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“I’m Onyx. Onyx Everhard.” He starts to open his gorgeous mouth up and I quickly slap my hand on his mouth, smiling when the rough days’ growth on his cheeks rubs at my fingers. “And don’t bother. I’ve heard all the jokes.” I roll my eyes.
He snickers behind my hand. “I’ll just bet you have.”
I stand up and sway back and forth. “I-I’ve got to get back to my hotel.” I stagger towards the door and then I pull to a stop when he darts in front of me. At least it feels like he darts in front of me. Maybe I just quit moving and he kept walking.
“What?” I sway on my feet and he puts a hand out to hold me up.
“Hey, I think you kinda need some help there, Onyx.”
“Naw. I’m good.”
“Really. I really want to help you get back to your hotel. Where are you staying?”
His big, meaty paw touches my arm and I grin at him when I feel those electric shivers skating along my skin. “The Sugarplum Inn. You know where it is?”
“Of course. I didn’t grow up in this little town but I’ve been here for a little while. And I’ve been wandering around exploring so I could work. The scenery around here is amazing.”
For some reason when he says this, his dark eyes blaze down my body and then back up. I can actually feel the heat of that gaze all the way down to my toes.
“That sounds quite nice. But I can really find my own way home.” And then I promptly weave on my feet so far that I almost fall over. I giggle and Merrick groans.
“Yeah. I think that you are gonna need some help, Red. How about you let me help you home and then I’ll come by later tomorrow and take you to show you an awesome spot I found to find seashells early in the morning. Just in case you want some for jewelry. And I can take you for some breakfast.”
I study him, weaving on my feet and then I shoot him a grin. “That sounds amazing. And I can’t wait to tell them that I don’t need their dagnabbed approval to work on the office side of things. Or the personal side of things. Or just to do whatever the hell I want.” His head cocks.
“Did any of that just make sense?”
I laugh. “You know, Merrick. I think that you’re playing with me a little bit.”
“You know, Onyx. I think you’re not talking about me. You’re talking about something else. And I’d love to know what it is but I think I need to get you home. You look like you’re half asleep.”
I study him and then nod my head. “Okay. I guess that would be alright.”
And then I follow Merrick out of the door and down the street, singing a little ditty that makes me laugh and has Merrick rolling.
“That has to be the first time I’ve seen a girl like you singing dirty sailor shanties!”
“Hah! I can be a lot dirtier than that!”
He laughs in my face. “Okay. Well, it’s not necessary to prove it.”
For the rest of the short walk back to the inn, I chatter happily while Merrick grunts and huffs without talking at all.
“Hey! There it is!” I say, laughing.
He grins at me and helps me up the steps and into the building. He follows me up to my room and I smile. “Did you want to come in?”
He shakes his head. “I would love to, baby. But not while you’re like this.”
I shrug and smirk. “Your loss. I’ve been told I’m not very good at the sex though so maybe it’s not your loss.”
He groans and carefully helps me inside the door and over to the bed. “Here. Sit down and let me get your shoes off.”
“Did you change your mind? I bet you’re really good at the sex, Merrick.”
He just laughs. “You need sleep.” He pulls my legs around and then gently covers my legs. “Sleep tight, sweetheart.”
I close my eyes to try and stop the room from spinning. “Ugh. I don’t feel good.”
