Page 36 of Little Shake of Salt

Sunlight turned the tips of her hair a golden brown as she smiled at me. “A mating bite?”

A mating bite.

I sniffled, and I was sure my smile was the ugliest I’d ever given, but I felt the happiness all the way to my fin tips.

“A mating bite,” I whispered.

Demi nodded. “If you’ll have me, of course.”

“I’ll only have you, Demi,” I said. “Now and forever.”

Demi leaned down and kissed me harder this time. My fingers slid into her hair, aware of my new ring as she kissed along my jaw, and then down my neck.

“You’ll have to bite hard,” I said against her ear. “As hard as you can. But don’t break your teeth.”

I felt her laugh and closed my eyes, basking in the sun, beneath my mate, as her teeth sank against the softest part of my neck and she did her best to pierce my skin.

Our bond roared to life, as golden as the shore we’d washed up on. We gasped together as I felt it all click into place.

Her love for me beat in my chest, filling the hollow space I’d felt for so long. Demi sat back, her expression filled with awe, more tears rolling down her cheeks.

My mate.Demi was my mate.

“This is how much you love me?” she asked, clutching her chest.

“Even more,” I murmured.

I dragged her back down into a kiss as a wave washed up the shore, the water as cool and refreshing as she was. She moaned against me, our arms tangling.

Everything felt right in my world.

I wasn’t sure about the monster who’d saved us. I didn’t understand exactly what happened, but I knew I was lucky. We were lucky.

Whatever darkness was headed toward the Barista, it would affect us all.

“You’re worried,” Demi suddenly whispered. “What’s wrong?”

I swallowed hard. “I’m thinking about the creature I saw, and I’m worried about our world. Something has awakened, Demi.”

“We’ll face it together,” she said. “We’re mates. I’ll support you however I can.”

“And I’ll protect you,” I said. “We’ll protect our loved ones.”

“Together,” she said.

I nodded, all of my thoughts refocusing on her.

Together.

My hands settled on her hips and I slowly moved them up and down her sides, cupping one of her breasts through her shirt

“Do you think anyone will stumble across us if we have sex on the beach?” I asked.

Demi raised a brow and smirked as she slid down my body, kissing her way over my scales to my slit. “Do we care if they do?”

“No,” I decided. “Not at all.”

“Good. Because after days of not having you, I’mthirsty.”