Page 24 of Seduced By the Mermen
“I did.” I’m smiling as I lean forward and make some mental notes on things I want to check when I come out later. “Fuck. There’s something else I’ve been meaning to tell you and everyone.”
“What?”
“When I was in the Tinom main office last week, I heard that the Driftwood pod wants to pursue Blair Portsmouth as well.”
“Blair and not Marlee?” Zion waves his hands again, and her scent flies around the Huber.
“For the love of Circe, stop moving your hands. And yes. Blair.”
“Aren’t they... young? I mean, I don’t know them well. I think Delmar mentioned that Kade or someone was at his meeting a few months ago.”
I blink at Zion. I’m not sure what is more confusing, that Delmar is still going to meetings after eight years or that someone rumored to be as much of an asshole as Kade Driftwood would go to a lost mate meeting at all. “I agree they’re younger than we are, but more importantly, there’s only four of them. And while we have clout, they have a lot as well.”
“And fucking oil money,” Zion says.
“True.” While the Tinom dome started long ago producing tin and pewter goods, somewhere around my parents’ generation they branched out into oil. And humans love oil.
“Blair’s too sweet to end up with them. Marlee too. I didn’t get to talk to her much. But either way, neither of them would fit in there. Not with the Driftwoods. Not in the Tinom dome at all,” Zion says.
“I agree.” I nod. “But they were adamant about it. He was in the next room, but his block discussion was loud.” There’s no way he didn’t intend for me to not hear it.
The rest of the way home, we’re both lost in thought.
Later, everyone’s around the table but Sterling and Forrest, waiting for Zion’s report. Forrest hasn’t been home much, and Sterling? Who knows about Sterling. But then, I’ve been home, just not at the table. I’m sure Sterling’s working on a high-profile security case as always.
Zion meanders in. He’s showered, but if I try hard enough, I can still smell Blair on him. And fuck, I’m not going to sleep on the same side of the pod bed as him tonight, or I might end up huffing his chest.
Zion stands like he’s going to make a big presentation.
“Did you have intercourse with her?” Delmar leans back in his chair. Grayson reaches across Alexei and pushes Delmar’s chair flat.
“No, she’s not ready for that. We’re not ready for that. But I had a taste.”
The room erupts in groans and yells.
“You’re going to ruin it for us. She’s human. We have to go really slowly,” Alexei says.
“I didn’t ruin anything. And I listened to your advice, mostly.” Zion sits. “I want to take her on a date. She mentioned she’s never really gone out to restaurants. We could take her to Razor Edge.” A fancy restaurant where the food is amazing. I take clients there sometimes when I want to impress them.
“Razor Edge isn’t going slow. A teahouse at the marketplace—that’s taking it slow. Three or four of us. No one intimidating. No Sterling,” Alexei says.
“As if he would go,” Delmar says.
“No Delmar,” Alexei points at him.
“I’m not intimidating.”
“No, but you practically asked her to mate when you met her at the dock.”
“I should go,” insists Delmar. “And Zion and Grayson, since she’s had time with both of them.”
I’m not going to be left out. “She’s met Grayson and Zion. I’m a better choice,” I say.
“You?” Delmar’s eyebrows shoot up. “You’ll bore her to death.”
“I’m the most fun out of all of us.”
“Maybe ten years ago,” Grayson says.
