Alwen stared at the glistening water. She did love the water. “I don’t have any swimmers.”
Clay grinned back at her, and she knew she was a goner. How could someone look so hot with blue hair and a scaly tail? “You don’t need swimmers. I don’t have any.”
“Of course you don’t. You’re a Merman.” Oh God, she couldn’t believe she wasn’t freaking out. She was talking to a freaking Merman. Fuck, she’d had sex with a Merman. Walking towards the water, she was surprised at the warmth of it. Clay swam further out. Alwen eased out of her dress and threw it as far back as she could. She did the same with her bra and went in until the water covered her breasts. “Clay. Come back here.”
In the blink of an eye Clay was before her and gathered her to him. “You are accepting this quicker than I thought you would.”
She pushed out of his arms. “I don’t really have a choice. I know I should be freaking out and running, but I’m also curious.”
“You can’t run, and what are you curious about?”
“For one, we had unprotected sex. I’ve never done that. Not that I’ve slept with many men. But still I always used condoms. Two, what if I get pregnant? Also you bit me. Will I turn into a Mermaid? Will I get the cool blue hair?”
He laughed, a deep rumbling sound that went straight to her pussy. Damn him. “No you won’t turn into a Mermaid. Merpeople are born, not made.” He swam them further from shore, and she tried to move out of his hold, but he wouldn’t give her up. “I’m glad I’m the only man you’ve ever had unprotected sex with. You don’t have to worry about diseases. Paranormal people are immune to them and can’t get any.”
That was good to know, but he had missed one of her questions. Alwen gazed at him waiting for Clay to continue. “Can I get pregnant?”
“Yes, but not until our three month invisible thread severs.”
“Three months. That’s a—” He cut her off covering her mouth with his own. The kiss was one of possession, lust, and want. She melted into him, loving how he tasted, all fresh mint. As her mind clouded with want she knew she’d give this mate thing a real go. Alwen had never felt instant attraction to anyone, not like she had with Clay. She’d never really been interested in a relationship before. She liked Clay, and other than being a Merman and mating her without asking, he hadn’t really done anything wrong. If Clay continued to make her feel the way she was now, passionate, special, and important, she’d happily stay with him.
Alwen wrapped her hands around his neck and deepened the kiss. Clay seemed startled and tore his mouth from hers. “You’re kissing me back. Does that mean you’re willing to give this a real go?”
She studied him, his brown eyes almost black, his skin sparkling and his blue hair shining in the moonlight. Alwen reached up to touch it, wondering if it felt different. It was softer and smoother. “I like the blue. I think it looks better than the blond. I think you should find a way to keep it like this.”
He laughed, and she felt his body shake against her. “I don’t know how the hospital would feel about that.” He nipped her lip. “Come on. We can go back to shore. I want to make love to you in my bed, our bed.”
Clay let her go and held her hand and helped her swim back to shore. Alwen watched in amazement as his tail vanished and he walked out naked. Wow.
Chapter Three
The last three days had been like heaven. He and Alwen had called in sick and spent their days in bed. Clay now knew every inch of Alwen’s body. He’d wanted another day with her, but today Alwen couldn’t. She taught dance classes, and her father was being released.
They were now at her father’s house so she could change. “Grab a bag full of clothes so you have things to wear tomorrow.”
Alwen stopped with the top in her hands. “If Dad is coming home I can’t stay with you. I have to look after him.”
Gathering her to him he leaned down and brushed his lips over hers. “I could fully heal him, but there would be no explanation for how a miracle like that happened. I’ve been helping him heal faster, but I have to be careful. I don’t want your father or me to be a science experiment. The problem is we can’t leave each other for more than a couple of hours for the next three months. It’s kinda like a honeymoon.”
She pushed out of his hold and shoved her shirt on then glared up at him. “Well what the hell am I going to do? I can’t just leave my father. I don’t even know how I’m going to explain about us.”
Clay had made some phone calls this morning, knowing Alwen wouldn’t want her father to be alone. He’d booked a shifter nurse. The agency knew the situation. Clay was reluctant to tell Alwen now as he stared down at her angry face. He wasn’t sure how she’d feel about someone else looking after her father. “I have organized a nurse to come and help your father.”
“What do you mean you have organized a nurse?”
“I knew we couldn’t sleep apart or go without seeing each other for too long, and I didn’t think you’d want me to stay here with you, so I organized a nurse.”
“I can’t afford a nurse. I don’t think my dad’s health fund would pay either.” She crossed her arms under her chest, pushing her breasts up. He groaned, as just that action made him hard.
“You don’t have to pay for it. I am.”
“No, you’re not. Clay, I can’t let you pay for a nurse for my dad.”
Clay gathered her back into his arms and kissed her turned down lips. “I can, and I have. The nurse is a shifter nurse from what I know, and she knows our situation.” He stroked her cheek. “You’re my mate, Alwen. What we have is more binding than a marriage. What I have is yours.”
He grinned as she pouted. “I don’t want to spend your money. I am not one of those women who wants to spend your money.”
“I know. I like spending it on you. Really it’s not for you. I’m doing this for purely selfish reasons, so we can stay at our house near the water and I can make you scream as loud as I want.” He chuckled when she turned bright red.
“I’m not a screamer.”
“Oh, my little mate, yes, you are.”
She whacked him on the chest and moved out of his arms and found a suitcase. “Okay, but you have to help me tell my father why all of a sudden I’ve moved out.” Her cheeky grin had his heart beating faster and his body coming alive. Clay was fast falling in love with this amazing woman.
****
It was her birthday. Alwen had been so caught up in her relationship and everything else going on around her she’d almost forgotten. She’d just finished teaching her Saturday afternoon class and now sat in her car at her dad’s place. She was picking him up and bringing him to Clay’s house. Her dad was upset with her that she’d moved out, and he didn’t like Clay. He thought Clay was too old for her and that they were moving way too quickly. They might be moving quickly, but it felt right to Alwen. She grew to care for Clay more and more every day.
She got out of the car, and before she even let herself in the door opened, and Debbie, her father’s nurse, answered. “He’s in a mood today. Good luck.” Debbie left, and Alwen walked in.
Her dad sat on the sofa in lounge room pretending to watch TV. “Has the witch left?”
“Dad, don’t call her that.” Debbie wasn’t a witch. She was a penguin. Alwen had laughed so hard when Clay had told her what she was. Never in a million years would she have thought of a shifter penguin.
“I don’t know why you got her to look after me. I’m fine. I don’t need a nursemaid. Tell that man of yours to tell her to stop coming. I’d rather you help out. The witch doesn’t know how to cook. I haven’t eaten a cupcake or bar in days. I swear she eats all the food you bring. I miss you.”
She leaned down and kissed his cheek. “You just miss my cooking.”
He winked at her and wrapped his arms around her. “Happy birthday, baby girl. I do miss your cooking and your company. How’s that man treating you?”
“Like a princess. Come on. I’ll show you where we live.”<
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“Wait, before we go I have your present.” He stood slowly and hobbled to the bathroom. She followed and gasped as a ball of fur came bounding out licking her feet. He was almost all black, and he looked like a bear cub. “He is a long haired German Shepherd. I know you’ve wanted a dog. I bought him before the accident. He was really little then, and he would be old enough to leave a day before your birthday, so I thought he was perfect.”
“Oh, Dad, he is adorable.” He was just too cute. She picked him up and hugged him. He licked her face and snuggled into her. “Can I name him?”
“Sure, he’s yours.”
“You look like a baby bear, so that’s what I’ll call you. Bear.”
Her dad grinned, and she could tell he was up to something. “We better go. Your man has reservations for our dinner, and you’re not ready.” Her dad went into the laundry and came out with bags of stuff and a doggy bed. “I got everything. I have a couple of days’ food and all puppy ready things.”
“Thanks, Dad.” She helped her dad as best she could as they locked up and went to the car. She set the puppy in the pack, but he climbed over and tried to get into her lap. Her dad got him and held on. She started the car and drove home.
****
Clay fretted when Alwen was late coming home. He knew she’d gone and picked up her dad, but he thought she’d be home by now. April had called him to say everyone was starting to arrive. Clay had thought he’d timed everything perfectly. Alwen thought she was going to a birthday dinner with her father and him, but she was going to a huge twenty-first birthday celebration held at the restaurant where he had first taken her. His family was going to be there, and so were all her friends and family. This would be the first time his parents met Alwen. He knew they were going to love her just like he did. Alwen was easy to love. She cared for everyone, never said anything nasty, and helped whenever he needed it. She didn’t complain and always saw a bright side to everything.
He heard her car pull up out front, and he walked to the front door and out to her. Alwen had a huge smile on her face and a black ball of fur in her arms. “Look what Dad got me for my birthday.” She held the ball up, and it growled the closer it got to him.
Crap. She had a puppy. He shot a glare at Alwen’s smirking father. Clay bet he’d bought it to put a spanner in their relationship, to test him and maybe get Alwen to move back in with him since Clay lived on the beach without a fenced in area.
“He’s a long haired German Shepherd,” said her father. “You like dogs, don’t you? Alwen always wanted a dog.” Yep, Alwen’s father was testing him.
“Isn’t he fantastic? I called him Bear.” Alwen’s excitement had him groaning because, as much as he wanted to tell her they couldn’t have a dog with where they lived and most of all with what he was, he couldn’t do it. Her happiness was more important than any troubles this would cause him.
Pulling her to him for a kiss he ignored the growling puppy and showed her how much he missed her. “Missed you.” The puppy bit him, and he moved away glowering down at the thing.
“Oh Clay, I’m so sorry. He’s been so sweet.”
He walked into the house and washed his cut from its little sharp teeth. The wound was already healing. He waited a couple of minutes until it closed over and walked back out to Alwen, who was helping her dad sit on the sofa. Her father held the pup in his arms. She kissed her father’s cheek and came over to him.
“Do you want me to get rid of him?” She checked his arm.
“No. You can keep him. He makes you happy, and I love seeing you like that. He should get used to me. But for future reference dogs and Merpeople, well paranormals, don’t get on.”
“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
“Go get a shower and dressed. We’re going to be late for our booking as it is.” She beamed at him, and his heart did little flips. He was one lucky man.
Chapter Four
They’d left the puppy in the laundry with food, water, puppy training pads, and its bed. They’d arrived at the beach restaurant, and he’d taken her into their function room where all her friends and family had yelled “surprise”. Alwen’s father took all the credit for organizing everything, and Clay let him have it.
Clay let Alwen greet all her friends and tried to stay back so she could catch up with them, but she pulled him forward and introduced him to everyone. She even told her friends they were living together. All her friends were great. Only a couple made any comment about the age difference, but Alwen set them straight. Clay answered as many questions as he could. One of Alwen’s friends was studying to be a doctor himself.
After she’d greeted and socialized with all her friends his parents came over. His mother was a tall slender woman in her eighties, who didn’t look a day over forty. She still had midnight black hair and only a few wrinkles. His dad was in his nineties and didn’t look much older than his mother. He still had blond hair with only a few scattered white strands.
“Hello, dear. It’s nice to finally meet you. I’m Selina, Clay’s mother. And this man beside me is Maverick, Clay’s father.”
Alwen’s eyes widened, and she gripped his hand, squeezing it tight as his mother brought her in for a hug. “You’re beautiful,” Alwen whispered in awe as she eased back from his mother.
His mother laughed and smiled at Alwen. “Oh, I do like you. Happy birthday.” His mother walked away dragging his father to the bar.
“Oh my, I just met your parents.”
Clay chuckled at the dazed looked on her face. “Yes, you did, and you did well. My mother likes you.”
His younger brother Roth came over laughing and whacked him on the back. “Ha, ha, I love your mate. She just had a thought of Mum luring men to their deaths with her beauty and sultry voice.”
Alwen’s startled eyes darted up to him. “Alwen, this is Roth, my younger brother.” Roth was taller than he was by an inch, with dark bronzed skin and their mother’s dark as night hair. Roth always attracted female attention wherever he went.
“Oh don’t forget me.” His sister came over tossing her long blonde hair over her shoulder and linking her arm through Roth’s. She was a clone of his mother except for her hair, which she got from their dad. “I’m Grace, Clay’s sister. It’s so nice to meet you.”
“Wow,” was all Alwen said as she stared at his sister and brother. “Amazing. You are both gorgeous.” She shook her head and looked up at him then back to Roth and Grace. “It’s so nice to meet you. I look forward to getting to know you.” He looked to his brother, and Clay could see him trying to hold in his laughter. “Do you have any more stunningly beautiful family members coming?” Alwen mumbled as his brother and sister walked over to join his parents.
Clay winked at her. “Not that you’ll meet today.” He leaned down and kissed her, and his body became instantly hard as soon as his lips touched hers. Reluctantly pulling away, he told himself he would have her all to himself tonight and he would show her just how much he wanted her. “It’s over with now. You did great. Go dance and talk to your friends. I’m fine here watching.”
Alwen wrapped her arms around his neck. “Thank you for this. And thanks for letting my dad take the credit.”
Clay shrugged. “He helped, and so did April. Go have fun.” She kissed him and then walked off. He went over to his parents.
“You look happy,” his dad said.
“I am. I never thought I could love someone like I do Alwen … but I do. I didn’t know having a mate could be like this.”
“I like her, Clay. She’s good for you.” His mother hugged him to her. “You looked relaxed and happy. I bet you’re not spending all your time working either?”
“I am relaxed, and Alwen makes me very happy. I have also cut my hours back.”
“That’s good. I’m surprised that you’re not jealous of all the male attention Alwen is getting.” His mother grinned at him.
“I’m not because I know I’m the one she wants. I can feel her gaze
on me even now.”
“You have nothing to worry about, brother. You’re definitely the only one she wants.”
“Roth, stop reading her mind.”
“I wasn’t. It was just that she screams her thoughts about you.” Roth started laughing. “Oh, I so didn’t need to know that about you, Clay, but it’s good to know she likes your Mer-form.”
Clay groaned. “Block her thoughts now, Roth.”
He looked to see his parents and his sister smiling. “I’m so happy you’ve found your mate.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
Roth moaned. “Clay, I’d sneak away with her now if I was you. I don’t think people will care. We’ll pack up.”
Clay didn’t need to know what Roth had heard from Alwen, and he turned to see her staring at him licking her lips. Crap. That always got him so hard. He stalked towards her. “Ready to leave?”
“Go, Alwen, and have kinky birthday sex.” April pushed Alwen to him. “I’ll take your dad home and cover for you.”
“Thanks. Let’s go.” Before the last words left her lips Clay carried her to the nearest exit.
****
April had told her everything Clay had done to organize the party. He’d even paid for friends she hadn’t seen in a while to fly in. God, she loved him. Alwen stilled when that realization come over her. How had he done that? Sure, he healed her father, but he’d mated her and bound her to him without her permission. But since then he’d done everything to make her happy. She knew as soon as he saw the dog he didn’t want it and how it would react, but because she wanted it and it made her happy he was willing to put up with the dog. He’d paid for a nurse to help her dad, and he always answered her questions honestly. Lastly he’d spoken to her best friend and organized a surprise birthday party, and he’d even let her father take the credit. How could she not love him? He was amazing. She didn’t mind his Mer-form. Actually she quite liked it.
Clay made the drive back to their house in record time. He carried her through the door and down to their bedroom. As he placed her on the ground she blurted, “I love you.”
A Merman of Her Own Page 3
