Forbidden Craving. Gena Showalter
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skipping over the ridge between his legs to stop on his chest—where rope after rope of bronzed masculinity awaited. Droplets of water trickled over perfect male nipples—even through the silver piercing—and pooled in his navel.
How could one person be so...delicious?
He had perfect sandy brows, perfect crystalline eyes framed with spiky black lashes and a perfect nose. His lips were plump and pink—and perfect.
Confidence clung to him like a second skin, making him the most sensually erotic creature she’d ever seen. Even better—or worse!—he radiated primal ferocity.
“We are home.” Gently, so gently, he traced his fingertips over her face to wipe away the water.
She stood completely still, not encouraging him but not rebuking him, either. His touch reverberated through her like a live wire, hot and scorching.
“This isn’t my home,” she said. “I live in Cincinnati.”
“You used to live in Cincinnati. Now you live with me in Atlantis, the capital of the gods’ finest creations. Home to nymphs, vampires, Amazons and many other races.”
Wait. Wait, wait, wait. She blinked rapidly as her mind attempted to make sense of his words. Atlantis...the city buried under the ocean? Like the ocean she’d just exited? Her mouth went dry. No way. Just no way.
“Home of nymphos and vampires? You’re lying,” she grated. “Why are you lying?”
He frowned at her. “I told you. I’ll never lie to you. And I’m a nymph. Nymph.”
“Well, guess what? You’re my abductor, so I’ll never believe you.”
His frown deepened. “Do you have another explanation for entering the sea and appearing here?”
“Yes. I drowned,” she told him. “You killed me. But someone—a human—found my body and restarted my heart. Only, I’m in a coma and my brain is short-circuiting.”
The corners of his beautiful mouth twitched. “If that’s true, I’m nothing but a dream. A midnight fantasy. You can enjoy me without fear of the consequences.”
Dang him. He had an excellent point. “You’re right. I can murder you and avoid jail time.”
His smile bloomed full force, causing a precious gasp of breath to snag in her lungs. “You and you alone have cart blanche with my body. If you’ll receive pleasure from my pain, then you may hurt me any way you’d like. You can always kiss me better...”
Did nothing faze him?
Choose your attitude. “No, thank you,” she muttered. “To everything.”
“Men,” he called, his penetrating stare never veering from her face. “Escort the women to the dining hall. The ceremony will soon begin.”
“Ceremony?” she asked.
With an air of eager anticipation, the warriors leaped into action. One of them tried to grab her arm, but Valerian stopped him with a feral, “I’ll escort this one,” even as she slapped at the offender’s hand.
“As you wish, my king.”
King? King!
Footsteps echoed through the cavern.
Once again, the women were all smiles, happily trailing their captors.
“Who do you desire?” one warrior asked another.
“The redhead. Her breasts are...”
Their chatter faded.
A single man remained behind. Or perhaps he’d been waiting in the cave. He wasn’t drenched like everyone else, his white shirt and tight black pants completely dry.
Valerian released her from his stare to face the remaining warrior. “How are the prisoners?” he asked.
Prisoners? Her eyes widened, and she clutched at her throat, the barbed lump back in place.
The man gave a brusque answer in that odd language Valerian had used earlier, but he—the freaking king—shook his head. “Speak in the human tongue.”
“Alive,” the man responded with a frown.
Human tongue.
That wasn’t the first time he’d referred to her as a human, implying he himself was something else entirely. Like the creature of myth he claimed to be...
“Have they given you any trouble?” Valerian asked.
“None at all, my king.”
“Very good. Continue to see to their needs.” He waved in dismissal, scowled, then called the man back. “Has there been any word about our females?”
“None.”
“Very well.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “On with you.”
The man nodded and clomped off, leaving her alone with her abductor.
“What prisoners?” Shaye asked on a trembling breath. Would she end up in a prison cell?
“Dragon shape-shifters. Killers.”
Dragon shape-shifters. Valerian is insane, plain and simple.
He traced his knuckles along her cheekbone, and she shivered. The water in his hair had dried somewhat, lightening the locks to a rich, honey gold. Several strands fell over his forehead. Part of her longed to reach up and smooth those strands away.
Part of her was clearly insane.
“Do not fear,” he added, “for the dragons won’t be allowed near you. Some are to be gifts for my friend Layel, and some are to be used as bargaining chips.”
His delusions were more than her fragile mind could deal with right now. “The ceremony,” she repeated. “Tell me.”
In an instant, he radiated possessive intensity without a hint of amusement.
“The men,” he said, “will chose their lovers.”
She’d been right. Sex slaves. “And if the women protest?” she croaked.
“They won’t.”
Too cocky! “But if they do?”
His frown returned. “They’ll never be forced.”
Truth or lie? “What if they’re too scared to protest?”
He thought for a moment. “If you’d like to speak with every woman before she joins her warrior, to ascertain her desires for yourself, you may.”
The offer surprised her.
He flattened his hands on the boulder behind her, caging her in. Electric shocks skittered through her.
Icy rock at her back, pure heat in front.
“What are you doing?” She hated the breathless quality in her voice.
“Right this moment? Wishing you were kissing me. In a few seconds from now, showing you our world.”
He twisted his wrists, and the huge rock wall slid backward. She would have stumbled, but Valerian caught her by the waist and turned her, his chest pressing against her spine.
The contact delighted her body while irritating her mind.
She watched, flabbergasted, as the wall descended, a smooth, glassy crystal suddenly exposed. Her jaw dropped as water flowed behind the enclosure, and sand swirled at the sea’s bottom. Pink coral and multicolored fish danced a lazy waltz around emerald plants.
“Breathtaking, isn’t it?” Warmth fanned the back of her neck.
As she peered out, trying to come to grips with the bounty before her, a gorgeous woman swam up to the crystal. No, not a woman. Shaye gasped. A mermaid. A bare-chested, tail-wagging mermaid.