Tristan purred. His hands tracked down Austin’s sides, feathering lightly over his gills, travelling determinedly inwards to the closed slit. Tristan massaged it open again, fingers slipping inside. He found Austin’s cock nested in yielding muscle, drenched in slick and cum. Tristan’s purr became more of a rumble.
“See? I only have a little cum. Most of it’s yours—”
Tristan cut him off with a hard, hungry kiss. His rumble shook through Austin’s very bones, turning him instantly pliant. Austin clutched Tristan as he wrapped an arm around Austin’s lower back, locking him close. Tristan held them flushedtogether as he devoured Austin’s mouth, swallowing his gasps as his cock emerged, and pushed directly into Austin’s tail.
“Ah,” Austin said when Tristan broke the kiss. “Oh. Mhm.”
Tristan’s eyes were locked on Austin’s face, predator bright. He leaned back in the water, beginning to carry Austin out to sea with a swish of his tail.
Austin stiffened. “No. I don’t want to be in the open ocean like this. It has to be in my territory, or yours. Not in between.”
Tristan’s nod was sharp and reassuring. He held them as they were, letting Austin lie against him as though Tristan were a mattress. Austin felt entirely agreeable after that. Very happy. Especially with Tristan’s head swivelling to keep watch over him.
Arousal soon crept through his sleepiness. He kissed and sucked at Tristan’s neck, letting out an entreating sound. Tristan wasted no time complying. Roaming hands, kisses, and deep thrusts brought Austin to the peak once more, though he fell through the orgasm more than he climbed to it. He collapsed against Tristan, exhausted, not even mad that the merman got to have a longer orgasm than he did.
It was still annoying when Tristan’s cock slipped back out, though. Austin immediately wished he’d held off asking longer.
Tristan’s relieved breath warmed Austin’s bare shoulders. The merman slipped his arm securely around Austin’s lower back and began to guide them toward the sea again.
Austin let them get a few metres before he sighed, pushed away from Tristan, and swam backwards towards his shore instead. Moving through the water was so easy now. So natural. Navigating the waves took no thought at all. It was innate, even when he was utterly spent.
“We have to be dating for six months before living together,” Austin said. “So I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Austin’s forehead ground against Liam’s chest, a growl rumbling deep in his throat.
“Ihatehim.”
The couch had been pulled out into a bed, and they were lying on it together. Morning daylight was streaming in through the kitchen shades. Despite being desperately tired, Austin had only snatched a few minutes of sleep here and there. Liam, after giving up on telling Austin to go to bed, had annoyingly slept like a rock.
“She’s a girl,” Liam said, voice husky with sleep.
Shewas perched on Liam’s hip, staring at Liam’s neck with huge, black pupils. Austin’s growl grew louder, and he tucked his head under Liam’s jaw, protecting his delicate throat. In the time it had taken Austin to return to the cottage, she’d already managed to gouge dozens of marks into Liam’s skin. Austin had been protecting him all night from further injury.
“She just wants to curl up. She likes sleeping against my neck.”
She seemed more interested in ending Liam’s life than lying down for a snooze. During the night, Austin hadn’t beenable to see her, and her sneak attacks had been resoundingly successful.
“Get rid of her.”
Liam sighed. He reached past Austin to stroke the jet-black cat. She curled herself around his fingers, then her fangs flashed white.
“Don’t!” Austin’s hand shot out. The cat bit Liam, swiped the back of Austin’s hand, and leapt to the ground, bounding off in springing little hops. “She’s clearly feral, and you need to bring her back to wherever you got her.”
Liam sighed again.
“I said—”
“I heard. The answer’s no.”
Austin’s attention snapped sideways as the cat jumped up and sat on Liam’s hip.
“She’s backagain.”
“As long as you keep playing with her, she’s going to keep coming back.”
“Playing?”
