Chapter Twenty

Naima couldn't believe she'd been so bold as to take her nightgown off and bear herself before Sinbad like that. Now, she sat straddling his stomach, his thick, calloused hands on her hips. She lifted her hands to cover her reddened face, successfully covering her breasts as well. Sinbad chuckled, lifting a hand to curl into her lavender hair.

"Don't be embarrassed," he said softly. He knew this was her first time, and she'd been more emphatic than he had expected. "You're beautiful, Naima." He returned his hands to her hip and stroked her supple skin there.

Naima peeked through her fingers and she saw the dark violet eyes staring back at her, half-lidded, eager for what she proposed, but kind and patient. "I don't…I…"

Sinbad laughed and sat up, wrapping his arms around her as she fell back onto his legs. He pressed her against his chest and she slipped her arms around his neck. "If you're not ready, Naima, I won't push you," he kissed her chin softly and nuzzled against her throat.

Naima squeezed him tight and bit her lip. She wanted to, very badly, but she was so nervous. She trembled against his chest and sighed. "I don't…I don't know," she whispered.

"Well, why don't we make a deal," he suggested, stroking her back from the lowest part of her spine and up to the back of her neck slowly. "When you're ready, and when we don't have all of Sindria waiting for us to return…we'll pick up where we left off."

Naima leaned back and looked at him, smiling softly. "And what's the other half of the deal?" She squeaked when he kissed just below her collarbone, brushing his lips across the roundness of her breast.

"The other half is that you just simply have to let me know when you're ready." He said, reaching for her nightgown and sliding it between their chests, wrapping it around her to protect her modesty. "Whether it's today, tomorrow, next week, or…longer. When you're ready, we'll go there. I'm not who I used to be anymore, not since I met you," he sighed gently. "You've helped me become a better man, Naima, and I'm not going to pressure you into something that I want but you're not ready for."

Naima saw the blush on his cheeks and smiled. He had been more of a gentleman then what she'd originally heard and what she'd originally believed. And here he was, being so patient with her anxiety and fears. She never would have believed that Sinbad, King of the Seven Seas, King of Sindria, would choose her honor over the pleasure she knew they could create. With a simple tilt of her head, she kissed him, sweetly, softly, and sighed. His lips were so soft, and his tongue was so adept as he kissed her back. He let out a light moan and smiled, parting away from her.

"Thank you," she whispered. She climbed off of his lap and stood from the bed. She was still trembling with the desire to feel him like that, but she knew this was the right decision. They had been so close to it so many times, now, and she knew that even she couldn't wait much longer. She opened her bag and pulled from it a simple dress and her father's coat. She dressed rather quickly, sliding into her favorite, worn boots, before turning back to Sinbad who sat in the bed, watching her.

"No need to thank me," he said, pulling a pillow over his lap to hide his arousal and will it to leave him. "I'm not going to take that from you, Naima…it's something we'll share together when you're ready."

She smiled, taking her hair brush from her bag and moving to sit beside him. "Will you help me brush my hair? I got up too fast and I feel weak now," she said. It wasn't a lie; she did feel a bit light headed as she'd barely stood after being sick. She closed her eyes when he took the brush, and she had to hold back a moan at the feel of someone brushing her hair. It felt so good. She loved when her siblings played with her hair at home, but there was something romantic about this.

"I've never done this before," Sinbad chuckled. "So, we both have firsts to share."

"I don't think the two are easily comparable," Naima laughed, enjoying the feel of his fingers and the brush against her scalp and in her long tresses. "But I'm definitely not complaining that—"

"SINBAD!" A roar followed by heavy, booming stomping feet interrupted them. Suddenly, the door to the captain's quarters was kicked open and nearly ripped from the hinges. "DON'T YOU EVEN THINK OF SULLYING THAT GIRL BEFORE YOU'RE MARR—" Rurumu stormed into the room and stopped dead in her tracks. "Married…" She choked, wide-eyed and staring at the couple as Sinbad paused the brush in Naima's hair.

Naima's face immediately turned blood red at that word, and she swallowed hard. Sinbad, though, started laughing.

"Rurumu, what did you think we'd be doing in here? Naima needed some help getting ready, and I figured you were already off taking care of unloading the ships and keeping the crabs frozen." He shook his head and continued brushing Naima's hair until all the tangles were out. When he was done, he stood, himself, still wearing his flowy pants. He grabbed his robes from the floor, shook them out, and dressed himself. "Naima is too much of a lady to let me take advantage of her; she'd probably have killed me if I tried!" He laughed again, looking at Naima with a playful look in his eyes.

Naima sighed and rolled her eyes, finally feeling more like herself. She stood, but felt wobbly and sat down again. "Goodness, Rurumu, you give me no credit." She said, giggling softly. Sinbad moved to her side and slid his arm beneath hers. He helped her stand, but when he moved to pick her up, she stopped him. "Let me walk…just help me. The King of Sindria is returning to his home and he should be in the spotlight. I'll walk with Rurumu when we are ready to leave the ship." She said.

Rurumu still stood dumfounded, watching the two leave the room together. She shook her head, and she grunted, her hands balling into fists. "Ja'far is going to pay for setting me up like that!"

Naima was grateful. Sinbad assisted her to the upper deck where they would leave the ship from, and when they stood together there, she could hear the cheers from all the townspeople of Sindria waiting for them. She felt butterflies in her stomach at the thought of seeing Amal and Amira again, and she couldn't help but look forward to the income she'd receive from all the snow crab she'd be selling. She was surprised when Sinbad leaned down and kissed her sweetly.

"Go ahead with Rurumu," he said. "I'll follow. I believe your siblings are waiting for you." He squeezed her against his side and let Rurumu take over. He laughed when Naima refused to be carried again.

"Tonight, there will be a feast again. Will you and your siblings stay in the palace with us, or do you want to return home before the banquet?" Rurumu asked, helping Naima toward the ramp to leave the ship. "I'm sure you're eager to be home?"

Naima was listening to Rurumu, but her eyes welled with tears when she saw her twin siblings chomping at the bit to get passed the barricades to her. "I think I'll go home and bring the twins to the palace this evening," she said, and she reached for the rail, leaning on it and letting go of Rurumu. She opened her arms and laughed, watching the twins jump over the barricade and run to her. She fell to her knees and held them tight, breathing in the scent of their hair and feeling the warmth of their hugs. The crowds cheered and clapped for them, but she didn't care. She had the twins in her arms, and that's all that mattered to her.

Atop the deck, Rurumu shook her head lovingly and descended as well, waving to the crowd before she wandered to the second ship where Hinahoho and Kikiriku were helping to unload and move the crabs to the ice house. Only moments behind her, Sinbad emerged at the top of the ramp to thunderous applause and cheering. He waved, laughing happily. This was something he'd never gotten used to, and it still made him feel a little uncomfortable. Yet, he descended with a huge smile and he paused to check on Naima.

"Are you well to walk?" He asked, his hand on her shoulder.

"I believe so," she said with a smile. "Thank you, Sinbad. I'll go home with the twins for a while, and I'll see you this evening. But…" she paused, accepting Sinbad's hand to assist her back to her feet. "I realized I have nothing formal to wear this evening, and neither do the twins. I don't want to embarrass you," she held the twins' hands, looking up at Sinbad.

"Don't worry," he smiled. "I'll have some things sent for you. I would like you to be there with us, Naima." He squeezed her hand and watched her smile.

"We'll be there, I promise." She held back the urge to kiss him again. "Thank you for…everything."

Sinbad smiled. "Ladies and gentlemen," he proclaimed. "As you know, Naima joined us on our expedition to the summit, and I am happy to announce she was extremely successful in obtaining approval from the Chief Rametoto for trade! Further, she has brought with her a very successful catch of snow crab and king crab from Imuchakk! She'll be selling these delicacies in her family shop starting tomorrow after tonight's return banquet! Please be sure to visit their shop and buy their crab!"

Naima's face turned bright red but she smiled and nodded her head, happily accepting the immense cheering and applause. "I don't think I'll ever get used to this spotlight and celebrity," she chuckled.

Sinbad raised an eyebrow at her. "Are you saying you plan on being in it for a long time?"

Naima returned the raised eyebrow, a smirk on her lips. "If you'll have me."

Sinbad couldn't hold it back any longer, regardless of the hundreds of people crowding around them to welcome them home. He cupped her cheek and lifted her chin, crushing his lips to hers in a modest but passionate kiss.

The screams of their people were deafening.