Orion grins, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "Well, in that case, Gideon, you are safe."
I've had enough of this flirty bullshit. I need to know what the fuck happened to my woman. "What the hell happened, Dani?" I growl, my patience wearing thinner than a fucking thread.
Dani holds up a hand—her sass dialed up to the level that makes me want to kiss that smart mouth of hers until she's breathless and begging. "I'll get to that, but first, I need a damn drink." She waves her hand like the queen she is summoning her subject, and I can't tear my eyes away from her face, even as I signal the barmaid.
Because the suspense is killing me, and I need to know what kind of fucked-up shit Calypso put her through. More importantly, I want to learn how to keep it from happening again.
The barmaid catches Dani's signal and acknowledges her request with a wave. Erik, ever the gentleman, slides his drink over to her with a nod of permission. Dani takes a deep pull, the liquid sloshing down her throat before she wipes her lips with the back of her hand. "Thanks," she says, her voice husky from the burn of the alcohol.
I know my woman. She won't spill until she's damn well ready. All I can do is sit back and wait for her to drop the bombshell I know is coming.
Erik looks over at Lucian, "Brother." and tilts his head in a show of brotherly love.
Ever the walking, talking embodiment of a shit-stained toilet bowl, Lucian waves dismissively, "Hey. Yeah, don't remember you either, dude. Sorry, my brain's been wiped cleaner than a porn star's asshole after an all-night gangbang. No offense."
Erik holds up his hand, "None taken. Just hope we can do something to get your memories back."
"That bitch did a number on all of us," Dani states. "Our hex might be gone, but I have a feeling your issue is a whole different shit show. One that even my magnificent self can't unfuck."
I brought it up to Dani in our back-and-forth mental conversations while she was down with Calypso that my powers had come back online. Naturally, she asked me how the hell I did it. I couldn't give her any real answer other than the fact that I was absolutely raging with those Serpent fuckers, and somehow, they just answered the call.
Lucian never misses an opportunity for innuendo and waves her off with a smirk, "Don't you worry, your pretty little head, Honey Pot. I'm fine with how I am right now, even if I don't remember shit. Tabula rasa, baby. It's like a fresh start but with more amnesia and less 'finding yourself' bullshit."
Dani stiffens in my lap, the bond funneling to her what I feel. Her body goes rigid with tension. My fingers gently caress her inner thigh's smooth, supple skin. The feel of her soft, warm flesh beneath my palm helps to calm the rage simmering inside me, grounding me in the moment. But I swear, if this smug bastard calls her"Honey Pot"one more fucking time, I'm going to snap and rip his goddamn tongue out.
I narrow my eyes at Lucian, "Tabula rasa, huh? More like tabula dumb-assa in your case, dipshit. Fresh start? You're still the same irritating prick, memories or not. The only difference is now you've got an excuse for being an even bigger pain in the ass."
Lucian, not one to back down from a challenge, leans forward with a grin like a fucking lunatic "Tabula dumb-assa? Oh, that's rich coming from a tight ass like you, Captain Broody McBroodington. You're just jealous that I get to start over with a clean slate while you're stuck with that giant stick up your ass."
He taps his temple, his grin widening,"See, the way I figure it, losing my memories is like hitting the jackpot. No more angsty flashbacks, no more guilt trips over shit I can't change. It's like a get out of jail free card but for my brain."
Erik exhales heavily beside me, his stoic demeanor briefly interrupted as he takes a long pull from his mug of ale. "It appears that even without your memories, you two persist in engaging in this inane, fucking bickering like a pair of petulant children."
Lucian winks, blowing me a mocking kiss,"You don't say? Well, I've got plenty of new ways to be a pain in his brooding, self-righteous ass." Nodding towards me. "It's a talent, really."
"Alrighty, boys, let's all take a deep breath and pop a chill pill, shall we? As much as I love watching this testosterone-fueled pissing contest, we've got more pressing matters to discuss," Dani says, with that signature sass.
I take a moment to compose myself, pressing a soft kiss to Dani's arm as I lean back in my chair.
I watch as Izabelle unwinds herself from Gideon like a fucking snake, sauntering toward Lucian with her tits practically spilling out of her dress. "Well, I find you just fascinating, lad," she purrs, planting her ass right on Lucian's lap and curling her arms around his neck like she's marking her territory. "Mind if I sit, Sailor?"
Lucian looks disgusted, and all the men at the table grumble—clearly not impressed with her cheap act.
Dani rolls her eyes so hard I'm surprised they don't fall out of her fucking head. "If it isn't the port's most popular porthole," she sneers, with disgust.
Izabelle glares at Dani, her face twisting into an ugly scowl. "What's the matter, landlubber? Jealous?"
Dani scoffs. "No, sweetheart, I just know my friend here has more standards than you have goals. News flash, bitch: he's not interested in whatever STDs you're peddling."
Izabelle stands up like she's about to throw down, but Dani keeps herself down on my lap, cool as a fucking cucumber. I wrap my arm around her waist, my fingers digging into her hip possessively.
"Sit the fuck down, Izabelle," Orion stands, blocking her path like a human wall. "Go be a good whore and scuttle back to whatever rat-infested bilge you crawled out of. I'm sure there's a line of drunken sailors just waiting to plunder your treasure chest."
"Fuck you, Seaborn." Izabelle spits as she turns and walks away.
Dani tries to hide her laugh. Lucian's just sitting there with a shit-eating grin on his face, clearly enjoying this fucking circus.
"Seaborn," Gideon growls, warning. "That be enough out of ye."
