“You were made for this, Astryd. Made to be my little fucktoy,” I snarl. “I’ll leave you ruined on the surface. How long do you think you’ll last without this? A day? A week?” She groans, shaking her head as I continue. “When you need me again, just walk naked into the sea. I’ll find you and give you my cock. I promise.”
“Qurill,” she moans. “Please. I’m close—let me come. Please.”
I’m not surprised she doesn’t say anything to my declaration. I can still make her come. Once she does, she’ll see why she can’t leave me. No other male will be worthy of her submission. She needs me to look out for her. She’ll see that soon enough.
I continue to thrust into her roughly before snaking my hand around to the front of our bodies. Finding her clit, I work tight circles on it. Astryd gasps, her whole body locking down. Her eyes are wide and unseeing—a scream sticks in her throat. She clamps down on me like a fist as she comes.
I thrust deep one more time, my teeth biting into her shoulder as I pump deep and empty myself. Her greedy pussy drinks down my seed. It spills inside her in a rush. There is so much of it, it squelches between us, staining the silk sheets below. I stay inside her until her shocks of pleasure subside. Gently pulling out, another fresh rush of seed coats her inner thighs.
Turning her in my arms, I hold her close. She nuzzles under my chin. I feel her heart pounding against mine. I can feel our souls weaving together. She is my mate, and while she is human, she has to feel it too. We are meant to be together. In the bliss after our coupling, I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.
I kiss her sweaty brow. She blinks up at me, tipping her chin so that I can taste her lips. Our kiss is chaste. The gentleness of it makes my heart pound. I touch our foreheads together and stare into her blue eyes.
“Are you alright?”
She smiles up at me, tucking a piece of my hair behind my ear. Her fingers trace my fin, causing me to shiver.
“I’m wonderful.”
Staring at her is like glimpsing into the future. I can picture us like this every morning and night. Spending our days exploring and spending our evenings marking each other inside and out. Even though I was buried inside her less than a minute ago, I can already feel her slipping away. Our time together is shortening with every second.
The comforting silence of our coupling begins to turn cold. Panic sets in. She has not changed her mind, I can see that on her face. I’ve shown her the pleasure I can give her—that she would be safe with me and well taken care of, and yet it is not enough. She still wants to leave me. I can’t let that happen, and I am not above begging.
“Don’t go,” I whisper. “Remain here with me as long as you like, but please, don’t let this end tonight. Please, Astryd.”
Her hand drifts to my cheek, gently thumbing my cheekbone. Her smile is small and sad. Red rims her eyes as she blinks away the gathering moisture.
“I cannot stay, Qurill.”
Her words are soft and final.
Hopelessness is an anchor around his ankle, dragging him down into the murky depths. I want to argue with her, to fuck her again, and remind her who’s mastered her body. I want to lay bare my own soul and tell her how much I love her. That would be cruel to do so. Not to mention unwise. I wouldn’t want her to stay with me out of pity.
Astryd’s soft lips press against mine.
“Just let me have tonight. Please.”
I nod, unsure what to say next. I failed. I did not prove myself to her, and now I’m going to lose her. Not completely, even when I leave her on the surface, I’ll keep watch over her for the rest of her life. I’ll be her shadow—the figure in the distance that always seems to be following her. I couldn’t stop myself even if I tried.
Astryd’s stomach growls to life between us. Even though I loathe having to leave her, I’m grateful for the task of providing for her.
“Let me get you something to eat.”
I leave the room and collect a steaming plate of fish and seasoned rice. Returning to the bed, Astryd has slid beneath the ruined sheets. She says nothing as I hand the plate over towards her. The easy quiet we once shared has disintegrated. Her mind is made up. Any attempt to sway her decision will just push her further away. I watch her eat from the corner of the bed.
She picks at her food for a few moments before setting the plate aside. Settling under the sheets, her hair fans out on the pillow. Her body is tense, and I hate that. Still, I don’t want to waste a moment of her being here.
I crawl up behind her and lay my arm against her waist. Immediately, she relaxes, settling against me. I kiss her soft shoulder and breathe in her sweet scent, committing it to memory. Her breathing soon deepens and becomes even. Staring down at her beautiful face, I can see her adventurousspirit hovering beneath the surface. It longs to be freed but has been caged by years of self-preservation.
My only hope now is that she’ll do as I said and reach out to me when she needs to be pleasured. It’s the only hope I have to hold onto. If I return her to the surface and keep my distance, perhaps I’ll give her a chance to miss me.
I spend the next few hours cataloging all the freckles on her shoulders.
Dawn is only a few hours away, and though I hate to leave her with so little time remaining, there is still a wrong that needs to be righted. The man who chained her will soon find himself in a watery grave. I’ll enjoy this kill—knowing it’ll keep Astryd safe.
I’ll be her protector—her shadow. Even if she doesn’t want me to be.
6
