My lips curled at the thought. One wave and all the pretty little humans would perish. Including the one now standing before me.
No, that wouldn’t do. I rather liked this version of my female. Apart from the breakable aspect, anyway.
“Hello, Kailiani,” I murmured, wrapping my palm around the back of her neck and declaring to all the pitiful beings in the room that this gorgeous creature belonged to me.
“Good evening, Mister Rotanev.” Sensuality swirled in her voice, the siren within her begging to come out to play.
Soon, my darling pet. We’ll find a way to free you.
That was why I’d booked her for a week. Although, the cheeky little minx sent me a counteroffer. I didn’t mind paying more—money was a human commodity that translated to nothing in my world. However, the defiance of her act, well, that required punishment.
Mmm, but not until I kissed her. I needed a taste before we truly engaged in this seductive dance between us.
“Call me Nero,” I whispered, pulling her into me. “Or ‘sir,’ if you prefer.” I brushed my mouth over hers, loving the way her lips parted in response. Such a natural seductress despite her obvious innocence.
I accepted her unspoken invitation and slid my tongue into her mouth, my grip tightening against her neck. Her delicate hands curled around my jacket, holding on while I devoured her the way I craved.
Energy hummed around us, my power rippling through the air and encasing us in an impenetrable shell, protecting my chosen mate on instinct alone.
She was meant to be mine all those years ago.
Had nearly destroyed me with her escape.
But now I had her again, and this time, she had nowhere to go.
Kailiani would kneel before me tonight and worship me as a siren should worship her god. Because I willed it. Because I’d earned it. Because I desired it.
She gasped as I released her, gulping in oxygen, her cheeks inflamed in a delicious shade of lust. A state I intended to escalate throughout our evening together.
“Come, Kailiani. I have a reservation for us.” I pressed my palm to her exposed lower back. The front of her dress displayed only a teasing amount of cleavage, but this gown was all about the subtle reveals—the slits up both her thighs and the back that nearly exposed the top of her ass.
And she wore it beautifully.
My goddess.
The host led us to our table—a corner booth that gave us a view of the entire restaurant while affording a semblance of privacy. I’d chosen it with a purpose in mind, something Kailiani would be learning soon.
“Here we are,” the host announced, gesturing to the U-shaped booth. It was large enough to seat six, which caused Kailiani to frown as she tried to figure out where to sit. She chose the edge while I slid in from the other side toward the middle.
“Come sit beside me,” I told her, amused by her nervous tells. Sirens were confident in nature, the type to take charge, especially with men. But this one had been raised by humans, which had clearly encouraged her submissive nature. A seductive combination.
The host left us with a pair of menus that I ignored in favor of the beauty beside me. “You don’t need to fear me, Kailiani.” Most did, and should, but not her.
And how ironic was that? A week ago, I’d intended to flay her alive before feeding her to the deepest bowels of the ocean.
Now, I would give anything to protect her—my mate.
Oh, if this all turned out to be some sort of nefarious act, I’d kill her. But there was no denying her mortal shell. Something sinister was at play here. I could taste it in the air surrounding her. Yet, she seemed completely oblivious to it.
Her mutual attraction was real, as was her unmistakable acquiescence.
What happened to you, my darling siren?
“I’m not afraid,” she finally said, her words measured and smooth. “I just… Well, I barely know you.”
Hmm, true.While I knew almost every detail about her, my background and name would mean very little to her.
Oh, she surely knew all about the Poseidon of mythology. But that wasn’t me at all, just the human interpretation of my existence. One I found quite humorous, as did the other gods who were immortalized during that era.
