She propped herself up on an elbow and grinned down at me. “I would like. Spread your legs and draw your knees up.”
I blushed, to expose myself so to her. My pulse raced, and my limbs trembled with desire. She stretched out between my legs, leaned forward, and ran her tongue through my folds.
Heat shocked through me, and I jerked involuntarily against the sheets. “Mmm. So sweet,” Persephone said. Her fingers spread my folds apart, and she set her tongue to work.
I bit my lip to keep myself from crying out. This was far better than anything I’d imagined. She licked slowly up my outer petals, one side then the other, before delving further inward.
My moans became audible when she turned her attention to my pearl, lapping first softly, then more firmly. At the same time, I became aware of her tentacle hair winding around my thighs, slithering down close to her mouth. They twined through my folds, and one slipped inside, just as she sucked—
I arched off the bed with a shout. Lights flashed behind my closed eyes, and the pleasure crested and crested, on and on until it broke over me like a wave.
Persephone gave me one last lick, then sat up. “You taste good, Maggie,” she said, her breath coming short and harsh, her eyes dark with lust. She straddled my thigh, slick and hot. “I’m going to ride you now.”
“Yes,” I whispered. Desperate to give her pleasure in return, I slipped fingers in between us. Her folds parted for me, and I slid two fingers into her heat.
I did the things I enjoyed, hoping she would enjoy them as well. It seemed to work; she growled my name, her hips grinding against me. A moment later, she flung her head back, her hair curling tight as she shuddered and shook with pleasure.
I withdrew my hand, and licked my slick fingers. She tasted like the ocean, and I found myself craving more. Next time, I’d kiss her pearl, explore the wet heat of her with my mouth. The thought roused me a bit, and I foolishly found myself blushing.
Persephone collapsed beside me in the bed, one arm tossed across my waist. “Was that good, Maggie?” she asked.
I rolled to face her. My heartbeat slowed, and my limbs felt heavy and relaxed. “It was wonderful.”
She grinned. “You turn pink all over, cuttlefish.”
“Wretch!” I exclaimed, laughing. “A good thing I love you, because you have no idea how to compliment a woman.”
Her arm tightened around me, strong and warm. I drifted off for a little while, curled against her. Eventually, the sound of my downstairs neighbor shouting at tonight’s “uncle” roused me. Seeing my eyes open, Persephone rolled off the bed and stretched. I sat up to admire the view.
“I brought you something,” she said, going to sort through the loose pile of her skirt.
“Another squid?” I teased. “You know I can’t have enough of those.”
She laughed. “It is another squid, though I think you’ll like this one better.”
Persephone slipped a golden bracelet over my hand. It was indeed wrought in the shape of a squid, its tentacles intricately interwoven to clasp my wrist. The heavy weight told me it was solid gold, and my eyes widened as I held it up to admire in the light of the night candle. “It’s beautiful,” I breathed. “But I can’t accept such a gift. It’s far too expensive, surely.”
Persephone sat by me on the bed. “How land dwellers value gold and pearls is not my concern,” she said. She upended a small pouch, spilling out half a dozen pearls, each one as large as a thumbnail. “Mother says these things are of value to your kind. That you can use them to rent a house of your own, near the water. If you wish,” she added hastily, and had she been able to blush I thought she would have.
People would wonder how I could afford to do so, on a secretary’s salary. But this was Widdershins, where old Mrs. Zapatka paid at the market with Spanish doubloons, though no one could say where she acquired them. They’d arch a brow, then politely look the other way, so long as I caused no other trouble. Dr. Whyborne might ask, but I’d tell him the money was a reward from the ketoi for my assistance.
I stared at the pearls and the bracelet, then at her. My heart swelled, because the true value of her gift wasn’t a house or money, or pretty jewelry.
It was her.
“That depends,” I said. “If I do, will you come and visit me?”
Joy bloomed in her eyes, and she pulled me into her lap. “Every night I can, my love.”
“Then I’ll start house hunting tomorrow,” I promised.
Oliver had thought me unnatural for choosing to stand by her, rather than joining him in revenge. I had wondered myself if there was something wrong with me, to fall in love with someone so inhuman in appearance. But as I drew her close, I had no doubts. We might have to hide from the world, but when we were together, I would never again hesitate to kiss my lover from the sea.
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End of Book Note
The sea ballad Maggie and Oliver sing is The Mermaid. Dating back to the 1700s, it is also known as Waves on the Sea and The Wrecked Ship. There are several alternate versions of the lyrics, but all recount the basic story of the mermaid sighting, the crew accepting their fate, and the ship going ‘round three times before sinking.
In folklore, mermaids were almost universally regarded as harbingers of doom. Sometimes they were simply warning a ship of the coming disaster, but other stories depict them as raisers of storms who take an active hand in sending vessels to the bottom.
According to the 1900 US Census, twenty-three was the median age for women to marry at the time. Maggie’s mother may have been over-reacting slightly to her age and unwed status, though her concern wasn’t entirely unfounded, if that had been the life Maggie wished for herself.
Other books from Jordan L. Hawk:
Hainted
Whyborne & Griffin:
Widdershins
Threshold
Stormhaven
Necropolis
Bloodline
Hoarfrost
Maelstrom
Fallow
Hexworld
“The 13th Hex” (prequel short story)
Hexbreaker
Hexmaker
“A Christmas Hex” (short story)
Spirits:
Restless Spirits
Dangerous Spirits
SPECTR
Hunter of Demons
Master of Ghouls
Reaper of Souls
Eater of Lives
Destroyer of Worlds
Summoner of Storms
Mocker of Ravens
Dancer of Death
Short stories:
Heart of the Dragon
After the Fall (in the Allegories of the Tarot anthology)
Eidolon (A Whyborne & Griffin short story)
Remnant, written with KJ Charles (A Whyborne & Griffin / Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal story)
Carousel (A Whyborne & Griffin short story)
About The Author
Jordan L. Hawk grew up in North Carolina and forgot to ever leave. Childhood tales of mountain ghosts and mysterious creatures gave her a life-long love of things that go bump in the night. When she isn’t writing, she brews her own beer and tries to keep her cats from destroying the house. Her best-selling Whyborne & Griffin series (beginning with Widdershins) can be found in print, ebook, and audiobook.
If you’re interested in receiving Jordan’s newsletter and being the first to know when new books are released, plus getting sneak peeks at upcoming novels, please sign up at her website: http://www.jordanlhawk.com.
Find Jordan online:
http://www.jordanlhawk.com
https://twitter.com/jordanlhawk
https://www.facebook.com/jordanlhawk
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