Siren's Song: The Gray Court, Book 5 by Dana Marie Bell

television flanked one side of the fireplace while a door that presumably led into the bathroom flanked the other.
    It was a nice room, a private, romantic room with a gorgeous view of the ocean. A room meant for romance.
    “I’ll take the tub.”
    Oberon rolled his eyes. She had to be kidding him. “Over my dead body.”
    He was afraid if her cheeks burned any brighter she’d spontaneously combust, mermaid or not. “The chairs look comfy.”
    “Cassandra.”
    She jumped every time he used her full name, but that didn’t stop her from facing him head-on, her expression full of bravado. “Can you honestly tell me you’re comfortable sharing a bed with me?”
    Comfortable wasn’t the word he’d use, no. But the idea of sliding between those crisp white sheets with her had him shuddering with need. Still, Oberon would never force himself on anyone, let alone Cassie. “I can give you my word that I won’t touch you without your permission.” If that was what it took to put her at ease he would give it gladly.
    She made the strangest strangled sound, the heat in her cheeks dying so quickly she swayed. “You want to touch me?” That quickly, the fire in her face was back. “Forget I asked that.” She blew her bangs out of her eyes impatiently. “I guess we’ll be all right in the same bed.”
    They’d be more than all right, they’d be fantastic. But he didn’t think either of them was ready for that step, not from the way she was reacting, and definitely not until he knew exactly what she was so afraid of. She seriously thought he was going to leave her once his memories returned. Until he could prove otherwise, Cassie would more than likely remain skittish. “Then let’s get settled. We can start the healing first thing in the morning.”
    She glanced out the window, biting her lip. “It might be better to try at night. Fewer witnesses.”
    “But harder to see if anyone is coming for us.” But she had a point. They couldn’t reveal their natures to the mortals around them. “If you think it best, I trust your judgment.”
    The pleasure she showed every time he told her he trusted her was intoxicating. “Thank you.”
    He began unpacking, taking the right side of the dresser. “Shall we start tonight, then?”
    “It might be best.”
    But there were dark circles under her eyes, a weariness in her stance that had him biting back the urge to tuck her chastely between those sheets. “No. Let’s start tomorrow night. We’re both exhausted from running. We could use the rest.”
    She nodded absently, rubbing her fingers over that pearl ring as she turned back to stare out over the ocean. “We need to do this quickly.”
    “You’ll be of no use to either of us if you’re exhausted, Cassie. Rest. We’ll start tomorrow night.” He’d make it an order if he had to.
    She glanced back at him for a moment. “As you wish, your majesty.”
    He gritted his teeth, biting back the urge to tell her to never, ever call him that again. Every time he said something she didn’t like, she pulled out his rank and used it to put up a barrier between them.
    No more. He’d shatter that barrier any way he could. She would not use his rank against him. That had been Titannia’s trick, and Oberon would not tolerate it from the woman he wanted to claim with all his soul.
    She sighed. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to make you angry. I’m just…scared, and tired. Forgive me?”
    The doubts were drifting away the more time he spent with her. “Forgiven. Never doubt it.”
    The smile she gifted him with would have shamed the sun.
    He would have to figure out a way to get her to believe that he had no intention of ever leaving her side. Perhaps then she’d open up to him, but until then, he’d do his utmost to protect her, even from herself.

Chapter Eight
    “Knock knock.”
    “Who’s there?” A light, feminine voice surprised him. He hadn’t thought anyone had noticed his approach to the blue and white