Page 16 of Seduced By the Mermen
“I’ve eaten. There’s no need to trouble yourself. But I’d like to hear more about you.” Zion pats the side of the bed. And I sit firmly on the edge. I’m tall, five feet eight, but the bed’s high enough that my feet dangle off the sides.
Grayson pulls over the chair from the corner, and I’m boxed in by two walls of muscle, one below me and one behind me. Zion takes my hand again. He’s done it a number of times already, and it’s nice. I get the feeling he would be one of those guys who puts his hand on the base of my spine to guide me through a busy market or restaurant. Not that I’ve done much visiting of either in my lifetime.
“Whatever has you thinking so hard?”
“I... I was thinking how even though I worked in a few restaurants, I never really went out to eat.”
“We’ll have to remedy that,” Grayson says. His fingers lightly touch my calf. It startles me, and my foot jumps out, heading right for his chest. He catches it, his fingers closing around my sock-covered toes. “You have an excellent patellar reflex.”
I’m incredibly turned on, but is this how livestock feel when we take them to auction? “I’m so sorry. I’m ticklish. Marlee took me to get my toes painted once, and I had to leave with them half-painted.” There’s more to the story, but it doesn’t matter now. Let’s just say the ex didn’t like me wasting money, coming home with half a pedicure—or any pedicure.
Grayson’s brow thickens. “The mind can be a powerful friend or enemy. There are ways to overcome being ticklish if you want to.”
“That’s fascinating. You’re so full of knowledge.”
“Thank you. But you don’t have to stroke my ego, Blair.”
I close my eyes.
He squeezes my foot tightly. “Usually, it’s the light touch that makes people sensitive.”
I close my eyes. He’s right. The more pressure he puts on my foot, the less I want to squirm uncomfortably. And the more I’m squirming somewhere that hasn’t squirmed in a heck of a long time.
“Is this okay?” Grayson asks.
I open my mouth to say something like, “Oh, it’s great,” but instead, I squeak, “Yup.”
Zion laughs. “That's enough, Grayson.”
Grayson smooths my sock out and lets my foot drop between the two of us.
My pulse throbs in the arch of my foot. “I suppose it’s good to know how to touch people.” Lord have mercy on my loose lips. What in the heck am I even saying?
Zion’s laugh resounds throughout the room, echoing off the walls.
There’s a firm knock on the door, and it opens. Nico glowers at the three of us. “If he’s staying, you’re going,” he barks at Grayson. “Aunt Blair, Marlee and Annabelle are making up a bed for you in Marlee’s room.”
“Oh.” My hand lingers in the middle of my chest.
“My curfew has been called.” Grayson moves the chair back to the corner and takes his bag. “Blair, it was lovely to see you. I hope I get to see you again soon.” He leans in, and the side of his cheek presses against mine as his soft lips press a kiss there. It tingles on my skin. “See you tomorrow. Try not to bore Blair.” Grayson cocks his head at Zion.
I slide off the bed too. “I’ll walk you out.” It’s just something we do in the Midwest. Then we follow you to your car and leanin the window as we say goodbye again. It doesn’t have anything to do with wanting him to press his lips to my cheek again and letting me smell his enticing leather scent.
“I’ll walk him out. There’s a distinct possibility that Marlee and Annabelle need your help,” Nico says.
Now I’m the one glaring. “To make a bed?”
“With whatever it is that females do when they are?—”
“Baloney.” I pivot back to Grayson. “I enjoyed our talk too.”
“Until next time, Blair.”
I follow him out into the hall, and Nico steps between Grayson and me. I glare up at him, wondering if Annabelle has ever stomped on his toes. A quick sidestep has me back in Zion’s room. “Do you need anything?”
“I’m good. Go check to see if the second coming of Poseidon weaves as good of a tale as the first,” Zion says.
And I can’t help but laugh. “I’ll be back to check on you before I go to sleep.”
