Page 13 of Taken By the Alien Merrow King

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DESBURCHÙ

He closed the bedroom door, his heart so filled with joy and love, he thought it might burst. The Universe had sent him the perfect woman to be his mate. Sharp, funny even when battling a raging hangover, quirky. She challenged him, made him laugh, and could dance like no one’s business, as he learned at the celebration.

And thank the depths he’d worn a longer coat last night or everyone would have known he’d sported a raging boner while she was out there on the sand, wiggling her ass, tossing her hair, and enjoying herself as she twirled through the traditional dances of his people. Just the memory of her dancing made his cock perk up.

But he wouldn’t make any major moves in that direction until she was ready, he told himself firmly. Not until she was on board with being his mate and, by extension, his queen.

The woman made him want to take on leviathans just to see her smile. Or at least to stand up in front of his full council to tell them he was opening the Isles for humans to settle here. Not everyone on the council was as supportive as Gunnar, especially not the crusty old lobsters from his father’s era still clinging topower and unwilling to step aside to let a new generation swim to the top.

Any objections they might have didn’t matter, though. As king, he had final say. While he didn’t normally wield his authority like a club, he’d do it for her, his beautiful mate.

A smile hovered on his face as he called up to the castle kitchens and ordered both of them a full breakfast — crispy fried potatoes, spicy black pudding, pan-seared fish with butter, seasoned greens, and freshly brewed seaweed tea — to be delivered to them at Coral Cottage.

Built on the edge of the Ulfmar Castle estate, the one-bedroom cottage only had a chiller and an outdoor grill, just right for after a hunt. Growing up, it had been where he’d run to escape his tutors and the judgment of his father. These days, he still used it as a getaway, though he couldn’t escape his responsibilities as easily as when he was ten.

It was the perfect place to spend some time with his mate without throwing her into the political deep end. That would come soon enough. His territory wouldn’t fall apart without him at the helm for a few days.

He settled into his favorite overstuffed chair placed at an angle beside a giant stone fireplace and picked up a book, content in the knowledge that his mate was in the next room taking a shower. Naked. Water dripping down her perfect breasts and over her belly, glistening in the hair at the juncture of her mouthwateringly long legs… He stared at the open book in his hand unable to absorb a word, his cock so hard it felt like a bar of iron.

“Des,” Astra called from the other room. “Could you please come help me?”

Oh shit, he thought, shoving up out of his chair. The book thudded to the ground as he scrambled into the bedroom. “Astra, love, what is it? Please tell me you aren’t having anallergic reaction to the hangover cure? Because I had our scientists test it and make certain it was safe for human consumption before giving it to…” He slammed open the bathroom door and skidded to a halt, his jaw dropping at the vision before him. “You.”

Naked. Soaking wet. Even more jaw-droppingly beautiful than he imagined.

She held out a small cloth towards him, her lovely breasts swaying with the motion. Twin rivulets of water slid over her curves and dripped off the tips of her pink nipples. “Wash my back?” she asked, blinking up at him with those icy blue eyes, steam from the shower swirling around her. “I can’t quite reach it on my own and, as you said, I need to scrub every inch. Wouldn’t want to miss a spot and still smell like stale beer, now, would I?”

Swallowing hard, he took a step forward, his hand reaching for the cloth. “What are you doing, Astra?” Was this payback for his earlier comment? A solid attempt at seducing him? What if she really needed her back washed?

You know what? I don’t give a shit what it is because I get to see this amazing woman naked, my very favorite element pouring over her body, and, best of all, I get to touch her. Granted, he wanted to toss away the cloth, hike her up against the cool gray shower tile, bury his cock in her, and fuck her until she orgasmed around him. But he’d take washing her back, even if that’s all she offered.

She didn’t answer anyway, just pulled the cloth out of his reach with a tsk. “Wouldn’t want to get your pretty clothes all wet, would we?” she asked, waggling a scolding finger at him. “Besides, if I’m naked, you’re naked. It’s only fair.”

She didn’t have to ask him twice. He peeled his shirt over his head and tossed it out into the bedroom. In fact, it was a crying shame she had to ask even once. If he’d known she neededassistance with her shower, he would have been waiting at the door, naked and ready for her.

Wait, that sounds creepy. That’s not what I meant. Good thing I didn’t say it out loud, he thought, hopping on one foot as he tried to get his leg out of his trousers.And why did I have to wear such tight pants today? If I wasn’t trying to look my best for my mate, I would be out of these things already and not bouncing around like a fool.

Panting from exertion, he stood proudly naked in front of her, one crucial part standing a bit more proud than the rest of him. As her gaze drifted down his body, he instinctively puffed out his chest and sucked in his stomach, willing each one of his hard-earned abs to do their job and impress her. Depths, but he hoped she was impressed.

A flush of pink crawled up her neck and painted her cheeks as she looked him over. Finally, she held out the cloth and said in a husky voice that made him want to gather her to him and kiss her senseless, “My back?”

“Of course, my precious mate. I am here to assist in any way you need.” Keeping his eyes on hers, he took the cloth from her and lathered it up with the fresh bar of artisanal soap. “Up to and including being your personal bather, a task I will relish.”

“Excellent. I’ve always wanted one of those.” She licked her lips, her nipples pebbling when his chest grazed hers as he reached over her head to put the soap back on the shower’s built-in tray. Pointing towards her back, she said, “Could you get to it? I don’t tolerate slackers around here.”

“Yes, your majesty,” he said, trailing the cloth up her arm as he moved behind her and began washing her back.

“Majesty, huh?” She tossed a flirty look over her shoulder. “Where’s my crown?”

“If it’s crowns you want, my gorgeous mate, it’s crowns you’ll get,” he said as he ran the soapy cloth over her silky skin. “A whole treasury filled with them.”

She reached a hand back to grab his arm, pulling it around her waist. “Des,” she said, her voice hesitant.

His fingers twitched against her hip. “What do you want, love? What do you need? I can leave right now. We can take it slow.” Brushing the soaking strands of her hair to the side, he dropped a kiss on the curve of her neck and whispered in her ear, “Or I can show you why water is my favorite element and make you come like you’ve never come before.”

“Oh,” she said, her breath catching, her back sliding against his front as she shifted her feet on the tile. “Well, that’s quite the offer, Mr. Big Fish. And I find myself extremely curious about this whole water thing. You can dance on the waves. What else can you do?”

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