Page 109 of Ensnaring the Siren

But she sang, even though her voice trembled. She sang just for him.

A little more pressure and Nireed came with a sharp, melodic cry. He stroked his fingers over her lips, down her throat, watching her face fall into bliss. Such a perfect sound.

When her breathing evened, she opened her eyes with a sleepy blink. “I want more.”

“Good. Not done with you yet.” With a quick kiss to her cheek, he slotted himself in place. She was tight, having just come, but she spread her seam, and nodded for him to continue.

“You sure?”

“You won’t hurt me.”

He pushed in slowly, carefully, her channel slick but squeezing him something fierce. And all the while, he watched her expression for any sign of discomfort. None came.

A soft, contented sigh escaped her lips.

Nothing felt so perfect as this night. Above, tree limbs heavy with needles swayed, their silhouettes visible against the backdrop of the starry night sky. Below, water lapped at her tail, and the man she loved took her where land met sea.

Reid’s arms were braced to either side of her, fingers curling in her hair, face turned into her neck. And there he kissed her skin, smoothed his tongue over her gills, teasing the folds. He quickly learned that they were sensitive—each stroke shot a lovely electric jolt to her tail, her pleasure a continuous tide coating them both—and he had been lavishing them with attention ever since.

Sliding her claws up Reid’s thighs and over the round of his backside, Nireed pressed him into her, urging his hips on, now flying at a furious pace.

His breath came out in harsh pants, the finish close. Then, when he punched into her for one final thrust, his forehead fell to hers, their skin sticky with sweat. Lying here, their bodies locked together between land and sea, Reid whispered, “I love you, Starfish. I love you so damn much, and I’ve been meaning to say it all night.”

She pulled back, staring into his eyes, and knowing she’d seen that look many times before, but had never known what it meant. Now she did. All this time, he loved her.

She was smiling so hard it hurt.

“You love me, Coast Warrior?”

“I love the ever-loving shit out of you.”

It was an odd phrase, but it must be Surface Dweller for the deepest sort of love there was, if his beaming smile was anything to go by. Hugging him tight, she said, “I love the ever-loving shit out of you too.”

A joyful scent was rolling off Reid in waves. He planted a kiss on her cheek, her lips. “What do merfolk do to make this official?”

“Official?” she repeated back, confused.

“Yeah, do I ask you to become my mate? Or is girlfriend more appropriate?”

Her heart skipped a beat. His mate.

He was always hers, her one and only, but she had kept that tucked away in her heart, secret and safe, waiting for him to know it and want it too. And now he was asking, eyes bright with hope, and the promise of new beginnings. A life of happiness and devotion.

“The first one,” she whispered. “The second, whichever. Both.”

He laughed, nuzzling her nose. “Will you make me the luckiest Surface Dweller on this planet and be my mate? My girlfriend too?”

“I’ll be both.” She sealed the promise with a kiss.

When she pulled away, he tapped the tip of her nose. “I’ve another surprise for you.”

“Another?” A giddy, bubbly feeling filled her chest.

“Yes, another. I wanted this to be a night to remember.”

It already was. What more could there be?

When Reid brought her back to his houseboat and pulled away the tarp draped over the side, she saw it, painted in big blue letters across the hull.

Starfish.

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