good food you have here.”
The grin bloomed in full force, and that traitorous flutter in the pit of Tyche’s stomach returned. So annoying. Why did that keep happening? Shouldn’t he be accustomed to Shey’s attractive appearance by now? The fluttering was getting worse. Especially since the kiss.
“I’ll make sure you get the chance to taste all of Caspagir’s specialties. The palace has some of the finest chefs in the kingdom, and they’ll make whatever you want.”
Tyche frowned. Going to the palace likely meant meeting Shey’s mother and sister. That felt very nerve-racking. “When you introduce me to the queen and princess, could you not lead off with the fact that I’m a god?”
Shey’s warm expression clouded, and he stepped up to the railing with Tyche. The wind ruffled his long, pale hair while the waning afternoon light cast shadows across the sharp features of his face. “I’m not sure I would be comfortable hiding such a fact. She’s not only my mother but the queen of Caspagir. She must protect our people, and that’s hard to accomplish with people hiding important information.”
Tyche lifted both hands and frantically waved them. “No! No! I don’t mean never tell her. I’m saying don’t lead off with it. There’s no need to start off with, This is Tyche, God of Luck. But you know, maybe tell her later. In secret. After I’m gone.”
Shey’s shoulders shook with silent laughter and he nodded. “Yeah, I can do that. I—”
“Excuse me, Your Highness. More messages have arrived from the palace, and there’s another message from Admiral Kent.”
Tyche wanted to groan at the interruption, but he couldn’t. Shey was a prince first, and his kingdom was in the middle of being attacked. He needed to focus on protecting his people and kicking the Order ships out of his harbor. Not worrying about a neurotic little god who might be developing his first crush.
Of course, that logic didn’t stop him from shooting a dark look at the first mate, who’d been conscripted to act as Prince Shey’s assistant. The poor man winced, pulling his shoulders in as if to make himself smaller.
“Thank you, Blevins. I’ll be down in a moment.”
Prince Shey turned as if he meant to continue their conversation, but Tyche waved him off. They were just making silly chitchat. His job was more important. He snagged Shey’s arm and turned the prince toward the stairs that would lead below deck and to the meeting room he’d claimed to assess reports and issue orders.
Tyche pressed his hands to Shey’s back, giving him a gentle push. “No, you go deal with all of it now. It looks like we’re going to be docking soon, and you’re going to get busier.”
Shey smirked at Tyche over his shoulder but didn’t argue as he returned to the lounge decorated in various shades of blue. There was a medium-sized table in the center that was now covered in scattered sheets of paper, two laptops, and Shey’s newly acquired cell phone.