Page 88 of Seduced By the Mermen
Clark glares at me over the top of Blair’s head. He nods to the hallway, down to the bedroom.
“Sorry, habit—I like to clean up after myself. I’m coming now.” I wipe my hands on a tea towel and hang it up.
“Forrest? It’s okay if you don’t ...I’d like you to, but you don’t have to.” Her blue eyes glow from the low light of the doorway.
“Oh fluke, no. I want to...” I really want to.
Blair turns to Clark and places her hand on his chest. “Go. I’ll be right back. Second door on the right?”
“Yes,” Clark grumbles. “Don’t be too long.” He spins her and kisses her. My cock jumps. It’s been... Clark throws daggers at me with his eyes and steps out of the kitchen entryway. I can only imagine the shit I’m going to get later.
“Is something wrong? Do you want me to go?”
“No. It’s just been a long time since I’ve?—”
“Say no more. It was for me too. And I’m still not sure if I’m doing it right.”
“You are.” I smile. I’ve never seen Clark so focused on something besides work. So she’s definitely doing something right.
“Oh.” There’s a lovely red blush up the side of her neck. “Do you talk? Of course you talk. You’re a pod.”
I laugh. “No, we don’t talk. Or rather, we haven’t. We should, though. It would make things better for you. And for all of us as an all-around pod.” The whirlpool of my thoughts starts to churn again.
“Forrest.” She slides up to me. “You know, you remind me of me.”
“Really?” My eyebrows shoot up. “And this is a good thing?”
“Yes, and no. I’m a thinker. I can see you are too.”
“I am.” Beyond a thinker.
“And somewhere, someone told you you had to be perfect to be worthwhile.”
“No . . . I . . . yes.”
Blair leans against the counter. “I thought so. It’s the same with me. My parents did the best they could, you know. My dad was a lot. Intense, focused, just like his mom. He expected perfection. And then you know about my ex.”
“I do,” I growl. I’ve heard Nico mention more than once that he’d like to find ahagissato bring her ex back to life just so he could kill him more slowly. I’ve never had a vengeful side, but I’m with Nico. I’d like to do the same if I could. And honestly, I hope I never meet her brother. How could he not know what was going on?
“Well, I’ve spent a long time thinking about other people. Marlee, Annabelle, even my brother. What would he do if he had to work on the farm by himself? How would he manage? Howcan I keep the girls safe? I forgot about myself. It’s why all of this is so hard for me?—”
“You’re doing beautifully. Living in the Veiled City, learning about the Dorian, our ways? Our ways are tough. We might look like humans most of the time, but we’re different.”
She blows out a breath. “That’s so true.” Her hand lands on my chest. I focus on it, and my heart slams against my ribs as if trying to rip through the bone cage. Like it wants to touch her back. I lay my hands on top of hers, pushing her hand flush.
“We’re more alike than you think.” Her eyes flick to mine. “Especially you and me.”
“Right now, you’re the brave one.” I bring her hand to my lips and kiss it.
“I’m happy to be brave for you. And later, you can be brave for me.” Her other hand loops around the back of my neck. Our lips are inches apart.
“I promise you,” I say.
Her breath hitches. “I like you, Forrest. I like that you’re able to be yourself with me and not pretend.”
“Every time we meet, I’m impressed by you, Blair.”
She laughs, and the blush deepens on her cheeks.
