Page 59 of Cosmic Castaway

“I mean we can swim naked.”

“If you like.” I would bet my entire inheritance, all my properties, and even my racing shuttle that he tasted good. I salivated at the thought. Did his release taste good? Kalvoxrencol didn’t mind Seth’s or so he’d said. I swallowed a groan. I wanted to suck my Teddy.

“It’s not like you haven’t seen me naked.”

“True.” I would make him feel good if he allowed me. I had plenty of experience. I would make sure to obliterate any memory of previous lovers. No one would compare to me.

“Mindy,” Bartholomew said, startling me. “You’re not paying attention.”

“I am,” I lied. How was I supposed to focus when he was this distracting?

“I offered to swim naked, and you didn’t say anything.”

My stomach swooped. Naked?

“Either you don’t like me as much as you say or you aren’t paying attention.”

My mind latched onto one word—naked. “I want to swim naked,” I said, forcing him onto his back. I hovered over him, panting. “Let’s do that. That sounds fun.”

He laughed, and I’d never heard a better sound in my life. Slowly, he was softening, and that meant he might possibly care for me. I didn’t need much. I could work with basically nothing. I was charming, attractive, a racer, and a prince. I was awesome enough that with a little time I could win him. I had to. There was no other choice.

Until then, I planned to treasure each and every laugh. Though even if we were together for a hundred cycles, I doubted that would ever change; he was too precious.

Bartholomew palmed my cheeks. “Now you’re listening.”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, fighting the urge to press my lips against him. “I should have been listening. Every word you say is important.”

Bartholomew flushed as he dropped his hands. “Not really.”

“It is, and I am sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

I could feel him pulling away from me emotionally. I did not understand it. Sometimes he would open up, and then jerk away, disappearing. I wished we had discussed permissions. If I was allowed to, I would press gentle kisses along his eyes, cheekbones, chin, and anywhere else I could reach until every trace of tension left his expression. I felt that such touches would help build intimacy between us, which might stop him from hiding from me.

But I couldn’t do that. Yet. I would prove my worth as a mate to him, and Bartholomew would choose me, then I would have the right to care for him however he needed and chose.

“Let’s eat,” I said, trying to get my mate to speak again. “I must feed you.”

The slightest smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, and like that I felt him return. Bartholomew was hard to understand at times, but I would. I would know all about him.

I cupped his cheek, thumb brushing his skin. A smile grew at the feel of his hair on his cheeks. I’d never seen Seth with hair on his face, but I loved Bartholomew’s. I lowered, rubbing my cheek against his and groaned loudly.

Bartholomew stiffened beneath me. I almost moved back, but his hands clamped onto my lower back, keeping me in place. Nuzzling his neck and cheek, I breathed in his fragrance and moaned. My mate jerked beneath me, his breath harshening.

“Bartholomew,” I whined.

“What?” he asked, breath jagged.

“Can I kiss you?” I craved his soft tongue curling around mine in tentative movements. The most precious pink bloomed on my mate’s cheeks. I dragged my nose over the color. He was beyond lovely. “Little Flower,” I cooed.

He cupped my cheeks, pulling me away, and my gut fell. But he didn’t push me aside. Instead, he drew me to his lips and lightly kissed me. A groan from deep within me ripped out of my mouth at the small touch. I’d never felt anything like it, ever.

I pressed closer, shoving my hips into his as I kissed him, licking and nibbling. Bartholomew gasped, and I dove into his warm mouth, swiping at his tongue. His legs hooked over mine, and he returned each of my touches with his own. His silky tongue slid over mine as he grunted.

Withdrawing, I tried to lure Bartholomew into my mouth, and he chased me, investigating. His touch was hesitant, but I moaned at the feel of him, grinding my hips into his.

Bartholomew jolted and something hardened beneath me, making me grin against my mate’s mouth. I wanted to keep rutting into him until he found release, but I stopped. One, we hadn’t discussed it, and two, he was so upset the last time he finished early.

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