Let's Make A Deal

Tao stood by the small square window, letting the moonlight stream into the room. The mermaid prince was sleeping over the bed like a dead person. It was quite creepy how silently the man breathed, how his chest barely moved with each breath in and out. Only the faint beating heart told Tao the man hadn't kicked the bucket from LiangLin's poison - yet.

Tao had checked - twice now - by pressing his ear against the toned pecs to listen to his heartbeat. He might just have to check it more often to make sure their hostage didn't accidentally die - he didn't mind pressing his ears on those rock-hard muscles a few times more.

Tao had tiptoed around the bed, stared at the sleeping beauty long enough to deem himself a creep before taking solace by the window to calm down his racing heart and the blood flow that insisted on rushing in the opposite direction of his brain.