Page 62 of King of Tides

“That better?” I ask.

“Yes, that’s perfect. For five-year-olds, they throw a mean water balloon. I think I’m going to have bruising.”

I search her face as she snickers. Reaching to trace her hairline, I admire her beauty. No makeup, a ponytail, and that gorgeous smile, that’s all it takes to take my breath away each time I look at her.

“Show me where it hurts. I’ll ice it for you,” I murmur against her temple.

“Look at you, always wanting to take care of me.”

“You have no idea. All you have to do is allow me.”

There’s so much I want to do for her. I’m doing my best to pace myself when all I want is to shower her with love. No man could ever cherish her the way I plan to for centuries to come.

“Mm. What happened to my surprise?”

I chuckle. It took long enough for her to ask. Once the boys started that water fight after breakfast, her surprise was forgotten.

“It is still waiting for you.”

“It’s around that corner over there, isn’t it? You think I didn’t notice you used magic to block it off while we were playing with the boys?”

“I was hoping you didn’t.”

“Come on, what is it? What are you hiding?”

“Go see her yourself.”

I don’t have to tell her twice. She pops up out of my lap and races toward the barrier I have up. I’m taken aback as she causes the barrier to vanish.

Not for the first time, I note that she’s coming into her magic on her own. I’ve wanted to help her along, but in true Billy fashion, she’s been finding her way by herself. I’m starting to admire that about her.

“Oh my God. You built my library,”she squeals in my head.“Babe, there’s a window in here and a window seat with sunlight coming in. Like, what the fuck? How?”

“Do you like it?”I ask as I flash to stand behind her and wrap my arms around her waist.

“Yes,” she whispers aloud. “It’s exactly like I always imagined.”

She steps forward and spins around to take it all in. She stops and covers her mouth with her hand. I break into a huge smile as she squats to take in the surprise the boys left for her.

“Are those their little handprints?”

“They are.”

“Wait, these are all children’s books,” she says as she fingers the books on the shelves next to the boys’ handprints.

She looks back up at me with questions in her eyes. I move closer and squat down behind her. I can’t help leaning in to take her lips.

I break the kiss and look into her eyes. “They asked to have books here for you to read to them. I didn’t think you would mind.”

“I don’t. Not at all. I’m honored.”

I search her face with my gaze. My heart aches to make this little being happy. She has already brought so much joy into my life in such a short time.

“I can’t believe I’ve lost so much time with you. The gods have been cruel to keep you from me, but they have made up for it in making you so perfect for me.”

“You know you were already getting some for the library, right? You don’t need all the pretty words.”

I laugh then take her lips and kiss her hard. I’d build her a new library each day just to see the twinkle she has in her eyes right now. She kisses along my jaw.

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