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“I love you,” she snapped as her tail slipped away, and her dress returned. “Now can you kiss me?”

“I don’t need to be told twice.” He pulled her onto his lap and she loved how her body molded to his, the sound of his groans as she nipped and sucked on his neck. Aerin rolled her hips, sending shockwaves of pleasure through them both.

“I love you too,” he rasped, his fingers digging into her hips.

She groaned in frustration as he turned her away from him, roughly ripping through her corset strings. The sound of tearing fabric made her breath catch.

“Clearly, this isn’t your first time ripping off a corset.” She chuckled, loving how he didn’t treat her delicately, but as his equal.

“I don’t know what you mean,” he said, running his fangs along her neck, and even if he couldn’t bite her, the sting of his fangs made her shiver. Reaching back, she tangled her hands in his hair, and pressed herself against his chest as he pulled her sleeves from her shoulders. He crushed his lips to hers as the corset fell and only her thin shift separated them.

“You’re far too dressed,” she rasped, turning around and ripping off his shirt, returning his lack of care for her clothing.

“Allow me to correct that grievous error,” he said, removing his belt, and she helped him pull off his trousers. He inhaled sharply, taking in the sight of her as she stood up despite the rocking boat, and stepped out of her shift. The moonlight caught her skin, and she loved how he gazed at her in admiration as the moonlight caught her scales, making her feel both beautiful and powerful without a lick of shame.

“No other is as enchanting as you. I never wish to be apart from you,” he confessed, staring up at her on his knees as though she were a goddess to be worshipped.

“And you never have to be.” She never thought she’d feel such overwhelming love after so much grief.

He pulled her down, his impatience making her giggle as she squirmed beneath him. It was dangerous to be so happy after being so scared of losing him. As much as she wanted this moment to last forever, all that mattered was right now. He kissed every inch of her body, making her squirm for mercy. In desperation to be closer to him, she pulled down his boxers and felt how desperately he wanted her in return.

“If you insist on teasing me, then I’m going to make you beg.” He grabbed her wrist and thrust it above her head. He smiled wickedly as he sank between her legs, kissing the inside of her knees, her thighs, until her back arched. Tremors overwhelmed her as he tasted her; he held her thighs tight in his grasp, so she was utterly at his mercy. He didn’t let up until Aerin covered her mouth to stop her song from escaping. He pulled her hand from her mouth.

“Don’t hide from me, let me hear you.” Her hands slipped into his hair as he ruined her for anyone else, letting her song echo into the night sky.

“You’ve no idea how wild you drive my bloodlust. What I wouldn’t do to sink my fangs into your sweet skin.”

“You can’t!” She gasped, as she felt his fangs against her inner thighs. “I could kill you.”

“And I would die a happy man.” His words a lusty haze as he stared up at her. Her heart pounded as he trailed his lips over her stomach, savoring every quiver as she came down until her lips found his.

“Not today, you won’t,” she said, not willing to risk him losing control, and pinned him beneath her. Feeling how desperate he was for her, she thought she would never tire of his desire for her. Her hands slid down his chest, resting her palm over his still heart. No pulse, and yet she’d never seen anyone with a stronger heart.

“I can’t take much more, Aerin,” he groaned, staring up at her. She rolled her hips, taking all of him. A feral groan escaped him as he filled her completely. Teeth clashed, tongues twisted, and her claws raked ferociously down his chest while he gripped her waist, heedless of his strength. They’d both have marks tomorrow.

“Don’t hold back, you won’t hurt me,” Aerin rasped, brushing her lips against his.

She moaned against his lips as he flipped her onto her back in sheer desperation, and with every thrust, she tightened around him as if her body was trying to draw him closer. She wanted this night to never end, but neither could resist the pleasure crashing over them. He thrust wildly as she wrapped her legs around his waist, wanting to feel every inch of him against her. She wanted him ruined, so that he would never do anything reckless again. Sitting up, she straddled him as they clung to each other in the moonlight, letting the waves rock every ounce of ecstasy to be drained from them.

Every muscle in her body trembled, overtaking her until they were both lost to each other’s embrace. The boat rocked them into a rhythm of heavy, satisfied breaths, neither daring to speak for fear of ruining such a perfect moment. Collapsing onto the deck together, she lay on his chest as they stared up at the stars, too exhausted to think straight.

“We’d better return the boat. I left Sandy and Shelby to keep watch,” she said, lying in his arms. The scratches on his chest from her nails had already healed. “I can’t believe I told them they could use their song. I dread to think what they’ve been up to.”

“You were in such a desperate hurry to save me, even after I broke my promise to you, that you left those two in charge?”

“I already told you, I’m not going to lose anyone else I love,” she said, running a talon down his healed chest. “If we’re lucky, Indigo Cove won’t crumble before we return.”

“I’m sure they won’t get into too much trouble. Do we need to return in such a hurry?” He rolled her onto her back, trailing his lips over her collarbones, tempting her to stay a little longer.

“Get off me. We need to get the tour boat back in one piece. A few more rounds with you and there won’t be a boat to return.” She chuckled, pointing at the dent in the metal railing he’d left with his grip.

“It was either dent the railing or bite you,” he admitted. The tension broke as their laughter drifted into the night.

Climbing out of bed to get some water, Aerin found a letter from Marissa under the front door. She stared at the stairs, knowing she should bring it to Gideon, but she hesitated. What if this triggers another traumatic memory?

Aerin used her nails to carefully slice beneath the seal so she could seal it again. Opening the letter, she read the contents: details for contacting his siblings, the address of his family home in England. The final piece of the puzzle. Her chest tightened. His real home. I need to give this to him and let him decide what he wants to do with it. She swallowed her desire to rip up the information and be selfish for once in her life. If I give him the choice and he wants to stay with me? Is he going to spend his life overlooking the seas that are home to the beast that killed his crew and trapped him in a watery grave? Seeing how far he went tonight, what if he recalls more now that Marissa’s memories have opened the door, and I can’t stop him in time? He’d be killed.

He deserves a fresh start, to be with his family. I belong here, but he never did.