Marked by the Sea (Monsters’ Mates #1)

Chapter 13

Amora

He was good at reading me. The duo had been consistent, and I’d been right. They were a couple. Closer to each other in a way Rowan wasn’t with Riftan. I hadn’t seen him in days, and I worried he’d forgotten about me. I blamed it on him being busy, but I only had three days left. I wouldn’t admit it aloud, but I was scared. And bitter. Why take me if you weren’t even going to be around? What was the point?

With the ocean behind me, I walked past the table and down into the area where I bathed. The waters waited for me, promising to wash away all of my treacherous thoughts. I could hear Rowan following me, stopping only to watch me discard my clothes. I could feel his eyes on me as I bent over to remove the last item. It had only been a few days, but there were already holes in the fabric. I should just walk around naked, but I tried to hold on to whatever decency I could.

“Why don’t you tell me what’s bothering you?” Rowan asked as I dropped into the waters until it covered my nipples. The coolness was welcome in the heat and the aftermath of our coupling.

“What makes you think there’s a problem?” I dodged his question as I closed my eyes and leaned back against the stone. There was a splash as Rowan jumped in. Droplets hit my cheek, and I smiled as my lashes fluttered open. When he resurfaced, his eyes and hair above the water, he swam toward me like a shark. His hands gripped my thighs as he pushed up.

“Other than the obvious? You’re pouting.” He bumped his forehead against mine before he sat beside me. I sighed. It was pointless keeping it to myself.

“Have you… heard from Riftan?” I murmured.

He half-turned, his eyes knowing as he smirked.

“Ah, you miss the Prince.”

I huffed but didn’t bother trying to deny it. I did miss him. I wanted to see him. Needed to know why he hadn’t come to see me.

“Why hasn’t he come?” I asked as I leaned my head on his shoulder. His scales were cool against my skin.

Rowan was silent. His hand clasped mine.

“How am I supposed to change his mind if he isn’t here to persuade?” My voice cracked. I hadn’t cried since the first day I woke up here, but I promised myself I wouldn’t do it again. What did crying do? How would it help me? It wouldn’t, but it felt so hopeless.

“Riftan… he’s a—”

“Now, now. Don’t be sharing my secrets, Row,” a voice growled from the darkness. Startled, I sat up straight, looking in the direction the sound came from. A silhouette leaned forward. There was a flicker of hope, and then I saw black horns, followed by his eyes. And that flame burst into a wildfire. My heart was about to beat out of my chest. How could he be more beautiful than the last time I’d seen him?

“Have you been having fun?” Riftan’s question was directed at Rowan. He was fully visible now, the gold hoops begging for me to tug on them, his hair pushed back. My gaze dropped to the black tail swishing beneath the waters.

“We’re practically best friends, but you’d know that if you were around.” Rowan’s tone was light, but his words dripped with venom. It made me feel good knowing he was on my side. Gods, that someone was on my side. I’d gotten used to Rowan and Hexon talking to me. It felt weird that Riftan hadn’t talked to me. Riftan turned to me. His eyes didn’t wander. They stayed trained on mine, and I fought the urge to fidget. He didn’t offer any explanation for where he’d been, didn’t say sorry, just watched me.

What does he see when he looks at me?

I blinked, and he’d cut through the distance, his tail whipping just above the surface. I swallowed down the lump in my throat as he broke through and towered over me. My lips parted on a sharp inhale as I stared up at him. Instead of deciding what question to ask first, I was more focused on the fact that I was completely naked before him, and the distance his pulsr was to me. Once you’d had that sucker on your clit while he pounded into you, it was hard to focus on anything else.

“We’re not friends,” he rumbled. His words should have hurt, but he wasn’t lying. And I was too busy fighting the urge to reach out and run my fingers down his torso.

“I like her, not just her cunt,” Rowan muttered.

I couldn’t help but laugh. My gaze finally trailed over to my friend.

“You don’t like my cunt, Row?” I asked innocently. He flashed me a toothy grin and winked.

“You know I do, babe, but that’s not what I’m getting at here,” he reprimanded. I giggled, and when I looked back at Riftan, I saw the confusion there before he blinked. Closing the distance, his chest pressed against my breasts, and I leaned into him.

“I’ve never seen you smile.” His head was bent as he stared down at me. I placed my hands on his ribs.

“Maybe if you’d come earlier, you would have,” I murmured. His eyes narrowed, but all I could do was smile.

“You’ve had your time with her. It’s mine now,” Riftan growled, dismissing Rowan.

Rowan scoffed.

“Bye, Mora.” He blew me a kiss before he got up to leave. When he was out of sight, I tilted my head back and looked up at my monster.

“Did you notice my absence?” he asked. His hands remained at his side.

“Did you notice mine?” I couldn’t hide the insecurity in my words.

“I don’t want to talk.”

“But I d—” My words are caught off as he moves. His hands are on me, lifting me until I’m sitting on the edge. He pushes me back until I feel the cool stone beneath me. He dips lower into the water, he lifts my thighs over his shoulders, his head finding their home between my thighs. I grab onto his horns as he opens his mouth. His long tongue dragged up my pussy lips, and I dropped my head back.

“Oh, gods,” I moaned.

His tongue speared into me, spreading my lips, tasting my desire for him. I pull on his horns and he dives deeper, his fingers pinching my clit as he moved. The water sloshed as he fucked me with his tongue. This is what I wanted, yet I couldn’t help the ugly feeling curling in my belly.

“How does your friend’s taste?” I taunted. It was the wrong thing to say, especially now that I had him, but I was bitter. I don’t know where he’s been, or who he’s been fucking, but I know it hasn’t been with me. And I hate it. He growled, removing his tongue. I groaned, knowing that would happen. But then there was a flash of teeth and I gasped moments before he bit my clit.

“Fuck! That hurts, you ass!” I hissed.

But he says nothing as he gets up. I’m still wanting, needy before him. But I can tell by the look in his eyes, he’s angry. But I have a feeling he was already angry when he got here. He flips me on my belly, drags me back so the ground scrapes my skin. I cry out as a slap echoes in the cave. Followed by pain erupting against my backside. I get up to yell at him, but his hand is on my back, and I’m shoved down until my breasts are on the floor. His hand grips my hair, his hand pushed my thighs apart, and he slaps his cock on my cheek. Then he enters me from behind.

“Oh,” I groan. It’s guttural. It isn’t pretty.

“You like it rough, don’t you? Your dirty fucking cunt has been sucking up my brother’s cocks like the whore you are. Well, now you’re going to take my cock, and my knot,” he growled. He wasn’t angry. He was fucking jealous, and I laughed.

“All I hear is jealousy, Riftan. I thought you and your brothers share,” I spat.

He yanked my hair back, pulling me until my breasts lifted up off the ground. His hand gripped my hip, and then there was nothing but his cock in my pussy. My eyes rolled into the back of my head as he pulled all the way out and then slammed into me. He fucked me hard and rough. I clawed at his arm, reached behind me and gripped his hip. Locking my thighs around his waist behind me, I tried to push him deeper as his dick pushed against my belly.

Gods, he was so deep.

There was nowhere for me to go, nothing for me to want but his cock inside of me. I took what he’d give, even if he wouldn’t admit what we both knew. I came as he forced his knot into me. It was painful, but it was wrapped with pleasure, and it pushed me over the edge a second time.

“You’re a greedy little slut. Coming on my cock and squeezing my knot,” he growled as he slammed into me. The sounds of his hips slapping against mine were music to my ears.

“Give it to me. I want you to fill me up, Riftan,” I rasped as he fucked me with his knot.

“You’re going to take my seed, aren’t you, Gem? Want me to pump you full?”

“Yes, yes, yes,” I groaned.

“Fucking take it,” he hissed as his knot expanded, locking me in.

“Oh, fuck, Riftan,” I moaned, my hips bucking as he filled me. Splash after splash, ropes of it as he emptied himself. His back against my chest, my breasts smashed against the floor. His hands on either side of me as he pushed against me.

“Oh,” I cried.

He picked me up, dipping into the water as he pulled me on top of him. I jerked and twitched with each new wave of cum. I was tired, but I fought sleep. With him locked inside of me, there was nowhere for him to go. Dropping my head to his chest, I took what I could while he’d allow it. I held my breath, my fingers tracing the scar on his hip. This felt intimate, and I only hoped it wasn’t all in my head. He cleared his throat, and I moved back to look up at him.

“Don’t get attached. You’re our little plaything. Nothing more.” His words were a slap across the face. He didn’t even look at me as he said it. It was only then that I noticed how tense his body was. He was trying to distance himself from me, but I knew he didn’t want to. I knew he was lying. I knew he wanted me; he just wouldn’t admit it.

“Say whatever you need to, Riftan. A man who didn’t feel for me wouldn’t have fucked me the way you just did.” I didn’t wait for his response as I cuddled closer. He didn’t fight me on it, but I held my breath as he inhaled to respond.

“I’m a monster, Gem. I won’t love you.”

My vision blurred, but I didn’t allow the tears to fall. He left as soon as his knot deflated, without another word.