Page 14 of Cruel Tides

Laverne’s whiskers twitched as Barren’s arm slid underneath her. The mattress depressed until her body rolled into his arm. Her nostrils flared as he lifted her, though when her head flopped back onto his shoulder, she looked like she was still asleep.

“Taking her to my room.” There was a gentleness in the deep hum of Barren’s voice that I wasn’t prepared for. “So you both can get some rest.”

Laverne thundered out another snore that perfectly accented his point, and he gave me a nod before heading for the door.

“Hold on.” I grabbed the key card and chased after him. “The doors. Let me get them for you.”

Part of me wondered if he would still try to open it with one arm, but he waited patiently for me at the door.

“Thank you,” he said as soon as my hand landed on the handle.

I felt a new wave of heat beat against my face. “You’re welcome.”

Following Barren down the hallway, I watched Laverne’s head lightly bounce against his shoulder with each step. She was going to be delighted beyond belief when she woke up in Barren’s bed. That is, until she realized that meant Kai was alone with me.

When we arrived at Barren’s door, he waited for me to get the handle. But when I went to reach for it, I realized I had the key to Kai’s room, not his.

“Front pocket,” he said gruffly, shifting his grip on Laverne to give me better access to his left hip.

My mouth went dry as I stared at the neatly pleated front of his slacks. Boy, did those pockets look deep.

“O-okay,” I said, swallowing hard. I slipped my hand into his pocket in search of the card. His body heat rolled up my wrist, and he shifted on his feet as my hand sank further.

“Got it.” Pulling out the card, I used it on the lock and opened the handle. “There you go,” I muttered before sliding it back into his pants.

His dark gaze rested on my lips. “Thank you, Claira.”

My stomach fluttered.

“Good night,” he said before carefully stepping through the door.

“Good night,” I called after him, and even after the door shut, I stared at it for a moment.

… He wanted to kiss me.

Wait, no. Surely, I was only getting that feeling because I was overtired, right?

Either that, orI’dbeen the one wanting him to kiss me.

Geez, I was pathetic. Turning back down the hall, I grumbled, “You stick your hand in a guy’s pants and suddenly you think?—”

I nearly tripped over my own feet.

The door across the hall was open, and a man and a woman were gawking at me, mouths gaped, luggage in tow.

“Good evening,” I choked out, but I didn’t stick around long enough for them to greet me back. Sprinting, I rushed down the hallway, my eyes set on Kai’s room. When I reached the door, I swiped the card and dove through it before anyone else could see me.

Could tonight be any more embarrassing? I sat the key card on the counter. I was as bad as Leander was—showing my goods off to just about everyone I came across. First thing tomorrow, I was going to ask Barren to find me some pants, some underwear…somethingto cover up with.

With a sigh, I toed over to the side of the bed. Kai was still asleep, but he looked different without Laverne beside him. Strangely lonely.

I didn’t like it. Kai shouldn’t ever feel lonely.

Frowning, I turned down a corner of the comforter and slipped underneath it, careful to leave plenty of space between us. Pulling the covers up over my shoulders, I stared at the side of his face. There was so much I wanted to tell him when he finally woke up. About the cecaelia, the shell, the trident that was now inside Leander… My hand found his underneath the covers, and my fingers curled around it, holding on to him so maybe he wouldn’t feel all alone now that Laverne wasn’t here with him.

It felt like I’d just barely shut my eyes when I awoke to the whispered sound of my name.

“Claira?”

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