Alexia’s heart beat rapidly under his hands, and Joshua tried to soothe her, rubbing his hands up and down her arms. His touch seemed to help and he moved even closer, his torso snug against her. He whispered in her ear. “We’re shifters, Alexia. Some people call us merfolk. We can live on the land and in the ocean in our human forms, but we can also change into dolphins for longer journeys. Plus we like to play as dolphins.”
“Are you telling me you’re mermaids? With tails and stuff?”
Anthony laughed. “Umm. Do they look like maids out there in the surf?”
Joshua turned her in his arms and kissed her forehead briefly. “It’s just a name, Alexia. But yes, mermaids exist, not as sirens luring sailors to their deaths. We’re human, but we’re more than human. There’s a chemical in our blood that allows us to change forms and even breathe underwater.”
Anthony spoke over his shoulder. “Some merfolk have the ability to shift into another form as well, St. El—”
Joshua interrupted, “You’re one too.” He didn’t want to confuse the issue any further by mentioning things better left unsaid for a while longer. Things like he had a form that looked like St. Elmo’s fire. That he could travel over the water and track her medallion.
Things like the fact he’d already made love to Alexia. He’d tell her soon enough, just…not yet.
Alexia’s eyes grew huge, the moon making her brown irises glow with an unearthly light. “I’m a merfolk? But how?”
Michael shook his head as he came to take Alexia by the arm. His dark eyes flashed his irritation at Joshua. “Nice diplomatic announcement.”
“First, my lady, you should let the rest of the boys go back to playing.” Anthony pointed to where the men still stood in the moonlit sea. “Wave goodbye and they’ll know you don’t need them any longer tonight.”
She hesitantly shook a hand and the group in the ocean disappeared, some shifted back to dolphin, some dove into the waves in their human forms. Alexia watched until they faded from sight, the final hand waving from far out at sea. She closed her eyes and shuddered.
Joshua scooped her away from Michael, disregarding both their protests. “We’ll take you home to finish the story there. The night is growing cooler and you’re shaking.” He pressed his lips to her forehead again, his gaze meeting with Michael and Anthony. In silent agreement they turned from the shore.
It was time.
Chapter Five
Alexia opened the door and wandered into the empty house. Lost in the swell of emotion raging through her mind and the sexual tension racing through her body, she made her way blindly to the living room not even checking if anyone followed her. She occupied herself with trivial things. Lit the kindling in the fireplace, added wood until it blazed and a warm glow filled the room. Sat back and stared into the flames.
The day had gone from strange to stranger.
Gram didn’t need her help. Instead the conniving old sweetheart seemed to be trying to set up Alexia with one of Jaffrey Cove’s finest eye candy. And Gram was the leader of people who could turn at will into dolphins.
Alexia gave herself a shake. She needed a drink.
She startled as a hand pressed on her shoulder, momentarily forgetting anyone was there with her. Wordlessly, Anthony handed her a wine glass before he sat nearby on the floor and leaned back against the couch. Alexia stared into the ruby depths, the scent of the smoky liquid rising to her nose, mixing with the other scents in the room that teased and tickled.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Beside her a strange sense of emotion flowed from Anthony, desire and nervousness overlaying each other in equal amounts. He worried about how she was taking the revelation that legends existed, astonished to be in the same room as her, near enough to touch her. He wanted her. A pure, sweet emotion full of adoration and longing.
Alexia looked into his face and his eyes darted away from her direct gaze. How did she know what he felt? His emotions were as clear as if he had spoken. She remembered Anthony as the stalwart peacemaker during her summer visits. He was the one who’d calmed the storms that constantly erupted among the volatile Marley clan. He’d never given any indication that he’d been attracted to her, never flirted like some of his older kin. She brushed a hand over his arm and he shivered. His eyes closed and his body leaned closer to her like he couldn’t help himself.
A snarl rose behind her. Michael. His scent darker, richer. Powerful and compulsive, filling the room with strength. She felt how hard his body was, knew he wanted to bury himself in her softness and possess her. He slipped to the floor on her other side, his blue eyes watching her carefully.
“We need to explain the rest. Are you warm yet?” Michael’s gaze dropped over her body, sweeping up her torso to land on the medallion.
Was she warm? She was melting. Taking a deep breath, she not only smelt the men in the room, she felt their heat. Felt the pulse of their hearts loud enough to vibrate the walls of the room. Felt the sexual intent in their glances and the tightness in their bodies.
The arousal that had built through the day fought to surface, sensitizing her skin, knotting her stomach, pulsing in her core. She sipped at her wine, letting the rich flavor swirl on her tongue and burst in her mouth. This was insane. Here she sat in Gram’s living room, a man on either side oozing sex appeal, and she soaked it all in. She wanted to flirt, to broadcast back to them just a bit of what she was feeling. Flicking a glance at Anthony, she licked her lips. His nostrils flared in response, his gaze locked on her mouth. She smiled and took another sip, watched him as she swallowed, the corner of his mouth twitching.
Alexia couldn’t see him but sensed Joshua was in the room as well. He stood farther away, leaning on the glass doors separating the living room from the kitchen. His hard body called the loudest and she swung her head to look at him.
His emotions rang the clearest. He wanted her most of all. To touch her, hold her. Be claimed by her. His outward calm was a façade, his easy stance denied by how hard his body throbbed with need, how his jaw clenched when he glanced at his brother and cousin.
He wanted her alone. He was willing to offer her everything.
Alexia stopped and took a deep breath. However she was able to sense these things, they were real. Her fingers rubbed the medallion and a strange peace descended on her.
They were hers. All of them. She was due their homage. It was only right Michael and Anthony knelt on the floor, close enough she could touch them at will, whenever she desired.
She looked at Joshua again. Why was he not at her side as well? She wanted him there. Lowering her lashes, Alexia considered for a minute before she rose to her feet and strolled to him. His blond hair glowed in the reflected light of the fire. Golden flecks she didn’t remember shone in his green eyes. Alexia offered her wine glass, and he wrapped his fingers around hers, trapping them between his warmth and the cool crystal. He brought the glass to his lips and took the final drops into his mouth. This time she couldn’t stop staring at the moisture that clung to his firm mouth, and his beautiful smile that followed. She ran a fingertip over his bottom lip. His tongue flicked to wet it, the smell of the wine heady around them, joining with the salty scent she recognized as his.
Her womb clenched, wanting his intimate touch, and his eyes flashed, like he’d sensed the spike in her arousal.
“You need to let us tell you the rest of the story, Alexia,” Joshua whispered as he took the glass from her and placed it on a side table. Linking his fingers through hers he led her back to the couch in front of the fire. She tugged at him when he would have joined the others on the floor, instead drawing him onto the couch and curling up at his side. One hand slipped behind his back to nestle her body into his.