Page 49 of A Warrior's Heart
My heart ached as I closed my eyes and envisioned the world I’d left behind. It was only temporary. We’d find the trident and return to the home I loved.
“You can’t take off whenever you like,” a familiar, too-serious voice said from behind me.
I peered over at Malik. A part of me had known he’d follow.
As he swam to my side, his massive orange and green tail caused a rippling through the water. Orange irises met mine through his long dark lashes. A dusting of black surrounded his eyes and disappeared into his hairline, as if he were wearing a mask. It was a sight I only saw when he was transformed.
In his human form, Malik was handsome. But in his true form, as a merman, he was breathtaking.
“And why not?” I asked with a smile. “It’s fun when you chase me.”
“I believe you live only to torment me.”
“What do you intend to do about it?”
Malik looped an arm around my waist and lifted me from the sea floor. He kept that arm around me even when I was upright. Though his expression gave nothing away, stoic as usual, he trailed his fingers along my bare collar bone, then down to the center of my chest.
Each merman and mermaid differed in their transformation. Much like the dusting of black around his eyes, when in my merform, I had a dusting of gold on my chest. That gold was what he traced right then with calloused fingertips. He was a true warrior. His hands had ended countless lives. Yet, I’d never felt safer than when they touched me.
“Beautiful,” he said in awe. “You shimmer with gold, like you’re the morning sun breaking across the endless sea.”
My heart swelled with his words.
“If I’m the sun, then you’re the moon.” I touched the side of his face, loving the sharp angle of his jaw against my palm. “Your light is not a blinding one that burns me up. It’s gentle. Soft. And guides me out of the dark.”
Malik brought our foreheads together as his tail fin curved around mine. “Why must you tempt me like this? I have no right to want you.”
“You have more of a right than anyone.” I smoothed a hand up his chest armor before gripping the side of his neck. “Can’t you see that I’m yours, you stubborn warrior? I always have been.”
“Troy…” His orange eyes fell to my lips. “We shouldn’t…”
Our mouths were so close and inching even closer.
And then, contact.
Heat spread through me as his lips slowly moved on mine. I was inexperienced and awkward and didn’t know if I was doing it right. Gods, he tasted incredible though. Soft lips contrasted with his hard muscles and firm body. I pressed myself closer to him, but the kiss remained soft. Hesitant.
“We shouldn’t,” Malik repeated, tearing from my mouth.
I took hold of his chin and brought our lips back together. I wanted this. I wantedhim.The spark of fear I’d felt when near the stream was absent in that moment. Maybe because I was the one initiating the kiss, the one who held the control.
Malik was frozen in place. A statue.
“Kiss me, damn you,” I growled against his unmoving lips.
Then, he did. And damn if it didn’t set my body on fire.
Malik gripped my side with one hand and moved the other to my nape as his mouth crushed mine. He never deepened the kiss. There was no tongue, no groping. I sensed his restraint in each pressing of our lips. He remained cautious. But even when holding himself back, I could feel his arousal. His need for me too.
“Are you sure this is okay?” he asked. “I don’t want to scare you.”
I answered him by kissing him harder. He smiled against my lips. His hand smoothed up and down my side.
There I was beneath the sea, but I felt like I was walking on air, soaring through the sky. I explored his lips, familiarizing myself with how they felt against mine. And then, slowly, tentatively, I dipped my tongue into his mouth.
He growled low in his throat before tightening his grip on my nape. His body hardened even more. Much too soon, he pulled away with another growl.
“Let’s return to the ship,” he said, his pupils blown wide.
