Page 105 of Seduced By the Mermen
“Of course you didn’t.”
I stare at his silhouette. From what Annabelle has said, mermen have amazing eyesight and hearing, unlike me. “Did you get something to eat?”
“Yes.” He turns and heads back down the ladder.
I was ready to go down. The rebel in me now wants to stay so it doesn’t look like I’m following him. But also, it’s a little spooky up here by yourself after a while, especially when we’re in an area where there aren’t any fish. I make my way down the ladder. The shower’s running, so I guess under an hour is allSterling needs to sleep? He may be a shifter, but everyone needs sleep.
I tidy up the bed. I end up throwing some of my clothes into the waterless washer. Delmar explained it to me twice, but I’m still not sure I understand how it works. Then I gather the dishes around the room to take out into the kitchen, but I don’t make it out the door before Sterling comes out of the shower. He’s got a towel wrapped around his waist. He pauses at the closet to select clothes, which gives me ample time to watch drops of water cascade over his shoulder and down his muscular back.
I’ve never been one for tattoos, but Sterling’s are different, fine outlines of animals and intricate designs that I can only imagine mean something very precise. A guy like him doesn’t walk into a shop and end up with characters on his body and not know what they mean, not without them meaning something to him.
He pulls on his trousers, letting the towel fall to the floor. “Don’t bother taking those things to the galley,” he growls.
“I don’t mind. Honestly, the washing up isn’t bad with Zion doing all the cooking.”
He glares at me and shrugs, pulling a shirt on over his head, and snags the towel from the floor. He’s in the bathroom when I take the tray to the door and give it a good yank. It doesn’t budge. I put the tray down and yank on it again.
“Delmar?” I slap on the door. But there’s not a sound coming from the hall.
Chapter 41
Blair
“The door’s jammed,” I say as Sterling comes back from the bathroom.
“Not jammed, locked—from the outside.” He shakes his head and sinks onto the one small chair in the room.
“Locked?” I glance at the door and back at Sterling. “Delmar told me there were snacks in the cupboard.”
“Did he now? Didn’t that come off as strange to you?”
“Not really. He’s always being so nice to me.”
Sterling opens the cupboard that was previously empty. Now it’s a gold mine of anything I’ve said I like. Anything that doesn’t need to be cooked, that is.
“They locked you in here so they could drive.” The second I say it, I know it’s not the reason.
Sterling smirks. “I don’t think it’s them driving they’re worried about.”
“No, I suppose it’s not. They’re thinking a little forced proximity will get you to change your mind about me.”
“I’m not going to change my mind.” Sterling’s slicked-back hair glistens darker than its normal brown.
“No, I suppose you’re not.” I sit on the edge of the bed and tuck my legs up under me. “But then, why would I want to be with someone like you?”
He nods, his lips pursed.
And I can’t push him. As much as I want to have a tough exterior, my gooey insides always leak out. “Someone who doesn’t want me.”
He nods again and closes his eyes and pinches his brow in one swift motion. “Want and not want are two distinct sides of a gold coin.”
“And you don’t view the world in that way?” Because if there’s one thing I’ve noticed, there are a lot of people in the Veiled City who view the glass as full or empty.
“I don’t. I can think you’re a very charming, beautiful, smart woman and still not want to mate you.”
I nod. Because what he’s said is kind and honest. And isn’t that everything I always wanted from a man? Honest and kind, two things my ex wasn’t. But it still hurts because I’m way past starting to develop feelings for a lot of the Mason pod. But it’s an all-or-none kind of deal. There’s no democracy in a pod. It’s all yea or all nay.
“Thank you for the compliment.” I smile and glance up at the observation deck above my head.
