Page 17 of Rock of Stages
Angus blocked me. “That giant rock will take everything from you, like he has me.” He sneered. “We’ll talk again,Naiya.” His lips curled into a smirk. “Soon.”
Not if I could help it.
I surged past him and swooshed my tail, splashing water his way. As I swam for the surface, I remained on edge, thinking this selkie would reach out and grab me at any second. He knew my name. Knew far too much about Caleb and me.
All I wanted was to rush back to Caleb and take refuge in his powerful arms.
CHAPTER 11
CALEB
“That slithering…slimy…sea slug!” My muscles hardened as if I was turning back to stone. I turned back toward the ocean, determined to find that slippery selkie and rip him fin from fin.
“It’s over, Caleb,” Naiya assured me and gently placed her hand on my forearm. “He swam away.” She nudged me forward. “Come. I’m looking forward to watch you perform tonight.”
Her gentle voice brought me back to the present, and my thoughts took a wicked turn as I pictured how I’d like to perform for my sultry mermaid. Holding her in the ocean earlier, feeling her soft skin, seeing her barely clad in a bikini, kissing her… I’d asked her to come to our show tonight and promised we’d go to a restaurant after. That was after plenty of sweet-talking the decision-makers, letting them know how she’d saved me and begging to let her stay the night. I couldn’t keep her onboard as a stowaway.
They’d agreed and even let me book a reservation at one of the specialty restaurants.
Back in my cabin, Naiya took a shower while I struggled with my fury about Angus. What he’d done to me and the band was bad enough, but how dare he approach my mate? Slither his slick tail near her?
Sound from the bathroom distracted me—Naiya singing. At first, it was barely audible, but then the volume rose. She sang a haunting lament about a shipwreck. But her voice…simplybreathtaking.
I’d never heard anything like it. Enchanting. Ethereal. I wandered over to the bathroom door to listen closer and all my anger about Angus dissipated, like seaweed carried on the waves.
When she stepped out minutes later, hair wet and wearing a pink sundress I’d bought her, I just said, “Wow.”
She blinked. “Wow, what?”
“Your voice.”
“Oh.” Her cheeks flushed. “Was I too loud?”
“No, no.” I shook my head rapidly. “It’s beautiful. I could listen to you sing all day.”
A demure smile flickered on her face. “You’re the one with the musical talent. Playing in a band.”
My gaze roamed over her as I marveled at this beauty. I fell for her more each moment we spent together. “Maybe you should be too.”
Playingdrums each night was the highlight of my days, a high I never thought I could surpass—until I’d met Naiya. Now having her in the audience, watching me with lips parted and a fascinated expression eclipsed that. We finished up our 90s set with our version of the Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage,” and my body still buzzed from the adrenaline.
I stepped away from the drums, my eyes locked on hers.
Van nudged me with his elbow. “Go get your mermaid before she swims off with some kelp-haired merman.”
I growled, my stone tingling with possessiveness as I pictured Angus, but I wouldn’t let anything or anyone divert me as I approached her.
She rushed up to me, eyes wide. “You were wonderful!” She threw her arms around me while I was still in my gargoyle form, and my beast rumbled with content deep within.Mine.
After I shiftedand showered and found the nicest pair of black pants I had, we headed up to the sushi restaurant. We sat at an intimate table for two near a window, with a perfect view of the ocean twinkling and waltzing beneath the stars. Her silvery-blonde hair flowed around her bare shoulders.
“Every time I look at you, I swear you’re even more beautiful,” I told her.
“Oh, Caleb,” she uttered softly, turning slightly pink under my praise.
Dinner was incredible—not just the food but how she marveled at every detail. She read the menu options with delight and laughed as she fumbled with chopsticks.
“Here, you hold them like this.” My fingers brushed over hers as I adjusted her positioning and heat rippled through my skin.
