12. Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Tolly

T olly had seen the flush in Leigh's cheeks steadily growing ever since the afternoon. There was trepidation in him but also an eagerness to be alone with Tolly again. Tolly would be so good to him if only he gave him a chance. He would follow Leigh's every whim to please him. Then, surely, Leigh would speak a vow of love long before their time was up.

It was a joy to watch over Gert in the interim. Human children were precious and allowed to be precious. Gert behaved well, but even when she pouted tiredly after her nap to have another unhealthy snack, calmly getting down on her level and speaking firm but plainly brought back the reasonable girl Tolly knew her to be.

Children did not need to be treated harshly to get them to listen. They were still learning. One needed to be patient with them. It was careless and cruel to kill them simply for disobeying—for going off alone from a hunting party to play instead.

Effie and Keelan's parents had done their duty by merfolk law, but Tolly's had refused and escaped with him. It was for his sake they became renegades, and he would always be grateful for that.

Dinner was at Deanna's after she returned home. Leigh could not refuse the offer, not when she mentioned empanadas, which Leigh was certain Tolly would love. He did.

Ralph joined them as well. "Your cooking is always the best, Deanna," he said with a look that Leigh had called "moon eyes" to Tolly in a whisper.

"Thank you, Ralph."

"You know what else could be on the menu?"

Leigh kicked Ralph under the table. It seemed such an obvious action to Tolly, but everyone pretended it had not happened, and Ralph grew quiet.

Gert pleaded for another playdate at the pool, and since Tolly was happy to be in the water, he convinced Leigh to go along. Tolly had his own swim trunks now, red with yellow stripes down the sides.

"Why did you kick Ralph?" he asked when they were headed downstairs to join the others.

"You know what's on the menu? Me-N-U," Leigh said with a sneer. "Kid's a walking disaster of pickup lines. He's got no idea how to talk to a woman."

"Me-N-U," Tolly repeated, then laughed. "I get it. Perhaps he merely needs direction in how to be thoughtful and attentive toward a potential partner."

"I've tried. Kid always panics and defaults to cringy bullshit instead."

Ralph was in the pool with Deanna and the children when they arrived, since he had his own trunks back. He was talking to Deanna animatedly, while also playing with Gar and Gert. The subtle smile on Deanna's face said she knew exactly what his intentions were, but she did not have the heart to tell him to stop.

"Don't go trying to matchmake them like Alvin and Cary," Leigh said.

"Oh no. Perhaps if Ralph was twice his current age. He needs to find someone with the same qualities he admires in Deanna but who is more attainable. He should also not rush. Sometimes one must be patient for the right match." Tolly looked at Leigh with wholehearted affection, adoring the way Leigh glanced away, wide smile stretching his face like he too was young and bashful.

"You watch a lot of rom-coms, don't you?"

Tolly stared in confusion.

"Romantic comedies."

Ah. "Are they not wonderful stories? Love and humor are the best parts of life."

"You're a walking rom-com," Leigh said. "I've never met anyone like you."

"I take that as a compliment."

"It was meant as one."

If there were not others present, Tolly would have braved another kiss, but perhaps now was a moment to—what was the phrase? Play hard to get.

He dropped his towel on one of the chairs and backed toward the pool, eyeing Leigh with open hunger that made Leigh shiver. Tolly would make up for his lack of experience. He would show Leigh all the ways he could please him.

For now, he reached the pool's edge and dove in at the deep end before swimming around to join the others. The water rejuvenated him, even though in his new form, he no longer needed as much regular submersion.

It felt strange but still enjoyable to feel the flow of water around his legs. Being in the water made him want to let his tail out immediately, but it was merely a matter of will to resist. The occasional tug to let out his claws or any other part of his true form would increase as the full moon drew near, but he had time. Losing his temper and letting a few aspects out had been dangerous enough when fighting those men. Tolly preferred to be something Leigh looked at with desire.

Deanna and the others did not stay long, but she expressed much gratitude for their help that day. Gert gave both Tolly and Leigh high fives before they left, and Ralph trailed behind Deanna with those same moon eyes.

Leigh locked the door once they had gone, prompting Tolly to waste no time shifting forms. It was like a great stretch. Not that his legs were constricting, just different. Perhaps now he could convince Leigh to join him in the water.

"We can't stay long. Alvin's on his way with your ID."

"We can stay a bit longer, yes?" Tolly arched up to float atop the water on his back, arms and tail extended. He felt Leigh's eyes scan the length of him, tempted whether Tolly had legs or not.

Like before, Leigh shed his shoes, rolled up his jeans, and sat at the edge, dangling his feet in the water. Tolly dove down deep, zipping from shallow end to deep end and back again to show off for him, delighted at Leigh's chuckle when he surfaced. Then he floated toward Leigh, close enough to slide his hands onto the concrete, framing Leigh's thighs between his arms.

When Leigh's legs spread apart to allow him closer, Tolly moved his hands to Leigh's thighs and lifted up to angle for a kiss. Leigh tilted his head down to meet him, the chlorine on Tolly's skin making the taste between them salty but not unpleasant.

Tolly floated just out of Leigh's reach with a grin. "Come into the water with me."

Leigh's eyes strayed down the front of Tolly's tail.

"Do you want to see what I look like in this form?" Tolly asked, already having trouble keeping his sex from appearing since he felt the heat building between them. Flicking his tail up, he floated away farther to give Leigh a good view should the answer be yes.

A thud alerted Tolly to something behind Leigh, but the entrance had been so seamless, like someone used to picking locks, that he only saw Alvin over Leigh's shoulder after it was too late, and his eyes were already taking in Tolly's tail.

"Holy shit."