“Fuck!” I growled and jerked away, causing Rani to stumble into the wall behind her. “Oh, fuck. That wasn’t supposed to happen.”
Her shock quickly morphed into disbelief, and when I didn’t take my words back, it grew into anger. I thought I felt a flash of hurt down our newly strengthened connection, but it was swiftly buried under my own raging emotions. She didn’t understand. I wasn’t upset about what we did, but that it happened before I could talk to her about it.
About why our bond was currently doing some version of a happy dance that included intruding on our emotions and sharing them at the worst possible times. Like now. Oh gods, she was pissed.
“Just let me explain,” I beseeched, hands raised in peace.
Trying to wade through her out-of-control emotions was tougher than I expected. Each time I landed on the anger I swore I only riled it up even more.
“I think you said all you needed to,” Rani scowled. “I’ve never had a guy react to me quite so offensively, but I guess there’s a first time for everything.”
“If you would just calm down—”
“It wasn’t that good for me either, what with me having to fake an orgasm on the spot, but you don’t see me acting like I need to cut my vagina off in disgust.”
Nowthatwas just a blatant lie. And it wasn’t because she still physically quivered with lingering arousal. Ifeltthe way she shuddered against me. She could be pissed at my reaction all she wanted, it was fair. But her dishonesty wasn’t going to fly.
“Such a bad liar,” I chastised. “You know that pussy is still clenching and gasping, just waiting for me to come fill it and finish what I started.”
Her eyes flashed with outrage. “I’m as dry as the peeling wallpaper in the living room.”
I closed the small distance between us, compelling her to back away until my body caged her in once more. I tucked my chin, just enough to watch, and tsked when I noticed her gaze focusing hard somewhere near my cheek. There would be no hiding today. I jerked her chin up, forcing her to look me in the eyes.
“If I slip my hand into your panties right now, how wet will you be for me?” Her pupils dilated, and that attractive blush burned across her cheeks. “Tell me the truth or I’ll find out for myself,” I warned.
Tongue quickly wetting her bottom lip, a flash of ire punctured the bond, but she answered, “I’m. Fucking. Soaked.”
Oh, I knew it. But it sounded so good coming from her lips. I allowed my grin to grow slowly, forcing her to stand right there and watch it spread before leaning down to nip her ear. She gasped at the sting.
“Good girl.”
Her glare was once again firmly in place when I took a step back, but she’d learned her lesson and was silent. At least, her mouth was. Those emotions, though? Couldn’t get them to shutthe fuck up. I was bombarded from her side of the bond until it was all I could do to block her out.
“Now,” I continued, silently building a mental wall down the middle of that tether between us, brick by brick, “if you want to chill out and let me ex—”
“Bite me,” she growled.
Well, that was annoying. “Fine, you want to be stubborn?” I swooped down, catching her behind the knees, then stood and tossed her over my shoulder. “Then I think it’s time to cool down.”
I stomped over to the pool, slow enough that she had time to figure out where we were going and deal with it. It also gave me the chance to get my thoughts back in order. My body still shook. I was too out of control back there, a slave to the bond and the constant lure it dangled.
It was a nonstop, seductive voice in the back of my mind, urging me to take her; to tie her to me for the rest of our lives. But that wasn’t my decision to make. It was all hers. I’d gladly stand in the background, protecting her and taking nothing but the scraps she threw my way, if that’s what she wanted. It was getting harder to do that on my own, though. She needed to be aware of the dangers of giving in like we just did.
I hoped the cool water of the pool would temper both our libidos enough to explain what was happening. The first step was a shock to the system, but it got better as I went further in. Loosening my hold, I let Rani slide down the front of me and caught her when her legs wrapped around my waist. Her ass was supported in my hands as we went down the last couple steps.
She clutched at my neck when the water finally reached her, but didn’t panic.
“Don’t let go,” she pleaded.
“Never.”
For a while, the only sound was the lapping of the water against the side of the pool and our even breathing. I watched the sun pass behind cloud after cloud while walking around the shallow end to keep us both moving.
“Why am I glowing?” Rani asked, the question muffled in my neck.
“Cova filled the pool with ocean water before he left,” I explained. “It might be the higher concentration of salt. You’re not used to it.”
She nodded, accepting my answer even though I wasn’t completely sure. It didn’t really matter. I loved when she glowed. I had to all but threaten the siren heir to fill this damn pool, but he finally caved, and thank the gods. It made things easier on a besotted witch who had to carry buckets of it upstairs to the bathtub.
