Warriors of Poseidon 02 - Atlantis Awakening

she revived and opened her eyes, had slammed him into an overload of crisis-fueled testosterone and full-on, balls-to-the-wall lust.
     
    Just pulling off her shoes, sweater, and jeans had left him shaking with need. She was all rounded curves and soft, smooth skin in her plain white shirt and lacy underwear, and the glimpses he'd caught before he pulled the covers over her had made him wonder where the nearest ice-cold shower might be. Hells, he was a prince of Atlantis.
    He might just call an ice-cold downpour right there in the room.
     
    He clenched his jaw, disgusted with himself. She'd barely survived with her life, and all he could think of was diving cock-first into her body. He was scum. He was lower than scum.
     
    Talk about your highway to hell. Speaking of which, he'd love a little classic AC/DC right about now. Or maybe Elvis. Elvis was always good. The King was the standard bearer for "no ties, no commitments, all-play-all-the-time" bachelors.
    Atlantis Awakening – Warriors of Poseidon 02
    Page 97 of 296
    Damn, but I miss Elvis.
     
    She stirred in her sleep, maybe catching the strains of "A Little Less Conversation"
    running through his mind. She hadn't seemed to be a mind reader, but she had some freaky talents when it came to anything musical. Hells, with a woman like that around, he'd be afraid to sing in the shower.
     
    He couldn't help it; he laughed out loud at the thought of Erin critiquing his croaking singing voice, then clapped a hand over his mouth to stifle the sound. But it was too late. She opened those incredible blue eyes of hers, and she smiled at him, and he was lost.
     
    So long, Elvis.
     
    "Have I been asleep long?" she whispered.
     
    "A few hours. Go back to sleep, it's still dark," he said, finally giving in to the urge to stroke the pale strands of her hair away from her face. The long waves slipped through his fingers like the purest Atlantean silk, and the tactile sensation arrowed a bolt of heat straight through him. He shifted in the chair and hoped she didn't notice that he was so lame that he got turned on just by touching her hair. Okay, turned on even more than he'd already been.
     
    Highway straight to hell.
     
    She never took her gaze from his face, though. "It wasn't a dream, was it? I heard your music, Ven," she said, awe and wonder infusing her tone. "I heard the inside of your soul."
     
    "Poor you. I bet that was pretty scary. What did it sound like? A little Wagnerian? Head banger garage band music by sadly no-talent high school kids?"
    Atlantis Awakening – Warriors of Poseidon 02
    Page 98 of 296
    She shook her head and smiled at his sorry attempt at a joke, then tried to sit up. He lifted her upright so she could rest on the pillows, then forced himself to let her go long enough to sit back in his chair and act nonchalant. Like touching her didn't affect him at all. Mr. Cool. Mr. Casual.
     
    Mr. Full of Shit.
     
    "What was that place? What happened to me? I heard a woman… She sang to me, Ven. It was so lovely I almost couldn't bear it. She said something about me returning to her. Did you hear it?"
     
    "I heard her. I think that was the goddess of the Nereids, Erin. It had to be her. Marie heard her, too, and as First Maiden she's heard her before, but only three other times, she said." He reached for her hand, needing the contact.
     
    She twined her fingers around his, then looked at their joined hands. "What is this between us, Ven? Why is the connection so strong, when we've only just met? How can you hear my gems singing?"
     
    "I wish I knew." He gently tugged his fingers from hers and stood up to pace the room, using motion to counter the uncertainty. He briefly considered avoiding the question, but she deserved better.
     
    Finally he stopped by the side of her bed, drawn back to her presence by a force stronger than his own will, and used the truth as a shield. "I don't know how to answer any of it, Erin. I serve as the King's Vengeance, and I am sworn to protect my brother with my life. It is my honor and my duty, and it is my privilege to extend that protection to Riley and their unborn child."
     
    Something sparked, then dimmed in the crystal blue of her eyes. "Riley is pretty important to you, isn't she? Did you… are you in love with her?"
    Atlantis Awakening – Warriors of Poseidon 02
    Page 99 of 296
    "Riley? No, I never met her until she and Conlan had already pledged themselves to each other, even though it took a while for