Bride of the Sea Monster - Eve Langlais Page 0,8
a kiss?” The hot flutter of the words teased me.
“Just a kiss.” Because anything more might be too selfish.
She pressed her mouth to mine, and heat filled me at the touch. Desire, too. It hit me fast and hard. My arms curled around her, tucking her against me. Her mouth opened, and our tongues explored. A sense of rightness filled me, yet at the same time, the monster within surged. It wanted to burst free.
Let me loose.
Not now. I pulled away and saw that her eyes were closed, her lips soft and wet. Inviting.
Slowly, her lashes fluttered, and she smiled. “That was unexpected.
“But nice.” And screw the monster inside that didn’t like it.
I cupped her head and drew her closer for another kiss. And another. There was an intoxicating nature to the taste of her. The feel of her lips. I wanted more.
She pulled away with a laugh. “Slow down.”
“I can’t. I told you, I don’t have much time. I’ve got until the end of this cruise before I have to say goodbye to everything I know.”
“So this truly is a bon voyage for you. And you’re facing it alone?” she huffed.
“Not entirely. My uncle is on the ship with me as moral support.”
“Yet I found you by yourself, getting drunk and losing your shirt.”
“Would it help if I said I look great shirtless?” My tease was delivered with a smile.
“I’ll bet you do. But that wasn’t the point I was making. You shouldn’t be alone.”
“Then spend the time I have left with me.” Totally selfish. I expected her to recoil. I had no right to make that demand of her.
Yet she didn’t run. She grabbed my hands, her slender fingers gripping tightly. “Are you married?”
I snorted. “I should hope not, given we were gnawing on each other’s faces.”
“Ever want to get married?”
“Not really.” Which was the truth. It was why I’d not been as keen as my uncle to find the woman who could break the curse. She might be old. Or too young. Someone I needed to love me, but how could that happen when we didn’t have a choice? I might be desperate, but I wasn’t about to do that to myself or anyone else.
“I’m not into the whole ball and chain, call me Mrs. crap either. But my situation would be a lot easier to handle if I had a husband. It occurs to me that perhaps we can help each other.”
“How?” And what threatened her that she required the protection of a spouse?
“Marry me.”
I blinked. “Excuse me?”
“Marry me. Now. Tonight.”
“You did hear the part where I said I wouldn’t make it to the end of this cruise, right?” It seemed important to stress. I didn’t want anyone crying when I was gone. Nor did I need any last-minute regrets.
“Your dying soon is perfect.” Her expression creased. “Oh, that didn’t sound good.”
For some reason, that made me chuckle. “Does this mean it’s too soon to make Reaper jokes?” Not that the Reaper would be taking me. It was the ocean that called my name.
“Such a man thing to say.” She slapped me.
“Hey. Dying over here.”
She slugged me again, and then threw herself into my arms and kissed me, whispering in between, “Marry me.”
“I’ve already left everything I own to my uncle,” I warned.
She bit my lip and then sucked it. “I don’t need your money. Just your name.”
“Why do you need to get married?”
Sasha pulled away. “It’s complicated. Suffice it to say, if I don’t marry you, then I might find myself stuck with something worse.”
“Worse than a dying man?”
“You feel alive to me.” She kissed me again, drugging me with her scent. The feel…
I retained enough wits to ask, “And what does getting married do for me?”
At the query, a wicked grin pulled her lips. “I will rock your world between now and the end of your time.”
It was a crazy idea. Too crazy. While there was a temptation to do it, I couldn’t. But I did wish I’d met Sasha years ago. Had time to explore this fascinating woman. I only had tonight, and maybe a few more days beyond that.
Taking her by the hand, I said, “How about instead of tying the knot, we get another drink, and you tell me more about yourself.”
“Funny, because I was going to say the same. Who are you, Ian?” she asked. “Why can’t I see your future?”
Because I’d soon be gone, obviously.
Returning indoors, we found a lounge with dimmed lights and soft music playing. I almost