It was all so insane.
“I wasn’t expecting you to find this so amusing.” Drustan dared to sound mildly offended.
“Nothing isfunny,” I laughed with my words. “This is just so crazy.You’recrazy.”
“I hear that’s a side-effect of the Gravhune,” he deadpanned.
“What is your angle?” I lowered my hands to glare at him, finally able to compose myself. “What do you gain from messing with me like this?”
His hands were still behind his back, his legs stretched as far as the space allowed him to, one ankle crossed over the other. Drustan frowned at me.
“Beyond the supposed bliss of a mating bond, you mean?”
“Why the hell would you, Drustan, give a single shit about ma—about bonds?”
I still couldn’t say the word out loud.
Drustan stared at me, his lips pressed together. A muscle popped in his jaw as he let the noise of the ocean soak into the moment. I held my glare on him, determined to wait him out. To not fold under his scrutiny.
Slowly, he lowered his hands and leaned forward. Drustan was sitting, but he still managed to feel like he was taking up the entirety of the captain’s quarters. When he rested both of his hands on either side of my chair to turn me toward him, my face heated.
His nose was only inches from mine as we locked eyes.
“For some reason,” Drustan murmured. “The goddess blessed me with this gift.” The way he spoke made me sinkinto my chair, but he didn’t let me escape. He maintained the distance between us, scooting to the edge of his seat. It creaked under his massive frame. “Don’t get me wrong, Vanessa. I may be the Mad Siren Prince, but it would be completely foolish of me to ignore what’s between us.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “You’re seriously…” I shook my head, struggling to get the words out when I could feel his body heat this close to me. “You’re trying to claim youwantto be m—” I hesitated, but forced myself to say it this once, “Mated to me?” I shook my head at him, “What would your daddy say about that?”
“Fuck my father,” Drustan snapped.
I jumped at his tone.
Didn’t expect that response.
He tensed his body over me for a moment before he closed his eyes and exhaled. The heat of his breath brushed against my neck and chest, making me shiver underneath him. Suddenly, Drustan opened his eyes and stood. He grabbed my hands and yanked me out of my seat.
“What the fu—let me go!” I pulled against him, but it was useless. He dragged me through the boat until we got to the small restroom and shoved open the pocket door. I protested, but he ignored me until he pushed my body into the small room. I had to brace both hands on the sink and catch myself. When I glanced up at the mirror, he was caging us in the bathroom. Drustan had to duck for his head to be visible in the doorway, and his large arms held either side of the frame.
“Do you see yourself?” Drustan asked me through the mirror. I had to force myself to respond; I could feel his body heat behind me. I still wore my thong bikini; my ass was exposed to him. But he held eye contact with me in the mirror.
“What?”
“I know human senses aren’t as strong as ours,” Drustan continued with a nod of his head toward me. “But you can see yourself clearly, yes?”
I frowned, “Yeah. What?—”
“Then is it really so unbelievable,” Drustan interrupted. “For a male like me to show even theslightestbit of interest in a woman like you?”
I froze. My cheeks heated. My heart thumped erratically, almost stopping, before picking up a steady rhythm again. Maybe it was his use of the wordwomanin lieu offemale, but I couldn’t be sure. I parted my lips in confusion at his reflection.
Drustan’s lips were in a firm line, his gold irises bounced around my face in the mirror, before making eye contact again.
“Don’t misunderstand,” his voice was lower, that silk honey coating my nerves. “I have happily killed, and I will most likely kill again. I expect everyone to be fully aware of that truth.” Shivers raced down my spine as he slowly, slowly stepped toward me. Both of his arms bracketed each of mine, his chest pressed against my back, my bare ass against the fabric of his swim trunks that hung low on his hips. His large hands gripped either side of the sink, just like mine. Caging me in.
My breath was coming to me in shorter, frantic puffs.
Drustan lowered his head as he continued to murmur, “Imagine, if you will…” He slowly shifted one of his hands to tease the top of mine with the pads of his fingers. “Growing up in that wretched estate. Watching my father throw together failed Bandthral rituals year after year, snuffing out any hope for such a rare gift…only to find you.”
I had to force myself to breathe. Memories from our first meeting at Fergus’s castle filled my mind. Memories that I knew he was seeing, too. My face was hot, and my chest was too tight. Sand was rushing in my ears, and as soon as I caught myself leaning into his body more, I bit my lip to stop myself.
