Lowering himself down to my level, our eyes clash as he insists, "You will go back out there, princess. You will break this curse upon our people; and do you know why? Because I've sensed your strength since the moment I saw you fall from the deck of that ship."
My gulp is loud between us as I try to fight tears again.
"Even if you weren't the one to break the curse," he admits softly as he closes more of the space between us, "I'd still have saved you and just like now, never let you go."
Before I know what my own intentions are, my fingers are tightening in those blond locks and yanking us the rest of the way together. Not one to disappoint, he lets me have my fill until I'm struggling to breathe again.
When our lips are our own again, I make all three of them laugh as I ask, "So, what's a girl got to do to get some food around here?"
The brothers don't bother to wait for Merrick or call him in to make us a lunch spread. Zanthus and Zale take over the kitchen, leaving Zephyr at my side. He claims my hand and brings the back of it to his lips.
"Make her a warm mug of tea, Zale," he orders before turning back to me to add, "Your hands are like ice. Probably left over from the shock, but Zale makes the best tea, and he doesn't even have to include any alcohol in it."
"Where have you been that they put alcohol in hot tea?" I ask curiously, trying to switch topics again.
A boyish grin takes over his face as he replies with a wink, "I've been almost everywhere you can think of. My brothers may have found it completely acceptable to be locked inside this cage for eternity, but I, however, did not. All of this was not meant to be kept a secret."
His hand waves over his body like I'm not expected to know what he's talking about, which makes me snort a small laugh.
"You were never the responsible one, even before the wars," Zanthus mutters while hovering over some weird oven type thing.
Zephyr shrugs and admits, "There's no fun in being responsible. Besides, Father had the both of you for backup heirs, so it's not like I was missed much in that department."
I squeeze his fingers still wrapped around mine. It was likely longer ago than I could possibly imagine, but that doesn't make me feel some sympathy for him. If anyone knows what it's like to feel unwanted or not needed, it's me.
"I bet you guys were hellions growing up, weren't you?" I tease.
Zephyr's grin is clear as day in my peripheral, but the other two freeze and turn to face us.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Zale asks.
If it weren't for the true confusion in his expression, I'd say he's pulling my leg right back.
"Umm," I start.
Zephyr chuckles. "It just means troublemakers, brother." Then out of the corner of his mouth, he whispers just low enough for me to hear, "They probably thought it was some kind of rare fish."
A laugh escapes my throat, and I throw my free hand up to cover it. It's no use because I don't catch it in time.
Zale's cheeks pull up with his smirk while Zanthus' sigh echoes around us. "These two are going to be so much trouble together."
Zephyr and I glance at each other and burst out into laughter again.
The other two start loading down a table in the corner that has bench seats on all four sides. When they motion for us to join them, I let Zephyr help me down and lead us. Food fit for a king, or should I say princes, is laid out in front of us. Maybe if all the kings were underwater fish people. I've eaten so much fish and sea life since my arrival here that I would risk leaving the bubble again for a simple cheeseburger right now. A small sigh comes out as my mouth fills with drool at the thought.
All three Zs have already started filling their plates, obviously used to doing whatever they please without preamble. This time all of them pull off the full-body freeze, eyes locked on my face.
"What?" I ask, knowing good and well they aren't deaf, so I add, "I've had more fish in the past couple days than I have my entire life. No matter how you cook it or don't, it's still fish. I'm not trying to be ungrateful; it's just going to take some getting used to."
Zephyr chuckles as he pushes himself to his feet and strolls over to the oven thing Zanthus was using before. My brows knit together with confusion right before the most glorious smell floats through the kitchen. When a plate full of French fries and a big juicy burger lands in front of me, I'm pretty sure there's a line of drool leaking all the way down the front of my shirt now.
Which, of course, leads me to thanking the generous prince standing before me. Too bad my tongue ties itself into a triple knot and refuses to let me utter a single syllable. For at my eye level sits the top hem of a soft pair of blue jeans and a tuff of hair brushed on tan skin from the bottom of a navel leading into that hem. Screw the hamburger and not in the fun way. I'd rather taste the bronzed, playful merman who has no respect for personal space.
I take my time, letting my gaze wander all the way up over a tight-packed stomach and broad chest until our eyes are locked. From this angle, I didn't think it was possible, but it's almost as though it makes Zeph even sexier. With my head tilted back and neck exposed, the tips of my hair tickle the exposed sliver of skin between my tank top and pants, bringing an even sharper awareness in my mind. Damn, how I wish that sensation was caused by one of the other brother's fingers, or even better, lips. An ache has started to form between my legs that's a million times more intense than trying to get myself off on that stupid ship. It doesn't help when the mer prince in front of me runs an index finger up the column of my exposed throat before leaning down to slant his lips across mine.
No care to the other two sharing the table, our kiss is desperate and makes me want to throw all caution to the wind. Especially as his tongue sweeps inside of my mouth. His taste is a good kind of salty-sweet mixture. Like eating chocolate covered pretzels. It's addictive and almost has me regretting my choice of dinners now. I could live off this taste.
A throat clearing finally breaks us apart.
I stare daggers at Zanthus, but his only response is a slight lift of an eyebrow.
"Let her eat," Zale says, trying to hide a smile behind stuffing a bite of food into his mouth.
Zephyr's eyes light up as he plops down beside me, straddling the bench as he says, "Hungry? I can feed you if you want."
He flinches with the grin never wavering as a heavy hand lands on the back of his neck and uses it to pull him back to his feet.
Zanthus mutters, "I'm sure she can manage, brother."
Still, he doesn't move until I give him a wink of my own. Hopefully, he understands there will be a continuation of this at a later time. Satisfied with whatever he finds in my expression, he moves back to his seat.
Then I jump straight into my next task, devouring this made for sin hunk of meat slapped between two buns. The thought makes me cackle not much differently than that cranky witch. Zephyr sucker-punched my mind into the gutter.
Thankfully, I'm still laughing on the inside because when I take my first bite of the hamburger, I'm embarrassed at the moan I'm barely able to suppress. Even the food on the ship wasn't as delicious as this. I don't even bother to look up as I take another bite, barely bothering to chew it all the way through, and progress to stuffing several fries in right behind it.