East Two #3
I was in awe, watching her eyes drift shut and her head move, as if the sound of my voice was incredibly pleasant to her ears. It seemed she was searching for more.
That was confirmed when a couple of fingers lifted from the water and touched my lips. Shamefully, I admit I found it erotic and opened my mouth. The tips of her fingers found my tongue.
Her eyes opened and beamed a bright greenish-blue light. She watched my mouth, touching the moisture on my tongue. She then retracted her fingers and explored her own tongue. Intrigued, she said, “Boy,” then licked her fingertips, as if tasting me.
Like a huge rubber band stinging my insides, something inside me snapped, redirecting my focus.
Immediately, my adoration morphed. Being both involuntarily and voluntarily attracted to my magical friend was the last thing I expected.
She had been so young. Like me. But now?
Older? Face to face? Raw desire was so present I felt invisible sparks springing off my body and landing on hers, begging for approval.
I was so enamored I didn’t even realize I wasn’t treading water.
Saleeni was keeping us afloat with casual strokes of her fin while holding my hand.
She pulled me closer, setting my body ablaze. “Boy.”
Staring at my mouth, she brought hers closer, her tongue resting on her bottom lip.
I swallowed, praying for contact.
As she leaned in, my gut tightened with a hunger not even beautiful Tallulah had me feeling.
Panting heavily, I did my best to be a gentleman.
“But you don’t even know my—” I’d meant to say name, but as soon as her open mouth hung only a breath from mine and her tongue crossed the barrier, I was lost. Unleashed.
My eyes closed, and I moaned through the fever she was causing. My own tongue reached to touch hers.
She tasted like how you would imagine a flourishing flower shop would smell when surrounded by an ocean. A floral essence faintly laced with the cleanest of seawater. A faint hint of salt in a bouquet of roses.
Absolute fucking perfection.
Far too soon, the moment ended, but another beautiful one began. My eyes opened when I felt her nose lovingly rub against mine. Again, I was a master of words, whispering, “Hi.”
Long fingers that had been in my mouth now folded into her open palm and faced me. They opened, awkwardly, then closed again. She smiled the whole time.
I chuckled, “Are you waving to me?”
Her head tilted, then she studied her own hand as it continued the action.
That was the moment I knew, besides the insanely obvious, we had some major hurdles to clear. English language being one of them. I didn’t know what her family knew of humans. Or what languages, if any, beyond their own.
Speaking of family… I peered around, expecting to see more sparkly eyes, half in and out of the water. There were none. “Do you have family around?”
Gentle fingers touched my lips again. It made me think of a blind or deaf person trying to read lips with touch. If that were such a thing, is this how they would try?
A palm resting on my chest distracted me from my thoughts. Saleeni pressed, then poked when I said nothing. “Oh, want to know my name?”
Fingertips grazed my lips again before poking my chest again. Then she waited.
“Okay.” I smiled, hoping not to fuck up my own name. “I am Maddox Gentry.”
Her gorgeous eyes locked onto my mouth. Mine locked onto her mouth as it attempted… “Mmmm…Geh.”
Uh… Almost. “Maddox Gentry.”
Her eyes closed as if concentrating as hard as she could. “Mmmmed Geh… Mmmmeaaaad Geee…. Maaaaad… G.” Her eyes opened, full of pride. “Mad… G!”
I wanted to correct her, but the smile plastered on her face was undeniable. “Uh, sure. Mad-G. Anything for Saleeni.”
Suddenly, a high-pitched squeal sounded in the air, right before she propelled her body out of the water and over my head.
A perfect headfirst dive, without a splash, right behind me.
“What the—” I spun around in the water to find she was gone.
“Hey.” I spun around again to see if she reappeared where she had been.
Nothing. No hot as fuck mermaid in sight.
My heart started pounding. “Saleeni?”
For what felt like agonizing minutes, my feet kept kicking me in circles as I searched and searched. “Saleeni?”
The last time I had heard a screech like what she just did, I was told she was dying. “Saleeni!”
A hand ran across my foot, spooking me, although before I could react, it ran up my leg, hip, waist, ribs… placing me in another trance until she reappeared in front of me.
While her eyes lingered above the tranquil sea, her mouth remained beneath it as her other hand rose from the dark water, palm open.
I gawked. “My knuckles.” I didn’t even know I’d lost them. They had been in my pocket during the travels. “How’d you find—” I stopped talking when she took my right damaged hand and placed the brass onto my fingers.
What a full-circle moment. Once a child. Now a man.
Once lost.
Now found.
And Noma’s brass gift is here with me—
I cringed when Saleeni kissed my ugly nub of a digit, thinking she must pity me, but that changed when she brought us back face to face, smiling. “Mad. G.”