then he was following the strawberries across her stomach , swirling around her belly button , dipping his head lower to catch the taste in her tight curls . she was about to question him further but he spoke before she could frame the question in a way that he might actually answer it . `` it 's just a suggestion , '' the emperor stressed . there was a pause , then it opened . the next one could be yours . dusk had descended on the ocean , darkness fast on its heels . 