by Dani Stowe
Yes, legs! I have legs, but I sigh.
Henry’s cut hair is proof his lover is his master and, like him, I’m not really a master at all, although I claim to be. The control, the power Kumiko has on me—she is my master.
Henry takes control of his tires and wheels himself up the ramp into the house.
As I trail behind Kumiko, I also grab at her bottom—her arse poking out of the short, cut blue frayed trousers. I slap one cheek, making Kumiko yelp and the dragon on her back eyes me with suspicion.
“I can pretend to be the master sometimes, can’t I?” I wink to the painted beast.
Kumiko turns to me with confusion. “What?”
I’m about to wrap my arms around her and load her mouth with a swabbing of my tongue when we are interrupted.
“Hey,” pants Athena coming up the ramp. She’s eyeing my legs.
“Hey, what’s up?” asks Kumiko.
“I knew Henry was coming back today and I wanted to see how he was and to let your boyfrie—” she stops herself. “You guys are together, I’m assuming,” she points between us as she fixes her glasses.
“He’s my boyfriend,” replies Kumiko with a smile and I stick out my chest.
“Boy? I’m not a boy!” I interject.
Kumiko fusses. “No, Orphelius, it’s another word of affection we use nowadays. It means you belong to me. You’re mine.”
“Oh!” I nod. “Then, I’m her boyfriend,” I confirm, “and her master and her baby.” It feels very odd to call myself by these short titles and say them aloud.
Athena rolls her eyes. “Oh-kay. Well, I got the juvenile dolphin reunited with its mother.”
“Yes,” I reply, “thank you. We’ve spotted them together.”
I wave my hand to encourage Athena to follows us into the beach house and I see Shelley is already at work in the kitchen. She is humming and dancing about as Henry twirls in his chair to pass her a few things. The show is quite entertaining and it fills me with such joy.
I’m also excited to eat more hot food. Kumiko raved about Shelley and Henry’s cooking. I had no idea the deckhand had such skills! However, instead of continuing to help his master, Henry comes to roll up next to me among the other ladies at the dining table, bringing a mechanical utensil and a piece of paper.
He writes: I want to see the sea witch.
“No,” I tell him because I know exactly why. Henry is hoping the sea witch might help him with his ailments. But it’s not because he wants to be fixed; in truth, I believe Henry is content with himself, but he wants to be fixed for Shelley’s sake. “Shelley loves you as you are,” I speak softly. “There’s too much risk and besides, you have nothing to trade.”
He puts the writing utensil to the paper: And Willis? He’s alone now. We can’t leave him out there.
Athena comes off her seat when she finishes reading the words. “Yes, what of the Captain?” she shouts.
I hastily reach over the table to cover Athena’s mouth with my hand and look out through the bay window. The ocean looks calm. I love my dear friend, Willis, but I do not want him to hear us talking about him being so close to the water’s edge. I fear Athena may have already spoken too much.
“Hey Kumiko,” interrupts Shelley. “What’s this?”
Shelley dangles a round, golden piece of treasure that I have not seen in a long, long time and I’m unsure if I should feel hopeful or dreadful.
“I don’t know,” Kumiko replies, “It was in the drawer. I pulled it out when I was looking for the flashlight.” Kumiko fidgets with the treasure on her finger—the ring.
Henry catches sight of the compass dangling from Shelley’s hand. His cheeks turn sallow before he looks to me and then out through the window to the sea.
In his eyes, I can see the reflection of the ocean rising and a wave—a massive swell of seawater is rising to a high crest above a lowering tide. A tidal wave builds with a fury.
I lean over to my side, clutching Kumiko in the seat next to me to pull her to my chest before she can notice what’s coming and I kiss her. I kiss her furiously so she has no choice but to stop breathing for a moment so I let her go.
Kumiko’s eyes are wide with fear—suspicious of my action. “What’s happening?”
I grip my lover tight in my arms. She instinctively clutches me back. “Orphelius?”
I stroke the few strands of hair lingering over her face and push them behind her ear. “Baby,” I say. “Are you wearing my most favorite of your lady’s attire, the one made for swimming, beneath your outer clothing?”
“My bikini?” she grimaces. “Yeah.”
“Good, because we’re about to go for a swim.”
*End of Book 2*
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I TRAPPED A SEXY BEAST who answers to the call of “husband.” I have mini-monsters who possess me with joy. I own furry critters that are running me into the grave and my house into ruin. And I have a freaky fetish for writing about fantastical creatures (human and otherwise) who are unduly obsessed with fornication.
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Did you love Lovers Peak? Then you should read The Fourth Knight by Dani Stowe!
An Action-Packed, Sexy Reverse Robin Hood Retelling.
A troublesome outlaw.
A tyrant king.
A crossing of tumultuous pasts.
And a knight tricked...
Hale: "Lady Claire," I say to myself as I march through the castle. Her name rolls off the tip of my tongue. I wonder what she tastes like. I doubt she’ll have a chance to make it out of her wedding dress before I pull at her golden hair while flipping up her gown but I'll be a good husband after that—maybe.
Rue: Sir Hale believes I am his betrothed. I missed the opportunity to send him and his king straight to hell, but I will not miss again. I'm not sure I want to kill Hale but once I learn more and get close enough, I won’t hesitate. By week’s end, they’ll both be dead.
This is a steamy standalone. All hail, Hell's Fire!
For mature readers.
Read more at Dani Stowe’s site.
Also by Dani Stowe
Bang Lords
Up Her (Coming Soon)
The Sea Men
Lovers Catch
Lovers Peak
Standalone
The Fourth Knight
Watch for more at Dani Stowe’s site.
Dani Stowe, Lovers Peak