Page 27 of Bride of the Sea King

“But is it worse right now?”

“It’s extremely difficult to fight at the moment, if that’s what you mean.”

“Yeah.” I bit my lip. “Do you think that’s going to fade?”

“I have no idea.”

That was lovely.

Really, really lovely.

“What exactly happens after we seal the bond?”

“The connection between us settles.”

Settling would be good, right?

I bit my lip harder.

“Nothing really changes if we seal the bond other than ensuring your safety a little more, Sweetheart.” His voice was slightly softer. “But we’ll wait as long as you want. There’s no rush.”

“Except for the fact that the kelpies and selkies want to kill me.”

“You belong to me. I won’t let any of them touch you.”

But I could protect myself… by giving in to exactly what I wanted.

I’d been attracted to the king since the first time I saw him. Maybe my attraction would fade after we made the bond permanent. That would be helpful, right?

I finally put my book back where I had found it and crossed the room.

Triton’s eyes tracked my every move.

He released his knees as I approached him, and his hot hands landed on my hips when I sat down on his thighs.

“Hi,” I said.

“Hi.”

There was a moment of silence.

I felt the need to fill it, but I wasn’t sure what to say. What did he even know about me? What did I even know about him?

Maybe an introduction would be a good start.

“My full name is Aria Christene Weathers. My dad is a complete asshole, and I’ve only seen him once since my mom died eight years ago. He wanted her life insurance money. I gave it to him to get him out of my life for good, even though I knew she would’ve wanted me to use it for school. She was the best, and I still miss her deeply. I’m twenty-five, and I don’t want to know how old you are. Before you abducted me, I was a poor college student working my way through my last few classes at a snail’s pace. Now, I guess I’m?—”

Triton’s mouth crashed into mine, hard.

I grabbed his shoulders, digging my short fingernails into them as he kissed me deeply. I could still taste the salt of my pleasure on his tongue, and it made me want him more.

After a few delicious moments, he pulled away, breathing just as hard as I was.

“My full name is Triton. My parents were lost in a war long before the last one. My sister and her mate are all I have. The throne I occupy drives me mad with constant solitude. I haveached for a mate for hundreds of years—and now that I have you, I will never let you go.”

I didn’t have time to process anything he said before his mouth was on mine again, hot and needy and intense.

His kisses were rough.

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