Chapter 27
Chapter 2 7
Laura rubs her forehead and curses. “I do not trust Siron, or anyone in this world for that matter. How do we know we will be able to talk to this supposed healer in time to save Apollo?”
I sniff and do not say anything. We both lounge on my bed like queens, having been locked in our rooms since the raid.
From what his men say we should be making landfall tomorrow, then he will take the healer captive. Siron still has hope that he will cure whatever the black magic is that’s killing him.
Pierce already confirmed that Apollo would be healed. All we must do is get him alone and buy his healing skills, or something like that.
I have not been in the right state of mind since Siron entered my life—forced himself into my life.
I only have three more weeks left. That’s not long.
I can’t wait to leave this place and see Apollo again—alive. I just need to see him again and fast. My heart hurts for him. This mess is all my fault and I must stay clear of mind and fix it.
I need to get away from Siron’s energy, for he is sucking the life out of me. We don’t have to worry about an escape because Siron said he’d release me—us. “He will release us.”
I can feel her eyes on me. “You actually believe that crap? He is rumored to be an extremely evil man.” She sits up a bit. “Have you seen him without his mask on? Is he scary? Super ugly? Deformed?”
“No, he never takes it off, but I doubt he’s deformed.”
“Shame he does not then,” she murmurs, and falls back.
“Why?”
Laura giggles and looks at me. “Evil aside, that man is damn sexy.” She waves her hand and licks her lips. “They don’t make men like that back home.”
I try not to smile. They don’t make men like ~Apollo~ back home. “I have not noticed.” I hear Mort snort in the corner, and I ignore her. Mort knows nothing.
“Yeah right. You have been in his presence for a while now. He’s like Jason Momoa: sexy, but better. He’s not an actor, but the real thing, ya know?
“You see though, I always fall for the bad boy. It’s my problem in real life. I just need a good boy. I need dating help.”
“Yeah,” I say, bored with this topic.
She looks over to Leenie who is pretending to sleep, but one eye keeps opening. “Leenie, can I have a one-night stand with sexy Siron? Not against the rules, right?”
“Might as well.” Leenie shrugs.
Mort laughs.
Laura’s face brightens and she glances at me. “And you are sure this guy is not what he seems? I don’t want to have to use a lifeline again if he starts to beat me or something. ”
I am not angry.
Nope.
I feel fine.
“Yes, but he can’t talk.” Or at least I don’t think he can. He did whisper in my ear, but I think that was because I angered him so bad. The man hates me, that is a ~fact~ now.
Laura should go for it. I bet he’d be pretty good in bed. Not amazing, but good enough to make it worth it.
“He can’t talk, huh? Why is that even sexier? I bet he has killer expressions then—like, panty-dropping expressions. Maybe I can get him to take off his mask.”
“I don’t think that is a good idea,” I say, facing her.
“Why? You have hunky Apollo.”
I take a second. ~Why?~ “Because if you bang him and he decides he likes you, he will not want to let you go. We need to be released.”
“No, ~you~ do.” She looks thoughtful. “Leenie, if I fall in love, do I get to stay? Even if it is not Apollo? Because bitch over here took him.” She winks at me.
Leenie opens an eye and nods. “Actually, you can, if the main objective is met. If the main objective is met, anything is possible.”
“Really?!”
“Really?” I say, shocked, sitting up.
“Interesting.” Laura looks like she just stole the crown jewels. She glances at me. “What?” she says with a laugh. “He’s hot, and why not save two men at the same time? Fairy Godmother Inc. will love us.”
“If he’s into you, I guess.”
She laughs, looking offended. “You’re telling me he has not tried to get with you once? I mean, he did pay a pretty penny for you, which is weird. It’s also weird that he has not so much as got to second base.
“So maybe he’s not into ~you ~ like he thought.”
Touché.
“He’s sick, Laura, thankfully. I do not want to cheat on Apollo because this guy has nice abs. So does Apollo, ~news flash~ . I doubt that’s what the doctor ordered for him.
“Wild monkey sex is a must when you’re dying?” I deadpan. Oh yeah, and he thinks I am a trained killer and does not trust me as far as he can see. Nope, just a ~Disney Love Agent~ .
Yeah, I don’t think he will buy that one.
“Right.” She looks thoughtful. “Worth a shot I guess,” she says with a feline look. “My time here is almost up and I want to get something positive out of it.”
“He views me as a threat from that nice little performance of insane archery.”
“That was impressive, I don’t blame him. That might have been a little too much to stay under the radar.” She looks at me. “I would have been so pissed if you shot me, though.” She raises a brow. “Risky shot.”
“Yeah,” I say, and get up from the lush bed. “Lucky for you, Pierce made me a badass.”
Laura rolls over and sighs. “I can sing like an angel, not that anyone gives a flying shit. It definitely didn’t land me Apollo.”
Mort laughs hard at that. “Flying shit.”
Laura glances at Mort. “Your agent is weird.”
“Understatement of the century,” I say under my breath.
The door opens and Mort and Leenie are gone in a flash. There are a lot of men telling us what to do.
They’re treating me differently than before. They stare a lot like I’m some alien—well, I guess I am. I get it and understand it. No more Mr. Nice Guy from Siron, I guess.
I’m actually glad. I want him to treat me like trash. It will allow me to shake this weird thing I have for him—this curiosity.
It’s nothing more than that, and on some level maybe it’s because he reminds me of Apollo. I think it’s the arrogance, the male dominance that’s almost irresistible to any female.
Nothing more than biological.
They say we can go on deck for a short while before dinner to celebrate the good news that they’re in contact with Minerva the Great and he has agreed to Siron’s terms on Eltson’s release.
His men are being held captive somewhere in the lower levels of the ship. For the first time I am excited.
I can see Apollo soon. He’s not dead and I can save him.
I smile, and Laura sees me and rolls her eyes, saying I’m too mushy for her. Not sure how she knew I was thinking about Apollo but ~whatevs~ .
I glance down at my brown gown and take a breath. I did not want to stand out in the rich-colored gowns that were available.
My hair is in a low bun, and I tried my hardest to cover my cleavage but failed. The dresses are made to show off female assets, no doubt.
I look at Laura and grin. She is in a rose gown, looking radiant. Good, let her have her fun.
I only need Pierce again once Apollo is better. And I want to avoid seeing Siron or drawing any more attention to myself.
Time to get my priorities in line. Fairy Godmother Inc. depends on me, and me alone.
We are led to the upper deck to get fresh air, and to take in the dark beauty of the open sea. It’s terrifying and stunning at the same time.
The wind whips tiny hairs out of my tight bun as I rest my hands in the metal rail. Closing my eyes and taking in a deep breath, the salty air refreshes my soul.
This experience is truly amazing no matter what happens.
I can hear Laura laughing and it makes me smile. She is something else, and I am glad she is my friend now. It’s crazy how fast things can change here. I hope she finds what she is looking for here.
Maybe they will let her stay if Apollo is saved? Maybe everyone has the option to stay if they choose. I’ll have to ask Mort about that later.
I see large waves as far as the eye can see. The massive ship moves up and down with each hard collision.
I turn and see the crew cleaning the ship from the recent battle, the bloodshed being washed away as if it never happened.
I killed men here.
A shiver slithers down my back. ~Don’t think about that,~ they were bad men.
Laura is enjoying the shirtless men as they work to clean themselves and the ship. I can tell by her high-pitched laugh that she is excited.
I freeze.
Siron is sitting on a tall chair as he removes his torn black shirt to reveal a bloodied bicep and other bulging flesh. My cheeks heat to dangerous levels.
Are all these men built like gods? What do they feed the babies here, for the love of Pete and Mike and any other name I can think of?!
It’s like their muscles are made from titanium—bulletproof. Great genetics. I look at his dark tattoos and raven hair and take a breath. Too bad he is a pirate and an unsavory soul.
I look away, not wanting to draw attention to myself by staring .
That’s the last thing I need.
I need to get off this damn ship. I close my eyes again and focus on calming my breathing.
I’m not sure how long I stand here staring out into the sea before I feel a presence beside me. I don’t look because I know who it is.
Bleeding hearts.
I see his large, tanned hands grip the rail like me as I continue staring forward. Why is the man seeking me out? I can tell he is looking at me. My skin is tingling, and I feel almost naked, exposed.
I grit my teeth and look to my right as our gaze’s clash, the black stare piercing me. I wish I could see his face. It’s very frustrating.
He steps closer to me, making my body tense.
I think I’m glaring at him.
Siron tilts his head and pulls out his notepad. He writes while looking up at me then hands me the note. ~Miss me? ~ it reads.
Miss me?! Very arrogant, and I thought we were fighting. “No.” I glance away.
I know he’s writing again, and I wish my skin would stop buzzing. He hands me a note and I take it, though I don’t want to.
~Liar,~ it says.
I jerk my head in his direction. “Liar?” I ignore the slight grin on his lips. He is wearing body armor, thank goodness, and is not bare-chested. Is he flirting with me? Trying to make up? How strange.
“You’re taunting me. Why?”
I see his eyes lower to my breasts and my cheeks heat. He’s not even hiding it. I look away and ignore that his black hair is braided down his back like a native warrior .
It’s not hot at all.
Nope.
I feel him nudge me again with a note and I snatch it.
~Do you want me or Apollo? The choice is yours. Choose wisely,~ it says.
I almost gasp. I look at him, and he is serious, the smile gone. My heart is pounding out of my chest. Why would he ask me this? He knows my answer. He knows I do not like him like that!
He thinks I am a spy or something and still he is asking me this? I can feel my cheeks heat and my anger is rising. He hands me another note and I look down, not wanting to take it.
Siron puts it into my hand, and I glance at it, chest rising and falling.
~Your eyes have fire in them when you look at me, ~ it says.
I take a slow breath. “Yes, they do.” I pause. “Because I am angry all the time.” I step back. “Apollo. I choose Apollo.”
I turn and leave. This is ridiculous. The rage inside me is on the verge of boiling.
The audacity of this man. First he says I can go, and now he’s asking if I want to stay? I don’t even know what to make of it. I’m confused by him.
I keep walking.
~Where the hell am I going?~ I look around the hallway I just entered and curse. I’m lost. How long was I walking in justified anger?
I glance back, and he is right behind me, making me gasp. I back up against the metal wall and hold my hands up.
“What do you want from me?” I feel like that’s a dumb question seeing how he bought me for sexual reasons, but I feel like there is something deeper here.
He is writing, looking upset, his jaw flexing.
I take the paper with shaking fingers .
~I want the truth, little dancer, and I will kiss you to get it. I want to prove to you that you are in denial, ~ it says.
I don’t think my heart could beat any harder, and I brace myself as he grabs me around the waist. ~Be a cold fish, be a cold fish. ~ Don’t smell the clean scent of him. Ignore how exotic he appears.
Do cold fishes feel like they are being engulfed in flames? Maybe after they’re dead and tossed on the grill.
I’m being thrown into fire while I’m still alive.
His hands are applying pressure on my hips as he pulls me closer, my breasts now pressed to his hard chest. I feel faint and all I can see are his perfect lips.
“Don’t kiss me,” I whisper, feeling my eyes water.
He leans into my ear, and I shiver. “Then tell your eyes to stop begging me to,” he barely whispers.
I squeeze my eyes shut.
His lips are now on my neck, and I moan, or sigh, or express my distaste. I hope.
I feel my body humming, tingling, a warmth spreading in my lower regions as his tongue tastes me. I try not to make a sound, but my vocal cords are not communicating with my brain.
The moment his lips take mine I am gone. He is devouring me almost to a point where I cannot breathe. His tongue plunges into my mouth and I am at his mercy. I cannot get enough of him.
Our mouths are combating in a heated and dangerous dance. I am breaking the rules, but my body will not stop. I can’t stop. I can’t. ~I want him.~
He seems familiar even though I have not seen all of his face. I have not known him long, but I can’t contain this desire. It’s almost as if I know his mouth already.
We are losing control .
I can feel his desire shift, and now it’s turned desperate, frantic, ~wild~ . I am pressed hard against the wall as his mouth breaks away from my swollen lips.
He scorches a trail down my neck, making me grip him harder. I am panting, grabbing at his dark hair, anything I can get my hands on. His mouth is on my cleavage, pulling me up to ravish me better.
Oh mercy. The man has passion, and he is almost scaring me with it. Our hearts are beating together, our breathing harsh and rapid.
I grab his mask and rip it off, wanting to see all of him.
He seizes me instantly and flips me around so I’m facing the wall. I can feel the hardness of him and the heat coming from his body. ~Bad move.~
“Not allowed,” comes his harsh whisper.
I hear him moving while one arm braces me to the wall. He must be putting on his mask again, which makes me livid. “Why can’t I see? I don’t care if you’re scarred,” I hiss.
Siron flips me back around, and he is breathing hard, his large chest rising and falling. He is writing now, and I wait patiently, trying to get my brain waves back in sync.
What have I done? I have really cheated on Apollo this time, haven’t I? It makes me sick to my stomach.
There is something about Siron that draws me to him, something safe and familiar.
Stupid, I know.
He hands me the paper.
~You deny what you feel now?~
I feel my eyes cramp, and I look away. “Yes,” I whisper.
I can hear a hiss come from his mouth, and then he writes again. He hands me the paper after a few heartbeats, and I take it, dreading what it says .
~I thought you’d say that. Who do you work for? ~ it reads.
I look at him. “Take off your mask, and I will tell you.”
Will I?
I might have lied.
He just stares at me, then closes his eyes and clenches his jaw.
“Why won’t you show me?” I ask, swallowing the lump in my throat.
He takes the note in my hand and writes on the back. He hands me the note and I read it, my heart in my throat.
~What will Apollo think when he finds out your heart is not his anymore? His woman in love with another man.~
“Go to hell.”
He tilts his head at me and clicks his tongue. He is writing, and I am barely able to stand here and watch, I would have slapped him if he was not wearing a mask. I am not in love with Siron. ~Cocky bastard.~
He hands me the note with a smile. ~See you at dinner. Save some of that fire for later. I have quite the appetite.~
“In your dreams,” I hiss.
I’ve always wanted to say that.
He turns back to me and winks, and then he is gone.
I notice that he is favoring one leg and that he seems to be very wary. I don’t care. I wonder if our little make-out session hurt him, making me feel a little less guilty.
I let out a scream and stomp my foot, clenching my fists. I just lit the barn on fire this time and threw on some gasoline for good measure. I close my eyes, wondering what I will tell Apollo. Tell him nothing?
~I’m sorry Apollo, I was a little confused and made out with the Black Siron and it meant nothing. There might have been a little tongue action, but that’s it. Swear.~
~Oh? What’s that? You hate me? Perfect.~
That will not go over well.
How could Apollo want someone like me once he finds out? He will be devastated, rethinking whatever he feels for me.
“Viola!”
It’s Laura, making me relax a little. She walks up to me with wide eyes. I frown at her in question. “Is everything okay?”
She stares at me and laughs. “I cannot believe it.” She shakes her head. “Black Siron is in love with you, and you like him back! How in the hell did you manage that?”
I pale. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say lamely, heart pounding.
Laura puts her hands on her hips. “You are in a major pickle, lady.”
I squeeze my eyes shut. “Shit,” I hiss.
“Does Pierce know?”
“I don’t think so, but who knows at this point. I could have destroyed our mission,” I say, feeling sick.
“You had Apollo. Now, I get that this guy is crazy hot, but you had Apollo. How did you let yourself fall for an evil man?” Her eyes are wide and disbelieving.
“I don’t know,” I whisper. “I don’t think I fell for him. I still love Apollo.”
“Girl, you cannot have them both, this does not work that way,” she says, and clicks her tongue and shakes her head.
“Something is different with Siron, and I can’t figure it out,” I moan in misery. “He reminds me of Apollo, if you want to know the truth.”
Laura frowns at me and chews her lip. “They are definitely not alike. Maybe in the physical sense, I guess. They both have very similar builds now that I think on it.
“But this guy can’t even talk! How did he sweet-talk you?” She holds her finger up. “Pun intended.”
“I don’t know, Laura,” I whine. “What are we going to do?”
“Well, be prepared to get your ass chewed out by Pierce Charming.”
“Do you think they have tequila on this ship?” I really need to know.
“They’d better.”