Page 29 of The Sea-Ogre's Eager Bride

Now we’re getting somewhere. I lean in close, full of curiosity and anticipation.

His gaze drops to my mouth again…and then he jumps to his feet. “Perhaps tomorrow we will try it,” he says, tone brusque. “After you have had a chance to rest and feel better. Explore the grotto. I will get some fish and make sure Akara is situated.”

Before I can say anything else, he dives into the pool and disappears, and I’m left surrounded by riches. I cross my arms over my chest and frown at the ripple he left. By all the gods, are all sea-ogres skittish or is it just this one? I wait for him to come back, to tell me that he changed his mind and he wants to kiss me now after all.

I wait for a long time.

Chapter

Thirteen

RANAN

My heartbeat pounds in my ears as I swim into deeper waters. Vali is safe in my grotto, and so I can hunt for the bigger fish, the larger fin-backs with the tough hide and chewy meat. They reside in the darker waters of the sea, where the reefs drop off to colder temperatures, and they’re dangerous, but they also have the best skin. It dries and makes a flexible, waterproof leather if treated properly. Vali will need clothes and gear of her own. Belts, shoes—she needs everything.

I should be thinking about hunting a fin-back right now, but it will be impossible to do any sort of hunting with both of my cocks standing at attention.

All because she touched my arm.

I ignore it at first. There’s nothing to do but ignore my body’s reaction to her. I’m not going to return to her side and demand that she touch me. Just thinking about her, though, makes my cocks stay erect, and when the ache continues despite the chill of the water, I grit my teeth and take myself in hand. I tread water with two slashing arms while my other two hands franticallywork my cocks. It’s not a satisfying release, and I swim away from the ropes of seed I’ve left behind, ashamed of my actions.

She’s my wife. She has agreed to be my female, and I have decided to keep her. Why am I being like this? If I went to her right now, she would welcome me with open arms.

And that is exactly the problem. Vali is far too eager, and we barely know each other. For her to fling herself at me feels…false. She is eager because she is anxious, not because she wants me. I know I am not a great speaker, and that I can be abrupt. I am more silent than talkative around her. We are strangers. Bedding her seems wrong.

Yet the more I push her away, the more I hurt her feelings and make her fret. There has to be a solution that will satisfy both of us.

I ponder this endlessly as I swim, looking for a school of fin-backs. I find nothing, though, and return to the cave empty-handed and chilled.

Vali has been busy while I was gone—a large area near the fire pit has been cleared out, the bags I toss carelessly into the grotto neatly organized and tidied. Statues have been lined up along the cave wall and golden dishes stacked in a semblance of organization. The fire is nothing but coals, but the scent of food lingers in the air.

My human wife is asleep in the pile of blankets I’ve left for her, her arms curled around one of the pillows. Her hair is combed out and neatly plaited, the ends tied with some of the ribbons I gave her. A few strands have come loose, the dark curls fanning over the blankets. My fingers itch to touch one, to see if it’s as soft when dry as it looks, but I don’t want to disturb her. She needs her sleep.

I’m so focused on the picture Vali makes that I almost step on the tray that she’s left for me. Atop a plate, she’s set several dried pieces of fruit, arranged in a flower pattern, and a handfulof nuts accompanied by some of the dried meat I purchased for her. Beside it is a cup that has a fruity scent and a pink liquid in it. I bring it to my nose and sniff it. Another tea? I take a sip and the water is tepid but sweet. She clearly left this out for me, and my guilt returns.

When will I be at ease with what she offers? Something has to change between us.

I take the tray she left for me and carry it across the cave so I can eat without disturbing her. Sitting at the water’s edge, I munch on the treats and watch her sleep, considering. The dried food makes me think of the trader and his daughter. She’d suggested that I take Vali to my family, to have a ceremony there. That it will feel like a true marriage if done in front of family.

At that point, if Vali reaches for me, she does so because she knows she’s my wife, not because she feels the need to please me.

It’s the perfect solution—once she feels better, I will take her to the flotilla. We will go before the leader and speak vows in front of everyone, and then she will truly be my wife.

I wakeup with a crick in my neck from sleeping on the edge of the pool, and something warm pressed up against my back.

Vali.

She must have woken up and joined me. I roll onto my back, looking over at her, and her eyes are open. She gives me a shy smile, her body wrapped in blankets. “You looked cold. I thought we might share heat. Is that all right?”

My throat seems full of knots. She is so near, her soft skin pressed against mine. “I am not cold.”

“Oh.” Her expression falls.

“But you can join me.”

Her smile returns, and she slips an arm around my waist, pulling the blanket with her. She tucks her chin against my shoulder, watching me. “Is this where you normally sleep when you’re here in the grotto?”

I shake my head. “No. I am only here because I didn’t wish to disturb you.”

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