Page 44 of Seduced By the Mermen
I’m not hard of hearing. The creak of the guest bed doesn’t sound like something Blair is making on her own.
“What are you doing?” Clark steps between me and the door, but I’ve already turned the handle. The two of us tumble inside the room.
By the time I untangle myself from Clark’s legs, Blair and Grayson are glaring at us. His hand is in her hair, and her lips are plumped.
“Alexei,” Grayson growls. “Did you need something?” He’s got that look. I know he thinks I’m interested in Blair for more than our pod. That being mated to a human would help me study at the university. He’s not wrong, of course. Maybe I am pulled toward her because she’s human? But she’s like a magnet to me.
Blair’s cheeks have gone pale coral, and it’s adorable. “I should—” she says softly.
“Rest,” Grayson says.
“You should get some sleep,” Delmar says from the doorway.
“Rest, yes.” Clark rounds the bed to the opposite side of where Grayson hovers over Blair. “But sometimes rest doesn’t mean sleep. Don’t you think?”
“I... I suppose.” She nods, her eyes wide, forehead momentarily furrowed.
A wailing alarm rings from Grayson’s tunic. “The hospital,” he says, irritation hanging in his tone.
“You should go. I’m fine.” Blair holds up her hand.
Grayson grabs Delmar’s arm. “I left my solo at the hospital. I don’t have time to swim.”
Delmar glances at Blair. Delmar, the male of endless smiles, isn’t hiding his disgust about leaving. “I’ll take you. Be back soon, Blair. Let’s go.” The two hustle out, and the door closes before Blair can reply.
“I’ll... well, I guess I should wait for Delmar to come back from dropping off Grayson?”
“That’s a good idea,” Clark says.
Blair reaches for her cup. “Oh, I already drank it all.”
“Do you want me to get you some more?” I ask.
“No, that’s okay. Maybe later. It was the best tea I’ve ever had in my life, though. I’ll have to get the name of it.”
“Of course,” I say, and move to the spot Grayson vacated. Two... there’s just two of us here now. It wasn’t planned, but it would have been the plan I made had I been listened to. She’s human, and we’re very much not. “We can get you something more substantial if you need more than a biscuit.”
“I’m good, but thank you.”
My eyes flick over to Clark. Because anything more than opening a packet of crisps and I’m completely useless. Clark, however? His Papa was a chef, and he taught his sons to make some amazing things.
“Say the word, and I can whip up something. I’ve spent some time in Greece, and I know how to make a few Greek dishes: calamari, gardouba, and moussaka,” Clark says. Though I’m sure she wouldn’t want lamb intestines.
“Moussaka I’ve heard of, but not the rest. But no, I’m not hungry.” She pushes herself up with her injured hand and gasps.
“Are you okay?” Clark and I say together.
“Just foolishness. I want to sit more upright, and I forgot about my hand. I’m not used to people fussing over me. I’m used to being the one who does the fussing.”
“Everyone needs to be fussed over now and then.” I place my hand lightly on her blanket-covered leg.
“I can see the benefits. But it would be nice to not have a meltdown?—”
“No meltdowns needed for you to be fussed over.” Clark places his hand on her other leg.
My eyes flick to her neck. Is she okay? Are we pushing too hard? Because damn, I want to taste her.
“You’re special, Blair, and you deserve to be treated like a queen,” Clark says.
