Page 53 of Sunken Empire

I shake my head slightly before leaning closer in until our lips are pressed against each other to whisper, “I don’t believe that for a second.”

He doesn’t have a chance to argue as I lay claim to him with my mouth. A few moments is the only allowance I get before his arms tighten and squish my body to his until it feels like we’re molded together. Kissing him like this, where he starts taking control, pumps adrenaline back into my body from some reserve I didn’t know I had, waking me up again.

Rocking up on my tiptoes, I try to tell him what I want without having to say it. I should’ve known he wouldn’t disappoint. Dropping his hands to my ass, he lifts me up until I’m able to wrap my legs around his waist. In a couple quick strides, he moves us across the room until he can set me on the sink counter. His kisses never stop until I’m sitting, and even then, it’s only to move his lips down the side of my neck and collar bone. The sleeves of my dress get pushed down until my shoulders and the tops of my breasts are bare.

Zanthus groans softly as his eyes rake over my chest.

“Zephyr was definitely right,” he admits, dropping another kiss on my lips.

“About what?” I ask breathlessly.

He chuckles. “About you being a siren. I wouldn’t ever be able to deny your call even if I wanted to.”

I grin in victory. “Does that mean you’re going to shower with me?”

He groans again and shakes his head as though to clear it before saying, “Take your shower, and I promise I’ll be back to finish this afterward.”

Giving him a small pout of my lip earns me another kiss, but that’s it before he spins on his heel and walks out.

“You could’ve at least helped a lady out of her dress!” I tease.

His voice is strained with his reply. “If I help you out of that dress, I won’t be going anywhere.”

“I won’t complain,” I answer, but I might as well be talking to air. I hear the bedroom door click shut like he’s trying to run before I suck him back in here. Hell, who knows, maybe I am part siren. Some messed up side family of Bruinen’s passed down the line or something.

Or maybe your heart realizes how close you came to losing them all and wants to take advantage of the time you have.

“Rational Rubi always sucks the fun out of everything,” I mutter, stripping out of the dress. It’s a shame to let it sit on the floor, so I casually drape it across the sink before stepping into the shower.

Okay, maybe Zanthus was onto something. The hot salty water running down my back and shoulders is close to having an orgasm. I can feel all the tense muscles from the past few days finally letting loose, making me feel like a standing bag of boneless pudding. Now I see why he said not to fall asleep in here. It would be so easy just to close my eyes and let it happen.

My foot slips, and I’m awake with a jolt, not having realized I’d actually let them close and drifted off for a second. Rushing through the rest of the shower so that I don’t embarrass myself by passing out and letting them find me like that, I step out, tossing my hair up in a towel before wrapping up in the robe. The whole thing almost makes me feel human again. Well, it would if it wasn’t for the fact that I can feel every single tiny droplet of water on my body.

A noise out in the bedroom brings my smile back. Zanthus kept his promise.

“That was fast…” I say walking out. The last word gets drawn out as I see that it’s not Zanthus at all.

“Aukai?” I ask.

“Were you not expecting me?” he retorts, brows dropping low in confusion. “Zanthus said you needed to see me.”

Gears turn in my head as I try to figure out what’s going on, leaving my mouth slightly agape.

“I can see he must’ve been mistaken. I apologize for interrupting you,” he says, turning to the door.

I’ve bounded across the room to grasp his forearm before he can make it two steps. “Wait,” I tell him.

“He wasn’t mistaken,” I say, locking eyes with him. “Sometimes as a mate you can sense what the other needs without having to say anything.”

I pause, letting him come to terms with what I’m saying before taking his hand in mine. “I need you, Aukai.”

His breath shudders in his chest, and he hesitates a few more seconds before using our linked hands to drag our bodies flush against each other. When his lips drop to mine, I feel that red thread burn bright. A confirmation that we’ve been mated from the moment right before the curse broke. The color has just been so dull over the past several days, hiding behind the others and waiting its turn to be noticed. Just like Aukai.

Sinking my fingers into the damp, dark curls hanging around his face, I drag my tongue across his lips until he opens for me, and our tongues meet in a slow caress of each other. Yet it makes my lower belly burn as hot as the commanding kisses from Zanthus.

I drag my hands down his chest, noting he must’ve already cleaned up and was halfway through dressing when Zanthus directed him here. The cream-colored shirt is open down to the soft red pants, and he’s missing his jacket and huge golden belt. I’m grateful considering it gives me easier access to the bare skin of his chest and stomach. As I trail a finger down a small patch of hair beneath his belly button that I haven’t noticed until now, his body jumps underneath my touch, and his breath hitches. Even more so when my lips leave his, making a path down to his neck. Something else I’ve never noted is how stooped the four of them must go while kissing me. I wouldn’t have seen it now were it not for the trouble I’m having staying up on my tiptoes. There’s an easy solution, too.

Working my lips next to his ear, I whisper, “Do you want me, Aukai?”

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