Page 110 of Siren’s Secret

“You mean the shower where I was supposed to help wash you and ended up holding you up when your Claimed went down on you? That shower?”

“I don’t remember hearing any complaints.”

“I still have blue balls from it!”

“Poor baby.”

“You better get dressed before I call for Irishen and beg for permission to spank your ass.”

Wave couldn’t help the giggle. “You wouldn’t. You are too big of a softie to actually spank me.”

“I could hold you down and eat you out until you beg to come.”

Now she flushed because while Marc really wasn’t the spanking type, he absolutely loved restraining her and making her beg.

“We broke up,” she reminded him.

“Biggest mistake of my life,” he immediately replied.

“I’m your fake girlfriend just for tonight.”

“Sparkle, I need you to hear me when I say this.” Marc was suddenly serious. “There’s nothing fake about the way I feel about you.” He held his hands up when she stiffened. “I’m not saying this to pressure you, but to make it clear that every time I refer to you as my girlfriend tonight, I pray that one day it’ll be true.”

That stirred emotions in her that she wasn’t ready to face. Not now and especially not without her mate and Claimed. She didn’t need anyone else, but when she looked deep into Marc’s eyes, she had to work really hard to convince herself that she didn’t want him.

“I better get ready.”

“I’ll wait here. Call me if you need help.”

With that, Wave gathered her things and headed to the bedroom to change. She didn’t want Marc. She didn’t. Not even a little bit.

Now, if she repeated that lie a thousand times, it might start to sound believable.

Wave stepped through the front door and this time the welcome was totally different from their last visit. Hatty rushed over and folded Wave into a hug, like she was a long-lost daughter returning home.

“Wayla! I’m so happy you could come to our little party,” she gushed. “And your dress!” she exclaimed. “You must tell me who designed it.”

Wave waited for the woman to let go and took a step back. The dress, admittedly, was a dream come true. Wave had no idea what the slightly shimmering material was made of, but it felt like a summer breeze against her skin and fell to her knees in voluminous layers that weighed barely anything. And it was blue. Well, blue was a simple way to describe the interlocking gradients that reminded her of a shaft of light penetrating through deep water.

Plus, pockets. She couldn’t forget the pockets.

Not that Marc didn’t look just as good in his suit, even if he had skipped the tie and opened three top buttons. Maybe he was trying to taunt her to bite his neck. His shirt was also blue and the slacks made his ass look biteable too.

She was thinking way too much about biting different parts of him. But the damn battle mage looked edible. Even the way his shoulders filled the suit jacket made her mouth water, since she was used to seeing him in a T-shirt. Or without one.

Hatty made a noise and pulled Wave back to the moment from her daydream. Nightmares. She really needed to say something and focus on anything else.

“Thank you for inviting me,” she replied politely, then a genuine smile spread over her face when she spotted Tanner hanging back. “Tanner!” She brushed past Hatty and headed over to the boy. Before she could hug him, Tanner executed a very polite and precise bow.

“Lady Stormwell, welcome to my home.”

Wave couldn’t hold in her grin as she curtsied back. “Thank you for your welcome, Sir Ulriche.” Then she stepped forward and simply hugged him. Marc had made his way over and looked at the two of them with narrowed eyes. Both Wave and Tanner adapted equally innocent poses and expressions.

“What?” Wave asked.

“You know etiquette,” Marc said accusingly. Wave looked at him, confused.

“Of course I do.”