I want to taste the sweetness of her mouth, but know I won’t stop with a kiss. The only things stopping me from shredding our clothes and mounting her on the counter is the pallor of her skin and the wound on her shoulder.
And the hint of sourness in her pheromones. She’s on the cusp of estrous, but not quite ready.
I won’t earn her trust and devotion by rutting her too early, so I set the glass on the counter and focus on her hands. She doesn’t move as I slather a generous coating of ointment over them before using a long strip of sterilized fabric to wrap each digit individually before covering her hand and finishing around her wrists. She whimpers. I prop her up as best I can before stepping back. When she tilts to the side, I dart forward and lower her onto her side. Her hair hangs off the edge, but she’s so tiny her entire upper body fits along the mirror. I move the first aid box to the front of the counter, tuck her knees to her chest, and finger comb her hair away from her face.
“Don’t move, my tiny treasure. I’ll be right back,” I mutter, afraid of rousing her when she so desperately needs a reprieve.
I turn, but can’t take my eyes from her until I walk through the doorway and the wall blocks my view of her.
With her spell broken, I rush through the living room to the kitchen and yank a tray from the cabinet. After filling it with food from the pantry and icebox, I wedge the pitcher of juice into the center and return to the washroom.
Her lashes lift when I enter the room, but her unfocused eyes and lack of reaction tell me she doesn’t see me.
My alpha soul roars in indignation, but I shove the fury aside and focus on building my empire.
I haven’t gotten where I am today by giving in to instincts. I’ll conquer this little omega the same way I became captain of the barge—with strength, determination, and patience.
The mixed scents of coppery blood and floral omega firm my resolve.
I place the tray on the shower floor and move the first aid box beside it before gathering my female in my arms. Her small sound of pain guts me. My chest vibrates without my permission, but when she nuzzles her ear over my heart, I strengthen my rumble and sit beside the tray of food.
I forgot the glass on the counter, damnit. Unwilling to stand and upset the female curled up in my lap, I open the small jar of dried kelp chips and dump the contents onto the tray before filling the jar with juice from the pitcher.
She wrinkles her nose in the cutest pout when I press the rim to her lips, but takes an obedient sip when I tilt the jar. Her hum of surprised delight as the juice hits her tongue hardens my cock to steel. I tighten my grip on the glass and deepen my purr as she becomes a greedy, needy little omega. When she nearly chokes in her haste, I tsk in admonition and pull the jar away.
Her low growl tests my control and the shifting of her ass in my lap teases my partially engorged knot.
I pull her head back by her hair and meet her dazed eyes.
“Be careful, little Pearl, or I’ll lose control and rut you before you’re ready.”
Her brows scrunch.
“It’s not fair,” she mumbles, and I wonder if she realizes she spoke aloud or not.
Unable to resist, I brush my lips over her forehead but pull back before I give in to temptation and lay her out for my next feast.
“I know,” I murmur.
“It really isn’t fair,” she insists.
I study her face, but she’s so exhausted she slips in and out of a doze.
“What isn’t fair, my tiny treasure?”
“You know my name, but I don’t know yours.”
A surge of emotions clogs my throat. I clear it away with a cough and swallow an apology when she grumbles and wriggles back into place.
Her curiosity over my name fills me with hope and her ability to relax in my arms—albeit not completely by choice—fulfills a part of me I never realized was empty. I set the glass down beside my knee and stroke my fingers over her scalp.
“My name is Tide. Use it wisely, little one. I haven’t heard my name spoken since my parents were alive.”
She hiccups in her sleep. A tear slips down her cheek. I wipe it away with my thumb and marvel at her beauty.
She needs a good scrubbing, but her shoulder needs tending first.
Needing a moment to strengthen my control, I gather her close and wrap myself around her, cocooning her in a world of muscle.