Chapter 35

Natasha

We are swimming at a slow pace. Half of Hayden's face is above the water's surface, and I'm dangling my feet down into his forehead. Blonde, thick strands act like safety ropes in my palms, a precaution so that I won't tumble down into his focused face.

"Do you want to see the harm done to New Tortuga before we find someplace to steal a ship from?"

Hayden doesn't reply. If he would, his face would no longer be half-submerged in the water, and I would probably fall from the throne I've made on his head.

Zafira is exploring underwater, and I'm alone with Hayden.

I silently peer down at his face, stop on his lips, and hot heat circles around my senses like a snake.

Stop, I try telling myself. Hayden is a beast, and I shouldn't think back on our nefarious activity—but I can't deny how insanely good it felt!

I lose track of time as I think about a million reasons I shouldn't be in a relationship with a merman and shriek when