“Jude, will you mate with me sometime?” I whisper in his ear.
I hear his gulp and see his Adam’s apple bob. “The minute I get you alone, Coral.”
Ever since I saw the way Liam reacted to the women at the grocery store, a thought has been growing in my mind. Maybe he’s no longer interested in other women because he’s already mated with me. Perhaps what I need to do to keep from losing any of them is to mate with the others, too. Maybe it creates a stronger bond.
The thought saddens me a little when I realize how many human men have mated with mermaids and then were abandoned when the mermaid returned to the sea. Were those men ever able to find a new mate, or did they spend the rest of their lives pining for the one they lost? A new level of anger at my grandfather rises up in me at the carelessness of his edict. How cruel of him to expect humans to sacrifice their hearts just so that mermaids could bear hybrid merlings!
I wish I could go back and tell the other mermaids that the curse is a lie, spare them the heartache of leaving their human mates and give them the choice they’ve been denied. But I’m afraid that Grandfather would hold me captive like he tried to do to my mother and I’d never be able to escape to be with the guys again. I know it’s selfish, but I don’t want to risk losing the freedom I’ve gained.
“Is dinner ready?” Avery asks, hoping to distract us from any more kissing. I don’t blame him. I know he wants to mate just as badly as Jude does.
After seeing the way the women were looking at the guys today and feeling the burn of jealousy in my own veins, I can only imagine how hard it is for them to watch each other kiss me. I don’t understand why they’re still willing to share me now that they have plenty of other women to choose from, but I’m glad I haven’t lost any of them yet. I should probably prepare myself for the possibility, but a sharp pain pierces my chest at the thought of that.
Chapter 15
“I’ll be back in a little bit, I need to get a few things. Think you bums can take care of the dishes since Coral and I made dinner?” Jude says as soon as he’s done eating, standing up from the table.
He doesn’t wait for them to answer, just puts his empty plate by the sink and comes to give me a peck. The thoughts in his mind make me blush.
The guys and I clean off the table, putting the leftovers in the fridge, and Liam starts washing the dirty dishes.
“Hey Coral, do you want me to show you how to do your makeup now?” Avery slides a hand around my waist.
I put my head on his shoulder, burrowing against him. His touch makes me realize how much I crave more time with him. “Yes, please.”
Avery grabs the makeup bag and leads me to the bathroom then dumps everything out on the counter. The girl in the mirror stares back at me, and I assess her with new eyes, comparing her to all the women I’ve seen so far.
“Gio’s right, you know. You’re gorgeous without any makeup on. All this is going to do is make you so beautiful it will hurt to look at you.”
My eyes get wide. “Then maybe we shouldn’t. I don’t want to hurt you.”
Avery chuckles. “It’s just an expression. We’re all gonna love it. But you don’t have to wear it if you don’t want to. It’s totally up to you, okay?”
Now that I understand what I was seeing, I realize that most of the women I’ve met were wearing makeup. Men must like it if so many woman wear it, and Avery thinks my guys will like it, too. If that’s what it takes to keep them interested in me, I’m determined to learn how to do it.
Avery grabs a bottle of tan liquid and squirts a little on a squishy, pink, teardrop-shaped sponge. I watch his arm as he starts dabbing the liquid on my face, admiring the golden skin sprinkled with light blond hairs. “This is foundation — it evens out your skin tone and covers up any little blemishes.”
When he’s done, he sets it with powder from a compact. I move closer to the mirror to check out the effect. It’s subtle, but my skin does look smoother, more perfect. It feels nice, too, soft and powdery.
“This is a makeup brush. You want to wash it frequently so it stays nice.” He holds it out to me so I can run my fingers over the soft, hair-like bristles.
Avery swirls the brush around a clamshell-peach powder and swipes it along my cheekbones, making me glow like I’m blushing. I can’t help smiling which makes the color stand out even more.
“The eyes are a little trickier. Some women go all out, but I think just a touch of eye shadow and mascara is enough for now.” Avery swoops a smaller brush across my lids, leaving a glimmering trail. He uses a darker color on my eyebrows, following the natural curve.
Then he wiggles a stiffer brush through my eyelashes, making me squint and blink and wrinkle my nose. He laughs, leaning into me with the brush when I pull my head back. “Hold still, or you’re going to look like a raccoon!”
He gives up after a few more tries, but when I turn to look at myself in the mirror, I’m amazed at what a difference it made. My blue eyes pop out against my skin, framed by dark, arched eyebrows and long, lush lashes that make my eyes look larger than normal. My surprise makes them open even wider.
“You have gorgeous eyes, Coral. I could stare at them all day long, like watching the sea.”
I turn to face him, and he does just that, gazing at me like he’s trying to see all the way to the bottom. His own ocean-blue eyes ripple with longing. When I lean in closer, he starts to breathe heavily, and I can feel his warm breath on my face.
He closes the gap between us, bringing his lips to mine. His kiss is tender, like he’s asking permission with each touch of his lips. He nibbles gently, making me crave him all the more. I feel my own breath get faster and louder, turning into moans.
He runs his hands down my hair, stroking the locks, bringing back memories of him washing my hair in the shower. My mind flicks through the images of his bare, wet chest as I slide my hands down it, and I wish I had an excuse to take another shower with him.
Eventually, the kiss simmers down, and Avery pulls away, a wide smile on his face. “I’m glad we did that before I put on your lipstick, otherwise I would’ve kissed it all off.”
He pulls the lid off a tube of lipstick that reminds me of the one the woman in the bar was putting on then gently glides it over my lips. When he’s done, he beams at me, shaking his head. “That just makes me want to kiss you even more.”
As he turns me towards the mirror, my mouth forms a large O at the sight of my bright red lips. I curve them into a smile when I realize I look much more like the women at the bar now. Now maybe other women won’t think so badly of me.
“What do you think, Coral? Do you like it?” His broad smile tells me he certainly does.
“I love it, Avery. Thank you for teaching me.” I grab him and give him a hug, making him chuckle.
“It might take you a little practice to get the hang of it, but it shouldn’t be too hard.”
I tilt my head, suddenly confused. “Avery, do guys wear makeup, too?”
“No, not usually.”
“Then how do you know how to do it?”
He grins. “My younger sister likes me to put makeup on her. We’ve been doing it since she was little.” Precious memories flash through his mind, and a lump fills my throat at the images of him being so sweet and patient.
“Do you want to go show the others?” he asks.
I nod, suddenly nervous. Avery must sense it because he takes my hand and gives me a reassuring squeeze. He opens the door, and I pad out to the living room.
“What do you think, guys? Isn’t she incredible?”
Liam and Gio look up, and Gio’s jaw tightens while Liam gives a sly smile.
“You look stunning, Coral. Nice work, Avery.” Liam pats him on the back.
“Gio, is it okay?” I ask, going over to stand next to him.
He shakes his head and softens his scowl then stands up and strokes a hand down my cheek, sighing loudly. “How am I ever going to protect you when you look this good?”
/> I smile and stand on my tiptoes to cup my arms around his neck, pulling his head down to mine. His thick arms go around me like a cage, strong and solid, but with space for me to move. When I kiss him, he tightens his grip, sliding his arms across each other to pull me in closer.
He groans as I suck and tug on his lips with mine, swiping my tongue between them, seeking entry. I can tell he wants me, but he’s still resisting, holding himself back. I pull away just far enough to free my lips and whisper, “I’m not your sister, Gio. I want more from you than just protection.”
He flinches at my words, but then his eyes get dark, and his lips claim mine, hard and demanding.
The door swings open, interrupting the moment, and Jude walks in. The big grin on his face dims a little when he sees me in Gio’s arms, but Gio drops them and pulls away.
“What have you been up to?” Gio purses his brow.
“Oh, just fixing up a little treat for Coral. Something she said the other day gave me an idea.”
Jude’s grin returns, and he walks over to me. “Would you like to come see it?” His mouth falls open when he notices my makeup.
“Wow, you look great, Coral!”
I smile and blush. “Thanks. Avery helped me.”
Jude glances nervously at Avery then back towards me. “It’s outside.”
“Okay, let me put on my shoes.” I scamper to the bedroom and slip them on then hurry back to the living room, sliding my arm around Jude’s. “I’m ready.”
“Don’t wait up.” Jude wiggles his eyebrows at the others.
The guys glare at him; Avery looks especially unhappy. Is he upset that I’m going with Jude after he spent all that time doing my makeup? Maybe I shouldn’t go. But Jude obviously went to some trouble to prepare something special for me.
Liam scowls at him. “You said that last night, and you brought her home drunk. You may like to go partying every night, but that doesn’t mean you get to take Coral with you.”
“No? But it’s okay for her to spend every night in your bed?”
Liam spreads his arms out and looks around. “Where else would you suggest she sleep? Are you going to take her to your parents’ house?”
Chapter 16
“No, I have another idea, and it’s none of your business.” Jude grabs my hand and pulls me out the door.
I don’t resist, but inside my stomach is rolling like the sea. How am I ever going to balance my time with them?
Jude tromps down the hallway, dragging me with him, irritation rippling around him. When we get to the elevator, Jude looks at me, and his anger melts when he sees my worried face. His lips curl in a smile, and he reaches for me.
“I’m sorry, babe. It’s just frustrating having to answer to them when I want to spend time with you and not having any place private we can go to be alone.”
I empathize with his frustrations. Every time I get a minute alone with one of them, it only makes me crave more.
“So, where are we going?” The pictures in his head weren’t clear enough for me to fully understand.
“You’ll see.” He grins at me, flashing a dimple.
He boosts me up into his truck, which is a little cleaner than before, and we drive, listening to the radio, until the lights and buildings of the city start to disappear behind us. Eventually, Jude turns down a bumpy road with short, full trees on either side. Moonlight filters through the branches, dappling light on the shadows.
“This is my friend’s farm. These are orange trees.”
The trees aren’t orange, but a few orange circles peek out between the thick, dark leaves, and others dot the ground around the trees. “Are the orange things food?”
“Yeah, they’re fruit. Really sweet and juicy. They’re not in season right now, so the ones you see are leftovers. I’m not sure if they’ll be any good, but we can try one.”
Jude stops the truck in the middle of the road and turns off the engine. I can’t see anything but trees in any direction. I’m not quite sure why he’d bring me here now if it’s not the right time to eat the fruit. My face must show my confusion because Jude chuckles and grins at me.
“I didn’t bring you here to eat oranges, Coral.”
He jumps out of the truck, so I do, too, following him around to the back. The scent floods my nostrils — a sweet, heavy, fruity perfume. A light breeze ruffles the tree leaves, making a soft rustling sound and stirring up more of the fragrance. That, and the chirp and buzz of insects, is the only sound.
Jude lifts a handle, and the back of the truck opens with a creak. “You asked me yesterday if I sleep in the bed of the truck, and it gave me an idea. We slept outside on the life raft the whole time we were on the island, so why can’t we sleep on an air mattress in the back of the truck?”
Jude lifts me up till I’m sitting on the edge of the truck, then he joins me and pulls off his shoes and mine, setting them off to the side. There’s something flat and wide, covered with a blanket, that fills most of the truck bed. When Jude climbs onto it, it sinks but bounces back as he moves. He crawls till he’s far enough up that his whole body can stretch out then lays on his side and props his head up with his hand.
“Come here.” He pats the space beside him, so I follow his lead. It feels just like the life raft! But the blanket makes it soft instead of sticky, and Jude even has pillows.
I stretch out facing Jude with a big grin. “Are we going to spend the night here?”
“If you want. My friend gave us permission to come here, and there’s no one else around for miles, so we’re finally alone.”
The hidden meaning of his words dawns on me, making me draw in a quick breath. Jude moves closer to me and puts a hand on my hip, a silent question in his eyes. I lean in, answering it with my lips.
He groans as he pulls my body tight against his. We fit together much better lying down than we do when we’re standing since he’s so much bigger than me. Jude drapes a leg over me and lets his hand slide up my back, capturing me fully in his embrace.
He sucks and bites at my lips, heavy breaths warm on my face. Then his tongue swoops in, tangling with mine. My insides clench with pleasure. His hand continues its upward path, his fingers burrowing into my hair as he cups the back of my head.
I want to touch him, but I can’t. One of my hands is caught under my body, and the other one is between us, flat against his chest. Jude presses into me, tipping me onto my back so that half of his body is on top of me. He props himself up on his arms and stares down at me. His face is in shadows, so I can’t see his expression, but I can feel the moonlight illuminating mine. It feels magical out here with the stars twinkling, the trees surrounding us like a protective canopy, and the scent of oranges perfuming the air.
Jude lifts one hand and uses it to stroke my face and the hair that is fanned out around me. “God, you’re beautiful. I’m one lucky SOB.”
Now that my hands are free, I run them up his firm forearms, over his broad shoulders, and around the back of his neck, exploring every inch. I want to pull his head down to me so I can kiss him again, but before I get a chance, Jude sits back on his haunches. Every nerve ending tingles as he runs a hand down my neck, lightly tracing my collarbone, then trails one finger between my breasts.
“Can I look at you, Coral?”
When I nod, he quickly unbuttons my dress down to my waist and spreads it open. I’m wearing the lacy, purple bra that Avery picked out for me. Jude traces the edges of it with his fingers then slowly circles my breast. I arch my back, craving more of his touch. He obliges, rubbing his thumbs across my nipples.
“This is pretty. At least Avery is good for one thing.” He smiles then shakes his head. “I do not need to think about Avery right now.”
He unties the lashing around my waist then undoes the rest of the buttons till my dress falls open. His eyes move down my body slowly, followed by his hand. I shiver as his touch makes my belly clench. Suddenly, his mouth descends, and his lips suckle at my navel, his tongue fl
icking inside, igniting me with desire. I gasp, and my hands grab onto his curls.
He peppers kisses up my belly to the bottom of my bra then sucks at my nipple through the lace while his fingers reach up to my shoulders, pulling down the straps. When he pulls away, I push myself up into a sitting position so he can take off the bra. He reaches around to unhook it, and it falls to my lap, but Jude’s gaze doesn’t waver from my breasts. His eyes get wider when the breeze makes my nipples pucker.
Jude pulls me up so I’m straddling his knees, putting my breasts right at his eye level. He slides his hands around my back, pulling me closer, and sucks one nipple into his mouth. The sensation unbalances me, so I put my hands on his shoulders to keep from falling. I throw my head back with a moan as he laves my nipples with his tongue.
“Tastes almost as good as ice cream, and it doesn’t hurt your teeth when you bite,” he says, nibbling on my nipple, sending jolts of sensation coursing through me. I don’t know what ice cream is, but the smile on his face tells me it’s a compliment.
The careful attention he’s paying to my breasts leaves the rest of me craving. I press my center against his, my body begging for friction. Jude groans and pulls his lips away from my breasts, breathing hard. The loss of sensation clears my head long enough for me to pull his shirt over his head. As soon as his skin is exposed, I run my hands eagerly down his broad chest, exploring the soft, brown hairs and taut nipples. When I pinch them, he inhales sharply and grabs me.
Jude lays me down then hooks a finger under each side of my panties and drags them down my legs. Then he stands up, wobbling on the inflated bed, and lets his pants and boxers drop to the floor.
I gulp as I take in the sight of him. He’s bigger than Liam, longer, fuller. I let my knees fall open as he kneels between my legs and watch his member twitch as he stares at my center. Eventually, he drags his eyes back up my body, and I lift my gaze to his.
“Do you want this, Coral? Is this okay?”
The Mermaid's Journey_A Reverse Harem Page 12
