Page 24 of Blood of the Sirens
Merrick sat down next to me, letting off a small yelp of surprise when he sank into the cushion. I guess he didn’t have loveseats where he was from, either.
He slapped a hand across his defined abs. “This is my summer body. It is warm out, and we do a lot of work during that time. During winter, we must conserve energy. It is too cold to work. You cannot see these then. The fat is good and keeps us warm. I don’t need it during the warm season.” His finger ran over the taut muscles, and then he looked up to see if I understood.
My eyes narrowed. “So you’re telling me you have a winter bod and a summer bod because of your work?”
Merrick grinned. “Yes. Exactly.” He stuck his lower lip out. “Those other females? They would not survive long where I live. The cold would get to them.” He gave me an appraising look. “You would not die. You would survive the winter. You’re strong and could help others. Like you helped me. And you are much more beautiful and desirable than any of them.”
The casual, no-nonsense way he said it had me paralyzed and in shock. I could tell he wasn’t bull-shitting me from the serious tilt of his chin, and the intensity of his eyes.
I had to take a moment just to breathe. This wasn’t anything like any of the hookups I’d had before. He wasn’t likeany other guy I’d brought home before. It was too much. All of it. I didn’t trust it.
“I-I think I need to go to bed. I’ll see you tomorrow at work? At the docks?” I stammered out, my heart pounding in my chest.
Rather than look put out or upset, Merrick simply stood. “Yes, I will see you then. I look forward to spending more time with you.”
Suspicion clouded my mind. “Did you only take this job to get closer to me?”
He grinned as if I’d just solved a clever riddle. “Yes. Of course.”
Stop. He had to stop being so fucking adorable and honest.
“O-OK. Um. Good night then.”
Instead of going back toward the front door, he shot a glance at the back porch. “Do you mind if I go this way?”
Realization flooded me. “Oh, you kayaked when you first got here? Sure. No problem.”What kind of crazy man kayaked into the fucking dark? Well, a second time. At least he was consistent?
Merrick gave me another small wave and pushed the back door open.
I was floored. He truly intended to leave without trying to push his luck with me? As if he truly meant everything he said?
What if this was proof he was lying? If he thought I was so beautiful, then surely he wouldn’t try to run away so quickly, would he?
“Wait!”
Merrick paused and turned back to look at me over his shoulder. I shot off the couch, refusing to back down in case I lost my nerve. I bumped into him, my palms immediately resting on his chest to steady myself. I stared at the opal jewel around his throat, level with my eyes. The colors almost seemedto swirl in front of me. They were as mesmerizing as Merrick himself.
I looked up. Calloused hands cupped my face and held me still. Blonde hair fell against the back of my shoulders, the dreads surprisingly soft against my skin. The scent of salt and the sea filled my nose: seaweed and rushes, sand and sun and that heady hint of something spicy.
“What do you want?” I asked breathlessly.
His lips ghosted against my forehead. “To protect you. To see you safe.”
Something twinged in my heart. “From what?”
The fingers around my jaw tightened. His head dropped further as he nuzzled against my neck. “I will see you tomorrow, siren.”
Merrick jerked a bit as the pet name slipped out, but that was the final straw for me. I was all out of sorts from him being so nice and saying such wonderful things about me. My hand tangled in the back of his hair and pulled, yanking his mouth down to mine.
He gave a slight groan of surprise, then crushed me against him, kissing me deeply and pulling me to him like he was lost at sea, and I was a bit of floating driftwood. His lips were cool and refreshing, his taste of citrus and sun.
The kiss was over too soon, Merrick abruptly pulling away even as he grinned at me. Then he had the audacity to boop my nose.
“If I keep kissing you like this, I won’t ever let you go. You will be mine,” he promised darkly, his voice nothing more than a deep purr.
My eyes narrowed. I was never one to back away from a challenge. “Will I, now?”
His hands tightened around me, and he turned around and slammed me up against the door frame.
