Page 7 of Bear to be Wild (Moonlight Siren #5)

MARIBELLE

W e stopped by Roan’s cabin first, tucked on the same deck near the bottom of the ship as mine. Since we both worked in the wellness department, our cabins were close—but not close enough that we could separate and return to our own.

Figured.

His cabin was smaller than mine. At least I’d earned a slightly larger than a shoebox-sized cabin with my seniority, which meant my room had the illusion of breathing space.

His room was barely bigger than a broom closet, with a bed shoved into one side and desk and storage space carved into the other.

I perched on the chair at his desk while he headed into the shower.

No way was I sitting on his bed, even though it looked more comfortable.

The sheets would smell like him—wilderness and warm honey, utterly distracting.

I didn’t need his masculine scent curling around me, making me hyperaware of him like it had too often today.

And I didn’t need to think about the inevitable trap later tonight if I couldn’t undo this spell.

The sound of running water caught my attention from the other side of the wall, propelling my traitorous imagination to conjure images I couldn’t stifle.

Roan, naked under the spray, with hot water streaming over his broad shoulders, gliding down the muscular curves of his chest, tracing through the dips in his tight core, down to?—

No. Absolutely not. Don’t think about the bear—the big, brawny, delicious bear with kind amber eyes. Focus! Don’t think about anything except figuring out how to free yourself from him.

That was what I should be doing tonight. But after a full day at the spa, I was tired and ready to unwind. I’d made a few desperate attempts to undo the binding earlier, in between clients, but since they hadn’t worked, here we were, still trapped together.

Wonderful.

The water cut off, and a minute later, the bathroom door opened. Steam poured into the small cabin, rising around Roan like he was a bronzed god from the sea.

His dark hair was damp, slicked back from his face, making his cheekbones even sharper.

Worse, he was shirtless, wearing only a pair of black shorts, every line of his body carved and glistening.

My gaze traveled down, and he looked even better than I’d imagined minutes before. Muscular shoulders, biceps, chest, and chiseled abs of a fitness guru.

Don’t stare, I scolded myself, trying to drag myself out of this enchantment. Don’t.

“Can you at least put a shirt on?” I snapped, crossing my arms.

He laughed, the sound warm and amused. “Why? Does my body offend you? That’s too bad. I work hard to stay fit.”

“It’s just,” I answered quickly, my cheeks heating. “Listen, bear, we don’t need to make this any harder than it already is.”

His lips curved into a slow grin. “Is this hard for you?” he asked, brows darting upward.

“Don’t you dare add, that’s what she said , or I’ll…” I began, then fell silent, unsure how to end my feeble threat.

“What?” he teased, appearing to enjoy my flustering.

“Ugh.” I stood, grabbed a pillow from his bed, and tossed it at him.

He caught it one-handed.

“It’s my turn,” I grumbled and headed for the door.

But his large body stood in the way, and when I brushed past him, feeling his warm, damp skin, tingles danced along my forearm.

A few minutes later, I was cocooned in the safety of my tiny bathroom. While I undressed, I was all too aware of the bear on the other side of the wall, and my thoughts traveled.

Nope. I wouldn’t go there. I had rules for a reason.

Just because Roan didn’t fit nicely in the slot of the cocky shifter I’d pegged him to be, didn’t mean I should be foolish.

No dating for me on this ship for a reason.

For two particular reasons, both in the form of shifters.

I’d be foolish to play this game a third time and expect a different outcome.

No matter how he looked at me with the warm amber eyes.

No matter how accommodating he was by covering up my magical mishap.

And certainly no matter how my body felt being so close to him in such tight quarters.

Which meant I had to break this spell. Being forced to share a cabin with the bear would be horrific.

And far too tempting…