Page 4 of Claimed By the Possessive Mafia Prince
“I was going to say no,” she says.
“Huh?”
“You asked me if you could join me. Well–I was going to say no.”
I chuckle, but she doesn’t seem like she’s joking. “Perhaps I wanted to see who’d be crazy enough to be out this early.”
“Are you with the wedding party?” she asks.
I wink. “You want to know if you need to talk to me with some manners. Is that it?”
She rolls her eyes adorably. Though, something about her prickly exterior tells me if I used the word ‘adorable’ she might throw me overboard. Still, maybe I could drag her in after meand get that vest good and wet, make it cling to her body, outline her delicious shape…
Hell, am I thinking about seducing this stranger? Do I seriously think that would be a good idea?
No, it wouldn’t be a good idea. And yeah–I’m thinking about it.
“Well?” she says after a long pause. “Are you?”
I shrug. “Maybe I am.”
“Ooh, how mysterious,” she says sarcastically.
“Who are you?” I ask.
“I asked you first.”
“Isn’t it obvious? I’m a merman. I was banished to this island years ago, and now I’m forced to swim around it waiting for a sassy savior to rescue me. Do you know anyone who fits that description?”
She raises her hand to her mouth in an effort to hide a smile, then lets it drop as if she’s annoyed with herself.
“I’m Siena Walsh, with Evermore Events. I’m not sure if you’re aware, but there’s a vow renewal happening on the island. Are you with them, or are you on holiday?”
“I just told you.”
Another eye roll. There’s something immensely attractive about it. “Right–a merman. Because I clearly look like a little kid who’s going to find something as lame as that funny, right?”
“Look around, Siena. You’re in paradise. It’s in poor taste to be this grumpy.”
“I’m here for work,” she grumbles.
“I thought you were here to assault innocent snorkelers with your boat.”
Her laughter comes like a hint of sunlight through gray clouds, even takes her by surprise. “I didnotassault you. You swam into me. I didn’t even see you!”
I place my hand on my side. Am I imagining that flicker of interest in her gorgeous eyes? Her gaze lingers on my body before she snaps herself out of it, glaring at me like it’s my fault.
“You’ve bruised me. I don’t think I can swim back to shore now.”
“It’s pretty odd you won’t tell me your name,” she says, extra pissed now, like she has to make up for the sacrilegious act of allowing herself to laugh.
It’s not strange, not really. I’ve spent my entire life being defined by my surname, by my role in a dark and depressing world. Is it really so bad that I want to live in the moment, at least for a little while?
And looking at her, beads of sweat sliding down her voluptuous body, looking like she’d glare at me if I touched her, but then, if I kept touching her, her glare would turn to a moan of shock and hunger and… I need to chill.
“I’m Dario,” I tell her.
“And–are you with the wedding party?”
