Page 105 of Sea's Secret

“You are so wickedly handsome,” she said.

“Wickedly? Rather accurate.”

She looked at me with a gentle smile, and when I dropped my hand down to touch her back and hair, she stiffened. She was partially on top of me, a rather compromising position. Not prince-like nor gentlemanly of me at all. But in my defense, I had been unconscious; she was the one who climbed into my bed, at least I assumed that. I wished for her to never leave. She looked down as if just realizing our positioning. She gasped, placed her hands upon my chest, and removed herself from on top of me. She slid from the bed and landed on the floor, standing and running hands over the large shirt she wore. I smiled, even though I wished she was still in my arms. She was wearing my shirt, and I absolutely loved it.

“I am so sorry; I should not have–”

“Been in my bed?” I smirked.

I enjoyed seeing the pink of her cheeks.

“Having you in my bed is rather preferable,” I said with a wicked grin.

“Dominick! Although you are a pirate, you are also a prince!”

“And you keep forgetting that although I am a prince by birth, I am more a wicked pirate,” I said with a wink.

“You are not wicked,” she said, taking a step back.

“Is that so? Then why are you moving away when I desire to kiss you so thoroughly that everyone aboard this ship will see it about your mouth.”

“What?” she said in shock.

“My whiskers, when I kiss you, they leave a little redness.”

“I should not be here,” she said, avoiding eye contact with me.

“Ah, you should be here, my beautiful mermaid,” I said, raising my hands out on each side and motioning to my chest. She looked at me for a moment and stepped even further away.

“Why are you going so far away? I thought I was wickedly handsome? This wickedly handsome pirate wishes to ravish you with kisses in my bed.”

“Dominick! I know you are only saying these things to shock me.” She placed her hands so attractively on her hips. I tried to not look at her rather beautiful exposed legs.

“And are you shocked?” I asked. It was true; I was more of a gentleman, but I was also a man, a man looking upon the most beautiful maiden I had ever seen, and she was wearing my shirt. It was even more attractive to see her reaction to my teasing and flirting.

“No,” she said rather hesitantly. I sat up and with only a few steps, I had her in my arms, where she belonged in my opinion. She resisted, playfully, for only a moment before sighing and placing her head upon my chest, her hands clutching the fabric of the shirt I wore. I looked at her eyes–those beautiful blue-white eyes that held me captive with their light.

“I know you are honorable,” she whispered.

“Pirates are not honorable, my little mermaid. We keep having this conversation,” I said as I brushed my nose along her jawline and trailed it down her neck, making sure my breath was hot on her neck. I felt her body relax, and I wanted to cheer, so satisfied that I had made her feel so relaxed. Has anyone else ever felt that way with my touch and my presence? No, only Meria.

“Dominick,” she sighed, and although I was as honorable as a pirate prince could be, I wished at that moment that I was not. I wished I truly was a wicked pirate. But, I had very little that I could claim as actually good about me. I faked many things, but it was true that I was not a man who sought to take advantage of women’s attention. I did not have many things–but I had that virtue. Meria’s kiss had been my very first, and if I had it my way, it would also be my last.

“I am enjoying seeing you in this shirt of mine, Meria,” I said, touching the fabric at her shoulder.

“Dominick!”

“It looks good on you–might be my favorite thing–”

“Stop!” she said, swatting at my chest.

“Okay, I will stop, and I will release you, but for a price,” I said against the side of her neck.

“What price could a pirate want? I have no treasure, no gold, no gems.”

“Ah–you are very much mistaken. You are the treasure I want,” I said.

“I already told you, I am your mermaid.”

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