Page 89 of Seduced By the Mermen
“You’re not used to compliments,” I growl.
“That’s putting it mildly.”
“Well, you are unlike any female I’ve ever met.”
“Well, that’s me. Unique.” She laughs, rising onto her tiptoes as her lips brush against mine.
And it’s all it takes. I’m on fire. My body takes over, pushing any self-doubt I have away with the tide. I’m controlling the kiss, licking at the seam of her lips to let me in, and when she does, I want to explode. Tasting her, sweet as honey. Our tongues collide until I’ve kissed all the breath out of her.
“Whoa.” Her eyes glisten. “Are you . . .”
“I’m good.” Holding her reminds me I’m not a shy podlet. I’m the governor of Stele. One of the most powerful males in all of Doria. One of the reasons why the Braesen governor’s plot to take over this city didn’t work. I’m fearless. So why does one little human scare the seaweed out of me?
Her hand trails down the side of my face, down my neck and arm, and she interlocks her fingers with mine. “Okay. Do you want to come back with me?”
“Very much so.” I swallow and follow her down the hall, our fingers still interlocked. My cock’s hard, and my stomach flips. I take her other hand before we’ve reached the guest room and push her against the wall. I part her legs with my knee. It’s rough. Too rough, perhaps. Her eyes flash at me.
I unlock our fingers and trail my hand up to her crimson red neck. I like that it’s so easy to see that she’s aroused. I pin her neck with thevof my hand to the wall. And damn, I’m worked up. Her scent has me tied to her, our bodies pressed together.
I’m about to kiss down the side of her neck when she freezes. I know her past. Or at least some of it. I’ve made inferences about the rest. Her bottom-dweller of an ex sold her and his daughter for profit. What else must he have done?
“Little Minnow?”
“Governor,” she whispers. And I like it. I like it a lot.
A shiver runs down my spine. She’s too fragile still. I can’t do this. I’ll scare her off. Delmar’s gentle—Clark too. But I hold her flush against the wall. I’m in control, the monster rising out of me. A sensation I thought had died long ago and floated away to the Chasm.
I’m back on her in a flash. Our lips crash together. We’re molded together, her legs closing over my knee. She grinds on my leg in time with our kiss. Fingers dig into my back, running down the muscles along my spine. I want her to dig in and mark me.
The need to touch her everywhere sings through my body. I want to rock against her soft skin, have her body crash against mine. Her light purple sweater is long gone, but there’s still far too much clothing covering her. I trail a hand down to the ties on her billowing golden trousers. I lift the soft purple tunic out of the way and skim my fingers over her exposed skin. Goosebumps follow my fingertips. I tug down on the silken fabric and slide her trousers halfway down her hips.
Her breath hitches, and I let go of her neck. Darker red marks mar her flushed skin. I trail my fingers over the mark. My eyes jump to hers. My heart speeds. I’m a danger to her. My hand lands on her chest. “My Minnow. I’m not... This isn’t... I’ve hurt you. I never intended to hurt you.” I drop my knee and step away from her. I can’t do this.
She’s too good.
Too pure.
I’ll crush her.
Ruin her.
So I push away, a tsunami of doubt washing over me.
“Forrest...” She reaches for me, snagging my hand and bringing it to her lips. Pressing her delicate skin to my rough hand. My cock twitches. The pull to her is overwhelming. I want to do things to her... draw out little noises in the night from her lips that no one has ever heard. “I’m fine. You haven’t hurt me. Like I said in the kitchen, we’re an awful lot alike. I won’t hold it against you if you can’t stay. If you don’t want to.”
“No. I very much want to stay.”
She kisses the back of my hand. “You do what you need to do.” She releases my hand, lifts onto her tiptoes, and kisses my cheek.
With her hand on the door handle, she holds my gaze, and it’s up to me. Do I stay away, or do I go in with her?
Chapter 36
Delmar
Ipace at the foot of the bed. It’s weird being in the guest room. I want to take Blair down to our pod room, but that’s a big deal. And more than a little intimidating. “I’m going out there to get her.”
When I step past Clark, he reaches out and wraps his hand around my shoulder. “No, you’re not.”
