Page 54 of Goldilocks

Sam laid anchor and cursed under his breath as he turned on the hob to heat up some tea. He’d already brushed his teeth, but damn, it was freezing.

A splash at the side of the boat caught Sam’s attention. He fought an involuntary smile and only turned toward the side when he was certain his expression was neutral. It wouldn’t look good to start grinning like a loon whenever Goldilocks came by, now would it? He’d give himself totally away.

“Would you like any tea?” Sam asked casually.

Goldilocks’s chin jutted down in a nod, and Sam gave him the cup that said ‘Sam’, keeping the more used and chipped one labelled ‘Dad’ for himself. Sam should pick up a cup to paint for Goldilocks so he had his own as well. Maybe have Goldilocks on one side, and Devil on the other.

Sam pulled up a chair and sat next to the railing, wrapping both hands around the cup to warm his fingers. “I think this was just about the longest day ever.” He sighed. It had started out very promising with Goldilocks, and Sam was pleased to let the day end in Goldilocks’s company too.

“Eric left,” he said. “So, it’s back to just me and Dad again.” Sam surprised himself by speaking in a tone of voice as if he were upset by that. It was Eric’s fault. Him and his stupid tears over that damned cup. It made Sam imagine it. Imagine what he must have been like as a brother when he was younger. And it left him with this confusinglossthat there was a void of nothing where Eric should be.

“I was mean to him, and now I’m upset that he’s gone.” Sam sighed. “I don’t think I even understand my own feelings.”

Goldilocks reached out, resting his hand on Sam’s shoulder. He hummed from low in his throat, and though he couldn’t speak, Sam knew it was meant as comfort. And probably because that hum came from a creature that usually hissed at Sam and said things like ‘You’re displeasing me’, it physically melted through Sam and relaxed him in warmth.

Did this morning mean Goldilocks was going to be nice to him now? Not that Goldilocks ever treated him badly, he just…demanded attention. In a timely manner.

His golden eyes studied Sam, and he tilted his head, peering at his mouth as Sam fought back a smile. To hide his loss, he took a sip of tea. Goldilocks grunted. He also took a sip from the tea, but his expression was a mask of indifference. Whether he hated or loved it, Sam had no idea.

“Where do you sleep out here?” Sam asked. “Or do you swim all the way back?” He had gills, sure, but somehow the image of Goldilocks sleeping in the ocean rather than in a bed felt wrong. Goldilocks grunted his answer, and he slid his fingers lightly up Sam’s shoulder and onto his neck. He gently touched beneath Sam’s throat, caressing the part where he had gills on his own neck. Sam enjoyed the warmth of his touch.

Goldilocks’s fingers travelled to the back of Sam’s neck, enclosing his nape in his hand, and he leaned in, rubbing his chin atop Sam’s head. His briny ocean scent washed over Sam, and Sam let his eyes drift closed. Goldilocks was careful as he caressed the bite mark on the back of Sam’s neck and when his fingers pushed upwards, massaging the base of Sam’s skull, pleasant shivers cascaded down his spine.

The hand at the back of his neck seemed to be enough to warm Sam. Once warm, his mind immediately began to drift. He startled, opening his eyes and pulling himself upright. He’d almost fallen off the chair. And the cup – Sam looked down at his lap – was empty but still safely in his hand.

“I have to turn in,” Sam said. “Otherwise, I’ll fall asleep on you here. And just so you know, I don’t have time for another trip to your place.” He looked up at Goldilocks. “Maybe this coming weekend? I mean, if you want me to come over.” Sam bit the inside of his cheek, hoping he wasn’t getting ahead of himself.

He glanced at the floor space in his cabin. “Think you could fit in there?” he wondered aloud. A second later, he dismissed the idea. No way would Goldilocks fit. Maybe if he swapped out his tail for legs, and then bent at the knee. But as his usual self, he was far too long.

It took Sam a few seconds to realise that Goldilocks had stiffened all over.

A garbled sound came from Goldilocks’s throat, and then, without warning, he released Sam’s neck and pulled his tail from the water. The boat shifted with his sudden movement, and Sam grabbed the railing to steady himself, only to step back to avoid Goldilocks’s tail as he swung it into the boat. There was a low humming from Goldilocks, followed by a mix of a chirp and a huff. The mask of indifference had given way to a pleased expression. His eyes were alert, eager. His mouth was soft, and sounds of happiness continued to come from Goldilocks’s throat.

Sam’s surprise waned, and he simply stared, taking in the joyful reaction he’d coaxed from Goldilocks as if it were a balm to his own worries. And it was. Stress and worry eased away, and Sam grinned at the merman.

“Let me set everything up,” Sam said, feeling light despite the long day. “Would you mind drying your tail? I have a towel here.”

He put the two cups away and fetched a dry towel. Goldilocks immediately set to the task of drying himself, allowing Sam to focus on his part. He pushed aside a trunk and let down the pallet he used as an improvised bed frame, perfectly sized to fit exactly into the floor space. He grabbed his blankets from the trunk. On top were the thick furs Goldilocks had gifted him when the day was still young. Sam laid those out first, followed by his own blankets. He stepped back to double-check his setup and then noticed Goldilocks was waiting for him.

“So…” Sam tilted his head. “How do we get you that far? Shall I help?”

Though Goldilocks looked weightless in the water, Sam knew he weighed far more than Sam could hope to lift, so carrying him in would likely result in torn muscles. Crawling seemed too demeaning…and if Goldilocks was anything, he was proud.

Goldilocks raised his hand, palm up, and made an entreating sound in his throat.

Sam approached, and Goldilocks caught him by the wrist, guiding him to his far side. He gripped Sam’s jaw, turning his head away from the cabin. Goldilocks released a warning growl.

“I won’t look,” Sam promised.

The growl continued even as Goldilocks released him. Sam stayed perfectly still. The boat rocked as Goldilocks moved, and Sam heard his tail scraping across the deck. Finally, the growl relented, replaced by a chirp.

“I can turn?” Sam asked.

Another chirp. Sam turned around.

Goldilocks was in the bed, partially beneath the covers. His arm was raised, and there was a spot beside him clearly meant for Sam. Sam approached and toed off his shoes. The door couldn’t close, but with the weather calm and the sea gentle, that shouldn’t be an issue. As for staying warm…he’d be hard-pressed to feel cold with Goldilocks lying next to him.

Sam carefully crawled into the spot and was immediately enveloped in warmth as Goldilocks tucked the blankets around him. An arm of firm muscle wrapped around Sam, dragging him against Goldilocks’s body.