Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Moving slowly, giving Cole time to go without having to look at me again, I walked to the heavy nine-foot-tall glass-and-wood door, and gently closed it. There was no way to slam it, but it was impressive that he’d thrown it open. The strength in the man’s frame made me want to bite him back, and that would be bad for him. It was better this way. Alone was better.
“You’re an idiot, he was dreamy.”
Turning, I found Ondine sitting at the counter, her glossy black hair so long that it fell like a curtain and puddled on the floor. It looked like an oil slick when it caught the light, shimmering blue and green, and her solid-black eyes were locked on me. The skintight jeans and iridescent midnight-blue shirt she wore were for my benefit. Her preference was to be naked.
“Nice of you to change colors while he was here,” I said curtly, watching her start to eat what Cole hadn’t finished, which was quite a bit. In her falcon form, no vegetables for her, but sirens ate whatever they wanted. If they wanted. She didn’t need to eat anything if she wasn’t in the mood. She could go on forever if she felt like it, her form fed only by water and sunlight and the lust of hot, sweaty sailors.
“I liked him, and more importantly, he really liked you.”
I took a seat across from her.
After she stared at me for a moment, those bottomless black eyes of hers narrowed. “He was sincere. I heard it in his voice.”
“It doesn’t matter. He’s not for me.”
“He could be.”
I scowled at her.
“Fine, what do I know?”
“You know a lot about watermen,” I said petulantly. “And gods.”
“It’s true. I know a lot about the fae as well, but if you’re done being contrary…”
I groaned. “Fine.”
“We should be talking about what it is you like at the moment.”
“Or not,” I grumbled at her.
“Why do you stay away from love?”
“That’s not love. Him and me, that’s lust. You, of all beings, should know the difference.”
“No, I felt the strength in him. He would make a good mate.”
“He needs a wolf mate, and he needs to lead that pack.”
“The human side of him says no, be grateful, be humble, remember what his aunt and uncle have done for him. It’s the wolf that knows better, knows what’s right and what needs to be done. The animal in him wants to draw blood.”
“How do you know all that?”
“I heard what you said, and you know that when people speak, I can see their memories.”
I did know that. “Right.”
“I’m going to go swim in the stream. I might go all the way to the lake and see what’s there. Maybe let some fishermen see me.”
“Don’t—”
“Please,” she said with a roll of her eyes, which looked really odd with the all-black sclera she was sporting at the moment. “I haven’t drowned anyone in ages.”
I nodded.
“I might make a snack of someone, though. I haven’t fucked in ages either.”
“Just don’t bewitch anyone.”
“I’m not a witch,” she reminded me, her voice going dark with warning.
“Enchant anyone. Is that better?”
“Yes.” She suddenly brightened, sounding cheerful. “Better.”
“I don’t want anyone following you home.”
“Of course not.” She was back to sounding terse. “It’s my sanctuary too.”
I’d overstepped. I knew she didn’t bring strangers home. Now I needed to distract her. “And leave Teague alone if you see him.”
She scrunched up her nose as if the very idea was distasteful.
“All he said to me that day was, ‘there’s a mermaid in your bathtub,’” I said in defense of my friend.
“Yes, I know. But what he might have said, instead, is ‘there’s a seductress in your bathtub,’ or a nymph, a siren, or an angel—though I doubt he’s ever seen one—or even, as banal as it is, ‘there’s an ethereal mermaid in your bathtub with the most glorious tail…’ But he said mermaid as though I were beneath him, or common.”
I couldn’t count how many times we’d had the same conversation over the years. “The fact that you heard him in your head should tell you something.”
“I’m certain I have no idea what you mean.”
“Yes, you do. Obviously, he wanted you to know he saw you. And we both know he thought you were exquisite.”
Her humph of annoyance wasn’t fooling me.
“If he wasn’t captivated by your beauty, you would have never heard him.”
“So you say,” she replied, not believing a word.
“Fine, I’ll see you whenever you get back.”
She got up like she was boneless, the movement so sensual and graceful that I couldn’t help but smile.
“What?”
“You are a wondrous creature.”
“I keep telling you that.”
I nodded.
“You know, I myself would make an exceptional mate for your wolf if he loved women,” she told me as she turned at the back door. “I’d kill anyone who dared touch him.”