Page 62 of Tide Touched

‘Eeeww.’ I get to my feet, glad to leave the cool cave. Moira and Elijah chuckle behind me, their cuteness echoing around us until it’s about to smother me. I don’t wait for Killian, so I’m briskly walking, half-way to the river by the time he catches up, despite his longer legs.

‘Hey,’ he says. ‘Have I done something to annoy you?’

‘I don’t need a bodyguard,’ I snap.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see him flinch.

‘I—I know. I just… want you to be safe, Katherine.’

‘I can look after myself.’ Despite my talk with Moira, it still makes me angry that Killian’s waiting for me. Because he can, because he wants to. Because he’s not driven by the same urges for me as I am for him. Because he doesn’t want me enough to need me. I hate that he hasn’t talked to me, about any of this, really. That he’ll happily watch me jerk off like I’m a porn star, but will barely touch me.

I reach the river. Without waiting for his response, I summon my powers and cleave the water apart. To my surprise, it’s as easy as last time; the water splits, revealing a large stone in the centre, which I hop to. In the middle of the river, I glare at Killian. The more he doesn’t get close to me, the less he feels like my mate.

I just suck at having a mate, apparently.

I think back to Carter. At least he wanted me. Even if he also wanted Courtney, he still wanted me, which is more than I can say for Killian.

The son of the alpha stands on the edge of the bank, looking unsure. ‘Katherine…’ He clenches his fists at his sides. ‘I’m not sure why you’re angry with me. I… I’ve tried not to push anything on you. I don’t know if that was right or not. Please tell me what’s wrong.’

I meet his gaze coolly. ‘You know what, Killian? Why don’t you just go home? What’s keeping you here, really? Because it’s clearly not me.’

Killian flinches as though I’ve hit him below the belt.

His mouth drops open. His auburn eyes shine.

Flames erupt from his fingertips. I watch in stunned silence as his shock and hurt turns to anger, indignation. He takes slow, pained steps toward me, fire spreading over his body. ‘How could you think that?’ His voice is low and dangerous, trembling with anger.

I hold fast on my rock in the middle of the river, at once glad to be surrounded by water. I’ve never seen Killian like this. ‘You haven’t touched me!’ I shout, hurt making my voice crack. ‘All I’ve wanted since you rescued me is you and you… haven’t…’

Water splashes around the rock, slightly wetting the hem of my dress. Between my legs is damp, always damp, with need.

Killian rages toward me, those slow, terrifying steps, leaving charred footprints in his wake. ‘You are my mate,’ Killian growls, sending a shiver up my spine, and a gush of wetness into my underwear. He takes another step, about to land on water; instead, the water quickly heats and evaporates before him, revealing the stone beneath.

He uses it as a stepping stone, coming ever closer to me.

My breath is sucked clean out of my lungs.

Killian holds a hand to his shirt, letting it catch fire and burn from his body. He takes another step, the water evaporating, revealing another stepping stone. ‘Katherine, you’re mine. Have I been too patient?’

My throat suddenly dry, I nod.

‘I want to hear you say it,’ he rasps.

‘Yes,’ I nearly choke out. I can’t take my eyes off him. His smouldering eyes, burning body, flames licking up his naked torso.

Killian touches his waistband, letting his fire consume his pants, licking down, down, devouring his underwear, too, revealing… everything.

My heart and pussy clench at the same time as I take in his large, throbbing cock, as flames lick over him in a way that makes my tongue jealous.

Killian, in all his flaming, naked glory, looks like the King of Hell, risen from his kingdom just to come find me.

My mate reaches out a hand to me, gloved in flame. ‘I won’t burn you,’ he says, in the same low, gravelly voice. He joins me on my rock. He kneels at my feet.

My mouth agape, I whisper, ‘What are you doing?’

Killian looks up at me, eyes burning with lust, and something else. ‘I promise you, Katherine, to treat you like my queen. My woman. The way you deserve.’ His hand gathers the hem of my dress, bunching it up. He runs his warm hand over my calf, sending bolts of pleasure through me.

My head tilts back. ‘Killian, I want you.’

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