Free Making Waves (Mythological Lovers) by Vivienne Savage

their chance. Tomorrow?”
    “I’ll give you an hour.”
    “Masochist.”
    Dante leaned down and kissed me. “I’ll settle for a movie at IMAX, but tomorrow, you have to let me put you on a board.”
    Noooooooo, I thought. “I don’t have the balance for that!
    “You’re in luck because I happen to be an excellent teacher.”

Chapter 7
    ~Dante~
    I looked forward to every passing moment with Alessa.  We visited each other every day and made love frequently, but I could never kiss her enough to sate the ache she created in my heart.
    The inner stallion in me wanted more than sensual matings in her bed, and every time I caught her performances at the mermaid tank, the drive to claim her grew more irresistible.
    I didn’t know how long I could last. How long I’d have the restraint to keep the wild beast in me at bay. The past weeks had been both heaven and hell, worsened when she revealed our first attempt at pregnancy ended in failure. With no alternative, we tried again.
    “How do you know she doesn’t want it?” Teo asked me. Swimming no longer distracted me from the pressing need to make Alessa mine, so I’d abandoned my trunks and weighed them to the bottom of the ocean with a rock before hurrying to Teo’s island. My father’s useless proclamations rang in my ears, making me desperate for advice from a man who would understand.
    Feline eyes peered at me from the thick foliage bordering the garden where we chatted. Teo’s free range jaguars always kept out of sight whenever I visited; I hadn’t yet earned their trust. Or they were waiting for me to let down my guard to eat me. I hoped it was the former.
    Bright pink hibiscus bloomed from several bushes and the sweet smell of orchids floated on the balmy afternoon breeze. Behind us, a hot spring pool gently bubbled. Teo’s home was an island paradise.
    “While you have the privilege of living beside your mate every day of the year, I’m not so fortunate, Teo. I’ll be away in the ocean half of our lives. No woman wants that.”
    “Allow her to make her own decision,” Teo insisted. “A smart woman knows what she wants, and Alessa is no exception.”
    Teo’s mate arrived bearing a tray in her hands. The voluptuous human woman wore a scarlet sundress, neatly coiffed black waves against her bare shoulders. For her comfort, Teo and Kekoa kept spare clothes around for shapeshifting visitors. I wore a modest pair of board shorts and a big smile when the scent of sugar and vanilla reached my nose.
    “Are you boys hungry?”
    “Cookies?” Teo straightened in his seat, resembling an eager school child.
    “I couldn’t help but overhear the conversation but...” Marcy bit her lower lip. “I think my husband is right this time. This rare, singular time,” she repeated for emphasis while lowering a plate of still warm cookies in front of the dragon. He sulked until she set the glass of milk beside them.
    “Where is Javier?” I twisted around and searched for their little boy. I’d given the child a ride in the water a week ago and found myself longing even more for a foal of my own. I hoped for a little colt with Alessa’s gray eyes.
    “Down for his nap,” Marcy replied. “Otherwise he’d be out here eating all the cookies with his daddy. Don’t worry, I saved him some.”
    “In that case.” I helped myself to several cookies from the plate. They were warm and gooey, filled with cheesecake and caramel centers. The sweet delights melted on my tongue.
    “Anyway.” Marcy ran her fingers over Teo’s hair, combing her slim digits through his shoulder-length waves. “You men need to trust us to know what we want sometimes. Don’t make decisions without consulting with us.”
    I washed down a couple more cookies with my glass of milk. “How long has it been since you both became mated?”
    “Nearly ten years now,” Marcy said happily. Teo swept the woman into his lap and fed her a cookie. They were the definition of contentment, the kind of