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CHAPTER THIRTEEN

MARCUS SWEPT Blair into his arms and carried Blair into the stateroom where he gently lowered him to his feet. “Don’t move.”

He shut the door, and a decidedly wicked smile crossed his face. Attached to the back of the door was a full-length mirror. Oh how perfectly naughty. He glanced over his shoulder so Blair could see his smile. Even from there he heard Blair whimper. He returned to Blair, trailing his fingers across one of Blair’s shoulders as he slipped behind him. He turned Blair so that he was fully facing the mirror.

“Watch.”

Ever so slowly he brought his hands back to Blair’s shoulders. He worked the tense muscles under his hands hard, releasing the tension he found there. Then he trailed his hands down Blair’s muscular arms. He kept his touch feather light, and Blair shivered, his nipples hardening.

Resting his hands on Blair’s waist, he pressed his front against Blair’s back and ground his hard-on against Blair’s ass. Again, he moved his hands, this time gently dragging them up Blair’s chest. He watched Blair’s reaction in the mirror. Blair’s stomach muscles jumped, and a flush covered his face. Blair panted.

He rubbed Blair’s smooth pecs, winding his way closer to those hard tips that begged to be touched. The closer he got, the harder Blair’s breath became. When he ran a nail over a nipple, Blair hissed. Marcus’ cock jumped.

“Sensitive?” Marcus asked.

“Yes,” Blair hissed.

“Good.” Marcus said, his voice heavy with intent.

He left kisses along the top of Blair’s shoulders as he flicked a pebble-hard nipple. Quiet whimpers escaped Blair. Unable to resist drawing out more of those sexy sounds, Marcus sucked the patch of skin where Blair’s shoulder and neck met—the exact spot where Blair would wear his mark. He savored the taste of the ocean on Blair’s skin.

By the time they left the boat, Blair’s body would be covered with Marcus’ love bites. He tweaked the other nipple, rolling both the nubs between his fingers then pulling gently. A long rush of syllables passed Blair’s lips then he laid his head back, letting it rest against Marcus’ shoulder. Blair’s hair smelled of the ocean and sunlight.

He buried his nose in the long tresses and sniffed, drawing the scent deep within him. He peeked at the mirror through the wavy, blond cascade, keeping his eyes on Blair’s reflection as he toyed with Blair’s nipples. Blair’s swim trunks were tented, his hips rolling in time with the pulls on his nipples.

Marcus watched the two of them move together in perfect rhythm. Blair panted, his hands fisted by his legs. Gorgeous. Simply gorgeous. He stopped teasing one of Blair’s nipples and sank his hand into Blair’s hair.

He jerked Blair’s head back and took Blair’s mouth in a kiss that was full of teeth and tongue, pent-up passion and need. There was nothing gentle about it. It was an act of dominance, pure and simple. When Blair moaned so sweetly in submission, Marcus released him and licked up his neck then nibbled that perfectly round ear of Blair’s.

“Beautiful,” he whispered.

He released Blair’s hair and scraped his nails gently down Blair’s torso until he paused, his hands back on the top of Blair’s swim trunks. Blair sucked his stomach in, an open invitation to explore. Delighted, Marcus reached inside and wrapped his hand around Blair’s steel hard-on.

He stroked lightly, and Blair squirmed, moaning quietly. Marcus kept his touch easy—teasing. As good as it felt, he knew it wasn’t enough to make Blair come. He thrust his hips, knowing Blair could feel his erection poking him in the back.

“Take them off. I want to see you.”

Blair’s breath hitched as he rested his hands on the top of his swimming trunks. Keeping eye contact with Marcus in the mirror, Blair slid the trunks down his thighs then kicked them out of the way.

Slowly Marcus removed his hand from Blair’s hard cock. It stood proudly, angling slightly to the left and reaching toward his belly button. Now Marcus was the one having trouble breathing. Blair’s lean muscles and golden skin could tempt a saint, which he certainly was not.

Smooth, lean muscles begged to be touched. Blair’s chest was hairless but there was a faint sign of a blond treasure trail leading down to a flawlessly formed cock and balls—a perfect handful. What little hair Blair had was neatly trimmed. He wrapped his hand back around that sweet, tempting cock and stroked until Blair trembled.

A light sheen of sweat covered Blair’s body, and his prick was swollen, an angry red. It leaked like a sieve. Up and down Marcus moved his hand, going from root to tip. Precum dripped steadily, and Blair’s breathing was hard and fast. Little moans, slight puffs of breaths, broke from his lips.

“Not going to last long,” Blair warned, gasping.

Seeing how close Blair was to losing control, Marcus stopped.

Blair shuddered as he helplessly tried to fuck Marcus’ hand. “God, don’t leave me hanging.”

“Shhh. I won’t, but I don’t want you to come yet.” Marcus ran his finger across the top of Blair’s dick.

“If you keep that up I’m going to.”

“Then maybe we need to move on to something else, hmm?”

“God, yes.”

Marcus unbuttoned and kicked off the borrowed pair of shorts. His damn cock needed some breathing room, too. Marcus stepped in front of Blair and Blair reached for him. What a temptation Blair presented. His eyes were heavy lidded, his chest rising and falling rapidly.

Marcus bent down and licked a hard nipple. Quiet whimpers escaped Blair. Unable to resist more of those sexy sounds, Marcus sucked the skin, leaving another mark as he tweaked the neglected nipple. He lifted his head and admired his handiwork.

“I want to taste you,” Blair moaned.

“Yeah, I want to feel your lips on my cock. Just don’t make me come.”

Blair dropped to his knees. Marcus stared in the mirror, admiring Blair’s reflection. What an ass—tight as a drum and muscular. He couldn’t wait to get his hands on it. He ran his hand through Blair’s hair, and the sound of a throat clearing got his attention.

He dragged his eyes away from the mirror and looked down at Blair. Blair let the tip of Marcus’ cock brush across his lips. Marcus grunted. He was desperate to get his cock into Blair’s mouth but refused to rush him.

Blair played as he held Marcus’ cock gently, the licks slowly driving Marcus insane. He tightened his hand in Blair’s hair and thrust gently. His eyes crossed when Blair swallowed him down as if his life depended on it.

Marcus threw his head back and spread his legs to steady himself. That hot, moist mouth of Blair’s was the proverbial heaven on earth. Gently he thrust, filling Blair’s mouth. Blair rubbed his tongue across the head of Marcus’ cock then traced the vein that ran down the shaft.

“Mmm, so good.” Marcus threaded both hands through Blair’s hair. “Let me see those eyes.”

Marcus’ heart nearly stopped beating when Blair turned those sexy eyes up at him. Blair bobbed up and down the cock tirelessly, sucking hard. He growled when Blair eased his cockhead into his throat and swallowed. His body jerked, and he tightened his hands in Blair’s hair as he fucked his throat. The feeling quickly left him dangling on the edge.

He slowed down even though he wished the moment could go on forever. “Stop.”

Blair let Marcus fall from his mouth and licked his lips. “You taste good, and some other time I want to suck you until you come down my throat, but I need you in me.”

Marcus pulled Blair to his feet. “I need to be in you, too. Please tell me you have lube.”

Blair quickly opened a little cabinet and pulled out condoms and lube.

“We don’t need the condoms. You’re perfectly healthy. I’d smell if you weren’t.”

“But we’re two different species,” Blair said. “Are you sure going without is a wise idea? I’ve never… It simply isn’t safe to bareback. With the other humans you bedded, did you…?”

“I always use a condom with them, yes. If I tried not to, it’d have brought up questions I didn’t want to answer. But no, our two species aren’t compatible, so you don’t have to worry about me giving you some strange sort of merman disease.”

Blair put the condoms back and handed the lube to Marcus. “But we are going to need this.”

Marcus nodded. “At least in this form, yes.”

“At least in this…” He shook his head. “You know what? Never mind. That’s something you can explain later.” Blair unmade the bed. “How do you want me?”

“On your back.”

Blair climbed onto the bed and lay on his back. With his feet flat on the bed, he opened his knees. Marcus grabbed the reins of his out-of-control desire and settled himself between Blair’s spread legs. He ran his hands up and down Blair’s thighs. The hair on Blair was so light it was almost invisible and soft. So soft.

Outside of the hair on Marcus’ head and his eyebrows, there was no hair on his body, so Blair’s fascinated him. He pressed his lips to the inside of Blair’s thigh and sucked, leaving yet another mark.

He nipped the area and sat back pleased to see Blair’s cock jump against his stomach. Hmm, someone appeared to like that small bite of pain, so he turned to the other leg and left another mark higher up. Blair trembled under Marcus’ hands, and his breath caught when Marcus ghosted his fingers over Blair’s hole. Blair moaned and reached for his nipples but stopped.

“Yeah, play with them. Tug hard on them, too. I want to see it in your face.”

Blair grasped both nubs and twisted them. Pleasurable pain crossed his face. “Oh, oh… God.”

Grinning softly at the hazy look on Blair’s face, Marcus rubbed Blair’s hot, sweet hole, teasing him with what was to come. He kept his touch gentle, not trying to enter Blair just yet. Blair moaned, his hips rocking.

“Please,” he whispered. He pinched his nipples harder. “ Please .”

Marcus picked up the lube, wet his fingers, and danced them around Blair’s entrance, spreading the slick. Blair’s breathing picked up.

“Give those nips a good tug.”

Blair did and arched on the bed, eyes shut tight.

Oh fuck. Marcus nearly had to grab his own shaft in an effort not to come. His breath caught in his chest at the need and desire on Blair’s face. He pushed, his finger entering Blair. He moved that one finger in and out. When the tightness relaxed, he added another one… then leaned over and sucked Blair’s cock back down his throat.

Blair yelled.

Marcus moved them around, loosening Blair and keeping that slight burn going. He turned his fingers and… Blair yelled again. Marcus smiled. That’s what he was hunting for—Blair’s hot spot. Marcus repeatedly pegged Blair’s prostate. Blair thrust his hips, riding Marcus’ fingers as Marcus continued stretching him while bobbing up and down on Blair’s cock.

Blair opened his eyes and looked down at Marcus. “Fuck me!”

Marcus pushed another finger inside, banging Blair’s ass. He scissored his fingers, spreading Blair open more. He wrapped his other hand around Blair’s cock and squeezed, keeping Blair from coming.

Marcus let Blair’s cock fall from his mouth and stopped fingering him. He grabbed the lube, and slicking his cock, rose up on his knees. Positioning the head of his cock at Blair’s hole, he paused and locked gazes with Blair. As they stared at each other, he entered Blair, sliding all the way inside. Marcus hissed. Blair was so hot and so tight. Blair wrapped his legs around Marcus’ waist.

Marcus dropped over Blair, panting. “Fuck, I’ve never felt anything like this.”

Blair tightened his legs and jerked Marcus forward.

Marcus groaned.

“Fuck me and bite me,” Blair demanded.

What little human rationale Marcus managed to acquire over the years fled. Braced on his hands, he pounded into Blair, his hair shielding the both of them. He slammed into Blair, hitting his hot spot repeatedly. The merman side of his nature rose up, and he trilled softly as Blair locked his heels behind Marcus’ back. Need built.

“Going to come. Going to bite you as I do.” Marcus’ voice was much rougher than normal.

Blair slid his hand behind Marcus’ neck and jerked him down. He threw his head back exposing his throat.

“Come!” Marcus growled, then lunged forward and bit Blair.

“Oh… fuck !” Blair yelled.

Marcus pumped his hips, filling Blair up. Warmth sprayed his stomach as Blair came also. He sealed his lips over the bite mark, his body operating on instinct only. Pleasure hummed through him, and he closed his eyes, overcome. Blair raked his fingers down his back, and Marcus jerked, pleasure spiking.

Blair groaned as Marcus gently licked the bite mark. “Holy fucking Christ.”

Marcus grunted in amusement as he found an appealing spot near Blair’s collarbone and sucked up yet another mark.

Blair squirmed underneath him then snorted in amusement. “Toothy.”

Marcus lifted his head and grinned at Blair. “You have no idea.” He pulled out and slowly rolled onto his back. “Damn, my heart is still pounding.”

“Why, thank you.” Blair snorted, moving carefully so his head rested on Marcus’ chest.

Marcus played with Blair’s long, blond hair as they waited for their breathing to even out. “Feeling okay?”

“Yes. I… I still feel like me.”

“Of course you do. The first bite’s like a marker to other mers that you’re in the process of being claimed.”

Blair trailed his fingers down Marcus’ arm then quickly skidded off the bed. “I’ll be back in a minute. I need to… ah, clean up.”

Marcus reclined on his elbow. “Why not jump in the ocean? Plenty of water out there.”

Blair paused. “Seriously?”

“Sure, why not?”

“You coming?”

“Already did.” Marcus grinned as Blair rolled his eyes. “I’m certainly not going to miss a chance to swim the ocean.”

“Well, come on, then.” Blair hunted for his swim trunks.

“Nude. We swim nude.” Marcus added as he crawled off the bed.

Blair dropped trunks he picked up. “Of course we do.” A funny look crossed Blair’s face. “In fact, the sooner, the better. Come on.”

Marcus grinned as he followed Blair up top. How primitive was it of him that he enjoyed watching his come drip down Blair’s legs? Blair dove off the boat, and Marcus followed him.

He didn’t intend to transform into his preferred form, especially since he just gave Blair the first bite in their mating. He didn’t expect there to be any problems—there usually wasn’t—but he wanted to be able to help in case. They swam in the ocean, laughing and playing, for several hours. The grumbling of Blair’s stomach finally drove them back aboard ship.

MARCUS SPENT the rest of the two weeks on the boat Blair rented. Outside of a few stops inland to restock and get gas, they stayed on the open water but close to the Seychelle Islands. There wasn’t much to do outside of make love and talk, something they both needed.

Marcus shared funny stories of the things he and Nisha got into through the years. Through them Blair began to get to know Marcus’ friends. Marcus also shared as much as he knew about matings.

Blair told Marcus he inherited three million from his grandmother upon her death when he was twenty-two. He used the money and created an online business which he sold around age twenty-four then he traveled for the next couple years… years he spent all alone in the world. His parents had died in a car wreck when he was a child, and his grandmother had raised him.

It was another lazy afternoon, and they were on the deck sunbathing. No matter how much sun Marcus got, he never tanned. No one knew exactly why, but several mers theorized it was so they would blend while underwater.

“Oh.” Marcus raised his head. “Remember we were talking earlier about mating?”

Blair raised his head. “Yeah?”

“I remembered something about mating I forgot to tell you.” Marcus turned onto his side so he could see Blair better. “Nisha told me—before I met you—bonded mates are eventually able to speak telepathically to each other.”

Blair blinked. “Wow. Not sure how you could’ve forgotten that, but cool. So not only do I get gills, but I’ll be able to speak to you in my mind?”

“That’s what I hear.”

“Huh.” Blair scratched his belly. “Odd, though. I wonder how that came about.”

“Well, it’s really helpful when your mate is a mer.”

“What do you mean?” Blair sat up.

“Look at it like this,” Marcus said sitting up, too. “You can’t talk underwater, right?”

Blair nodded. “Of course not.”

“Right. Human vocal cords are not made that way,” Marcus said. “Mers can make sounds like whales and dolphins, but that’s not something you can do. I guess, over time, the ability to speak telepathically developed so human mates could communicate with us underwater.”

“I can hear you in my head, but you can’t read my mind, right?”

“No. Two totally different things.”

“I think that’s good.” Blair winked at Nisha. “When you give me the second bite, that’ll happen for us?”

“That’s what Nisha says, yes. It takes some time for that to develop, from what he said, too.”

“You know, I don’t see any cons to this mating deal.”

“I’m very pleased to hear that.”

“Speaking of mating and merfolk, I was wondering something.”

“What?”

“Do your people have a written history?”

“No, unfortunately. There are rumors of cave drawings scattered throughout the world in underwater caves, but I have no idea if that’s true or not. Mainly we pass our history down from generation to generation by stories.”

“Huh. Well, I guess I can understand that. Paper and water don’t exactly go well together. Does anybody have a clue how long you guys been around?”

“According to the things I’ve heard we were once fully human millions of years ago, but slowly moved to the ocean to hunt and live. As time passed, we evolved to fit our new habitat.”

“I… Fascinating. I guess it makes sense, in a way. Part of your merman form does look humanoid.”

“True. You might find it interesting that hundreds of years ago the islanders here worshiped us as sea gods. They know better now, but they still treat us with respect and awe. They take note of us when most humans don’t.”

“I wonder if that has something to do with their cultural beliefs.”

“It’s possible.”

Blair shrugged. “We’ll probably never know. Anyhow, I’m getting hot. Ready to go for another swim?”

“Always.” Marcus followed Blair over the side of the boat.

They swam for little while then came back aboard. It didn’t take Blair long to notice Marcus needed to drink several glasses of water a day to keep hydrated.

Later that evening Blair anchored the boat not far from a small, uninhabited island Marcus told him about. After dinner they planned to return to the water.