“I’m not angry,” he said. “Quite the opposite.”
When that didn’t compute, Tristan continued. “We built a nest together. I was able to feed you and bring you pleasure.” There was a proud note in Tristan’s voice. And his features, now that Austin really looked,weresignalling good things.
Austin wanted to shove Tristan right out the door and erase any notion the merman might have of sleeping with him. He wanted him gone before he had the chance to be disappointed in Austin. But…but, he’d made Austin feel so good.Andhe’d built him a nest.
Austin released a long breath. He almost caught Tristan by the throat to squeeze but managed to stop himself.
“You’ll be my first.”
Tristan looked downright surprised.
Austin growled until Tristan tipped his jaw and showed off his throat again. Then he exhaled and continued. “Connor never wanted to. Not with me, anyway. And even when wedid other stuff in bed, I never felt good afterwards.” Austin despised the admission, but Tristan was being very polite and still showing his throat. “Things were always on his terms.” Austin had always been the one pushing, trying to make himself appealing enough to be wanted, and never quite succeeding.
A displeased look grew in Tristan’s eyes, but Austin knew it wasn’t aimed at him. Not at his behaviour. Not at his body. Tristan was drawn to him. Aroused by him. Austin didn’t have to fear a repeat of Connor. Every touch in the nest had been laced with want.
Tristan looked at Austin as though he wished to devour him whole.
“It will be a good thing with you,” Austin said, certain. Confident.
Tristan rested his forearms on the edge of the tub. Care softened his features and gentled his movements. He reached into the water and stroked the outside of Austin’s clenched fist where it dug into his thigh. It was so easy to relax under his touch.
“I can’t fathom holding you being anything short of exquisite,” Tristan agreed. The water sloshed as Tristan rubbed Austin’s other hand, coaxing the tension from his fingers. “Did you enjoy—”
Austin lifted his head. “Do you think I would pretend otherwise if you weren’t pleasing me?” Only as he said it did he realise that was exactly what he had always done with Connor.Pretendingthat Tristan was bringing him pleasure seemed absurd beyond measure.
Tristan’s eyes glowed with fond amusement. “No. You are quite prompt in letting me know when I’m annoying you. Do you have the energy for my company still? I would enjoy the massage you offered earlier. My muscles are tired from carrying the rocks.”
Austin abandoned his rigid kneeling posture in the middle of the bath and returned to the side Tristan leaned against. He pressed his forehead to Tristan’s shoulder. Breathed in the salt of the ocean and sighed a kiss onto his skin. “Only if I can give the massage from bed.”
“Of course.” Tristan helped Austin out of the bath, dried him, and then guided him to the bed. He tucked him under the sheets, arms too. “Would you like anything else?”
“Your arms,” Austin grumbled, blinking tiredly up at Tristan.
Tristan knelt and awkwardly slid his arms under the sheets.
Austin grasped both wrists and rolled over, forcing Tristan to crawl onto the bed after them.
“Lie down there.”
Tristan did.
The sheets shifted as Austin manoeuvred Tristan’s captured arms around his body.
“Oh,” Tristan breathed.
He gathered Austin into his arms and pulled him against his chest. The merman closed around Austin from all angles like a warm, protective shield. He buried his face against the back of Austin’s neck and nuzzled his nape. The same feeling that had washed over Austin in the nest as Tristan kept his watchful guard settled over him now.
Chapter Nineteen
Austin had sleepily eaten two mysterious mouthfuls of something before becoming aware of his body. He opened his eyes as Tristan pressed a third, plain cracker to his lips. The merman jolted when Austin’s teeth sank into his fingers. The cracker vanished, and Tristan rumbled aforgive mepurr, nuzzling Austin’s hair.
“You’re not sorry,” Austin groused. He peered around the room through slitted eyes. Grey light filtered in through the windows, and a soft glow from the fire lit the other side of the room. Austin couldn’t see where the food had come from, but he guessed it rested on the bedside table on Tristan’s side of the bed.
“You didn’t eat enough yesterday,” Tristan said. “And you were very active.”
“I spent most of the day in bed.”
“Without eating.”
