Merlicious 3 Page 4

  "It means not being particular about who you have sex with. It means going around, having sex with whoever you feel like."

  Taking immediate offense, she declared, “Just because I want to consummate with you doesn't mean I'm loose and easy."

  "I don't think you're using the word ‘consummate’ correctly. Having sex doesn't finish anything."

  "It does."

  He thought for a moment. “I guess it finishes the joining of a husband and wife. But..."

  She waggled her eyebrows and grinned, easing closer, wanting him.

  * * * *

  "What are you trying to imply?"

  Her lids lowered seductively and her voice turned husky. “You're mine. I'm yours."

  Fire shot through his body. His gills stood on end.

  She repeated the words and every nerve in his body thrummed. Understanding dawned. “Are you saying we're married?"

  "Mmm-hmm.” She passed her hands over his chest.

  Her touch made his heart race. He could not take his eyes off her lips. As his brain began to succumb to the sensual haze she created, he forced himself to slow down. He wanted answers before he gave in to this drive that threatened his sanity.

  "Why didn't you tell me?” he asked.

  She jerked, startled by his question. “You spoke the words."

  Her accusatory tone put him on the defensive. “I didn't understand what I was doing. You told me you would explain later."

  "That's right. I didn't. I'm sorry.” Batting her eyelashes, she curled her lips into a come hither smirk.

  Ignoring her coy expression and a little appeased by her apology, he said, “So explain now."

  She wilted. His body empathized with her disappointment, but he pressed for the details he needed.

  "Every mermaid meets her match and marries him on her eighteenth birthday."

  "And yesterday was yours. But why me?"

  "You're my mate. There's nobody else for me. We're made for each other.” She inched toward him.

  Backing away, he kept his distance. “That doesn't seem like a very good system. What happens to a mermaid if she doesn't marry on her birthday? What if I jumped into the ocean and drowned before you arrived? Or refused to speak the words?"

  Looking irritated, she said, “First of all, you wouldn't have drowned. Yesterday was your transformation day. Jumping into the water probably would have accelerated the change, that's all. And you had to say the words. You knew I'm your life-mate by instinct."

  He saw her frustration mounting, but he pressed on. “What if I didn't? What would've happened to you?"

  Letting out an agitated sigh, she said, “I don't know. I've never heard of it happening."

  "Then why were you so anxious about my saying the words before the sun set?"

  "Because I wasn't about to find out!” she yelled, looking ready to cry.

  Contrite but determined, he offered, “I'm sorry for this interrogation. But I need to know this is right."

  "It's right.” Shooting across the distance between them, she pressed up against him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “It's so right. There's nobody for me but you. Never has been. Never will be."

  Her tail swished against his, sending his entire body pulsing. He pushed her hair over her shoulder with the back of his hand, and the sight of her secreting gills sent him closer to the edge of his control.

  He held back a little longer. “You married me because you had to."

  "Yes. And no.” Her breath caressed his cheek.

  Shivering with need, he pushed her an arm's length away and said, “I need more than that."

  She relaxed, letting go of the sizzling sexual tension. “It's hard to explain, but I'll try. I took one look at you yesterday and knew you're the merman for me. I married you because I was compelled to. But also because I wanted to. The more time we spend together, the more I see we were made for each other. I plan to fall completely in love with you.” She closed the gap and rested her hands on his shoulders. “And right now, I need to bond with you. Becoming one in body will bring us much closer in our connection.” Her voice grew husky, bringing the electricity between them back to life. “Please help me consummate our union."

  These were the words he needed to hear. Affected by the look in her eyes and tone of her voice, his body shuddered with intense hunger for her touch. Right then, he wanted her more than anything. “I'm not sure what to do,” he admitted.

  "Trust your feelings."

  Bringing her close, he buried his face in her curls and smiled at the unexpected scent of lilacs. He kissed her ear and tasted salt on her skin, the flavor affecting him greater than any perfume could. Drawn into her arms by an almost supernatural attraction, he did not have the strength to hold back.

  Cupping her face in his hands, he captured her lips with his. The kiss began soft and sweet but soon turned heated, passionate. Slanting his face over hers, he deepened the kiss as his hands moved behind her. She opened to him, and he plunged his tongue into her warm, welcoming mouth. His tongue explored, performing a tantalizing dance with hers.

  "You taste sweet,” he breathed, breaking off the kiss. His heart pounded and he labored for air.

  With a sensual smile, she said, “You're amazing. I knew you would be."

  She tilted her head back, arching her body against his, and he held her closer and rained kisses along the column of her neck. Unfastening her halter, she held it in her hand as he lifted her up out of the water to pay her beautiful, liberated breasts the attention they deserved.

  She went limp, her arms splayed wide, when he took a nipple between his lips. Laving the hard nub with his tongue, he enjoyed how her skin changed from salty to rich and creamy in taste, like toffee. He moved to the other, and a high-pitched keening squeal emitted from her chest.

  The sound touched something in him and a similar screech, but deeper and more resonant, came from his own chest. Jerking in surprise, he straightened. Sargo looked into his eyes, increasing the intensity between them, and sent her fingers into his hair.

  She kissed him then rained soft pecks along his cheek and down the side of his neck. Sliding her hands down to hold his shoulders, she leaned forward and ran the tip of her tongue along his gills. A bolt of pleasure ripped through him and he quaked.

  All of a sudden, a pod of huge whales rose nose-first out of the ocean, forming a circle around them. So caught up in ecstasy, he only half noticed the phenomenon.

  Sargo moved to his other ridges and enflamed them with her tongue. His whole body vibrated and he groaned. Lowering his face, he returned the favor, and she moaned low. The moisture seeping from her ridges tasted earthy but sweet, reminding him of rum custard.

  Digging her fingers into his shoulders, she rubbed her body up and down along his length. A shift in his tail made him look down. His erection protruded straight out, long and hard. He watched a section of her tail separate, opening to him.

  She took hold of his hips and slid herself onto him. Something in her resisted his entrance, but it popped out of the way and he filled her slick, hot flesh. She stiffened, clutching at his arms, and he embraced her. Burying his face in her hair, he inhaled.

  "Are you okay?"

  He heard her swallow hard. Her lack of response concerned him. Placing his hands on her hips, he moved to pull out of her. But she threw her arms around him and prevented the separation.

  "I'm okay. Let's swim."

  That sounded good. They sank, and with their arms tight around each other, they undulated through the water. Their lips met as they barrel rolled into the depths. He led her in a sensual dance as waves of pleasure washed over them. Breathing in unison, their liquid exhales mingled on groans of intense arousal.

  His focus centered on her and the feeling of her body holding him inside, gently milking his length with each thrust of their tails. Yet in the periphery of his awareness, he sensed whales all around, traveling with them.

  He forced the creatures from his mind as hi
s undulations became urgent. Teetering on the pinnacle of climax, his breathing came in pants. He saw by the look on her face she felt it, too, and he headed them at high speed toward the surface, spinning them round and round. They burst into the air as he exploded into her. A sound unlike anything he heard before tore from his throat and echoed off the water.

  The whales appeared around them, tails up, and the huge creatures slapped the water in a deafening salute. Sargo shuddered in his arms as her body contracted around his length. Then, putting her cheek on his shoulder, she placed a gentle kiss on his gills.

  He stayed inside her, flaccid and sated, and held her awhile. Lavender streaks bled across the sky, cutting through the sunset's many shades of pink and orange. Dropping back into the ocean, the whales stayed near. His senses told him they circled below, and a minute later, they began to sing a beautiful, harmonized whale song.

  Stroking his fingers up and down Sargo's back, he felt his heart melt. She awed him with her acceptance. Her honesty and good looks exceeded his expectations of what a woman should possess. She was his ideal. She was his wife.

  He blinked. She was his wife! He began to laugh.

  Lifting her head, she asked, “What's so funny?"

  "When I launched my boat for the last time yesterday, I couldn't have imagined I'd end up the happiest merman on the face of the earth."

  She smiled.

  "Are you okay? I know I hurt you."

  He pulled out of her, and she winced. “I'm okay. That was the most incredible thing I've ever experienced."

  "Me, too."

  She frowned.

  "What is it?"

  "I lost my halter. I dropped it."

  Only a sliver remained of the sun as it cast the last of its golden light across the ocean swells. Putting his face in the water, he stared into the darkness. He could barely make out shadows as the whales circled below.

  "It's too dark,” he said with regret, studying her in the fading light. “We'll never find it."

  A whale's nose appeared a couple feet away, startling him. The huge animal's body floated up behind with a slow grace that defied its size. Blowing a blast from its blowhole, it rained water down around them, making them laugh like children under a fire hydrant's spray. Deep within, a rumbling trill rolled out of the whale and tumbled away across the water.

  Sargo beamed him a joyous smile. “I'll be right back."

  "Wait,” he said, but she already disappeared.

  She returned holding her halter up over her head like a trophy. “Can you believe it? She saved it for me."

  Turning to the whale in disbelief, he found the eye in the rough-textured hide. The creature shifted slightly, and he swore she smiled at him. Shaking his head, he said to Sargo, “You know, a lot of things have happened since I met you that defy everything I was taught to believe."

  She fitted her halter into place and fastened the back. She gave the whale a thank you pat, and it descended into the depths.

  He asked, “Would you believe me if I told you I'm falling in love with you? I mean, it's only been a day and all."

  "Of course I believe you,” she said, her tone matter-of-fact. “I feel the same. We're meant to, you know."

  He began to comprehend the magical attraction that drew him to her. “I think I'm getting my instincts."

  She giggled. “You can't get instincts. You've had them all along, Paul. It's that you're tapping into now."

  "Is that how it works?"

  Tilting her head in an appealing way, she nodded with a playful smile. He scooped his hands around her neck and brought her close for a kiss.

  He said, “I guess I've got a lot to learn."

  She snuggled up against him, stirring his protectiveness, and he held her near. He watched the last bit of sun drop into the sea while the whales ceased their song. Sensing the enormous animals leave, he enjoyed his new awareness. It made him feel safe and comfortable.

  A shadow floated in the distance, and he pointed it out. “Should we see what it is?"

  "It's sargasso weed. It'll be a good place for us to sleep."

  "Really? On top?"

  "It's soft. And we'll still be in contact with the water."

  He followed her toward the patch of vegetation. “It'll support our weight?"

  "It depends on how thick it is."

  Her complexion reflected the gray light of dusk, giving her a too-pale cast. He wanted to curl up next to her and hold her close all night. Reaching out, he took her hand as they swam.

  Under the seaweed, she investigated the tangle and declared it thick enough. He used his strength to lift her out of the water and place her on top. Then he lay flat on the water and rolled onto their spongy bed. Their combined weight caused the carpet of tangled tubes to sink a little at the center, while the outer edges remained high. Using one edge as a pillow, they talked and laughed into the night.

  Chapter Seven

  Sargo watched Paul put his new skills to use catching breakfast. She spent the day teaching him some merkind language and led him to the ocean floor to explore. His inquisitive nature brought her joy. They made love in the pitch black of the bottom waters with neon-lit creatures all around, sparkling like gems against black velvet.

  When they climaxed and drifted up to a light-infused depth, she did not want to separate. He touched more than her heart. He became part of her, as if their souls mixed and formed one essence. Kissing him, she poured her love into their embrace. Her depth of feeling for him astounded her. After such a brief time together, already she could not picture a future without him. He completed her, and she looked forward to learning all about his life before they married.

  When they parted, he asked, “How close are we to the coral city?"

  "A little more than a day.” She sighed.

  "Are we going to be early?"

  Shaking her head, she turned away. “I'm not ready to share you."

  She swam. He followed, tapping her on the shoulder as he undulated through the water above her. “I like what you said."

  Hearing the smile in his voice, she flipped over and grinned at him. “Is there anything you'd like to do for some fun?"

  With a hopeful look on his face, he asked, “Can we play with dolphins again?"

  "Sure. They love it. And I can teach you some of their language while we're at it."

  She demonstrated the clicks necessary to summon a pod, and he imitated it. While they waited for their playmates, he chased her and laughed when she squealed every time he got close and tapped her tail fin.

  Hearing dolphin clicks coming their way, they paused to wait for the pod.

  "I can't remember being so happy,” he admitted, taking her hand.

  She gave his fingers a squeeze. “Me, too."

  "Really? I'd think being a mermaid princess would be a pretty carefree, fun life."

  "I've been lonely. Mostly."

  His eyebrows arched, causing little wrinkles across his forehead. “Why?"

  "I'm the inheriting princess. My training was constant. And my parents forbade me to have friends. They believe any casual relationships I develop will undermine my authority when I become queen."

  "I see."

  The pod arrived and maintained a respectful distance, watching with anticipation.

  Paul smiled at her. “I guess we have more in common than I thought. Come on. Let's go have some fun."

  With a shout of glee, she swam after him and joined the dolphins’ antics. They played until midday then returned to their course headed toward the coral city.

  They came upon huge sections of free-floating sargasso weed late in the afternoon, letting Sargo know they drew near home. Finding the main migration channel where huge schools of fish traveled between the Sargasso Sea and the Gulf Stream, she increased their speed and led Paul in. The channel teemed with activity, and he could not conceal his enthusiasm when he spotted monstrous tuna or marlin.

  "This is like a fish highway,” he declared.

&
nbsp; "It's exciting, isn't it?"

  "Yeah.” He pointed out fish he recognized and told her the human name for each. “I never realized each type of fish has a unique smell. And they're so colorful."

  "If you think this is colorful, you'll love our city."

  His smiled faded. “I'd look forward to it more if I wasn't going to be king. It seems a lot to ask of someone who's new to all this."

  "You were born to be king. A lot will come naturally. For the rest, you have me by your side and guidance from my father."

  "I can't ask for more than a counselor with two hundred years of experience in the same role. Having you with me means more than anything, though."

  His sentiment flattered her.

  * * * *

  Paul followed Sargo toward the coral city. They went so deep it seemed they descended for hours. Bright little fish grouped around them, illuminating their swim through the dark. A pale salmon-colored glow appeared far below, and warrior mermen holding spears came alongside as escorts. As they approached, he could see thermal heat waves rise from the glow, causing wavy distortions in the water above the city.

  The metropolis sat down inside a rock-lined depression. Following the ocean floor, they dipped down over the crest of a mountain-sized slope. At the bottom, the coral city glittered like an enormous sandcastle. Every color in the spectrum shined up at him. His eyes feasted on merpeople with brilliant tails, and bright, multicolored fish darted among the coral buildings.

  Sea animals shaped like flowers decorated towering spires and formed artfully arranged garden boxes and landscaping. It appeared that the pink-gold light bathing the city lit the crater-like depression from beneath, and a massive palace dominated the far side of the thriving metropolis. He gulped down a lump in his throat.

  Taking his hand, Sargo offered him a reassuring smile. “Relax. Tonight will be easy. We'll have dinner with my parents. You're going to love them. My father will probably drive you to distraction with questions about how the world has changed."

  He felt better knowing nobody expected anything from him right away. Still, he considered meeting her parents, especially since they were king and queen, a big deal.

  The regal couple put him at ease, however, with a warm, personal welcome. Calling him ‘son,’ they embraced him like a beloved member of the family. They limited his tour to the cozy, inviting family quarters where they shared an intimate dinner for four. Sargo's prediction about her father's questions proved true, and by the end of the evening, the two couples parted with laughter and affection.