Elyssa led Kadir to the heart chamber.

His kicks were powerful and hard. Revitalized, he was tall, broad and thick. Muscle bulged on his arms.

The castle entrance was closed up tight from the attack. He placed his hand on the entrance and pushed her onto it, melting into her as their bodies melted into the green walls. Reacting to their presence, the castle defenses relaxed and opened up to allow them in.

Benji leaped from the entrance and raced around them, yapping crazily. She headed for the Life Tree and disappeared inside.

“Aw, don’t tell me,” Elyssa said.

“She searches for the seed,” Kadir confirmed. His hands entwined hers. “Do not worry. Another will grow for her to guard soon.”

“I feel bad.”

“Do not.” Kadir enticed her into the courtyard. His gaze held heated promises. “Your light is brightest when you play.”

“Play? Well, there goes my plan of becoming a serious queen.”

“Atlantis is a city of love. The Life Tree thrives on joy.”

He finished his declaration at the heart chamber.

His sweetness made her heart tremble. No wonder he rallied warriors to him. Although he was not the largest or strongest like Soren, or the calmest or wisest or most experienced like Lotar or Balim or Faier, he spoke the words they most needed to hear. He spoke the words of their soul.

She was worthy. Not a serious, correct queen like the adviser expected. She was a playful queen who forgave mistakes and warmed people’s hearts.

She stroked Kadir’s hard abs, following the silver tattoos down his long torso. “I feel like I should tease you.”

He pressed her against the wall of the castle. “Do as you wish.”

His promise burned in his eyes. He loved her, truly loved her.

What did she wish?

Not just her pleasure. Sex. Wild, passionate, crazy hot. That’s what she wished.

Elyssa wrapped her arms around the small of his back and pressed his hard length against her soft belly. She slid one thigh up his iron leg and nestled it against his flexed buttocks.

“We can play later.” She claimed his mouth for her own. “We have five children to start working on.”

He smiled against her insistent kiss. Pleasure rumbled in his chest. “Yes, my queen.”

Heat fired in her veins and pulsed to her needy center. She stroked his back. Scarred, hard muscle.

He nibbled her lips. Yum. His flavor. Smoke and vanilla. This was the flavor of her king.

Of her husband.

He trailed tasty kisses down her jaw to her neck. She relaxed as his grip rested there. Controlling her. Commanding her. Her heart thumped. She yielded to him.

He palmed her breast. Pleasure ached for him. Her skin heated and her nipples pearled. He teased the pearl between his thumb and forefinger while his tongue laved her peak.

Her feminine center throbbed. Hot, slick, and ready.

She wrapped her leg around him. His long, hard shaft stroked her entrance.

“Come in.”

He groaned. His palms lifted her butt. He bent and captured her nipples in his hot mouth.

Pleasure pulsed.

She tangled her fingers in his hair. “Kadir.”

He lifted her thighs on his shoulders and bared her feminine pink to his mouth.

She tensed.

He nuzzled her, warm and soft. “You taste good.”

She could never deny him. She relaxed into his expert mastery.

He stroked her with long laps of his tongue. It bathed her in shining golden rainbows. She floated against the ceiling. Or was it the floor? Everything was Kadir. He caressed her to the far edge of desire. She gripped his hair again. Even though the orgasm would be incredible, like the other times, she wanted more. Deeper.

To lose control.

“Come inside me.”

He looked up at her. His smile slowly deepened. He kissed her mons and up her trembling belly. The fire of his desire spread over her body, teasing and marking her as his.

He moved her legs around his waist. His engorged head pressed like a hard promise against her throbbing bud. She moaned and shifted to take him. He gripped her buttocks, holding her in place with his bulging biceps. His cock teased her entrance.

“Kadir,” she urged.

He slid deep into her slick channel.

Yes. Finally. They connected. Hot the way she wanted. Sweet and delicious.

She arched her back.

He pushed into her. Slippery pleasure throbbed in her center. He thrust. She clawed him. “Kadir!”

He pounded her pleasure zone. Unstoppable and beautiful. His masculine virility slammed into her. The tingles grew unstoppable. She clung onto his anchor. He slammed her over the edge, into the eye of the storm. Golden rainbows shattered across her body. The orgasm shimmered sparkles through her veins.

He roared and released his passion. His warmth filled her with a second wave of sweet pleasure.

She rested in his arms. He kissed her cheek softly. Were they floating right side up or upside down? Nothing mattered but being entwined together.

If she was ever going to become pregnant, this was a great start.

“Come to the surface with me.” His dark eyes gleamed with silver flecks. “I want to show you the beach where my mother used to sunbathe and read. Will you?”

“I want to.” She stroked his hair. “It won’t hurt to remember?”

He gripped her shoulders. “No, Elyssa. Fear was my mistake. It almost cost me this. We must turn to each other for healing.”

He was talking about way more than flesh wounds. She would make mistakes, and they might be serious, but if everyone banded together like today, they would win.

“I totally want to help,” she said. “Let’s go up together.”

“Good. And we will visit your parents. I promised they would not be frightened.”

“And then we’ll come back,” she said cautiously.

“Yes. We need you. Here, growing our city, and at the ruin, raising it so we can meet brides without any more intervention.”

They needed her. He needed her. Atlantis was her future.

She was a playful queen.

The light in the heart room changed subtly.

“What was that?” she asked.

“Someone new has come.” He disentangled and tended to her, kissing her roughened skin. “We must greet them.”

She stretched her trembling muscles. Yum.

“I hope Aya and Soren come back soon.” She bounced on her human feet. “I hope they escaped Blake and can each find love. I hope Faier finds love too. I hope every one of your warriors finds the woman of his dreams. I want everyone who comes to Atlantis to find the missing parts of their souls and make themselves whole.”

“They will.” Kadir’s steady gaze filled her with confidence. “We will provide this place of dreams.”

“Then let’s do this.” She could welcome strangers and treat them with kindness. Easy peasy. “I want to get started right now!”

“Of course.” He held out his hand. “Come, my queen.”

She took his hand. Her fins unfurled behind her. Together, they flew to the courtyard where she truly ruled.

* * *

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