Page 33 of The Sea Witch's Son

I clench the beer cans painfully as violet eyes meet mine.

“Don’t tell me you need to be rescued yet again, little saint.” Marlin tilts his head, “I would have thought you had enough shadow play for this week.”

I stare at the man she’s sitting on, the man whose arm is wrapped loosely around her waist. He’s wearing a black dress shirt tonight with no suit jacket in sight. His sleeves are rolled to half-mast and the ink creeping up his forearm is on full display.

He looks fucking delicious and I hate him that much more for it.

Seeing the darkening expression on my face, Freya offers me a shrug, “He decided to show up after all.”

“No shit.”

Marlin smirks, flicking his eyes down my body. Studying every curve like it’s a labyrinth he wants to explore, he takes his time bringing those devilish eyes back up to mine.

“You’re wearing pants tonight.”

I glare at him, “That’s because stray dogs have a tendency of touching things they shouldn’t.”

Amusement crinkles his eyes, “Are you calling me a stray?”

“I’m calling you disgusting.”

“It hurts me when you say things like that.” He smiles, sliding a hand across Freya’s knee, “I am a sensitive man, you know.”

“You’re a narcissistic lunatic.”

He sighs, “Such a wicked tongue on such a pretty girl. How about a kiss to make me feel better?”

My cheeks flush, “What-

“I wasn’t talking to you.” He turns and looks at Freya, “Care to put a wounded man out of his misery?”

“My pleasure.” She grins, settling more deeply on his lap.

A large hand slides slowly up her thigh while his eyes stay locked on mine.

Swallowing hard, I turn and walk away. Something cold and ugly presses down on my chest, and soon I’m throwing the crushed beer cans on the table and hurrying for the closest shadow I can find.

I know he’s doing it on purpose. Trying to confuse me with the mind games he likes to play.

But that doesn’t offer the slightest bit of comfort as I watch Marlin Seaborn kiss the girl I almost consider a friend.

God. I hate him so fucking much.

I hate the fact he kissed her evenmore.

Chapter 11

MARLIN

I’m tempted to bite off Freya’s tongue just to get her off my lap.

Instead, I slide my hand higher up her thigh, feeling nothing but the hair she clearly forgot to shave this morning. I am not a picky man, but honestly, if you are going to sit in the lion’s mouth, you may as well look presentable.

Not that I would mind if Melody didn’t shave.

Holding back a sigh, I twist the ring on my middle finger until the skull is pressed against her flesh. Digging in my nails to keep her in place, I flick out the razor hidden beneath the family crest.

Freya breaks the kiss with a yelp.

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