Free Deeper (Elemental Series) by Christine DePetrillo Page B

I
said it, and I can un-say it.”
    He shook his head. “It
already reached here.” He pointed to his left ear, where a simply fantastic scar
bolted artistically down toward his jaw. “Can’t be erased.”
    “Fine.” Crystal opened
the check-in program. “What was your name again?”
    “Doctor Ray Taimen.” He
squinted those amazing eyes at her name tag. “Tell me your last name is not
pronounced how I think it is.”
    “Afraid so, Doctor Ray
Taimen.”
    “Your name is Crystal
Bawle, like crystal ball ?”
    “Her parents were
stoned when she was born. For sure.” Rionne’s attempt to insert herself into
the conversation did not work. Doctor Beautiful didn’t take his eyes off
Crystal.
    “My parents probably
were stoned.” That would certainly explain her messed up psyche. “I don’t see
the future if that’s your next question.” Though a sweet vision of him naked
filled her head. His entire body was as toned as his arms, and Crystal had to
bite back a sigh. In the vision, he looked truly delighted to touch her. 
    If only…
    “You sure about not
seeing the future?” He smiled wickedly as if he’d seen her vision, and Crystal
fumbled with the credit card he’d handed her to pay for his room.
    She swiped it through
the computer, resisting the urge to leap over the front desk and throw herself
at him. “I’m sure.”
    “We’ll see.” He
accepted the room keycard, picked up his bags, and sauntered off toward the
elevators. His black pants highlighted a phenomenal backside and two long,
sturdy legs. The plain white dress shirt he wore untucked hung off broad
shoulders that Crystal wanted to massage. 
    “He was weird.” Rionne
settled back on her stool, adjusting her uniform shirt so her cleavage was at
maximum perk.
    He was something all
right. Crystal wasn’t sure what just yet.
    ****
    The hotel room was as
he’d expected. Lots of framed pictures of beach scenes. Tropical flowers on the
bedspread. Seashell decorations all over the bathroom. None of that concerned
Doctor Ray Taimen. The only thing that mattered was how close the room was to
the water.
    He set his bags down,
opened the French doors, and stepped onto the balcony. Filling his lungs with
sea air, he scanned the sprawling ocean before him. He would have preferred a
first floor room with direct access to the water, but the third floor wasn’t
bad. The stairs down to the beach were close. He could get to the water
quickly.
    Already he felt pulled
toward it. The moment he set foot on land, his body craved the salt, the liquid
embrace, the cool depths of the ocean. His skin itched like crazy. It always
did whenever he spent extended time in human form. He didn’t mind being amongst
them. They were fascinating creatures after all, but life beneath the sea was
his true destiny. He’d do anything to keep his home, Selecahnia, his underwater
kingdom, safe.
    Even if that meant
ignoring the curious female at the hotel’s front desk.
    It had been fun
engaging in playful banter with Miss Crystal Bawle. It was even more
entertaining realizing she wanted him naked, but he had work to do. He hadn’t
spent all this time on land attending different marine conferences and speaking
about keeping the oceans healthy only to lose his momentum. Although that
vision of hers had painted an incredible scenario. She’d been ravishing in it
with her chestnut hair flowing in long waves about her shoulders, her eyes a
bright sapphire, and her skin simply glowing. Ray could tell that woman existed
underneath the exhausted version he’d met at the front desk.
    What was keeping poor
Crystal Bawle from sleeping? So unfortunate that his mind reading wasn’t all
encompassing. The ability was limited to what people were subconsciously
willing to share. If he could determine the source of her sleeplessness…
    “No. You don’t have
time to solve her problems. Everyone is counting on you.”
    Squaring his shoulders,
Ray walked back into his room and hauled out