Page 25 of Little Shake of Salt

He grinned. “Thank you, sister.”

“Now go away. I have city planning to do.”

7 /PEARL CLUTCHING

Demi

I peeled my sticky clothes off and stepped under the showerhead, sighing as the heat immediately soothed my muscles. I’d just spent the last three hours playing rugby and working out, and now I was home and in need of a shower before meeting Marina.

The anticipation was already killing me. I was needy, and every part of my body was on fire, aching for her. The bite mark on my neck made me shiver every time I thought about Marina—when I was away from her, it felt wrong. Like something was missing.

My mind struggled to justify how fast I was falling for her. I knew I wasn’t the first human to be swept up into a tidal wave by a monster, and I wouldn’t be the last. But a small part of me feared we were goingwaytoo fast.

And on the flip side . . . I wanted this. Every second, every moment that passed—I wanted thisforevermore and more. I wanted to complete the mating bite and learn new things about her and discover what Marina liked and disliked.

Maybe I needed more friends with monster mates. I didn’t really know anyone. Not a single person on my rugby team even knew monsters were real and everyone assumed the bite on my neck was a hickey, so . . .

I drowned in my thoughts as I washed off and climbed out. I didn’t bother getting dressed in real clothes, instead slipping on a bikini top and swim shorts. I was going to insist on at least keeping these pieces from floating away this time, since whenever I was with Marina, I seemed to lose my clothing.

Before heading to the beach, I wanted to find a couple toys to take with me to see Marina. Including the strap-on I never got to use . . .

An hour later, I was standing in the shallows again with a bag of sex toys slung around my shoulder. I spotted Marina waiting for me. I swam out toward her, even as the waves got choppier and thunder rattled the darkening skies overhead.

“You smell nice,” she said as I laid my arms around her neck.

“Thanks,” I chuckled. “I was sweaty after practice today.”

“Mmm. You didn’tneedto shower, you know. You’re going to end up covered in salt either way.”

“Yes, but I wanted to smell nice for you for at least two seconds before you drag me down.”

Marina grinned, her hands settling on my hips. “What’s in the mysterious bag you’re bringing?”

“You’ll find out soon enough,” I promised. “Are you going to show me thepearlsyou keep mentioning?”

“That, and a couple of other . . . items I think you’ll enjoy.”

I smirked at her, anticipating an evening of sexual promises. Between what I brought, and what she was going to show me, I was already excited.

“Are you ready, little sailor?” she asked playfully.

“More than you could possibly know,” I whispered.

Marina pulled me under the waves gently, our lips already locking together. I drew in a deep breath, my heart pounding as I adjusted to being able to breathe underwater. Marina’s grip on me tightened, and I tucked my face against the curve of her neck as she started to swim, taking us deeper and deeper. I could feel her muscles working, strong and steady.

The moment we resurfaced in what I was now calling our Sex Cave, she pushed me against the ledge, her mouth devouring mine. I moaned against her, tangling my fingers in her long silver hair, rocking my hips to grind against her.

She suddenly turned me around and pulled off my bag, tossing it onto the floor next to the items she’d laid out. I gasped as she shoved me hard, planting my hands against the rocks. My eyes widened as I saw the pearls she’d mentioned, each the size of an egg, waiting in a large abalone shell bowl. Next to it was a silver hook with a bulbed end, and then a small shiny vial full of a glowing blue liquid.

Oh fuck.Her lips grazed down the curve of my neck, my nipples hardening as her hand slid down my shorts.

“Marina,” I gasped.

Two fingers found my clit as she nursed the mating bite, occasionally nipping me.Fuck, fuck, fuck.Between the pleasure and the moments of pain, I was thrown to the edge—aching for more.

Pleasure throbbed through me. My head fell back against her shoulders. I was lost in her, my moans echoing through the cavern. Her name was on my lips as she took me straight to the peak, my voice loud with a cry as I came for her, every muscle tightening, clenching with my orgasm.

Holy fuck. I panted as I melted back against her, shocked by how quickly she’d made me come.