“Before we go in.” Those green eyes were back on mine. “Nothing’s going to happen tonight, Charlie, other than us getting to know each other better.”
My face must have shown my disappointment.
“I’d like nothing more than to take you straight to my bed and us not surface for years.” He tipped my chin up with his fingers so I was forced to look at him. “But I will treat my Queen with respect, and I mean my Queen, as in my beautiful lady, not your role as Queen of the sea. Tonight I will show you my cooking skills; another night…” He winked. “Some other ones.”
Between my legs pulsed at the intimation of what he was going to teach me.
“Now,” he offered me a crooked elbow. “Would you like a tour of my humble abode?”
We walked through the doorway where he pointed to a small table in the hallway where I could put my crown. From there we went into an open plan living and dining room. Much of the furniture was made from driftwood, and the cottage had the whole beach theme about it, painted in blues, whites, and greys. I felt instantly at home. I loved it. Gorgeous aromas permeated the house. Tomatoes, chocolate. My mouth watered and this time it wasn’t due to Kai.
“I’m not showing you the kitchen or you’ll get a sneak peek of dinner. While I’m fixing it, why don’t you go and wander upstairs and have a look at the rest of the cottage?” He suggested.
I nodded, making my way to the staircase and wandering upstairs. Firstly, I walked into the bathroom. A massive white sunken tub was the focus in the middle of the large bathroom. The floor surrounding the bath was the most stunning cerulean blue, and the walls were a similar shade. If you were in the tub you’d feel like you were in the sea itself.
“Press the button on the wall.” Kai shouted upstairs. I found it and pressed it. The walls developed images of fish, traveling around in shoals. I watched enraptured for a few minutes and then turning it off, I walked back along the hallway into another room. This one was a study. There was a driftwood desk with a matching chair, although the chair was cushioned for comfort. Sketchbooks were scattered over the desk containing design after design. The fact I’d never asked Kai what he did made me realise just how much we had to learn about each other. He was right to suggest we waited before we became more intimate. Firstly, I needed to know him: his mind, his likes and dislikes. I’d only skimmed the surface of the man I was convinced was my true love. Had my intuition been nothing but a 15-year-old girl crush? I didn’t think so, but the evening would be a chance to learn more about Kai, the person.
I left the room, entering the last room upstairs and finding myself in Kai’s bedroom. Driftwood fronted wardrobes lined the back wall, and his headboard was a stunning piece of it. The rest of the room was in greys. It was plain, but he had a large woven throw on the bed that looked just the thing to wrap yourself in on a winter’s night.
You want to wrap yourself in Kai, not a blanket.
Smiling, I left the room and made my way downstairs. Kai was sitting on the sofa. He rose as I returned.
“Your home is beautiful, Kai.”
“Thank you.”
“Did you make all the furniture?”
“I did. That’s my job. I have a workshop out the back. I love my work, making beauty out of the sea’s natural resources.”
“Well, it looks amazing. I’m going to tell my mum and dad about it. I bet my mum would love some of those kind of pieces in the farmhouse. I'm guessing these do look the same on land?”
“They do. I considered taking on some apprentices and making more pieces to sell ashore. Something to think about in the future. For now, please take a seat at the table and I shall serve our dinner.”
I took my seat at the small circular dining table in the corner of the room. Kai brought out a fish terrine.
“Do you not feel like you’re eating your friends?” I asked.
He shook his head. “For the Queen of the Sea you have much to learn. but don't worry, I will teach you. We have our underwater species and we have fish and plants for eating, plus underwater vegetables; just as you grow plants ashore and have cows in your fields. We don’t think you make friends with the cows and don’t eat them, although I have heard of people who don’t eat meat.”
“Of course. How stupid of me to think every single thing under the sea was a species of sea-folk.” I sighed. “Why on earth have I been made Queen? The role should have gone to someone who lives under the sea and who knows all about it.”
“You can learn, Charlie. And you are impartial. The people under here either have no interest in the politics of the sea, or are too deeply entrenched in years of bitter wrangling.”
The mouthful of terrine soon distracted me from the woes and worries of being queen as I made a bunch of embarrassing noises focused around how amazing this food was and how it tantalised my taste buds.
“Oh my god, Kai. You can cook. This is phenomenal. If the rest of dinner is like this, how do you expect me to ever be satisfied by anything ashore ever again?”
“Then my mission will have been accomplished. To keep you permanently satisfied here under the sea.” He told me. I was glad I was sitting as my legs turned to jelly once more. “Also, while I am glad you’re enjoying my food, if you continue to make those noises I’m not sure I can keep to my vow of getting to know you first.”
I laughed. “Sorry, but it’s all your fault. It’s just too delicious.”
“Like the person eating it. I’ll go get the second course.” He said, then he looked down at his trousers. “Erm, in a moment.”
We both burst out laughing. Standing, I picked up the dishes. “I’ll be clearing away while we wait.”
I hovered by the table. “Hmm, I thought you might protest about me clearing up; that I might spoil seeing things in the kitchen…”
He looked at me, blowing his fringe away from his face. “Kind of might help my ‘situation’ if you’re not near me for a minute.”
That made me break out in hearty guffaws.
“Aw, it’s just a stiffy. No hard feelings.” He raised an eyebrow and guffawing I walked through to the kitchen.
Through his kitchen window I could see the back door led out to a workshop, and there were pieces of work-in-progress around including the most beautiful bench seat. The man was truly talented.
He came into the kitchen. “Okay, please take a seat again so I can bring out the main courses. I’m fine now.”
“I was just looking at your wood.” His eyes widened, and he quickly looked down.
“Outside.” I winked.
“You’re incorrigible, Miss Landry.”
The main course was pasta and some gorgeous herby kind of sauce. Kai did tell me the name, but I forgot. I was too busy staring at him to be honest.
“So, how does it feel to you, to now be in your twenties when you were just around fifteen? What’s your mind like?”
“Do you mean am I still infantile from my fast progression to adulthood? I feel like I am and have always been in my twenties. Like the previous bit didn’t happen. Earlier I could still feel remnants of being a teen, but it’s gone. It’s so very strange. I guess it’s even more unusual to you?” I bit my lip.
“No. That’s what’s so weird. It’s like you’ve always been like this to me too. Like I’ve known you for years. It's so difficult to describe. Only a few days ago you were the teenage Charlie and I felt bad for being attracted to you. Now it’s like everything is as it should be.”
“I don’t know what my future holds, Kai.” I mopped my lip with a napkin. “There's no knowing how I will age, or even if I’m supposed to survive the war. You need to be aware of this.”
Kai shrugged. “I just have a gut feeling it will all be okay. That we’re destined. It’s always seemed that way.”
“And to me.” I told him. “I guess we can only hope that’s the way it goes.”
We spent the rest of the evening eating chocolate torte and asking each other many, many questions and then Kai call
ed for Daniel to take me back to shore.
We stood in the living room next to the door and said goodbye. Kai’s arms wrapped around me and he pulled me close. His hand went into my hair and he tilted my head up to his. His lips met mine and a thousand fireworks went off in my body. I didn’t want him to let me go. I didn’t want to go home. Our tongues tangled as our mouths moved together in sweet harmony. It was Kai who broke the kiss. I think I would have still been there hours later if he hadn’t.
“Goodnight, my beautiful Queen. He picked my crown up from the sideboard next to the doorway and fixed it back on top of my no doubt ruffled hair.
“When will I see you again?” I asked, annoyed that I sounded so needy, but wanting to know.
“Well that is down to you because I don’t know your ‘saving the world’ timetable, but for me, every single day or night that you have free, I want you to spend it with me. You can watch me work, and we can get to know each other further.”
“I’m sure you’d like some time to yourself.”
“If I have the choice of time to myself or time with you, then you win every time. Now get in that boat because in a minute I’m not letting you go.”
It was a tough choice. I was so tempted to stay. But I made my way to Daniel and before long I was back in my own bed where I had the most wonderful night’s dreams about a guy with beautiful green eyes.
Shelley
“Shelley, Theo. How wonderful. Come, come, take a seat.” Rav seemed thoroughly overexcited this evening.
“Hey, Rav. You’re jolly. Have you had too many energy drinks again? Been drinking on an evil guy’s life force?”
“No. It’s just tonight has been very quiet apart from one irritating customer and you two are just the entertainment I need. I mean your first date.” Rav mimed throwing food. “It was hilarious. Theo, if you had been allergic to garlic you would have just burned right here in the restaurant. People would have thought it was like a fire-eater act gone wrong. So I can’t wait to see what tonight brings.”
“We’re married now, Rav. I’m sure we’re unlikely to provide the same level of entertainment.”
Rav sighed. “True, Shelley. Most married couples say nothing at all and just stare into space. They sigh a lot, eat, and then get the bill. Now you have spoiled my evening. Sit wherever you like. I shall still however get you some complimentary poppadoms.”
Taking a seat, I raised an eyebrow at my husband. “We need to get Rav a wife, Theo. I’m surprised he left the agency’s books.”
“His mother wishes to sort out his wife, and also with him being a demon, he’s basically decided he’s impossible to find a partner for. He says if the demon thing doesn’t put them off, his mother will.”
“Hmm. I shall have a think about that one. They need to be able to not be scared of demons or demon mother-in-laws. Do you know, I might have just the person.” I told Theo. “Leave it with me.”
“Good luck with that one. I met Neelam, Rav’s mother, once. She cut my hair. Actually cut my hair while I was at her house. Said I’d let it grow too long and should be ashamed of myself. Then she gave me three carrier bags full of home-cooked Indian food because I needed feeding up. She couldn’t get on with the whole concept of me drinking only blood. Said there was no wonder I was so slim if I’d got myself on a liquid-only diet.”
“So his mum is human? Lucy said he had demon parents.”
“Demonic father, human mother. She just said she thought his father had a bit of a temper and so she’d thrown him out when Rav was younger. I tell you, she’s a match for any demon that woman. So I hope you know what you’re doing, sending some poor female in her path.”
“Well, like I said. I’ll give it some thought, but I do think Rav could do with some love in his life.”
Theo grasped my hand over the table. “My beautiful wife, always thinking of other people’s love and happiness.”
“Well, it’s kind of my job, but when I think of how happy we are, I want that for everyone. I hate the thought of there being war, Theo, and our daughter being in the middle of it all. Why can’t people just love one other?”
“I know. Believe me I have lived through many difficult times.”
“Gosh, yes, I bet you have.”
“Such as when Charlene left Neighbours. I didn’t get out of bed for a month.”
I was interrupted from tutting by Rav. “Your poppadoms. Are you ready to order?”
“Rav. I like cats-”
“We do not cook cats here, Mrs Landry. The finest of lamb, beef, but no cats. How dare you insinuate this about our restaurant. These rumours can damage busi-”
“Rav, I’m not talking about food. I’m saying do you like cats?”
His brow furrowed. “Sometimes, Shelley, you are a strange lady. I am asking what you want to eat and you are asking me if I like cats.”
“Forget it.” I said.
“Do I like cats? I’ll write that down and take it to the chef who will kick my arse for not delivering your order to the kitchen in a timely manner because I’m discussing my love of pets.”
“Hmmm, someone’s becoming a grumpy little demon tonight, aren’t you, Rav? We’ll just take another few minutes to decide.” I folded my arms across my chest.
“Ugh.” He stomped off.
“But we know what we want.” Theo frowned.
“Yes, darling, but I’m going to annoy that little shit all night. I’m beginning to reconsider getting him a date.”
After a few moments Rav returned to the table.
“So, my lovely lady and gent, could I now take your order?” It was killing him to be civil. This wasn’t like Rav. I knew he was a demon but I rarely actually saw it. I wondered what had caused the change.
“Yes, I’d like prawn puri, followed by lamb rogan josh, thank you. And a nice bottle of red wine for us to share.”
"Nothing for me." Said Theo.
“Are you not pretend eating?” Rav asked him.
“Actually, you can bring me a naan bread. Shelley will pretend she doesn’t want any and then proceed to eat the whole thing.”
I pulled a face at him.
“Thank you. I will be back shortly with your starter.”
“Rav. Stop a minute. Why are you in such a bad mood?”
He huffed.
“Remember I talked about an irritating customer? Well, your adoptive parents called in earlier and I’m sorry, Shelley, but your father, he is an arsehole.”
“Oh don’t apologise, I already know this. What was he doing this time?”
“He asked for the hottest curry and then kept returning it saying it wasn’t hot enough. If I could have, I would have flambeed his insides myself. I had to hold it in. I cannot be evil here. If I become evil here, then who knows what I could do to the lovely citizens of Withernsea? But that man, he drove me very close to the edge.”
“Well, he’s not here now. So just settle back. Is there a way to make the evil go away a bit?”
“Only if some happy things happen.”
“Well, how about if I tell you I’m going to try to set you up on a date?”
“Me?” Rav laughed. “Oh I am a lost cause, Shelley, don’t waste your time.”
“No, Rav. You are not. If we can get Theo a wife, we can get you one.”
“Hey,” Theo protested.
“Shelley, you married him yourself. That’s like insulting your own choices. It makes me feel better though. You really think you might find me a date?”
“I promise to do my best and I know about the whole getting past your mother thing and I’ll bear that in mind.”
“Ah, that’s why you were asking me the question about pets. You were trying to fill in the application form again to update it. I will come into the agency some time. No need to ask me tonight. I prefer dogs, but cats are okay. Anyway, what brings you out tonight? Is it a special occasion?”
“We’re trying to take Theo’s mind off the fact his daughter is out on a date.”
“His name is Kai, and he is a merman. Obviously he lives in Wyvern Sea.”
“Niiicccee. And he is one of those with the big swishy tail and no legs. I wonder what his genitalia looks like?”
“Rav!”
“Sorry, thinking out loud. I shall go hand in the order. Bet you’ve wondered the same though, Shelley, yes?” Rav took one look at Theo’s face and dashed off to take in our order.
“Theo, please count to ten because I can’t explain away red eyes and fangs in here tonight, not even by blaming hot curry.”
Theo shot up, grabbed the wine out of the other waiter's hand and drank some down straight from the bottle. “We’ll need another bottle.” He told him.
“Theo. You need to calm down. Kai assured you he would take things slow when you threatened to drain him.”
Rav brought over my starter. “Just a little something to nibble on. Save yourself for the exquisite main course.”
Theo put his fist in his mouth.
“What’s up with you now?” I said exasperated.
“Nibbling. Saving self for main course. I’m thinking of Kai with my daughter.”
I placed my hands on my cheeks. This was so not turning out to be the relaxing meal I had envisaged. While Theo worked his way through another glassful of wine, I slowly ate and enjoyed my starter. I’d been tempted to make a joke with the word fishy in it and wished Kim were here. In fact, she’d have made the joke herself. I was missing my friend. I needed to go see her and the babies soon.
Rav brought the main course. “And here is the main course. Look how juicy that sauce is. Only the best. Jump right in, Shelley. Coat your tongue in all those divine flavours. Savour it. You’ll wish you could just dive into it, be one with it. It is that amazing.”
A pained noise came from Theo who now had blood running from his fist where he’d punctured through it with his fangs while his hand was in his mouth. I picked up the naan bread and threw it at him. “Get a grip, Theo.” I yelled.
Phwoar and Peace Page 6
