16. Chapter 16

Chapter sixteen

Sammy

" T ake the next left," I say.

It sucks that Blue has to drive to his own surprise, but my driving is terrible and I don't have a license. Actually, does Blue have a license? How does a siren get things like human identity documents? Wow, there is so much I don't know.

I start to look anxiously out of the window. It would be just my luck to get pulled over by the police when we are so nearly there.

It's late at night, but hopefully not so late as to arouse suspicion. Though it is a strange part of town to be in at this time. Oh well, it can't be helped now. If we get pulled over, Blue could probably use his voice powers and tell the cop to let us go.

"Left again."

Blue nods and smoothly maneuvers the car. I like seeing him like this, all competent and capable. It's proof that he is braver and tougher than he gives himself credit for.

"Okay, park anywhere along here."

He flashes me a quizzical look, but pulls the car over to the side of the road. At least finding a parking space isn't tricky at this time of night.

"Ta da!" I exclaim brightly as I gesture at the large square building across the street from us.

Blue glances at it and then back at me in confusion. Oh shit. He does know what an aquarium is, doesn't he ?

I tap my pocket. "I have the code for the back door and the security guy has put the cameras on a loop from earlier this evening."

Blue is staring at me.

"I'm sorry it's not the ocean, but I thought it might be the next best thing. So I called in some favors and said my boyfriend has a pretending to be a merman fetish." I'm babbling, I know I am but I can't stop it.

Blue looks away from me to stare at the aquarium. I can't read his expression at all, but anxiety and unease are swirling around me.

Oh no. I thought he'd love this. I wanted to make him happy. But it looks like I got it wrong.

"We don't have to go in if you don't want to," I say softly.

His gorgeous eyes fix on me. Guilt and dismay fill the car. "I'm so sorry. It is such a lovely thing for you to do, truly it is. It's just…I don't know. An unfamiliar building, I think. It was busy here earlier today, it still smells of hundreds of humans."

Instinctively, I reach for his hand, but I stop myself just in time. "It's okay."

Blue gives me a sad smile. "No, it's not."

We sit in silence. The car pings as the engine cools. There are no other sounds. No passing cars. No people. This part of the city is bustling during the day, but it's all tourist stuff and the docks. All the restaurants and nightclubs are about a mile up the road.

"I want to go in," says Blue suddenly.

The determined look on his face is melting my heart.

"Great!" I beam, and I quickly fumble my way out of the car before he has a chance to overthink and doubt himself.

He climbs out of the car with unnatural grace, locks it and turns to me with wide, fear-filled eyes. I hold out my hand.

"Would holding my hand help?" I ask .

He licks his lips and nods. My heart skips several beats. I take his hand. It fits nicely in my own. Soft and warm. I can feel how hard he is shaking.

I lead him around to the back door of the aquarium. I worked here for one glorious summer before HR eventually figured out that my tax number wasn't working because my documents were fake.

Blue stops walking a few steps from the staff entrance. I turn to look back at him. He is as white as a ghost. His fear is coiling around me. Far stronger than he is letting on. My poor Blue. I wonder if? he was caught for the harem by being lured into a strange building?

"Do you trust me?" I say.

His blue eyes glow as he meets my gaze. His grip on my hand tightens.

"Yes," he whispers.

I grin as his fear drifts away and is replaced with unease.

I fish the piece of paper out of my pocket and read the code. Then I shove it back into my jeans. Blue is not ready to let go of my hand, and that's just fine. I can do everything one handed. I tap in the code, and the door beeps softly. I shoulder it open and lead Blue inside.

The smell of warm, salty water hits me. I look over my shoulder to see Blue's reaction. His eyes are sparkling and he is grinning. I grin back.

I practically run to the top of the main display tank, pulling Blue along with me. It's a replica of the Great Barrier Reef. Complete with coral and hundreds of different species of fish and plants. I wish I had learned more when I was here but I mostly mopped the floors or worked the ice cream machine in the cafe.

I do know the tank is huge. From the customer side it towers floor to ceiling and makes everyone gasp when they first see it. The display is bigger than a cinema screen.

"Go on. Hop in! "

Blue gives me the most enormous grin I have ever seen and shimmies out of his clothes so fast that I nearly forget to look away.

There is a barely discernible splash, and then he is gone. I blink in surprise. Then I peer down into the tank, but it's too choppy to see anything. So I turn and run down the stairs to the customer area, flipping the switch for the tank lights as I go.

I burst out of the staff door, into the main area. The tank looks even more stunning when all the other lights are off. I run up to the glass. I can't see Blue.

Then he emerges from behind some pink coral, chasing a shoal of bright yellow fish. He is so beautiful in the water. He flows through it with grace and ease. He looks truly at home.

He twists and turns and starts playing with a shoal of blue fish. These ones spiral and dance around him. Blue is smiling. His face beaming. His pale hair floats around him like a halo. It's wonderful to see him like this.

I drift closer. His gaze meets mine through the glass and he swims down to me. We are nose to nose. Only the glass separating us. I place my palm against the tank. He places his hand over mine. We smile together.

Then he swims away in an exuberant loop. And then a series of twists. I laugh. Seeing him have fun is the best thing ever.

He finishes his impressive display and then explores every nook, cranny and inch of the tank. I swear he is introducing himself to all the fish. And it looks like he makes friends with Herbie, the resident octopus.

I need to take him here again. As often as possible. I'm out of favors, but if we fix the mate bond, Steve the security guard would do anything for a blow job. I could bring Blue here at least once a week. That would be amazing.

In the meantime, I need to yell at the boys. Blue's pool at the house is so barren. Literally a normal swimming pool, just saline instead of chlorine. Blue deserves better, and as his friends, they should have realized this .

Suddenly, Blue is pressed up to the glass again. He smiles at me and points up to the top of the pool. Does he want to go already? There is no need. We have a few more hours at least.

He points again. More insistently this time. Fine. I get the message.

I race back up the stairs and find Blue already bobbing his head above the water.

"Come in!" he exclaims as soon as he sees me.

"What?" I laugh nervously. "You've seen me swim."

He grins, eyes twinkling with mischief. "Do you trust me?"

I shake my head at him, but quickly undress. I sit on the edge and dangle my feet into the water. It is delightfully warm. But I'm not sure I'm brave enough to jump in. This is nothing like a swimming pool. It's very deep and the sides are glass and most of the top is covered, with only this small portion open for access.

Blue drifts right up to me. A very naughty expression crosses his face, and then his hand is grabbing my ankle, and he is yanking me in. I snatch in a gasp of air before I'm submerged.

He releases my ankle. His arms wrap around me, pulling me close to him in a tight embrace. Soft, soft lips brush over my own. He is kissing me. Blue is kissing me. My arms twine around his neck and I kiss him back.

He zings and sparkles. It is a kiss like no other. And that's nothing to do with it being underwater. It doesn't feel like our first kiss. It feels like coming home.

Dimly I'm aware that we are slowly sinking, down and down. While turning gently. It's like a dance. We kiss and kiss.

My feet touch sand, and my eyes fly open. We are all the way at the bottom of the tank. It's an awfully long way to any oxygen. I cling onto Blue in panic. But he smiles at me serenely.

He takes a deep breath of water and points at my chest encouragingly. No. Surely not? He can't mean what I think he means. Does that kiss mean I can now breathe underwater? Does being the mate of a siren give me that power ?

My lungs are protesting now. I can't hold this breath any longer. I stare into Blue's eyes. He will not let me drown. If this goes wrong, he'll get me to the surface. I know he will.

Oh my god. I can't believe I'm about to do this.

My mouth opens and bubbles fly out. Warm water slides in and…it's fine. My lungs stutter through a few breaths. It feels strange. But fine. I can breathe underwater.

I do a little excited dance. Blue laughs.

Then he takes my hand and shows me his world.