Page 17 of Tides of Time

He scoffed. “You are from Spain, which is practically the French-Rivera. You have seen many naked men.”

She wanted to correct his geography but decided against it. Instead, she found herself smiling at the same way this version of her husband could put her at ease.

“Who said my frown wasn’t because my mind was very sad I would not get to eat whatever delicious meal you cook?”

“And why would that be, you are here for the meal, are you not?” Orion extended a hand and, when she took it, tugged her inside.

“Because your state of undress has me believing there is something else on your mind.”

His eyes went dark with lust. “It is not polite.”

“Fuck polite,” Ariana hadn’t meant to sound so crass, but seeing him before her only served to remind her what she fought for.

Her lips were against his in a split second.

As their lips met, she was hit with the rich flavors of spices and butter, a taste that was familiar yet foreign at the same time. She could feel his passion in every movement of his tongue, a hunger that burned beneath the surface. Despite not knowing her, his desire for her was evident in the way he devoured her with each kiss. It wasn't as if she fit society's definition of beauty, but in that moment, she felt beautiful in his eyes.

“You taste like strawberries and wine,” he spoke against their kiss and then swiped his tongue over the seam of her mouth.

She would always taste that way to him, but she’d never known him to taste of anything save for bread - his last meal hours before his death. Perhaps she could find a way to bring him a different last meal.

Orion’s hand was warm and calloused as it moved across her back, sending shivers down her spine. His touch was gentle yet firmer than she had expected, leaving a trail of tingling sensations in its wake. She could feel the roughness of his fingertips against her skin, a contrast to the softness of her dress. As his fingers traced circles over the exposed area of her back, she could sense the warmth of his palm through the fabric, adding to the intensity of his touch. Every movement felt deliberate, as if mapping out the curves and dips of her body. And as he pulled her closer, she could feel the strength in his grip, a reminder that he was in control. But instead of fear, she felt a sense of comfort and safety in his touch, as if he was trying to ground her from her thoughts and bring her back to the present moment.

Every stroke sent a flick of desire through her. There was something illicit in believing she was about to bed another man. He was her husband, but he wasn’t, and something in that set her body on fire.

“Please tell me to stop now if I must,” he trailed kisses along the nape of her neck until he reached her collarbone. “I will not take advantage of you when I asked you here for dinner.”

She let her hand trail between them, brushing over his growing hardness before cupping and rubbing more intently through the jeans. “Never stop.” She let her fingers glide over the metal button, grasping the stupid metal between her and him until it pushed through the hole. Ariana’s hand slipped under the waistband and found him hard as ever inside his briefs.

She barely held back a small snicker as she acknowledged he lied to her about his past. He was not wearing loose fitting casual boxers at all.

He was all hot, velvety steel in her grasp. Ariana's mind went blank as she focused solely on the sensation of him thrusting into her, just as he had done on the beach only a few nights before. The crashing waves and salty sea breeze seemed to echo in her mind, the memory making her wetter than ever.

“Will you respect me if I tell you how badly I want to be intimate with you?” She tried to force the words to sound time period appropriate even as his hands had moved to her breasts and rolled her nipples between his fingers without so much as a comment on her lack of a bra.

“Never,” he took her statement to heart, and his hands trailed away from her breasts and down her body. He let them linger on her thighs before hooking the hem of the dress in his hand and forcing it up over her head - breaking her connection with him.

The fabric of the stolen dress pooled at her feet, leaving her feeling exposed and vulnerable. She stood there, breathless and trembling as the man who would one day be her husband looked upon her with a mixture of desire and triumph.

In an instant, she was pressed up against the hard, rough surface of the wall. His large hands roamed over her body, igniting a fiery trail of desire with every touch. As his fingers grazed over her slick, swollen core, drawing out a whimper. He teased her, skimming his fingertips over her most sensitive spots without fully delving in. The gentle pressure heightened her arousal and she could feel herself growing more desperate for him

“I assure you, my invitation had been innocent, but I cannot help myself.”

Ariana was tempted to reveal her true identity as a siren, knowing that as a human, he would be powerless against her seductive charms. But in this moment, she wasn't sure if that was all that charged him forward. All she knew was that the thought of him stopping his affections made her heart race and her body ache for more. Their chemistry was undeniable, like two magnets drawn together by an irresistible force.

“Orion!” She gasped when his fingers pushed inside her pussy quickly without stolen underwear to cover her.

“You came ready,” he whispered against her ear and added another finger, both moving in tandem, thrusting and scissoring inside her dripping center as her hips began to thrust.

Ariana's mind was clouded with pleasure and desire as Orion continued to finger her relentlessly, his lips trailing down her neck and across her collarbone. She couldn't remember ever feeling this consumed by someone, this lost in the moment. All she could focus on was the sensation of his touch, becoming more intense with every thrust of his fingers.

Orion's pace quickened, his fingers moving faster and deeper inside her. She could feel herself getting closer and closer to the edge, every touch pushing her towards a blissful release.

“I came for you,” she cried out as the orgasm crashed over her so quickly.

Their mouths found one another’s again, harder this time, demanding and hot.

Without a word, Orion swept Astrid up into his strong arms and carried her towards the bed. The warmth of his body against hers was pulling her closer, drawing her in. He laid her down gently on the plush sheets, their softness enveloping her like a warm embrace. Slowly, he crawled on top of her, his weight pressing down on her in a comforting way.

---