The Lovely Deep (The Mer Song Trilogy Book 1)

by Michelle Pennington

  River’s lungs heaved and every muscle in his body felt like a taut wire that would snap if he didn’t move forward. He refused to hurt Narissa, so forcing her off wasn’t an option. She’d just have to go with him. He pushed up from the floor, and Narissa kept her arms tightly about his neck as he’d expected her to. He pulled her legs around his waist, hoisted her up, and ran for the stairs.

  “River!” She shrieked his name over and over. Then, sounding desperate, she yelled, “Uncle Jesse, help!”

  Hoping her uncle wouldn’t hear her, because he didn’t want to hurt anybody, River ran through the kitchen. But then a pair of arms locked around his waist, driving him back. River looked up, horrified, and saw that it was Uncle Jesse. How was the man this strong?

  “Go get some blankets,” the older man bellowed.

  River had no idea what he meant, but since Narissa jumped off his back then, he didn’t care. With her weight gone, he was able to fight Jesse more easily. Over and over, he tried shifting to the side and breaking his grip, but the man seemed to be made of lightning and steel.

  “I’ve got some,” Narissa said, her voice breaking through his desperation.

  His eyes shot to her, and that was his undoing. In a blur of movement, River felt himself being pushed backward. Cold air flushed over him, then Jesse’s arms were withdrawn so suddenly he lost his balance and fell. He was up again a second later, but then something heavy and soft hit him just before he ran into a door and the light went out.

  They’d locked him in the cooler.

  He spent too long trying to figure out how to open it from the inside. Giving up, he banged on the door and yelled for them to open it, but he wasn’t surprised when they didn’t. They didn’t lock him in here only to let him go in the end.

  The song reverberated through his skull as if it was playing in his head—impossible to block from his ears or to escape. He might have broken down every shelf and clawed at the walls if the cold hadn’t finally penetrated his brain’s self-preservation. Groping around on the floor, he found the blanket and wrapped it around himself, then sat on the floor. He pulled the blanket over his head and clenched his arms around his knees.

  The drive to follow it was merciless. At the height of the song, he heard a roar, a scream of horrendous suffering, and was appalled to realize it was coming from him.

  ***

  When the door finally opened, he looked up through the blankets hooded over his head, blinked into the flood of light, and saw Narissa. She was sitting with her back against a counter, her knees pulled up against her, and her eyes red from crying. Her cheeks were still wet and her lashes spiked. Her expression said it all. This had been misery for him and a nightmare for her.

  “Are you okay?” Her voice was rough from crying.

  He took stock of himself. His head throbbed, his fists were bruised, and his throat was sore. But he was still here—with Narissa. Nothing else mattered. “Yes. Thank you.”

  She gave a strangled sob and ran to him. He held his arms open and pulled her close when she dropped to her knees in front of him. He wrapped the blanket around her, cocooning them in their own world. She kissed his cheeks and forehead, wetting his skin with her tears.

  “I was afraid you’d hurt yourself. Or that you’d hate me when it was over. I’m so sorry.”

  “Rissa, don’t.” He pulled her face back to his and kissed her salty lips. “I might hate Jesse though.” She gasped, and he chuckled. “I’m kidding. Man, that guy is a beast.”

  “Yeah. Good thing, too, or you might be cavorting with other mermaids right now, drunk on mer song and moonlight.”

  River shuddered. The thought appalled him. But Narissa must have thought it was a shiver.

  “What are we doing? Let’s get out of the cooler.”

  When they stood up together and walked out, River paused a moment to let his eyes adjust. “What time is it?”

  “It’s one o’clock in the morning. The mer song ended a few minutes ago, so I thought it was safe to let you out.”

  River handed the blanket to Narissa and walked over to Jesse. He held his hand out and said, “Thank you.”

  Jesse shook his hand. “You’re welcome. Sorry if I was too rough on you.”

  “No rougher than you needed to be, I’m sure. I have to admit, I’ve never been out-manned like that before.”

  Jesse grinned. “And you gave me a lot more trouble than I expected. It was like wrestling a bull. What’s the plan now?”

  River met his eyes squarely, wondering how he’d take their plans. “I’m taking Narissa back to my place for the night.”

  “Oh.”

  There was so much displeased meaning in that one word that River rushed to explain. “Edmar is watching her too close, and this place is too easy for him to get into, as he informed us today. He was watching her last night.” River carefully avoided mentioning that he’d been sleeping with Narissa at the time. “My apartment is a lot more secure, and I’m hoping he doesn’t know where I live.”

  “Be careful that you aren’t followed.”

  River nodded, grateful that Jesse accepted the plan. Because they were going to do it regardless. “I will. Ready, Narissa?”

  She nodded and picked up a small bag she’d packed earlier. “Let’s go. I’m exhausted and I’m sure you are too.”

  “I’m about to collapse right here,” he said, taking her hand.

  “Be wise,” Jesse said as they left. River knew what he meant, even if he didn’t say it.

  He watched carefully as they went outside and got in his truck. As they drove to his apartment, there were few cars on the road and no one behind them the entire way. As they went up the steps to his third-floor apartment, he was confident they hadn’t been followed.

  “My place isn’t that great,” he warned her as they went inside. “It was cheap, and that’s what I needed.”

  Narissa raised an eyebrow. “You think I care about that? As long as it has a bed, I’ll be fine.”

  River tried not to let his mind wander to what use they might put his bed to besides sleeping, but it was impossible. She was so beautiful, and he loved her so much. Why shouldn’t they? For him, it all hinged on what she wanted. But regardless of how far they took things, or didn’t take them, he needed to hold her. So much of him was cold and aching and worried.

  As they went inside, River locked the front door behind them, including the security lock that he’d never bothered to use before. While Narissa looked around his small, bare living room and kitchen, he went around and checked the windows to make sure they were all locked.

  “It’s nice,” Narissa said, coming into the bedroom behind him.

  “It’s okay. I don’t spend much time here.”

  “I’m going to, um, get ready for bed.”

  River nodded and pulled back the blankets on the bed. His pulse was too high. Clenching his jaw tight, he walked over and opened the blinds, staring out at the empty apartment pool. After a few minutes, the soft hush of footsteps on the carpet alerted him to Narissa’s return. He turned around and saw that she was wearing a long t-shirt with shorts peeking out from beneath it. Her long hair cascaded in waves over her shoulders and her face was somber and tense, lit only by the light coming through the window.

  River swallowed. “I’m going to sleep on the floor, so make yourself comfortable.”

  “No. I won’t kick you out of your bed. The couch will be fine.”

  He clenched his jaw. “Well, I want to be in the same room so I know you’re safe, so I’ll be on the floor regardless. You might as well be comfortable.”

  Before she could argue further, he went into the bathroom and shut the door. A few minutes later, as he brushed his teeth in the bathroom, his eyes lingered on her belongings, a toothbrush, a hair tie, and her bag on the floor. He liked having her things with his.

  He stared at his reflection as he rinsed his mouth and splashed cold water on his face. It didn’t help. “Okay, man. Cool it.”

/>   When he turned off the light and went into the bedroom, Narissa was under the covers. She was curled up on her side, facing the other side of the bed. She smiled tremulously as he came in. He sat down and leaned across the bed to brush her hair out of her face. She turned her face up to meet his hand, like a kitten. Unable to resist such encouragement, he laid down and pulled her towards him with a hand around her waist. He kissed her then, and because there was heat in his blood, it only took touching her to drown in fire.

  A moment later, she pulled away and captured his face in her hands. “River…”

  River ran his thumb over her swollen bottom lip. “I know. We’ll stop. But it’s hard, Rissa. Are you sure you don’t want us to bind ourselves—or whatever you mers call marriage?”

  “I want to, more than you know. But I it wouldn’t be safe. Not yet.”

  Her beauty was haunting and luminous as she looked up at him. It was the sweetest torment he’d ever known. Groaning, he lay back on his pillow, pressing his forearm across his eyes and breathing deeply as he willed his body to relax, to cool like lava falling into the sea. A moment later, Narissa sat up and leaned across his chest, pressing her soft curves against him. He moved his arm and met her green eyes. “You aren’t helping.”

  “Are you mad at me?”

  “Never. Not for this.” He ran his hand across her back. “Now go to sleep. I’ll keep you safe tonight. I promise.”

  She laid down again and he held her until she went to sleep, the whole time being careful not to let his hands or mind roam. Once she was asleep, he made a bed on the floor with some spare blankets and pillows, then went to look out the window again.

  He relaxed for a moment, enjoying the sight of the palm trees silhouetted against the moonlight. But then he saw Edmar leaning against a light pole staring up at him.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  When Narissa woke up, she was alone. She sat up and looked around, hating herself for feeling so panicked but unable to stop it. “River?”

  “In here.”

  Jumping out of bed, Narissa went into the living room where River sat in an arm chair, bent over his phone.

  “I’m such a baby,” she said.

  He straightened as she walked over to him, so she sat on his lap and tucked her arms around his waist. Only by touching him could she finally relax.

  “What? Did you think I’d been kidnapped or something?’ he asked. “Trust me, I wasn’t the reason Edmar parked himself outside my apartment all night.”

  “He was here?”

  “Yes, just watching. One of these days, he and I are going to straighten a few things out, but there was no way I was leaving you alone, even to go beat him up.”

  “I’m glad. I don’t trust him and it wouldn’t surprise me if he took the chance to get you out of the picture.” She snuggled closer to him. “Mmmm… can we just stay here forever? And forget everything else?”

  River pressed his lips to her forehead. “You have no idea how great that sounds. But we need a plan for tonight. If the compulsion grows any stronger, I’m going to be in trouble.”

  “Yeah. The only way you won’t hurt somebody is to get you in the water somehow. If only we had a shark cage.”

  River chuckled then stopped abruptly. “Hey, that might work. And I know a guy.”

  “Who has a shark cage?”

  “Yeah, he bought a dive boat off a guy in the keys who chartered shark dives. He’s never used it much here, but he has one.”

  “Will he let us use the boat?”

  “He’d do anything to make a buck.” River didn’t say anything for a few seconds. “I might have enough cash, but it would wipe out my savings. Of course, it’s not like I’ll need it once I’m a merman.”

  Narissa frowned and threaded her fingers through his hair. “Uncle Jesse will help us. Because my mother is going to remove the compulsion, so you don’t know what you’ll choose to do.”

  “I told you, if you can’t be a human, I’m going to be a mer. Whatever it takes to be together.” He picked up his phone and waved it around. “In fact, I was just making a few phone calls so nobody worries about me.”

  She hated that he was doing that, but she was selfish to be carried away with day-dreams of being with him. Because being in his arms, hearing the timber and vibrations of his voice, made her want to sink into his depth and never surface. “Who did you call?”

  “I called the diving crew I work for and told them I was headed out of town for a while so not to expect me. Too bad too because it was great money. I called Marshall and Graham and told them the same thing.”

  Narissa stretched up and kissed his neck a few times, wanting to soothe him. The way he tensed and gripped her hip, though, let her know that she wasn’t exactly relaxing him. “Who else?” she urged.

  “Just my dad, and he didn’t care. We don’t talk much. I only let him know because he might start wondering if I was dead if too much time passed before I called him.”

  She watched as his features tightened with emotions she could barely fathom. “I didn’t have anyone else to call, you know? My grandma died when I was nineteen and my grandpa six months later—like he just couldn’t live without her. She was a retired school teacher, and he was a fisherman. He took his boat out every day until the week he died.”

  “Is he the reason you work on the boats?”

  “Yeah. And she was the reason I joined the swim team. Which, as it turns out, has been extremely helpful.”

  She smiled when he chuckled. “When you get your tail, you’re going to be an impressive specimen of merman.”

  River grinned. “Like I’m an impressive specimen of manhood?”

  His hands were gliding in lazy paths up and down her back, and under the full glare of his charm, she wanted nothing more than to take her words from last night back and explore the charged currents that ran between them. But with time growing short and so much at stake, she found the strength to uncurl herself and stand up. “You are definitely impressive. But now we need to get dressed and go talk to the man with the boat.”

  ***

  Uncle Jesse captained the large dive boat that night as they motored out into the gulf. The owner had been a good-old-boy who kept them chatting for over an hour while he talked around the wad of dip tucked in his bottom lip. Luckily, he’d been so busy talking about himself to ask them why they wanted to hire a boat with a shark cage in waters where sharks were scarce. Or why they were taking it out at night.

  Brody and Stumps joined them on the boat, saying they wanted to help keep an eye on River. Brody looked stronger and more alert at night, but his eyes were still rimmed with red. Stumps looked better after several days of steady meals and showers. Narissa knew that being on this boat would be hard for him. He’d been tense the whole trip home last night, so she knew it wasn’t just cars that made him anxious. But despite their struggles, Brody and Stumps were here for them. How much help could they be once the mermaids arrived though?

  As Uncle Jesse got into a good position, she said, “Tonight will be different.”

  “How so?” Stumps asked.

  “With the full-moon tomorrow night, every mermaid for hundreds of miles who is wanting a human mate will be here to court you guys.”

  “I’ve run into a few really pretty ones out there,” Brody said, motioning to the dark water around them. “So, sounds good to me. That’s why I’m here, right?”

  “To be some kind of merman stud?” Stumps asked, a hint of revulsion in his voice.

  “Not exactly,” Brody answered. “Why are you here?”

  “I have my own reasons,” Stumps said, turning around to contemplate the wide shaft of moonlight spilling across the calm surface of the water.

  “You all need to understand,” Narissa said, “that if they offer you anything and you accept, it is like you have accepted them. So unless you want to find yourself pledged to mate with one of them, don’t accept anything. And be careful. They can be wily.”

&
nbsp; Narissa was glad there were few waves tonight. It would make it easier to manage the boat and shark cage. When Uncle Jesse dropped anchor and turned off the motor, the silence left behind was eerie. It was broken only by the gentle slosh of water across the hull.

  “It should start anytime now,” Uncle Jesse said, checking the clock on the boat controls.

  Narissa looked at River who looked as serene as the ocean. She knew it was because he was inches away from the water instead of fighting the mer song behind closed doors. She walked over to where he sat on a bench seat and rested her hands on his chest, leaning against him as his hands came around her waist. “We should get you into the cage before the song starts and you go diving off the side into open water.”

  “Are you coming in with me? Instead of seven minutes in the closet, we could play seven minutes in a shark cage.”

  “As tempting as that sounds, I’m going to stay outside and keep an eye on things.”

  He nodded and kissed her, making her cheeks heat as she realized it was the first time he’d kissed her in front of anyone else. Luckily, the darkness would keep her embarrassment a secret.

  Jesse dropped anchor and Brody and River worked together to operate the winch that lowered the cage into the water, and Uncle Jesse turned on a powerful spotlight and directed it at the water where the cage hung suspended under the water. The cage was made of 12mm galvanized steel bars with floats. Once lowered into the water, it was attached to the boat with ropes so River would be able to enter it directly from the starboard side of the boat.

  “Okay, let’s do this,” River said, stripping off his t-shirt.

  Narissa let her eyes rove over his magnificent build, admiring the taut movement of the muscles in his back as he bent and opened the hatch on the cage. The clang of the latch reverberated on the still air when he submerged, pulling it closed behind him. The silence was beginning to unnerve Narissa.

  A second later, a strong breeze swept across the water, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. The boat rocked slightly as a bigger wave swept through. “I don’t like this,” Narissa said. She jumped over the side of the boat on the port side, away from the pocket of blue, lit-up water and took off her swim bottoms. She touched her mark and changed, then thrust her tail to push up out of the water and throw her swim bottoms back into the boat. She dove and swam under the boat to the cage to check on River. He was calmly hanging out against the side, holding onto the bars of the cage.