Because there, standing in the doorway like a fucking vision, is Dani.
She's wearing a black dress that clings to every curve of her body, the fabric shimmering and sparkling in the dim light of the tavern. There's a slit running up the side of the skirt, so high that it leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination, and herfeet are bare, the delicate arches of her soles and the slender curves of her toes almost more erotic than if she were completely naked.
She looks ethereal, enchanting, breathtaking. Like a fucking goddess come to earth. And for a moment, all I can do is stare, my mouth hanging open like a goddamn idiot.
I stumble to my feet, nearly falling on my ass in the process. "Baby…?" I slur, my voice thick and clumsy with alcohol. "Is that really you?"
She's in front of me now, her honey-gold eyes swirling with amusement and exasperation. Her sweet and intoxicating scent—honey, spice, and something uniquely hers—envelops me, making me reach out for her. My hands shake as I pull her close.
She's real. She's really fucking here.
"Are you drunk?" she snaps, her voice sharp and sassy.
I stagger back, my balance shot to hell as the room tilts. "No," I slur, my head wobbling from side to side like a dog trying to clear water from its ears. "Well, maybe a little." I hold up my fingers, squinting at them like I'm trying to solve a goddamn math problem. "How did you—?"
Before I finish the thought, she's shuffling me back to the table, her small hands firm on my shoulders as she pushes me down into my seat. I grab her by the hips, yanking her down onto my lap and burying my face in her neck, breathing in the sweet, familiar scent of her.
No way in hell I'm ever letting her go again. She's going to be stuck to me like a fucking barnacle from now on, whether she likes it or not.
She turns to face me, grabbing my bearded face between her palms. "Hey," she says softly, her eyes searching mine with concern and relief.
I lean in, capturing her lips in a sloppy, drunken kiss. I don't care who's watching, don't care about anything but the feel of her mouth on mine, the taste of her on my tongue. I moan into the kiss, my hands tightening on her hips as she mimics the sound.
"Hey, do you assholes fucking mind?" a voice cuts through the haze of lust and alcohol, sharp and sarcastic. "I'm about two seconds away from whipping my dick out and going to town right here on this table. Either take it to a room or start charging admission."
I pull back from the kiss, my eyes narrowing as I turn to glare at my little brother. He's lounging in his chair, a smirk on his face as he watches us with amusement and disgust.
"Put a cork in it, Lucian," Dani snaps. "Or do I need to find a muzzle for your smart mouth?"
"Actually, on second thought, keep going. I could use some new material for my spank bank. Just let me grab some popcorn first and maybe a raincoat. I have a feeling things are about to get messy."
I feel a growl building in my throat, my hands tightening on Dani's hips as I fight the urge to lunge across the table and wipe that smug fucking look off his face. But before I can do anything stupid, Erik stands up, his silver eyes warm as he hugs Dani.
"Little Huntress," he says softly, "It is so good to see you safe and well."
I feel a flicker of jealousy at the sight of another man touching my mate, even if it is my own brother. But I push it down, forcing myself to release my grip on Dani's waist so she can return the embrace.
Dani tightly hugs Erik. "Thank you, Erik. It's good to see you, too."
The second he releases her, I yank her back down onto my lap, my hand creeping up the slit of her dress to rub circles on the soft, smooth skin of her thigh. She shivers at the touch, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment before she takes a deep breath and turns to face the others.
I lean back in my chair, watching as Gideon leans forward, his eyes gleaming with curiosity beneath that ridiculous fucking tricorn hat of his. "Lass, 'tis a relief to see ye back and in one piece. But we be all dyin' to know what that sea witch Calypso did to ye and how ye managed to escape her clutches."
Izabelle scoffs, mumbling some shit under her breath and rolling her eyes. "Not all of us."
Dani shoots her a glare that could melt steel, ignoring her pathetic attempts at taunting.
"Captain Orion Seaborn, at your service." Orion holds out his hand, a friendly grin on his face that makes me want to punch him in his perfect fucking teeth.
Dani shakes his hand, her eyebrow raised. "New friend?" she asks Gideon, her tone laced with amusement.
"Aye, lass, this be an old friend. He's the Captain of the Azure Rovers I mentioned to ye about." Gideon nods, his voice gruff.
Dani nods in acknowledgment, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips. "Ah, yes. Gideon had nice things to say about you—sort of."
Orion's grin widens, his eyes fucking twinkling like he's Santa Claus or some shit. "Sort of?" He coughs, clearly taken by my angel's beauty and sass. I can see the red creeping up his neck, the fucker. He's not used to being in the presence of such a goddess. "Am I gonna have to beat the old man again for spreading false rumors?"
Dani smiles, her eyes dancing with mischief. "No, nothing like that. It's just that you're pirates, through and through." She shrugs like it's the most obvious thing in the world.
