Page 41 of Seduced By the Mermen
She blinks and softly smiles. “No. I’m sure I won’t need it soon enough.”
“Yes,” Alexei says. Like he’s some sort of expert on human physiology now. I’m sure he knows her culture better than all of us. But when did he become a doctor? Really.
I sidestep in front of Alexei and block his view of Blair. “Are you ready to get some rest?” I take her pulse on her uninjured wrist. Strong and steady. I’d send the patient home if I were at work.
Blair leans to the left. Alexei’s playing peek-a-boo behind my shoulder.
“Yes,” she says.
“No—”
Forrest interrupts Sterling. “Yes, and get out.” He grabs Sterling by the elbow, and with a force I didn’t know he had, he yanks Sterling into the hall.
Delmar stops at the side of the bed. “Let me know if you need anything. We should let your family know soon so it’s less likely the Portsmouth pod will... worry.” What Delmar really means is they won’t come tearing our door off its hinges with tridents in hand.
“Oh, yes, I should. Soon.” Blair cups her injured hand in her good one.
I raise my eyebrows at the rest of the room. Alexei and Zion are the last to leave.
“Just call—I’ll come running,” Alexei says, but what he means is I’m going to stand awkwardly outside your door until I think I hear you mumble and then come in.
The two of them dawdle on the way out. In some ways, I know what my pod mates are going to do next better than I know what I’m going to do.
“Are you staying?” Blair asks.
“For a minute.” I pull up a chair from next to the wall. “If that’s okay?”
“I’m feeling better. The sedative is wearing off as fast as it came on.”
“That’s good.” I nod twice. “I just wanted to make sure that you’re doing okay here too.” I touch the pillow next to her head.
“I didn’t hit my head.” She stares at me, her lips pursed. “Oh, you mean mentally?”
“Indeed.” I’m not a therapist, but I’ve had some training. Not that I should be taking on a female we are pursuing as a patientof any kind. Bandaging her knuckles is one thing. Blair’s episode in the Grand Dame’s living room? That’s something completely different.
Blair swallows. “I did kind of lose it out there. That’s never happened to me before. Usually when I’m scared, I just get quiet and... well, I take action later. I figure out what I need to do, like... I would bake something to distract my ex. Or do extra chores so he didn’t have to do them. Well, then they became my chores. Hide Marlee and Annabelle. But no, I’ve never sat on a leather sofa and made noises like a baby goat before.” A hiss of a laugh comes through her soft pink lips. “Not a good look. I should apologize to everyone.” Her eyes flick to the door.
“You don’t need to apologize to us, Blair. Everyone has fears. You’re in a new environment. Culture, language, food, everything.”
“Yes,” she says. “Still, it’s . . . embarrassing.”
“You don’t need to be embarrassed. Not with us.”
“I hardly know you,” she says.
“True, true. But look at it this way: When you’re getting to know someone, it’s natural to be on your best behavior. Hide your fears, your insecurities. But now your fear of heights is out. We won’t offer to take you cliff jumping, and you won’t need to pretend. Let me rephrase that: Youneverneed to pretend with us. With anyone!”
“Age will do that to you.” She nods, staring at her bandaged hand.
“If you’re lucky, it does.” That’s an advantage of us being a pre-made pod. “Plenty of males my age are still foolish enough to think they don’t have to be honest and real with a female.”
“I guess that’s something Dorian males have in common with the men from my town.”
“Yeah, foolishness is a common trait among all males,” I say. “I just wanted to check in and make sure that you’re not overwhelmed or anything.”
Blair closes her eyes tightly. “I’m overwhelmed. Telling you I’m not overwhelmed would be a lie, but... it’s a good kind of overwhelmed. I’m not saying I’m ready for this life or even that I’m ready for one male, let alone seven, but I’m not ruling it out.”
I lock eyes with her, and we share a moment. “I guess that’s all we can ask for, and I’m thankful for that. Thank you. I don’t think we’re ready for it either. So we can continue to be not ready for it together.” I rest my hand on the bed next to her leg.
