No way.

Lucy almost dropped her cell phone. “That’s a…”

“It is my offering,” the crazy, sexy, supposed-merman said. “Come to Sireno with me now.”

The Sea Opal reflected the meager dashboard lights as though a thousand stars glimmered within its pearly white depths. She sucked in a breath. It was nearly twice as large as the one she had found before.

Mexico was the place to find them! Not the Keys. Take that, stupid Blake! Lucy had been right!

Lucy swallowed on dry lips. This jewel was the collections agencies off her back, her loans canceled, her credit cards paid off, and her ex-husband shown up, all in one. This was her redemption and triumph.

She reached out, her fingers trembling. “You found this?”

“It is the resin of our Life Tree.”

“Are there more?”

“Many more.” His deep voice shimmered with need. “Our Life Tree has not flowered in so long. It is dying. Our race is dying. Only you can save us, Lucy.”

Only she could save them…

“I am going to hell.”

She took the opal. Its smooth surface was cool in her palm and heavy with promises. Promises of hot nights and long showers and delicious, lazy afternoons under the covers.

“You are going with me.” He drew her into his arms and cupped her neck. “By the covenant, I claim you for my bride.”

His mouth descended and she lost herself in his kiss.

This time, she didn’t fight it.

Their touch combusted. Her desire burned like a supernova, heating her to the core.

His lips were cool and tasted of salt. His wide palms spanned her back, pressing her to his hard body. His proud cock hardened against her thigh.

She explored his broad back. No man had ever enticed her like he did. Not her ex, not anyone. Torun intoxicated her from the inside out. She clasped him like an anchor in a storm.

He teased her lips with his commanding tongue, and she opened to his mastery. He delved in, tasting her. Her tongue met his and tangled. He stroked her, pumping desire. Wetness slicked her channel. She wanted him now, on the deck, plunging into her hard and rocking her with soul-shattering thrusts until their passion exploded into an orgasm.

He palmed her buttocks, grinding her against his cock. Could hear her wishes?

“Lucy. You are shining again.” He smiled and pressed hungry kisses against her forehead, cheek, jaw, and aching sensitive neck. “You will be a powerful mother for our young fry.”

Young fry? That was such a weird way of saying baby.

Oh, because mermen were fish. Like salmon fry.

Ohhh.

She slowed his hands and disentangled herself. “Okay. I, uh, and you…”

“Torun,” he supplied.

“No, I know. Look.” Deep breath. Let it out. Deep breath again. Let it out. She stepped back and faced him. “I can’t be your queen.”

“You must.”

“But you’re looking for a woman to give you kids.”

“That is also you.”

“It’s …” Her throat closed. Crap. She covered her eyes. Was she going to be okay? Yes. She cleared her throat and dropped her hands. “It’s not. Sorry.”

He set his feet. A proud tribal warrior. “You belong with me.”

She wished that were true.

“Your hunger is heightened by my offering.”

“Sea Opal,” she corrected. “Funny you should mention it. They’re ridiculously valuable. I’m not the only one whose hunger will be heightened if you flash it around.”

“I want you.”

Desire tugged her.

“Okay, listen.” She tapped the jewel against his gorgeous, hard chest. “I can not be your bride. But in exchange for showing me where you got this beautiful Sea Opal, I will introduce you to every fertile young woman I know. It only takes six people to meet Kevin Bacon. I have hundreds of Facebook friends, so you will definitely find your, uh, queen.”

“You will receive more Sea Opals in Sireno.”

“Take my offer or leave it.”

“I will take your offer.” He closed his hands around hers over the jewel. “I will also take you.”

“Torun—”

“You wish to become my queen. I will make it so.”

Torun’s promise rang across the deck.

Lucy’s heart swelled with his conviction. He was so proud, so determined, so certain of his desire for her.

How would he change when he knew the truth?

Lucy gently pressed his chest, feeling his heartbeat radiant beneath his cool skin. “You couldn’t be more wrong.”

He opened his gorgeous mouth to argue.

She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek, brushing her lips over his, to silence him.

The powerful warrior focused on her. She held a magnet, and if she moved an inch, she would lose herself to crushing hunger.

Hunger for her old dream. For his new fantasy.

Hunger for a family.

“Anchor us,” he said softly. “I will take you to the Sea Opals, Lucy.”

She wanted to. She wanted him. She wanted … things she couldn’t have.

“It’s late.” She stroked his high cheekbone with her index finger. Rough, sensuous. Sexy. “I tell you what. I’ll introduce you to the expedition backers tomorrow. If they say you’re not dangerous, we’ll skip the psychiatrist and I’ll take you back out with me to hunt Sea Opals.”

“I know where—”

“And when we find more like this one,” she clenched the gem, “I’ll go with you to free your people, whether they’re on an isolated tropical island or whether they’re actually gill-breathers living twenty thousand leagues under the sea.”

He frowned. “You do not believe I am a merman.”

“You took a sharp blow to the head.”

“We are destined to be together. Believe in me, Lucy.”

She forced down the rising, fluttering, overwhelming rightness of nestling in his arms. “Believing in you isn’t so hard. Believing in me is the problem.”

“I believe in you.”

“Like I said.” Lucy pulled away to navigate the entrance to the Cancun marina. “One of use needs a serious reality check. And right now, I’m not sure if it’s you or if it’s me.”