Page 8 of Rock of Stages
“Wow, this ship is like an oyster’s dream,” she whispered.
I tried to hold back my chuckle.
I pushed open the door to my cabin and stepped aside to let her in. “It’s not much,” I warned, scratching the back of my neck.
She stepped inside and glanced around with awe, like she was entering a cathedral. She scanned every inch of my tiny room—the bed, the desk, the built-in storage, and tiny TV—with the same wonder I imagined I’d have if I visited her home. I pictured a world of caverns and coral palaces under the sea.
“This is all yours?” she asked, pausing on the bed before she turned away with a slight blush.
“Yeah. Pretty standard cruise ship setup. Tight quarters, but I have more space than many others, considering my size.” My gaze focused on the bed as well, and I tore it away.
She ran her fingers along the smooth wall panel, then poked the edge of the desk. “All this is like what I’ve seen on land, but—it floats on the sea.” Her voice sounded breathy.
“Right.” I gulped, inhaling another whiff of her scent. But now it was here, in my space, near my bed…
Why was my throat suddenly tight?
“Shower’s through there,” I said, my voice gravelly. I pushed open the door to the tiny bathroom. “If you want, you can rinse off while I find dry clothes for you.”
She walked over toward it, but in the confined space, we were merely inches apart. I moved out of the way to let her in, and she cocked her head. “How does it work?”
“Turn the silver handle,” I directed. “The water will come down from that nozzle above. Like rainfall.”
She turned to me with a fascinated expression. “Like rain?”
“Yes. You can adjust the water to a comfortable temperature and then step under it.”
“Okay.” She closed the door softly.
I stared at it. The sound of trickling water followed, and she laughed win delight. A bolt of awareness bloomed deep within my chest. Naiya was in my cabin. In my shower. Naked. I let out a slow exhale, trying to calm my pulse.
Forcing myself not to gape at the door, I tore my gaze away, where it landed right on my bed.
What the hell am I doing?
“I’ll be right back,” I called out in a strained voice. My clothes were way too big, and I needed to find some that would fit her body—her gorgeous, naked, soaking wet body.
Focus.
The second I closed the cabin door, I leaned back against it, fighting the urge to head right back inside.
CHAPTER 6
NAIYA
“Afloating city.” I repeated his words as turned from the stores on either side of us to smile at Caleb. He held my hand, saying it was to help keep me steady until I got used to land legs. I couldn’t deny how much I liked the feel of my hand in his large, warm grasp.
In human form, he was devilishly handsome, still massive and muscular, with a chiseled jawline and intense eyes that were now more of a bluish-gray. He’d showered after I was finished in there, and I’d sat on his bed, reading—keenly aware of just a thin wall separating us. Now he was dressed in a pair of black jeans, gray button-down shirt, and black boots. His dark hair was dry and draped over the top of his massive shoulders.
“We can get almost anything we need until we reach the next port,” Caleb said as he continued the tour of the ship. It had so many decks, and each seemed different from the next. We’d landed on one he called the Gargoyle’s Perch earlier, where he said he often flew from at night. His cabin was far below, wherehe had private space all to himself—with that gigantic bed. Being alone in there with him had made it difficult not to let my mind wander—andfantasize. Besides that tethering connection I sensed between us, I grew aware of a simmering heat. It hadn’t dissipated, not even in the shower, which had been a luxurious experience with endless hot water cascading down my naked body. I could have stayed in there for hours.
But there was so much more of the ship to explore. And since my time onboard was limited, I wanted to experience all that I could before I had to return to my pod. I’d gone exploring on land many times before. I was a grown mermaid, for the love of coral. But I could only stay for so long before my controlling father would send out podmates to search for me.
“It’s so fancy,” I gushed, marveling at the details that caught my eye. Twinkling chandeliers, grand pianos, and polished wood or marble everywhere around us. The cruise line’s logo reminded me of my world beneath the sea. It featured a silhouette of a siren with a beautiful long tail.
The ship was so massive it barely rocked, but my feet felt steadier than when I’d first tried the stairs. Still, I moved with careful steps. Wide-eyed. Absorbing all the lights and sounds and scents—so many smells. From the variety of supernaturals, to the various aromas of food from specialty restaurants. What a fascinating ship this was.
“I found clothes for you in there.” He pointed to one of the stores with racks of clothing, many of them with the ship’s logo. “If that doesn’t fit or you don’t like it, you can pick out something else.”
