Page 66 of Blood of Two Crowns

Thirty-Seven

MAREINA

Iwilledmy blood-crusted clothing away as I strode toward the thermal bathing pool. The heat of Ataraxus’ gaze licked up my backside like a flame. Electricity seemed to flood my nerves as I descended the steps of the pool. Even so,Akash, something about this felt right.

And wrong.

Images of the males from my dream swam to the forefront of my mind. However, when I turned and caught sight of Ataraxus, peeling away his well-worn fighting leathers to reveal the rippling muscles of his stomach, chest, and arms, I quite literally stopped breathing. Every thought in my mind evaporated.

The burn scar covering part of his jaw and neck ran all the way down the left side of his chest, arm, ribs and abdomen. Not that it took away from the stone-cold masculine beauty that hid the warm personality I had glimpsed beneath.

Familiar, familiar, familiar.

Something about him was so fucking familiar it hurt, and it gnawed away at me that I couldn’t figure outwhy.

His sculpted mouth quirked up in a somewhat sheepish grin when his hands reached the waist of his trousers. He had the audacity to hold my gaze as he shoved down and stepped out ofhis trousers. I failed to restrain the tiny gasp that escaped me at the sight of the long, thick cock that sprung free, decorated with thick veins and a broad crown.

Fuck me, that’s going to hurt.

At first.

And then it will feel divine.

My throat nearly closed at the sight of him stepping into the bathing pool.

Oh gods. Was this really happening?I genuinely couldn’t remember the last time I’d been remotely intimate with someone.

Ataraxus slowly approached me in the water, stopping far enough away the prevent his cock from poking me in the ribs.

“I’d like to suggest something…”

My gaze lifted to his as something pulled painfully tight in my chest, as if it were trying toyankme towards him. As if feeling the same impulse, he stepped forward, curling his hands over my hips and pulling me against him. His cock slid upwards against my abdomen, making me clench with desire.

Akash, it would be a fucking miracle if he didn’t hear the way he made my heart leap.

“There are a number of things that need to come to light before…we proceed.”

Oh gods… Was he… turning me down?

“Please don’t look at me like that, Mareina, or I’m liable to make regrettable, irreversible decisions.”

His hands came up to cup my face, guiding my gaze to his.

“Believe me when I say...”

His mouth pressed a kiss to my forehead in that painfullyfamiliargesture.

“Soon there will come a day…”

His hands gripped me tight when a soft moan escaped me in anticipation, and then satisfaction when his lips grazed my jaw, pressing another kiss to the sensitive flesh.

“That I am going to kiss, lick and suck every drop of arousal your pretty little pussy has to give…”

“Oh, gods. Please…”My words came out a whispered whimper, and I felt his mouth spread in a grin against my throat as he pressed another kiss there. His hands gently but firmly fisted my hair to bare my throat to him.

“Fuck every hole and fill you with my cum as I cover you in claiming marks.”

Without any thought in doing so, my hands drifted across his back and down towards his?—

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