“No, I mean why don’t you take the other side of the bed? I can move over, and then you can stretch out. Has to be more comfortable than sitting in a chair.”
Nick’s face heated. A totally irresponsible and unprofessional part of him suggested he do just that—shuck off his jeans and shoes, crawl into bed next to Aidan, and go to sleep curled around the mer’s body.
The problem was what would happen before he went to sleep. His cock twitched once as a reminder. “I can’t do that,” he said slowly.
“Why not?”
“Because you’re my patient.”
“So what?”
Different worlds, remember? “I can’t share a bed with a patient. It’s unprofessional.” Not that the AMA would ever believe this.
Aidan came up on his elbows. The blanket shifted again, and Nick couldn’t help staring at a set of the most perfect washboard abs he’d ever seen. “Why?”
He pinched the bridge of his nose, groaning a bit. After two beers he was in no shape to explain emotional vulnerability in patients and licensing board rules to a non-human. “It just isn’t. You have to trust me on that.”
Aidan frowned. “So you’ll just sit there all night?”
“Yeah, if that’s okay with you.” He winced. “All right with you, I mean.”
“I speak English, Nick. I know what ‘okay’ means.”
“I wasn’t sure. You and Bythos were speaking another language earlier.”
“Gaelic.” The merman finally settled back on the pillows, but left the blanket where it was. “My pod originally lived in the waters off the coast of Ireland before they came down here. Gaelic was Ma and Da’s first land language, and I grew up speaking it. We always learn the language of the local landfolk. It makes going ashore easier.”
Nick leaned back in the chair, trying to get comfortable on the elderly upholstery. “So how old are you?”
“Thirty-three.”
“Oh.”
“What?”
Nick smiled. “I just—I expected you to say something like thirty-three seasons or something like that.”
Aidan snorted gently. “What part of ‘I speak English’ did you not get? I’m not something out of a fairytale, Nick. I talk like you do.” He sighed. “Although Éthlé is a little more formal than English.”
“Éthlé?”
“What we speak when we’re under water. Apparently humans think it sounds a lot like dolphin.” He snuggled down into his pillow, eyes closing. “How old are you?”
“Thirty-five.”
“Mm. Good. You’re the right age.”
Nick slouched down in the chair, propping his head on a balled hand. His eyes were getting heavier by the second. “For what?”
Aidan chuckled. “Lots of things.”
“Like?”
“Finding someone and settling down.”
He thought briefly of Aaron and his last words. I have to let you go, pet. I’m sorry. “Yeah, I’m not good at that.”
Aidan made a sleepy noise. “Everything happens in its own time. Don’t worry, Nick. You’ll find the ones you’re supposed to be with.”
“Mm.” Something about that phrase sounded odd, but Nick was suddenly too tired to think about it. Stretched out in the old armchair, he drifted off to sleep.
****
Far off to the east, a sleekly streamlined form arrowed through the ocean depths, trying to hold onto the faint trail of blood in the water. The currents were dissipating it too rapidly, making it almost impossible to follow it to its source.
He went still, concentrating. Shock pain blood damn them so tired swim away hide hide hide.
There. The trail, so faint but still tangible. He kicked hard and stormed after it, rage and fear churning deep inside.
Humans. One way or the other, they would pay for this.
Chapter Four
Nick dove into the waves, enjoying the feel of the water as it rushed past him. He surfaced and grinned at the bright sunlight overhead.
Ian, you have no idea how good you’ve got it. The sky was a gorgeous shade of blue, dotted with fluffy clouds that trailed yesterday’s storm. All the greenery behind the cottage was rain-washed and glowing in the morning sun. The air smelled fresh and clean with a bracing salt undertone, and the water was just cool enough to be refreshing. Even the waves were perfect for body surfing and fooling around.
A powerful tail sliced up through the water, beating the surface for a moment before sinking back under it. Nick waited until Aidan’s upper body popped up, splashing foam around with abandon. It was like watching a finned angel dance in the water.
The merman threw his arms around Nick, giving him a blinding smile. “There you are! I knew you had to be here somewhere,” he said, nothing but joy in his voice.
Nick slid his arms around the merman’s waist. “Where else would I be?” he said, laughing a little. “I can’t let you wander off. You’re still my patient.”
“And you’re mo chuisle.”
The unfamiliar words set off an explosion of warmth and contentment in Nick’s chest. He ran his fingers along Aidan’s collarbone, touching the sternal notch and the thong neckband that rested over it. “What does mo chuisle mean?”
That sunburst smile changed, turning achingly sexy. “I’ll show you.”
And then Aidan’s mouth was on his, claiming him. Nick closed his eyes and gave himself over to the kiss and the delirious experience of having Aidan in his arms. The merman’s tongue played along his lips, exploring the seam before teasing it open.
Aidan’s arms tightened around him as their tongues greedily spiraled around each other. When the mer licked the roof of his mouth, it sent blood rushing to Nick’s cock. He rubbed against the smooth scales of Aidan’s lower half, loving the way they felt so slick against his shaft, the tiny bite of the edges adding a prickly, half-pleasant pain.
“Wait, chuisle. I’ll take care of you.”
A hand came down and wrapped around him, stroking from the root to the tip. He groaned softly from the pleasure, thrusting into Aidan’s grip. “Wait, what about you?”
Aidan feathered another kiss across his lips. “Later. Right now, let us take of you.”
“Us?”
Someone laughed softly behind him. An unexpected body fitted itself against his back, strong arms coming around him in a gentle hug. He looked down to see large webbed hands resting on his belly and chest. “Us,” the unseen person said, voice low and sweet. “Hello, chuisle. Nice to finally meet you.”
Nick ground his ass back against the newcomer, and felt more scales. A fin flapped against his lazily kicking feet, teasing them.
Aidan read the unspoken question in his eyes and chuckled. “That’s Li. Just wait until he gets his legs. Those hands don’t lie. I swam funny for a week after our first time together.”
One of the most delightfully dirty laughs Nick had ever heard rang in the air. “You never complained, Aid.”
Under the water, Aidan’s hand sped up on Nick’s cock, “I’m not stupid, Li. And I loved it.” He leaned in, sucking a wet kiss on Nick’s neck. “So will you, chuisle. Wait until we get you between us, all flushed and hard and begging to come.”
Those huge hands rose, plucking Nick’s nipples. “And we won’t let you, not until we’re good and ready,” the unseen mer said in a sexy rumble. “We’ll tease you for hours, chuisle. Finger that sweet tight hole of yours, suck your cock until your balls ache from being so full, then fuck you nice and slow. I can’t wait until I can pull you down on my cock and feel you hot and pulsing around me.” Another pinch, another sweetly filthy chuckle. “And if you’re very, very good, maybe we’ll let you come.”
“Maybe,” Aidan said with a grin. “Just as soon as we both come inside you. You like that, baby? Taking us both at the same time, sucking my cock while Li fucks you? You want that?”
“Fuck, yes,” Nick groaned, throwing his head back onto the unseen mer’s shoulder. Turning, he could just see bright haze
l blue eyes under a dripping shock of dark hair before lips came down on his, demanding entrance. He opened his mouth, tasting salt and something spiced on his new lover’s tongue.
Dimly, part of him registered that Aidan wasn’t in front of him anymore. And then he gasped as a hot, wet mouth sealed around the head of his cock.
“That’s right. Take it, sweetheart,” the hazel-eyed merman whispered. “You belong to us now. Let yourself feel how much we want you.”
Nick did, loving the sensation of Aidan sucking his cock. An impossibly agile tongue licked along the bottom of his shaft, slipping out to tease his balls. Then Aidan took him deep, throat muscles working around him.
The mer pulled off suddenly, and cool salt water swirled around Nick’s flesh. Aidan surfaced, licking his lips and panting hard. “Nick?”
Nick closed his eyes, pushing on Aidan’s shoulders to urge him back down. “God, don’t stop.”
“Nick?”
****
“Nick?”
Nick snuggled back against the body spooning him. Overhead, there was the sound of frenetic lovemaking as an unseen bed creaked and thumped. Moans drifted through the ceiling, and a soft cry was abruptly muffled.
A warm, hard cock slotted against the crease of his ass, and he wriggled against it. “Morning,” he mumbled.
His eyes flew open when a voice that was definitely not Barnard’s said, “Morning, baby.” The hard length pressed against his ass again with what could only be called intent. “How did you sleep?”
He froze. I’m in bed. With...
The previous day crashed in on him. With a merman. A very hard merman. Oh, shit.
He licked his lips, trying to bring up some saliva. “Uh, Aidan?”
“Yeah?”
“Why am I in bed with you?”
A soft huff raised the hairs on the nape of his neck. “You got up in the middle of the night to piss. When you came back you got into bed with me. I thought you wanted to get comfortable.”
What he really wanted to do was grind back against what felt like an amazing hard-on. Fuck you very much, subconscious. “Okay. It’s just that you’re kind of, you know. Close.”
A chuckle sounded in his ear, sending tingles skittering across his skin. “I know. You’ve got an incredible ass.” His hips thrust gently, and Nick smothered a moan. “Lots of muscle, and just a little bit of bounce. Mmm.”
An overwhelming rush of need slammed into him. He wanted to yank down his boxers, push back against that glorious cock, and hope like hell that he still had KY in his bag. It wasn’t the greatest lube for anal sex, but it was way better than saliva—
What the fuck are you doing? his brain screamed at him. He’s your patient. Your non-human patient. Get the hell out of his bed right now.
Taking a deep, somewhat shaky breath, Nick eased out of Aidan’s arms and got up, acutely aware that his traitorous cock was tenting his boxers. “I think we both need some breakfast,” he said, keeping his hips turned away from the bed as he edged towards the bathroom. “You rest. I’ll bring you back some food.”
“Nick?”
He glanced over his shoulder. The woeful look on Aidan’s face tore at his heart a little. “I’m sorry,” the merman said, apple-green eyes wide and remorseful. “Please don’t be mad at me. It’s just—you were there, and you felt so good, and I couldn’t help it. I’m sorry.”
I’m the one who climbed into bed with you, and you’re apologizing? “You didn’t do anything wrong,” Nick said, trying to sound reassuring. “Just let me grab a shower and we’ll eat, okay?”
“Okay.” The answer was hesitant, but at least Aidan didn’t look quite so guilty now. “Thank you.”
“No problem.” Nick escaped into the bathroom. As an afterthought he clicked the lock on the door. Shucking out of his boxers and t-shirt, he climbed into the shower and turned the water to warm.
He looked down at his rigid cock, his balls aching slightly. Need to do something about that. Grabbing the bottle of conditioner, he squirted a dollop into his palm then leaned his other forearm against the damp tile as he started a fast, tugging stroke. In the privacy of his own mind, he could think of anything he wanted, ethics be damned. And if he wanted to think about Aidan crowding up behind him, that perfect cock pressing hard and warm into his crease as the merman reached around and wrapped a slightly webbed hand around his shaft, oh God, that was just fine, yeah—
His orgasm rose quickly. He grunted as he came, splatters of creamy semen hitting the white tile and clinging there. Once his breathing slowed, he wiped the evidence away before reaching for the shampoo.
What the hell am I going to do?
****
Aidan waited until he heard water running, then laboriously got to his feet. His thigh ached badly, the entire area of the puncture throbbing in time with his heart, but he could walk on it.
The pain also effectively deflated his erection. Which was probably for the best, he thought grimly, considering how Nick had bolted from the room like he was being chased by a great white. Dammit, I wasn’t trying to push.
He hobbled to the bedroom door. The room beyond held what he recognized as a sofa and some padded chairs arranged around a low table. Across from them was a higher, blocky piece of furniture that held a very thin television. Must be the common room—no, they call it a living room.
The bedroom itself exited onto a short hallway. There was a pleasant smell of something cooking at the other end. Hanging onto the wall, he limped towards it.
A small, furred animal dashed out, making a loud yapping noise. Aidan flinched as it stopped just short of his ankles, shying back but still making that annoying noise.
“Norma? Come back here, you silly beast,” a voice called. “Nick’s still sleeping.”
The owner of the voice turned the corner. Aidan clutched the wall harder, overcome with shame as he came face to face with Lord Aphros, son of Lord Poseidon and one of the Twin Guardians of the Waters.
“M-my lord,” he said, grimacing as he tried to bow. “I’m so sorry about last night—”
“What in the world?” The sea lord was at his side, grabbing his arm and throwing it around his own shoulders. “Does Nick know you’re out of bed?” Aphros demanded. “Are you supposed to be walking?”
“Nick’s in the bathing room,” Aidan admitted, stunned as Lord Aphros half-carried him into a sunny room lined with counters and cabinets. He was deposited at a table with four chairs. “He n-never said I couldn’t walk.”
The sea lord gave him a probing look, but didn’t say anything more. The furred animal trotted into the room, coming to him. Aidan jerked as its cold nose brushed against his calf. “Um, that’s a dog, right?”
“Yes, a terrier. Her name is Norma, and she belongs to Nick. Make a loose fist and let her smell it.”
Confused, Aidan obeyed. The dog sniffed at his knuckles, then licked them with a very pink tongue. “Is she supposed to do that?”
“Yes. It means she likes you. Probably because you smell like Nick.” Lord Aphros returned to what Aidan recognized as a stove, grabbing a spoon and stirring at a shallow, long-handled pan. “I’m making Spanish omelets this morning. Would you like to try one?”
Aidan tried to wrap his mind around the idea of a Lord of the Sea doing something as prosaic as preparing food for others. “What is it?”
“Eggs, onion, potatoes, olive oil and a bit of salt. Fairly basic, but tasty. Have you ever had human food before?”
“Potatoes, yes. I like French fries.”
The sea lord grinned at that. “Yes, that is a species-crossing treat, isn’t it? But can you eat eggs?”
Aidan hesitated. “I’ll eat anything you give me, lord,” he said respectfully.
“A very formal answer, but not the one I wanted. Hmm.” Lord Aphros opened a cabinet and pulled out a plate, then paused. When he turned around, the plate was piled high with glistening slabs of fish in shades of white, orange, and red. A dab of some greenish stuff s
at to the side, as well as a tiny bowl of brown liquid.
“Humans call this sashimi,” Lord Aphros said, putting the food in front of him. “I added the wasabi and soy sauce in case you wanted to try it. They add a piquant flavor to the fish.”
Dubious, Aidan picked up a piece of tuna and dredged it through the soy sauce, then took a bite. His eyes widened. “Gahz, ‘is is grea’!” he mumbled happily through the mouthful.
“The wasabi adds heat, if you like that sort of thing,” Lord Aphros said, going back to the stove.
Aidan did, and carefully brushed a piece of mackerel across the green blob before dipping it in the sauce and taking a bite. The green stuff added the perfect burn to the light flavor of the fish. “I wish I’d tried this before,” he said, chewing happily. “I would’ve eaten on land more often.”
“It’s Japanese cuisine. Look for sushi restaurants and you’ll find a large variety of it,” the sea lord said, dishing something fluffy and yellow out of the pan onto waiting plates. “Do you go on land very often?”
The bite stuck in his throat, and he forced it down. It was pointless lying to a god. “I go on land sometimes. I know mers aren’t supposed to mix with humans unless it’s an emergency. But I had a good reason.”
“Mm.” Lord Aphros picked up a mug and sipped from it. “Which is?”
“I’ve been searching for someone.” Aidan frowned, trying to remember everything Liam had told him. “I think you call them agapetos?”
The sea lord choked a bit, blue eyes going wide. “You have an agapetos?”
“Two, yes. My first mate, Liam, had to petition the Oracle of the Waters to prove that we were supposed to be together.” Aidan scowled, thinking of his near-mother and her many attempts to separate him from Liam. “The Oracle confirmed our union, but said that there was a third mate waiting for us. He would be a human male, holding a staff with a snake wrapped around it and looking out to sea. Together, the three of us were destined to be agapetos.” He took a deep breath, meeting the sea lord’s gaze. “Ever since then, I’ve been going on shore trying to find him. I know I broke the rules doing this, and I take full responsibility for my actions. Especially now that…” He trailed off, pressing his lips into a bloodless line.
Olympic Cove 2-Breaker Zone Page 7
