Page 7 of Taken By the Alien Merrow King

Instinctively, she gasped beneath his touch, and he slid his tongue into her mouth. Every nerve, all of her senses ignited as his tongue danced with hers, each swirl and tug pulling on something deep inside her.

She came up onto her knees, desperate to get closer, to press her body to his and touch every hard inch of him. With a growl, he wrapped an arm around her waist and hauled her to him, her breasts crushed against his chest as she straddled his thick thigh.

“Astra,” he breathed, nipping her bottom lip and along her jaw. Her head dropped back, baring her throat. He slipped a hand under her thin t-shirt, his fingers splaying over her back,and kissed his way down to the long column to the base of her throat, his tongue teasing the dip of her clavicle. “You are so beautiful, sweetheart. I can’t wait to taste all of you.”

She gasped as he smoothed a hand over her breast and gave it a light squeeze, plumping it up. Bending his head, he pulled her shirt-covered nipple into his mouth, the dampened fabric rubbing against the sensitive peak with each stroke of his tongue.

“Des,” she said, her voice husky. She wound her fingers through his silky hair. “Oh, god. That feels so good.” She arched her back, rocking her core against his thigh as the heat in her belly built into a conflagration.

Was making out with the hot king what she was supposed to be doing right now? Most likely not. She probably should be focusing on negotiations and convincing him to let her people settle here. But holy shit, he kissed her like he couldn’t get enough, and being with him like this felt so good.

No. Not just good, she thought.Right. Like she’d found something — someone — precious here on this alien planet, someone who, if she allowed it, would change her life forever. Her breath hitched, her heart pounding harder at the enormity of it all.

Des lifted his head from her breast, leaving behind a wet spot on her shirt from his attentions. “Tell me what you need, sweetheart,” he said, skimming a hand down her back and slipping it into her panties to cup a butt cheek.

He shifted his weight, the narrow bed creaking beneath his movement, and dragged her farther up his thigh, the rasp of his pants creating the most delicious friction against her clit. She let out a shaky gasp as the hard length of his cock pressed against her thigh.

“Des,” she said, unsure of how to answer him. Yes, she wanted him, wanted to strip him bare, to see exactly howdifferent he was from her, to explore every inch of him, preferably with her tongue. She wanted to wrap her legs around his waist as he sank deep into her, his cock gliding over her most sensitive bits.

At the same time, it was too much, too fast. She thought she was mentally prepared to do whatever she needed to do to secure her people a home, but this was not it. Continuing with whatever this was right now seemed a lot more ruthless and calculating than she was comfortable with.

Not that she disapproved of anyone who chose that path. Far from it. But for her, personally, she didn’t want to regret her choices or take the chance that moving too quickly without having an actual discussion with Des first might destroy the delicate, nascent connection growing between them.

“I think…” She swallowed hard, trying to figure out exactly how to say what needed to be said without blowing everything she was supposed to be working towards or making him think she was rejecting him. Because it wasn’t that. It was just that there were outside forces at work here. Things more important than her wanting to get it on with the hot alien. “I want… but I can’t…”

“I understand,” he said, stroking her jawline before placing a chaste kiss on her forehead.

Confused, she eased off him, her body unfulfilled and tingling. “You understand what?” she asked, tugging the long shirt down over the tops of her thighs and settling back on her heels. “Because I didn’t say anything. Not really.”

He reached out and tugged a long lock of hair over her shoulder. “But you did, lovely Astra. Your hesitation spoke volumes.” He slid off the bed and gave her a wry grin. “And I want your full submission, willingly and enthusiastically. So, generous Merrow that I am, I will give you time. Not much,mind, and I warn you, I will be launching a full offensive to earn that submission.”

Her brow wrinkled. “I still don’t get it. Why would you do that?” He was king and she was a stranger here, no allies to be found. Technically, he could do whatever he wanted and no one would stop him.

He leaned over her, resting his fists on either side of her hips, his massive body making her feel delicate as he caged her. “Because, sweetheart, you are my mate. Blessed by the Universe to be together and all that good stuff.”

Her jaw dropped and she goggled up at him wide-eyed.

“Huh. That was my reaction at first, too.” Huffing out a quiet laugh, he gently closed her mouth and booped the tip of her nose with a large finger. “Now, go enjoy a long, hot shower and prepared to be courted to within an inch of your life, my lovely mate,” he said, giving her a cocky wink.

7

DESBURCHÙ

Des tugged at the sleeves of his pale blue shirt and checked the mirror before pulling it off with a dissatisfied groan. “Are these my only options?” he asked, tossing the rejected item on top of the growing pile of colorful fabric on the floor.

“So what, now you’re picky about what you wear?” Gunnar asked, raising an eyebrow as he watched Des pace across the hand-braided charcoal gray carpet of Coral Cottage’s main bedroom. “Since when?”

“Since I’m trying to impress my mate,” he growled, plucking the last shirt off the fluffy white duvet. “I need to look my best.” He shrugged into the dark green shirt and scrubbed a hand through his freshly washed hair.

“You’re very pretty, sire,” Gunnar said, biting back a grin. “I’m sure she’ll be entranced. And if she’s not, you can always bring her to your castle instead of this little hideaway you love so much, show her the Royal Treasury and all the shiny things inside. Or the Grand Library. She seems like the type of female more charmed by books than jewels. Either way, impressive.”

Des harrumphed. “Are you winding me up, Gunnar?” he said as he tucked the shirt into his neatly pressed black pants and slid his feet into a pair of matching boots polished to a high sheen. “Because I could order you strung up by your toes and no one would dare question me. I am king, you know.”

“I would never be so disrespectful, sire,” Gunnar deadpanned, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against the closed door.

“Of course you would,” Des said with a snort. “Which is why I like you. You keep me grounded.” He rolled his shoulders and rubbed the stubble on his jaw. He thought about shaving but remembered the way Astra stroked his scruff and decided against it. Maybe she’d do that again. He hoped so. “Speaking of, what do you think of these humans?”

“Do you want to know because you’re reconsidering letting some of the aliens take up residence on our islands?” Gunnar asked. “Or because of your mate happens to be human?”

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