Page 39 of Goldilocks

Sam peered around Goldilocks’s shoulder so that he could see his expression. Golden eyes cut toward him as he did.

“Really?”

Goldilocks didn’t seem angry; nor did he seem irritated. But there was intent in the way he looked at Sam.

“I’m shy,” Sam finally said. “I don’t want you looking at me naked.”

Goldilocks’s top lip twitched, but the merman caught himself before heactuallysnarled at Sam. He clearly thought about it a moment, then turned from Sam. “Very well.” He walked to a cart that was filled with bottles and picked one up. He uncapped it and poured a thick, syrupy liquid into the pool. The water turned milky. “This is sufficient?”

“Yes,” Sam agreed. Goldilocks returned the bottle and came back to his post. He stared, at length, between Sam’s legs, before turning his back once more.

Sam looked down at himself. Before he could second-guess himself, he shucked off his boxers and quickly stepped into the water, dropping to waist depth, and then down to his neck with a groan. The hot water feltamazing. “Jesus,” he cursed. When was the last time he had a bath this hot? When was the last time he’d had a bath at all?

“I may look now?” Goldilocks asked. Technically, Sam was side by side with Goldilocks, and not behind him, so he wouldn’t even have to turn his head to see him. But the merman kept his eyes pointed forward, his gaze respectfully away from Sam.

“All good now,” Sam agreed.

Goldilocks tugged his shirt off as he turned to Sam, and then his trousers followed.

Sam jerked away with a squawk. “Some warning!” Goldilocks didn’t have any underwear on.

“You may look at me. I am not shy.”

Sam buried his face in his hands, overheating. “Clearly.”

There was rustling.

“Sam. Look at me.”

Sam lowered his hands from his face, his back to Goldilocks now.Whydid he want Sam to look? Sam shouldn’t. He really, really shouldn’t. But his head turned anyway, his face on fire as he dragged his gaze up. Goldilocks’s feet, shins, and thighs were all covered in a splattering of golden scales. His – an animal noise tore from Sam’s throat, but this time it was impossible to jerk away. His cock hung half hard, the tip red and glistening. It…Sam swore it was pointing right at his mouth.

Goldilocks stepped forward, feet disappearing into the pool, then his knees, then his cock. He lowered to his neck, and abruptly, the water displaced across the entire pool; Sam saw the finned tip of Goldilocks’s tail peek out from the water at the far end, and he breathed out in relief. And disappointment.

Goldilocks immediately floated close to Sam, tail brushing against his legs.

“How did you bring me here?” Sam asked. “Did you drive the boat?”

“I pulled it.”

Sam startled. “Youpulledit?”

“Yes.”

So Goldilocks was strong. Really, really strong. He pulled the boat all the way here? How was that even possible? Connor had told him that the mermen seemed to be at the top of the food chain in this world, and maybe that was due to their terrifying power. “And why, exactly, did you bring me here?”

Goldilocks’s gaze flicked to Sam’s ear.

He cupped it. “Oh. You were worried?”

“I will treat you.”

Goldilocks went to the side where a small pile of tubs were arranged. Sam followed him, sitting on the underwater step next to him. Sam held still, not questioning what it was that Goldilocks rubbed into Sam’s ear. “I guess I should have let Adonis heal it for me. I didn’t realise it would bother you so much.”

“He isuseless,” Goldilocks said with feeling. “I wouldn’t trust him to heal even a splinter. You are not to allow him to heal you.”

Should Sam bring up the bossiness now? Though, thinking about it, Goldilocks had always been bossy towards him. And Sam had never struggled to hold his own or brush him off in the past. The only difference now was that Goldilocks was speaking, and the commands stretched beyond ‘Draw me.’

“I’ve seen him heal before. It seems like he always does a good job.”