Voices of the Sea (17 page)

“Try to be nice,” she said, pleading. “For me?”

Ryan kissed her hand. “Fine,” he grumbled. “For you.” Ryan jumped out of the car and was at the passenger side door before she could get out on her own. He helped her out of the car and put an arm around her shoulders.

“Be nice,” she reminded him, wondering why she hesitated to share her new relationship with Will. They were merely friends, after all, though Fiona had insinuated otherwise. She hoped Will would be receptive of her new boyfriend. She couldn’t deny the strange rivalry existing between the two men in her life.

Will’s mouth turned down and his brow furrowed, glaring at the new couple. Lora could not help but notice his hands were clenched into fists. “Where have you been?” he asked, his voice hard, his steel eyes not leaving her face.

As she opened her mouth to speak, Ryan answered for her. “She was with me.”

Will’s eyes glanced at Ryan, but turned back to Lora. “You’re supposed to be careful. I promised your father I would protect you if you left the house, but you’ve been gone all night and never once called to tell me where you were!” His tone sounded angry, much more than chastising. It dripped full of malice, and his fury frightened her.

Taking a step back, Lora grasped Ryan’s hand. As she had expected, he trembled with anger. Giving his hand a quick, reassuring squeeze, she summoned her patience. She had to believe Will’s anger emerged from worry over her safety. She would feel the same way if he were in danger, so she couldn’t blame him.

It had grown colder since they left the beach, and the clouds served as a dark cloth over the moon. She shivered. “Let’s go inside and talk about this,” she said, noticing Will’s seething gaze focused on their joined hands. The calm, steady friend with whom she was so familiar did not exist at this moment.

“No,” he said. “You and I need to talk, but he has no part in this. He’s not one of us.” Will spit the words as if they were poison to his mouth.

Lora heard Ryan growl, a low guttural sound deep in his throat that alarmed her. “Stop!” she shouted at Will. “Stop it, now. Ryan is a Siren, he is one of us, and he is with me. Whatever you have to say to me, you can say to him too. Will, he’s my counterpart.”

Will’s face became unrecognizable with rage. “Him?” he hissed. “He’s your counterpart?” His voice sounded like a hoarse whisper as he continued to glare at their joined hands. Deep inside, Lora’s stomach felt sick and her heart beat the song of betrayal. He cared for her deeply, more than she had realized. The torment on his face was evidence enough.

“Yes,” Ryan said. “And I can protect her as well as you can.”

Will moved backwards, his gray eyes now as dark as the clouds above him. He clenched his teeth and said, “We’ll see.”

Lora could only watch helplessly as he turned and stormed to his car, slamming the door with a force which made her wince. The tires of his car squealed as he drove away, down the street and out of sight.

She shuddered, picturing his twisted features in her mind. “He’s so angry,” she said to Ryan, moving closer to him as he put his arm around her shoulders. “I’ve never seen him react so strongly before. He’s been sad, but never had so much hate in his voice, at least not toward me.”

Ryan led her to the front door. With trembling hands, as much from the cold as from the memory of Will’s fury, she fumbled for her keys. They slipped from her fingers and dropped on the ground. This brief action broke her, and helpless tears gushed down her cheeks.

Sobbing, Lora slumped to the ground, putting her hands to her wet cheeks to wipe them away in embarrassment. “I’m sorry,” she murmured between sobs. Her nose ran and no doubt her mascara streamed down her cheeks, which probably did nothing to enhance her appearance.

“Don’t be,” Ryan said, helping her up and into the house. He led her to the couch and sat down next to her, pulling her close to embrace her. His comforting touch was calming. “Will loves you,” he said, stroking her hair. He kissed the top of her head. “I can’t blame him for caring, and so I understand his anger.” Chuckling, Ryan pulled away to search her face. “It’s probably the first time I’ve actually understood any of his actions since I’ve met him.”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

Ryan shrugged. “He’s just . . . different,” he said, his answer vague.

“No,” Lora said, sitting up, her tears forgotten. Lately, she had seen a change in Will also, and was relieved someone else noticed it too. “You can’t say he’s ‘different’ and then drop off. What do you mean by different?”

Frowning, he shifted on the couch and turned his gaze out the window. A large cypress in the back yard swayed back and forth, keeping rhythm with the ocean’s song. “I think Will is a hard guy to read,” he said with a sigh. “I didn’t want to say anything to you before because I see how close you are, but I have a tough time figuring out his motives most of the time. I mean, he appears to be loyal to the Clan and a decent guy, but wouldn’t even help Nicholas when that asshole Douglas beat him up.”

Lora nodded. She had been so worked up over Will’s disapproval of her actions and had not stopped to wonder why he hadn’t stepped in to help. “The fight in the cafeteria, too,” she said, still staring at the Cypress as her mind moved quickly over this new understanding. “Why wouldn’t he help me? He just ignored it and turned away.”

Ryan shrugged again. “That’s what I mean,” he said, turning to her with dark eyes. “He’s different.”

“Maybe he didn’t want to get involved,” she suggested, feeling the need to defend her friend. “Maybe he just thought it wasn’t his business.” She searched for a logical explanation, because it did seem odd he wouldn’t help, particularly since she got involved.

“Then he and I are not in agreement.” Ryan’s dark eyes made her heart beat faster as he leaned forward, pulling her into a kiss. His lips were warm and soft, caressing hers, causing her to shiver in delight. As her lips moved with his, he pulled her closer, until their bodies were pressed together in passion, his hands exploring her skin. He paused as he skimmed over the Siren mark, a small wave-like bump on the nape of her neck. He gently stroked it with his fingers.

“Where is yours?” she whispered, her hands pressed against his chest. His eyes didn’t leave hers as he pulled up his shirt sleeve to reveal the mark on his bicep. Lora reached up to let her fingers touch it. He pulled her closer and kissed her again.

Their kiss deepened and their breathing was heavy. She drank in his scent, and his taste intoxicated her. Ryan’s hands moved under her shirt to grip her waist and pull her closer as he bent over her, his mouth moving across her neck now. Lora’s body pulsed with desire, wanting more, needing more from a man than she ever imagined was possible. Their lips met again, more fiercely this time. As their passion grew, she could only think about how much she wanted him.

They heard the footsteps in the hallway, too late.

“Lora?”

At the sound of her father’s voice, she gasped and jolted up, causing Ryan to stumble before he found his footing. Ryan righted himself and glanced back and forth between Lora and her father, as if he was unsure what to do next. Her face flushed with embarrassment. Lora bolted off the couch to stand next to Ryan, wondering how much her father had seen.

“Dad,” she said in an apologetic tone, “um, what are you doing?”

Her father cleared his throat, staring at the couple in what appeared to be amusement. He cracked his knuckles. “I could ask you the same thing.” Her father’s voice sounded flat, void of emotion, which only made her worry more. Was he angry? She really had no way of telling, but felt her knees tremble slightly.

Ryan adjusted his shirt and moved forward. “I’m sorry, sir,” he said. “We didn’t mean to wake you up.” Lora had to stop herself from chuckling. Ryan had worked side by side with her dad for weeks, hoping to find a way to stop the Sons of Orpheus. Now, he appeared completely intimidated.

“It’s okay, Ryan,” her father said. To Lora’s surprise, he chuckled. “The two of you haven’t been as secretive as you think. I suspected something going on between you weeks ago.”

Ryan’s eyes moved to the floor. “Oh,” he murmured. “We didn’t want to upset anyone.”

“You haven’t, son.” In a gesture which make Lora soar with happiness, Robert patted Ryan on the back and gripped his shoulder. “You have helped us more than you can imagine.” Robert turned to his daughter.

“You seem different,” he said, studying her. “Glowing, almost.”

Lora beamed and held Ryan’s hand. “I found my counterpart, Daddy.”

Robert’s eyes widened and his head moved back and forth between them.

“Ryan?” he asked.

Lora nodded.

“Yes.” The ocean’s song traveled in through an open window, a joyous melody. Lora wondered if her father could hear.

Her father sighed, nodding his head. “Then I’m happy for you,” he said. “That must be why Devin called. She wants you to come by the cottage in the morning.” He turned then to Ryan. “Both of you.”

“We will,” she said. Emotion overcame her. Her father accepted Ryan. Lora rushed forward and hugged him tightly. “Thank you,” she whispered in his ear. “Thank you.”

Her father hugged her back before pulling away. “It’s late,” he said. “You should get some sleep.” Robert paused at the stairs. “You’ll help protect her, won’t you?” he said to Ryan.

“With my life, sir,” Ryan replied, putting his arm around Lora’s waist. Nodding, her father trudged up the stairs, his gray hair visible in the darkened stairwell. Lora and Ryan followed. When she arrived at her door, she gave him a light kiss.

“Don’t let me sleep late,” she said. “Promise you’ll wake me as soon as you get up?” she whispered, resisting the urge to press against him.

“First thing.”

“Promise?”

“I promise,” he said, kissing her. “Sleep well, Loralei.”

She examined his lean form as he slipped down the dark hallway and into the guestroom. The ocean’s melody sounded fainter than before, but could still be heard above the strong wind whipping through the trees, swaying to the haunting melody. The moon could not be seen tonight, though the fog gave off an eerie glow as it meandered along the empty streets. He slept down the hallway, but he felt so far away. Reluctantly, she returned to her room, lay on her bed and closed her eyes, pretending he lay next to her, keeping her warm in the dark room. In such a short time he had become a crucial part of her life. Her counterpart forever. She fell asleep smiling, still picturing his face.

The next morning, Ryan parked on the street in front of Devin’s cottage, following her down the sandy path toward the house, far enough so they weren’t quite touching. As they strolled leisurely toward the cottage, Lora felt the ocean’s energy within her. She saw someone standing at a window inside. Devin, probably. Lora smiled. She removed her shoes, stepping carefully on the rocks along the ocean side. The sea churned a brilliant blue this morning despite the clouds above, singing of love, a reflection of Lora’s heart.

Ryan paused, reaching out to take her hand in his own. He turned them so they faced the sea together. “It’s singing a new song today,” he said, not taking his eyes off the ocean. “It’s different than the melody I usually hear.”

“What does the ocean usually sing to you?” she asked him, though she suspected the answer before he gave it.

“Songs of sorrow, mostly.”

“Because of your family?” she asked, her voice quiet so he would see she didn’t want to upset him.

Ryan tore his dark eyes from the blue sea and searched her face. “I grieve for my Clan, because they were good people who didn’t deserve to die. I should have been firmer, clearer, when I told them how worried I was. Instead, I pushed my feelings aside and let them reassure me we were safe, even though I knew in my heart the Sons of Orpheus were coming.”

Lora turned her body toward him so they stood face to face, gazes locked. “Are there other reasons?” she asked, running her thumb over his hand, feeling the smoothness of his skin as it touched her own.

Ryan touched her cheek with his fingertips. “You,” he whispered. “You were the other reason.” Lora’s body warmed, moving closer to Ryan till she could feel his hard chest, feel his heart beating next to her own. Her hair rustled in a breeze tinged with sea salt.

“Were?” she asked, resting her head against his body as she closed her eyes. “Why did I make you sad?”

She felt Ryan swallow, felt his body tremble as he said, “Because you weren’t mine.”

Lora let go of his hand and reached around so her arms encircled his body, burying her head in his chest while tears of happiness crept down her cheeks. She stared up at him, into the black pool of his eyes that reflected his sadness. She shook her head.

“You’re wrong,” she whispered, bringing her face close to his. “I’m yours. I’ve always been yours.”

A low moan of desire ripped from Ryan’s throat as he grasped her face in his hands, bringing their lips together. His mouth tasted soft, delicious, electric. Body trembling, Lora pushed herself against him, afraid to be parted from him for even a minute. The kiss deepened until her body threatened to crumble to the ground, before Ryan pulled away from her, smoothing her dark hair from her face.

“You’re mine,” he said, more as a declaration than a question. He pulled her into his arms, kissing her neck, her cheek, the hollow of her throat. The ocean sang an erotic melody that only they two could hear. She wanted him; more than any other, she needed him to live, to survive.

Choose him,
the ocean said in its pure voice. She didn’t need the instructions, however, for she’d already made her choice.

“I think I might love you,” he whispered, gently kissing her mouth.