Of Poseidon

from their time spent shoved in a travel bag in the bottom of Rachel’s closet. This cozy look is just as inviting to him as the little purple dress she wore on their human date. He’s about to tell her so when she opens her door.
    “Well, I’m sure she heard the car pull up so I’d better get inside,” she says.
    He laughs, trying to swallow the disappointment as he walks her to the door. She fidgets with the keys as if she’s trying to decide which one will unlock the dead bolt. Since there are only three keys on the ring—and the other two are car keys—Galen takes delight in the fact that she’s stalling. She doesn’t want this day to end any more than he does.
    She looks up then, meeting his eyes. “I can’t even tell you what a great time I had today. The best time, honest to goodness.”
    “You know what my favorite part was?” he says, stepping closer.
    “Hmm?”
    “We didn’t fight. Not once. I hate fighting with you.”
    “I do, too. It seems like a waste of time when…”
    He leans impossibly closer, holding her gaze. “When?”
    “When we could be enjoying each other’s company instead,” she whispers. “But you probably don’t enjoy my company here lately. I haven’t been very nice—”
    He brushes his lips against hers, cutting her off. They’re softer than he ever imagined. And it’s not enough. Moving his hand from her jawline to entwine it in her damp locks, he pulls her to him. She tips up on her toes to meet him and as he lifts her from the ground, she folds her arms around his neck. Just as hungry for him as he is for her, she opens her mouth for a deeper kiss, pressing her soft curves into him. And Galen decides there is nothing better than kissing Emma.
    Everything about her seems made for him. The way her mouth moves in perfect rhythm with his. The way she combs her fingers through his hair, sending a stirring jolt down his spine. The way her cool lips ignite heat through his whole being. She fits in his arms, as if her every curve fills a place on his own body.…
    Neither of them realize when the door opens, but their lips break apart when Emma’s mom clears her throat. “Oh, excuse me,” her mom blurts. “I thought I heard a car pull up.… Uh, well, I’ll just be inside then.” She disappears behind an almost slammed door.
    Galen grins down at Emma, still in his arms. The contentment he feels is shattered when he sees pain in her eyes.
    She tugs free of his grasp and steps back. “All this time, I worried you wouldn’t be able to perform, but I almost dropped the ball.”
    “Dropped the ball?” he asks, alarmed by the way her swollen lips quiver. Is she about to cry? “Did I do something wrong?” he whispers. She moves away when he reaches for her.
    Giving a forced smile, she says, “No, it was perfect. I didn’t even hear her coming. Now she won’t have any doubts about us dating, will she?”
    Understanding hits him like a rogue wave. Emma thinks I kissed her for her mom’s benefit. “Emma—”
    “I mean, for a minute there, you almost had me convinced that we … Anyway, I’d better go inside before she checks on us again.”
    “Have you lost your mind ?” someone hisses from the bushes beside the porch. Galen doesn’t have to turn around to know it’s Rayna. She marches up the stairs, already pointing at Galen.
    Oh, no.
    Rayna pokes Galen’s chest. “You’ve got a lot of nerve, you know that? Following her all over the world, pretending to have the kingdom’s interest in mind. You slimy eel! You kissed her. I can’t believe you kissed her.”
    Emma gives a nervous laugh. “You knew he was going to do that, Rayna. We told you, remember?”
    Rayna gives her a horrified scowl. “Oooooh, no. He was going to pretend to kiss you. That kiss was real. Trust me on this one, Emma. I’ve known him a lot longer than you have.”
    “Maybe we should take this out back to the beach?” Emma says, glancing at the front door.
    Rayna nods, but Galen shakes his head. “No, you can go in, Emma. Rayna and I can talk about it on the drive home.”
    “Uh-uh. No way, Galen. You’re telling her the truth.” If Rayna keeps raising her voice, Emma’s mom will hear. Galen grabs Rayna’s arm and pulls her from the porch. When she struggles, he throws her over his shoulder.
    “Emma!” Rayna shouts, wiggling around like a hooked fish. “You need to hear this! Tell her, Galen! Tell her why you shouldn’t be kissing her at all.”
    Emma walks to