Page 11 of Rock of Stages (Moonlight Siren #4)

CALEB

“ T hat slithering…slimy…sea slug!” My muscles hardened as if I was turning back to stone. I turned back toward the ocean, determined to find that slippery selkie and rip him fin from fin.

“It’s over, Caleb,” Naiya assured me and gently placed her hand on my forearm. “He swam away.” She nudged me forward. “Come. I’m looking forward to watch you perform tonight.”

Her gentle voice brought me back to the present, and my thoughts took a wicked turn as I pictured how I’d like to perform for my sultry mermaid.

Holding her in the ocean earlier, feeling her soft skin, seeing her barely clad in a bikini, kissing her…

I’d asked her to come to our show tonight and promised we’d go to a restaurant after.

That was after plenty of sweet-talking the decision-makers, letting them know how she’d saved me and begging to let her stay the night.

I couldn’t keep her onboard as a stowaway.

They’d agreed and even let me book a reservation at one of the specialty restaurants.

Back in my cabin, Naiya took a shower while I struggled with my fury about Angus. What he’d done to me and the band was bad enough, but how dare he approach my mate? Slither his slick tail near her?

Sound from the bathroom distracted me—Naiya singing. At first, it was barely audible, but then the volume rose. She sang a haunting lament about a shipwreck. But her voice…simply breathtaking.

I’d never heard anything like it. Enchanting. Ethereal. I wandered over to the bathroom door to listen closer and all my anger about Angus dissipated, like seaweed carried on the waves.

When she stepped out minutes later, hair wet and wearing a pink sundress I’d bought her, I just said, “Wow.”

She blinked. “Wow, what?”

“Your voice.”

“Oh.” Her cheeks flushed. “Was I too loud?”

“No, no.” I shook my head rapidly. “It’s beautiful. I could listen to you sing all day.”

A demure smile flickered on her face. “You’re the one with the musical talent. Playing in a band.”

My gaze roamed over her as I marveled at this beauty. I fell for her more each moment we spent together. “Maybe you should be too.”

Playing drums each night was the highlight of my days, a high I never thought I could surpass—until I’d met Naiya.

Now having her in the audience, watching me with lips parted and a fascinated expression eclipsed that.

We finished up our 90s set with our version of the Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage,” and my body still buzzed from the adrenaline.

I stepped away from the drums, my eyes locked on hers.

Van nudged me with his elbow. “Go get your mermaid before she swims off with some kelp-haired merman.”

I growled, my stone tingling with possessiveness as I pictured Angus, but I wouldn’t let anything or anyone divert me as I approached her.

She rushed up to me, eyes wide. “You were wonderful!” She threw her arms around me while I was still in my gargoyle form, and my beast rumbled with content deep within. Mine.

After I shifted and showered and found the nicest pair of black pants I had, we headed up to the sushi restaurant. We sat at an intimate table for two near a window, with a perfect view of the ocean twinkling and waltzing beneath the stars. Her silvery-blonde hair flowed around her bare shoulders.

“Every time I look at you, I swear you’re even more beautiful,” I told her.

“Oh, Caleb,” she uttered softly, turning slightly pink under my praise.

Dinner was incredible—not just the food but how she marveled at every detail. She read the menu options with delight and laughed as she fumbled with chopsticks.

“Here, you hold them like this.” My fingers brushed over hers as I adjusted her positioning and heat rippled through my skin.

Naiya caught my gaze and her cheeks flushed, as if she also felt it. “Like this?” She tried to pick up a sushi roll, but it fell out of her grip and landed on her plate. She laughed. “Maybe I’ll need more practice with those fun sticks. I’ve used these before.” She reached for the fork instead.

I loved watching her, talking to her, just being near her.

We spoke about everything while we ate, including one of my favorite subjects—music.

Spending time with her cracked a fissure in the stone-hard shield covering my heart.

We lingered through wine and dessert, and I tumbled even deeper into this cavern of falling for a mermaid.

We took the elevator down to my cabin. Heat built between us as we stood almost touching in the confined space. If we were alone…

But we weren’t. The space was packed with other supes. Instead, I stole a glance at her, and when she caught my eye with a naughty gleam in hers, I sensed we were on the same page.

Sensual tension swirled between us, like rising steam.

Even just the touch of her hand in mine singed me with electricity.

The urge to touch more of her skin, feel her body pressed against mine rose.

I tried to suppress an erection, but it was no use.

Good thing no one was approaching from the opposite direction—they’d face a gargoyle sporting a massive hard-on.

By the time we reached my cabin, every nerve inside hummed with anticipation. I unlocked the door, my heart thundering as I let her in.

She turned and stared at me, her green eyes dark with desire. Her chest rose and fell, lips parted as we stared at each other. And then…we crashed together like a collision of tectonic plates. All the tension that had been building between us imploded.

“Naiya,” I whispered as I kissed, delving into her sweet mouth and tasting her.

She pulled away just enough to utter, “I want you, Caleb,” in a breathy voice and tugged at my shirt.

I pulled it off and her gaze hooded as it roamed over me. My beast urged me forward, to claim her.

I scooped her up and carried her to my bed. While I removed her dress, I kissed down her body, exploring every satin inch of her skin. Her breasts. Her pink nipples. I took each pert one into my mouth. Marking her with my lips, my touch. Marking her as mine.

How? She lived in another world, one I couldn’t access.

“Caleb.” She released a soft moan and ran her fingers through my hair.

I could stay here forever worshiping her, but there was so much more to touch…and taste. When I moved down her torso and kissed around her belly button, she squirmed.

“That tickles,” she murmured.

“How about this?” I slid down her body, pushing the top of her delicate pink lace panties down, and kissed her skin. The scent of her arousal drove my beast feral, and my rock-hard cock ached in desperation to sink inside her.

She gasped, arching her lower body up. “That feels”—she paused, sounding breathless—”really good.”

“Good.” I puffed my chest out. “Because that’s how I want you to feel.

” I slid her panties off and inhaled her heady fragrance.

My body throbbed, dizzy with need. I drank in the sight of her, exposed and slick, waiting for me.

So tempting. I dipped my head and tasted her sweet honey—an instant addiction.

She shuddered with a relieved sigh, settling back onto my bed.

What a divine sensory feast. She was a gift from the gods of the sea. Seeing what she liked and how she responded ramped up my desire as well as hers. And more so—I could feel it on a deeper level. Like our souls whispering to each other. I could sense her emotions. It was surreal. Incredible.

As I increased the pace, her sighs and moans grew louder. Her limbs tightened. She was getting close. And I was right there on the edge with her, rock hard with anticipation.

Then she crashed, crying out before she went still. What a rush. I wanted to pleasure her like that again and again.

As she came down from her high, I removed the rest of my clothing. I sheathed myself with a condom, my hands trembling. I wanted her so badly. Her eyes were at half-mast but full of fire as she watched me, then she reached out her arms.

“I need you,” she pleaded.

Fuck yes. I slid my large body over her much smaller one, careful not to crush her. While I teased her with the head of my cock, I kissed her lips, her neck. With our size difference, I had to ensure she was ready for me.

I edged the tip in, slowly, then paused. She was so tight—and felt so fucking good.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“Yes,” she rasped out, grasping tighter.

Centimeter by aching centimeter, I rocked in, letting her adjust to my girth. Deeper I drove, then I was finally fully inside her.

And I knew.

She was the one. The only fucking one. “Mate,” I murmured, like a one-word primitive beast.

I couldn’t let her go. She was my mate and I was falling in love with her.

“Naiya?” My voice sounded deep, guttural.

Her hooded eyes fluttered open. “Yesss?” she whispered.

I stared into her eyes and staked my claim. “You’re mine.”