by Dee J. Stone
“Zarya has presented you with a gift,” he says.
“A gift?”
He points to a small object near the shore. The waves crash over it, almost dragging it back inside. I crawl toward it and sweep it off the ground. It looks like a piece of coral. It’s so pretty, with bright blue and pink colors in the shape of a flower. I can’t imagine something so exquisite like this actually exists.
I also can’t believe Damarian’s sister took the time to get me a present. It makes me feel really good, like I’ve been accepted into his family, into his life.
“It’s beautiful,” I tell Damarian. “Zarya is so sweet. Please tell her thank you the next time you see her.”
He nods. “Will it die on land? Zarya was concerned it would not live out of water.”
I study it. “I’m not sure. We’ll put it in my pool and hope it survives in the salt water.”
I find myself smiling as I hold the coral tightly in my hand. I really want to meet Zarya. I feel such a connection to her, and I feel like I know her so well because Damarian’s told me so much about her. Out of all his siblings, he’s the closest to her. She’s about five years old and loves to explore the ocean, just like her older brother. As the baby of the family, her parents spoil her rotten and she knows she can get away with whatever she wants. But she’s such a sweet little girl that anyone would do anything for her.
I hope I can meet her pretty soon and not have to wait until she’s an adult. Damarian made it clear that his parents don’t allow the younger children to leave the ocean, but maybe they’d be willing. I mean, I am part of the family, aren’t I? I’d like to think so.
I fall back on my knees and gather the items from my bag. After we dry Damarian to the best of our ability, I throw the sheet over the two of us, and settle down in his arms. Holding him as he shifts takes away some of the pain. As much as it hurts me to see his face break out in a sweat and his eyes roll over as he writhes in agony, I want to do anything I can to comfort him.
There’s always this hope in me as I watch him wait for the wave of pain to hit—hope that one day it won’t hurt as much. But the pain doesn’t seem to lessen after each transformation, almost like the universe is telling me to let him be who he’s meant to be. It seems that sometimes the universe fights for us to be together while other times it gives me the finger.
He grunts as his body begins to convulse. His eyes snap shut. I hug him as close as possible as I mutter words of comfort into his ear, brushing my lips across his face. It’s drenched in sweat. I grab one of the towels and gently dab his face.
Then it’s over. His head falls toward his shoulder as ragged breaths escape his mouth. His eyes flutter for a few seconds before they open, and they light up the second he sees me. Lifting his hand, he presses his palm to my cheek. “The pain is worth seeing your beautiful face,” he murmurs, his voice so weak I barely hear it.
I lower my head and touch my forehead to his. We just lie here for a few minutes, with Damarian’s chest rising and falling—first heavily, but gradually decreasing to a slow, steady rhythm.
After not having to shift in two days, I’m pretty sure it was really difficult this time. I look into his face, pushing some hair out of his eyes. My whole body gets engulfed in a warm feeling as I watch him sleep. It starts at my heart and expands throughout my bloodstream, hitting every organ.
I lean forward to whisper in his ear, “Damarian.”
He stirs.
“We need to leave the beach.”
His eyes slowly open and scan around. It looks like it takes him a few seconds to gather his bearings. I help him sit up and hand him a few gummy worms, which he gobbles down. He pulls on his pajama bottoms and stands on shaky legs. Usually, he rests for a few minutes after his transformation, but we have ten minutes worth of walking to do.
“Almost forgot,” I say, sweeping the coral off the ground.
I link my arm through Damarian’s as we trek home.
After placing the coral in my pool filled with synthetic sea salt, we make our way to the living room. Damarian grabs me by the waist and collapses on the couch. I snuggle up to him, once again breathing in that fresh ocean scent.
I pass out with my arms and legs tangled in his.
***
Someone’s kissing me. I open my eyes and look into Damarian’s face. With a loving smile, he dips his head and closes his mouth over mine. My arms hook around the back of his neck as I pull him closer to me. His lips are soft, warm, and taste like cinnamon mixed with salt water. They move over mine so softy, as though he’s rubbing a feather against my mouth.
I don’t think of anything but how amazing and right this feels.
When our lips come apart, my eyes stay closed as I savor the moment. I feel Damarian caress my cheek. With a moan, I open my eyes and stretch my arms, giving him a warm smile. That’s when I realize I’m lying in my bed. “You carried me?” I ask.
He takes my hand and lightly kisses the back of my fingers. “I awakened a few hours ago. You were so beautiful when you slept, but you did not appear comfortable on the couch.”
“Thanks. That was so sweet of you.” I squeeze his hand. Then I sniff. “What’s that delicious smell?”
He gestures to a tray sitting on the night table. Two pancakes are piled on there, along with a glass of orange juice and cut-up fruit. “I have prepared breakfast for you.”
“You made me breakfast? You’re so amazing, Damarian.”
“I was not certain whether you would like…” His eyebrows furrow. “Forgive me. It is a word I cannot pronounce easily.”
The lingering taste of cinnamon from Damarian’s kisses enters my mind. “Cinnamon?”
“Yes!” His eyes light up. “Cinnamon.”
God, he’s so cute.
He reaches for the tray and places it on my lap. “Please enjoy.”
“Thanks. Did you eat yet?”
“Yes. I am quite satisfied with my work.”
I cut into one of the pancakes. “I know they’re amazing.” I take a bite and my mouth explodes with all these flavors. I gobble down the rest of it within minutes.
“Did you enjoy it?” he asks.
“I’ve never tasted anything so good in my life!”
His cheeks turn pink. I stare at him. I haven’t seen Damarian blush before. With his pale, translucent skin, I didn’t think he could. It makes my heart melt, but I can’t stop the feeling of unease creeping up my spine. Blushing makes him seem too human.
“I appreciate when you compliment me,” he says, sliding his fingers through mine.
“You don’t usually get compliments?”
Damarian’s gaze drops to the floor. “Father…he is not one to be very generous with compliments.” His smiles wryly. “One must perform a magnificent task to receive one from him.”
My thumb rubs circles on his hand. “I’m sorry.”
“Mother compliments,” he says.
I’m not sure if all merfathers behave the same way as Syren. Maybe it’s their culture. If not, if Damarian’s dad is strict because that’s who he is, I don’t see him welcoming me with open arms. I don’t want to think about it.
“I promise to compliment you as often as I can,” I tell Damarian. “Like now—you made me the most delicious breakfast I’ve ever had. You are so talented and so determined. So driven to succeed and you don’t let anything get in your way. You fight for what you believe in and for what you want. I have so much respect for you.”
He gazes into my eyes. “How happy you make me, my love,” he whispers. He deposits the tray on the night table, puts his hands on my waist, and lowers me to the bed, climbing on top of me. When his lips touch mine, they are more aggressive, like he can’t get enough of me.
I roll us over and am on top of him. I kiss him just as aggressively, more desperately, showing him how much I love and appreciate him. How much he means to me. How I don’t want to ever lose him. I want him to understand that all he does for me—for us—all
he sacrifices, is worth it. Because our love knows no bounds or limitations.
His hands roam all over my body. As his lips travel down my neck, causing heat to shoot throughout me, I place my palm on his chest and gently push him a few inches back. “I’ll be late for work.”
His lips latch back on mine. Between kisses, he mutters, “Screw work.”
A laugh bursts out of my mouth. “Did you just say, ‘Screw work?’”
His heavy eyes suddenly fill with shock. “Forgive me. Did I say something inappropriate?”
I giggle. “No. Where did you hear that from?”
“From the TV. The man spoke in such a manner.”
“Come here.” I haul him toward me. “You are so cute. Human slang works for you.”
“I spoke it in the right manner?”
I giggle again. “Yes, you did.”
He pecks my forehead. “Screw work and stay here with me in the bed.”
I gnaw on my bottom lip. Oh, how tempting. There’s nothing more I want to do than spend the entire day in bed with Damarian. But Uncle Jim would kill me if I were to ditch. The surfing class is his baby, not to mention lessons are almost over for the summer.
Do I spend my morning teaching little kids to surf, or do I spend it with my totally sexy merman?
Damarian touches both sides of my face. “I declare myself to you, Cassie Price. For all eternity. I wish to seal our bond.”
My mouth drops. My heartbeat pounds in my head. When I try to speak, only a croak comes out. I swallow a few times before I find my voice. “You…you mean…are you saying…?”
He nods, his eyes shining. “Yes, Cassie. I am prepared.”
I just stare at him, completely dumfounded. I have to be dreaming. He said—he wants. After waiting so long…after begging him all this time.
I throw my arms around him and yank him to me.
Screw work.
Chapter Five
The bed feels like a cloud. My body wakes up, but my eyes stay asleep. I don’t remember ever being this comfortable.
It might have something to do with the man lying beside me, his arm draped over my stomach as he holds me close. His soft breath tickles my ear. I turn to my other side so I can look into that face that is mine and will be mine forever. My movement causes him to stir, and his eyes open.
As soon as they land on me, the biggest smile I’ve even seen crawls on his face. He reaches toward my forehead to brush some hair off. “Cassie,” he murmurs.
My cheeks heat up. “Damarian.”
Our gazes are locked on one another. There are so many emotions swirling around in his eyes. Everything he feels for me. It’s like he’s baring his soul.
“How do you feel?” he asks, stroking the side of my face.
My entire face and neck flame. “Really good. You?” My eyes search his. This was his first time.
His grin couldn’t be wider. “Magnificent.”
A sigh I didn’t know I was holding leaves my mouth. “Yay.” I laugh.
He laughs, too, then leans forward to press a light kiss on my lips. “I am so happy, my sweet Cassie. I did not know I could feel in this manner.” He nuzzles my nose. “We are mated.”
I can’t believe we’ve actually reached this point. What he and I shared…it was the most amazing thing I’ve ever experienced in my life. Now we’re officially official, and nothing and no one can keep us apart.
I take hold of his arms as I stare into his face. “I love you.”
“As do I.” He brings his lips to mine again and gives me a sweet, loving kiss. When we come apart, I realize my lips are extremely dry. I lick them a few times, but they are still parched. Damarian’s eyes move to them for a second before focusing on my eyes. “What is the matter?”
“It’s nothing.” I swallow. My throat is so dry I think I’m going to choke. “I’m just really thirsty.”
“I will acquire a drink for you,” he says, sitting up. The blanket drops and I see him. All of him—his naked body. I’ve seen him naked many times, and considering what we just did a few hours ago, I shouldn’t feel embarrassed, but I do. It means something different now, something huge. All this is exciting, but pretty scary.
Damarian must notice my discomfort, because he looks down at himself. His eyes fill with guilt. “Forgive me, Cassie. Would you like me to—”
“No,” I assure him. “It’s cool. It’s all cool.” I wave my hand, feeling another blush. “Walk around naked. Yeah, it’s fine with me.”
His eyes are on me for a few seconds before he chuckles. He gathers me to his chest and kisses my temple. “How sweet you are.”
As a merman, he doesn’t understand what nakedness means to humans. I felt a little uneasy with Kyle, but my relationship with him was so gradual that I had time to mentally prepare myself. I fell in love with Damarian so fast, and I feel so much stronger about him than I did about Kyle. I wish Damarian and I could take things slower, but at the same time, I want to take things fast, too.
Naked, Damarian makes his way downstairs to the kitchen. I sit up, cloaking myself in the blanket. That’s when I feel a pounding headache. I rub my forehead. It’s so strong that I whimper.
A few seconds later, his hands are on my face. His voice fills my ears. “Cassie? Are you all right?”
My eyes immediately spring to the glass of water in his hand. I grab it and gulp down the water. The headache lessens, though I still feel a light pounding. The water is refreshing. “Thanks,” I tell him.
He sits down near me, his hand still on my face. “Do you feel ill?”
I close my eyes and take in some air, letting it out slowly. The headache is gone. I open my eyes and find Damarian’s worried ones examining every inch of my face. “Thanks, I’m better now,” I say. “I just needed a drink.”
He nods unsurely, his eyebrows creased with concern. “You were pale.”
I force a smile. “I’m okay. Don’t worry.” I kiss his forehead.
“Forgive me if I behaved toward you like you are a fry. I do not wish to see you ill or in pain. It causes me to feel ill.”
I rest my forehead against his. “Thanks. But I’m really okay.”
My phone rings. My heart sinks. Great, I know who’s calling, and I don’t want to deal with him. Maybe Damarian should explore the ocean and see if he can find a secluded island we can run away to. Then I won’t have to deal with Uncle Jim.
I stretch for my phone to confirm it really is him. I let it go to voicemail.
“Is that not important?” Damarian asks.
“Too important,” I mumble.
He looks confused.
“Uncle Jim,” I explain. “He’s probably busting a vein.”
He nods slowly. “For you did not go to work.”
“Yeah. But screw work, right?” I smirk.
He smiles widely. “Mating with you is wonderful.”
Another blush creeps up my face. Damarian can be really direct sometimes. I hope one day I won’t feel this embarrassed.
“It is,” I say, then hide my face under the blanket.
Damarian’s arms come around me and he holds me close to him. My nose is smashed into his chest with the blanket between us. “Do not be ashamed. Mating is a beautiful activity between two beings.”
I pull it off my face and stare at his chest because I can’t meet his eyes. “I know. I’m sorry for acting so weird. It’s just a little nerve-wracking for me. It’s not easy for me to be so open.”
He tucks his hand under my chin and raises it so our eyes meet. “I understand. I wish for you to feel comfortable. I do not want to cause you any pain.”
“You’re not.” I push him to the bed and climb on top of him. With a grin, I say, “And I’ll prove it to you.”
Chapter Six
After Damarian swims in the pool, he settles down on the couch with a bag of pretzels. I swipe my keys off the counter. “I’ll be back soon, okay?” I say.
“Are you certain you do not wish for me to acc
ompany you?”
I wave my hand. “Thanks, but it’s okay. You don’t need to see Uncle Jim lose it.”
He throws a pretzel in the air and tries to catch it in his mouth. It hits his nose and bounces on the couch. “Will he be terribly upset?”
Probably. I shrug.
“How do you humans say it? ‘Good luck?’”
“Yeah.”
“Good luck, my love.”
“Thanks.” I give him a quick kiss and head to the beach. I plan on getting my head chewed off by my uncle, but I need to make a very important stop first. I enter Misty’s Juice Bar and hear Leah’s voice. She’s yelling at this high school kid who is under the impression that their names are written together in the stars.
I laugh to myself and watch for a few seconds, debating whether I should continue enjoying the show or take her out of her misery. I choose the latter. As soon as she sees me, her eyes light up like I’m her savior.
“Cassie!” she practically cries out. “Scram, kid.” She shoves a smoothie toward the guy and pushes him aside, then reaches for my arm and yanks me closer. The kid drops a few bills on the counter, places a few more in the “Tips” bowl, and walks out with his smoothie, his head raised in confidence.
I drop down on one of the stools. “I see someone is persistent.”
She groans. “Were we like that at that age?”
“You do know we’re only a year or two older than him.”
She walks to the smoothie machine to work on an order for another customer. “True, but don’t you feel like you’ve grown so much since we graduated high school? I feel like I’m twenty years older.”
I know what she means. I also feel like that. I just committed myself to a guy for the rest of my life. If that doesn’t say maturity, I don’t know what does.
“Want anything?” Leah asks.
“Yeah, thanks. I’m so thirsty.”
She works on my smoothie and hands it to me. I grab a straw and chug half of it down. Leah holds out her hands. “Hey, the world’s not coming to an end yet.”
I close my eyes and almost moan in pleasure as the liquid continues to slide down my throat, cooling every inch of me.
