I rolled once, though that obviously wasn’t what he was talking about.

He snorted, coming up behind me. I expected him to grab my waist again, but instead, his hand found my abdomen. His palm spread over it, and I did my best to ignore the warmth that followed.

As much as I wanted to forget what we’d done in his library, it had happened, and it was solidly burned into my memories.

Sex like that wasn’t something I would ever be able to forget.

“Your movements are jerky. It will take time to build the muscles to the point where you can consistently roll from here, but this is the only effective way to swim.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Like this.” He used his hand on my abdomen in an attempt to guide my motions. I was pretty sure I knew what he was saying, but it felt good, so I wasn’t about to stop him. “It’s hard to force. Here.” He pulled my hand to his deliciously ripped abs and made the motion.

“I don’t have those kind of muscles.”

“It will take time.”

“How much time?”

“It depends on how much you swim. Probably only a week or two until you have enough strength to keep up with me for a while. Endurance will take longer. A few months.”

“That’s not too bad.”

“Try it.” Triton released my wrist, and I focused on swimming the way he had explained.

I moved much faster, and felt a little less awkward—but after a few minutes, I had to stop and catch my breath.

He waited with me silently.

“If it’s going to be this difficult, you might as well tell me if I’m going in the wrong direction,” I panted.

“The cliffs are much further east.” He gestured to our left.

“Can you just lead the way?”

Triton nodded.

When my breathing was slightly more even, he gestured for me to follow him, and I did.

The man moved so slowly that it looked like it was physically painful for him, but that was all I could manage. Thankfully, he didn’t complain as he went my pace.

I didn’t see any cliffs as we continued, but the massive fish swimming around us were creepy as hell. I even saw a small shark. That made me want to grab Triton and hide behind his gigantic muscles.

I didn’t, though. Of course.

We had to stop every five or ten minutes, but the king never complained.

On my fifth stop, I finally said, “You really don’t have to stay with me. I’m sure I can find it on my own now.”

“It’s difficult to find a place you’ve never been before underwater, regardless of how skilled you are at navigation.” He was trying to spare my feelings, which was pointless. I was a shitty navigator on my best day.