Page 57 of The Seer

“Aye. I’ve told you. It wants you for its own.” Solemn, he met her eyes. “The vision of your grave haunts me, every feckin’ minute of the day. What if my monster is the one to cause your death?”

“I didn’t truly fear him, and I don’t think he’s as bad as you believe. The Incubus, if he ever is born, maybe, but not your Siren.” She wrapped her legs around his hips and pressed her pelvis to his, smiling when she felt his arousal. Despite his worry, his desire for her hadn’t diminished. “He didn’t want to hurt me, Fintan. Don’t ask me how I know, I just do.”

“Ya can’t.”

“I can.” Taryn traced his furrowed brow. “He was teasing me with the humming. The laughter in his eyes and his playful grin said as much.” When he still didn’t seem convinced, she asked, “How long was I unconscious? When did you return to your body?”

“It took a long minute, to be sure. He was guardin’ you like a feckin’ mastiff.”

“See? If he wanted to hurt me or steal my magic, he could’ve. But he is a version of you, Fintan. He knows right from wrong.”

“No, and never mistake that he does, Taryn-Taryn. If the craving were strong enough, he’d have been on ya.”

“Well, now I feel unwanted and totally rejected.”

Fintan arched his back, pressing his erection against her, and arched a brow. “Then ya clearly have no feeling below your waist.”

She compressed her lips to keep from laughing.

“You confessed to lovin’ me,” he said, with a satisfied air.

“When?” Taryn tried to recall their conversation since waking. “I didn’t?—”

“You told me Siren.”

Had she? When?

“Stop this!” she ordered. “I love Fintan, and?—”

The scene popped into her mind, but the view was of her upset visage, with pleading eyes.

Fintan’s memory, not hers!

“You were there?” she asked.

“Aye, below the surface. I could hear and see everything.”

“You weren’t egging him on?”

“I don’t know what that means,” he admitted.

“Encouraging him.”

“Ach, no! I wasn’t eggin’ him on, love. He wanted your confession for himself.”

His sincerity was annoying. If she had the slightest inclination he was messing with her, she’d read him the riot act and be on her way. But his energy was genuine, and she was left confused about what she should do. Admitting she loved him wasn’t something she was prepared for at this juncture.

“It’s all right,aoibhneas mo croí. I’ll not push it.”

Fintan shifted, intending to pull away.

Taryn tightened her legs, locking him against her. “I do love you, but I’m afraid of getting hurt.”

“Aye. And I’m afraid of hurtin’ ya, but it won’t be because I don’t love you back. And it won’t be because I’m not going to try me feckin’ best to make you happy.”

“Like I said, I’m not scared of your Siren.”

The truth was laid bare between them.

---