Chapter 8

NEPTUNE

There was a crick in my neck from sitting on the edge of the boat for hours on end. But I knew it would help with the transition between the seas. This was a rough part of the water, and considering how important the cruise was and the people who decided to buy a place on it, were to Jinx, it made sense that they paid me good money to do this.

But that didn't mean I hadn't been relieved when Bo appeared and I had an excuse to take a break.

"Here we are," I said, pressing my key against the door and waiting for the telltale click of the door opening. I pushed it open and gestured for her to go inside.

She slipped past me, bringing with her the scent of coconut, presumably something she used in her hair.

"Wow, this is huge," she said, looking around the cabin. Though that was a rude word for something that rivalled most hotel suites.

"It's one of the rooms reserved for sea gods. Something about wanting to keep us happy. I don't know why they'd even worry about that," I joked.

Bo let out a delightful laugh. "No idea at all. And you even have a proper living room. Our bedroom doors open right into the one in our suite."

"There's a small kitchenette too. There's not much in it, but help yourself to whatever you want."

Her whole face lit up. "I can cook?"

"I'm not sure I'd go that far, there aren't any ingredients for that. But if it's something you want to do, I can pick some groceries up for you at the next stop."

From her expression, she was torn between agreeing because she wanted to create something, and saying no because she didn't want to put me out.

"Do you want a tour?" I asked so she didn't have to give either answer just yet. We had more time before the boat docked again, and that meant we could get to know each other better.

"Absolutely."

Without thinking about it, I reached out and touched the small of her back. She leaned into my touch, pleasing me that she was reacting that way.

"So that's my bedroom," I said, gesturing to the door on the left. "And the guest bedroom, I guess?"

"You guess?"

"Well, I'm not really sure what they think I need a guest room for on a dating cruise. Surely if I'm going to have someone else back to my cabin, it's not going to be as a guest."

"And yet here I am," she responded. "Unless you're trying to tell me that you invited me here for less than gallant reasons."

I chuckled. "I invited you here because I like you and it seemed as if you needed somewhere quiet."

"You're not wrong about that." She drifted into the living room. "That's an obscenely big TV for a cruise ship."

"It's an obscenely big TV regardless," I responded. "But it has great sound."

She raised an eyebrow.

"I was watching a documentary about sharks the other day."

"Don't you already know a lot about sharks?"

I shrugged. "I know some stuff about sharks, but science is always finding new things, and I like to learn more about the sea. I'm not all-knowing, so everything I want to know, I have to learn."

She turned around, bringing us so close together that I could almost hear her heartbeat. "Are all gods as diligent as you?"

"Definitely not," I murmured, trying not to think about how much I wanted to kiss her. Or how much I'd thought about the missed opportunity last night.

"That's a shame." She moved away, much to my disappointment. "The sculpture is beautiful." She stopped in front of a large metal twist shaped into seaweed and hiding delicately wrought fish within.

"It is," I said. "Thor made it."

She looked back at me, confusion written on her face. "Thor?"

I nodded. "He's a metal artist. I don't know much about it, but a lot of the gods use his pieces when they need to decorate."

"It's amazing. The angelfish is my favourite."

"Have you seen the dolphin in the dining room?"

She frowned. "No, I don't think so."

"Maybe you'll have another favourite once you do."

"I am partial to dolphins." The way she looked at me when she said it made my heart constrict, and it certainly seemed like she meant more than the words at face value. But I couldn't let myself get too caught up in what she might mean.

"Even if the TV is ridiculous, feel free to watch it. Or you could have a bath or something. I don't know what you want to do, but my cabin is at your disposal."

"Thank you, You have no idea how much I needed this."

"You're welcome." I turned, my neck making a loud clicking noise as I did. "Ah."

"Are you okay?" Bo asked, concern written all over my face.

"It's just my neck. It's clicking after being sat down for so long."

"Sit down, let me sort it," Bo said.

I raised an eyebrow. "Do you know what you're doing?"

"Mmhmm. In the early days of Mei's career, she couldn't afford all of the staff she can now, so I learned how. Dance rehearsals can be quite strenuous."

"I had no idea."

"Me neither until I started working in the industry. Now sit." She pointed to the sofa.

I did as she asked.

"I don't suppose you have any massage oil?"

"They must have missed it from my Jinx welcome basket," I quipped.

She chuckled. "Maybe they gave you an upgrade from the basket I got that included it."

"I don't think they like sea gods that much," I joked.

Her fingers found a tight spot on my neck and I let out a groan.

"That feels good."

"I know." She leaned over and smoothed her hands around the front of my neck, bringing the scent of coconuts with her.

Her proximity was almost too much for me to stand. She was beautiful, that went without saying, but there was something more about it. And the feeling I had inside was the same one I'd gotten when I'd met other important people in my life. Not all of them were romantic, but they did come with a feeling that could only be described as right . Like the pieces fit together just right.

But I didn't want to scare Bo by telling her any of that, especially when she'd said that she didn't have time for any kind of relationship. If anything was going to happen between us, then it should be at her speed.

"There you go," She said softly, her touch lingering a moment longer than it needed to. But I wasn't exactly complaining.

I rolled my neck, surprised to discover that it was no longer cracking. "You're magic."

"Not quite." The expression on her face was hard to read.

"I should get back to work," I said.

"Oh, yes. I forgot."

My chest tightened in response to her words. She came here because I wasn't going to be here, if she'd already forgotten that, then it suggested she wanted to spend time with me. Not that I really doubted that when she was clearly showing interest.

"Help yourself to whatever you want," I said, as I headed to the door.

Bo nodded.

I hoped she would. I wanted her to be comfortable in my space. Which probably meant that I was already in way too deep.