Page 5 of Rock of Stages (Moonlight Siren #4)
CALEB
“ W ow. This place is— magical.” Naiya marveled at our surroundings as we walked down the stairs to my cabin, still wet and wrapped in striped towels.
“A floating city,” I remarked, although that was a stretch. But it did have the essentials to keep us going until we reached our next stop to restock on food, fuel, and all the other requirements to keep the ship functioning.
When she stumbled on a step, I caught her arm and instinctively brought her close to my body.
“Are you okay?” I asked, ensuring she was steady.
“Yes.” She flashed a small smile. “Still getting used to these land legs.”
I chuckled. “I know the feeling. After days of sailing, I’m unsteady once I step on land. Still using my sea legs.” I tapped the side of mine.
“Truly?” Her eyes widened even more. “You have sea legs?”
“No.” I shook my head with another laugh. “It’s just an expression we use to describe the feeling as we adjust.”
“Oh.” She nodded with understanding.
I held her arm as we reached the next landing. “Come on.” I motioned with my head. “We’ll take the elevator the rest of the way.” I continued to hold her close to me while I directed us over to a bank of them.
We stepped inside the glass elevator and the doors closed.
Her scent filled me with sudden longing, and I had to brace myself against a wall.
Her unique fragrance had the signature salty scent of the sea and one that was alluringly female.
Mate. A quiet rumble resonated deep within my chest. The yearning for her stirring something deep.
Strange. Foreign and yet somehow familiar.
It made no sense. I’d never believed in all that fated mate stuff.
I’d rolled my eyes every time Van or Rex told me they “just knew.” But here I was, rattled by a woman with sea-glass eyes and silvery-blond hair that cascaded down to a shimmering blue at the end, like the subtle silver-teal gradient of her fins.
No, not just a woman—a mermaid with fins and a tail who lived in the ocean.
Completely and utterly bewildering.
Once we descended, she gasped and leaned against me, clinging to my arm.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“I’ve never been in one like this. It’s a little scary and”—her gaze fixed on a chandelier as we descended—”magnificent.”
“It’s fine, I’ve got you.” I held her close and we passed into the vast atrium filled with marble and lights, looking at as if seeing it through her eyes for the first time. It was indeed magnificent, though something I’d taken for granted after living on the ship for months.
This fancy elevator didn’t take us to my deck, so we had to step out and I chose to walk the final flights.
I held her arm once more to keep her steady—or at least that’s what I told myself.
She seemed to be much sturdier now, and I doubted that she needed my help, but I liked being able to touch her soft skin and ensure she was safe.
And she didn’t seem to mind me doing so.
As we walked down the narrow corridor through the cabins, she turned her head in every direction. “These are all cabins?” she asked. “And different supernaturals sleep in them?”
“Yes.” I nodded.
“Wow, this ship is like an oyster’s dream,” she whispered.
I tried to hold back my chuckle.
I pushed open the door to my cabin and stepped aside to let her in. “It’s not much,” I warned, scratching the back of my neck.
She stepped inside and glanced around with awe, like she was entering a cathedral.
She scanned every inch of my tiny room—the bed, the desk, the built-in storage, and tiny TV—with the same wonder I imagined I’d have if I visited her home.
I pictured a world of caverns and coral palaces under the sea.
“This is all yours?” she asked, pausing on the bed before she turned away with a slight blush.
“Yeah. Pretty standard cruise ship setup. Tight quarters, but I have more space than many others, considering my size.” My gaze focused on the bed as well, and I tore it away.
She ran her fingers along the smooth wall panel, then poked the edge of the desk. “All this is like what I’ve seen on land, but—it floats on the sea.” Her voice sounded breathy.
“Right.” I gulped, inhaling another whiff of her scent. But now it was here, in my space, near my bed…
Why was my throat suddenly tight?
“Shower’s through there,” I said, my voice gravelly. I pushed open the door to the tiny bathroom. “If you want, you can rinse off while I find dry clothes for you.”
She walked over toward it, but in the confined space, we were merely inches apart. I moved out of the way to let her in, and she cocked her head. “How does it work?”
“Turn the silver handle,” I directed. “The water will come down from that nozzle above. Like rainfall.”
She turned to me with a fascinated expression. “Like rain?”
“Yes. You can adjust the water to a comfortable temperature and then step under it.”
“Okay.” She closed the door softly.
I stared at it. The sound of trickling water followed, and she laughed win delight. A bolt of awareness bloomed deep within my chest. Naiya was in my cabin. In my shower. Naked. I let out a slow exhale, trying to calm my pulse.
Forcing myself not to gape at the door, I tore my gaze away, where it landed right on my bed.
What the hell am I doing?
“I’ll be right back,” I called out in a strained voice. My clothes were way too big, and I needed to find some that would fit her body—her gorgeous, naked, soaking wet body.
Focus.
The second I closed the cabin door, I leaned back against it, fighting the urge to head right back inside.