Page 22 of Jewel of the Sea

His hearts thundered, and Aymee’s fingers were points of molten pleasure on his skin. Her entire body lay pressed against his, molded to him. How could he calm himself when she was touching him like this?

If she moved before he’d cooled off, how could he keep from extruding? How would she react if he did?

She smiled, but this smile was different. It was slower, almost self-satisfied, and it sparked a new light in her eyes. Her thumbs brushed along his cheekbones. “I’m glad.” She raised her head, lifting away her dark hair, and evening light flooded in to drag Arkon back to reality. “It’s getting late.”

Calm. I don’t need to embarrass myself any further or frighten her away.

“Is our time already coming to an end?”

She looked down at him, melancholy writ upon her features. “It is.”

The thumping of his hearts faded, giving way to the gentler sounds of wind and sea. “Shall we meet again tomorrow?”

“No. It’s too soon.” Idly, she stroked her thumbs over his cheeks and jaw. “I don’t want to draw suspicion. The leader of the rangers…” Her brows knit, creating a small crease between them that he wanted to soothe. “I think he’s taken a liking to me.”

There was a sinking, twisting sensation in Arkon’s gut, and his breath stuck in his lungs for a few moments after he meant to exhale. His lingering arousal vanished that quickly, though his hearts didn’t slow, and his blood had scarcely cooled. Instinct urged him to tighten his hold on her. Demanded he not let go. The mere thought of her with another male stoked a rage in him he’d never known.

“You’re turning red,” Aymee said, awe in her voice. She returned her hands to his shoulders, propped herself up, and let her gaze wander over his face and torso.

He forced himself to take another slow, deep breath, but such feelings were not easily expelled. His skin reverted to normal, but not without effort. “When can we next meet, then?”

“In three days.”

“Two.”

She grinned. “Are you that eager, then?”

Eager enough that I’d consider coming tomorrow, just on the tiny chance you’ll be here.

“I enjoy our time together.”

“Me too. Two days it is.”

Arkon stared up at her, committing every tiny detail of her face to memory. The sea crashed into the land and receded, crashed and receded, and the sun continued its slow, downward trek.

Aymee laughed. “You’ll have to let me go sometime, Arkon.”

“Let you go?”

She wiggled her hips and thighs.

Were it not for his embarrassment, her movement might have rekindled his desires. He unraveled his limbs from around her, relinquishing the possessive hold he’d taken. “Apologies,” he muttered.

Aymee brushed her palm along his cheek, offered him a tender smile, and rose. She set about collecting her belongings. Arkon got up and helped shake out the blanket, fold it, and pack the basket.

“May the stars smile upon you tonight, Aymee,” he said when they’d finished.

She stood on her toes and pecked a kiss on his cheek. “And may your dreams be filled with color, Arkon.”

Cheek tingling, he watched her go. Each of her steps was a little more weight on his chest, but when she turned to look at him over her shoulder, a thrill coursed through him. Soon, she walked around the bend and out of sight.

Arkon pressed the pads of a finger to his lips and cheek, which still thrummed with the ghost of her kiss.

These were likely to be the longest two days of his life.

Chapter 5

The clinic creaked in the howling wind, and its windows rattled with each boom of thunder. The storm had come upon The Watch without warning in the middle of the night — not unusual during the wet season — and had raged throughout the day.

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