But the small hand in mine squeezes tightly.
“...’fere, Raf’ere?” I hear her sweet voice as my hearing returns to normal. “Raf’ere, are you okay?”
“I’m okay,” I say, a bit unsteadily.
“Have they been here this whole time?” Her tone is unsure, and she brings one hand to rub her biceps.
“Yes.”
“Okay. So, the house knows about me?” Marta asks.
“Yes, and if they weren’t at dinner, they’ll know soon enough. Word will travel fast that there’s a human at the Lin’gaan Reefs estate.” It’s true, I’ll be lucky if someone doesn’t leak her presence here to the tabloids. The gossip publications eat up anything to do with the Royal family. A secret human mate for the duke of the Lin’gaan reefs? They’d eat up every bit of this story.
If I don’t get a call from the king in a few hours, I’ll be shocked.
“So, I’m not a secret anymore?” The corner of her mouth lifts into a devious grin.
“No,” I say, trying to hide the disappointment that I can’t keep her to myself any longer.
Her eyes light up, and a manic smile splits her face.
“Thank you!” She pushes me against the wall with a crushing hug.
I grab her face between my palms, tilting her chin to meet my gaze.
She runs the back of her hand down my cheek and cranes her neck to kiss me.
I almost let her, but I turn my head at the last moment.
“Let me make you feel good?” I whisper into her ear.
I’ll make you feel so good you’ll never want to leave me. I’ll make you come so hard you’ll forget the rest of the world exists. I’ll be the drug you’re dependent on.
Just please don’t leave.
Marta stills, her face dropping before she passes me a conflicted look. Her mouth pulls into a taught frown before sliding on a more neutral demeanor.
“Is that what you want?” She pouts.
I know she wants me to kiss her. I don’t deserve her.
“It makes me happy to pleasure you. Don’t pout—you know I can make you feel all better.”
She pulls back her shoulders, sighing, before giving me a sly smile.
“Yeah, I know you can. Lead the way to pleasure town,” she says with a wave of her hand.
I cradle her in my arms, drawing her intoxicating scent into my lungs. My cock stiffens, as if it doesn’t already know I won’t allow myself to find a release with her, and if I kiss her I’m sure I would surely lose control. This small step towards her independence has me scared. If I double down on my efforts to keep her satisfied sexually maybe it’ll be enough for her to want to stay. Maybe she could look past my disfigurement.
I hit the wall with my fist, activating the hidden door. It pops open, steam and red lights pouring out from the space.
“I swear you have like a secret tunnel fetish. Who in the hell needs so many hidden doors?” She laughs into my chest.
The only fetish I have is for Marta. “There’s only one tunnel I’m interested in right now,” I waggle my eyebrows, trying to break some of the tension of our unresolved kiss.
“Wow,” Marta says with raised eyebrows before I step into the room. “Ohh, it feels great in here!”
I set her on a long bench in the middle of the room. Marta closes her eyes, and her shoulders relax into the welcoming warmth as she reclines.
