A Pet for the Dragons

198.

IVRET

I found myself tied to a pole outside the captain's cabin. It took me a while to recall how I ended up in this situation.

I scanned the deck for Zorge, but I found Arika instead, lounging on one of the chairs on the deck with a cup of tea while flipping through some charts. Meanwhile, Radrox remained on the bridge, tinkering with the Navigation screen.

The sun was setting, which meant it was time for dinner. I wondered if they had let Zorge free. I'd be damned if they had.

"Can you free me for a moment, please, Arika?" I requested.

"No," she replied without ever looking at me. I pouted.

"Please, I need to scratch my balls. They itch," I tried.

"Let them," She sighed deeply. I could tell that she was exhausted for the day.

"It's almost sunset. I need to prepare dinner tonight. Would you like some grilled fish with peppers?" I offered, hoping I could buy my way out this time. She gave me a side eye but mostly ignored me as if I wasn't there. This was starting to irritate me.

"No," She snapped.

"All this because I fancied myself some ice cream," I decided to address the elephant in the room. Arika finally looked at me over the charts. Her gaze was sharp and cutting.

"Since when did you start liking ice cream, Ivret?" She asked.

"Since today?" I replied, feigning innocence, but I knew that all this was useless. Arika wasn't buying it. Radrox gave an annoyed grunt from the bridge before speaking up.

"Let him out. I'm hungry. Make me something quick,"

Arika eyed me suspiciously for a bit before freeing me. I smiled widely at her, but she turned away before I could steal a kiss from her. It seemed like I'd have to work a bit for that, which wasn't a problem for me, really.

Though I couldn't help but remind myself that all this could have been avoided, but Zorge had to overreact just because I decided to taste some ice cream today. Anyway, I was pleased to be free while he was still locked away with the cargo. That's where he belonged naturally. I hoped he'd stay locked in there for the rest of the trip.

I went to the freezer to get Arika's favourite fish and also grabbed something to make for Radrox.

"What do you think? Will we make it on time for the delivery?" I heard Arika ask Radrox while I started preparing dinner.

This reminded me that we were sailing south to deliver some contraband to one of Arika's contacts. This was one of the things she did for a living before she met us.

After she recovered from the incident at the Cardinal House, she struggled to feel like herself again. Those were very dark days for all of us. Arika was happy to have finally gotten her ship back, and it made her more restless.

It was Radrox's idea that we do the things she used to do. Not all the things, but yes, sailing was one of the significant things we did. Arika didn't want to get back into piracy again, so she decided to start her own 'private shipping' business.

And that was how things had been so far. Once every couple of months, she would get a contract to deliver 'special goods' to some 'special destination'. It was great so far. It helped keep her mind off the past and gave her a sense of purpose again. Though it was a bit risky, it didn't matter to us as long as it kept her sane.

"That's how it looks until and unless there's a storm waiting for us at the coasts," Radrox replied with a sigh.

"I know it's a long run this time," Arika returned. "I will try to keep it shorter next time."

"Just don't bring Zorge next time. It would make things easier," I suggested from the kitchen.

"If it were upto me, I'd dump both of you in the sea, but we can't always have our ways," Radrox replied. Arika snorted.

"It's okay. I will make it up to you," Arika offered Radrox sweetly, and I couldn't help but feel a little tinge of jealousy. Zorge had ruined my chances of spending time with Arika today. "But when do we let him out? It's getting time for dinner," Arika asked.

"He'll be fine there for a couple of days without food. He's getting fat anyway," I suggested, but it was ignored. Radrox sees deeply before announcing.

"I'm going to let him out. Give me a moment,"

I wasn't fond of the idea very much, but as soon as Radrox left, I was alone with Arika, and I hated wasting moments like this. I didn't waste anytime going to Arika with a well-charred piece of fish, which was Arika's favourite.

"Sorry," I purred, holding the piece of fish against her lips while she was busy looking at the navigation screen. Arika eyed me suspiciously for a moment before finally eating the grilled fish.

"Thank you," I purred, wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her against me. I loved that she didn't fight me at all and let me have her.

"I wanted to hold you all day," I whispered, placing soft kisses on her jaw and heading closer to her lips. I was on my mission to steal my day's kiss from her.

She knew what was going on and what I intended to do, but she didn't fight me. It encouraged me more to keep going.

"You've been acting more and more like Zorge these days. One Zorge is enough on this ship," Arika complained, putting her arms around me. I pushed her against the navigation board, and she pressed her whole body against me.

I could feel every curve and every softness that her body had to offer. She was fuller than before and looked healthier each day. Good. This is what I had wanted. This is what I had prayed for on her sickest days.

"I can make this ship to have no Zorge at all. All you have to do is tell me," I offered, pressing a hot kiss against her lips. Her breath hooked immediately, and her scent sweetened for me. This made my resolve snap, and I dove for a kiss.

Arika let me claim her lips, but only for a short while. It didn't matter. I took all I could and left her with promises of more when she would be in my arms tonight.

"Zorge stays. Everyone stays. We are the crew. Crew always look after each other," Arika reminded me. I groaned at her words. I ached to punch Zorge in the face one of these days so much.

As if he knew we were talking about him, Zorge declared his presence by interrupting us.

"She's right."

~

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