He runs his forefinger along the curve of the faucet, flicking it on and off. I’m kind of mesmerized by it as I retrieve the wall-mounted hair dryer and turn it on so I can fix the shirt.
“Why not?” he asks quietly, shyly.
Because getting railed in a restroom—no matter how fancy it might be—is not the kind of sex Saengtien Thanan should be having. A huge, soft bed, the scent of flowers, a beautiful view… “You deserve be—”
I cut myself off just in time. Fuck. This was close. We don’t have time for this, and neither should I be distracting myself with fantasies about the kind of lovemaking I’d want to give Hex.
“Oh shit.” He hops down from the counter where the sinks are and boxes me in, his face glowing. “I deserve what, Aran? You have to finish that sentence, or I swear to god, I’ll never talk to you again.”
I dug my own grave. The moment I let my desire and yearning possess me, I lost to him. That kiss turned my world upside down, and now I no longer have control over it. I hate it, and I love it, enjoying the freedom it brings since I no longer have to hide what I want.
Him.
I meet Hex’s gaze and he freezes, a visible shudder surging through him. Using the confusion, I lean in and kiss his pink lips, ripping a gasp out of him.
“You deserve the best, Tien. Whether it’s me or someone else who gives that to you.”
He sucks in a harsh breath, the grin sliding off his face in lieu of a shy smile. “This means… the kiss wasn’t a fluke, right? You wanted to kiss me and weren’t trying to shut me up or get over your sexual frustration?”
Just what am I going to do with this man?
I shove the shirt into his hands and tip his chin up with one finger. “I wasn’t. And I promise we’ll talk about this once tonight is over. I just ask that you be patient until then. Can you do that for me?”
He nods excitedly, no longer unsure like he was a moment ago. “Of course! I’d do anything you want if it means you won’t go back on kissing me.”
“I’ll think about it. If you behave.”
“Sir, yes, sir. I’ll be the most behaved bestest boy ever.” He salutes me, puts on the shirt and unlocks the door, skipping out of the restroom like he’s on cloud nine.
I follow after him, jogging to catch up. His hand brushes against mine and a warm feeling clutches my chest, scary and thrilling at the same time. I hold onto it as I deliver him to the Lynxes’ table and then I slip back into my role for tonight when the game is about to begin.
The truth is that even if I wanted to, it’s way too late to go back on that kiss now.
17
Hex
Ugh,Iwishwehad more time before the game! Aran was being soo romantic. I mean, it was his fault my shirt got soaked, but I’m letting it pass because it was one hundred percent done out of jealousy. Since the incident with Mong, I am convinced that Aran has been holding out on me about his possessive side. He absolutely didn’t have to do that, because I’m here for it, but what is done is done. I didn’t foresee things getting here so soon, so I’m not going to complain—there is plenty of time to see how deep his primal side runs.
Not that I’d provoke him on purpose.Tsk,nah,totally not. I would never do something like that…
I settle back at the table just as the announcer begins explaining the rules of tonight’s game from the elevated stage in the middle of the dining hall. She’s dressed in a slim black gown that sparkles whenever she moves, and her red hair is adorned with white gems.
“Dear guests, I hope you are excited about our Auction Bingo! We’ve prepared a lot of thrilling prizes for you, and the first table to score a bingo will snatch the exclusive First Slot.”
Aran and I look at each other, and I realize he’s wondering the same thing.First Slot to what?
Despite our mutual question, the pretty woman doesn’t explain what this grand prize refers to, but seeing as none of the rich people around me seem as confused as I feel, I reach the conclusion that they must know what she’s talking about. If I had to guess, it’s something related to whatever the activities going on in the off-limits parts of the ship are.
There are plenty of those places left to explore, and tonight marks only the beginning. Now that we have a way in for Aran, we can finally start solving the mystery of this cruise. It will be tricky, I am well aware of that, but we’ve taken a giant step forward tonight. All that’s left to do so I can wow Aran with my skills is for us to find a computer which is connected to the cruise’s hidden and encrypted secondary network. Because there has to be one, or I’d have long found all the info we need instead of spending hours trying to unsuccessfully decipher what those animal code names even mean. I love this whole undercover spy gig Aran and I have been doing, but while I’ve performed exceptionally considering my non-existent experience, I am much more useful behind a monitor.
I am good at what I do. One of the best. This is the first time I haven’t been able to complete a hacking request, and it grinds on me. But the defenses they have in place go beyond the virtual domain, so Sudo Hex had to leave his comfy chair and get his hands dirty in the field.
Speaking of dirty hands, as the announcer kicks off the first bid, I think of another much more pleasant way that could happen. I sneak a peek at Aran, whose stern gaze is already trained on me. The hairs on the nape of my neck stand up, and little shivers crawl all over my skin. Since the surprise kiss from earlier today, I’ve been a hundred times more conscious of him. Of every little touch and glance.
My heart skips a beat every time I catch him in the act. I can feel in the air, in the way tension crackles between us as if about to go off, how deep and intense the want in him is. A part of him is still fighting it—I can see it in the set of his angular jaw and in the way his eyes bore into me—and that makes it somehow even more potent.
He wants me so much he needs to restrain himself.
