Page 17 of Caged Love

Good.

I appreciate the warning, but I’m going to swallow every drop either way.

“Fuck, just like that. That hot little mouth is so fucking perfect,” he rasps, his hips jerking as an orgasm hits him. Golden magic almost suffocates us, urging us to bond. We both have to make that decision but now is not the time.

When he’s done, I suck gently, and his entire body shivers. I fucking love that. Call me evil, but I feel so powerful in thismoment. He gently cups my cheek, and I slowly let go of him. Our eyes connect and hold.

“I was trying to be good,” he murmurs, his lips twitching into a small, lopsided smile.

“Youweregood,” I reply, and he laughs, dragging me up his body until I’m pressed against him.

When I glance up at him a few moments later, he’sstillsmiling.

“Is this what we’ve been missing out on?” I ask, planting a kiss against the middle of his smooth chest.

“Not looking back, remember?” he reminds me, soothingly running his fingers down my back. “What do you want to do today?”

“You said you’ve always wanted to come here, so why don’t I show you around?” I suggest, sitting up and turning to face him.

He traces a line down my cheek with his thumb. “I’d love that. We just need to keep an eye out in case Rion somehow finds us.”

“So don’t forget it’s not a holiday?” I tease, and he grins, flashing me his straight, white teeth.

“It can be a holiday for you. I will stay on guard because I’m not letting anything happen to you now that I’ve finally gotten you.”

Fates, he is sweet.

We force ourselves to get ready and head outside. We go to the ocean first, and he’s blown away seeing all the mermaids and mermen swimming around. Halia told me they have their own city and the palace where she lives underneath the water. They can go back and forth between land and sea, but they much prefer the water. She said that being on land is kind of like being underwater for us, beautiful and curious, but you don’t feel like you belong there.

We walk along the white sand, hand in hand, and up the stairs to the main town.

“It’s like another realm here,” he comments, his eyes wide as he takes it all in. “It’s beautiful. I could sit at the beach all day, just people-watching.”

“I know. That’s why I usually visit Halia here instead of her coming to me.” I grin, pointing to my favorite little inn. We walk up the cobblestone steps, and August opens the door for me to enter. When we sit, he even pulls out my chair.

“Thank you,” I murmur.

We’re looking over the menu when I hear a familiar voice.

“Milana?”

Lifting my head, I turn to see Reef. He’s someone I’ve slept with in the past, a merman Halia introduced me to, one of her many cousins. He’s handsome with white-blond hair, ocean-blue eyes, and a muscular body, but he pales in comparison to August.

“Reef, how are you?” I ask, turning to August and clearing my throat. “August, this is Reef, Halia’s cousin. Reef, this is August.”

Blue eyes dance with amusement. “Pretty sure I’m much more than just Halia’s cousin to you. I’ve had your?—”

Shit.

“August is my mate,” I blurt out, cutting off whatever vulgar thing he was about to say.

August stands up in front of Reef, blocking him from seeing me. “She’smine. Don’t look at her, and don’t fucking bring up whatever you had because it’s done with.”

He reaches for his hip, and I realize he’s used to having a weapon, likely his sword, right there with him.

I glance around August to see Reef raising his arms in surrender. “I had no idea you’d met your mate.” His eyes drop to August’s bare wrists. “Although I can see you haven’t bonded just yet.”

“That’s none of your fucking business,” he snaps, grabbing Reef by the throat and lifting him off the floor.

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