Authors: Erin Tate
Tave reared back, confusion clouded his face and momentarily banished his anger. “Ujal don’t ride—”
“So not the point. It was a metaphor. The point is, I’m
human,
Tave. Just in case you forgot.”
“Truly?” He replied, dryly.
She was the one semi-apologizing. She couldn’t snipe his head off for his sarcasm. She really had climbed on the bitch train and it was her turn to put on the brakes. “Yes. And while I’m sure you and your men are honorable, humans… aren’t.” She rubbed her forehead, struggling with the headache forming behind her eyes and winced at the sting of pain when she accidentally hit her cheek. “And sometimes the assholes will manipulate a woman so that she’s in a situation that starts out sounding innocuous and then she’s suddenly in a position of fighting off—” She cleared her throat and tore her attention from him, choosing instead to focus on the wall. “I’m sorry.”
Silence enveloped them. The quiet allowed the soothing sounds of the waves to reach them, and Rina concentrated on that rather than the tension in the room.
“
Pyabi
…” Tave ran his fingers along her uninjured cheek.
The soft pressure encouraged her to meet his gaze. The emotions she saw there nearly had her crying. Regret. Sadness. Caring. Rage?
“I’m—It’s…”
“Give me their names.”
She furrowed her brow, ignoring the ache that came with the movement. “What?”
“Give me the names of the males who dared act in such a way toward the Ujal principessa, and I will ensure they regret their actions.”
Regret their actions.
Rina had a feeling he’d take the men for a swim in the middle of the ocean and then tell them to make their own way back. It was sexy in a creepy way.
But still sexy.
Rina shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.”
“It does if it disrupts our mating and still remains a hurt in your heart. That is unacceptable to me. I would not be away from you long if that is a concern. I would allow others to find them and bring them to me. It is a joy of being the prince.” He seemed to be taking hold of the idea and getting excited at the prospect of going after her exes.
Still damned sexy.
“No. I promise to try and not be so neurotic and doubting, but I draw the line at hunting up the men in my past.”
He slumped his shoulders and disappointment filled every line of his body. “Fine,” he grumbled. “I would still like to take you into the sea. The waters will soothe your aches and, as your mate, my ocean’s call can heal your injury. There is no record of it ever being tried on a human, but we are mates.”
“Ocean’s call?”
That
wasn’t on any dossier.
“You have no reason to trust me, but I ask you to change and accompany me to the sea. I will not touch you unless you desire it,
pyabi
. I swear it.” His gaze was pleading and somehow they’d gone from suspicious to furious and now to hopeful in a matter of minutes.
Her doubts had done this. Her doubts gave way to problems in their budding relationship and she wasn’t going to let it continue. Tave wasn’t a human, he was Ujal. Honorable. Caring. Fierce. Hers. “Give me a minute.”
Rina slipped past him and padded to her bedroom, quickly digging through her drawers and finding her bikini. It took seconds to rid herself of her pajamas and even less time to slide the pieces of fabric into place. Her PJs had covered her, and yet they hadn’t. The cloth too thin to leave much to the imagination. Technically the bathing suit hid her breasts and the juncture of her thighs more than her PJs, but she felt more exposed.
Taking a deep breath for courage, and praying Tave really thought of her as a stalk of seaweed times two, she returned to the living area. She rounded the corner, anxious to see his reaction, and she wasn’t disappointed. He sucked in a harsh breath, eyes wide and bulging as he took her in from head to toe. His gaze lingered on her breasts as they stretched the fabric of her top and lingered even longer at the juncture of her thighs. He licked his lips as if he wondered how she tasted and she couldn’t fight the trembles that overtook her.
What would it be like to have his mouth there, for him to lap and lick her most intimate place, make her scream in pleasure…?
“Perhaps you should put more clothes on.” He rasped, and she smiled.
Well
. He liked what he saw.
Ignoring his words, she padded toward him, hand outstretched, and she snared his. “Come take care of me.”
He shuddered and then he was in motion, changing his grip until it was
he
who cradled
her
hand. “You shall be the death of me and every other male who looks upon you with lust. You must get over your tender feelings now,
pyabi
. There will be many deaths by my hand.”
She wondered if he knew how much those dominant and possessive words affected her. Because, really, she was aching and needy in those pink places. And now that she’d made a big deal out of him
not
touching her when they went swimming, she wondered if she could convince him to stroke her, slide his fingers inside her as he captured her mouth with his…
The moment they left the house and descended the porch steps to the sand, Tave swung her into his arms and carried her across the soft, shifting surface. He ignored her squeak and demands to be allowed to walk. Not even listening to her pleading or reminders that she was an adult.
“There are sticks and debris littering the ground. I will not have you injured.” His tone was unyielding.
“So it’s okay for you?” She countered.
“I have scales. They are tough and can protect me against what mars the ground. You do not.”
And that was that, apparently.
“You’re gonna have to put me down before we reach the water. Your tail isn’t exactly going to make carrying me into deep waters very easy.”
That earned her a wicked, panty-wetting grin. “I am the strongest Ujal known to all. I can withhold the change for as long as I wish.”
She thought back to his arrival. “And, let me guess, you’re the fastest, too.”
His grin was answer enough.
“Show off,” she grumbled.
“I had to prove to my mate that I am worthy of her.” His words were matter-of-fact yet a hint of vulnerability lingered. As if he wasn’t sure if he’d accomplished his goal.
Before his feet touched the gentle waves that lapped at the sand, she cupped his cheek and forced him to look at her, focus on her fully. “You have. You don’t need to continue showing off for me. I know you’re strong and honorable and more than worthy. Hell, I’m the one who should be proving myself. You’re a prince and I’m—”
Rina didn’t have to wait until they entered the water for him to capture her lips, to brush his mouth across hers gently before taking possession. The kiss was quick and fierce, nearly over before it began, but the bolt of pleasure the touch caused vibrated through her. She warmed for him. Her core throbbed with need and want, and she suddenly wondered why she was being such a bitch about everything.
Because, even if he hadn’t suggested a swim with ulterior motives, she really, really wanted him to have some naughty ideas now. Ones that involved disposing of her bikini and figuring out if a merman could get frisky with a human in the water.
“You’re
mine
.” He sounded so fucking fierce and possessive and… damn.
Rina swallowed hard. “Okay.”
A new light consumed his eyes and a deep pulse of sound vibrated through her, sinking into her flesh and forcing her to tremble. An Ujal growl. It was a deep, animalistic sound right from his heart. Her center tightened and clenched as if begging to be filled, and then she trembled for an entirely different reason.
He said nothing else as he moved into the water, striding through the waves as if the tumble of liquid didn’t exist. His path wasn’t impeded by the shifting fluid, and as they eased deeper, she became aware of the changes to his body.
His tanned skin slowly darkened and slicked as individual, iridescent scales became visible. The first hint at the shift came with the brush of his body against hers, her hip sliding easily over his flesh as he moved. Then it was the gradual ripple up his chest until they crawled up to his neck and dusted his cheeks.
“Beautiful.” She hadn’t realized she’d spoken until he froze in place, the sea gently caressing her hips.
“
Pyabi?
”
“Sorry, it’s just…” She reached for his face. The rippling scales teased her and made her fingers itch to touch him. She managed to snatch her hand back before she connected with his body. “Your scales are beautiful.”
Then he smiled and her breath caught. He’d given her smiles before. Of course, he had. But this… was different. It was light and filled with true happiness and she couldn’t believe that he was
hers
. Just… wow.
“You are the beautiful one, my
pyabi
, but I am pleased you like to look upon me. And you are permitted to touch me whenever you wish. Wherever you wish.”
Wherever…
That had so many possibilities.
But she didn’t explore them. Not yet, anyway. For now, she traced his neck, cataloging the sensation of his scales beneath her fingers and palm. “So soft. Warm.” Her mouth watered as a question flitted through her mind and she leaned closer to him. She didn’t hesitate to part her lips and lap at his scaled skin, tasting him. Salt, musk, and man. Sweet and yet of the sea. She moaned and licked him again, drawing him into her mouth. “Yum.”
It was then she noticed his trembling, the way he shuddered and shook, and she realized she’d been pressing him to hold onto his legs as she explored him. She knew he’d said he was the strongest Ujal on the planet, but no one was infallible.
Rina forced her mouth from him with a soft apology. “I’m sorry.”
“
No
.” He rasped, and she jerked. He modulated his tone and when he spoke, it was smooth. “Apologies, but you should never be sorry for touching me, for exploring me. It is I who should apologize for my weakness. I admit my change is very near, and I am about to drop to my knees with need for you, Rina.”
“If you go into deeper water I can float, and you can calm down?”
Instead of answering, he jerked his head in a nod. “Yes.”
His pace was no longer slow and methodical but hurried. Before she knew it, the ocean cradled her weight and Tave loosened his hold. He still kept his hands on her but wasn’t clutching her tightly. Instead, he eased her from his body and… transformed.
He moved in a giant wave, his chest rolling and she had no doubt that the movement continued down his body, and then a featherlight, petal soft
something
brushed one of her legs. When he released a quiet sigh and met her gaze, she knew that
something
was in fact his tail.
His pupils were larger than before and the whites of his eyes were now a pale imitation of the deep navy blue that coated him. The tanned skin was a thing of the past, scales covering his chest in a glistening blanket. The new pattern and appearance of his alien traits should have skewed her ability to see the carved lines of his body, yet they didn’t. No, if anything, the color made them more obvious, made her more intent on tracing every line with her fingers and mouth.
Her lips tingled and she fought the urge to press kisses to his new flesh. She’d been the one to give him a hard time about all this, and now she was about to jump him and ride him like a dolphin at an animal encounter park.
“
Pyabi
…”
Rina jerked her attention to his face. “What? I didn’t do anything.”
Not yet.
“You are looking at me as if I were your favorite dessert.” He grated out and his tail tickled her feet once again.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She feigned annoyance.
She was all about pretending.
“Hmm…” He reached for her, slick and warm fingers encircling her wrist, and then he effortlessly tugged her toward him. “I do not believe you, but it would be dishonorable to call you a liar.”
He may not have voiced the accusation, but it was there in his eyes.
She pretended not to notice.
“For now I shall see to your bruising.”
She’d almost forgot about the sore area on her cheek. Then she forgot
everything
because tugging her close also meant bringing their fronts flush together as he encouraged her to slide her legs around his trim waist. She managed to swallow the whimper that leapt to her lips—barely—and instead squeezed her thighs. How much would it take to come from this position alone? When she tensed once more and a bolt of arousal and pleasure overtook her, she didn’t imagine it would take a lot.
“Tave…”
“I like my name on your lips,” he murmured, and his gaze remained intent on her cheek. “Turn your head to the beach and close your eyes. I swear upon my honor this will not hurt,” he whispered against her skin just before a wave of bliss slammed into her.
Hurt? No.
Feel really fucking I’m-gonna-come-now good?
Yes
.
Of course, it holy-shit-ly got better. The deep pulse seemed to resonate with her soul, sinking deeply into her flesh and bones. It wasn’t a tremble so much as it was a wave of sensation. Then it came again, sliding through her, teasing her and yet she recognized the lessening of her pain, the ache easing beneath his sounds.
And they were sounds, ones her heart recognized even if she couldn’t translate them into human speech. His ocean’s call. And it was healing her, soothing her.
Arousing
her.
Yes, her center was desperate for him, body heating despite the coolness of the water and she couldn’t have remained still had she tried. She trembled, hips twitching and rubbing against his abdomen. Abdomen and… a firm ridge. Was that his… it wasn’t his human shaft, but a raised ridge that seemed to perfectly fit against the V of her legs.
“Tave…”
He spoke against her cheek. “Touch me as you will,
pyabi.
”
Rina clutched his shoulders, eyes drifting closed as she rode the wave of pleasure his sounds created. She slowly, gently rocked against him, enjoying the pulse of additional delight that came when she rubbed just right. When the line of hardness caressed her clit through the fabric of her bikini, her center tightened and clenched, begging to be filled as she took joy from his lips, his body.