Chapter Three
Jucai spent all night showing me how different he was from other men. He employed positions and techniques I'd never done before. It would have been more exciting if I hadn't assumed that he had learned them from his harems. Regardless, it was fun, and I was happier than ever.
Then I woke up in his arms.
It sounds so romantic to wake up in someone's arms. The reality is awakening restrained, feeling caged, with hot breath on your face and the threat of suffocation.
I hadn't taken Jucai for a snuggler, but he hadn't let go of me all night.
For a man like me, who changes his position often, it leads to cramped muscles and irritation.
I tried to slip free, but he woke up.
Smiling, the Sea King said, “Good morning.”
“Uh, yeah, good morning.” I extricated myself and sat up. “Sorry about spending the night. I must have passed out.”
He sat up and frowned at me. “I wanted you to stay.”
“Oh?” I slid out of bed and headed for the bathroom. “I expected you to be the type to send your lover home after you were done.” I closed the bathroom door, cutting off any response. “Damn,” I whispered as I took in the room.
Polished black lava rock covered the floor, leading to a massive bathtub of the same material, set into the floor so that it appeared to rise from it.
I passed between the tub and a mother-of-pearl counter set with a black marble sink.
The fixtures and mirror frames were gold, with the mirror over the sink reflecting a view of the city.
I glanced out the window over the tub, wondering if the King was an exhibitionist. But I couldn't stop to ponder; I had morning needs to see to.
After using the toilet in a separate room at the other end of the bathroom, I washed up and splashed some water on my face.
I was still naked, my cock spent and my muscles relaxed despite my fixed sleeping position.
The fucking had done me good. The King would be a lovely distraction during my stay.
I had overreacted to waking up with him.
It wasn't as if he'd spouted poetry and confessed his love.
This was a king with two harems. He wasn't looking for a mate either.
Feeling more confident, I left the bathroom.
The King brushed past me and closed the bathroom door. I grinned to myself. Yes, he was unaffected by our night together. I was indeed overreacting. I got dressed with a smile on my face. As I was leaving, Jucai came out of the bathroom.
“Where are you going?” he demanded.
“Oh, I, uh.” I laughed. “I don't know. I thought I’d go to my room and change my clothes, but I just realized that I don't know where my room is.”
Jucai had an odd look on his face as he strode over to me. “You do not leave my presence until I dismiss you.”
I laughed again, but his expression didn't change.
“Oh, you're serious. Holy fuck. All right, uh, I don't even know what to say to that. Oh, wait, I know!” I held his gaze.
“You're not my king. We had sex. It was great.
I'd like to do it again. But I am not your subject to command—not in or out of bed.”
“You are while you're here. I am the King of Ilshi, and you are a guest in my kingdom. That makes you mine.”
I blinked, shocked at his behavior. Then I remembered I was his first diplomat.
“Ah, I see. I'm so sorry, Your Majesty. This is a misunderstanding.
You should have been told about the rules regarding diplomats.
You see, a diplomat is exempt from serving the King they visit.
It's to prevent divided loyalties, you see? I owe fealty to my king, not to you. I am here as his representative. My king would show your diplomat the same courtesy. He wouldn’t expect your diplomat to obey him.
I will, of course, obey your laws and any command you give me regarding your city or people.
I am not here to cause chaos. But as far as personal commands, such as leaving your bedroom before I'm dismissed, I am not obligated to obey you. Frankly, even my king does not have the right to command me as you just did.”
“It is only proper respect that I demand. You do not leave a king's presence without permission. I believe that holds true on land.”
I snorted a laugh. “Yes, you're absolutely right, and if we were in your throne room, or anywhere besides here, I would follow protocol. But we are in your bedroom after spending the night together. The situation is different.”
The King's expression shivered through fury to confusion and then landed on uncertainty. “Why do you wish to leave?”
That stymied me. “I, uh, just . . . I'd like to freshen up, Your Majesty.”
“I told you to call me Jucai.”
I stared at him, as baffled by his behavior as he was by mine. “You were just ordering me to stay, and now you want me to be familiar with you again?”
The King, still naked, rubbed a hand over his face. “You are the most frustrating man!”
“I need to bathe and change my clothes.” I held out my arms. “I don't want to offend you. So, you tell me, what should I do?”
“Wait a moment for me to dress, and I shall escort you to your room.”
“Oh.” I relaxed. “I’d appreciate that. Thank you.”
He nodded and went into his dressing room. I waited, standing near the entryway, since there were no chairs in the room. Who didn't have a chair in their room? It was weird. Why did he need so much open space? How about a plant? Maybe a bookshelf. It was too bare.
Bored with nothing to look at, I strode out onto the balcony.
Anywhere else, a room open to the elements would be impractical.
But under a dome where it never rained, it didn't matter.
I leaned on the railing and looked out across Kansu.
We were higher than I had thought. Which was why Jucai could have a window next to his bathtub.
I felt silly for not thinking of it sooner.
In my defense, I'd just woken up after being fucked stupid.
Sighing, I lifted my gaze to the dome overhead and the sea beyond.
My chest tightened when a massive shape floated past, its underbelly lit by the city.
I didn't need to see all that detail. As a Dragon, there wasn't much that frightened me, but even with my Water Magic, this underwater city made me uneasy.
I had never felt so out of my element, not once in all my diplomatic visits.
Probably because I was literally out of my element, being underwater.
The city looked like those on land, but it was vastly different, and I didn't belong in it.
I was an interloper, as out of place as the horses that pulled carriages through the streets.
“The view is worth the stairs, isn't it?” Jucai leaned against the railing beside me.
“It is indeed,” I murmured. “Who ran this city while you were hibernating?”
He looked at me. “No one. We cleared the city and closed the ward so that no one but Sea Dragons could pass through."
I turned to face him. “What about all the people who lived here?”
“They went back to their communities.” Jucai grimaced. “It was not the best solution, but we couldn't leave the palace or city unguarded. One of the underwater gangs would have moved in and tormented the citizens. It was safer for them to leave.”
“Wait, what? Underwater gangs?”
“The sea is as dangerous as the land. The other races look to us for protection. That is why they serve us. Without us, they would be prey not only to criminals but also to sea monsters such as the frellen, who capture people to torture and eat.”
“You have sea monsters that eat people?”
“Yes, my soldiers patrol the kingdom to keep people safe. When we first woke, we had to clear out many frellen nests.”
“I see.” And I did. The tithes of slaves made more sense now. “Land Dragons do the same for the other races on land. Although we don't have monsters to kill. The people are the monsters.”
Jucai chuckled. “Yes, sometimes people are worse than animals. They can certainly be harder to kill.”
“I'm sorry to have misjudged you, Jucai.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Thank you, but I've already forgiven you.”
I grinned. “Please forgive my stench as well. I am still in need of a bath and fresh garments.”
“I'll show you to your room.” Jucai took my hand and led me out of his bedroom.