Page 29 of A Bond so Fierce and Fragile (Compelling Fates Saga #3)

“I can’t have all this, but you can. You all can.” Lessia traced her fingers over his mouth, a flicker of her heat tinging the air as she followed the downward curve of his lips. “I’ll go to the gods. Maybe… maybe there is something we haven’t thought about. But this is my choice, Merrick.”

She didn’t need to say what she was thinking for Merrick to understand.

You’ve always respected my choices.

Lessia’s fingers moved down from his face, trailing over his bare skin. “I love you,” she whispered again. “Please…”

His mind went to the regent.

Maybe he hadn’t been such a bastard for taking a choice away from her.

He’d saved her life, after all, and she’d forgiven him…

But as he continued to stare into her warm eyes, the color of honey—of pure goodness—he couldn’t do it.

He didn’t know what it said about him. He just… he couldn’t.

“Please…” she begged softly once more, and Merrick couldn’t stop the sweet scent that invaded his senses as she moved closer to him, her hand wandering farther down.

As his hands fell from her cheeks, she shook off the blanket he’d wrapped her in.

She was entirely naked. Naked, but with blood and dirt and dust covering her beautiful skin. Still, she was the most alluring female he’d ever seen.

His hands moved to her shoulders, and a whimper fell from her mouth as he caressed her skin, careful not to press on any of the wounds that might still pain her.

“Merrick,” she breathed.

He would never get over hearing her say his name like that.

She was fucking distracting him.

He knew that, but she also wanted this.

She wanted him—needed him. He could smell it. Fucking sense it. And he’d do anything for her.

As his hands drifted across her perfect skin, down her neck, across her collarbone until they grazed her breasts and a wanting sound escaped her, Merrick promised himself he’d give her everything she wished for.

He’d give her all of it. If not in this lifetime, then the next.

And he’d start with time.

If it was the last thing he did in the wretched fucking world, it would be to give this incredible creature all the damned time he could.

Merrick’s eyes were burned onto her face as his knuckles brushed her nipples, his body responding immediately when they hardened at his touch.

His cock stretched against the fabric of his breeches, desperate to get out—to feel her warmth wrapping its silky embrace around it. Especially when Lessia pressed her firm breasts against his hands, another whisper of need leaving her.

But he ignored it.

Time. He was taking his time.

“Come here,” he rasped, using every ounce of willpower to turn toward the tub.

“That’s going to be cold,” Lessia protested, her voice still breathy.

Still, he could feel her following him, always aware of her heat, of her soul, just of her wherever she was around him.

He didn’t respond as he lit the kindling in the stove beneath the tub, making sure it burned bright before he started pouring water into it using the bucket and the strange contraption that allowed water inside through a long tube when Merrick turned a wooden lever.

It took filling the bucket ten times to get the huge tub filled halfway.

He debated whether he should fill it fully, but given how Lessia hovered behind him, the scent that had begun to fill the entire room… he would probably not be able to stop himself from bathing with her, and it’d spill over anyway then.

Rising to his feet, Merrick drew a deep breath, telling himself to be patient, then he turned toward her again.

His eyes widened upon landing on her. Every time he saw her, she was even more gorgeous—a light in the darkness that was his world.

His breath hitched as a shy smile tugged at her features.

Had it been any of his friends reacting like this, he would have made fun of them.

He’d seen her mere seconds ago. But still… it was like seeing her for the first time, whenever his eyes had rested somewhere else but on her.

She was still naked, her skin peppered by goose bumps, but there was no coldness in her eyes as he stalked the few steps to close the distance between them.

“That’s going to take forever to warm up.” Lessia’s eyes bounced to the water behind him before colliding with his again.

“We have time,” Merrick responded as he dragged her to him, folding her body into his. “Besides, the plans I have for you…” He leaned down to whisper against her ear, savoring the hair rising on her neck in response. “They include forever.”

Lessia inhaled sharply, and he could feel her body tense against his.

Fuck. That had been the wrong thing to say.

Silently cursing himself, Merrick let his lips brush her ear again, his canines grazing her earlobe. “You might want a cold bath when I’m done with you.”

A shudder, and not from worry, coursed through her body.

Fucking better. But not good enough.

Merrick ducked his head further, leaving taunting kisses down her neck, across her sharp collarbone, and up again, lazily kissing and nipping at her skin until her chest began heaving against his.

He dragged his lips higher, kissing her chin, then her cheek, halting right before her mouth.

Her breath was hot as it hit his lips, and she leaned her head back, giving him better access while finding his gaze again.

Gods, he could fucking come at the molten look turning her eyes almost as golden as when she used her magic when she got excited.

He kept his eyes on her as he pressed his lips against hers.

Soft first, but… Merrick groaned as her lips parted for him to reach better.

She even tasted like sunshine.

Like freedom. Like the dreams he’d had when he was younger. The dreams he’d never spoken to anyone about but which included a warm room, a soft voice calling his name, food, and always, always a bed to sleep in.

He couldn’t hold back. Angling her head, he deepened their kiss, a growl building in his chest when she responded immediately, winding her arms around his neck to get closer, to kiss him harder.

His little fighter. Injured, tired, dirty, and devastated, and she still responded to him like this.

He was the luckiest fucking male in the realm.

Guiding her backward as their tongues tangled, Merrick nudged her against the short side of the wooden tub, avoiding the heating stove that crackled on the longer side, so her lower back and legs rested against it.

Merrick moved his hands from her shoulders down to her breasts again, fighting a smile when she yelped as his rough skin brushed over her sensitive nipples as he cupped them.

As he weighed the breasts in his hands, his thumbs grazed the nipples once more, flicking them until she squirmed against him.

“So fucking responsive,” he said hoarsely.

This was torture. Sweet fucking torture to hold back when all he wanted was to drive his cock into her, filling her as he listened to her cry out her own release.

Moving his hands to slide down her back instead—excruciatingly slowly—he replaced his fingers with his tongue as his hands circled her perfect ass.

Merrick slid his tongue over the hardened nipples as he pressed her against him, letting her feel how hard he was for her and nearly going mad for the harsh pants that left her as she realized just what she was doing to him.

“This is all you,” he murmured against her breasts. “You, your perfect fucking body, your soft skin, and your sweet fucking scent drive me insane.”

He sucked a nipple into his mouth and gently settled it between his teeth, pulling on it until she cried out.

“I want to make you come until you cry so loud those fucking gods will wonder what is happening.” He moved to the other nipple, biting down on it until his name fell from her lips.

“I want to fuck you until my name is the only thing you can remember.” His hands moved to her thighs, sliding up to what he was certain was a throbbing warmth between her legs.

When he stopped right beneath it, even as his hands pressed to continue, she actually whined.

“Please,” Lessia begged as she arched against him. “Please, Merrick.”

He fucking loved it when she begged.

He fucking loved her so much.

But having her like this? All vulnerable and wanton and desperate for him? Calling his fucking name?

It was too much.

His cock ached as he angled his head upward, watching her face pinch as she struggled against his hands, her legs seeking release on their own.

Merrick rid himself of his breeches, and his cock sprang free, bouncing against her leg, and she moaned as it left a drop of his come behind.

Her broken hand twitched. Fucking twitched, as if she contemplated touching him, and he quickly dropped to his knees, ensuring she couldn’t reach him.

“Rest your elbows on the tub,” Merrick ordered.

It would have been better if she could hold on, but he wasn’t risking her damned hands getting more injured because of him.

She didn’t argue, and as she shifted down, her elbows rested against the wooden ledge and her scent exploded around him as her beautiful pussy leveled with his face.

Time.

Give it time, he reminded himself.

But he couldn’t hold back the sound of approval winding its way up his throat.

She was glistening.

So fucking wet for him.

“Good girl,” Merrick grated as his eyes flew over all the hot silkiness before him.

She was so perfect.

His cock twitched remembering how tight she’d been, remembering the warmth folding around him, and he dragged a finger up her thigh, slowly moving it up her stomach, then down again, resting just above her clit.

Another wave of her scent washed over him, and he groaned as heat shot through his limbs. He was grateful she couldn’t touch him right now. He might have fucking come if her skin came anywhere near his cock.

Merrick forced himself to move slowly, but as his fingers sank into her warmth, her pussy opening for him as she spread her legs, it proved impossible.