Page 40 of The Sea Witch’s Son (The Villains of Wolf Hollow #1)

Chapter 3 9

MARLIN

My little saint is not a morning person.

That is what I found out when I woke her before swim practice the next morning. It was a charming effort on my end, taking the time to make her come twice before heading on my way, but for some reason she did not see it that way.

“I don’t ever want to see your face before 4:30 again.” Melody glares at me, her deliciously flushed body recapturing my attention, “Don’t make this a habit, Marlin.”

“Maybe I should skip practice to make it up to you.”

“NO!” She crawls under the covers, doing a poor job of hiding from me, “Give me a couple of hours to recover.”

“Ah, so you do want me to come back.”

Sheepish eyes peek out from the duvet, “I didn’t say that.”

“I think you did.” A wicked grin hits my lips as I crawl back on the bed, “Do you want me to bring some ropes to play with? ”

She blushes prettily and I add it to my to-do list.

“No.”

“You don’t sound very convincing.”

Her brows pinch into a scowl, “I mean it, Marlin.”

“Mm, consider it done.” Pressing my lips to her neck, I breathe her in, “You will look ravishing all tied up for me, little saint.”

She shrieks when I bite down. Her body wiggles under the covers, trying to escape the punishing stamp of my teeth.

“Wear the black skirt for me today.” Kissing the flushed skin, I smile at the mark I leave behind, “You know which one.”

“I hate you.”

Chuckling, I roll off the bed and make my way towards the door.

“I still don’t believe you.”

Melody is grumbling to herself when I slip out of her bedroom.

My mind stays relatively empty as I wander through the trails, listening to the birds announce the sunrise. The morning feels calm and steady, much like my fingers as they finish fastening the cuff links at my wrist.

I follow the line of my sleeve to the crease pressed against my chest. Breathing in, I let the air fill my lungs as the flawless state of my dress shirt sets the tone for a productive day.

How men roll out of bed looking wrinkled and unkept is beyond me .

The tall hedges of the Queen’s Maze appear to my right, erupting through the forest like some sort of intruder. Men in black uniforms are hard at work, trimming and snipping the bushes to ensure the ferns look as perfect as the queen of hearts pinned to their chest.

I pause, studying the new trails being constructed. There are gaps running along the staggering wall, enabling a passerby to slip through without having to face the treacherous maze.

An opportunity too fortunate to pass up.

Ducking into the broken hedges, I bypass the construction zone and head straight for the country house peeking out of the labyrinth.

For once, the trail to the Heart family’s residence is straight and narrow, the hedges serving as a guide as I walk along the impeccable trails.

The closer I get to the property the more rose bushes appear. Built into the hedges, the blooming flowers offer a sickly sweet smell that has me holding back a grimace.

The mass of red roses resemble a line of executions, blood dripping from each bright head. No colour other than red dots the gardens, and I pity the gardener who tries otherwise.

A large, hulking figure rounds the corner. He’s looking over his shoulder, stumbling over his feet like a complete buffoon.

“Did you get lost again?” Barely holding back my sigh, I slide out from the shadows, “I’ve told you to stay away from the maze. ”

Gus jumps, his hands flailing out in front of him as if that would have prevented an attack.

“Dude. You gotta give me a warning.” Letting out a nervous chuckle, Gus looks over his shoulder again, “I thought for sure Chester was going to get me.”

“You thought a seventy-five year-old man was going to get the jump on you?”

“Have you seen the way he climbs those walls? Un-fucking-real man.”

I sigh, glancing down to straighten my shirt, “What are you doing up this early?”

“I was meeting my dad for a workout.”

“The college is in the opposite direction.”

His eyes dart nervously from side-to-side, “I was, uh, meeting up with someone.”

“That someone being?”

“Shit, don’t do this to me.” Gus blows out a breath, “You sound just like my dad.”

I tilt my head, studying the sweat beading along his forehead.

“Have you still not told him?”

He blanks, “Told him what?”

“That you’re gay.”

“Shit, Marlin.” Gus hunches, looking over his shoulder again, “Don’t say it out loud.”

Noticing the white stains on his t-shirt, I fight the urge to roll my eyes.

“Everyone knows, Gus. ”

He shakes his head rabidly, “No way. I’m like so subtle.”

“Lionel is filing for sexual assault.”

“Are you serious? Damn.” He flashes me a grin, “I love it when he plays hard to get.”

This time I do roll my eyes.

“Did you follow up with the guards from the maze?”

“What guards?”

I let out an exasperated sigh, “The ones Calista sent you to interrogate. You were supposed to ask about Jack Heart, remember?”

He stares back at me blankly.

Good God. The man has the brain capacity of an underdeveloped goldfish.

“Never mind. I’ll handle it.”

“I’ll tell dad you say hi.” Gus brightens, already brushing past me, “Oh, and maybe we could keep this between us? Just, you know, so Calista doesn’t cut my balls off.”

I cross my arms, watching him walk in the wrong direction.

“The college is to the left, Gus.”

“Right. I knew that.” Pivoting course, he throws me a cheerful wave, “Can’t wait to fuck someone up with you again!”

The lumbering frame disappears into the maze. I will be amazed if Gus manages to make it out alive.

Letting out a sigh, I pull out my phone and send a message.

ME: Take the lead this morning. I will not be attending practice.

SEBASTIAN: Everything okay, Captain ?

ME: Just a little matter of the heart. Nothing to worry about.