“Thanks, but I’d hate to impose. I really should be getting back,” I answer.
He opens his mouth to reply, and I hold up my hand to cut him off. “Look, I really appreciate you guys taking care of me last night because I don’t remember a lick of it, but I’m capable of getting back to my cabin by my lonesome. So, let me just get this walk of shame over already, okay?”
I go to step between the two blondes, and they close ranks going shoulder to shoulder. It’s cute that they think that will stop me. Ducking down, I make a mad dash between their bodies. If they really wanted to stop me, they could angle their hips and squish me between them. I try not to think about the feelings that image brings front and center.
I make it all the way to the door and almost do a victory dance. The good feeling is squelched as another man walks through it, and I nearly collide into him. Coming to a screeching halt, it’s enough hesitation to set one of the Zs into motion. A hand captures mine and twists me around.
Now facing Zephyr again, I fall victim to the enchantment of voice while those eyes simmer like liquid gold. “Just for breakfast.”
Sealing my decision, he brings my fingers to his lips and kisses the back of my hand.
“Who would have thought that all it takes to get her to behave is a little swoony romance,” Zanthus sneers as he puts some kind of smelly fish spread on a roll-looking thing.
I glare at him from across the table. “I’m not a child, beast. Ever hear of simply asking nicely?”
A breaking dish has me whipping my head over to the sound. I find another man, the one serving our food, gaping at me like I just insulted the Queen of England. Beyond the wide-open mouthed stare, he’s super attractive. I fully intend to write a wordy complaint to the cruise liner for keeping all of this eye candy restricted to this part of the ship.
I feel a not so soft nudge against my shin. Narrowing my eyes at Zanthus across the table, he simply returns my look with mock innocence. I swear to all that is fishy, that man makes me forget my maturity level. I want nothing more than to stick my tongue out at him or flick a spoonful of weird little black specks his way. Actually, considering the last one, I watch as his eyes narrow in warning.
In my peripheral, I notice his brothers have been watching our exchange. Zale’s face rests on the top of his twined hands as he fights his smile, and Zephyr is outright chuckling as his head volleys back and forth between us.
A new voice from the door breaks our staring contest. I lose as I turn to get a look at the newcomer. Holy cream cheese on a bagel, he’s just as hot as the others. And seriously, why the hell does no one wear shirts around here?
“I’m glad to see Zanthus has finally met his match,” the voice says.
I laugh as the words hit home in my brain around the frustrated lust-filled randomness. The other two laugh with me, and after a moment even Zanthus looks like he might crack a smile.
“To whom do I owe the pleasure?” the speaker asks, coming to stand beside me.
I throw out my hand in greeting as I introduce myself, “Rubi.”
All smiles around the table are gone, and the tension rolls around us in waves. He looks to each of the Zs before placing his hand in mine, all too quickly releasing it, and saying, “Merrick.”
I ignore all of the weirdness and remain polite. “Nice to meet you.”
His smile is soft and holds a small hint of relief.
“So, you’re friends with the three Zs?” I ask, being nosey.
Before he can answer, Zale cuts in, “The three Zs? Is that seriously what you’re calling us?”
I grin at him. “For now, yes.”
Zephyr laughs. “I’ll take that over whatever you’ve been calling Zanthus in your head since you woke up.”
He can’t possibly know what I’ve been thinking, but that doesn’t stop us both from chuckling as Zale shakes his head with a smirk, and Zephyr receives a glare from Zanthus.
Merrick brings the attention back to him. “To answer your question, Miss Rubi, yes. The Z’s and I have been friends for a long time.”
“Okay, what’s the deal?” I ask, my filter slipping. “Not to be rude or intrusive in any way, but you’re all gay, right? Is that it?”
Zale chokes on his drink, and Zanthus pats him roughly on the back. Zephyr is laughing so hard he’s crying and almost falling out of his chair. Merrick, in front of me, coughs twice to hide his smile.
“What in the world gave you that idea?” Zale asks, still struggling.
I shrug. “Well, I haven’t seen a single woman since I woke up, and come on... Everyone around here is sexy as homemade sin and walks around half-naked. And I’m not saying that I have anything against it. I’m all for love is love, so it’s not a big deal or anything…”
“Do you always ramble like that, woman?” Zanthus cuts across the table.
“Are you always a dick, man?” I snap back.
The room falls silent, waiting on his retort, but all he replies is, “We’re not gay, Eurybia, and you’re not where you think you are.”
I don’t question how he knows my real name. It’s probably plastered somewhere on my wet dress. The other, however, shocks me.
Zale’s hiss of, “Zanthus!” is hidden underneath my, “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
It’s directed at him, but as no one will meet my eye, my voice gets a little louder. “What the fuck does that mean?”
I jump up and away from the table as I avoid the hands that reach for me. Oh no, I’m done with this. I don’t know what they’re playing at, but I suck at games. That makes this my time to scoot on back to the sane side of the ship where the craziest thing I have to deal with is people trying to pronounce my name.
Which Zanthus had no problem with whatsoever.
Stopping at the door, I see Zale’s hand still midair as they watch me.
“Thanks for everything. Truly,” I say before bolting out the door. I’m completely lost in two seconds and have no idea which end is up. When I come to a staircase I sigh in relief. Lifting my dress, I run down the stairs almost taking them two at a time. I’m midway down as it hits me. The dress. Duh. There are women here.
My bare feet slap the marble floor until I make it to a set of wide double doors. They give me pause as I admire the intricate detail in the carvings. Swirls cover them on all four sides. When I turn my head the right way, it looks as though the swirls make waves cresting and settling back into place. The best part is what looks like an ancient family sigil right in the middle. I hear footsteps behind me, so I break that crest right down the center as I push my way out.
I have no idea what I am expecting when I step out into the brighter than usual light, but it is not what I see. There’s no ship; instead, there are dwellings that resemble houses. The only reason I would say they aren’t houses is the material they’re made of. It looks like some kind of dark shimmering glass. Too bad I’m not taking the time to stop and check them out because they look interesting, to say the least.
There’s no sun above us; instead, there’s a soft glow that lights up the entire area. The only thing that’s to be expected is the open water. Only, I’m on the wrong side of it. Underneath a dome that shimmers brighter than the houses from the unknown light.