The Noble’s Merman

Chapter 11

ELEVEN

I t always warmed Kent’s heart to see Mo waiting for him. Kent shed his coat and stockings, reaching the water wearing his cravat, shirt, and breeches. He pulled Mo out of the water and onto the beach. It had become so much of a routine, Kent could sense each time getting easier.

As always, he sat with Mo to his left, closer to his good eye, and he offered Mo another type of human food. “These are raspberries.” He held a few in his palm. “If you like the sweetness of cake, you’ll rather like these as well.”

“If you say so, then I don’t doubt it.” Mo plucked one from Kent’s hand, examining it from all angles like he usually would.

Mo took a small bite; his sharp fangs sinking into half the fruit. And he moaned —sweetness must’ve taken its hold on his tongue, raspberry juice seeping out his mouth and dripping down his chin. It was a rather eerie sight, with pointed teeth like that, red liquid on his lips, he resembled some sort of creature of the night. But not just eerie— tantalizing. Alluring. Seductive. Kent could not ignore the way his prick began to stir.

“This is so fucking wonderful,” Mo said after he finished.

“What if I told you there’s something even more delightful—raspberry tarts.” He smirked.

“Tarts?”

“It’s another sort of sweet treat, like cake. I can ask the cook to make it for dessert next time for me.”

“Goodness, Kent. You are too sweet. Sweeter than cake itself. Now please…”

“Yes, of course!”

He gave Mo the remaining raspberries, and Mo chomped them down like the rabid fish he was. Every sultry bite he took sent shivers down Kent’s spine, and he held onto his merfolk book resting on his lap.

Mo reached over beside him to grab his own gift, and held it out in his palm to Kent. This time it wasn’t a shell, it was— “This is some artwork I bought from the market in Portica,” said Mo. “A mermaid weaved this out of seaweed, and it looks like a land flower called the white lily.”

Kent couldn’t restrain his grin. “Goodness, wow! This is beautiful. I remember you mentioning how merfolk create things like this, but it’s another thing to see it in person. I really can have this?”

“Of course.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it.” He took it from Mo, the wetness of the slick seaweed tickling his hand as he brought it closer to his face. “A white lily? How would a mermaid know what one looks like?”

“She said she received one from a human, can you believe it?”

“Really?”

“Yes, I was surprised. Merfolk are usually wary of humans, you know, so it was nice to hear of another mer being friendly with one.”

“That is nice.” Kent smiled and placed the gift on the ground, moving it around carefully so as to not get his book wet. A mermaid being friendly with a human, huh? Mo said ‘friendly’, but the way the merman’s cheeks flushed darker told Kent there might be more to it than that. He didn’t wish to pry—perhaps Mo didn’t know the details either way—but as Kent thought harder, thinking of being more than ‘friendly’ with Mo stirred something pleasant within him, a pressure behind his navel.

“So, on another note, I have a proposition for you,” said Kent, and Mo perked up. “How would you like to meet my sister? She’s awfully curious about you.”

“Really now! Well, I’d love to meet her.”

“Would the next visit do?”

“Sure, I’ve no qualms with that.” Mo smiled sweetly.

As he gazed at Mo’s lovely cheery grin, butterflies filled his chest. Those ocean-blue eyes stared back at him, inviting, wanting.

Kent wanted to be with Mo, there was no denying it.

“I brought the book along, like usual,” he started, setting the book down beside him, next to the seaweed lily. “But there were some things on my mind, questions I wanted to ask instead of going right into reading.”

Mo nodded. “Of course, ask anything of me that you’d like.”

“All right.” Kent gulped. “Well, first, um…” He tugged a little at his cravat. “I was wondering… does merfolk society take issue with sodomy?”

Mo gave him a puzzling look. “Sodomy? I—I’ve never heard that word before.”

“Ah, that makes sense you haven’t. Right…” Kent let out a nervous chuckle. “It means… um… when two males are sexual with each other.”

“Oh! Oh, all right.” Mo’s face flushed beet red, eyes wide, oh so very adorable. “Well, I wouldn’t say merfolk take issue with it, but it’s not… encouraged. It’s not celebrated, like how a marriage between a merman and mermaid is.”

“Really now? Could you… elaborate?”

“Sure.” Mo nodded. “Plenty of mermen couple with other mermen, same with mermaids with other maids. And then you have mer, who’re merfolk who don’t align themselves to either gender. But marriage is strictly dictated between a merman and a mermaid—or one merman can have multiple mermaid wives—with the prospect of fertility, procreation, and having younglings. Thus, it is more favored by our society if you are in a relationship that can further your lineage, if you understand. But it’s certainly not criminal to have relations with your own sex.”

“I see.” Kent licked his lips. “It’s… somewhat similar in human society, with how marriage is only between a man and a woman. How they can have children, but it’s also about the joining of families too.”

“Yes, same for us. Weddings are huge celebrations, and when one occurs, every mer, and I mean every mer who can attend is invited. Everyone rejoices for the prospect of another family expanding, and they are wonderful parties. I’ve been to many myself.”

“Oh, wow!” Kent smiled. “That does sound great. Here, usually only family and friends are invited to weddings. But if someone has more status, more notoriety, more people are invited. But—that’s not the only difference with humans, however.” Kent’s smile fell, his eyes looking down. “Because… not only can two men not marry, but if they are found having sexual relations with each other… they are punished. They could be killed for it.”

“What?”

Mo’s eyes flew open wide with shock. And it must’ve been such an incredibly enormous shock; Kent didn’t blame him. If merfolk society was the way Mo had said, such a notion would seem ludicrous.

Kent would have to agree.

“Yes, it’s true.” He nodded, joylessly. “It’s deemed unnatural, since two men cannot have children, like a man and a woman. But not just that, it’s also deemed immoral , whether it be religious beliefs or what have you. Perverted, tainted, corrupted from the ‘natural way of life’, as it were. That’s how I’ve always heard it, all my life.”

“Kent, that’s…” Mo covered his mouth, looking down at his hand. “That’s terrible. That means, if I were to live in human society, then—then I could be…”

Kent understood then, especially, what Mo meant without him needing to finish the sentence. “Well, my sister reassured me that there are men with those preferences who do live happily, albeit somewhat secretly. By not letting gossip spread, not letting any sort of proof be found, and only telling those who are trustworthy. And, as someone of status as a noble, I have a bit more safety in that regard.”

“I see.” Mo moved his hand back down to his lap. The sun was setting further; yellows and pinks now shading the paleness of his skin. “Yes, as you might be able to tell, I prefer males. It just strikes me as surprising with humans, though, because I’ve seen things that show it all quite differently.”

Kent raised a curious brow. “What do you mean?”

“Well, I’ve been around sailors, as I’ve told you. There are windows on their ships, into their quarters. No one normally would be able to see inside those windows out at sea, but a mer certainly could. And… I’ve witnessed… men being intimate with each other. Kissing, touching, and… more.”

Now it was Kent’s turn for his face to flush, heat rising in his chest. “You really spied on them?” He couldn’t help a faint chuckle come out.

“I was curious!” Mo chuckled as well. “You can’t blame me when it seemed like something interesting was going on.”

“You sound like a lecher to me.”

“Kent!” The laughs kept coming.

“Mo!” he gave back. “Don’t worry, you’re fine. Really though, did you think the other crew members knew of those sailors’ proclivities?”

“Certainly,” he said confidently. “Because, it wasn’t only belowdecks. Above deck, out in the air, I still saw those men quite close together, and nobody said anything the wiser. I assumed that meant everyone knew, and accepted it.”

“Really now.” Kent was a tad stunned, but he soon realized—he shouldn’t be. “I suppose it makes sense, out on the water, away from lands with laws. If traveling with other men who were accepting of their nature, they could… be free.”

Somehow, without even noticing he was doing it, he put his hand on Mo’s, resting by their sides. He was glad the conversation was returning to more uplifting topics, as the sun continued to set, oranges turning to reds.

“Now Kent, I have a feeling I know your answer, but—I just want to ask. Do you think it’s immoral? For two males to be together?”

Kent blinked, his heart beating fast. “What? Oh, no, not at all! It’s fine by me, as you can see.” He squeezed lightly onto Mo’s palm. “Though, I hadn’t before thought of myself as a sodomite. I’d always felt attraction to women all my life, so it’s just so… surprising to find that out about myself. Because I never would’ve thought… that I, personally, would have feelings like that for another man.”

“Another man ?” Mo said with a smirk. He leant forward, warm breath mixing with Kent’s own.

“Um, actually, let me correct myself. What I meant to say is,” —he sighed into Mo’s mouth— “a mer -man.”

Kent leant further, and their lips met. Flutters burst and swirled around in his chest, his mind afloat with a sweet melody. It made him feel so warm, so pleasant, and he reached up to caress Mo’s face with his free hand. His fingertips petted along his jaw, and a soft, yet prickly sensation grazed them. Stubble.

He pulled back, smiling close to Mo’s delightful face, noses brushing. “Mermen can grow beards? How do you shave?” he asked with a chuckle.

“With our claws,” Mo said. “Though, I only shave my face. I don’t bother with the rest, as you can see.”

Kent’s face felt hot at the mention of Mo’s chest and body hair. “Well, I can understand. That’d be too much extra work. I think you look rather fine, just like that…”

Mo leant in this time, claiming Kent’s lips. Each moment of contact kept Kent’s heart thudding, over and over madly. Such a wonderful feeling danced inside him, and he couldn’t help but want more. He opened his mouth, tasting saltwater and musk, but as he crept his tongue further?—

Kent pulled away, still keeping his face close. “Will your fangs hurt me?”

Mo shook his head, still with a smile. “No, not from simply touching them. But it would hurt if I bit you.”

Heat moved to Kent’s ears at the thought. “Yes, I—I bet it would.”

As the sun set past the horizon, reds fading into blues, Kent kissed Mo again, and he didn’t think he could stop. Opening his mouth, he explored Mo’s with his tongue, tasting that salty sweetness. Mo was right—his fangs didn’t cut him at all. Brushing against those pointed teeth was quite erotic, and a fire rose in Kent’s middle. Not only that, but a pressure made its presence known down lower, tingling and filling his prick. Everything about Mo was so alluring.

But as they kept kissing, Kent leant into Mo’s touch even further, and—Mo fell down on his back, pebbles scattering around from the impact.

Kent followed him down, lying next to him, and they both erupted in an outrageous laughter.

“Sorry, I suppose I’m still not used to keeping my balance sitting on land!” said Mo, laughs lining his words.

“That’s all right, we can lay down…”

Kent readjusted his position, getting on top of the merman. He straddled Mo’s tail, hips pressed together, and he dove his head down to catch Mo’s lips once more. The wonderful sensation moved throughout his whole body as Mo wrapped his arms around Kent’s back, forearm fins blanketing his shirt, pulling them even closer, grinding their bodies together. Kent wasn’t sure what was happening, but like hell was he going to question it. Everything felt so perfect, like he was meant to be here, cradled in his merman’s arms. Each kiss kept those flutters afloat, stiffening his prick, rocking his hips against the merman’s pelvis…

Something felt strange.

Kent pushed his hips further again, and he rubbed against something… thick. Long. Stiff. It twitched against his breeches, feeling a little…

Wet.

Kent raised his head from the kiss, noses still touching.

“Mo, what… what is that I feel?”

Mo’s face was deeply blushed, lips parted in an open smile.

“Oh, that… that’s my cock.”

“Your what ?!”

Kent sat up immediately and scooched back further down Mo’s tail. And when he looked down…

Surrounded by blue scales was a pink, shining, phallic body part, reaching out and up from the merman’s pelvis.

“Wow, um… I suppose it is a cock, isn’t it?” Kent let out a nervous chuckle.

Mo sat up on his elbows, giving Kent a smirk. “I don’t wear clothing over my body to cover myself like you do, so… when I get excited , it comes out.”

“Yes… yes, I can see that!” he said while keeping a sheepish smile on his face.

Mo moved his hand down, wrapping his fingers gently around the base of his slithering shaft. “Am I to your liking? I know it looks somewhat… different from a human’s.”

Kent gulped. Not only was his mer-cock different, it was large. If he had to guess, one-and-a-half times bigger than his own. It was rather thick at the base, getting thinner near the top, with a small head tapering off to a rounded point. It also was more flexible than a human’s, how it writhed in Mo’s grasp. The pink flesh came out of his body from a wet slit in his blue lower half, right around the spot where a human’s would be. He’d thought he saw that slit there before, but he… decided not to think about it at the time.

But now, his mouth was watering.

I’ve been too busy staring and not answering his question.

“It is— very much to my liking,” he said, grinning. “I’m sorry, I was just surprised. I’ve never seen, um, a mer-cock before, let alone being close and intimate with a human man like this. It’s all quite a lot.”

“That’s understandable,” Mo said, giving his prick a leisurely stroke. “We can take things slow, or however you’d like.”

“All right.” Kent nodded, biting his lower lip. His own stand was pressing against his breeches aggressively, rubbing against Mo’s tail, and thinking for himself, apparently. “Well, if you’re already naked, perhaps—perhaps I should be, too.”

“You sure?”

“Yes, yes!” He chuckled. “You’ve already seen me nude, anyway. Only now, if—if you want to, uh, you can…”

Mo raised his brows.

Kent swallowed; his face burning hot. “You can touch me. My—my cock, I mean. If I can touch yours, of course.”

The merman bared his fangs in a dazzling grin, glistening in the moonlight. “Absolutely. I’d love to touch you.”

Kent stood up and got off Mo to undress. He realized he still had his eyepatch on and took that off first, along with the ribbon tying his hair back. His curls tumbled over his shoulders while he undid his cravat, and then the rest, leaving it all in a pile on top of his book.

Naked, just like before when he’d taken a swim, except—now he had a massive cockstand. Oh, Lord. That alone told himself how he felt about this whole ordeal.

He lay back down on the shingles next to his merman, resting on his side, and Mo rolled as well to face him. Nerves taking hold, Kent first placed his hand on the fin on Mo’s hip. They never did make it to the sexuality section of his merfolk book, did they? Questions buzzed around in his mind. How would two mermen bugger each other? Was it the same way two human men would? Mo leant his head forward, pecking Kent’s lips in a small kiss, shaking those nagging thoughts away.

“You’re beautiful, Kent,” he said, and he looked down, petting his hand over Kent’s lower abdomen, tickling the hairs. “I’ve never seen a human like this, this close before. You’re so fucking perfect.” His hand roamed further, trailing a finger along Kent’s stand, making him shiver.

“Have you ever laid with another merman before?” Kent’s hand moved too, touching gently against Mo’s prick as well. It was somewhat slimy, rather wet, and slithered a little in his hand, but it was honestly very pleasant.

“Yes, I have. But there’s something about you , Kent. There’s always been something about you. I don’t even know how to describe it…”

Mo changed his grip, holding onto Kent firmer. Moving his hand graciously up and down, it sent flutters all throughout his body, relishing in the pleasant friction. Each small movement made his heart thud madly, ruthlessly, endlessly.

“There’s something about you, too, Mo. You’re—you’re so incredibly handsome. So wonderful to me…”

He could hardly speak as Mo kept up the pace with his hand. It was difficult for Kent to pleasure Mo in return—as much as he wanted to keep touching that smooth cock—with how Mo’s touch made his breath hitch, his pulse thrum in his ears. He couldn’t focus, and he closed his eyes as his climax was drawing nearer.

Mo seemed to notice. He scooched his hips closer, causing Kent’s grip to fall, and the merman adjusted his own hand. “How about we do it like this?”

Kent’s own cock was now flushed up against Mo’s, and Mo wrapped his hand around both of them, stroking them together. That made things ever the more easier; Kent couldn’t help but moan. He writhed in the merman’s hold, succumbed to the amazing touch, pushing his hips as close as possible. That hefty mer-cock, slick as if lathered with oil, was much, much wetter than any human’s could get naturally. Pump after pump after pump, the intensity kept rising; Mo’s long fingers must’ve held some sort of magic themselves. Kent gripped onto Mo’s shoulder, moaning into the merman’s mouth, more and more and more ? —

Immense pleasure overwhelmed him as he spent. It came in waves as Mo continued his strokes, keeping the pressure constant. He didn’t want the feeling to stop, how sweet it swirled around him, how it made him feel so light.

With one more flick of his wrist, Mo let out a grunt —his own spend releasing in an incredible burst. It was thick, hot, and unexpectedly plentiful. So much of it coated both their abdomens, dripping down onto the shingles below them. Kent shuddered at the warmth, as one final drop leaked out of himself.

“Mo… hah…”

“Kent…”

Mo closed the gap with a kiss, a small one. He panted vigorously, much harsher than Kent noticed that he himself was doing.

“Are… are you alright?” asked Kent.

Mo nodded, closing his eyes and relaxing his hand. “Yes, that was astounding. So—so wonderful. It—it’s just… I’ve never exerted that much energy out of the water before…”

Kent let out another labored breath, caressing Mo’s shoulder. “Do you want to go back in the water? Would that help?”

The merman sighed again, “I don’t want you to leave just yet, though…”

“I won’t leave. How about we just lie in the shallow water together? I need to clean this all off me, anyway.” He let out a small laugh.

Mo smiled at that. “Sure, that’s good.”

And so, Kent mustered up the strength to stand up, shaking out his limbs. He flexed his arms a few times before leaning down, curling his elbows under Mo’s armpits from behind, hauling him back into the water like he usually would. Only this time he was much more exhausted, panting into the merman’s long hair, saltwater musk filling his senses. Mo helped as much as he could, kicking his tail for leverage. Slowly, Kent noticed Mo’s prick retreating back into his body.

Once he set Mo into the water, he lay down next to him just like how they were on the beach, but now with small waves lapping at their undersides, foam tickling their shoulders.

“Is this good enough?” Kent asked.

“Yes, this is fine.”

Mo reached up to Kent’s cheek, brushing a curl behind his ear. Moonlight shimmered on the merman’s wet skin.

“Stay with me, Kent,” he said softly. “I don’t want you to wed another human.”

“I don’t want to wed another, either,” he said with sincerity. “I want to be with you, Mo…” He felt a pressure behind his eyes. “How, though? What can I do?”

“What if you became a sailor?” Mo suggested, still petting Kent’s cheek.

“What?” His breath caught, stunned. “I’ve not thought of that before…”

“It could work. You’d be out at sea. I could always be near you. I know from experience that English sailors are friendly with merfolk, and I know they will even let them on board.”

This was a lot for Kent to comprehend. Such a drastic change to his life, leaving everything he knew on land to have a completely different lifestyle. “I don’t even know where I’d start.” He’d be leaving behind the earldom, leaving his family, and most importantly, Katherine. But wouldn’t she simply wish the best for him? He remembered her enthusiasm on the prospect of him achieving a courtship with Mo. Even if that might mean going out to sea.

If he were to find a way for Mo to become human, wouldn’t Mo be doing the same? Leaving his life as he knew it, to start anew, a whole new life on land? Kent shouldn’t expect in a relationship for one person to sacrifice, and not the other.

He could take control of his life. He must. He needed to do what would ensure his happiness— whatever it took. And Mo made him the happiest of all.

To hell with it all , Kent thought. To hell with marriage, to hell with his inheritance, to hell with providing an heir.

“How does one become a sailor?” asked Mo, curious.

Kent shrugged. “Many are press-ganged into the navy, I suppose. But there’s other sorts of ships, since I dare not wish to be on a war vessel. Fishing ships, merchant ships… perhaps I could find a job as surgeon on a boat like that? That would probably be my best bet, using the knowledge I already have.”

“That could work.” Mo’s eyes lit up.

“I’ll go searching, then.” Kent nodded against Mo’s touch. “I don’t know how long it will take, but we’re near Portsmouth. There’s bound to be something.”

His merman smiled, ever so sweetly. “Surely. I’ll keep a lookout, too. I’m fairly good at eavesdropping near the docks.”

“Really, now? I mean, you did admit to yourself spying before…”

Mo laughed. “I just want to help in any way I can.”

“I appreciate it. So, so much, Mo. Because… I…”

He kissed Mo again. Oh , how his heart hammered, and every pleasant emotion fluttered with it in his chest.

“I really do wish to stay with you.”