In Over Her Head

by Judi Fennell

  “What’s going on, sweetheart? Do you want me to stop?” Please say no, please say no.

  “God, no.”

  Okay, he’d take the god reference. Not quite true, but who was he to object? “So…?”

  “What about getting me pregnant?”

  Well that came out of nowhere.

  He rolled onto his back and stared at the dusky sky. Getting her pregnant. A baby. Words that had made him swim off in the opposite direction any time they’d come up before had just grabbed him by the throat. Make a baby with Erica.

  Waves lapped the beach and leaves rustled overhead. A star blinked into existence. Then another. When another went shooting across the sky, he realized how immense the world was. How colossal the universe… and how small and insignificant one beached Mer man was. Here for but a minute in the vast expanse of Time. But, if he made a child—with her—a part of him would go on. Carry a part of him with it forever. Pass that along to its child. And so on.

  Like the stars above him, he would be cast across future generations. Endless. Immortal. Immortality. It was one of his brother’s inherited powers he’d never have. He’d never thought he’d have. He could create a child with any Mer and it’d have the same effect. The same effect through the ages, but, he realized, not the same effect within him. If he were to make a child, it would have to be with Erica. Only her.

  InOverHerHead.indd 271

  3/20/09 2:00:16 PM

  Judi Fennell

  272

  The revelation slipped over him quietly like waves at low tide. A natural state of being. He smiled at the sky.

  “Okay, Erica, if you really want a baby—”

  She exhaled and rolled to her side. “Reel, I’m not asking you to make a baby, I’m asking how you want to prevent one.”

  Oh.

  Zeus. He hadn’t been thinking. His gono twitched. Well, okay, he had been thinking, but not with his head. His heart had been doing the driving with gono-boy along for the ride. Gono-boy was always along for the ride. Yeah, why would she want his child? She didn’t like the sea, didn’t want to live out her life here. Have a Mer child? His Mer child? What a prize that’d be, huh?

  He wasn’t good enough to be a son; what made him think he’d be good enough to be a father?

  “Pregnancy. Right. Yeah, Erica, we can prevent that. The question is, do you trust me?”

  Now there was a question.

  Erica stared at his profile. His mouth had gone from a dimpled smile to a grim line, and she had a feeling a lot more was riding on her answer than just a night of passion. She’d never seen him this serious.

  “Trust you?”

  “To pull out before I come.”

  Did she trust him? Could she trust him?

  Oh, she’d kill any of her friends for falling for this line. But then, they weren’t talking about her friends. They were talking about her and Reel.

  Reel, who supposedly was a waste, according to his father, but who’d stopped last night because she’d asked him to. Reel, who’d saved her life when he InOverHerHead.indd 272

  3/20/09 2:00:17 PM

  In Over Her Head

  273

  hadn’t had to. Reel, who’d protected her from Kraken when he could have just left her in the middle of the open ocean as a diversionary tactic. Reel, who was offering to pull out, to care more about her wishes than his pleasure.

  Reel, who wasn’t Joey.

  “Yes, Reel, I do trust you.”

  A gift. He’d been given a gift. Her trust. Her belief in him. Reel rolled over. Those blue eyes he’d fallen for so long ago were right in front of him, the fading firelight dancing in their depths. Her pink tongue darted out. Gods. That tongue…

  He was almost afraid to touch her. That she’d disappear. She had no reason to trust him. He’d ruined her world, taken her from it and sentenced her to his. Put her in harm’s way. Yet still, she gave him her trust. He ran his hand up her arm, over her delicate shoulder, and swept his fingers into the silky hair at her nape, his thumb stroking her jaw, lifting it to just the right angle.

  “I won’t let you down, Erica.”

  “I know.” The words were soft but their impact unbelievable.

  His heart swelled and he couldn’t stop himself from drawing her face to his to claim her lips. Soft, warm, they met his with no indecision.

  He needed this connection with her. Needed to be with the one person who believed in him. She arched into him, soft curves against hard planes fitting together so perfectly, as if they were made for each other—and… he knew.

  InOverHerHead.indd 273

  3/20/09 2:00:17 PM

  Judi Fennell

  274

  She was the one he’d been searching for without even knowing why. Not because she was a Human or had those beautiful eyes he’d seen when he was a kid, but because she was The One.

  The One who made him want to be a better man. A better person. The One who’d own his heart. The One he’d claim for all time. There’d never be anyone else. Her fingers threaded through his hair, and Reel groaned against her mouth. Erica smiled, her tongue touching his lips.

  He sucked on it, tasting sweet pineapple and sugar. He stroked the tip then claimed her mouth with his, thrusting inside. Retreating. Thrusting again. Sweeping over the perfect white teeth that brightened her face when she smiled. The soft inside of her cheek.

  It was all about her. Not her eyes or any fascination he had with Humans. His soul had known back then what his brain had finally figured out. Why he didn’t need Immortality if he had her.

  Hades, Immortality would be the worst thing to have if he couldn’t share it with her.

  As he wanted to share so many things…

  He ran his hand down her back, pressing the small of it against him, letting her feel what she did to him. Lower, he cupped her small, firm backside, stroking her as she’d done him. Her legs, her glorious legs, spread for him, one hooking over his hip.

  Sweet gods, her scent filled his senses and he had to slide his hand beneath her, his fingers finding the wetness that seeped from her, the slick swollen folds awaiting his touch.

  InOverHerHead.indd 274

  3/20/09 2:00:17 PM

  In Over Her Head

  275

  She groaned and it was his turn to smile as she gave herself to him, believing in him to bring them—her—pleasure.

  He pulled her leg higher on his waist, opening her. His fingers slid back to stroke the welcoming flesh. She was so wet for him. So slick. He slipped one finger inside and felt the tug of her inner muscles—felt it everywhere. His finger, his gono, his heart.

  “Erica.” He had to say her name, was compelled, like breathing.

  She slanted her head, reclaiming his lips, and he rolled her onto her back, his knees between hers. Cradling her head in his hands, his thumb knocked the poor, withered actinia from her ear.

  Ah well, she didn’t need the outward sign that she was his. His heart claimed her. He’d never let anything happen to her.

  He kissed her forehead, her eyelids, her lashes where they met her cheek, the dusting of spots there, each and every one precious to him.

  “Reel,” she whispered, “kiss me. Touch me.”

  His lips found hers again. His hand slid to her breast, its softness beckoning him. Her nipple pearled in his palm and he stroked it, teasing it, and her, with feather-light strokes, then circling, grazing his nails along the tightened areola. Her chest fluttered against him and she gasped. Her legs tightened, the plump flesh between them moist against his sac.

  He didn’t know if he’d be able to hold out much longer. The urge to claim her body, to stretch her legs as far apart as possible and bury himself inside her, to make her his, clouded his brain.

  InOverHerHead.indd 275

  3/20/09 2:00:17 PM

  Judi Fennell

  276

  He slid his lips down her throat, replacing his fingers on her nipple with his tongue. His gono strained against
her mound, the hair there like a thousand wisps of the gentlest touch across the tip, and he trembled with need. Desire. Want.

  She spread her legs wide, arching her breast into his mouth, her fingers holding him there. Her head swept from side to side, her short, heavy gasps music in the tropical quiet.

  His tongue played there, first one sweet breast then the other, his fingers straying between her legs.

  “Please… Reel… God… yes!” The last faded on a deep sigh the moment he found the source of her pleasure. He stroked the swollen flesh in time with the laving of his tongue. Her hips lifted, the muscles in her thighs quivering. “Oh… Reel…”

  His name on her lips… her body straining… her scent… the wetness…

  Her complete and utter trust in him.

  He kissed his way to her mouth, sliding up her body, electric… surging at last into her heat. Her legs clasped him and her heels dug into his backside. Her hips rose, and he pulsed inside her. Zeus. Not yet…

  He pulled out, and her whimper stroked his heart. “Ssh, Erica.” He kissed her bottom lip. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  He surged back into the invitation of her body. Her nails scored his shoulders and Reel hoped those wouldn’t heal any time soon. He wanted her physical mark on him. His soul was already branded. He pulled out again then plunged back. Over and over, meeting the give-and-take of her body, riding the InOverHerHead.indd 276

  3/20/09 2:00:17 PM

  In Over Her Head

  277

  swell of his emotions. Her skin glistened, eyes bright as he captured her gaze.

  “Reel…” She panted his name, softer with each quickening breath, matching the cadence of his strokes. He gritted his teeth, watching her pupils dilate. Almost there.

  Her. Him. His promise.

  He’d keep it.

  Even if it killed him.

  It might.

  Then she cried out, her eyes closing, his name a litany as pleasure took her, her inner muscles contracting around him. He couldn’t take much more. She lifted her bottom, drawing him in deeper, and Reel had a moment’s thought to just go with it, ride the wave. But no. Her belief in him was worth more than any momentary pleasure.

  If he’d never do one other noble thing in his life, he would do this.

  He wrenched himself from her heat.

  Gods… his body shuddered his release between them, her legs closing around him, enveloping him, cradling him as he rode out the tidal wave of his reward. Like a storm-frenzied sea, the waves of pleasure crashed over him, surging him up to new heights, swirling him around in a vortex of emotion, sensations so strong they could—should—only be named with one word.

  Love.

  InOverHerHead.indd 277

  3/20/09 2:00:17 PM

  Chapter 32

  HE HADN’T BETRAYED HER TRUST.

  It was her first thought once her body stopped thrumming and her breathing returned to normal. Reel had kept his word.

  Unlike Joey, King of Til-Death-Do-Us-Part-UntilSomeone-Else-with-a-Tight-Little-Ass-Comes-Alongin-the-Next-City—

  She clamped off the image. Joey didn’t merit one iota of her thought processes any more. Not with Reel wrapping her in his arms, cradling her back against his chest, one of his legs thrown over hers, his breath heavy against her neck… She wrapped his arms with her own, pulling them against her chest.

  “Erica… I…” he whispered thickly, like his brain knew the words but his mouth wasn’t quite sure what it was supposed to do.

  She could tell it.

  “You…? What? Need a moment? Felt the earth shake?” Want to live out the rest of your life right here with me forever?

  She could be thinking along those lines if she let herself. But she couldn’t. Let herself. He inhaled, tightening his hold, and the moment grew heavy. Expectant.

  She couldn’t let that happen either. There was the whole under-the-sea-thing looming ahead of them and InOverHerHead.indd 278

  3/20/09 2:00:17 PM

  In Over Her Head

  279

  she didn’t want to focus on that at the moment. She wanted to enjoy this, him, while she had the chance. Her nails circled figure eights across his forearm, and he growled. “Catfish got your tongue, Reel?”

  “Keep those finger movements up, sweetheart, and I won’t be accountable for my actions.”

  “Promise?”

  He groaned. “You’re not supposed to say that. You’re supposed to be too worn out and apologize and go to sleep like any normal woman.”

  “But I’m not any normal woman and I don’t feel like going to sleep. Not after all the effort you put in to set up this scenario.”

  “Oh, gods, I’ve created a monster.”

  She heard the laughter in his voice and felt his lips as they smiled against her shoulder. “Better you than Ceto.”

  She wiggled her butt into the curve of his thighs.

  “Hey, let’s not get her involved. Right now, this is between the two of us. No one else.” The last was said on a whisper before he kissed that sensitive part at the base of her neck behind where her hair fell—and goose bumps began.

  She scooted around so she could face him. Sleepy, sated eyes, a lazy dimple, lips that looked like they’d been kissing her senseless—which they had been—hair mussed around his head… the guy could turn her on with one look. And that sideways tic to his mouth was it. She put her palm on his cheek. He let it linger then pressed a long, warm kiss to it as if giving her his seal of approval.

  His lashes flickered and then she was gazing into eyes swirling with every shade of green, like waves roiling InOverHerHead.indd 279

  3/20/09 2:00:17 PM

  Judi Fennell

  280

  onto themselves. Like her thoughts and emotions and feelings had been minutes ago.

  “Erica…”

  He pulled her to him, crushing her arms between them, ravaging her mouth as if he hadn’t seen her for a million years, and the fire of longing unfurled again. She worked an arm free, slipping it around his back, grasping the supple muscles there as the feelings welled inside of her. His tongue was doing that sexy thing on her lower lip again, and she almost couldn’t take the straight shot to her core of adrenaline and need and lust. She sucked his bottom lip into her mouth, grasping his back, trying to pull him into her, her nails pressing into his skin, raking as he arched back with some unintelligible word. That was all she needed to spur her on, to give her confidence. Reel in mindless abandon because of what she did to him, not what she could do for him. She licked the strong cords of his neck, veins throbbing with his heartbeat. She nibbled her way down to the flat plane of his chest, the taut skin stretched over sleek muscle. His nipple begged for attention, and she took it into her mouth. He shifted, fisting her hair, and she pulled her other arm free. On her knees now beside him, her breasts stroking his stomach, Erica could play with his nipple like he had hers. Or anything else she wanted to do with and to him. He had no idea what keeping his word meant to her. But she was going to show him. Reel’s breathing quickened as she nudged one of her knees between his. His sac tightened against her leg, his cock jerked, the smooth taut head glancing against her thigh with a moist stroke.

  InOverHerHead.indd 280

  3/20/09 2:00:18 PM

  In Over Her Head

  281

  Oh, she had plans for that part of him… but all in due time.

  He pulled her up for his kiss, growling her name, and her stomach fluttered. He covered her lips, hot breath stoking the inside of her mouth, his groan and hers mingling as their tongues met.

  She draped her body over his, her legs sliding into the cradle of his thighs. His cock, jutting and hard, pressed against her belly, wanting her.

  “Erica… I… need…” He came up for air, three little words, but it was as if he couldn’t get enough of her and kissed her before he could finish the thought. Erica pushed back on her hands, arching, the tips of her breasts nudging his skin, her pelvis p
ressing onto him. “What, exactly, do you need, Reel?” She was having fun with this, with him. With the freedom he’d given her with his kept promises.

  He slipped his hands to her breasts, growling. Smiling. His thumbs found the tips and started playing. “Come here.”

  “No.”

  He cocked his eyebrow and his thumbs stopped moving. “No?”

  She shook her head, her hair falling over her shoulders, the ends brushing his chest. “No. I’m not coming. Not until you do.”

  “Ah.” He smiled and his hands fell away to rest on the sand. “Then I’m at your command.”

  Those simple, teasing words were almost her undoing. He gave the power of their play into her hands. She was calling the shots.

  She took a deep breath, her breasts swelling with the rush, the aching flesh between her legs throbbing. InOverHerHead.indd 281

  3/20/09 2:00:18 PM

  Judi Fennell

  282

  She could come just from the power, the trust he’d given her.

  But him first.

  She tossed her head, flinging the hair to one side, and slid down his body, sweeping the strands along his ribs. His stomach contracted then his breath whooshed out. Down the long length of his abdomen, over that defined line by his hip, her lips trailed through the coarse hair at his groin to stroke along his cock. His scent, hers, lingered there like ambrosia. She traced the thick vein with her teeth, smiling around it when his legs trembled beside her, and it felt so right to be here with him, like this. As if it was meant to be. As if she’d known him forever.

  Or, at least, since she was eight years old. Had they connected that day? Had Fate sent him to her beach? Had everything happened then so it would lead to now?

  His fingers found her hair, threading through it, massaging her scalp. Her tongue flicked over the tip of his cock, and his voice, hoarse, cried out her name. His fingers tightened.

  Erica swirled her tongue around the tip then took him into her mouth, his groan echoing in the night air. His hips lifted, pushing his pulsing flesh to the roof of her mouth, and Erica worked him with her tongue. She cupped his sac, playing with him gently. His balls constricted in her hand just as he sat up, urging her mouth from his body. “I… can’t… sweetheart,” he panted. “Too much.” His thumbs slid over her cheeks to her lips. Stroking them, dipping inside. “You don’t know—”