“We have this time now.” A wicked grin curved his lips as he hoisted me up until my breasts crested the water. His dark gaze lingered, eyes hungry as if he were seeing them for the first time. I reached across and touched his face, my fingers tracing his cheekbone.
Pressing his lips to my neck, he dragged them slowly across my skin. Heat exploded below my navel, and I raked my fingers through his hair, tilting his chin up. I held his gaze for a moment before I kissed him again.His tongue slid into my mouth, tasting of sweet seawater as we kissed each other deeply.
I ground my body against his muscular torso, and his grip tightened beneath my ass as his water magic snaked around my thighs and between my legs. Arousal shuddered through my body, and my fingernails dug into his arms.
I reached one hand beneath the waves to touch his tail, but he caught it.
“I want to watch you.” His thumb drifted to my mouth, tracing my lower lip, and he increased the water pressure.
Oh, holy gods.
We stared into each other’s eyes as I moved up and down on his toned abs, my breathing heavy as the feeling of the water intensified. I bit my lip against the pleasure, stifling a gasp.
“That’s it, baby. You’re fucking beautiful.” Finn’s dark eyes were half-lidded as he tipped his head to study me.
I lost myself in the hardness of his body pressing against mine, the sensation between my legs, and his hands pulling me into him. I surrendered to the feeling, a cry escaping me as I came undone.
He rested his forehead against mine, keeping me close as we rose and fell with the waves, our breath coming in shared, ragged inhales.
“Your magic.” I swallowed my pleasure, which was quickly replaced by a wave of guilt. “You shouldn’t be using it.” I unhooked my legs from his hips, my stomach churning.
“It’s fine,” he said, eyes aglow with a mischievous glint. “The water manipulation doesn’t take much exertion.”
“We’d better rejoin the others,” I muttered, moving away in the tossing waves.
He caught my wrist. “Wait.”
I let him pull me back against him.
“Morgana,” he whispered. His mouth was right over my ear, and goosebumps ran down my neck at the sound of my name. “ I... I love you. I had to say it before we go in there.” He pulled back from me, eyes intent on mine as he cupped my chin, his thumb gently grazing my cheek as he sighed, “three simple words that encompass both my salvation and my ruin.”
My pulse stuttered as I gazed up at him, searching those dark eyes. It was the first time he’d said those words to me so plainly, without hiding behind poetic sentiments. I stared at the drops of water running down his cheeks as my heart went into overdrive, thudding at my chest, as did my mind. “Finn...this thing between us...and you being a descendant of Kyano...I can’t help but wonder if it’s real or simply the hands of fate.”
“Does it matter?” Finn’s dark eyes flicked back and forth, searching mine. “What is love but a feeling you’ve known someone in a past life? A sense ofhome. Sometimes you feel it right away; sometimes it takes time to develop. But once it settles in your heart, you realize it was there from the moment you first saw them. Tell me you don’t feel that when we’re together.”
My mind fought for control, but I let my heart lead, glancing up at him through wet lashes. “I feel that,” I whispered, warmth blooming across my cheeks and neck.
“In Okeanós, Glacies and I will have to be...” He paused, a shadow dancing over his face. “With all the kingdoms here, we’ll have too...”
I chewed on my lip. “But Aarna’s parents are okay with it?”
“They are different from our families. You’ll see. Even though Aarna’s family is supportive, and this is their palace, they will honor my father’s wishes while he’s here.”
“I understand,” I said, despite the sour taste on my tongue.
“Thank you.” Finn let out a relieved exhale, but his gaze was weightedwith sadness, and he kept his hand on my wrist. “If Neptunus and Niveus hadn’t united through marriage, we likely would’ve ended up at war. Glacies and I honor our parents’ wishes for the sake of our people. But things won’t stay this way when we succeed them.”
I nodded and looked away, steadying my emotions. When I turned back, my face was composed, chin tilted. “Race you to the gate?”
A devilish grin split Finn’s face, and then he went under. I plunged after him, slicing through the current with my webbed hands and kicking furiously. But I was no match for the mighty sweep of his crimson-tipped tail, which kept him just ahead until he arched into an elegant dive, gliding to a stop where the others waited thirty feet from the gate. I alighted beside him, my feet sinking into the soft sand.
“You’re back? I lost the bet—you lasted longer than I thought.” Pisceon shot Finn a conspiratory wink, and my cheeks flamed.
“No one entered into a wager with this man.” Edward folded his arms and rolled his eyes. “His bet was with himself.”
Glacies blew out a breath as we all started moving toward the towering gate. “Well, here goes.”
Finn kept his hand on my lower back as we approached, but he let go just as we reached it.
