5. Chapter 5

S itting in my shop, my hands gripped the thermos of coffee I’d brought. I didn’t have any hot drinks in the store unless I brought them in. On days like this, I was tempted to set up a coffee station, but it was a lot easier to deal with pre-packaged foods and drinks. So I sipped my coffee and let the heat of the thermos warm my hands.

It was early, but with nothing else to do, I rolled up the doors to my shop and put on some music. I scrolled through social media before switching to the surf reports, a habit that was hard to break. After looking at the waves at all the prime surfing spots, I pulled up a fish report. Skimming through it, I tried to see if there were any reports of anything unusual in the area. I didn’t know what it was, but something about the touch on my hand niggled in my brain, and I couldn't let it go.

Website after website, including the local beach groups on social media, and nothing stood out. I let out a heavy sigh as my gaze drifted toward the water, longing to close the shop and go back out there. But for what? I couldn’t simply paddle around all day looking for something under the water. I shook my head. Ridiculous.

As I looked at the sea, something caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. I blinked to focus and my jaw fell. There was a man walking across the sand. That in and of itself wasn’t unusual, but the fact he was butt-ass naked was. I stood up and watched for a minute, looking around to see if anyone else was with him or if he would be intercepted. The lifeguard towers weren't open yet, and the few people on the beach were busy.

He seemed…lost. The beach attracted a lot of different people for different reasons, but something tugged at my heart. No matter the situation, I couldn’t simply let the man wander around in the buff, especially when it was this cold out. I grabbed a blanket off one of the shelves in my shop and jogged toward him. My knee twinged with pain, which was nothing new, but it made my limp more pronounced as I hurried toward him.

When I was about ten feet away, he looked up and our eyes locked. His eyes ! I’d seen them a million times. Air punched out of my chest, surprise freezing my feet in place. It couldn’t be. It was impossible. I stared, trying to process. He stared, saying nothing. I blinked again to see if he was merely a mirage of some sort, but he remained there. Completely naked. My gaze dropped to take in all his fair skin on display. All of him. He looked to be in his twenties, had a small stature, at least a foot shorter than me, and a thin, lithe body, which was smooth, not a single hair on him besides the medium-length brown hair on his head.

When my eyes roamed upward and connected with his once more, he simply tilted his head, watching me as I ogled him like a creeper. His gaze shifted to the blanket I forgot I was holding.

“Shit! I’m so sorry. Here, you must be freezing. Let’s get you warmed up.”

“I’m not cold.” His voice was high and light.

I chuckled awkwardly, not really sure what to do. “Nonetheless, you can’t be out here…like this, so let’s uh…” I threw the blanket over his shoulders, closing it in front of him to cover his junk. “…Yeah. There.”

He clutched the blanket, and a soft smile appeared, making him look even more radiant. “Thank you.”

“Sure. Do you need anything? Do you want me to call someone?”

“Call?”

I ran a hand through my hair and looked around to see if anyone was watching. This man who had been in more dreams than I could count stood before me, but not in a way I ever expected. I was tempted to scoop him up and have him cling to me, so overwhelmed by the fact he was here. But that would be weird…right? Especially since he was naked. And a fucked-up part of me wanted to pull the blanket back and enjoy the view. I needed to take a step back. “Yeah. Is there someone you want me to get a hold of for you? Is anyone looking for you? Are you hungry maybe?”

He tilted his head once more. “I am looking for someone. Can I touch you?”

“What? Uh…yes?” Being asked to be touched by a stranger who showed up on the beach without clothes and didn’t appear to be cold, while I felt the chill of the air whisper against my neck… should send up warning signs, and I should keep my distance. I should definitely not be excited about being touched by him.

He stretched his hand out, and I couldn’t help but lift mine to match. His fingers floated over the back of my hand and each of my fingers as if he were examining them. A spark jumped from my skin to his, the wind likely creating static electricity. Except there was something familiar about it. I looked at my hand, my skin still tingling, and my mind returned to when I was in my kayak, and the tendrils had caressed my skin.

The man before me stepped closer and tilted his head back to meet my gaze. His beautiful brown eyes gleamed and a wide smile stretched across his face, reminding me so much of the face I’d seen under the water eight years ago.

“I found you,” he whispered, with a sound of wonder in his airy voice.

“Me?”

“Yes. I’ve been looking for you for a long time.”

I was speechless. Was he really the same one who rescued me? Why had he been looking for me? A million questions fought to be asked, but not here. Not standing on the beach with him naked.

“Will you…come with me?”

“Yes,” he said with a grin. Just as soon as it appeared, the grin fell again. He looked behind him, toward the rocks that led to Pirate’s Cove . When he faced me again, the glow in his eyes was gone, but he rolled his shoulders back with determination. “Yes. I will come with you.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want you to feel pressured or obligated.”

His head tilted back to look me in the eye, and he gave a nod. “I’m sure.”

“Okay. I have a shop close by. We can get you some clothes, and…talk?” I pointed across the sand.

The man slid his hand into mine, squeezing my fingers while he clutched the blanket with his other hand. The simple action made my heart leap. I liked the way his smaller hand felt in mine, and the way he seemed to want to touch me. It was all bizarre, and so far out of what I would normally do, but now that our fingers were entwined, I had this feeling that I never wanted them to leave .

We stayed quiet as I led him to my shop. I saw a few people watching us with curiosity. I knew most everyone here, from the fish and chips shack to the surf shop to the regulars and had not been with anyone in a long time. I certainly hadn’t walked around holding hands with a naked man.

I gave an awkward wave and ushered the man inside. Not wanting any more onlookers, I rolled the metal door down and slapped a “be back soon” sign on it. Inside, I blew out a breath and placed my hands on my hips. What did I do now? I was alone with a naked man in my shop. Sure, I’d had plenty of fantasies of bringing a guy back here and fucking him against the counter, but this wasn’t exactly how I pictured it. And as interested as I was, it wasn’t the time for that kind of fantasy.

He watched me, waiting, and my eyes drifted down to see a noticeable bump in the blanket. I swallowed audibly.

The man noticed where my attention landed, and he shirked off the blanket. “It’s okay. It occurs with stimulation.”

His bluntness had me choking on a surprised cough. He was rock hard, and I practically salivated at the sight. A real fantasy right here in my shop. Not just the porn kind, but the literal man of my dreams. A man who seemed completely unbothered by the fact he was naked— and erect —in front of me .

I cleared my throat and picked up the blanket—trying not to look his cock in the eye—and handed it to him. “Yes, I’m aware of how dicks work. Let’s get you some clothes, I think.”

His lips fell into a frown as he wrapped himself back up. “Does it not appeal to you?”

Sweat beaded on my forehead, and I suddenly felt much warmer than I’d been earlier. I swiped it away with the back of my hand. My own dick was thickening in my jeans at the image of him. “It does, believe me, but that’s not the problem. I think we should talk, and I’m not going to be able to concentrate with you naked.”

He hummed and nodded, seemingly satisfied with that answer.

“I have a few things over here if you want to take a look.” I walked toward the racks of clothes, more grateful than ever to have a variety of stock on hand. He followed right behind me, so close his dick rubbed against my jeans and he let out a gasp as if the sensation surprised him as much as it did me, and now I was readjusting myself as my pants grew tighter.

“My apologies,” he whispered and took a small step back.

I almost pulled him back to me, to hear that sound release from him again, but I forced myself to concentrate on the racks of clothing. Holding out a jacket for him to inspect, he wrinkled his nose and shook his head, making me chuckle.

As he watched me slide the hangers around, he began to do the same, and when he pulled out a pair of white linen pants, his hand rubbed over the material. They were a light, summery fabric, but I kept them year-round for warmer winter days and people on vacation.

“Do you like those?”

He nodded. “Yes. It doesn't feel itchy or heavy.”

“All right then. They’re yours.”

His answering smile made me feel like I was basking in the sun. I took them off the hanger and handed them to him. They were traditionally purchased by women, but I long ago stopped labeling items as men’s or women’s. Clothes were for anyone.

That was reinforced a while back with a couple who came by on roller skates, as people often did. The tattooed man bought a skirt for his boyfriend, and I’d never seen anyone so happy to twirl around in a skirt while skating. They were regulars now. Dash and Evan. The two were hot, but especially Evan, who often showed up in crop tops and skirts, and the level of affection Dash had for him was clear as day.

The petite man before me held the pants, trying to puzzle them out. I asked gently, “Do you need help putting them on?”

“I think so, yes.”

It was strange that he didn’t seem to know what to do with elastic pants, but it wasn't as concerning as it should have been. The look on his face was beyond endearing and my heart melted a little at his trusting expectation.

“See here? The tag inside? That’s the back. These pants don’t have any zippers or buttons, so they are pretty simple. You just stick your legs in and pull them up until the top is around your waist.”

He bent over and put both of his feet into the holes, and then started to topple over when he tried to lift the material. I caught him before he could fall, stifling a chuckle. I supposed I needed to be a little more specific.

“All right, how about you hold on to my shoulder for balance? You put one foot in, and then the other.”

When he grabbed my shoulder, I felt another static charge pass between us. The man before me let out another gasp and the blanket fell away in time for me to see his cock twitch.

Fuck me ! I forced myself to look away, the heat of his touch searing through my jacket. This man was testing the limits of my control, especially as unabashed as he was with his nudity. He leaned against me, and a moment later, he was pulling his pants up, stuffing his cock inside, making me bite my lip at the sight.

“Better?” I asked through a thick voice.

“Hmm…I suppose. It helps to not feel the air whisper against my pe—my dick? It felt rather exciting. ”

I snorted. “Yeah, it can. All right, now that that’s sorted. How about a shirt?”

He pursed his lips in thought. “Is that necessary?”

“At the beach? Not really, I suppose. Though, typically it’s recommended if you go anywhere else that’s not private. But you’re not cold? It’s been really chilly today.”

He shook his head. “No, I am used to the cold. There often isn’t any sun where I come from.”

It was my turn to tilt my head, puzzled by his statement. “How about something light, then? I have some in a similar fabric to the pants if you like those.”

He rubbed his hands down his thighs and gave a nod. “Yes, I like this. It feels funny, but nice. Makes my skin happy.”

Holding in the smile that wanted to break free, I rifled through the other linen options. When my hand landed on a white crop top, the man stopped me and pointed.

“This one? You’re sure?”

“Yes. It looks less cumbersome.”

I took it off the hanger, ripped off the price tag, and instead of talking him through it, I simply had him lift his arms and I slid the shirt over him. He lowered his arms and felt his bare belly, playing with the edge of the shirt that rested a couple of inches below his nipples. He looked up at me and smiled wide, making my heart bounce around. Shit, he looked so fucking beautiful. I mean, naked, he was stunning, but I was too shocked to appreciate it fully, but now, though, he was radiant.

“Are you happy?”

“I like the color. It reminds me of my home.”

“Good. I’m glad. Now how about we have a seat, and we can talk?”

“Yes. We should.”

I led him to the counter and pulled out the extra chair I kept in case anyone needed it. I sat across from him, grabbing my coffee thermos. “Are you thirsty? Or hungry?”

He watched me take a sip. “Thirsty, perhaps. I always forget that I need to intake fluids. Can I?” He pointed at my thermos.

Each thing he said was more cryptic than the last, but nonetheless, I happily handed over my coffee, with no hesitation about sharing it with the no-longer naked stranger. “Sure. It’s warm, but it shouldn’t be too hot.”

He held the thermos in front of his face and sniffed. His nose wrinkled in an incredibly adorable expression. He tilted the cup and took a cautious drink. I half-expected him to spit it out, but instead, he closed his eyes as if savoring the taste. I typically drank my coffee black with sugar to take the edge off the bitterness.

“Do you like it?” I asked cautiously.

“Hmm. It is a rich flavor, earthy… quite nice, actually. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Help yourself. ”

He took another drink and offered me a sweet smile.

“So…uh, I take it you don’t have a lot of experience with clothing.”

“No. Not really. I’ve seen it, of course.”

“Of course,” I replied, as if that was a completely natural and normal statement.

“I never fully understood it before, but I don’t hate it.” His hand brushed over the cropped shirt, drawing my attention and making me wish it was my hands trailing over him.

“I have so many questions.”

He smiled at me, his eyes raking over me in his own examination. “As do I.”

I held out my hand. “I’m Cory, by the way. Sorry, I should have said that earlier, but I was just a little…distracted.”

“By my dick? Di-ck. ”

I coughed and sputtered, feeling my face go red, especially at the way he emphasized the sound of the word, as if it was new to him. “That was part of it. But it’s not every day a man walks across the beach and tells you he found the one he’s been looking for.”

“I did, though. I found you.”

“So we have met then?” I knew his face, knew it with every fiber of my being, but it was still so hard to come to grips with.

He dipped his head. “We have. Though you were injured, so I would understand if you don’t remember.”

I reached across the counter and grabbed his hand. “I do. I remember everything. Until I passed out, at least. But I remember your face. So it was you? You’re the one who was there when I crashed?”

“It was me.” His fingers squeezed mine, and he peered into my eyes.

My entire world spun. I’d known it, but to hear confirmation was unreal. The number of people who told me I was imagining it, the times I tried to convince myself I must have, and the way his face had never left me. And he was here. Sitting across from me.

“How? How is it possible? Nobody saw anything that day. They couldn’t figure out how I’d gotten to safety. It was you, though. I knew it. I’ve known it this whole time.”

“I was near when I heard you shout.”

“Shout? You mean when my knee hit the rock? That was underwater.”

His expression turned down, sadness filling his eyes. “Yes. The sound… it was agonizing, and I couldn’t stay away. I had to help.”

“So, you were…underwater? Doing what? Scuba?” What were the odds? Except…The Wedge wasn’t safe for scuba divers. It was barely safe for surfers… clearly .

“Not scuba. I can breathe underwater without the help of an apparatus. ”

I leaned closer and lowered my voice as if someone might overhear me. “Are you a mermaid? Well…merman, I suppose?”

He let out a laugh that sounded twinkly, a sound I absolutely wanted to hear again. “No, Cory. I am not a merman.” Amusement lit his eyes.

I shook my head. “Right. Because mermen don’t exist, and I’m being ridiculous.” I grabbed the thermos from him and took a drink before handing it back.

“You’re not ridiculous. They do exist.” His statement came out as fact.

“Dude! Seriously? They’re real?”

He gave me a soft smile as he had a drink of coffee. Here we were, sharing the same cup, talking about mermen, as if it wasn’t the most world-shattering news I’d ever heard. “You might know one, actually. Calder is a prince of a mer-kingdom. He lives on land most of the time with his human mate, Denver. Do you know Denver?”

I shook my head in disbelief at the casual mention of a mer-prince. “No, I don't think so. I don't know every single person, and I think I would remember if someone I knew had a merman for a…mate. But that’s not what you are? You can breathe underwater, so…what does that make you, then?”

He watched me carefully, as if deciding what to say. “There are many types of beings who can change form, like mermen. ”

“And you are one of those beings?” He dipped his head in confirmation. I ran a hand through my hair as I took in the implication. “So you can change your form? Do you have a tail?”

Another burst of twinkly laughter came out of him. “You’re funny. I have no use for a tail.”

I chuckled half-heartedly as if I were in on the joke, but I wasn’t. I really wasn’t. “Can I ask what you are?”

“I’m a nautilus.”

The matter-of-fact tone gave me pause as my brain tried to catch up. “A nautilus? Like a cephalopod?” My fascination with the ocean wasn’t only about the waves. I loved going to aquariums and seeing the amazing creatures who lived beneath the surface, and my brain chose that moment to pull a scientific name out of thin air. Go brain! I think. Wait? A cephalopod? Was he actually telling me he was one?

“Yes. Precisely. No tail for me. I have cirri, a type of tentacles, but they are thinner and there are a lot more of them.” He sat straighter in his chair, looking proud of himself.

Why was the sound of that both intriguing and exciting? Was I losing it? Was this a real conversation? “Tentacles? Really?”

“Cirri. Yes.”

I stood up and put my hands on my head. If he was any other random naked person I’d found on the beach who told me they were a nautilus, I would laugh it all off. He wasn’t, though. He was the very same person who had saved me in an impossible situation that likely would have ended in my death if he hadn't shown up. And I…I believed him. Which was a lot to swallow. “Holy shit!”