Page 86 of Seduced By the Mermen
“Boden,” Forrest says. “Brilliant idea, asking him.”
Delmar smirks at me.
“What? I’m a building person. You two are people persons.”
Delmar looks at his block. “No, not yet.”
“Well, I’m not baking. That’s a recipe for?—”
“Not a disaster, I hope,” Blair says. She’s wearing a purple tunic with golden flowing pants. She has a lighter purple sweater over her arm. And there’s a swirl of lavender scent around her.
Delmar’s at her side the second she steps into the kitchen. “Blair! I’m so happy to see you. You look lovely.”
She looks like she’s trying too hard, but yes, she does look lovely. When you’re born in a dome, it becomes second nature to see your dome colors over and over again. So much so that youtend to not notice them after a while. In Stele, your closet is full of purple and yellow, Permula—pink, white, and black, Glyden—gold and blue. Zaffiro? You get two shades of blue and that’s it.
“You’re wearing Stele’s colors, Blair. Thank you.” Forrest puffs up and kisses both of her cheeks.
I step in. My heart thumps against my chest as I hold her blue eyes. The room goes silent. Her lavender scent reminds me of the macrons I had the last time I was in Paris. Her braids are different than the last time she was here. More elaborate, more Dorian, and I’m not sure if I like it or not. Her rawness, I suppose, rather than her humanness that makes her Blair, that’s the part that doesn’t come across as strong today.
I cup the side of her face with my hand and run my thumb down her jaw. “It’s lovely to see you in any color.” I bow my head and kiss her lips. It’s a soft kiss. When her hand lands on my chest, my other hand moves to her back. It doesn’t take much of a tug to get her flush against me. Our tongues mingle, and when she pulls back with her dilated eyes, I’m about to sweep the bins of flour onto the floor and place her on the counter, but she laughs.
“I’m sorry. We came barging in. But Hunter said Sterling gave him the order to. I hope that’s okay. Hunter was nervous either way.”
“Hunter?” Forrest asks. “Sterling didn’t bring you here?”
“No. Hunter picked me up. Sterling has... Sterling is caught up with other responsibilities; that’s what Hunter said.”
“Really?” Delmar says.
Blair nods once. Though there’s a wince on her face that gives me pause. It’s been three days since I’ve seen her, though it feels like a lot more. I’m trying to remember when I saw Sterling last. Dinner two nights ago, for a brief moment before he took his plate and vanished into his office. Was he his normal grumpyself? Or did I miss something? He might have been crankier than usual, but it’s hard to tell.
“It’s lovely to see you, Blair. And it’s fine. You don’t even need to knock. Right?” I ask Delmar and Forrest.
“Of course, please make yourself at home,” Forrest says.
“Yes, please.” Delmar moves to her side. “We’re happy you’re here.”
“I’m ready to get to work.” Blair places her sweater on an empty chair, then places her hands on the counter.
“We have something for you first.” Delmar opens a basket next to the mishmash pile of ingredients. “Te-do,” he says and pulls out a purple apron with her name on it and hands it to her.
She looks at him, her eyes glossy, and then she breaks out into laughter.
“Is it not te-do? Alexei said that’s what you say when you surprise someone.”
“It’s ta-da. But that was really close. This is perfect. I love it. Thank you.” She pulls Delmar in for a hug, which turns into a kiss.
When they pull apart, Delmar’s blushing. “I’m glad you like it. I have others.” He ducks his head into the basket and roots around.
Blair holds it up, looking at it. “Would you put it on for me?” she asks me.
I hold out my hand and take it from her. She spins, facing Delmar, his head still in the basket.
“There’s not that many of us,” Forrest says to him.
I put it over her head and pull the ties around her front, my arms caging her in an embrace, my lips inches away from the bare skin below her ear. A shiver rakes over her, and goosebumps rise on her forearms. I cinch the tie of the apron in the front and secure it with a bow.
Her hand covers mine, her fingers dipping and tracing into mine. I’m hard.
