Page 55 of The Rusalka and Mr. Right

“It’s both ways, baby.”

Her eyes light up. “It is?”

“You spoil me. You make me happy like nothing and no one else ever has.” It’s not a shock to realize it, it’s just time to hear it out loud, to make sure Marina has no doubts. Probably any man thinks that when he’s balls deep in between perfect breastswith a goddess on her knees for him... But it’s not just sex, it’s not anything but the way I feel around her. “I wanted to find the one I fit with. The right groove.” I break her grip and leave titty heaven to pull Marina up on the bed. She slides her underwear off and settles instantly on my chest, hips rocking backward to pull my cock in deep.

Liquid gushes around me, and a hundred little suckers tease my overstimulated cock, threatening to make me come on the spot.

“Beautiful boy,” she whispers.

The flames in her eyes are dancing, but this time I walk through the flames, not looking away.

Maybe it’s the champagne, or maybe it’s some rusalka trick. I can see her swimming past ice floes and through water so dark and cold that it’s black, swimming without coming up for air, a haunted, hunted expression on her winter white face.

“Swim to me,” I whisper, digging my hands into her back, keeping her close.

Marina’s cry is a mix between a moan of pleasure and a sob. “I have. I’m caught in your net, and I never want to be released.”

“Not a net, princess. Lifeline. We’ll keep each other safe.”

“I promise,” she vows. Her eyelids close, and her head drops to my shoulder.

The end of our lovemaking isn’t so desperate and frenzied. It mellows. Lazy. Satisfying. The long, slow way you eat dessert when you’re already contentedly full, but you want that sweetness. My fingers tangle in her hair as her magical suction drags a slow-building orgasm from me, the tingles of pleasure turning into throbs that make my knees buckle and my ass clench when I finally feel her walls quivering and quaking out her peak. I empty inside of her in the midst of the squeezing maelstrom, a long, satisfied cry of “Yes!” echoing in my still apartment.

Ourstill apartment. Gonna marry this girl.

“Would rusalkas consider that little promise ceremony a wedding?” I ask, still buried inside of her.

Marina doesn’t stir, just murmurs. “I don’t know what others would say. We cannot marry, cannot love. We cannot breed without Koshchei.” There’s a moment of quiet, and then her voice is stronger. “I consider it a wedding—and a play that he’ll never expect. My soul will be protected... I hope yours will not be endangered.”

“There are some things worth risking your soul for. You’re one of them.”

Chapter Fifteen

“Hey, Dad.”

“Hey, son! Did you see your brother’s video? One-tenth of a second away from breaking a Penn State record. Could be we’ll need tickets for the 2028 Olympics for trackandswimming events, hm?”

Both of my brothers have social media channels devoted to their athletic careers—it’s a thing college athletes do now. They collab with people who make protein bars and sneakers, swim caps, and pre-workout wheatgrass stuff. They also post about their workouts and highlights of their meets. “I saw. He looks good. And um... that would be great. 2028 in LA! Let’s go!” I’m stalling.

But this might be the perfect introduction... “I think I’ll be needing two tickets, Dad.”

“Oh?” I can hear the suspicion in his voice.

“One for me, one for Marina. She’s my endgame, Dad. Theone. But don’t tell Mom I’m talking about something long-term. This is between the Bailey Boys right now.”

Bringing up the Bailey Boys is like using Dad’s wake word. I can practically see him reliving the days he told Mom he was taking us to the museum and instead took us for greasy burgers and the arcade, or the days when we were home sick from school and he ordered pizza and watched scary movies with us instead of keeping us in bed and giving us the toast and juice he was supposed to.

“Boys only, huh?”

“Just for now.”

“Marina. Pretty name. Son, you’ve only lived up there for a little over a month. How long have you known her?”

“A month.”

“She’s a fast mover.”

“I made the first moves. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. God, she’s... Gorgeous. Sweet. Brave. Otherworldly.”That’s damn accurate, too.

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