I drank again. “I bet I would.” Fuck, I was rode hard. “I gotta take care of somethin’.” I pushed to my feet and stripped my shirt off.
“You’re not my type.” She snorted.
“No shit, dar—” I caught myself mid word.
Kendall glared at me. “I’ll let that one slide but you’re losing your edge.”
“I need sleep.”
“While I appreciate the ripped abs and bulging biceps, is there a point to this little display of muscle, Mr. Blond-Haired Surf God?”
“Yeah.” I reached for my kit and set it on the coffee table. The bandage had soaked through. “I don’t wanna wear out my welcome by bleedin’ all over Layna’s couch.” I pulled some supplies out.
Kendall pushed my hands away and took over. “Let me.”
“You know what you’re doin’?”
“Shut up and sit down.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I humored her because I was too tired to argue.
She smirked. “Now you’re getting it.” She cleaned the wound and put on a fresh bandage as good as if I’d done it myself.
I lifted my arm and inspected her work. “You’ve done this before.”
“Yep.” She didn’t elaborate.
“Thanks.” I leaned back and sighed.
“Where are you sleeping?”
“I haven’t figured that out yet.” Fuck, I wanted to be holding Siren right now.
“I only saw one other bedroom when I gave myself the grand tour. Bitchin’ house by the way.”
I rubbed my hand over my eyes, perfectly aware how many beds there were. “I prefer being on the ocean, but yeah.”
“Why aren’t you sleeping with her?”
How could I sleep next to her when I’d been a part of Randy’s death? “She told me she watched him take his last breath.”
“Even more reason to be in there instead of out here.”
“I’m not taking advice from you. That’s a surefire way to get my ass kicked.”
She shrugged like she wasn’t insulted. “Your loss.”
No fucking kidding. “Go to bed so I can crash here.”
“You’re an idiot.”
“Probably.”
“Whatever.” She got up, dumped her plate in the sink and thankfully, disappeared into her bedroom.
I kicked my boots off, lay back on the couch and closed my eyes, wondering how big of a mistake I was making.
An hour later, I couldn’t tell if I was dreaming the quiet keening sound but when it happened again, I sat up. The sound came again from Siren’s room. My heart rate surged into overdrive and I was on my feet. I burst through the door and found her thrashing around in a twisted sheet.
I lay down and pulled her into my arms. “Shh, shh, c’mon, darlin’, wake up for me.”
She jerked once, arched her back then went deadly still.
“You’re okay. I gotcha,” I whispered, stoking her hair. “You just had a bad dream.”
She burst into tears.
“Fuck.” I gathered her into my arms, sat up and settled against the headboard. “Let it out, darlin’. Let it all out.”
Kendall appeared in the doorway and raised her eyebrows. I shook my head and she stepped back, closing the door behind her.
“You’re okay,” I tried to soothe Siren. “You’re safe.”
“No one’s safe,” she cried.
I pulled back and grabbed her face. “I am not going to let anything happen to you. You. Are safe.”
Tears dripping down her cheeks, her eyes silently pleaded.
I shook her once. “You hear me? You’re safe. Nothing is going to happen to you,” I emphasized, fighting to hold back my accent. “Not on my watch,” I promised.
Her face contorted into anguish. “He almost killed you.”
I froze.
“He shot at you.” Her lip trembled. “He was shooting at you. He was trying to die but he was supposed to live. I needed him to live.”
I pulled her to my chest.
“Talon,” she cried.
I didn’t know which fucking end was up. “I’m right here.” Was she crying for me? For him? “I’m right here, darlin’.” I cupped her cheek out of desperation and our eyes met.
Time stopped.
Then all of a sudden, she straddled my lap, her hands snaked into my hair and she pulled.
I couldn’t help it. A growl ripped from my chest and desire shot through my veins. “Siren,” I warned, emotions ricocheting around my brain rapid-fire.
“Please,” she begged. Pushing up against me, there was no mistaking what she was asking for.
Jesus fuck. I grasped the sides of her face. I wanted to give her what she wanted, but I wasn’t going to be used. Not by her. “I want my mouth on you so bad, I can taste it.” She made a sound low in her throat. “But I’m not gonna let what we’ve got between us be about your grief for another man.”