Robin knew she was in the cabin, but she didn’t know how she had arrived there. The last thing she remembered was Hal’s green-blue eyes staring up at her as she screamed her head off while Nimue removed the mark.

The mark.

She twisted, trying to reach around to feel her back. She hissed as pain shot through her.

“Rin?” Hal’s voice made her heart want to stop.

“Hal?” She turned again to find him waking up from sitting in a chair next to the bed. He must have moved it up there while she was passed out so he could keep watch over her. The thought made her melt toward the man who had become altogether too important to her.

His face hovered over hers, his sun-bleached hair hanging down, a curtain of dark gold in the light streaming in through the window. “How are you feeling?”

She felt like she was seeing him again for the first time. His dark blond and brown stubble highlighted the soft curve of his lips and his square jaw, while his eyes captivated her, the dark lashes resting on his cheeks for a moment as he blinked, only to reveal the green-blue eyes that looked more like they belonged in space than in this gorgeous man’s head. Her hand came up and stroked some of the long, soft hair that hung down beside her, hiding the rest of his body from view. Her heart stuttered at the memory of how it had felt to touch and be touched by him.

“Rin? Are you okay?” Hal ran a knuckle down the side of her face, his rough hands making her shiver in pleasure.

“I’m good,” she whispered. “How are you?”

“I’m glad you’re awake and so far seem to be okay.”

The bed dipped as he sat on the edge, tilting her body toward his.

“Are you really fine?” Robin remembered how he had looked when they were finally able to get to him. Her big strong warrior had been crumpled and unconscious. It had scared her more than she wanted to admit. The idea of losing this man who had made her feel at home in the world for the first time in forever was too much. A tear escaped her at the rush of emotion.

“Hey, hey, what’s wrong?” Worry clouded his face as he moved from sitting to kneeling beside the bed, their faces only inches apart.

“I thought you were dead.” The words came out in a strangled whisper.

“I’m fine, though, see?” He stood. Spreading his arms, he gave her a twirl and a bow. The sweatpants sitting tantalizingly low on his hips revealed a strip of sun-kissed skin that lay underneath as his T-shirt rose up.

“Come here.” The hoarseness in her voice betrayed her need to touch him, to feel the warmth of his body now that she knew he was safe.

She watched as he walked around to the other side of the bed, the sweats making her want to bite the round globes of his ass as they flexed and released under the material. Finally he was in bed with her, his warmth seeping into her as his arms circled around, pulling her close.

He was quiet a moment while they both absorbed each other’s presence. “We both made it out alive, and that’s all that matters.”

The hitch in his voice made her look up.

Hal’s eyes were shinier than normal, concern filling them and drawing the chocolate-brown slashes of brow together.

“What’s wrong?” Her hand came up and pushed some of the brown and gold locks out of his face so she could see him more clearly.

“I woke up, and you were screaming in pain at the hands of my brothers. It scared the shit out of me. If Alec hadn’t been there holding me down, I would have tackled both of them and beat their asses for hurting you.” A dark fury flashed behind his eyes as he spoke.

Robin knew he was a warrior, and in that moment, she saw the fighter within him come to the forefront. It didn’t scare her, though. It made her feel safer than she had in a long time.

“They were only doing what I asked them to,” she said against his chest, kissing the very center as she ran her hand up and down the smooth skin of his back, soothing her warrior.

“I know, but it didn’t make it any easier to watch.”

“If we had had another option, I would have taken it, but we didn’t. Now, because of your brothers’ help, I am free of the mark and my tie to Randall.”

She nuzzled against him, wishing she could express how she felt, but not knowing how to put it into words without either sounding crazy or scaring him. Somewhere along the way, she had fallen for this brave, sensitive man with eyes that seemed to see into the very heart of her.

A knuckle under her chin pulled her gaze to his. “Me too.” His eyes shone with affection, the sincerity of the statement obvious on every inch of his beautiful face.

Robin raised an eyebrow in question.

“I have a small talent for sensing emotion.” He gave her a lopsided smile, which made her heart melt even more.

A blush flew up her cheeks at the realization he could sense her feelings toward him.

She studied him for a moment, the eye contact they shared more intimate than anything she’d ever experienced. Pushing herself toward him, her lips brushed his in question. His response was a blistering kiss that seemed to claim her as his own in a way that left her dizzy. He nipped her lower lip, sucking it into his mouth before releasing it and exploring her own with his tongue. The kiss left her gasping for breath with her heart galloping in her chest. Her body turned to fire under his touch, her core a molten heat.

“Rin, you should rest,” Hal said, pulling away.

“If I should, then so should you.”

“I can’t stay in this bed with you and not touch you. I know that sounds weak, but it’s the truth. To me, you’re magnetic. Trying not to touch you, trying to be away from you, means fighting myself.”

He trailed kisses along her jaw and down her neck as he spoke.

“Then don’t. I want you, Hal. I’ve told you that from the very beginning, and now, if we are being honest, I want more than just sex with you. It wouldn’t be enough anymore, not after everything—”

His mouth claimed hers again without warning. His tongue swept against her own as his hands gripped her waist, pulling her against him. She could feel his rigid need pressed against her belly as his hands slid behind her, pressing her against him from head to toe.

“If we don’t stop now, I won’t be able to.” The words came out of her mouth unexpectedly in a gasp between kisses. She didn’t take them back. They were completely true; she just hadn’t planned on saying them.

Her whole body was one big nerve that had been exposed. Every touch was half pleasure, half pain. His hands left a trail of fire in their wake as they slid down her side and around to her butt.

“If you think I don’t want you as much as you want me, then you’re crazy. If you want to stop at any point, just say the word. I don’t care how far into this we are—I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.

Her heart had been melty before, but now it was just a pile of goo. This man could not be any sweeter or kind. She watched him for just a moment before kissing the daylights out of him. His hands gripped her hips, and he rolled so she was on top of him, the unyielding line of him pressing against the very center of her.

His hands slid under the T-shirt she was wearing, smoothing over her waist and around until he cupped her breasts, her nipples taut peaks under the thin material of her bra. Sitting up, she whipped off her T-shirt, the cool air kissing her skin as it became exposed. Hal’s mouth took the place of his fingers on one breast, sucking and kissing through her bra. Her breath came in short gasps as she rocked herself back and forth on the ridge of his cock.

The back of her bra snapped open with a little help from his talented fingers, exposing her breasts completely to him. The sensitive skin of her nipples was now at the mercy of the heat of his tongue and the rough skin of his fingers. Her hands began to roam under his own T-shirt, pushing it ever higher, exposing the sun-kissed skin underneath. As she tugged at his shirt, he understood that she wanted it gone, but instead of just taking the one item of clothing off, he rolled her off him, stood and, in the blink of an eye, was only wearing boxers.

She lay back on the bed and took in the unbelievably sexy sight of him. Golden brown hair dusted his chest, and a trail of it led down to the waist of his boxers, disappearing behind them. Her eyes traveled down to the tented material, and her whole body quivered with anticipation.

“Want these off?” His voice was rough with need as he nodded at her jeans.

Biting her lip, she nodded. She wanted everything off, wanted them both naked more than she wanted to breathe at that moment.

His hands came up and deftly undid the button, pulling the fly down excruciatingly slowly. The zipper finally halted, and his warm fingers slid inside the waistband of her jeans, tugging them off. She raised her hips to help, and his gaze darkened as he took in the sight of her in nothing but panties. She felt like she should be self-conscious, but he made her feel glorious.

Once her legs were exposed, he picked each one up, kissing the tips of her toes. It made her squirm with how unusual the sensation was, until he started kissing a line up her leg, his big hands gently squeezing her thighs as his tongue traced patterns on her skin. His fingers skimmed the thin cotton that prevented her from being completely bared to him.

It was as if a jolt of electricity went through her. She arched up off the bed into his hands, a gasp of pleasure escaping her. His fingers pressed down on her core, moving in slow, agonizing circles over her panties.

“Please, take them off.” The words escaped between breaths, her body clamoring to be closer to his.

She felt his fingers hook into the fabric by her hips, and then the cool air was caressing her sensitive skin. His hot skin took the place of the cool air, and suddenly he was leaning over her. His kisses were like fire as he made his way down her neck to her breasts once more as his fingers began exploring her most intimate area. Robin knew she was more than ready for him, her body pulsing with need.

Hal slipped a finger inside her, and she moaned. The sensation was more than she expected, but not enough. Her body ground against his hand as he thrust in and out of her. The pad of his thumb came up and circled the neglected nub of pleasure. She cried out as the sensation rocked through her.

Hal repeated the motion again and again, until something felt like it was building inside her. He circled one nipple with a finger and the other with his tongue while his thumb circled her clit. It was all too much. As he thrust his fingers into her again, she shuddered as pleasure burst through her, leaving her writhing and twitching under his hands. He wrung every drop of pleasure out of her, gently bringing her back down to earth.

Her eyes flickered open only to watch him kiss his way down her stomach to the auburn curls that lay between her thighs. She flung her head back, unable to take the erotic pleasure of watching him kiss her where she most desired him. Her hands tangled in his hair, the long strands twining around her fingers as he began to lick and suck, his tongue pushing inside her. Everything was too much all at once. Before she could even sense it, the orgasm overtook her, leaving her body bucking against his mouth.

He rode out the waves of pleasure, though, still licking and sucking and delving into her. His tongue had to be a gift from the gods.

“Don’t fall asleep on me now. The fun’s just starting.” His voice was right next to her ear as he nipped her earlobe.

“Oh god, Hal, I don’t know how much more I can take,” she said honestly.

“We can wait to have sex,” he said, stopping his kisses and looking down at her, the greens in his eyes more vibrant than she had ever seen them before.

“No, I want you. I just want you now, no more teasing and playing.”

“As my lady commands.”

He stood and pulled down his boxers, his manhood standing proud now that it was free of its constraints. Robin bit her lip in anticipation. She couldn’t wait for him to be inside her.

As he lay back down, Hal’s brows drew together. “Are you sure you’re ready?”

She nodded. “I want you inside me, please.”

The blunt head of his erection pushed at her folds, gently parting them, inching into her. She tried to push her hips up to meet his, impatient for the sensation, but he pulled away.

“If you rush me, I won’t last two seconds.” His teeth grazed a nipple as her back arched toward him.

Inch by delicious inch, he pushed into her, past where she thought he would stop and then some. The sensation of fullness was so complete, so exquisite, she couldn’t help but gasp as she felt his hips connect with hers. Finally, he was fully sheathed within her, and she loved it.

Slowly he pulled out before thrusting into her again. He was more forceful this time, and it was everything she wanted. The friction between them was delicious, and every time their hips connected, he hit the over-sensitized bundle of nerves. He truly began to move then. The sound of their bodies connecting, combined with his grunts of pleasure and the sounds escaping her, made for the most erotic symphony.

Hal’s hands slipped under her ass, picking it up as he thrust into her, going even deeper than before. She screamed out as he rode the line between pain and pleasure. Her hands gripped the steel of his thighs, and as he pulled her legs over his shoulders, she wanted to faint from the sheer pleasure of it. He was bent over her now, and she was able to touch and caress more of him. Her fingers drifted to his nipples, the brown nubs pointing out just as proudly as his cock had been when he’d stripped for her. She ran circles around each nipple before flicking them. The resulting grunts and groans coming from her man were enough to send her into a frenzy of need.

The pace he set was punishing, pounding into her. She could feel another orgasm building. She’d wanted nothing more than this sensation since she’d first seen him. Now as his cock filled her over and over again, her heart broke open. The emotions she had been locking inside spilled out of her. Hal had her heart, and now he had her body. Robin watched as the wave of emotion crashed into him, his eyes widening and taking the sight of her in.

Hooking her feet securely over his shoulder as he sat up, his free hand squeezed her ass before coming around to the front, his thumb connecting with her clit once more. She panted at the sensations he caused within her body. The orgasm that had been slowly building was now right in front of her, and as he kept the pace up, it soon overwhelmed her. While the pleasure was rocking her own body, she could feel her muscles squeezing Hal’s cock, his motions becoming jerky and impossibly fast as he joined her in his own release.

Her big burly siren collapsed on top of her, breathing hard as she felt him soften inside her. The tenderness of the emotions she felt toward him now surprised her. She brushed the hair out of his face as he propped himself up on one arm.

Wrapping her arms and legs around him, she said, “I’m never letting you go. I just thought you should know.”

He chuckled. “This could get awkward, then.”

She sighed. “Fine, I’ll let you go, but only for short periods of time.”

“Sounds good to me.”

He kissed her nose and rolled off of her. She immediately missed the sensation of him inside her and the heat of his body on her own.

“Come here.” He held one arm open, and she rolled over, placing her head on his chest. “Was that okay?”

She raised the head she had just laid down, quirking an eyebrow at him. “Okay? That was phenomenal, earth-shattering sex. I came three times.” A flash of doubt crossed her mind. “Was it okay for you?”

“Rin, having sex with you was the most amazing experience of my life to date. You are a goddess.” His lips brushed hers.

She could still faintly taste herself on him, and it turned her on all over again.

“I need a minute. I might be blessed by the power of Poseidon and be half siren, but even I can only do so much.” He laughed.

Robin settled back down, her head resting over his heart, listening to its regular beat as he stroked her hair. She felt more relaxed than she had in the past ten years. Letting her eyes close, she drifted on a wave of tranquility that could only come from being loved so thoroughly. It didn’t hurt that it was by someone who clearly cared for her in a way that was more than she had expected or even hoped for.