Page 19 of Seas the Day
Before he could second-guess himself further, Thalric rapped his knuckles against the oak door. The sound echoed through the corridor, and he found himself holding his breath as footsteps approached from within.
Then the door swung open, and every coherent thought in Thalric’s mind scattered like schools of fish before a predator.
Navira stood before him in a blue bikini that made his mouth go dry and his pulse thunder in his ears. The color was almost identical to his swim trunks—a coincidence that made his wolf rumble with possessive pleasure. But it wasn’t the matching blue that stole his breath. It was her.
Her athletic frame was a masterpiece of lean muscle and feminine curves. Her toned abs spoke of years of disciplined training, while her strong arms and shoulders testified to countless hours cutting through water with Olympic precision. Her legs seemed to go on forever, pale and perfectly sculpted, making his hands itch to trace their length. And her breasts—the way that bikini top showcased her cleavage made his wolf surge forward with desperate hunger, demanding he abandon their swim entirely and carry her straight to his bed.
Heat flooded his system as arousal hit him with physical force. He prayed the evidence of his desire wasn’t too obvious in his swim trunks, but the way his body was responding to the sight of her made subtlety nearly impossible.
Control,he reminded himself desperately.You’re supposed to be controlled.
But then he caught the way her eyes darkened as they swept over his bare chest and torso, the slight hitch in her breathing as she took in his powerful frame. The knowledge that she found him just as desirable sent a thrill of masculine satisfaction through him that nearly undid his remaining restraint.
TWELVE
THALRIC
The chemistry between them crackled in the air like lightning before a storm, so intense it was almost visible. Every instinct he possessed screamed to step closer, to touch her, to claim what was his. His wolf pressed against his consciousness with single-minded determination, wanting nothing more than to mark her as his mate in the most primal way possible.
Focus,Thalric commanded himself, clearing his throat to regain some semblance of composure.Swimming. You’re taking her swimming.
“Ready to go?” His deep voice came out rough, betraying more of his internal struggle than he would have liked.
Navira’s eyes lit up with an enthusiasm that made his chest tighten. “More than ready. I’ve been wanting to get in that ocean since I arrived this morning.”
The admission sent a wave of satisfaction through him. The ocean called to her the same way it called to him—another sign that she belonged here, that she belonged with him. If he could just let his guard down enough, maybe she would see it too.
“Here.” He handed her one of the towels, trying not to let his fingers linger when they brushed against hers.
She wrapped the towel around her waist, and his wolf whined in protest at the loss of the view. He’d wanted to memorize every inch of her perfect form during their walk to the water, but now the yellow terry cloth hid the curves that had been driving him to distraction.
“Follow me,” he said, gesturing toward the corridor that led to the back terrace.
They moved through his estate in comfortable silence, though Thalric was hyperaware of every step she took beside him and every breath she drew. The mate bond hummed between them, growing stronger with proximity, making it increasingly difficult to maintain the careful distance he’d been trying to preserve.
Before long, the back terrace opened onto a breathtaking view of the pink ocean, its surface shimmering under Nova Aurora’s twin suns. The pale yellow sand stretched out before them, pristine and inviting. Thalric had seen this view thousands of times, but watching Navira’s face as she took it in made him see it through new eyes.
“It’s incredible,” she breathed, her voice filled with wonder.
They dropped their towels on the sand, and before Thalric could say another word, Navira was sprinting toward the water with surprising speed. Her athletic training was evident in every stride, her form perfect as she covered the distance to the shoreline in seconds.
He had no choice but to run after her, his longer legs eating up the ground as he tried to catch up. But she reached the water first, diving into the pink depths with the fluid grace of a born swimmer.
Thalric’s heart stopped when she disappeared beneath the surface.
She’s fine,he told himself, but his wolf was already in a panic, demanding he follow her immediately.She’s an Olympic swimmer. She knows what she’s doing.
But he dove in after her, his body slicing through the warm water as he searched for her beneath the clear pink surface. The ocean welcomed him like an old friend, but all his attention was focused on finding his mate.
There—a flash of blue bikini and brown hair.
Navira swam toward him underwater, her movements so natural and effortless it was like watching poetry in motion. She flashed him a brilliant grin before kicking toward the surface. Thalric followed, breaking through into air and sunlight just as Navira’s head emerged nearby. The sight that greeted him nearly stopped his heart all over again.
She was laughing—pure, uninhibited joy lighting up her features as she treaded water effortlessly. Her hair was slicked back from her face, and droplets of pink-tinged seawater caught the light on her skin like diamonds.
The mate bond carried her happiness straight to his soul, flooding him with an emotion so intense and pure he’d never experienced anything like it. This was what joy felt like—real joy, not the careful satisfaction he allowed himself when diplomatic negotiations went well or pack business concluded successfully. This was raw and overwhelming and absolutely perfect.
A rich laugh escaped him, surprising them both. The sound was deeper and more genuine than any laugh he’d produced in years, and Navira’s eyes widened with pleased surprise.
