Page 191 of Nocere

She nodded. "At the coffee shop. She was so happy to see me like I was an old friend. She resembles some of you, Rosie. You're a lot alike."

"Well, we are sisters. She's coming to dinner tomorrow at Rebecca's," I said, hugging Sam's arm to my chest. She settled down, and kissed the curve of my shoulder when her focus left the plethora of weapons in the room. And the few additions to follow.

"I'm looking forward to it." Alex glanced around the room. "I'm getting a drink. You two want some? Wine? Beer?"

"Wine," Sam and I said together.

"No surprise." She hopped up and headed off toward the dining room.

"There's a lot of people here," I said as I turned slightly to meet Sam's gaze.

"There is. You doing okay with that?" she asked, her lips pressed against my neck.

"So far. It's easier with you." I turned slightly to stroke her cheek. "Everything is."

"Funny. I was thinking something similar." Her smile, laden with the light that it often carried when we lingered in each other's space, brought a lurch of excitement to my belly. I loved watching her, and the way she looked at me turned my insides upside-down.

"I have something for you," she said, reaching into the pocket of her jacket. "I want you to have it now."

"Right now?" I scooted backward so that my rear hit the sofa against the arm and my legs draped over her lap.

"Right now." She revealed a rectangle-shaped turquoise box from her pocket. The red silk ribbon tied in a bow around it set off a wave of arousal as I remembered its last use. An immediate smile found its way to Sam's lips as she must've noticed my reaction. "I see you recognize the bindings."

"Yes, baby." I bit my lip and she held the box up between us.

"Give it a pull."

I tugged the corner of the bow and it tumbled away to pile in my lap. Sam lifted it by the end, and dragged it slowly over my wrist until it wrapped around. My thighs squeezed together as she set alight an ache of desire that brought heat to my face. In public, surrounded by two dozen of our friends, and she was the only person that existed to me.

With the gift resting on my knee, she tied the ribbon in a similar bow. "Open it."

I lifted the box, and cracked open the lid to reveal a double drop circlet with diamonds in rose gold. My jaw nearly unhinged when I ran my fingers over the beautiful necklace. I had never seen anything like it before in my life and tears pooled in my eyes as I stared.

Sam lifted it from the box with care, then fastened it around my neck as I held up my hair. Tears flicked from my lashes as a wave of astonishment nearly destroyed me. I'd never been gifted with jewelry, let alone something like this. When the fastening clicked, Sam's lips brushed against my ear.

"Rose gold for my Rose, diamonds for how long you'll have my heart," she said, her breath husky as I touched the necklace when it settled on my chest. "And a trinket for my sweet, so everyone will know you're mine."

"Sami," I croaked, pressing my palm to her cheek. "Thank you, I can't—I don't know what to say."

"Happy Birthday, Rosie." She cupped my face in her palms as her misty gaze met mine. "You deserve special things every day, but I wanted you to have this today. I was going to wait until tomorrow, but I just couldn't."

"Sam." I claimed her mouth with mine, and her impassioned return tore me to bits. I wanted nothing more than to tear her clothes off and make love to her right there.

From the corner of my eye, Jordan's wave of rainbow hair caught my attention and she offered me a faint nod. I ended my connection with Sam to say, "We have something for you, too."

Her brow furrowed, though she started when she noticed all of our friends approaching us. Stella and Alice carried a birthday cake alight with dancing flames scattered around the wishes for Sam embossed in icing. Everyone broke into a round of Happy Birthday, but instead of saying my name, we all sang for Sam. She laughed, her eyes welling with tears at their terrible singing voices, save for Vee who somehow managed to harmonize with the gruesome tones. Sam cupped her hands over her mouth.

"Make a wish, honey." I laughed while swiping at my cheeks.

Sam blew out the candles and everyone cheered for her.

"Why did you do this?" she asked, while smiling from ear to ear.

"It's your first birthday with us," said Stella when they set the cake down on the table. "So we had a party."

"You're officially a part of our mermaid pod, Sami." Jordan grinned while flipping her hair. "Get used to it."

Sam laughed, though covered her mouth again as she dropped her head against me. Stella came to sit beside us, her hand on Sam's shoulder while everyone continued to fawn and fuss, just the way I intended. Sam's smile, despite the unusual amount of attention, never faded, and I basked in the glory of her accepting the friendship of the people who cared about her.

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