Chapter 28
Chapter 2 8
“Pierce already knows.” Mort grins and pops her gum. I don’t even want to know what she did to deserve that gum.
Laura glances at me with a frown. I look at Mort and take a deep breath, finding my inner calm. “You’re telling me that Pierce knows about my…little love triangle?”
Double damn.
Mort holds up her finger and glances at us both. “Who didn’t know is really the question here.” She snorts and leans back in her chair. “Leenie, you knew right?”
“Yup.”
Mort nods at my shocked expression. “Pierce told me to trust him, and to stay out of it.” She chuckles and examines her plain nails. “We are trained agents, we know everything. Nothing gets by me.”
Leenie scowls at Mort. “I thought Pierce told you?”
Mort’s eyes widened and she snorts. “No.”
Leenie levels her a ~RIIIGHT~ expression.
I close my eyes. “What did Pierce say?” I need words of wisdom, some sort of sign on what I must do. Too much male testosterone—my brain is malfunctioning.
“Well.” Mort sits up, “let me ask.” She types and blinks, scowling. “Hi, Mort here. Yeah, I know you know it’s me. Uh-huh, right. Well, she is really confused, and very out of control at this point.”
“Hey,” I say with a frown. “I am not out of control, ~Mort~ .”
Well. Maybe. Probably.
Still never found that tequila.
“Right.” Mort is typing and nodding.
“What’s he saying?” Laura asks. “That threesomes are not permitted?” She laughs, snorting into her hand.
I roll my eyes.
Right?
“Well,” Mort glances at me, “Pierce says just go with the flow. Do what feels right.”
That makes Laura laugh harder.
“Do what feels right?” I repeat.
Mort shrugs. “Yeah. He said it might help to get Siron’s mask off though. Maybe he is really ugly and that will help with your decision.”
“That is very vain of Pierce.”
Mort shrugs again. “That was my idea.”
Leenie is also typing. “Okay, we will be making landfall shortly, about two hours out. Let’s get to the healer then decide what to do from there.”
We all nod.
Laura frowns and falls back down on the bed. “Now that you scored both of the hot alpha-men, how am I going to get laid? Very selfish of you.”
***
I take a deep breath and walk out onto the large deck. My stomach is in knots. Laura went up about an hour ago and our agents left as well, to scout the area for any impending danger.
My nerves kept me down here, feeling like I am drowning. I still have my dilemma and I feel guilt eating me alive, tearing up my soul piece by piece.
How could I do this to Apollo?
I shiver.
I am a horrible person, not worthy of his love. I must tell Apollo what I have done, and I know it will break his heart. He will be confused, angry, and hurt.
My eyes start to cramp, and I take another breath, not wanting to give in to my emotions.
Right now, I need to be strong and cure Apollo, he deserves that. Then we can work out this mess I have found myself in.
My black hair is braided down my back save for a few strands that Laura pulled out for me. My gown is a lovely pale green and white. Very medieval with a hint of the twenty-first century.
The style here is breathtaking. Pierce took in the bustline, much to my horror. That’s the last thing I need right now. Sometimes I am not sure what Pierce is thinking—he can’t play both sides here.
But I am too emotionally exhausted to put up a fight. I’ll just let Charming do what he wants. I am already in way too deep.
I smile. Laura has been so supportive, and I could not imagine doing this without her.
There are plenty of handsome warrior-like men on this ship and she is in ~Laura-heaven, ~ as she puts it. One with an eye patch and a large beard seems to be catching her eye.
He is very manly. Not even sure how she can see his face with all that facial hair. I can tell his body is perfect, like a lot of the men here…not to name ~any~ names. ~Ehem.~
But Laura is laughing, being herself. Completely different from when she first arrived. I can see why the man seems to be smitten with her. Good for her—at least someone is not emotionally destroyed.
If I can win Apollo back, maybe Laura can stay here with him? Even though the man is a cutthroat.
I look down with dread. The chances that Apollo will take me back are very slim—slim to none. I grit my teeth and walk, nodding to a few men.
The massive deck is full of pirate-looking warriors running here and there, probably getting ready to make landfall. I walk up to the rail, and in the distance I can see a large mountain.
I take a shaky breath and pray everything goes as planned.
We are finally here.
I look to my left and I can see Siron on the top deck like some god-like creature. Dark, tanned skin with his Native American-like black braid and tattoos.
His arms are exposed showing his bulging biceps. I think if he clapped his hands, he would create a quake with the impact.
He is wearing black armor with weapons strapped to him, making him appear dangerous, powerful, unnaturally…alluring to the female gender.
“Stop,” I hiss to myself.
I look away and I can already sense that he has noticed me, making the hairs on my neck stand on end. I shiver, my body humming with anticipation.
All of these are not good reactions to confide to Apollo. I bite my lip and grit my teeth.
Why is Siron so… What’s the word I’m looking for? Apollo-like. I can sense very similar qualities in them which is why I think I am having trouble.
I stiffen as I sense him behind me.
My whole body tingles.
“This is it. You can be cured and then you will release me,” I say, trying to sound as indifferent as possible.
I feel his hand on my waist as he turns me. I look everywhere but his face, not wanting to jump into the tornado just yet.
My goodness, the man smells good. So good. It’s like wild scent that can make a woman’s brain malfunction.
I look up and tense. He looks so savage, his dark gaze trapping me as he starts to write.
He hands me the note.
~You look beautiful.~
I wanted to slap him. This is why I am messed up, confused, and sexually frustrated. Yes, very frustrated. He is too nice, too suave! He must know what he is doing.
I can see it in the glitter in his gaze. Siron knows what he is doing to me and will probably not stop anytime soon.
“Thank you. And you look like you are feeling…okay.”
He smiles and looks out over the rail at the approaching land.
I did not see Siron all day yesterday. I thought we were to have dinner, but that never happened.
I thought it was because he was becoming very ill and physically could not. But he looks okay now, confusing me a little .
“Are you still going to let me go?”
Siron glances at me and expels a breath. He starts writing and slowly hands me the paper. I take the paper like I couldn’t care less. Meh.
~You think Apollo will take you back after your heart’s betrayal? Would you like me to take you downstairs again to remind you that you are mine?~
I lift my chin and ignore the nerves flashing through my body. “I was just projecting what I feel for Apollo onto you. It’s because I miss him.”
That was cold.
I can see he does not like that. His jaw flexes. He takes a minute, then grabs another paper and starts writing.
~By all means. I will release you.~
I bite my lip and glance up at him, not expecting that. “Thank you,” I whisper.
He chuckles to himself and bows in my direction.
Why does he find this funny?
“Are you being truthful?”
He nods.
Siron tilts his head and writes more, then hands me the paper.
~I do not lie, my dancer.~
“What’s funny then?”
He shrugs, making the muscles in his arms flex. Siron starts writing, taking his time, a smile on his perfect lips as he finally hands me the note. His eyes seem to sear me to the spot.
~I can sense, almost taste, how turned on you are by being next to me. Your eyes dilate and your breathing escalates, not to mention I can see your hard nipples whenever I am near.~
~It’s taking a lot of control on my part not to consume the passion I see in your eyes. But I will honor the lie you tell yourself. Go back to Apollo—if he will even take you back.~
I suck in a harsh breath and my cheeks heat like my head is ready to engulf into flames. I go to speak but nothing comes out.
I can see the smirk on his lips as his gaze lowers to my breasts, and I feel naked instantly.
I am shaking with some emotion that I cannot describe. Anger, confusion, ~desire~ , rage…
He leans down, making me tense. I am frozen. I feel his hot breath when he whispers in my ear, “Let me know if you change your mind.”Siron turns and whistles, alerting everyone we have arrived.
Then he is gone.
My vision is tunneling.
I see bodies moving around me, but I can’t seem to think clearly. I am so screwed. I will be in pain no matter what man I choose.
I cannot win.
So very tragic.