Chapter 5

Caterina POV (present)

“Your grace, welcome back…”

“Cyrell, my old friend, it is so wonderful to see you.”

Cyrell was my guardian. He had been the closest thing to a Father I had ever known since she murdered my true Father. He had not hesitated when I asked him to leave the Sea and act as Finn’s protector all those years ago. If only I had known he would not be able to return to me either, I was unable to tell him how to break the curse.

I didn’t miss the look of shock on Finn’s face as his first mate bowed to me before embracing me in a fatherly hug.

“My love, Cyrell was sent by me to protect you after the curse was placed on us. He is a very old, very dear friend of mine.”

“You didn’t think to tell me, old man?” Finn asked Cyrell impatiently.

“T’was not my place Cap’n. Her grace asked only that I watch over you. Nothing more.”

“Do not blame him, my love, Cyrell is bound to me by an ancient oath. He would never disrespect my wishes. I thought he would be able to act as a messenger between our worlds, but once I sent him to the surface he was lost to me as well. It seems she thought of everything.”

I raised my hand and gently touched Finn’s cheek, bringing his gaze to me.

“Come, my love, we have much to discuss. I’m sure Cyrell can take care of things on deck for a while. The Sea will not cause you any trouble tonight.”

His annoyance faded instantly at my touch and he nodded softly before leading me below deck to his quarters. Alone again, I suddenly felt nervous.

Finn broke the awkward silence again, I was learning quickly this was a trait of his I would come to rely on.

“I can’t believe it was that simple. You were right there in front of me the whole time. How could I have been so blind?”

“You cannot blame yourself, Sailor, the curse was designed to keep us apart for eternity. Breaking it was not meant to be an easy task.”

The kiss we shared on deck had been urgent and intense. He approached me slowly this time as he gently tilted my chin up. Our eyes meeting for the briefest of moments before he placed a feather-light kiss on my lips.

“I’m sorry… this feels like a dance we were destined to do but I don’t know the steps.” He said shyly, running his hand through his hair once more.

“I’m nervous too…” I admitted.

“How about a drink then? We have time. I mean, we do have time, don’t we?”

“Oh yes, she undoubtedly knows her curse has been broken but she will not bother us for some time yet.”

A relieved smile crossed his face as he crossed the room and poured some amber liquid into glasses for us. The human drink would have no effect on me but I could see after he took the first sip that it helped calm his nerves.

He stared longingly out of the small window near his desk, before turning back to me.

“I have thought of nothing but you, every day, for 7 years. It’s been so long since I’ve thought of what I might do when I finally found you. I’m realising I had almost lost all hope of you ever returning to me.

There’s so much racing through my head. Things I want to say to you, things I need to know, understand…. But I can’t seem to stop thinking about touching you.”

“I feel the same way. It is our bond. The tether that binds us. The connection was severed so soon, our souls yearn for each other. Without each other, we are incomplete.”

I felt my breath hitch in my throat as he finished his liquid and stalked toward me. A look of determination and desire on his face. With his face inches from my own, he said softly,

“We have all the time in the world for talking. But not for this. I’m not wasting another moment.”

I kissed him before I lost my nerve. I wanted this as badly as he did. I knew it from the moment he stumbled into my cave.

As our kiss deepened I felt him pull the damp wrap from my shoulders, exposing my breasts. He slipped his thumbs softly between the fabric and my hips as he pulled it all the way off, kissing and nipping at my body as he went. As I stood, bare before him I fought back the urge to interrupt the moment and ask what he was thinking. Was I enough for him? Was I as he imagined?

“Beautiful… so, breathtakingly beautiful…” He whispered before kissing me again, our tongues fighting for dominance as his hands travelled down to squeeze my bottom.

Instinctively, I lifted one leg and wrapped it around his waist to grant his fingers access to where they desperately wanted to wander. A small moan left my lips as he massaged my bud with his thumb before letting one finger slide inside. The fire that ignited in my core left me breathless. I clawed at his shirt clumsily trying to remove the fabric that was creating a barrier between his skin and mine. I managed to tear it off in my haste. I made fast work with the buckle of his pants, prying them open just enough for his swollen member to spring free. I wrapped my hand around the shaft and began to pump but he grabbed my hand and held it above my head, continuing to pleasure me with the other hand.

“Inside…. now” I managed to whimper and he didn’t need me to ask twice.

He removed his fingers and swiftly plunged himself deep inside me. He continued to massage my bud as he thrust in and out with perfect rhythm. Our bodies and souls forming their complete connection.

Just as we both bordered on our climax an audible crack echoed through the chamber, signifying that our tether was complete. All the fibres of our souls had interwoven and combined, rendering us soul-bound for life.

As we both came down from our euphoria we held each other in a tight embrace. Neither wanting to let go.

“Caterina…. ? What’s happening to me?”