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Unexpectedly, he grabbed my hands and pulled me close. “Dance with me.”
Bad idea. Especially after what I’d done to Nemo. I tried pulling away, but he twisted me to the left, and I stumbled, not used to dancing on my feet. Even though the thought of being close to him was overwhelming, all consuming, I didn’t want to get too close and have something go wrong.
He grabbed my hand and spun around me, forcing me to twist with him. This was the start of dances conducted at court. He repeated the same move, and I watched him, transfixed. His smile coaxed me to join him, but my nerves held me back. He lifted his arm so his elbow pointed to the sea and his fingers to the sky. Then he positioned my arm in the same way. Sparks exploded inside me, urging me to continue, to have him near. So I pressed my hand firmer to his.
“That’s the spirit,” he said, his delicious voice convincing me to do anything he asked.Anything.
We twirled in a circle and pressed our other hands together, palm to palm. Our eyes locked as we circled each other, pass after pass. Each time I had to spin around him, I missed gazing into his eyes, even though the moment only lasted an instant. He pressed one arm in front of his chest, the other behind, and revolved around me. But then he broke the steps in the dance, falling in beside me and pressing me to his chest. My wrists tingled as he locked his fingers through mine, lifted one hand, and placed it on my shoulder, holding my other arm out in the waltzing position.
Sea god, this was romantic. Secretly, I’d always imagined doing this with my future partner. Fin matched the qualities of the man I had desired: well-mannered, educated, kind, romantic, strong, and principled. A far cry from the last creep I’d danced with, a jerk who’d insulted me, commending me on my perfect breasts and ass, which had earned him a slap across the face and me the judgmental stares from hundreds of pairs of curious eyes.
Fin led me across the sand in small, box-shaped shuffles. The weight of his stare drilled into me, and my shyness claimed me, forcing me to focus on his muscled chest instead of looking into his eyes.
“Chin up, Princess,” he teased as he shifted me in another direction.
I giggled and lifted my head. This time, his gaze held me captive…a willing prisoner. I hadn’t noticed the green flecks in his eyes, the color of the water in the lagoons of The Cove. My heart sprouted wings as he lifted my arm above my head and twirled me then pulled me back into position. This moment, Fin—they were both perfect in every way.
“Why are you holding your breath?” His breath brushed my skin like a soft breeze.
“I am?” I hadn’t even noticed. Being this close was electrifying. All I could think about was him. I felt like I was gliding across the currents as he zigzagged me over the sand.
Then he did the unexpected, leaning me back, and I tightened in his grip. Blood rushed to my head. I didn’t like the feeling of being upside down—not on land, at any rate. At least in the water, I was weightless. This felt like my whole body was being dragged to the ground by an invisible force. In a rush of fear, I scrambled to regain my footing. Instead, I accidentally kicked him.
Air rushed out of his mouth. He grunted and dropped me to the sand before hunching over, cradling his merman sack.
Poseidon! I’d kicked him there. From what I’d been told, that was excruciating, and the discomfort lasted a while. Guilt curled through me like a stomach cramp.
“Sea god, not again.” I went to rub him then pulled away. My mind screamed at me not to touch him. That could only end in disaster. But my heart trumped my brain, and I reached out to stroke his face then lower, where I’d kicked him.
“Close call, Princess,” he said, gritting his teeth. “Got me on the edge. Not as bad as what I’ve had in battle.”
Warriors kicked other soldiers in the groin in battle? Dirty tactics.
The pain cutting into his expression tugged at my guilt, and the crackling feeling in my stomach wormed up into my chest. Right then, I didn’t care about my actions. How inappropriate massaging his balls might be. All I wanted was to kiss him better and wipe that look from his face. I brushed his hair aside and left a soft kiss on his forehead.
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered.
“You’re making it really hard to be respectful,” he growled.
Shellfish. He just wanted to swear at me for what I’d done. Tell me to get lost.
“Sorry.” Heat pooled in my face and neck, and I tucked my hands between my legs, refusing to let them go anywhere near him again.
My gaze dipped to the growing hardness between us. Voices screamed inside my head to look away. But I couldn’t. I admired all of him in his glory. Muscles in his arms flexed as he leaned beside me, trying to cover his erection. My knees weakened at the sight of his chiseled stomach. An itch took residence in my fingers, and I longed to run them along his hairless chest. My lips swelled at the thought of brushing them over his skin. Of kissing his warm flesh. Sucking it. Biting it.
The sudden awkwardness of the situation struck me. By the stormy seas, I hoped he hadn’t caught me ogling him. I didn’t want to appear desperate and creepy like Nimian who had earned the nickname “barnacle” after following mermen around like a lovesick stonefish.
Shellfish. What had I done? I just wanted to turn into a puddle of water and drain back into the sea.
“I’ve tried to be respectful, but to hell with it.” He grabbed my hand and wrapped it over his pulsing cock.
His admission made my breath catch in my throat. My heartbeat charged like a spooked horse. Right then, I really wanted this second chance and to not mess it up. My lips ached for him to kiss me. I longed for the courage to not become terrified and pull away. Instead, I would throw caution to the winds and sink into his arms. But then my mind seized as his penis twitched in my grasp. I didn’t know what to do with it.
He cradled my neck and pulled me to him. “I don’t care if I’m crossing the line anymore.”
Shellfish, neither did I.
His lips pressed mine with fervor. They were soft and warm, and they tasted like sea honey, and I sucked them, eager for more.
