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Chapter Sixteen

I feel like the worst mate alive.

I know I’m asking a lot from her—I even tried to kill that asshole merman when she left, but he went invisible. Of course, that’s his magic.

I’d like her to be friends with Astrid and Pandora because they are our allies, and she has nothing to worry about from either of them. Hell, with any woman.

I would never hurt her, and my heart, soul, and dick are all for her.

But if she wants us to leave, we can. I’ll do anything to make her happy.

I sit on the chair and pull her onto my lap. There’s a residue of magic in the air, and I give her a quick once-over to make sure she’s okay.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let my anger and jealousy get the best of me,” she murmurs, burying her face in my neck.

“Look at me,” I demand softly. “Give me those beautiful blue eyes.”

She lifts her face to look at me.

“We only bonded last night, love. It’s expected. I felt the same way when we saw that merman. I think emotions are going to be high for a while.”

“I embarrassed you.”

A small laugh escapes me. “If you knew the stories about each of my friends, you would know that no one will have judged you. Soren tried to kill me. Bane tried to kill Rave. Saylor felt jealous of Astrid. It’s almost a rite of passage at this stage.” I take her hands in mine and bring them to my lips. “No one cares, trust me. And the next time we run into one of your exes, I’ll also be losing my shit again. In fact, you can count on it.”

Her lip twitches at that.

“And yeah, I did have a crush on Astrid a long time ago, but I don’t feel that way anymore, and she never felt that way about me. We shared one kiss before she met Rave, and that was it. She’s family to me, and she will be a good friend to you. I only slept with Pandora once. And there wasn’t any emotional attachment involved. It was more a friends-with-benefits type deal.”

I don’t want to hurt her, but I want to be honest with her. I want us to be able to talk about everything. Communication is so important, and she’s my fucking mate. She needs to know where she stands with me, which is in first place every damn time.

She comes before everyone, including myself.

I can survive without anyone other than her.

She’s irreplaceable.

“Astrid spoke to me, and she seems very nice,” she admits, dragging her teeth across her bottom lip. “And beautiful. They are both very beautiful.”

I have no idea how someone who looks like her can feel insecure around any other woman, and I don’t like that she feels that way. “Their beauty doesn’t take from yours, love. To me, you are the single most beautiful woman in the realm.”

And I mean that.

“You have a cute pet name for her.”

My brow furrows. Pet name? Oh. Star. I had no idea that would upset Milana, but I’m glad she has told me. A name isn’t worth her being uncomfortable.

“You don’t like me calling her Star, then I won’t use it anymore.”

“Just like that?” she asks.

“Of course.”

“No, you can use it. I just wish we’d had this chat before.” She sighs, leaning forward and cupping my face, my stubble brushing against her palms. “I could have braced myself instead of making a bad first impression. Anyone else I’m going to have to be friends with who’s had what’s mine ?”

I turn my face and kiss the palm of her hand. “I don’t think so. And I didn’t know they’d all be there this morning. They all have no boundaries, so I should probably warn you of that right now.”

She rolls her eyes and kisses me sweetly. “I like your family. I mean, I wish you hadn’t fucked?—”

I cut her off with my mouth and tongue.

“What sort of power is invisible anyway? I bet he has a little invisible dick too.” I suddenly growl, thinking of her ex back inside the castle.

She smirks. “If you must know, your cock is bigger.”

Thank the fates.

I zip her right into bed. “Let me show you who I want, Milana. Who I love. Who belongs to me.”

Impatiently, I undress her before stretching my arm over my head to tug off my shirt. Her eyes roam over my chest and abs, and a smile tilts my lips. I love having her eyes on me. I kiss her mouth and then all down her body, paying special attention to her perfect pink nipples. She whimpers when I bite down a little harder, then kiss down her flat stomach until I reach her pussy. Glancing up between her legs, I command, “Keep your eyes on me. You look away, I stop. Oh, and Milana, don’t come until I tell you to.”

She swallows hard but nods.

Her hips buck at the first swipe of my tongue, so I pin them down while I suck and lick her sweet, hot little pussy.

“August,” she moans, gripping the sheets. “I need to come.”

“Not yet.”

“Please,” she begs, now pulling on the ends of my hair.

I pull back when her thighs start to shake and nip her inner thigh. She takes deep breaths until I lower my mouth again and continue to feast on her.

“Baby?” she whimpers, and fuck, I love her calling me that.

She keeps her eyes on me this entire time like the good-fucking-girl she is.

“Okay, come now,” I demand, and her body listens, her back arching as she screams.

I’m so fucking hard and ready for her to get on her knees and take what she wants from me.