Page 67 of King of Tides

He tosses my legs over his arms and pins me to the wall as he drills into me. I throw my head back in another silence scream. This time as my mouth is open, I feel like I take an involuntary breath.

My head is spinning as my orgasm rocks through me hard. So hard, my head hurts a bit. Ardan grabs my hair and tugs my head back gently. He then takes my mouth in a passionate kiss.

“I have never wanted you so much,” he groans into my mouth. “I will take you for centuries and I will still never have enough of you.”

I scoff. “Centuries? The dick is amazing, but I don’t think it’s going to extend my lifespan,” I say breathlessly.

“Not the dick, my pretty mate, but the bond will. You will live a very long life. You are stuck with me eternally.”

I’m too sex drunk to process his words. I bury my face into his neck and breathe him in. That ocean-and-clean-breeze scent has a hint of mint to it tonight. As I’m breathing him in, we land on our bed with a bounce, his weight settling between my legs.

As I clench around him, he begins to move his hips in a druggingly slow grind. I throw my head back into the pillow and cry out.

He nips at my lips as I claw my fingers up his back. Locking my legs around his waist, I hold on tight as he increases his pace. Ardan drags his palms up my outer thighs as he grunts and thrusts.

“Billy, baby. I … Fuck. I want all of you,” he says in my ear.

I glide my hands down to his ass and dig my fingers in. I want all of him too, but the fear of him disappearing or hurting me haunts me. My heart is telling me not to fear him, but my mind isn’t ready to let my guard down.

Not when this could all be some magic-induced feeling. What if the magic wears off? What happens then?

“Let me in, Billy. I will keep you safe. I can’t live without you. I would never hurt you,” he says as if I’ve allowed him into my thoughts.

“Give me time, Ardan. I’m getting there. I just need time.”

He covers my mouth with his and pours a ton of emotion into the kiss. I cling to his shoulders as he makes love to me. I try my best to fight the stirring happening in me.

“I will be here,” he breathes against my lips when he breaks the kiss.

I Like Him

“Good morning,” I say as I run my fingers up and down Billy’s back as she lies across my chest.

Her skin is so soft. I look down into her eyes as she looks back at me with a sated grin. I’ve just finished blessing her for the day.

“Good morning,” she says.

She searches my face with her gaze. I reach to brush a lock of hair from her face. She lifts a hand and palms my cheek.

“Uh-oh, what’s wrong? You’re mad at me about something,” she says.

I want to kiss her for knowing me so well, but I’m fuming at the moment. If I hadn’t promised her my tongue every morning, I wouldn’t have woken her with pleasure this morning.

“Did you think Dracon wouldn’t report to me?” I murmur, trying to hold back my ire.

She sits up and pulls the sheet up to cover her breasts. As pissed as it makes me, I still love the defiant look in her eyes. It’s not that I don’t think she can’t handle herself.

I believe in time she will be a force. However, right now, she doesn’t know enough about our world and she’s placing herself at unnecessary risk. She could have gotten herself and Dracon hurt or worse.

“I figured he might, but I needed to make sure that was a legit lead. Ardan, it was. I saw him enter the building. Now you?—”

“What would I have done if I lost you?” I bark, causing her to jerk her head back.

“I—”

“You didn’t think of that, did you? Do you even know how dangerous that was? Dracon would have given his life for you to return to me, but if he had fallen before you got away, I would have lost you both.

“A warrior our people need and the love of my life. Finding Bardo is not worth losing you. Nothing is,” I finish, my chest heaving.

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