Chapter 19

Chapter

Nineteen

Reid woke her with a slow, drowsy kiss.

Last night, he'd carried her back to his bed, where they'd coupled for the second time, his legs bracketing her tail and weight pressing her into the mattress with every punching thrust of his hips. And she'd loved every second of it. Their first time had been marvelous, perfect even, in the way their bodies relied on each other for stability, as well as pleasure. But this, this had let all other cares fall away. No worries about keeping his head above the surface or maintaining the right leverage. They could just fall into each other and get lost.

"Need to get some supplies." He pressed another kiss to her cheek, then her neck. Inhaling deeply, he said with a little growl in his voice, "But God, you make me feral."

"We call it a mating frenzy." He hadn't even touched her scales, but they were already parting for him. So, so eager. "Must affect Surface Dwellers too."

"How long's it last?" He sucked on the flesh just beneath her jaw, a sensation she felt all the way down her core.

"At least a week. Sometimes more." Nireed rolled him onto his back, reaching for the box of condoms peeking out from under his pillow.

"Once more before you go?" She lightly shook out a sleeve of the sheaths he covered himself in every time they mated, not trusting her claws to handle them without piercing one. They seemed like such flimsy, fragile things, but their purpose clicked in her head when he'd pulled out, his spend pooling at the tip, captured in a watertight net of sorts.

"Yes, Ma'am." He grinned, peeling one off. She scooted back, watching his fingers pinch the tip while his palm glided down his shaft, rolling it into place. He held himself upright at the base. "Come up here and take what you need."

She crawled forward, bracing herself on either side of his body, a fine display of his strength laid out before her. His skin was smooth and deeply shadowed where his muscles dipped, cut and carved from a life dedicated to saving others.

This was a man who cared deeply about his purpose, highlighted more so by the fact that the people he saved were strangers. Everything she did was for the pod, people she knew and swam with every day. She admired this selflessness about him, this drive to help those who needed him.

Looking down at the space between them, they worked in tandem to get themselves properly aligned. When she finally sank down onto his length, he groaned, knees drawing up to frame her tail. "I fantasized about this last night," he said, holding her gaze. "When you rolled on top of me. I wanted to bury myself in you."

This close, with the light of day reflecting in his eyes, she noticed hints of gold hidden among the deep, warm brown. And what a treasure that was, to be close enough to learn this secret thing about him.

Rolling her hips, she seated him to the brim. "I'm yours. Then, now." Forever. But saying that was too much, too soon. Reid wanted to take this slow, make sure they were compatible, and she'd respect that wish, for as long as it took, even though she knew it deep in her bones.

They were just too good together, just too right, not to be.

Another roll of her hips and her eager channel sucked him in and clamped down, creating a merciless seal. A curse hissed out of him, part pain, but largely overwhelming pleasure, as the heady scent of his arousal flooded between them.

They weren't submerged. This sealing wasn't needed, but her body's natural drive wanted him locked down tight. "Okay?" She paused, nuzzling his nose.

"More than." His voice was hoarse and raw. Grasping her hips, he bucked up into her, each thrust sending pleasure spiraling outward.

She matched her rhythm to his, letting him dictate the pace. This was his fantasy unfolding, and in the stories her foreparents told, sirens sometimes granted sailors wishes, and Reid made her want to fulfill every one of his.

But ever the conscientious mate, he angled his strokes in a manner that hit her sensitive pearl every time, making her tail tingle from the base of her spine to the very tips of her fins.

Deepest, darkest depths, what had she ever done to deserve this man?

When his hips began to stutter, their rhythm faltering, she knew he was getting close and took over control. Claws tucked into her palms, she slid her hands beneath his shoulders, then held him as she undulated, churning. He enfolded her in his arms, one wrapped around her waist, the other braced along her spine, fingers bunching in her hair.

Lightly pinching the lobe of his ear between her teeth, she tugged, drawing another moan from his lips. "My turn to take care of you." She increased their pace, remembering he liked praise. "What does my good boy need?"

His arms squeezed around her, lips seeking hers. Her Coast Warrior loved kisses she was quickly learning. Giving him full reign of her mouth, she focused on bringing them over the edge, relishing the feel of his legs tangling around her tail, holding her close.

When he broke the kiss, hips jerking upward, she opened her eyes, watching the way his handsome face slackened as he came. Her channel clenched around him in a vise grip, catching every single relieved throb.

For several long, delicious moments, their bodies tensed, shared release pulsing through them in a repeating loop of pleasure. Then they relaxed, easing into a loose embrace, utterly spent.

Reid was breathing heavily when he said, "Damn. Don't know how I'm ever leaving this bed."

"I believe in you. You'll find a way."

He snorted, folding his hands comfortably across her lower back. "Did you just make a joke, vicious siren of mine?"

The word ‘ mine' thrilled her, but she kept an even tone. "I'm serious. I've watched you swim. You've incredible strength and willpower."

"Wow. I think that's the best compliment anyone's ever given me."

"Own your merits, Reid. It's true."

"Yes, Ma'am."

She threaded her claws through his dark auburn hair, playing with the waves as she waited for her body to relax. It took a few minutes for the watertight seal to release, her pleasure coating his thighs in a warm, sticky tide.

As she began to lift off him, he encircled his fingers around the base of his shaft, holding the condom in place. Even though her channel had loosened its hold, it still tried to unsheathe him, something they'd learned last night when the condom was nearly yanked off.

Parted, they studied the mess they made together, his sheets covered in her glittering, shimmering silver scales.

"Does that hurt?"

She shook her head, combing a hand through her hair, a few stray strands coming away in her claws. "No more than this."

"Okay, good. How's your tail feeling?"

She smirked, her parted scales closing. "Asking if you've made me sore?"

The look he shot her as he got up from bed to discard the condom was heated. "Was asking about your stitches, but you can tell me that too."

Drawing up her tail, she bent to examine her fins, spreading them out over her hands. "Good as new." She smiled, willing the transformation. "And it's the best kind of sore. It'll keep me thinking about you awhile." Seamlessly, fins and scales retracted, giving way to two sturdy legs. Now, she could move about his boat without crawling.

When she stood shakily, Reid's gruff voice had her looking up. "You're trying my willpower."

Lifting her arms above her head in a stretch that elongated her body, she shook back her hair. His eyes darkened as he greedily drank her in, a fist clenching at his side. She smirked. "Any clothes I can borrow?"

Sitting on the dive platform, her feet swinging back and forth through the water, Nireed carefully leafed through a stack of photography books. She cradled and examined each page, every single one a precious, breathtaking treasure. Reid had said that the photos were taken in National Parks and scenic places around the world. She hadn't realized the Land Above the Water could be so beautiful. So otherworldly.

Reid left her to run errands—something about grocery shopping and hitting the laundry mat because they'd fucked their way through all his clean sheets. She smiled to herself, flipping a page. He had good stamina.

She heard a car roll into the small parking lot adjoining the pier and kept flipping. It was too soon for Reid to be back, but she'd already met one of his neighbors, a healer lady with a kind smile. She was on her way to work, so they didn't talk long, but Nireed thought she did pretty well pretending to be a Surface Dweller.

Maybe his other neighbor had returned.

Crunching, then thudding footsteps approached the boat.

"Nireed?" A familiar voice called out.

Setting the books aside, Nireed shot to her feet, teetering a bit, before clambering onto the docks and racing down the wooden planks, momentum keeping her stable.

She threw her arms around a tall Black woman, whose hair was braided back today, nearly barreling her over in a hug. "Cure Creator! What are you doing here?"

"Lorelei sent me." Dr. Lila Branson chuckled, giving her a firm squeeze around all the tote bags she was carrying. "It's good to see you too."

"Let me help." Nireed reached for some of the bags and led the way.

Lila was the world's leading marine biologist in mermaid research. When she studied Nireed, she'd done it thoughtfully and with dignity and care. That was the environment of the Haven Cove Marine Research Center's mermaid lab when Nireed joined the study. It was hard being away from the ocean, away from her sister and the pod, but finding a cure for her people's uncontrollable hunger was a worthy cause.

It only got truly bad when Lila was demoted and shut out from large parts of the project. But she never gave up on Nireed. She plotted, planned, and with the help of friends and family, broke Nireed out of the lab and returned her home.

"Cozy." Lila nodded with approval as she stepped inside. "Actually clean."

"Are Surface Dweller males dirty?"

"Dirty, messy. Kind of a pain in the ass." Setting down her bags, Lila brushed off her hands, then winked. "There are a few exceptions though."

"What did you bring?" Nireed peeked into one of the bags, brightening. She pulled out a collection of potted meat, but one in particular caught her eye. Holding up an orange can, she slowly read the words. "Limited. Edition. Pumpkin. Spice. Spam." She quirked a brow. "What is pumpkin spice?"

"Don't question it, just try it."

The wicked glint in Cure Creator's eyes was so positively evil, Nireed wasn't sure she would. Wordlessly, she added the can to the back of the neat arrangement she'd made on Reid's kitchen counter.

"Also brought a few sets of clothes for you. Thought you might need…" Lila trailed off. She'd gone to set the rest of the bags on the bed, but paused, slowly turning back, her wicked smile growing even wider. "Girl, you banging the man who lives here?"

"Banging?"

Only when Lila began making crude hand gestures and pointed to the condom box left out on the bed did Nireed understand.

"Oh! Yes." She gave a firm nod, coming over to peruse the clothes Lila brought. All had soft fabrics and textures, thoughtfully chosen to make wearing them less terrible. "Lots of times."

"I love how straightforward you are. Never change." Gesturing to the clothes, Lila added, "Thought you'd need these, but maybe not, if you're not planning on leaving the love shack."

Nireed got the distinct impression that Lila was making a joke, but the reference was lost on her. "It's good to have options. Thank you for bringing these and the food."

"Of course. Lorelei mentioned you got hurt, but I'm guessing with you engaging in all these extracurricular activities that you're healing fine?"

Lifting the side of her borrowed shirt, Nireed showed her the deep pink scar. "I think I'm feeling well enough to return." She frowned. "But I don't want to leave without saying goodbye to Reid."

Lila's warm hand squeezed her shoulder. "Lorelei has gone to check on everyone and will call with an update tomorrow morning. Rushing home isn't going to change what already is. Give yourself, and him, some more time. After everything you've done for your pod, you've more than earned a break at least ten times over."

Melusina and Delphine had said the same thing. If three of her friends thought this, it must be true, and Nireed wasn't going to insult them by ignoring their wisdom.

"One more day," Nireed agreed. "Maybe two."

"That's the spirit."