by Jaci Burton
While he swam, he captured her lips in a heated kiss, plunging his tongue inside her mouth. His sonar made it easy to determine location so he could concentrate his gaze on the golden mermaid in his arms.
Damn, she was hot. Hot and full of passionate urgency. He'd been prepared to talk, to tell her as much as he dared, when her eyes had darkened, her pupils dilating, her gaze focusing on his growing hard-on. Then she'd attacked his cock with her sweet, hot mouth and he'd lost all capability for rational thought.
He pulled his lips away from hers, settling her on a soft embankment. Her eyes were closed, her dark lashes resting against her cheeks.
"Open your eyes, Isabelle," he said softly, wanting her to see where he'd brought her.
She did, then smiled at him, her half-hooded eyes sexy as hell.
"Look around you."
"I only want to look at you."
She reached for him and he was caught in her spell. But he stopped himself before his need for her took him over completely. "I want you to see this."
With a huge sigh she sat up, her eyes widening as she caught a glimpse of what he'd brought her here to see. "Oh my God!"
Exactly the response he'd hoped for. The grotto was his favorite place to relax, think and enjoy his life. He'd never shared it with anyone before now. And now, he saw it anew in Isabelle's eyes.
"Dax, this is...it's amazing!"
He followed her gaze to the waving underwater ferns and the rainbow of coral in every shape and size. Some were as small as a few inches in height, others tall as an oak tree. He'd always loved swimming among his sea-life friends. The Angel Fish were out in force today, their yellows and blues, stripes and solid colors a near blur as they swam quickly by. He let out a contented sigh. This was his wonderland and always had been.
"It's like a playground of color."
What he enjoyed the most right now was watching Isabelle's awestruck expression. His heart swelled with the love he could no longer deny. He'd hoped she'd fit into his world, and she'd exceeded his expectations. Where most land humans would be paralyzed with fear over the unknown, Isabelle embraced the beauty and wonder of his life in the same way he always had.
He reached for her hair, stroking the silken tendrils until she turned her head, her amber eyes bright and glittering with tears that no normal human would be able to see under the water. But he saw them. They sparkled like diamonds falling from the corner of her eyes and touched him in ways he couldn't begin to fathom.
"It's beautiful, Dax. I don't understand how this can all be. I have so many questions my head is spinning. But thank you for sharing your world with me."
"You're welcome." He leaned in for a kiss, lightly brushing her lips with his. She slipped off the embankment and reached for him, drawing herself against his body. When she wrapped her legs around his waist, his cock came to life, pulsing and hardening.
Isabelle kissed him back, her tongue dancing against his until sparks of arousal shot between his legs. His heart pumped madly as she explored his body with her feather-like touch, brushing his shoulders with caresses and moving her hands ever so slowly downward.
His cock rubbed against her soft mound and she whimpered, then leaned back, exposing her breasts to his touch. Wrapping her legs firmly around his hips, she tilted backward in the water. Dax petted the rosy nipples with his thumbs until they stood like hard peaks. His hands caressed her breasts and she tightened her legs around him, rocking her pussy against his cock.
With little maneuvering he slid fully inside her. She grabbed his arms and held on, grinding herself against him. He reached between them and stroked her swollen clit, rewarded with her cries of pleasure.
"Yes, touch me there, Dax." Isabelle leaned up and grasped his shoulders, her heated gaze meeting his.
Utilizing as much control as he could gather, he extricated himself from her vise-like grip, then pulled her body fully against his until they were entwined, legs tangled together, their hearts beating in rhythm against each other's chest.
He rolled them around the water together in positions they'd never be able to get into on land. When he turned them upside down, her hair stood on end and she laughed. When they stood upright but didn't touch their feet to the ocean floor, his cock pumped hard, buried to the hilt in her hot pussy. But side-by-side and undulating through the water was the position he enjoyed the most. Their lips touched, their bodies became one and he felt every part of her against him.
Especially the part of her that was soft, feminine and made for him. That part of her drove him to the brink of distraction and beyond. He couldn't think straight when he was inside her, could only bask in the pleasures of her sweet body and inhale her peach and musky woman scent that even under water remained a part of her essence. When she tightened around him, he knew her orgasm was close.
He wanted this to be special for her, this first time making love fully under the sea. He learned her body so quickly it stunned him, but every gasp, every small contraction of her pussy around his cock told him when he'd touched the right part.
"Dax," she breathed his name in a throaty whisper. Her voice was barely a whisper as she worked feverishly against him. She ground her pussy against his pelvis, pulling him ever deeper inside her until she cried with her climax. Dax held on tight and rode out the storm with her, never wanting to let go. Finally, he crested with her, his orgasm so powerful it rocked him to his toes.
They sailed through the water as their orgasms rushed through them. Dax finally slowed their pace, coming to rest against the soft embankment where he'd set her earlier.
After catching his breath, he sat up on the ledge and pulled Isabelle into a seated position in front of him. They sat together with fingers entwined, content to watch the colorful wonderland. Dax grinned at the sea creatures swimming playfully around them. He felt at ease when Isabelle laughed contentedly.
"Thank you," she said, brushing her back against his chest.
"No, thank you. I can't seem to think straight whenever you look at me the way you did."
She tilted her head back and met his gaze. "I look at you a certain way?"
"Yeah. Your eyes darken like molten gold and I lose myself in you."
"I like that. I can't help it. You do something to me."
He knew the feeling. She was certainly doing something to him. Making him forget who he was, who she was. Falling in love with Isabelle wasn't something he should have done, and now that he had, he knew he'd end up hurting her.
A school of dolphins approached, hovering no more than an arm's length away from them. Isabelle raised her hands to them, giggling when they swam just beyond reach of her fingertips. When they drew close enough for her to pet them, she squealed with delight, pushing away from Dax and swimming along with them. They swarmed around her as she hovered in the water, and Dax caught his breath, wishing he could paint a portrait of her just like she was at that moment.
She was beautiful, her hair billowing out in all directions, at least a dozen dolphins surrounding her. Her bronzed body glimmered like a golden statue, giving her the appearance of a sea siren calling the creatures of the oceans to do her bidding.
Apparently word had gotten out about her arrival, because the neon blue Parrotfish made their appearance shortly thereafter, along with yellowtail and blue tangs, all rushing in to catch a glimpse of the human water nymph who had joined their world.
Dax sat back and fed on Isabelle's delight, still in awe that she'd adapted so well to undersea life. A glimmer of hope ignited inside him, and he wondered if--
"Don't even think about it."
Isabelle's playland of fish stopped their circling and swarmed immediately around Ronan.
Damn. Just what Dax didn't need or want right now.
*
Isabelle froze at the imposing figure who'd magically appeared next to Dax.
Imposing was an understatement in describing the tall man. Dark hair flowed behind him, nearly long enough to capture in a ponytail. H
is cerulean eyes glowed against his tanned face as he frowned in her direction. He had the body of a god, beautifully sculpted muscles that rippled against the water. Clothing similar to a long loincloth covered the lower half of his body, but his gorgeous chest was bare.
Older than Dax, the man appeared to be in his forties, if age were even a factor with the mysterious undersea people here. And there had to be people, many of them. Instinctively she knew that more than just Dax and this stranger lived down here.
The stranger was gorgeous. Not like Dax, who possessed looks and a body that made every cell inside her tingle with awareness. No, this man was so incredibly handsome it was almost painful to look upon him. And yet something about his imposing countenance frightened her. She longed to swim to the safety of Dax's arms, but was afraid to even twitch. The stranger carried a trident in his hands, a long pitchfork that she didn't want to get any closer to than she already was.
"Isabelle, come here," the stranger commanded in a voice that reverberated deeply through the water.
Shocked that he knew her name, she looked to Dax, who shrugged nonchalantly and nodded. Surely he wouldn't send her to someone who would hurt her. With great trepidation, she slowly approached the giant, stopping in front of him, trying not to notice the tan cloth that rode low on his hips, barely concealing his genitals.
Then it struck her. Oh God, she was naked! How could she have forgotten that? She quickly moved to cover her breasts and crossed her legs as tight as she could.
The stranger lifted a brow and said, "Many are naked or nearly so down here, Isabelle. We think nothing of our natural state unlike you land people."
Easy for him to say, he had clothes on. Damn. This was mortifying.
"You're scaring her to death, Neptune. Knock it off." Dax swam over to her and put his arms around her.
The name hit her instantly. "Neptune? You're Neptune? The Neptune?" She looked at Dax then back at the striking man. "I thought the gods were mythological, a fictional fantasy that didn't exist."
Ronan smiled benignly at her. "I never use that name and Dax knows that. I am Ronan and that's what you can call me. " He glared at Dax, who shrugged. "And this legend of Neptune it is mythology. At least what you land humans have read. A bunch of nonsense written by people like you who could only guess at our lives down here. Believe me, I'm nothing like what you've read about."
Oh yeah, that made her feel so much better. She'd just met Ronan, sometimes called Neptune, or Poseidon. He was the god of the Sea.
"Not god of the Sea. Not even close. I'm just a guardian here."
Ronan read her mind just like Dax could. Was there no end to the magic she'd discovered down here? "A guardian?"
"And you give me a hard time for revealing too much," Dax said, folding his arms and casting a smug look in the man's direction.
Ronan glared at Dax. "Mind your manners, boy, or I'll turn you into a sea slug."
Isabelle gasped, but Dax just snorted. "No you won't. And quit scaring her."
This whole scenario was surreal. She had to be dreaming it all. She finally exhaled when it became apparent she wasn't going to be run through by Ronan's trident. Then the inevitable curiosities came bursting forth from her mind. "Would someone mind answering the, oh, let's say about a thousand questions I have?"
Ronan's eyes narrowed as he looked at Dax. "I warned you this could happen. You'll have to take care of this, you know."
"I'm aware of that."
Ronan sighed and turned to Isabelle. "Ask your questions. Some I'll answer, some I won't."
She started to object, but knew it would get her nowhere. "Who are you?"
"I'm Ronan. I think we already established that."
"Okay, then what are you?"
He arched a dark brow. "I'm a man."
Isabelle rolled her eyes. "Yes, clearly you are. I mean what do you do down here?"
"We're guardians," Ronan replied.
"Of?"
"The oceans."
"What exactly does that mean?" Ronan certainly had an uncanny way of answering questions but not giving her any information.
"Our job is to protect the sea and its inhabitants."
"How do you do that?"
"I can't say."
Lord, this was frustrating.
"Give it up, Isabelle," Dax said, turning angry eyes to Ronan. "He's toying with you. He's not going to tell you anything."
Trying to keep her irritation at a minimum, she said, "Look, Ronan. I'm already down here. I know much more than any other human does, so it's pointless to keep things from me."
Ronan regarded her with a sly smile that made her very uncomfortable.
"It's time to end this, Dax," Ronan said, his gaze never leaving Isabelle's face. She shifted uncomfortably, not liking the smug look he gave her.
"No," Dax replied, his voice tinged with irritation. "It's not time yet."
Why did she feel as if they were talking about her? A shiver of dread tingled along her spine.
The ground shook as Ronan's fingers tightened around the trident. "Yes, it is time. You have work to do. You're needed elsewhere."
Dax paused, and then nodded. "Fine. I'll take care of it."
"When?" Ronan asked.
"Soon."
"Not good enough. It has to be now."
What had to be now? What were they talking about? Before she could open her mouth to ask, Ronan reached out and touched her cheek. Instantly, warmth spread throughout her body and she fought the sudden drowsiness that overcame her.
"Sleep, Isabelle. When you wake you won't remember," Ronan whispered to her, his voice softening to a lazy drawl.
Dizziness made her lightheaded and unable to concentrate, but she still heard Dax say, "Stop it, Ronan. I mean it."
"She doesn't belong here."
"Yes, she does. She belongs with me."
Dax's voice sounded so far away. She fought to stay alert, but her limbs were like cement, heavy and pulling her down. She couldn't even lift her hands any longer, and her eyes fluttered closed. A sweet voice sang to her, calling her toward something pleasant. Her mind drifted toward the lilting music, darkness closing in around her.
She wanted to stay, but the lure was too great. She was losing the battle to remain conscious, the strains of a song beckoning her ever closer to the all-encompassing shadows of sleep.
The last thing she heard was Dax's voice saying, "I'm in love with her."
Then her world went black.
Chapter Twelve
Isabelle blinked at the sunlight streaming through the open blinds in her bedroom. Based on the location of the light, it was way past dawn already.
She jumped out of bed, disoriented and groggy. What time was it? For that matter, what day was it? Rubbing her temples as she walked toward the bathroom, she couldn't grasp what had happened before she went to sleep. Her hair and skin smelled tangy and salty like the ocean, so she must have been diving.
That's it. She turned on the shower as it all came back to her. She and Dax had gone diving yesterday afternoon. And then...and then...
And then what? Why couldn't she remember?
She stepped into the shower, hoping the warm spray would clear the cobwebs from her head. But by the time she'd showered and dressed, she still couldn't recall anything past diving with Dax. She'd remembered finding the sea turtles, and then after that...nothing.
Had she even catalogued the turtles? And where was her dive gear? Hurrying into the living room, she spotted the gear on the entryway tile, along with her camera and waterproof notepad.
She picked up the pad hoping her notes would shed some light on what she'd done. Blank. Not a single notation on there. The camera was empty, too. What the hell had she done down there? Looked at the turtles and then surfaced and gone to bed?
Dax would know. She went next door and rapped on his door, but he wasn't there. She even peeked in his half-open window but saw no sign of him.
None of this made sense and trying
to recall yesterday's events only made her head pound. Maybe coffee and some food would help. She drove over to the hotel, relieved to find the place nearly deserted. Looking at her watch, it was clear that she'd slept through the better part of the morning. By now, most of the resort guests would be busy with their sexual adventures of the day.
She ate in the restaurant alone, sipping her coffee and wracking her brain for clues as to the missing hours. Bits and pieces of memory assailed her, but it was more a jumbled mess than anything. Besides, all the little scenarios sailing through her head were bizarre as hell--it was more like a dream sequence than reality.
Diving into the darkness without an oxygen tank. Swarms of dolphins surrounding her. She and Dax making love under the water, and some glass enclosure reminiscent of Superman's Fortress of Solitude.
Oh yeah, that smacked of reality, didn't it? Isabelle heaved a frustrated sigh and added more cream to her coffee. Clearly the only thing she was able to remember from last night were her dreams. And they were weird ones at that.
Maybe she wasn't sleeping well.
"You look a little lost today."
Isabelle looked up and smiled at Morgan, then motioned for her to sit at the table. She needed company and some rational conversation.
"I'm feeling a little lost and confused," she admitted.
"Why?"
"I don't know. I think I had some kind of weird memory lapse last night."
Morgan raised a brow. "Really?"
"Yeah. I remember diving with Dax yesterday afternoon, and then the next thing I knew I woke up this morning in my bed."
Morgan pursed her lips. "Hmm, that's odd. Were you drinking at all yesterday?"
Oh, great. Now Morgan thought she was a lush with frequent alcohol-related memory loss. "No, at least not that I can recall."
She rubbed her forehead, flashes of memory coming back to her despite the sharp pain in her temples. She and Dax, naked at the bottom of the ocean. Then a tall man, dark-haired, piercing blue eyes, gorgeous, in fact. He spoke to her, but she couldn't make out what he said.
"Headache?"
Isabelle looked up and met Morgan's concerned gaze, then laughed. "Sort of. You probably think I'm a walking medical problem. It seems like every time I run into you I'm having either physical or mental issues. I really am a normal person."
