Page 83 of Whispers of the Deep

That pale face turned toward him and he couldn’t help himself. She had called it a kiss, and it sounded so important to her. So he cupped the back of her head and drew her closer to him.

This time, he kissed her. He pressed their lips together, gently tasting her and teasing her lips to soften. He’d never known how wonderful this would feel. And yet, the achromos were right about something.

This kissing made him want her even more. It made him want something that he knew he should not have, but that he would steal for a few moments, if only to experience it with her.

He devoured her mouth, nipping at her lips with his sharper teeth and trying to coax her to open her mouth so he could taste her tongue. And when she did, oh, it made his entire body ache. His gills fluttered, the scales along his cock shifting. He was so close to extruding right out and then she would realize how incredibly different they likely were.

“You have to get into the water,” she murmured against his mouth, her fingers digging into his chest. “You can’t dry out. Especially not... If you...”

Did she want to continue this? He certainly did. He didn’t want to let go of her, nor did he want to find out what would happen if he did. “Come with me.”

“Where?”

“Into the water.” Where else would he be asking her to go? He drew back enough to see that her eyes had drifted shut, and she weaved toward him when he pulled away. “Come into the water with me again, kairos.”

“Kairos. That’s what you always call me.” She looked up at him in awe. “You’ve called me that for ages now. Surely you haven’t known?—”

He raked his claws through her hair, using them to tug her head back so she had to look at him. “I will call you whatever I wish, Mira. Kairos. achromo. Mine.”

He snarled the last word, every inch another creature that should have terrified her and yet, she looked at him with only more lust in her eyes. She wanted him.

It threw him off what he normally wouldn’t have done. With any of his people, he would have bitten her neck. Marked her. Torn into flesh, and waited for her to do the same to him. She would have already marked him with her spines or claws. But their females were so much larger than the males. She was so tiny, and he wasn’t sure they would even fit.

They would. He was certain of it. They were made for each other, just as the sea gods had intended. If it took a little work to fit them together, then they would figure it out.

But then again, he had to figure out how to even get them to fit.

Leaning to the side, he hooked her device with his claw and held it out to her. “Come with me, Mira. I have many questions that I need answered.”

“Wouldn’t talking up here be a little easier?”

“I don’t intend to talk.” His gills quivered again, and he let his eyes wander down her body before meeting her gaze. “Make your decision, Mira.”

Maybe he was pushing too hard. Maybe this would overwhelm her, but she looked at him like she wanted this. Like she wanted him. When he slipped back into the water, she didn’t hesitate. She pulled the device from his grip, yanked it on over her head, and followed him into the water.

They had slept through most of the day and into the night. The storm had passed, and the moon turned everything silvery and bright. Spears of moonlight caressed her skin with a metallic loveliness that took his breath away. Her dress floated up around her hips, revealing long legs that were all the same color. No scales, only smooth, lovely skin that would have once disgusted him.

Now, it only made him want to taste her. To touch her.

She turned toward him, her hair floating around her head and not a single moment of fear in her movements. She swam toward him, using her arms to drag her through the water.

The currents shoved her the last distance into his grip. She twined her legs around him, already arching into his touch even though he knew this likely wasn’t where she had expected any of this to happen.

But the cool water flowed over his gills, soothing the remaining aches and pains that still lingered. Then she touched him, and he forgot he’d been injured at all.

The currents flowed around them, coiling around both of their bodies and drawing a blooming scent to his gills that filled him with longing. He had smelled that from her before, but he had never realized that it meant she wanted him. Needed him. Desired him just as he did her.

Breathing it in deep, he had to force himself not to rub against her just to keep that scent. “Are you sure?” he asked, his voice low and booming. “Are you certain this is what you want?”

“I’ve never been more certain.” Even with her voice muffled by the device that helped her breathe, he could still hear the passion in her tone. “I want you, Arges. I have for a long time.”

Perhaps they both knew this moment would have to be stolen. That they couldn’t stay together for any longer than a few moments, because it was such a risk for them to even linger like this. To even be in the waves together meant that others could smell them, hunt them, find them.

He drew his hands down the smooth planes of her legs, feeling the warmth that radiated off her body even in the chilled water, and he found he just didn’t care. He had never been the one to risk anything, especially not her, but right now, this was worth every risk.

“I cannot kiss you,” he said, moved his hand over the device on her face. “Is this important to your people?”

“It’s nice, but not necessary.” She caught his hand and drew it down to her breast, molding his palm to her skin. “There are other ways to make this enjoyable.”

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