“Your Alpha took him back to their lair, where he’ll be on trial for treason...among other things. The rest of the rogue pack will be integrated back into the main pack on a case-by-case basis.”
She was beautiful. Smart and unbelievably understanding.
Timber slid up to sitting and covered Marian’s hand in his. Realizing he was naked beneath the sheets, Timber covered his lap and wondered who undressed him. “I’m assuming since I’m still sitting here that my case was already determined.”
She nodded quickly. “You’re under my care for now. When you’re feeling better, you’ll be welcomed back into the main pack as the hero you are.”
“Hero?” he scoffed. “I’m far from a hero.”
“Not in my eyes.”
Something in his chest shifted and Timber knew then and there that he never wanted to part from her. He grabbed the lapels of Marian’s robe and swung her over the top of him. She gave a little squeal of delight as she settled over his waist, her knees planted on either side of his hips. Her hair cascaded over her head and fell into his face. She smelled sweet, fresh, just like he knew she would.
He’d never get enough of her.
“You know,” Marian said, laughing, “there was something I think you were going to say when we surfaced, before the Emperor’s guard smacked you in the back of the head.”
The mere mention of the strike made Timber’s head ache. But he remembered what he’d been about to say. How could he forget?
“Well?” she said, leaning down for a kiss.
“I was hit damn good...everything is one big blur.” Timber rose up and caught her mouth, sealing them together. “I think I might need help refreshing my memory.”
“Oh, yeah?” She nipped at his bottom lip and arched her back, pressing her breasts against his chest. “How’s this?”
Timber groaned, and yanked back the parted folds of her robe. Her breasts were silky-smooth and white as porcelain, with two pink nipples that hardened from the sudden chill. He skimmed his hands down the sides of her body to her delicate waist that fit his hands perfectly. Her skin goose-bumped beneath his fingers and she twitched, ever so slightly, in response to his feather-light caress. She spread her legs on either side of him so he could feel the juncture between her legs press against his throbbing cock.
“It’s all coming back to me now.” He cupped the back of her neck and brought her mouth to his. They would be this way for the rest of their lives. Their futures were as entwined as their past, only this time everything looked bright. They’d live in Sapphric’s chamber near the river and make a home together...if that’s what Marian wanted. He’d do anything to make her happy. “I love you a thousand times over, Marian. Always have and always will.”
She moaned into a kiss that swelled Timber’s heart. “I love you, too,” she whispered against his lips.
As he yanked back the sheet covering his lap, Timber flipped Marian onto her back and pinned her to the mattress. She gasped as he planted his arms on either side of her shoulders and knelt on either side of her legs. She couldn’t escape from the cage of his body. But from the flare of excitement burning in her eyes, Timber knew Marian didn’t want to go anywhere. He nudged her legs apart with his knees.
“I could never get enough of you.” Roping his arms around her thighs, he dove between her legs and put his mouth on her. “Never.” Teasing flicks of his tongue. “Get.” Another wet kiss to her clit. “Enough.”
Her breath hitched and she scraped her fingers across his head.
She tasted sweet as honey, and as his tongue flittered in and out of her, a rush of warmth hit him. Her desire increased and her hips rolled beneath him, guiding him where she wanted to feel the heat of his mouth. He feasted on her, his tongue twirling over her pleasure spot, his mouth sliding through her rich cream.
She seized, crying out his name on a sob. He gripped her backside and lifted her hips to bring her closer to his mouth. He groaned, hungrier than ever, as her orgasm pulsed and sucked on his tongue.
“I’m dreaming,” she said, melting to the mattress. “I’ve got to be dreaming.”
“Then let’s pray you don’t wake up just yet.”
Slowly, Timber slinked over Marian’s body. She was lean and smooth and trembling for his touch. He didn’t—couldn’t—deny her. She opened up for him, her legs wrapping around his hips as he eased himself inside her. Her body was soft, warm, enveloping him like a warm glove.
Their joining was perfect, breath-freezing, and filled with more love than his heart could bear.
Groans of pleasure ripped from Timber’s throat as he sheathed himself to the hilt. Their hips met. Marian threw her head back and arched her hips up, allowing his thrusts to go deep, so deep, inside. She clawed her nails down his back, gasping, moaning, as another orgasm peaked inside her. Timber could feel her pleasure rising with his own. Could sense when she was about to shatter around him.
It drove him on.
On the brink of madness, Timber rolled over, taking Marian with him. He wanted her on top of him. Yearned to see her body move as she rode him to ecstasy. Marian planted her knees on either side of his hips and rose over him. Smiling deviously, she rocked her hips slowly, the swell of her breasts dangling in his face, her supple mouth wet from his kisses.
Timber could barely keep his eyes open as she expertly brought him to his peak. Palming her back, Timber brought her down over him and kissed her, open-mouthed and heavy, promising everything. But when her core began to clench around his shaft and her head dropped back in ecstasy, Timber opened his eyes to capture the love in Marian’s gaze.
“Look at me,” he pushed out, barely holding on to a thread of restraint. “I want you to look at me when you come.”
She looked at him then, her eyes heavy-lidded and glossed in desire. He cupped the back of her neck and clenched tight. Then, when the pressure inside him mounted, Timber came with resounding force, his entire body seizing head to toe as he released himself into her core. Marian rolled her hips in time with each powerful surge, taking all of him in.
As the tide ebbed, Marian dismounted and fell into the crook between Timber’s chest and arm. Gasping for air, Timber tucked Marian against him and eyed the ripples of blue over their heads.
“It’s amazing,” he said, feeling his heart drum out of his chest.
“Looks like the water is going to drip onto our heads, doesn’t it?”
“I wasn’t talking about the Curtain.” He kissed the top of her head, wondering what he ever did to deserve Marian’s love. “I was talking about you and how you make me feel.”
He could feel her melt against him. Could feel her heartbeat flutter as if it were his own.
“I don’t know how I ever breathed without you,” she whispered as her lips found his neck. “You’re everything to me, you know that?”
“I know.” He rolled her over, watched her skin glow and her eyes lighten, and settled between her hips. “And I’m going to spend the rest of my life showing you that you are more precious to me than any gem in that treasure trove of yours.”
Marian lifted her hips to meet him. “I’ve got another trove you can visit.”
“Baby,” he said, entering her on a groan, “I like the way you think.”
* * * * *
Don’t miss the other sensual, paranormal reads from Harlequin Nocturne Cravings, available at www.ebooks.eharlequin.com and wherever ebooks are sold. Titles include:
The Demon’s Forbidden Passion by Zoey Williams
Mated by Moonlight by Jessa Slade
Threshold of Pleasure by Vivi Anna
The Darkest Embrace by Megan Hart
Hunting the Jackal by Seressia Glass
Heart of the Jaguar by Katie Reus
Her Wicked Wolf by Kendra Leigh Castle
Demand of the Dragon by Kristin Miller
Seducing the Jackal by Seressia Glass
Looking for more paranormal romance? The sizzling and spine-chilling books of
Harlequin Nocturne are available at www.Harlequin.com or your local bookstore.
* * *
Connect with us for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!
Subscribe to our newsletter: Harlequin.com/newsletters
Visit Harlequin.com
We like you—why not like us on Facebook:
Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks
Follow us on Twitter: Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks
Read our blog for all the latest news on our
authors and books: HarlequinBlog.com
ISBN: 978-14603-2078-5
THE MERMAID’S MATE
Copyright © 2013 by Kristin Miller
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
® and ™ are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.
www.Harlequin.com
The Mermaid's Mate Page 8