Chapter Eighteen
Stephano watched as Maeve raced down the street, her long, silky straight hair out behind her, her ripped and dirty gown billowing around her legs as she dashed off. The birds roosted in the rafters of the temple, broke free, crying out in distress. He watched them, then her small figure as she carried on.
Women were odd creatures. He’d thought she’d wake feeling shy about last night, and perhaps she had—for a split second. Before she’d confessed what she was, and spilled out a plan any warrior in his right mind would have misgivings about.
But she’d done it. She’d freed the Siren, her arm, and by the sounds of crashing stones around them, the townsfolk.
A Siren.
He pulled his ear, debating the implications of that revelation. If she was a Siren, that would explain the lack of speaking. But it didn’t explain anything else.
He sighed and scanned the street before he followed her. From a distance, he heard more crashing. It sounded as if boulders were being thrown down from the top of the buildings leaning over the street. Or people breaking out of their statues. He jogged along, sword still out and ready, keeping her in sight as the city began to waken.
She hadn’t gotten far ahead of him, but he bet she was already hyperventilating. He hoped he was wrong. Seeing her like that had been…difficult. She climbed over a fallen pillar, casting him a quick glance before jumping down nimbly. So not hyperventilating, but angry with him. He adjusted the satchel from digging into his neck. So she reveals what she is and now she’s mad at me? Why does that make sense?
He laughed, but quietly. It did make sense. He bet other than her brother and, of course, the little witch, Evie, he was the only other person who knew her secret. A Siren. Why would Evie be willing to let her go? She must work there. At the tavern, drawing in men by the hordes.
The thought had him stumbling to a halt. Did she use her voice and have sex with men? She ducked under a downed tree and again glanced over her shoulder. Her eyes were still narrowed in anger the way he knew meant he’d done something to upset her.
No. No, Maeve is a mystery, but she didn’t use her body to earn her living. The way she’d stroked him off last night had been hot, but…she’d been hesitant even if she’d stroked him better than he stroked himself. Then there was that kiss. He rubbed his hand over his lower face. It’d been…hot, passionate, but…untried. She’d never experienced passion. She didn’t know what she was missing, but that made it easier for her to keep him at arm’s length. Don’t I want her to keep me at arm’s length? He tugged his ear. The truth was, he’d woken in a panic, realizing right away that even if he were scarred and damaged, Mae wasn’t someone he would be able to walk away from. Already I screwed up. How many chances does a man get?
But a Siren…she wasn’t what he’d always pictured. The creatures were said to be gruesome. Or maybe she turned into a monster once she caught a man? But she never tried to get a man.
It was hard to pull the legends from the facts. She drew him, that was certain, but…if she drew him, why not do something more? He could think of a lot he’d like to do to her, have her do to him, either way was fine by him.
So… She won’t speak in front of the people. She fears drawing men. But she’d never shown an interest in any of his companions. He was man enough to admit every single one of them was a better match for her, but she’d never indicated she wanted them. Or me. Obviously, she was a liar. He grinned at the thought. Last night she’d…cared for me. His smile faded. And I didn’t repay that favor. Is that why she was angry? Is she angry because I didn’t flip her to her back and devour her? The trouble was, he had no clue.
He couldn’t figure her out. Women were from Venus; men were from Mars. He didn’t settle for shit like that. He could figure her out.
But come on, she’s much trickier to understand than the average girl. A Siren would not be bound by mortal laws. So that means she’s immortal. Hopefully. The scratch on her cheek had vanished. Her hands were free of the deeper cuts and bruises. That was a good sign.
A Siren. But if the woman in that mirror was a Siren, she was nothing like Maeve. Maeve had stopped him with a song when he’d been…enraged, that was true. But… She’s not like that woman.
He shook his head. There was only one person who had the answers and she wasn’t talking. Yet. Besides, no matter if she was a Siren or a banshee, he still had to get her back to her brother. Being a Siren doesn’t change anything. I still want her under me, humming that little melody of pleasure. I’ll be the first man she’s ever bedded. Do I know what the hell to do with that? I’ve never bedded a virgin.
Even as he thought it, a cold dread built in his chest, warning him of things he didn’t want to contemplate. But he had to. She’d been scared that first night. It was true, even if he stubbornly didn’t want to accept it. She didn’t speak because she feared men would be drawn to her. She’d been scared again yesterday when he’d been tricked by the woman in the mirror. Scared he’d rape her. The way she’d admitted he’d frightened her…her pale face, the tremble in her body…she’d hyperventilated.
‘Now we have to leave before the men wake and you didn’t even get breakfast.’
His muscles tightened for battle. The mere idea of anyone raping her had adrenaline flooding him. No one would ever touch her that way. Not when I am here. He stopped halfway over a crumbled down part of the road. Crouched there, he saw her already stomping up the street without a backward glance. And when I’m not here?
‘You’ll break my heart.’
He rose to his feet. There was little he could do to erase her past. If such things happened to her, she didn’t seem to feel fear toward him. I can help her. The thought loosened the cold tension in his shoulders. Get her back to her brother. Show her what two people are supposed to show each other. The plan solidified, became clearer and his remaining worries floated away. Bed her, get her back to her brother and head home to my life. And if I can’t walk away from her?
Another crash sounded, nearer. He focused on that and not his confusion. If they were going to make it out of this town they needed to go north, not south. She was going the wrong direction.
“Maeve, hold up. We can’t run off whenever we get all honest with each other!” His teasing got her to stop, but she stumbled, caught herself quickly then gave him a wicked glare.
“Go away.”
“I can’t actually go away.” He jumped down from the fallen pillar. She knew he couldn’t leave her. She took off again in a huff. Obviously, she didn’t care.
He would have to address this anger, but until he knew the source, hanging back a little might be wiser. She kept going, ducking under a broken archway he couldn’t fit under then continued not waiting for him. He didn’t know if laughing in a situation like this would win him any points, but he wanted to. His experiences with women, and the millions of articles full of expert advice he’d read about women in magazines, all pointed to him not finding it humorous she was in a sulk with him for not taking her pain serious. If he wanted to bed her, he had to start being suave.
Still, when her gown stuck and had to tug it repeatedly—and only when it ripped got it free—he had to say something. He heaved himself up and over the massive rock pile she’d gone under and landed on the far side, only a few feet from her.
She startled, then gave him another evil glare.
“I have to rescue you, remember?”
Her eyes widened and an unbearable sadness entered them before she flung her head, making her hair fan out like a bird’s wing and marched on.
“You aren’t a hero, remember?”
He knew she’d throw that back at him. But she thinks I am.
“And I can save myself. I saved you. Soon, all of these people will break free.” She held up her hand, now real flesh once more. “I don’t think we should be here.” Not waiting she took off again.
“Ah, yes, again, a good idea.” He caught up to her but didn’t help her over a break in the stone paving stones. He wasn’t that stupid. Women were tricky, this one much more so than he’d imagined. “You did the right thing. I should have listened to you, but you didn’t really give me half a second to wrap my head around it.”
She paused and gave him a surprised glance, then walked away without a word.
Well, for apologies I think mine was good. Her acceptance sucks though.
“We need to go that way, not this way.” He tipped his chin toward the northern road, not the direction she was going.
She met his eyes, steadily but without the glare.
“If you want to meet up with your brother.”
“You can’t tell them I can speak.” Her chin went up.
“They don’t need to know. It can be our secret.”
She didn’t like that, not one bit if he read her deepening frown. “I won’t bed you.”
He held in his grin by sheer willpower that should have earned him an Academy Award. Impossible little liar.
“I will not—”
“Ah, now, angel, can’t we see what happens?” Her expression turned to panic. “After last night?”
“Last night was a gift.”
It was his turn to blink. “Last night was perfection, except”—he tapped her nose—“you didn’t let me return the favor.” Her eyes widened adorably. He’d never fallen asleep on a woman in his life. But he’d never met Maeve before either. He couldn’t remember ever sleeping so soundly before. He wanted to sleep with her again and this time, instead of worrying over what she meant to him, he wanted to hold her close. “Tonight—”
“Nothing will happen tonight. Last night…you were…you needed—”
“I like to give.” He took her hand and tried to bring her closer.
She twisted free and crossed her arms. “No. I don’t want to bed you.” The little liar! “I never have. Not even that first time I met you. I won’t change my mind. I can’t.” The color in her eyes glowed beautifully in the early morning light. But her cheeks grew pinker the longer he watched. The stubborn little liar!
He lifted his eyebrows and crossed his arms over his chest. He was willing to battle this out here and now, but doubted they had the time. Her blush deepened and the pulse at her neck quickened. She’s saying this for a reason. Why?
“Mae.” He didn’t want her embarrassed. Not the time. Later we can do this. He dropped his arms and stepped toward her. She stepped back. Go slow. Tease the little liar. “Me thinks the lady doth protest too much.”
Her hazel eyes chilled, but they reminded him of a nice, frosty glass of ale.
“Are you mocking me?”
He winced. “I would never mock you.” He kept every ounce of humor out of his voice. Teasing Maeve was a tightrope act—sometimes she liked it, sometimes, she seemed ready to knee him again. Obviously, he’d have to throw all those magazines away when he returned home. Maeve needed a whole new book! “I can see you’re serious about this. I don’t know what it must be like, to not be able to talk, to be a Siren, but you can trust me. You saved my life back there. I saved yours.”
“You did not save—”
“You were hyperventilating,” he reminded her, but went on quickly when he pink lips parted. “The stone stopped at your elbow when I arrived.”
She stubbornly kept her frown in place. He reached out and brushed his thumb over her cheek. It was silky soft. She tossed her head. His lips tickled, but he didn’t grin. Her blush was a steady warmth under her natural coloring, giving him heart that he wasn’t misreading her.
“That means something, Maeve. We’re companions now. And we will be for the next few days. When we find your brother, and free him and my friends, then we can see if you still feel the same.” Although before would be better…less of an audience. A shiver echoed up his spine at the memory of how loudly he’d shouted last night. It’d been freeing, wild. Why am I always silent, then?
She still looked ready to argue. “I will—”
“I know that from this point on, it will be together we get out of this realm. Let’s not forget that means finding our friends, freeing them from the Dark Faye, possibly, and making it to a gate only you and your brother can open.” He blew out a breath and anchored his hands on his hips. Damn she’s hard to read.
She stared stonily at him, colder than the marble she’d freed from her arm.
“I think all those obstacles are easy compared to winning another kiss—so we’ll let this be the way it is. When you want me, I’m going to be here.” He touched his chest. “Ready and waiting. I promise you one thing, Mae, when you do open those arms for me, I’m going to show you such pleasure you’re never going to want me to stop. Until then…” He reached out and tapped her nose again to make her blink. “We agree on this, eh?”
She swatted his hand away. He let her and waited. He was hearing more evidence of people around them. A shout echoed far off. When he didn’t say more, she didn’t seem to know what to do with him and tried to walk on, but he stopped her.
“Maeve.”
“I…I don’t wish to discuss this. People are going to find us!”
He didn’t let her go. Frowning fiercely, she finally nodded, only once and only because he didn’t release her.
“I know you have questions about sex—” She opened her mouth and spluttered something, but he went on louder, “So you can ask away. But until you want to give it a try I want you to agree to wait and not shut the idea down.”
“I…I have no questions!”
He snorted. “Liar.”
Her eyes widened, but a loud crash near them had her letting out a startled cry and clinging to him breathlessly. As soon as she realized it, she scurried backward. He kept hold of her hand.
“Say it. ‘I agree to wait before I make a decision on bedding Stephano’.”
She yanked on her hand. “Stephano!”
Man, he liked the sound of that, a combination of female outrage and frustration that carried through every syllable. “Say it.”
It took her several seconds, plus a closer yell for her to finally whisper, “I’ll wait.”
It wasn’t the full sentence, but he smiled graciously and gestured her along the correct road feeling as if something had opened a wellspring of warmth in his chest.
“Then let me show you the way.” He settled his hand on her lower back right above her lush bottom. She jerked away but not before he heard her soft gasp. His body responded. He consoled himself that soon he’d be sinking into a hot, willing woman. Until then… I’m once again walking with a hard-on.