Page 4 of A Husband for Max

My dick seemed to think it was a good idea. It was difficult to fault it when those quicksilver eyes watched every twitch of my body. With a dry mouth, I nodded. I didn’t think I’d be able to talk for a while.

Another step and a quirk of his lips and Tesh was right in front of me.

He didn’t say anything more. Instead, his slim hands reached up and pressed against my chest. Those beautiful eyes widened a little, fingers curling in the chest hair. I’d rarely thought about it, but my body wasn’t exceptionally fit. Working in construction meant there was little fat. I certainly wasn’t smooth and hairless; it wasn’t a full bear covering, but you could tangle your fingers in it.

Which was what Tesh did before patting it, smoothing it down and glancing up beneath hooded lashes.

After a heartbeat, he was up on his toes, bringing his face closer, licking his lips. My patience snapped watching his pupils blow wide.

“Can I kiss you?”

I hadn’t heard my voice so rough before. It didn’t stop the need that spiked through my body. I wasn’t going to lie about it, at least to myself. But I wanted him, and Tesh didn’t seem against it. In fact, with the way his nails dug into my skin, Tesh was all for it. Still, I wanted to make sure. I didn’t want to risk hurting him.

I needn’t have worried about that as his sweet lips parted with a happy smile.

“Yes please,” he whispered the words, reaching closer.

“Why are your teeth so sharp?”

***

The mention of my teeth was like a bucket of cold water going down my back.

It was a conversation I’d never had to have before, but there were more than enough stories of revealing our true selves going very very badly. Some Selkies had died for being honest. Others were enslaved.

Some had their pelts torn apart. Just having mine stolen had hurt in a way I had not imagined. I could only dream that the feeling would be akin to ripping your skin from your bones. And to always have that ache and not being able to become one with the sea again?

Humans had a bad track record with our kind.

The thought sobered the heat in the room. I took a step back. Max let me go, though not completely. Somehow our hands met and fingers entwined between us. It was a tether. One I didn’t know I needed as I let out a shaky breath.

Max’s head was tipped to the side, brows drawing together. The obvious concern eased the stabbing feeling in the pit of my gut. Just a little.

“I don’t know if you’d believe me if I told you.”

No matter how safe he made me feel, Max was still human. There were so many things that could go wrong. I hoped that everything would go right, though.

“You could try me.” A small grin. More of the pain eased. “You did follow me all the way here. Maybe I’m the one who should be worried?”

Given how different our physiques were, without the supernatural edge, Max would have the advantage hands down.

“You were having a bath earlier? It would be better to show you.”

Max didn’t say anything. Instead, he walked backward. The tether of our hands brought me along with him.

The bathroom had an ocean theme. It was fitting. Even the design was locally inspired and I recognised the scenery. Many of those places I had swum before.

The water was still warm. Max must have thought he would make it back into the bath after answering the door. The salts he used smelled like him. I could imagine him floating in the water till the scent had become such a part of him it couldn’t be separated from his skin.

I wondered how I would feel once I smelled the same as Max. Right now, it did nothing but excite me. Even supernatural bodies were prone to stupidity as much as humans.

Letting out a breath, I undressed, my pelt carefully placed on the towel rail first. I did it so often the movements were almost mechanical; my human body sometimes did not feel like my own.

“Are you sure?” Max hand gripped my arm. His brow was furrowed but the touch was just warm.

Patting the arm, I popped the button on my jeans. Max’s pupils were so wide, and he twitched beneath his sweats again. Even with the obvious seriousness our bodies were in sync.

Perhaps they were smarter than I gave them credit for.

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