Return to the Deep (Mountain Mermaids Book 3)

“You shouldn’t look at me like that, snuppa. With those pretty eyes batting and those soft lips pouting.” Huran of Brigantes pushed his delicious mate up against the wall of their office cabin and watched her eyes glaze over with lust.

“Why not?” Christienne murmured playfully, and his cock grew even harder at the sound of her voice. Silky. Sultry. Like a stroke of velvet. It only got that way when she needed him to fill her.

“You know why.” He dipped his head low to kiss her mouth, plying her with his tongue before pulling back to watch her face go soft. Oh, he loved that part. Watching her submit to his wiles. He loved every part.

He loved her.

Damn, he really did. His curvy little human, with her spunky attitude and her ability to tame his roughness. The one who broke his curse.

Almost.

He wouldn’t think about that now.

“The door isn’t locked,” she warned. “Anyone could walk in at any moment and see us.”

“They would die,” he answered easily. “No one sees what’s mine and lives.”

She nodded, as if she understood. “Which is why we have to lock the door. I can’t have you killing anyone. Especially one of our unassuming friends.”

He considered her request and dismissed it.

“No,” he argued. “I have you right where I want you.” He ducked to kiss her again, but she put one delicate finger to his lips to hold him back.

“I’ll make it worth your while,” she purred, a naughty look in her eye.

Oh, shit.

Mate knew how to get what she wanted.

“Worth my while how?”

Would she do that thing with her tongue? Or maybe suck him all the way to the back of her throat. Or fuck, would she ride his face again?

He was practically drooling at the
possibilities.

“A lady never tells,” she teased.

He pressed his aching erection against her belly so she would know what she was doing to him. “You, my sexy mate, are no fucking lady.”

“I was until you came along.” She sighed. “Now you’ve ruined me. I’m a saucy, wanton, snuppa now.”

A lusty growl rolled up Huran’s throat and he yanked the collar of her dress, stretching it over her plump breasts to reveal the colorful mating mark that rested along her collar bone. It matched his on his chest. Blue and indigo and shiny black, reminding him of the day she spotted it peeking out from his t-shirt and he realized she was his true mate.

The lacy cups of her bra were next. He tucked them under so her tits were propped up and on display. Her hard nipples beckoned his tongue. He wanted to lick and suck until she panted with desire. But not yet…

“Don’t. Move.” He waited for her nod before stalking to the office door and twisting the lock.

As he prowled back to her, she slowly lifted her skirt to show him she wasn’t wearing panties.

Naughty snuppa.

Her fingers inched closer to her pussy and Huran slowed his steps to watch what she’d do next. Her middle finger made a circle around her clit, and he was enthralled by how softly she touched herself. Especially because when they were fucking, she always screamed harder.

Christienne closed her eyes and moaned, her finger never stopping its circular sweeps. Huran watched, running a rough hand over his beard. He wanted to replace that finger with his tongue and go just as soft, tasting her honey like a decadent dessert.

He inched closer until he was kneeling before his mate. He moved slow, not wanting to spook her. She grinned when he brushed her hand aside, and he grazed his nose along the crease of her thigh. His mate smelled heavenly. No female he’d had before he was cursed to the lake ever smelled this good. It was like his snuppa was meant to seduce his every sense.

She squealed when his rough hands gripped her ass cheeks and he slowly, carefully circled his tongue around her sensitive bud. Her hands flew to his hair, tangling there as her orgasm built.

“Yes, mate. Come so hard on my mouth.” Because the moment she did, he was going to mount her to the fucking wall and take her hard. Like a warrior does. He loosened the zipper on his jeans to give his cock some relief.

“Huran,” Christienne breathed. “I…I…”

She was close. He wanted to thrust his tongue inside her opening, but he forced himself to remain gentle. Circle, circle, long sweep. He could feast on her forever if she’d let him. But this was something she didn’t give into often.

His mate had insecurities that he hadn’t yet conquered.

It made him want to take up a sword, but just like the goddess Tamsin so many years ago, the enemy wasn’t corporeal.

Christienne stiffened, her moan catching in her throat, and then she shuddered apart, coming on his mouth just like he’d ordered. He licked and laved until she was limp against the wall and then stood, caging her in with his arms. He pressed his lips to hers, exploring her mouth with her juices still wetting his.

“I love you,” she whispered between desperate kisses. He loved hearing those words from her. She had a way of making him feel worthy when he was not.

“You are mine. Always mine, sweet Christy.” It was the best he could do. Had ever done. He didn’t know how to say I love you, but this had always been enough.

She pushed his jeans over his hips and his erection sprang free. With his hand, he guided it under her skirt to her soaked opening before lifting her legs to settle them around his waist. He found her eyes, those sweet eyes that felt like home, and pushed in to the hilt. Her tightness enveloped him and her nails at his nape spurred him to action, but he couldn’t look away from her eyes. They had always been the thing about her that anchored him to the earth. Some days they were blue like the lake and some days blue like the sky.

Huran thrust into his mate, counting her blinks, loving the creases at the corners. He felt her squeeze around his hardness, warning him of her approaching release. His back tingled its own warning. He was going to unload everything inside her this time. No half-assed spilling on the ground like he’d been doing lately. Out of fear. Goddamn it, he was a spineless fuck.

Her hand cradled his cheek, grounding him.

“My words fail me, snuppa,” he admitted.

“I don’t need words. Just you.”

Just him. He wouldn’t hold back today. Couldn’t. She was too important.

He kissed her, pressing her body against the wall hard enough to steal her breath. He never broke their rhythm, and with her strangled cry, the wave of her orgasm rocked him. He followed her with the next thrust, grunting his release, anchoring her to the wall to give her every drop.

Stream after stream of hot release sprayed from his cock and he tried to ignore what it could mean for the future. No. He wouldn’t taint this beautiful fucking moment with ancient memories.

Huran buried his face in his mate’s neck, breathing in her scent and remembering the reason he was here in the first place and not in a grave at the bottom of the ocean like—no. He was here because of her. Because he was strong enough to wait for her. Trust her. Love her. Because she broke his curse.

Because she loved him.

They were forever bound, and he wouldn’t break that bond for anything.

Even if it would be easier.

Christienne pressed her forehead to his while they caught their breath. “Huran…”

“Yes, snuppa?”

“It’s been a long time.” It wasn’t a question, but her tone was asking one. Why hadn’t he marked her with his seed in so long?

“I know.” He twitched inside her, but wasn’t ready to pull free yet. Not yet.

“Why?” she whispered.

He swallowed hard. He had no answer to give her. None that she would understand.

“You are my everything,” he said, but something inside called him a liar. He ignored it. “You give me a reason to live. Never doubt that.”

He slid from her opening already
regretting the separation. Her fingers curled in the fabric of his shirt as he pulled away.

“Don’t go yet.” Her voice was quiet.

He looked away, unable to hold her gaze. “I must. The rentals on the North Shore need tending. And I shouldn’t pull you from your duties any longer.”

It was bullshit. All of it. He wasn’t going to the North Shore to see to the cabins, though they did need tending. And he wouldn’t hesitate to keep her from her work any other day. But today… today there was something he needed to do.

Huran pulled her in for one more kiss, lingering just enough to borrow her strength. He would come home to her tonight. Hold her. Remember who he was now versus who he was before.

But first… he would return to the lake.