She swallowed hard and met his eyes. They were guarded now, his gaze narrowed. And she still couldn’t read what he was thinking. But those mismatched eyes of his were locked on her, and she took that as a good sign.
“I didn’t sleep with you because I was trying to seduce you,” she went on. “I slept with you because I wanted to. Because I’m attracted to you. Because you’re the sexiest male I’ve ever laid eyes on. I mean, let’s get real.” She held out her hand toward his chiseled abs and muscular arms. “You’re like...carved from marble. My knees went weak the first time I saw you in the gym downstairs, and that was when I thought you were a lunatic and when you didn’t even want to have anything to do with me. I slept with you because you excite me. Because I’m crazy about you. Because...”
Heat burned her cheeks when she realized how insanely she was rambling now. But she forced herself to go on. “Because I...because I care about you.”
No, she didn’t just care. She loved him. The truth burned through her chest, stole her breath, and knocked her back a step. She’d heard that nymphs fell fast and hard when they met that perfect someone—her mother had once told her she’d fallen in love with Daphne’s father in a matter of days—but Daphne had never experienced love before so she didn’t know what to expect. Now, though, she did. Now, when her head grew light and her legs trembled, she knew exactly what it was from.
The room spun around her. Backing up, she reached out to steady herself but knew it was already too late.
Strong arms closed around her and pulled her against a hard chest before she hit the floor. Blinking several times, she gazed up into Ari’s handsome face as that whoosh of emotion sped all through her chest again.
She really did love him. So much she no longer saw the scars on his jaw and neck, no longer saw the menace she’d first noticed in his mismatched eyes. She just saw a hero. Her hero. The only true hero she’d ever known.
She also saw someone who wasn’t drawing her into him and professing his feelings right back.
He shook his head. “You’re crazier than I am, you know that?”
Crazy. He’d said crazy, not beautiful, not amazing, not alluring, not dreamy. Just crazy.
Heat rose in her neck and enflamed her cheeks. A hard knot rolled through her stomach with the realization that she’d just made a giant fool of herself.
Pushing against his arms, she found her feet and stepped back, just enough so she could catch her breath. Just enough so she didn’t humiliate herself even more.
Pull it together, Daphne. So he doesn’t love you. Big deal. You still believe in him. You can still help him.
“So what if I am? Crazy, at least, is real. I could be all seductive and mysterious if I wanted, but I don’t want to be. Just like I don’t want to be a Siren. I never really wanted to be a Siren in the first place, but you can’t say no to the gods, at least I didn’t think I could. Now I’d tell them all to fuck off.”
An amused expression crossed his features. One that only kicked her embarrassment up even higher. “And why are you smirking at me? Is what I’m saying funny? None of this is funny. I’m trying to tell you the truth. I’m trying to tell you—”
“Daphne.” He grasped her by the shoulders and pulled her into him. “Stop talking, okay? I believe you. Any time you ramble I know there’s no way you’re lying.”
Butterflies took flight in her stomach. “You do?”
He nodded, lifted one hand to her cheek, and brushed the hair away from her face. “And you are seductive and mysterious, and yes, even crazy. I’ve lived with crazy long enough to spot it.” He slid his fingers into her hair and cupped the back of her head, pulling her toward him. “Which is probably why I can’t get enough of you. Even when I know I’m the last person who should ever touch you.”
“Oh...”
His lips brushed hers, and she groaned, immediately opening to his kiss. The taste of him rocketed through her body, bringing hope back to life. Tipping his head the other direction, he kissed her sweetly, slowly, with so much passion her head grew light. And, wanting only this, wanting only him, she dug her fingers into his biceps and just held on.
He broke the kiss. Rested his forehead against hers. Breathed deep as his thumb grazed her cheek. “All these years... All this time, and you’re the first person who ever saw past the monster.” He lifted his head and looked into her eyes. “Why did you even try?”
Tears filled her eyes. Tears filled with joy and love. “I didn’t have to try. I just had to open my eyes. And when I did, I knew with you is the only place I ever want to be.”