The Tides of Loss and Longing (Love from the Deep #1)

Chapter 12

Aurelia

E motions were rolling through Aurelia—uncertainty, fear, happiness—but most of all, a deep longing for the man in front of her. The man who had pulled her bloody body out of the water and tended her wounds. The man who worried for her and maybe even cared for her.

Aurelia wanted to kiss him, to be held by him, more than she had ever wanted anything in her life. She met his dark gaze head-on, hearing his breathing quicken as the vein in his jaw pulsed. Glancing down, she saw his fists clenched tightly at his sides.

He wanted her, too. She was sure of it.

Suddenly, Drake grasped the back of her head, pulling her closer. “So beautiful,” he murmured, his voice husky, as he ran his lips along her jaw. “You’re driving me mad.”

His words sent another pulse through her. He leaned back, his face mere inches from hers. The scent of salt and sea clung to him, mixed with an exotic, spicy undertone that made her head swim. “Please, Drake,” she whispered.

“Lie back,” he ordered, his voice strained, almost desperate. His hand moved from the back of her head to gently stroke her cheek.

Aurelia hesitated, uncertainty flickering inside her. But when she saw the burning hunger in his eyes, she knew she couldn’t resist. She reclined on the cool, sandy shore, letting the linen sheet slip down to her waist. The cold grains pressed against her bare back, sharply contrasting the warmth of Drake's hand. She shivered involuntarily, her heart pounding in anticipation.

Drake's eyes roamed over her body, heating her flesh with only his gaze. The sudden urge to cover her nakedness swelled inside her.

“You’re perfect,” he murmured. “I want more of you, Aurelia—all of you.”

“I—I want you too,” Aurelia replied, her voice quivering. “But I don’t know what more is exactly.”

“Let me show you,” he said reassuringly. “I promise I’d never hurt you.”

Aurelia nodded, her heart racing in her chest. She knew she could trust him—at least with her body. Since their kiss, she’d yearned for more of this physical connection. Hesitantly, she placed her hand on his chest. “Show me,” she said.

Drake’s green eyes locked onto hers, his gaze so intense she had to fight the urge to close her eyes. He slowly moved closer, his hands caressing her arms. “Trust me,” he whispered, his voice low and seductive, before his lips met hers. He kissed her tenderly. His touch sent a shiver down her spine, even as every brush of his fingers ignited sparks of warmth beneath her skin.

Aurelia’s heart pounded, not just from the closeness of their bodies but from the surge of emotions she couldn’t fully comprehend. She had never felt so vulnerable, exposed, yet undeniably desired. Reaching out, her fingers grazed his firm chest.

“More,” she whispered against his lips. “Please.”

“Remove the cloth,” he ordered, his voice low and commanding.

She felt the hot ache in her core returning with a vengeance. She obeyed instantly.

“Now relax,” he murmured soothingly. “I’m right here with you.”

She could feel his breath, warm and steady, fanning across her face as he leaned in closer, the scent of saltwater and musk enveloping her senses. Drake kissed her with more force this time, his tongue pressed against the seam of her mouth, seeking entrance. Aurelia parted her lips, letting his tongue sweep in and explore. This kiss felt different from their first—more possessive. Drake's hand slid downward, skimming along her side before cupping her thigh. His thumb stroked the sensitive skin of her inner thigh, urging her legs apart. She moaned softly, the sound vibrating against his lips.

“Aurelia,” he growled, pressing his hardness against her thigh. “I know you’re new to this, but you trust me, yes?”

“Yes,” she whispered. As much as her mind was whirling with uncertainty, her body was responding instinctively to his. It craved his touch with a ferocity that excited and terrified her.

Drake’s fingers moved to the apex of her thighs, and Aurelia gasped at the contact. She had briefly explored her human body before, but never like this. The sensations were far more intense than anything she'd ever imagined. Drake’s fingers slid through her folds, pulling a soft moan from her lips.

“You’re so wet,” he groaned, his voice rough with need. His index finger circled her entrance.

Aurelia blushed, unsure whether to be embarrassed or flattered. Suddenly, one of Drake’s fingers breached her, and she gasped at the unfamiliar sensation.

“You’re so tight. How does that feel?” Drake asked.

“Good,” Aurelia whimpered, her chest heaving. He removed his finger, teasing her with slow, rhythmic strokes around her entrance, driving her mad with need.

“Please,” she implored, her voice breathless. “Don't tease me.”

“As you wish,” Drake said with a wicked grin before he thrust two fingers inside her, this time deeper, the sensation more intense. The initial sting faded quickly, replaced by a slow, throbbing pleasure that spread through her body. "Relax, little mermaid,” he soothed.

Aurelia closed her eyes, focusing on the rhythm of his fingers as they pumped in and out of her. Slowly, the pleasure built, filling her with a heat that was impossible to ignore. She moaned, her body arching in response to his touch. Drake’s other hand moved to her breast, teasing her nipple, plucking at the sensitive bud.

“That’s it,” Drake whispered against her ear, nibbling her earlobe before trailing kisses down her neck. “Feel the pleasure building inside you. Let it consume you.”

Aurelia writhed beneath him, her body arching and twisting in desperate need. She wanted to cry out, but instead, she bit her lip, swallowing her cries of pleasure. “Drake,” she said, barely able to form the words. “I—”

“Shh,” he hushed her gently, his lips hovering just above hers. “Let me take care of you.”

He slid his fingers deeper, curling them upward. Aurelia gasped, the new sensation sending shockwaves of pleasure through her body. His thumb moved through her folds until he found her most sensitive spot, rubbing in slow, deliberate circles. All the while, Drake's gaze remained locked on her face, watching her every reaction.

“So beautiful,” he murmured.

His words ignited a fire within her, pushing her closer to the edge. She clawed at the sand beneath her, her nails digging into the cold, gritty surface. Her hips grinding uncontrollably against his hand.

“That’s it, Aurelia, be a good girl and come for me.”

She cried out, her body convulsing in waves of pleasure. Her muscles tightened, her back arching off the sand as she climaxed. “Oh, Drake!” she gasped, her voice thick with desperation as the last tremors of pleasure rippled through her, leaving her breathless and spent.

Drake slowly ran his hands back up her body, gently caressing her. His breathing was ragged.

“Wha—what was that?” Aurelia asked, lying limp in the sand.

“Did you like that?” Drake grinned at her.

“Yes… that was amazing,” she replied between deep breaths. “But Drake, what about you? Do human males not need… release?”

Drake groaned, lying down beside her in the sand. “Yes, we do. But considering how new you are to this, we’ll stop here for today.”

Aurelia nodded, snuggling into his side. But before she could fully relax, Drake stood, lifting her effortlessly into his arms. He carried her to the makeshift bed and set her down before lying beside her, pulling her into his warm embrace.

“Sleep now, Aurelia,” he whispered into her hair.

He didn’t need to say it twice. She was already slipping into a peaceful, exhausted slumber.