Page 14

Two women emerged along the path, each carrying a tray laden with food. A plate loaded with salad, cheese, and slices of toasted bread with butter melted into it was placed in front of Sam.

“I am the mate of Goldilocks’s sister, and I’m human, not merfolk,” Vi explained. “Please, eat your fill. What wine do you prefer? Something light for breakfast is most suitable.”

One of the women returned with an ornate jug and poured a white wine into each of their glasses. She quickly retreated after pouring, and Vi slipped her gloves off before picking up her cutlery. Sam copied her, hyperaware of Goldilocks’s fixed stare as he took his first bite. The vegetables weren’t familiar, but Sam was willing to try them, given the fragrant, appetising smell. Yven spread the soft cheese onto his bread and Sam copied that too. Sam couldn’t help but watch Goldilocks when he, too, picked up his cutlery, beginning to eat like a normal person. He had sharp canines – Sam was very familiar with them after all of Goldilocks’s snarling – and he’d always pictured him ripping into his food. Something uncivilised and vicious.

Goldilocks neatly forked salad into his mouth, chewing and swallowing so tidily that Sam couldn’t help but stare, wondering at his own surprise. Goldilocks had shucked oysters for Sam only the other night, something that required precision, practice, and patience. Of course the merman could use cutlery.

“I wonder if you might demonstrate how your boat functions for me?” Vi asked.

“Alright.”

“Goldilocks said you painted the hull yourself? You are an artist?” Vi’s eyes gleamed with interest.

“It’s more of a hobby,” Sam explained. He cast his gaze around the garden and recalled the numerous murals, the decorated tapestries and the many statues in the rooms he’d passed through. “Are you one?”

“An artist? No, though I am a patron to many. My interest lies in academics and tending the gardens.”

“You planted this garden? It’s beautiful.”

Vi’s smile was sharp but seemed genuine. “Thank you. Do you like the wine?”

Sam took a small sip. It fizzed on his tongue, fruity and aromatic. His surprise must have shown on his face. “Yes. It’s very different from the wine we have at home.”

“In a good or bad way?”

“A good way.”

“Drink plenty, then. I’ll have a bottle set aside for you. My brother’s estate is prosperous; you will find no better grapes for making wine anywhere in the world.” Vi seemed pleased. “And perhaps I can now say in any world? Might I see your portfolio? Goldilocks seemed quite smug when describing your talents, and if you’ve impressed him, then I am sure I will be as well.”

“I don’t think—”

Sam’s objection died as a woman approached, carrying his sketchbook. He opened his mouth to object, shooting Goldilocks a look, but he saw that Goldilocks was already leaning in to look at the pages too.

“I don’t think—”

Goldilocks’s hand found Sam’s knee, stopping him as he began to stand. “Be still,” Goldilocks instructed.

Sam reddened. Be still ?

Goldilocks seeing the paintings was one thing. He was the model; he watched Sam make them. He posed for him. He insisted that Sam paint and draw them. But there was something so viscerally exposing having other people slowly flip through the pages. Seeing page after page of Goldilocks. Seeing study and devotion and obsession.

“No wonder,” Vi murmured to herself. “Sam, you must allow me to commission you. You would do a superb job painting the statue of Belle. Look at how you have captured his scales! His hair! Belle had the same colouring. You did not meet her, but you would not need to. This is perfect.”

Goldilocks puffed up, a proud expression on his features as if he were the one being complimented.

Vi turned the page, and a rare drawing that wasn’t of Goldilocks turned up. Connor was lying on the lounger on his yacht; Adonis was resting with his head on his lap. Yven and Vi both stared at Connor, their expressions changing. It wasn’t painted; this one was simply a sketch he’d done while they’d been hanging out together.

Yven’s swallow was audible. “This is…him?”

Goldilocks made an impatient noise in the back of his throat and flipped over to the next page, where he was back to being the subject.

“How much for the book?” Vi asked.

Goldilocks flicked her hands away and took it from her. “It is mine,” he said, giving her a warning look.

Vi huffed. “Yes, I know. But you can allow me to borrow it, then?”

Sam’s attention focused on Yven. He had a thoughtful look; his eyes fixed on the notebook with concentration. “Perhaps you can part with one page?” Yven began tentatively. “Just the one with—”

“No,” Sam said sternly. Why was he focused on Connor? What did that ‘this is him’ mean?

Yven and Vi looked at Sam, surprise flitting across both their expressions. Sam didn’t know what Yven’s comment meant, but he didn’t want him to have the drawing of Connor.

“It belongs to Goldilocks and nobody else,” Sam said firmly.

Goldilocks took the notebook with a pleased look.

Vi pursed her lips but inclined her head. “Of course.”

Goldilocks jutted his chin, and the same woman who brought the notebook came and retrieved it. His golden eyes travelled to Sam’s empty plate, and he stood. His fingers brushed along the slope of Sam’s shoulders. The tips of his fingers teased beneath the collar of the silk robe. The touch reminded Sam that he was under-dressed and having a meal with two strangers, not that either Vi or Yven seemed to mind. “You are finished?”

Sam nodded.

“Come,” he said.

Sam wasn’t sure he liked these commands, but he was a little overwhelmed, and Goldilocks at least was familiar to him. He stood, murmuring to Yven and Vi that it was nice meeting them, and followed Goldilocks as he led him away.

“Did you like the food?” Goldilocks asked as they walked down a long hallway.

“Yes.”

Goldilocks hummed.

Goldilocks pulled Sam by the hand into a room that was filled with steam. Sam paused in the doorway, examining the layout as Goldilocks shut the door behind them. There was another one of those pools; the ones that seemed to go down forever, and next to it was a pool with a visible bottom. Steam rose from it, flower petals floating on top. The air was humid and fragrant, the scent of flowers pleasant.

Goldilocks stepped in front of Sam and pulled open the sash of his robe with a tug. He guided the fabric over Sam’s shoulders, and the robe slid down to pool at Sam’s feet.

The steam from the large pool warmed the air, and Sam wasn’t cold. His heart raced as Goldilocks’s fingers skimmed down his chest, over his ribs. His index finger hooked into the band of Sam’s boxers. “Off,” Goldilocks said.

Sam swallowed hard.

He wasn’t exactly the shyest guy in the world, but stripping down with a merman from another world staring right there was asking a whole lot. “Turn around first.”

Goldilocks lifted his gaze, meeting Sam’s eyes. He paused, before he nodded and turned his back.

“I have turned,” Goldilocks said after seconds passed, during which Sam just stared at the back of his head.

“Why do I have to get naked?”

“Do you usually bathe while clothed?”

Sam shifted his weight. “No, but—”

“Strip.”

“Stop bossing me around. You’re being rude.”

Sam didn’t see it, but he sensed Goldilocks’s top lip curl up. “I turned as you asked me to.”

Sam glanced between Goldilocks and the pool of steaming water. Even if he took off his boxers here, he would have to walk past Goldilocks naked to get into it. “Walk over there.” Sam pushed on Goldilocks’s back, and the merman walked forward willingly until they were side by side with the giant tub. Goldilocks’s back was solid muscle beneath Sam’s hand, his body an inferno of heat, even through his shirt. Sam stood, apprehensively looking at the back of Goldilocks’s head. “Are you angry?”

“I am not.”

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 he actually snarled 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 felt amazing . “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. Why did 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. “You pulled it?”

“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 is useless ,” 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.”

Goldilocks huffed. “Because he floods the body with so much power it has no choice but to repair itself.”

Sam didn’t understand, so he shrugged. “What about you? You can’t heal?”

Goldilocks shook his head. “No. I cannot influence others; such skills are reserved for the less dominant. I can affect the world, not people.”

Sam shifted closer to Goldilocks as he dipped his fingers into the balm once more. “Can you show me?” he asked, curious.

“After your treatment.” Goldilocks’s hand went beneath the water. Sam startled as his fingers spread across his upper thigh. They delved in, stroking his inner thigh and immediately stilled.

Sam burned, no longer in curiosity, but now embarrassment.

“You are aroused,” Goldilocks stated, sounding pleased .

“I’m sorry,” Sam’s voice cracked.

“Do not be sorry. Here.” Goldilocks caught Sam’s wrist, pulling his hand over. Sam’s mind shivered, his entire body lighting up in heat as he realised what Goldilocks had just guided his hand to was, in fact, his hard cock.

“But your tail?” Sam said, confused. Why was his cock this big? Where was it coming from? Unbidden, Sam’s hand slid down. His hand came into contact with Goldilocks’s scales.

Goldilocks hummed. “Do not be shy, Sam. I will not be cruel, and I can instruct. That motion was pleasing to me. You may repeat it.” How nice of Goldilocks to instruct him how to give him a handjob! Before Sam could voice the sarcastic remark, Goldilocks’s hand covered Sam’s and brought it up his length, to the top, where he guided Sam to squeeze his bulbous head and then dragged it back down to his base. Slowly. Steadily. Slick coated Sam’s palm by the time he was going back up.

Sam’s mind stalled out completely. His blood was hot, his cock stiff.

“Good,” Goldilocks praised, releasing Sam’s hand. “Continue like that.” He wrapped his arm around Sam’s shoulders, drawing him to his side. He nuzzled Sam’s cheek, huffing as Sam squeezed his tip. And Goldilocks kept doing that. Kept murmuring words of encouragement and praise against Sam’s ear. Kept rubbing his mouth, his cheek, his tongue against Sam’s skin. Sam burned from the outside and within.

Goldilocks’s breaths grew ragged. He reached down to guide once more, holding Sam’s hand in place at his tip as he began thrusting his hips. He butted his face against Sam’s head, then pushed Sam’s head forward, cupping his throat with the palm of his hand. Sam’s hair fell forward, and he saw the milky water rippling around Goldilocks’s thrusts. He shut his eyes, panting, as Goldilocks nuzzled the back of Sam’s neck. Mouthed it.

Sam’s eyes flew open as those sharp canines slotted over his nape in a bite.

“What—”

Goldilocks snarled, hips jerking forward in erratic thrusts. The hand cupping Sam’s throat tightened into a firm grip; the teeth at Sam’s nape sunk in. Sam yelped at the spike of pain, but he couldn’t do anything more than that, held so easily still by one of Goldilocks’s hands. Goldilocks’s teeth stayed firmly embedded in the back of Sam’s neck as he climaxed, his sharp groans rumbling through Sam’s skin. Sam breathed in the hot steam rising from the water, growing light-headed.

Goldilocks’s thrusts slowly eased. The hand at Sam’s throat loosened, the hold becoming a soothing touch as Goldilocks released the back of Sam’s neck to lick the bite. Sam panted, catching his breath as Goldilocks soothed the back of his neck. A long, pleased purr hummed from Goldilocks’s chest.

“I will mount you,” Goldilocks stated. His voice was deeper. Ragged. Sam could feel that his cock remained hard and upright, and his own was dying of neglect.

That neglect shrouded Sam’s mind. “Alright, but,” Sam murmured, “but, you know I’m…You have a big cock, so you can’t just shove it in.”

Goldilocks chuckled. “I am sure you will please me.”

Sam straightened up with difficulty. “Look, I’m turned on, so I’m up for this, but I’m not on board with you hurting—”

Goldilocks gripped Sam’s hips, lifting him abruptly from the water.

Sam cried out, pain lancing through his hip. “Fuck!”