Moon Cursed (Book 2 in The Star and Her Moon Series)

Apologies

MERIBELLA

Meribella already regretted the arrangement she'd made with the selkies. They stayed true to their word or they were good at hiding-either way, she hadn't seen any of them following her on land. But the water was another matter. Every time she slipped beneath the cool blue, they were waiting for her there.

If she was honest, her irritation had less to do with their actual presence and more to do with her jealousy. Graceful as she was in the water, next to their sleek, seal forms, she looked like a toddler learning to swim. They spiraled through the water in lazy loops, dipping and diving with ease. One was steel gray on top with dark speckles across a white underbelly. A member of the Leopard Clan, according to Caspian. She'd learned it was his clan. The other was a great brute with leathery, dove gray skin and an elephant's trunk. He'd be comical if she didn't recognize how powerful he was.

The only consolation she had was that on land they would be flopping blobs. That was the picture she locked in her brain as she floated on her back, staring at the star speckled sky. It had taken a few days after the attack to be able to access her gifts; the immense power she'd released had drained her. But as soon as she'd been able to access them again, she'd put them to good use. When her bodyguards would get too close, she'd draw on her hydrokinesis and push them out towards the sea.

With a long sigh, Meribella paddled back to the shore. Raff was perched on the edge of a large rock, his laptop resting precariously on his lap, while he barked orders into his cellphone. He didn't even look up when she emerged from the waves in see through, white lingerie with seafoam clinging to her curves. She told herself he was preoccupied and not disinterested. It had only been that morning that he'd worshiped every square inch of her, the hunger in his eyes so intense she'd felt consumed every time their gazes locked.

But their arrangement was growing more difficult. She felt it most keenly when they lay entangled in sweaty limbs, their hearts synced in a rapid staccato, and desire slowly cooling in their veins. Because despite the physical proximity, despite the fact she could still feel his lips and fingers branding her skin, there was a chasm they couldn't cross. An emptiness that welled up and pushed them apart. And Meribella was terrified it would push until they broke.

Drawing her sweater over her head, she shivered. Autumn was arriving with fervor. The wetsuit would be necessary next time. Her head popped through the fuzzy white material just as she heard the snap of the laptop closing. Raff stood and stretched, the movement drawing attention to his long, well muscled limbs. It made her mouth dry and her body hot enough that the breeze became refreshing instead of chilling. And it soothed some of her doubts. She'd take him however she could get him.

But how long will he take you?

She shoved the thought away and returned his smile. "All done?" He dropped his computer in a shoulder bag and crossed the beach to wrap her in his arms. "I'm going to get you all wet."

He waggled his eyebrows at her and those kissable lips turned up in a wicked smirk. "Isn't that usually my line?"

Feeling bold and not caring that there was an audience with exceptional hearing lurking behind her, she placed her lips against his ear while drawing his hands down her stomach. "Mission accomplished."

"Woman," he growled, fingers dipping beneath the damp band of her panties.

Her stance widened and her knees softened in preparation. Already, she imagined the callused pads of his fingers brushing against her silken center, and her breathing hitched. But he drew away with a muttered curse and grabbed the towel she'd tossed on the ground.

Draping it over her shoulders, he said, "As much as it's been a fantasy of mine to make you scream on this beach, an audience never played a part. Especially other men."