Page 17 of Taken By the Storm King

“Yes.” The word came out softly.

“Then put the pearl in your mouth and hold onto me.”

I slipped the pearl under my tongue. It tasted faintly sweet, like honeyed water. The sensation spread through my mouth, down my throat.

“Now what?”

“Now...” His black eyes met mine. “Now I show you who I really am.”

His transformation unfolded before me, a spectacle that rooted me to the spot. His scales rippling outward like dark water. His form shifted, stretched, grew. Where Thalassar had stood moments before, a massive serpentine dragon now coiled in the water. His scales were black as night, gleaming with hints of gold and blue. A silky mane ran down his spine, and those same intense black eyes watched me.

“Oh.” I stepped closer, drawn by an urge to touch. “You’re beautiful.”

He lowered his head, and I ran my fingers through his mane. The strands felt like liquid silk against my skin. His scales were warm and smooth beneath my palm.

He made a soft rumbling sound and curled around me. I understood without words, wrapping my legs around his body and gripping his mane. The muscles beneath me bunched and flexed.

Then we were moving.

The world blurred into streaks of light and shadow as Thalassar dove. The pearl in my mouth let me breathe normally, but everything else felt surreal. Schools of glowing fish scattered before us. Strange creatures that looked like floating flowers opened and closed translucent petals.

For a disorienting second, the rush of water and the feeling of being submerged brought back the choking panic of the attack, and my hands clenched reflexively in his mane before the feeling passed.

Thalassar’s body undulated beneath me as he swam, the motion pressing me against him in ways that sent desire spiraling through my core. I attempted to focus on our extraordinary surroundings - the forests of swaying kelp thatglowed with their own light, the massive shells that opened to reveal pearls bigger than my head.

But the steady rhythm of his movement, the flex of powerful muscles between my thighs... My breath came faster, and I squirmed, trying to find a less stimulating position.

He stiffened beneath me, then shot forward with renewed speed. The water rushed past us in a blur of bubbles and light. My thighs tightened instinctively around him, which only made the situation worse.

Just when I thought I might die from the building tension, I spotted a dark shape ahead. An island rose from the depths, its beach gleaming with phosphorescent sand.

Thalassar’s form shifted beneath me. Suddenly I was being cradled against a broad chest, strong arms holding me close as he strode from the water. Droplets ran down his scales, and suddenly all I wanted was to trace their path with my tongue.

“Lucy.” His voice was rough. “We should...”

“Should what?” My hands sought him out. “Come here.”

He groaned and claimed me hungrily. His tongue teased mine, and I responded eagerly to his exploration. I realized I still had the breathing pearl. I let him take it, then wound my arms around his neck, pressing closer.

“Tell me to stop,” the words vibrated against my ear. “Tell me this is a mistake.”

I nipped his bottom lip. “No.”

He made a sound deep in his throat and deepened the kiss. His hands slid down my back, pulling me tighter against him. Every inch of my body burned where it touched his.

Droplets of water trickled down his chest, drawing my gaze. The glowing moss beneath me felt like silk against my skin, and the alien night sky stretched endlessly above. His black eyes locked with mine, intense and hungry.

“You’re sure?” he asked, his voice rough.

I answered by pulling him down for another kiss. His mouth ravished mine as his tongue worked against me in long, firm strokes that had me seeing stars.

He broke the kiss to trail his lips down my neck. “Your scent...” He inhaled deeply. “It’s driving me wild.”

My skin tingled where his breath touched. “What do I smell like to you?”

“Like sunlight on warm water.” His tongue flicked out, tasting my pulse point. “Like sweet fruit and salt air and...” He groaned. “Like mine.”

His fingers found the ties of my dress, working them loose with careful precision. The silk slid away, leaving me bare beneath the alien stars. The cool night air pebbled my skin, but everywhere Thalassar touched burned hot.

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