Adiron (Corsair Brothers 1)

"I play to win." Actually I wouldn't mind losing, but I want to see some skin first.

She wriggles under that blanket, embarrassment stamped across her face. "Um."

"If you don't want to answer—"

"I'm answering!" Jade straightens and gives me her most haughty look. "Give me a moment. I'm thinking."

"Do you need a reminder? I'm happy to demonstrate."

The look she gives me would wither plants on some worlds. I love it. With as much dignity as she can muster, Jade lifts her chin. "I liked your tongue against my clit."

I file that information away. "That it? Or was there more?"

"That's a second question!"

Tricky, tricky. I approve. I gesture for her to take her turn. "You go, then."

Her cheeks are stained with deep color as she watches me. "This isn't a fair fight. If I ask you something sexual, you'll just eat it up. There's nothing you won't answer, and here I am, exposing all my private thoughts."

I grin, because she's not wrong. "Then ask me something non-sexual."

"Do you think we're going to die out here?"

Her vulnerable question takes me by surprise. I hate the look of sheer uncertainty on her face, so my answer is automatic. "No, I don't."

"You're not lying to me, are you, Adiron?" Jade's gaze searches mine.

"That's not how this game is played," I joke.

"I don't want to play a game," she whispers, her eyes heartbreaking. "Just tell me the truth, please. I can handle it. I just need to be prepared."

My poor Jade. She looks so stressed and worried. I want to reassure her. More than that, I want to grab her and drag her into my arms and just squeeze all the strain off her face until she smiles again. "You and I are not going to die," I promise. "Even if things get a little dangerous here on this ship—and I don't think they will—we have an escape route. We can always take an escape pod somewhere safer and regroup." I know how she thinks, so I choose my wording wisely. Jade won't abandon the stasis pods, so I need her to know that if we left, it would be temporary only. I know how much it means to her to do the right thing, and we will…but I'm not going to risk her life for it. "I'll keep you safe. And I'll get you back to your friends."

She considers my response for a moment and then nods. "Your turn," she says with a shaky laugh. "Ask me something completely appalling."

"Would you like my tongue on your clit right now?"

Jade sucks in a breath. "No."

I grin widely. "Now I know that was a lie. Time for you to lose a layer."

Knowing Jade, I expect her to protest and chide me about how I'm trying to push her into stripping her clothing off. To my surprise, though, she just gives her head a little shake and tosses the blanket aside.

And kef me, need roars through my system. I bite back a groan, and gripping the chair tight is the only thing keeping me from stroking my cock right here and right now. Seems like our game just got even more interesting. "Your question," I say, voice hoarse. "Ask away."

She nibbles on her lip, thinking, and I want to grab her and drag her back onto the bed and kiss that full mouth of hers. I want to graze my teeth against her soft neck and feel her shudder underneath me. I'm done with this game. I just want to get back to touching her. Finally, she speaks. "Have you ever regretted being a pirate?"

That's the lame-ass question she's going to ask? When I'm aching for her? When I want her to ask me what her skin tastes like or how long I can hold my breath or anything along those lines…she's going to ask me about piracy? Heaving a sigh, I decide to take matters into my own hands. I get to my feet, kick the chair aside, and start to unbuckle my pants.

"You're not going to answer?" Her voice takes on a surprised note. "Really?"

"I don't believe in second-guessing myself," I tell her, and kick off my boots. In the next moment, I undo the fastener on the trou of my jumpsuit, and the fabric parts at the waist, then slithers down my legs.

Jade squeals, her gaze moving to my underclothes. "What are you doing? I thought it was one piece of clothing?"

"You didn't say which one, so I figured I'd pick these, since they're cutting off my circulation." I tug the low-banded underclothes down my bare legs and then kick them to the side. As I do, I let out a sigh, giving my now-freed cock a quick rub. It feels so much better this way. Still hard and aching, but at least my blood flow doesn't feel as if it's been cut off.