Page 13 of Fae Tithe (The Cursed Courts #1)

Lance spiralled more water from the well. He calmed his thundering heart, which urged him to hurry, desperate to get Helena back in his arms immediately.

Don’t rush, you have plenty of time.

The Merman made sure every speck of sand was removed from his body before striding towards the chipped door, the white paint thinned by the sea air. Helena nearly slammed into him as she came out, a towel wrapped around her and another in her arms.

“Careful,” he said with a chuckle, side-stepping her and taking the offered towel.

Lance smiled down at her. Helena only made it halfway up his chest, and she could have easily knocked herself over in a collision with him.

He dried himself, taking an extra moment to squeeze the excess water dripping from the tips of his long black hair that reached down his back.

He slung the new towel around his hips and took a step towards Helena.

She had put her brown waves up in a messy bun on the top of her head, secured with a braided leather ribbon.

Lance brushed a few escaping strands from her forehead with his calloused fingertips back into her hair.

He traced the path his fingers took with fevered kisses across her brow.

“Take me to bed?” he asked.

Helena’s throat bobbed and she flushed beneath the brown freckles on her chest. She nodded her assent and took his hand, leading him inside.

She steered him through her humble home and brought him to their bedroom.

Lance’s curled head nearly brushed the top of the doorway as he crossed the threshold.

He pulled the door closed behind him with a gentle click.

His eyes fell to the small bed. A languid smile spread across his golden-brown face.

“Sit on the edge, Len,” he instructed, nodding his head towards the wooden frame fitted with a straw stuffed mattress.

Helena’s blush spread to her face as she did as she was told.

Lance took a single step towards her, crossing the distance between them easily with his long stride.

He stooped and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, earning him his favourite eye-crinkling smile.

Lance dropped to his knees in front of her, using his lean torso to push Helena’s thick thighs apart.

“Good girl,” he rumbled as his chest tightened.

Don’t rush, you have time. No need to pounce on her.

He cupped her heart-shaped face in his hand and kissed Helena deeply. Lance’s tongue pushed past her rosebud lips and caressed the inside of her mouth.

Helena moaned softly in response. She continued the noise as he made his way down her jawline and neck, feeling himself harden beneath his loose towel. Lance peeled away the material wrapped around her, leaving her completely bare before him.

The Merman nuzzled and scraped his pointed teeth down her neck and breasts as his hand made his way up the inside of her left thigh. Lance pulled back from Helena’s breasts when he discovered the soft wetness pooled between her legs.

“Ready for me again so soon?” he teased as he pressed his thumb to her clit, then began to rub circles onto it directly.

Breathless moans of pleasure escaped Helena’s mouth as he pushed two fingers inside of her.

He could not tear his eyes from her pleasure-filled face.

The Merman watched her with rapt attention as he used his large fingers to pump in and out of her, while his thumb continued to circle with deliberate, aching precision.

Lance could feel her tense around him, her crescendo building.

“Tell me when,” he said huskily.

“Now,” Helena gasped, tangling her hands into his wild black curls, gently pulling at his scalp.

Lance grinned and dipped his head between her thighs. He gently scraped his pointed teeth over her before lashing his eager tongue over Helena’s clit. He feasted on her climax as she ground onto his mouth. Small pants escaped her lips as Lance felt her tighten around his pumping fingers.

“Again?” he purred, as he felt more wetness pool between her thighs.

“Yes,” Helena moaned.

“I thought so.” He lifted his face from her slightly, a smug look of satisfaction painted on his face.

“I need you, Lance,” she begged as she puffed heavily into his hair.

The Merman felt her hand creep down his braided abdomen. She untucked the towel at his hips and tugged it away. His hard cock fell into Helena’s searching hand. She spread the pearl of moisture at the very tip with her thumb.

“No,” Lance grabbed Helena’s wrist. “Don’t tease me. I want to last for you this time.”

He hooked his hands under her knees as he stood, his lean frame towering over Helena as she fell back onto the bed.

Lance looked down at her, a languid grin on his face. “Say please.”

His eyes met Helena’s, her skin flushed and chest heaving, face dreamy with pleasure. “Please,” she panted.

The Merman knelt between her thighs. He hooked his leg behind her knee, easing her thighs apart until they opened as wide as they would go. Lance drank in her relaxed form, arms swept up by her head.

“Slow this time, okay?”

Helena murmured her agreement.

The Merman angled his hips and grabbed his cock in his hand, guiding the head of it into her. She gave a small gasp as he pushed the rest of the way inside of her, ever so slowly. Lance shuddered at how warm, wet and right she felt as he lowered his weight onto Helena.

“Is this alright?” he asked, eyes searching her face.

“Yes,” she croaked. “Please, Lance.”

The Merman exhaled with a shudder as he began his first thrust. He drew his soaked cock all the way out of her and all the way back in, ever so deliberately. He continued to repeat the torturously slow tempo, relishing in the exquisite sweetness.

Lance voiced his thoughts aloud in a deep moan. “You’re perfect, all I have wanted.” He felt his abdomen quiver. “Whenever I am with you, I’m home.”

Helena rewarded his efforts with cute, breathy pants as she wound her hands into his scalp, nails digging in.

Lance curled his torso and pressed his forehead to hers as they leisurely writhed together.

Helena tried to quicken his tempo by meeting her hips to his hurriedly, but he slowed her down again each time with a gentle squeeze to her thick waist. The Merman was determined to wring her next climax from her gradually.

“Don’t take your eyes off me, okay?” he whispered as his pleasure built. “I need to see you, and I am nearly there.”

“Me too,” she exhaled heavily.

The breathless admission pushed him over the edge. His eyes bored into her as pleasure rushed through him and released. He gave a deep primal groan from his chest and Helena moaned as she gripped into his scalp, and they shattered into pieces together.

Lance collapsed onto Helena’s breasts, his head resting in the crook of her neck. They both panted heavily, the intensity eventually ebbing into a warm afterglow. The Merman huffed, scenting her smell and his mark mingled onto her skin.

“I love you,” he whispered into the wild waves that had broken free from the bun on her head.

“I love you too,” she replied, pressing a feverish kiss to his collar bone. “That was…I…” she fumbled over her words.

“I know, it always is that way with us.” Lance slipped himself from Helena and rolled onto his sweaty side.

He reached out and pulled her close, folding her into him.

Lance loved to have Helena fall asleep in the shelter of his corded arms. He knew she was dozing within moments as he heard her breath softly even.

Lance smiled and pressed a gentle kiss to the back of her head before allowing himself to drift off to sleep.