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Mananan tugged her gently into his lap. “You’re welcome. It seemed like the least I could do to help you. The offer to train you is still there, but this might provide you with some relief in the meantime when you don’t want to use your magic.”
Ella leaned back, her eyes lined with silver tears. “It’s the most thoughtful gift anyone has ever given me. I don’t know how to repay you.”
“It’s a gift, Ella. You have to do nothing but accept it,” he said, holding her a little closer.
“Thank you, Manan.” She pressed her cheek into his palm before she leaned forward and brushed her lips against his. His heart tripped up when she didn’t pull away, and he gave himself over to it.
Mananan slid his hands into her silver curls and tilted her head back so he could deepen the kiss. She let out a soft sound and opened her mouth for him. Mananan forced himself to be gentle as he tasted her with lips and tongue. She was all summer sweetness and cider. He wouldn’t frighten her or take more before she was ready, but her soft body pressing against him was a special kind of torture.
Ella pulled back, her cheeks flushed and looking so beautiful, it was like being stabbed in the chest. Wanting her might be the death of him, but if she kept smiling like that, it would be worth it.
19
Mananan hadn’t shifted Ella from his lap, so she dared to stay where she was for the rest of the dinner.
“Would you like to see more of the castle?” he asked.
Ella would have been quite contented to stay as she was for the rest of the evening, but she still nodded and got to her feet. Mananan offered her his hand, and it felt almost natural for her to take it.
The necklace was an incredible gift, one that she had no idea could be possible. Could she live a normal life while she wore it? Would she be able to have friends without the fear of accidentally seeing too much? Would she be able to date?
Are you already dating?Ella tightened her fingers around Mananan. She had kissed him, and he had kissed her back. Despite her age, she had no experience when it came to relationships. A simple kiss had her almost trembling with need. She didn't know if she would be able to handle anything more than that without embarrassing herself.
They walked in easy silence through the hallways of the castle. It was everything that she imagined of a fairy tale castle, complete with frescoes and murals of underwater scenes and many doorways and windows to let in the ocean breeze.
Everyone they encountered gave them nods in greeting but didn't intrude. They were all staring at her hanging on to Mananan's hand in confusion and astonishment. She wanted to ask him about that but didn't want to interrupt the small pocket of serenity that she was currently wrapped in.
Mananan opened an indigo and gold door, and she stepped into his private apartments. There was a comfortable sitting area by a fireplace, with a desk in one corner piled with papers and quills. He led her past all of that and out on to another balcony with stuffed lounges and a brilliant view of the night sky over the sea.
"This place really does feel almost stagnant after being back in the human world," Mananan commented. He sat down on one of the couches and patted the seat next to him.
Ella curled up beside him. "You don't miss it at all? If this was my home, I would never leave.”
“The curse kept me here for a long time. I don't want to come back yet, at least not full time. I am made for action. Being at peace confuses me. I am proud that my people are safe here, but I am of more use over in the human world. There is much I am enjoying about it," Mananan replied. His blue eyes rested on her and flashed with a heat that turned her insides to liquid.
“I don't know how to do this,” she blurted out, blushing furiously.
Mananan's smile was sly. “Do what?”
"You know, flirt. Date. Intimacy. Sex is complicated," Ella charged on, her face flaming. “I feel like I need to warn you before we go any further. I used to panic with my ex, and he'd get angry and impatient, and I don't know if I will be any better at it now.”
“That's all right. I amverygood at it. And we both know that your ex was an idiot.” Mananan's smile switched to something that was all heated promise. He lifted her hand and brushed his lips over the sensitive inside of her wrist. “You're being honest with me, so let me be honest with you. I am very patient. I'm not going to be offended if we need to take it slow. All I know is that if you gave me the honor of touching you, I wouldn't waste the opportunity. You can trust me to keep you safe in all things, Ella, including this."
Ella’s chest went tight with emotion. No one had ever tried to meet her halfway or wanted her enough to be patient with her.
“I feel like you are too good to be true,” she admitted.
“I feel the same way about you. I don’t have any ulterior motives here, Ella. I want you because I want you. It’s as simple as that,” Mananan replied. “If you need me to take control of this, I will.”
“I’d like that because I don’t know what to do next.” Ella summoned every ounce of bravery she had and climbed back into his lap. His large hands stroked down the curve of her spine to her hips. She shook a little from the heat of them through the silk of her clothes.
“You are doing just fine,” he said. He stared at her lips. “Kiss me.”
Ella threaded her hands through his thick, soft hair and kissed him with everything she had. There were no sensations or thoughts that weren’t hers, and she could have cried with relief. She could only feel his muscular thighs, the solid bulk of his chest, the eagerness of his lips. Ella’s whole body was flooded with stimulation, desperate to make a memory of every touch to keep for later. There was too much to catalogue, so she let herself drown.
Mananan’s mouth moved to kiss down her chin and jaw. He leaned her back, his hands supporting her, so she didn’t fall, and drew his lips down her throat. He inhaled deeply, and she shook with the intimacy of it. When he gently scraped his teeth over her shoulder, she moaned. Ella blushed bright red. She was worse than a virgin at controlling her reactions to him.
Mananan didn’t seem to care. He made a sound between a hum and a growl.
