Shattered by the Sea Lord - Starla Night Page 0,15
tripped and Ciran caught me.” Dannika disentangled and avoided Ciran’s gaze. She ascended the steps, gripping the railing on both sides, and ducked to enter the metal tube. “Val, it’s a pleasure, as always.”
“You, too. And this is Ciran? So nice to see you all.” The woman tipped her head. Her soul was a dark shade, showing that she had no affinity for the sea, but her manner was friendly and welcoming. “I’ll be your pilot this afternoon. As always, no cell signals during flight. Don’t want to spook the instruments.”
“Of course.” Dannika embraced the woman. “Tell Mr. Ryerson thank you so much for lending us a company plane on such short notice.”
Val patted Dannika’s elbow. “I sure will do that. Howdy, Ciran, and welcome aboard. You’re my first merman. I guess after this you can call yourself a flying fish! Say, how often do you mermen fly?”
“Never.”
“There have been a few flights,” Dannika said, “but most were emergencies.”
“Well, I am going to take care of you. No emergencies on this twin-prop today. Have yourself a seat and we’ll mosey.”
Dannika walked down the aisle between seats. Her hips swung back and forth, feminine grace with a powerful promise of undulating fertility.
He wanted to clamp her hips and grind his cock into her arousing buttocks.
Which he had just felt. His body throbbed with the memory of her imprint.
Patience.
The first row was reversed. Dannika selected a forward-facing seat and rested her woven shoulder bag on the small table.
He dropped into the seat facing her.
She would not evade him.
Not in this small metal tube where he had her trapped.
She glanced over the other seats, then shook her head. “You’re sitting there?”
“Because a warrior does not part from his bride. As I told you. At the stairs.”
“Right.” She bit her lip. “I admit that I have a tendency to let you get a little closer to me than I should. It’s not fair to you. It sends mixed signals.”
“Because the truth is in your soul. Your body responds.”
“Well, it’s…it’s a little more complicated than that.”
“Only because you resist.”
“Right! That’s it exactly.” She smiled as if he’d agreed with her. “And so I’m sorry, but, there will be no more almost-kissing, no more near-misses or anything like that. Agreed?”
“Yes. If you offer your lips to me again, I will not miss.”
She blinked.
And then her chest glowed with acceptance.
She enjoyed remembering their kiss. She wanted him to claim her.
He knew it. He saw it, sensed it, felt it like a ray of warmth lifting his own heart.
She splayed her hands across her chest as though to shield the truth from him. “You are driven. Your future bride is going to love that trait. Oh, that reminds me.” Dannika pulled a sheaf of papers from her bag and set it on his lap. “Look at these bride photos. I’ll set up a meeting with anyone you like. Go ahead. Take a peek.”
“Dannika.” He rested his hands on the sheaf. “I will wait for you to accept me. I will accompany you and meet any human you wish. But know this. I will never select another bride.”
Her soul flared and then dimmed. “You have to.”
“Our souls resonate.”
“Then I’ll figure out a way to make it stop.” She forced a smile to her lips as she settled into her seat. “Just you watch me.”
A sliver of fear speared him.
Could Dannika do that?
Was it possible?
Queens were powerful. They could do anything.
Could Dannika end their resonance through sheer will?
Ciran’s eyes bugged.
Dannika had to look away before she burst out laughing.
As if she could stop their resonance with her mind.
If she could have stopped this unearthly attraction, filling her veins with pinging desire and making her squeeze her thighs together because she ached for his cock, she would have done it months ago and saved them both a lot of heartache.
But since she had to deal with it all the time, it was fun to watch him squirm.
He was just so irritatingly certain. So impressively logical.
So deliciously attractive.
She clicked her seatbelt and took off all her rings—except her wedding band—tucking the loose jewelry into her caftan. Her fingers always swelled when she flew. But the wedding band never left her ring finger, swelling or no.
It was her protective talisman.
Look what happens when you love someone.
Ciran had never been devastated by love. He felt frustrated now. That was nothing.
If only he’d choose someone else…
Val walked through and stopped at his seat. “Hey, there, hon. Call me overly cautious, but I’m going to have