Page 26 of Tides of Time

“Ariana, this is about more than lust, but god damn it I can’t think of another way to prove to you how furious I am right now is to deny you what you crave.” Ignoring the thrum of blood in his cock, Orion slipped his finger free from her body only to use his body to crowd her backward into the sand. “This is what you want,” he used his hand to grasp his hard length and trace it over her opening.

She was slick and so close to the edge a single thrust would send them both over.

“Orion,” she reached between them and took his shaft in her hand, stroking him with so much force he nearly came in her hand. “Show me.”

She leaned up and nipped at the muscles in his neck, shattering his control. Orion slammed into her heat, knocking her hand off his dick as he did. Orion’s thrusts were merciless as he slammed hard and pulled out to the tip, only to strike against her again.

His breathing caught in his throat, but he didn’t slow down. She would come first. It didn’t matter that in this timeline, they’d just made love. He knew the way her body tightened around his that she was about to crest.

“Come for me,” he flicked a finger across her swollen clit and she screamed his name into the night. Her body clenched around him, pulling his orgasm before he could pace himself to draw hers out.

Panting, Orion allowed himself to rest on top of her even as he rolled his hips continuing small, slow thrusts.

Nothing was said, and nothing could be heard except their heavy breathing and the surf rushing onto the shore.

“If you crack a joke about leaving again for the sex, I swear I’ll tie you up in our house and never let you leave.”

Her laugh was as shaky as his words. “I’m sorry, Orion. I thought it was for the best.”

“Promise me that whenever you feel overwhelmed or used or burnt out, you’ll come to me.” he kissed her gently this time and pulled free from her body. He rolled onto his back when he was done.

Orion started up at the sky and tried to imagine the life they could have had as humans, but it never happened. In the alternate timeline, they never met. He died alone, never having found a reason to marry.

“How long were you away in the strange timeline after my death?”

She sighed. “Long enough to hate the world without you and me together in it.”

“Good.”

“Good?” She huffed.

“Yes, because if you hated it that much, then I know you’ll never try this again.”

“Never, I love you too much to run the risk of never getting to know you. Never getting to feel you fuck me like you just did - which, by the way, please get angry with me more often.”

He chuckled and tugged her close. “I think we can make arrangements.”

“I love you, Orion.”

“And I love you, every single version of you I’ve ever and may ever meet.”

Ariana’s heart thudded in her chest even as the orgasm’s intensity died down. It wasn’t just the thrill of release coursing through her.

She loved the man beside her, and even though she had found flaws with the pod, she understood the pain and suffering Galene dealt with.

The first mermaid was a broken woman, and she relied on the pod to keep her together. To keep her from hating what Poseidon made her, what the great god created for them all.

“Come on, we still have a lunar cycle to enjoy,” he stood, and Ariana couldn’t help but enjoy the view.

“You look as perfect as you did as a human-human.”

“Good,” he winked and offered her a hand to stand up.

“Did you ever intend to tell me how many revenge kills you made for the pod?”

He froze, the smile slipping slightly from his lips. “I’d hope to keep the darkness I had to bear a secret.”

“Never again. Let me unburden you when those days come. We may be built for revenge, but it’s not all we are.”

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