Deep Betrayal Page 0,10

air. Heat licked up at us from the sand, and his breath was hot against my face.

“Look at you,” he said, and his voice was disappointed.

I pulled the towel closer around me, but he yanked it off—his hands shaking—pressing his lips to my neck, trailing my collarbone. He pulled back and studied me with as much distance as the boat would allow. I counted to five before he let out a small groan, saying, “There. That’s better. It’s killing me to look at you, but I’ve really missed that color. Nobody lights up like you do.”

Instinctively, I pushed him away. How dare he show up, out of the blue, without so much as a lame excuse for his silence. More than that, a shiver of fear raised the hair on my arms. Was he working up my emotions just so I’d be a more satisfying absorption?

I was ashamed of myself for even thinking it—Calder had worked hard to overcome the merfolk’s naturally gloomy disposition and his craving for human emotion—but from the way his hands were shaking, it was clear our separation had set him back a few steps. How far back I wasn’t sure I wanted to find out.

“Definitely better,” he said.

I laughed nervously, wondering what color I might have been when he first grabbed me. Based on the flash of terror I’d had, it must have been pretty awful. Now, despite my attempt to stay mad, he was stoking me into euphoria with his touch. I could only imagine the temptation my emotions presented. Two deep breaths and I hoped I could subdue it, but he trailed his finger across my lips and then put it to his own so I knew I’d have to work harder on that.

“Man, you look beautiful.” His voice was deep and rich like a riverbed.

“Where have you been?” I demanded.

“Around,” he said, combing his fingers through my hair, fixing his warm gaze on my narrowed eyes, drawing me into his spell against my will.

“Yeah?” I said, doing my best to at least keep my tone sharp. I wasn’t doing as well controlling my hands, which lay flat against his hip bones but no longer pushed him away. His long legs tangled with mine. “That’s all you’ve got? ‘Around’? How’s the fasting going?”

A rush of blood flooded his cheeks, making him look, if it were possible, even more gorgeous. “Don’t be mean, Lily.”

“Mean? You think I’m mean?”

“Of course it’s been harder without you,” he said. “A few close calls, but I’ve held it together.”

“Could have fooled me. What were you doing grabbing me like that? I could have been anybody.” As soon as I said it, I wished I hadn’t. It probably hadn’t mattered to him who it was. I probably was just anybody. “Close calls”? I didn’t want to think what that implied.

“You’re right,” he said, drawing his fingers down my sternum. “It could have been somebody who bathed in orange juice this morning. I really should be more careful.” He brushed a strand of hair off my face. “Hmmm. You look confused. I guess I never told you that,” he said. “You smell like oranges.”

He twisted my long hair several times around his hand and held it in a knot at the back of my neck while my hands came up to lie limply against his bare chest. A familiar silver band faded around his neck.

I sighed, giving in to the inevitable. Now that he was here, it was too much work to stay mad. And I didn’t want to be mad. I wanted him. I wanted all of him. All the time.

“You were in the lake?” I asked. My fingers traced the topography of scars that crisscrossed his back and shoulders, my soft stomach pressed against his solid one.

“So were you,” he said.

“You could have been seen.”

“Not likely,” he said, his voice blasé but gaining in intensity. “But I saw you.”

His eyes turned a dark jade green as I tried to remember what should make him sound so accusatory. I might have been able to come up with a good comeback if he’d given me more time.

“Who is he?” he asked.

Crap. “A boy from school,” I said. “An old friend.” I choked on the last word.

“Didn’t look like just a friend.”

For some reason, that really ticked me off. If he cared so much, why hadn’t he come sooner? My anger returned, and I let my words fly at him like hungry birds. “And what does it matter to you? Where