Chapter 15
My mate surprises me with her calm. There is no panic or fear in the bond now that she’s above water, nor any disgust. She radiates wonder and pure awe.
Her legs wrap around my body slowly, bare feet sliding along my scales, and sending a shudder of pleasure through me.
I didn’t realize how good it would feel to have my mate touch this part of me.
My cock hardens inside of its sheath, wanting to protrude and sink into something better.
I breathe deeply to control myself, but the ocean air mixing with my mate’s scent of tropical fruit and something else intoxicating that I can’t identify only makes matters worse.
“Come swim with me?” I need a distraction or we’ll end up too entwined to appreciate the sea together. I want her to see this part of me. “Let me show you my world.”
She raises her eyebrows in a look of silent censure. “I think we just established I can’t breathe underwater.”
“Trust me.” I nuzzle the bond mark on her neck, expressing all of my care and concern for her with the action. “I won’t let anything happen to you.” When she continues to hesitate, I add, “I will give you breath. If we’re going to find Ocearus together, you may need to learn how to do this.”
She looks at me, studying my eyes for something. Or she’s thinking of an escape plan, which would not be ideal.
Finally she nods. “Okay, let’s go.”
She takes in air, then lets go of me and dives under the water. My brave little mate.
I catch up to her easily, her human form doesn’t move very quickly through the water.
It’s unnatural for her, with her lack of webbed feet or tail.
It seems as if she has to work hard to go deep, so I place a hand on her back to help her stay below.
She pulls up to look at me, and I pull her close, pressing my lips to hers.
Breathing out, I fill her lungs with oxygen.
Her eyes widen as she realizes what’s happening.
Gripping her arm, I swim out to a grouping of coral I think she’ll find beautiful. I stop halfway there to give her air again, or maybe just because I want my lips on her.
When we get to the reef, I sense her excitement. My mate beams at me, her smile nearly bright enough to light up the sea. She crashes her mouth to mine once more, this time thrusting her tongue between my lips instead of just breathing.
Humans seem to need air more often than I imagined.
If the rumors are true, merfolk and humans used to coexist. How?
Certainly merfolk wouldn’t have given up the ocean forever for their human mates?
Though, looking at mine, I wonder if I would make that sacrifice if she asked it of me. I hate to say it, but I probably would.
It is strange that I can enter her world without difficulty, my tail shifting naturally, but she cannot enter mine.
Perhaps there’s some way, some magic or technology long lost. I bet the library at Ocearus would hold this knowledge—if it’s to be found at all.
My grandfather said it was the most advanced society in the world until the city was abandoned.
As we near the edge of the cove, a shark swims toward us.
Fear crashes into me from my mate’s side of the bond, and I instantly position myself between her and the creature, though I know it won’t hurt her.
She clings to my back as I swim closer to shore, surfacing so that she can breathe naturally.
I’m not ready to go in yet, though. I’ve missed the water.
My mate shivers slightly as the cool air hits her, so I pull her around to my front and close to my body.
She wraps her legs around my middle again, and her sweet fragrance overwhelms me.
I sense her arousal through our connection, just as strong as my own, but just as I’m about to act on that feeling, my mate’s teeth chatter.
Her lips are a strange color, more blue than their normal pink.
I touch one finger to her mouth. “Are you alright?”
“Just cold.” She shivers.
As much as I’d like to take her right here in the water, where I feel at home, it isn’t the right time.
Besides, I don’t want to risk her if we get lost in our passion and sink below the waves.
Not to mention this beach is too public, and I don’t want anyone to see my omega in this state of undress. She’s mine.
My cock doesn’t listen to logic and swells in its sheath, but I will it to stay inside, focusing all my attention on getting my mate out of this cold water.
When we reach the sand, Madison walks quickly out of the shallows to pick up her clothing while I find a nearby outcropping of rock to pull myself onto so my body can dry and change.
If I were to follow my mate onto the sand there would be a bunch of undignified rolling and flopping around, and I really don’t need to embarrass myself in front of her like that.
Suddenly my mate is there next to me, watching expectantly for my tail to transform.
She tentatively reaches out, looking at me for permission.
Instead of words, I grab her hand and place them upon my scales.
She sucks in a breath. It takes everything in me to hold in a moan while she strokes me.
She doesn’t realize she’s dangerously close to my slit—and therefore my cock.
To avoid any mishaps I seize her palm once more, bringing her knuckles to my lips so I can kiss them.
We both watch in silence as the water completely dries and my tail begins to transform into legs. It’s as if the scales flatten into my human skin. Honestly, it looks like magic.
“How?” my mate asks with awe.
I shake my head. “I do not know. But maybe the library of Ocearus will have the answer.”