Page 47 of Of Rime and Ruin (Sirens of Adria #2)

Chapter forty-four

Beast

So pretty.

So perfect.

So mine .

Nahla clings to my chest.

Hands tangle in my hair.

Golden scales spread.

Her legs morph into a soft, flowing tail.

We plunge into the Rime.

My heart squeezes.

I missed her.

My body expands and shifts. Scales darken.

Horns sprout and spines poke through.

Claws extend.

Tail thrashes.

Thighs clench and kick, propelling us into deeper water.

Power.

Control.

Her magic weaves through the barrier of my mind, and her voice echoes through me. Hello, Beasty.

She sounds happy.

Me too.

My chest might explode from the pressure of this feeling.

I speak, pouring all my affection into it: Sunfish.

My heart is fast. Needy. Never have I wanted anything more desperately.

Her slick tail slides against my abdomen, and I scent her arousal. Thick and sweet. She wants me, too.

Against the sheath between my legs, my cock hardens, begging for release.

Not yet.

Not here.

First, I must take her somewhere safe.

Who knows what could be lurking in the deep?

I angle past the dungeon, toward the old royal city, where the forgotten ruins of Doloch are embedded in the glacier. Here, the hollow passages were carved over millennia. Ancient and grand.

Nahla peers around, and I sense her awe through our mental link. It’s a beautiful city. Tall spires of ice. Intricate engravings. Buttresses. Two pikewhale statues guard the entrance, their long spears home now to glacierweed. A pity, but still beautiful.

Where are we going? she asks.

I smirk. She’s going to love this.

You’ll see.

Through the entrance and into the hollow center of the city. Ice stretches around, forming a bowl above our heads. From the ceiling dangles a broken chandelier, its glowmite lamps scattered on the floor. Tunnels branch in all directions. I take the far tunnel, passing into the shadows.

Nahla clings more tightly to my chest. Her nose grazes my skin. My cock lengthens, and the fleshy tip slips between the gap in my sheath.

Almost there.

The tunnel opens into a vast cavern. Golden light streams high above, where the thin ice brushes the surface of the Rime, bathing the library in an orange sunset glow.

Frozen stalagmites rise from the floor to form pillars of ice.

Shelves are carved into every wall, each pillar, lined with old tomes.

The water hums with ancient magic. A few tablets float aimlessly, dancing to the remnants of the book-keeper’s lingering charm.

Nahla gasps. I release my hold on her, and she spirals into the room, spinning and staring in open wonder. Grinning madly.

Pride swells my chest. I knew she’d like it. And, fuck, she’s stunning when she’s this happy.

Aethan! she screams. You’ve been holding out on me!

I rumble in approval. Aethan. Yes, that’s my name.

Beast, yes, but also king.

It’s yours, Sunfish. All yours.

She stops her spin, turning to stare at me in wonder. She kicks her tail, barreling toward me. Gratitude slams into me through our mental connection moments before her body connects. Her hands slide over my chest, my shoulders, into my hair. I knew it was you.

I rumble. I’m glad.

She climbs me until her lips find mine, hovering a scale’s breadth away. Kiss me?

My heart stutters. Her kissing books. Sunfish wants to demonstrate.

And when Sunfish wants something, I deliver.

I brush her soft lips with mine. Her tongue slips into my mouth and slides over my sharp teeth. I growl, and her fingers tighten in my hair.

I was right. She tastes like the sun.

Then our frenzy begins. We are two bodies, groaning and sliding together, desperate to become one. I let my instincts take me. My hands on her hips. Her ass. Her breasts.

Fuck, these breasts. So supple and perfect.

I kiss them. Suck them. Run my tongue between them. Her nipples harden at my touch.

All the while she moans. Her emotions blaze through my mind, matching my own. Desire so strong it threatens to engulf us both.

This kissing, I like it very much.

Her hands slide over my muscled stomach. Trace the V of my hips. My cock bulges in the sheath moments before she finds it, cups it, and coaxes me out of hiding.

My length springs free.

She pauses. Stares. A flash of awe, then fear.

You’re fucking huge in this form. She wraps her hand around the base, but her fingers can’t touch. How’s it going to fit?

I purr at her praise, growing harder still. The king is large, but I am more so. Bigger. Better. Stronger. Made for bringing her pleasure.

I will fill you to the brim, Sunfish.

Her arousal floods the water. With my knuckle, I slide along her tail, finding the warm slit at her center.

I’ve seen her pussy in two-legged form. But this slit is deeper.

More sensitive. She will take my cock easily, I’m sure, and I will make her come on it, over and over, until she turns to reedgrass in my arms.

She trembles as I tuck my knuckle into her heat. I can’t use my claws; I would tear her soft skin. So I massage softly, seeking the sensitive bud at her apex.

Her pleasure sears through our connection, and she arches her back, pressing herself into my touch.

Found it.

With eagerness, I rub her spot. She mewls and gasps. Her tail flicks restlessly, convulsing as pleasure racks through her.

The pleasure that I’m giving her. Me. How did I get so lucky?

Shit , she moans.

I need more pressure. More purchase. Tucking an arm around her waist, I pull her into my chest—as my knuckle continues to work her—and dive toward the nearest bookshelf.

Against the wall.

She obeys. Her tail tucks onto the ledge, and I sink my claws into the pillar of ice. Cage her in. My tail coils around hers, above her fins. Pinning her in place.

My erection stretches between us, wavering with need. She eyes it worshipfully, then brushes her thumb across the velvety tip, collecting my pre-cum before she slips her thumb into her mouth.

Naughty girl , I growl.

Fuck me, Aethan . Her eyes pull me in, warm and big and brown. I cannot resist her. I will not.

She will scream my name until the city collapses around us.

Her hand wraps around the base of my cock as she guides me to her warm slit. With a grunt, I seat myself at her entrance. My tip glides through her wetness, and I moan.

Are you ready? I ask.

Every nerve in my body stands on alert.

Aethan , she groans, stretching my name. Through our connection, I see visions of her fantasy. Me, slamming her into the shelves. Me, pounding her into the floor. Me, fucking her so hard the ice falls from the ceiling. All tinged with impatience.

Heat pulses through my veins. Goddess, what a dirty mind she has. I fucking love it.

Nahla grabs my hips and impales herself on my cock.

I sheathe in her heat, sliding deep inside her. Her walls flutter and flex around me to accommodate my size. Her eyes widen, mouth popping open in surprise. Fingernails dig into my hips.

F-fuck! Fuck, you’re huge.

My stomach flips over, and pride swells my chest. That’s right, Sunfish. And it’s all for you. Every inch. It’s yours.

Her thoughts deepen in warmth, a mental blush as my meaning leaks into her psyche.

I speak, You’re perfect.

She tilts her hips to adjust the angle, then nods.

With a low, rumbling growl, I slide my cock out of her, leaving the tip inside. I grasp my shaft and move the tip through her heat, teasing her clit with it. Her eyes roll, lashes fluttering. The cutest fucking thing I’ve seen.

Her arousal spreads in the water, washing me in her scent. Sweet, desperate. Mine.

My chest burns for her, an ache so large I can’t contain it, cannot soothe it. The only cure is the feel of her pussy wrapped tightly around my cock.

No , she protests, squirming as I work her clit. Inside me. I need you inside me. Shit!

That’s all I need to hear.

I slip inside her, burying my cock to its hilt.

I rock into her. Again. Again. Faster. Harder.

Fuck.

She holds onto my hips and rides me as hard as I’m riding her. Her tail undulates as she works herself into a frenzy on my cock.

Fuck, she feels so good. So warm. So perfect. Like our bodies were made for each other. For this moment.

She moans her pleasure as I pump, over and over. The bookshelves rattle with each thrust. Ice creaks. Tablets slide and drop to the floor. But we do not stop.

We fuck.

My stomach twists with desperate pleasure. She’s close to coming—I can feel the tightening of her walls, hear the desperate hiccup on her lips.

A-Aethan. I’m going to c-come. Fuck!

My Sunfish is about to explode from the performance of my cock. It’s everything I’ve been dreaming about.

My animal instincts flare, hot and needy.

She’s mine.

But it’s still not enough. I need more. More. MORE!

I need to be closer.

I need to absorb her.

Become part of her.

Vision darkens. Blackness at the edges.

You’re fucking mine , I rumble. Now come for me.

Her body convulses. Tail kicks. Nails dig into my hips. She arches her back and screams as her orgasm passes through her.

Pride swells.

That’s my good girl.

I grab her.

Pull her.

Closer.

Hold her.

Tighter.

Pleasure builds.

One more pump.

Fuck!

I’m coming.

Stars flash.

Pleasure. So much pleasure.

She cries out.

There’s blood.

Blood in the water.

Look down.

My claws, covered in blood.

Gashes on her hips.

Her eyes wide. Lip trembling. Face scrunched in pain.

I stare.

Broken. I broke her.

I wanted her too much.

Aethan.

Her voice comes, distant, like a whisper.

Aethan, it’s okay.

She cups my cheek. Stroking softly.

Aethan, let’s go. Take me to Lucas.

Her words register, but barely.

I hold her. Swim with her.

Gentle.

Her blood trails behind us.

Evidence of my crime.

I don’t deserve her.

I cannot love her.

I lied.

I.

Am.

Not.

Safe.