Page 37 of Moist!

chapter eight

NEFKENIR

Lyra’s words unleashed me and it’s all I can do not to drag her, bind her, and take her.

To control because she allows it. How does she know I want that, that I need it?

She’s watched me for a long time…she said as much that first night.

But I’ve never done that with any of the women who’ve thrown themselves in the lake for me.

I’ve always done what I knew they wanted…

given a convincing performance, something wild they could talk about in hushed tones later.

How does Lyra know ?

She’s not Selah, she can’t be. The aura’s not there.

It’s not there . I’ve looked for it every day since the first evening Lyra returned to me.

Logic and the lake’s chilly water should override the lust and return my pragmatism, but they don’t put a dent in the heat when she clings tightly to me, a tiny yip leaving her lips when we hit the water. I keep her head above as I power through the lake toward my ship.

Lyra’s warm body shrouds my front as I move us easily through the water.

When we reach the water directly above the wreck, I coil my long body around us to form a bench seat for her in the water.

Pushing her slightly away from me, I perch her on a section of my body and tuck wet hair away from her high cheekbones.

“Trust me for a moment, little witch?” I jerk my head toward the water. “I want to show you my ship.”

The laugh she emits warms the long-dead embers of my chilled heart. “How do you presume to keep me alive underwater?”

I grin, knowing I look utterly wicked in the fading light. “That’s where the trust part comes in.” I push closer until her chest touches mine again. The cold water has pebbled her nipples and the peaked points brush against my chest, my fangs aching with need.

“I do trust you,” she whispers, sliding a hand up my stomach to rest between my pectoral muscles. Dark eyes drift to mine. She’s so impossibly innocent-looking like this, so trusting, so…she’s everything , everything.

Is it possible that I could have fallen in love in the span of a week? I cast the thought aside as soon as it enters my mind. It doesn’t matter. All that matters is the happy, expectant woman in my arms and my utter and complete desire to give her whatever she wants.

“I wish I could leave this lake and take you out dancing,” I admit. “I used to love dancing.”

“I have two left feet,” Lyra says with a laugh.

I glance down, dismayed to have not noticed such a thing, but she bursts into raucous laughter.

“It’s just a saying, Nef. It means I’m clumsy.

I guess…well, I guess that saying must have come sometime after you got stuck here.

” She looks around, her gaze softening at the edges, the tips of her lips tilting downward as she surveys my prison home.

With her in my arms I don’t feel trapped for the first time in centuries.

I drag the backs of my knuckles along her jawline. “Will you come with me, Lyra?”

A nod is all the answer I need. Grinning, I tickle just beneath her chin. “Hold your breath for a moment, alright? ”

She nods and sucks in a deep breath, and I pull her close.

Spinning in place, I power down, down, down into the darkness.

Lyra clings to me, tiny bubbles exiting her mouth and nose.

She shakes her head, rubbing at one ear as we go deeper.

Her ears are likely popping. I can’t take her much deeper.

Holding her close, I push past the crumbling entrance to the ship and into the captain’s two-story quarters.

I glide to the far right and up a tiny staircase, pushing Lyra up to the top. She enters the giant air bubble first, gasping for breath as she looks around, eyes wide.

“Gods, Nef. Is this…how is this? Did you do this?”

I slide up onto the large platform. I imagine once upon a time it was the captain’s bedroom.

Now it’s mine, although I have no blankets.

Just random bits of rope I practice my knots with.

I look around with the icky realization that it’s hardly a beautiful bed to bring a gorgeous woman into.

Running my hands through my hair, I grimace when my nails get stuck in the snarls.

“The air bubble remains no matter what I do. A bit of magic, I suspect. I usually sleep up here although I’ve never managed to get it comfy like a bed would be.

I should have thought this through, though, because it’ll be uncomfortable for you. ”

Lyra crawls forward until her mouth brushes mine. “Then bring the rest of you in here. You make a pretty good bed, you know.”

Heat curls slow and achy through me. I’ll barely fit in here with her if I bring the entire length of my tail through. But she asked for it, so I pull through, slipping my body into twisted coils until she sits on a pillow fort made out of me.

Lyra laughs and wriggles against my cylindrical coils. “So warm. You’re perfect, Nef. And even if you didn’t have a conveniently long body to turn into pillows, this spot is amazing. I love that you were willing to show it to me.”

I gulp, blinking at the astonishing witch snuggling up against me.

Not eyeing me with disdain. Not looking around for a path to escape.

Not even appearing the slightest bit worried about the dark water just outside the room’s singular window.

“It’s not the right sort of spot to bring you to, but it’s what I have. ”

Curling my body tighter behind her, I lift her toward me, bringing my mouth to hover just above hers. Our breaths mingle together as I stare at her pink-painted lips, at those tiny flat white teeth, at the upturned tip of her delicate nose.

“Mine,” I whisper, putting a finger beneath her chin. “Be mine, if just for a while, Lyra. Say yes.”

Dark lashes flutter and she rocks against me as she slides both arms around my neck, hauling me closer. “I think I knew I was yours before we ever met, Nef.” She nips at her lower lip. “I don’t know how I knew, but I knew. There was always a tug in my chest pulling me to the lake.”

A dark chuckle escapes me. “I’m sorry that sentiment led you to a male who cannot love you outside of these watery depths.”

She clutches me tighter, her gaze fierce. “The only thing I’m sorry for is that I didn’t come to you sooner. I was… afraid of what it all meant. But we could have had more time if I’d been braver.”

I press the pad of my thumb to her lips, silencing her. I won’t hear her chide herself, not for a moment. This perfect woman who makes me feel for the first time in hundreds of years.

“Let me show you what it means when I say mine.” I lie her down against my coils and grab a length of rope piled beneath the window. “I’ll ask again, Lyra. Do you trust me?”

Dark eyes flick to the rope, but she nods. “Yes, Nef.” Her voice is a mere whisper.

Wicked laughter leaves me then and I rear back with a triumphant laugh. “Good, little witch. Now, close your eyes.”