King of Tides (The Immortal Iron Brothers #3)

Chapter 23

I Like Him

“ G ood morning,” I say as I run my fingers up and down Billy’s back as she lies across my chest.

Her skin is so soft. I look down into her eyes as she looks back at me with a sated grin. I’ve just finished blessing her for the day.

“Good morning,” she says.

She searches my face with her gaze. I reach to brush a lock of hair from her face. She lifts a hand and palms my cheek.

“Uh-oh, what’s wrong? You’re mad at me about something,” she says.

I want to kiss her for knowing me so well, but I’m fuming at the moment. If I hadn’t promised her my tongue every morning, I wouldn’t have woken her with pleasure this morning.

“Did you think Dracon wouldn’t report to me?” I murmur, trying to hold back my ire.

She sits up and pulls the sheet up to cover her breasts. As pissed as it makes me, I still love the defiant look in her eyes. It’s not that I don’t think she can’t handle herself.

I believe in time she will be a force. However, right now, she doesn’t know enough about our world and she’s placing herself at unnecessary risk. She could have gotten herself and Dracon hurt or worse.

“I figured he might, but I needed to make sure that was a legit lead. Ardan, it was. I saw him enter the building. Now you?—”

“What would I have done if I lost you?” I bark, causing her to jerk her head back.

“I—”

“You didn’t think of that, did you? Do you even know how dangerous that was? Dracon would have given his life for you to return to me, but if he had fallen before you got away, I would have lost you both.

“A warrior our people need and the love of my life. Finding Bardo is not worth losing you. Nothing is,” I finish, my chest heaving.

Her eyes bounce around my face as she sits silent. I think over my words and realize what I’ve said. I close my eyes and drop my head back.

Billy moves to straddle my waist and cups my cheeks in her palms. When I open my eyes, she’s a breath away from my lips. I place my hands on her waist and hold her tightly.

“You love me?”

“I do. I’m madly in love with you. I would cease to exist if I lost you. I’ve waited all my life for you. That’s a long fucking time.

“Now that I have you, the fear of losing you is very real. With hunters on the loose, an ice titan in the shadows and now a missing water spirit, my fear isn’t invalid.

“I know what it’s like to have power and to watch powerlessly as someone is taken away. I don’t think I could handle that. As strong as I am, I promise you I’m not that strong.”

“I … I.”

“You don’t have to say it yet. I feel it already. When the words are ready, they will come. I just need you safe. No more reckless missions. Promise me.”

She pecks my lips. “I promise.”

I grasp the back of her neck and take her lips. However, her phone rings, breaking into the moment. As she holds out her hand to call the phone to herself, I kiss a trail down her neck and make my way to her breast to pull her nipple into my mouth.

She moans and tries to wiggle away. I follow, laying her on her back and kiss my way down her body. I stop at her belly button to worship it.

“Hello, Papi. What’s up?” she breathes into the phone.

I smirk against her skin as I continue to kiss the soft flesh. Goose bumps rise and she squirms beneath my touch. I watch as her stomach caves, then look up her body to lock eyes with her.

“I didn’t forget. We’ve both been busy. I’ll try to make some time to come by soon,” she replies to what’s said on the other end.

“I’m never going anywhere and he’s not going anywhere anytime soon. You should just take me to meet him,” I say in her thoughts.

While she is talking to her father, I trace the tip of my tongue across her belly, spelling my name. I groan deeply as the scent of her arousal begins to rise to my nose.

“Ardan, could you stop? I can’t think straight.”

“What is there to think about? Tell your father you will bring me by later today. Then I can reward you with a good fuck to start our day. Don’t you want me to let you up so you can go read?”

I begin to suck her flesh into my mouth as I move lower down her body. She tries to close her legs, but I pry them open and lick my way from her knee to the apex of her thigh.

“Oh my God, Papi, I need to go. I’ll be there later,” she pants into the phone and hangs up, dropping the phone to the bed.

I climb back up her body and take her lips. This kiss is different. I can feel her letting her guard down. It’s like she’s returning my words without speaking them aloud.

Just when I think I’m going to take control, she pushes me onto my back and straddles me. When I look into her eyes, I note so much has changed in such a short time.

I can’t help feeling like so much more rests within my mate. Billy hasn’t even scratched the surface of who she is. However, rushing her to come into her potential isn’t something I want to do to her.

I would have lost my mind if she had to force her magic to survive Bardo. The last thing I want is for Billy’s magic to corrupt her mind. As magical beings, we normally come into our magic gradually. When forced to mature in our gifts, some lose themselves.

“Focus on me, babe. You wanted my attention; now you have it,” Billy says through our link as she sinks down on me.

I growl and sit up, then flip her onto her back. I toss her legs back and hold her waist as I drive into her. I’m taken aback when her eyes turn blue before going back to their reddish-brown color.

Her magic is truly awakening. It’s happening with each day. I will be here to make sure it doesn’t overtake her.

“I’m always focused on you,” I say aloud.

Billy

I guess I can’t avoid this any longer. It’s time for Ardan to meet Mack. I could have kicked Ardan’s ass for what he did this morning while I was on the phone with Papi.

If I hadn’t been in my feelings already about him saying he loves me, I probably would have. That’s why I invited him into the ring with me. I know he can’t use magic in front of a bunch of humans so this should be fun.

“Do you always spar with males?” Ardan asks as he tapes my hands for me.

“Most of the time,” I say as I smile up at him. “Sometimes there aren’t any women around on my skill level. I have no choice but to spar with the guys.”

“Billy, sport. It’s good to see that face,” Mack croons as he appears.

“Hey, Papi. I want you to meet Ardan. Ardan, this is my father, Mack,” I say.

Ardan turns to look at Mack and Mack cranes his neck to look up at him. His mouth drops open and he knits his brows. Ardan holds his hand out and Mack slowly lifts his for him to take.

“It’s nice to finally meet you. I’ve learned so much about you,” Ardan says.

I roll my eyes. I allowed him into my memories of growing up with Mack before we arrived. I could feel how happy that made him.

“It’s nice to meet you. Although I haven’t learned much about you. She’s allowing you to tape her hands for her. That means a lot. Billy doesn’t allow anyone to do anything for her,” Mack says as if he’s in awe.

“That’s not entirely true,” I protest.

“It is,” Ardan chuckles.

“Yes, it is,” Mack says at the same time.

I fold my arms over my chest and glare at the two. “Are we getting in the ring or not?” I say, ignoring them both.

“Let’s go.”

Ardan makes quick work of taping his own hands as he chops it up with Mack. I relax as Mack seems to take to Ardan. My heart feels like it’s going to come out of my chest as Ardan talks of human things and acts as if he’s some normal guy.

I don’t know why I’m so surprised he would do this for me. In the last three weeks, he has done so much for me just to make me happy.

We go to step into the ring, but Mack stops me before I get too far. I tense up, not sure what he’s about to say. I look at him and he smiles back at me.

“I like him. He’s tall as fuck, but he’s a good guy. You look happy. I’m glad you’ve let someone in.”

I cup his face and smile. “It has never been my intention to shut you out. I respect you, Papi, and it means a lot that you approve of him.”

“He cares for you. I can tell from the way he looks at you. A biker,” he snorts. “You are full of surprises.”

“I guess I am.”

I laugh and kiss him on the cheek then go to climb in the ring as Ardan holds the ropes open for me. Once in the ring, Mack calls for us to start the fight. I’m annoyed that Ardan is taking it easy as if I’m a fragile doll.

At least, it seems like he is. I’m shocked when I land two body shots. It happens so fast. I block Ardan’s first punch, but the next one connects with my side and buckles me.

“Damn. Shake it off, Billy. You’re doing great. You’re moving more fluidly, but that’s a damn good right he has,” Mack says.

“Are you all right?” Ardan says in my head as I try to catch my breath.

“I’m fine. Don’t baby me. I can’t get better if you’re not going to challenge me.”

“Billy, I’m not holding back as much as you think. I’ve never seen you fight before, but I don’t think you’ve ever performed like this. Maybe we should take a break. I can feel your power rising.”

“Is that a bad thing? I feel great,” I say as I circle him.

“There is something we call peaking. It’s when our magic rises to a level that’s greater than the normal level we naturally operate in. That isn’t safe in this environment.

“Not to mention, you could reveal yourself. It is against the by-laws for you to reveal yourself in front of humans. For the safety of the humans here, I say we end this match,” he replies.

I drop my hands and step back. Now that he mentions it, I do feel a little strange. I place my hands on my hips and take a few breaths.

I go to ask him a question out loud, but all the air is sucked out of the room. I follow Ardan’s gaze and find Carson talking with Mack. Carson is giving Ardan a death glare.

“Oh boy,” I mutter.

This is why I’ve been avoiding this. I should have known he would show up on the one day I decide to come through. I haven’t spoken to him since that scene at my place.

“Looking good in there, Billy,” Carson says and nods.

“Thanks,” I murmur.

Ardan moves to my side and wraps an arm around my waist. Because my body doesn’t know any better, it sags into Ardan of its own accord. He leans down to kiss the top of my head.

“Why do you have to taunt him?” I say through our mind link.

“I’m doing no such thing. I have told you before. I will not deny what’s mine for another’s comfort. He will do well to see you as a sister and not the object of his affection.”

I sigh and shake my head. “Will you let me talk to him?”

“No.”

“Really?”

“You will do it anyway. Just know if I don’t like what I hear or feel coming from you, I will end the conversation. That I will not bend on.”

I look up at him and smile. That’s a lot more than I thought I would get. “See? We can compromise.”

He grunts and walks off. I can’t say I don’t enjoy the view. He took his shirt off for our match and is only in a pair of gym shorts that are hugging his firm ass nicely.

I’m brought out of my thoughts by the strange feeling of being watched. I turn to find Carson’s eyes on me. There’s something off about his gaze. I can’t put my finger on it, but something shifts in his eyes and sends a chill through me.

My hands begin to tingle with my magic, causing me to ball my fists. Ardan was right earlier. This isn’t the place for me to lose control. I would hate to cause Mack to lose business.

I purse my lips and turn for the locker room to shower and change. Having a glaring match with Carson isn’t doing much. We’re going to need to have a real talk.