Page 28 of Where the Current Takes Him (Mermate #1)

Beau

B eau lay boneless in his Alpha’s arms, breathing in the scent of crushed pine and cedar. When he finally worked up the strength to speak again, he said, “I should have asked sooner, but what is luae? You always call me that.”

Loriun hummed behind him. “It’s a term for one’s partner. There is no equivalent in English. Its literal translation is the feeling of returning to the water after a long time on land.”

Warmth bloomed in Beau’s chest. “That’s… beautiful.”

Cool lips pressed to his mating mark in response.

A few minutes of contented silence fell. Loriun’s arm cushioned Beau’s head while the other wrapped around his middle.

Then a thought occurred to Beau. “Is it uncomfortable for you to be on land? Are you uncomfortable now?”

“No,” Loriun assured him. “Our bodies are made to traverse both land and sea. Of course, Earth’s climate is significantly drier than my home world. That is why you will see most Mer carrying mist bottles, and most businesses have mist nozzles.”

Beau frowned. “How long have you been out of the water?”

Loriun paused. “Perhaps an hour? I suppose it’s been an hour and a half after our… distraction.”

Only the sensation of burning stretch prevented Beau from whipping around. “You did all this in an hour?”

“Not alone,” Loriun chuckled. “My assistant, Kaoi, helped me.”

“Oh. Is Kaoi male?”

“Yes.”

Beau didn’t like that answer. “Omega?”

“Yes.”

He liked that answer even less. “What does he look like?”

Loriun’s fingers traced an absent pattern along Beau’s arm. “Petite, golden brown hair, copper scales and fins… Why do you ask?”

Beau scowled. “He sounds very attractive.”

A soft puff of air burst against Beau’s ear. He shivered.

“Are you jealous of my assistant?” Loriun sounded like he was trying to hold back laughter.

“No,” Beau snapped.

“Well that’s good, because he and I have been working together for the past five years. It would be a shame to fire him.”

“Did you two ever date?” Beau shot back.

“No.” Beau could hear the irritating smile in Loriun’s response. “He is not my type. And I believe I am far from his.”

“Good,” Beau grumbled. “It’s hard to be a soft, squishy, hairy human on an island of stupidly beautiful fish people.”

Laughter overtook Loriun’s entire body. Thankfully, his knot had gone down enough for Beau to wriggle free. He rolled over, flat on his back.

“My legs. They’re gone.”

Loriun got to his feet and stood over him with a satisfied smile. He was still in his aquatic form, with fins and tail on full display. Beau decided it would be preferable to simply die there, on the floor, drinking in the beauty of his Alpha.

Red marks like sunlight through waves marked his arms, and though he couldn’t see them, Beau recalled identical markings down his spine. One day, he would commit himself to tracing each and every line with his tongue.

“Come on,” Loriun said, crouching down. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

“Maybe I like being dirty.”

Two arms slid beneath his body. Beau gasped as he was tugged into the air.

“Regardless, it is my job to take care of you,” Loriun said, “and a good Alpha does not leave his Omega lying in a puddle of cum.”

Beau laughed, allowing himself to be carried down the stairs. He tilted his head to rest it on Loriun’s shoulder, and noticed several slashes of red along the Mer’s neck. The edges of scarlet frills were barely visible. Beau stretched out a wondering finger and stroked along the lines.

Loriun coughed. “What are you doing?”

“What are these?”

“My gills.” Loriun coughed again. “So finger out, if you don’t mind.”

Beau whipped his hand away. “Sorry.”

The large fins that radiated from Loriun’s ears flared. “You can touch these.”

Beau took one in his hand, stroking along the thin membrane. It was almost like velvet, but cool and slippery. A shudder rippled through Loriun’s body as he entered the kitchen.

“Does it hurt?” Beau asked, hastily removing his hand.

“No,” Loriun said, his voice slightly strained. “Quite the opposite.”

A devilish smile spread across Beau’s face. That information would be fun to utilize in the future.

“Do you think your legs will be back by the time I set you in the shower?” Loriun teased.

“Why can’t we just go for a swim? That counts as a bath, right?”

Loriun snorted. “I believe that is not true for your kind. But I am never one to deny time spent in the water.”

Beau found himself being ferried toward the pool in the living room. Loriun lowered himself into the waves, clutching Beau tight to his chest.

The cold water shocked him for a few seconds—the fever of heat wasn’t present to shield him this time. Loriun treaded water, waiting patiently for Beau’s body temperature to adjust.

“Would you like to go out into the open water? I can assure you that no dangerous animals will approach you if I am nearby.” Loriun frowned. “Your Earth creatures seem to be terrified of us.”

Beau laughed. “Well, as long as a shark doesn’t come nibble off my toes, I’m in.”

Delight brightened Loriun’s face. “Take a breath and hold it.”

Beau obeyed, and together, they plunged beneath the surface. The side-to-side motion of Loriun’s powerful tail bore them through the passage that led from the house.

Warm night air touched his skin once again. Beau blinked the salt water from his eyes. Stars glittered overhead and a thin crescent moon hung in the satin sky.

“It’s beautiful,” Beau murmured. “Let me go, I can float.”

Loriun hesitated before releasing his Omega from his grip. Beau spread his arms and legs, letting the ocean support him as he stared up into the heavens. Water lapped at his ears, muffling sounds of the outside world.

“Your sky is more impressive than ours.”

Beau splashed upright in alarm. A mass of wavy red hair resurfaced, and Loriun grinned at him. “You have never heard a Mer speak underwater?”

“How did you do that?” Beau demanded.

“The same way I am talking to you now.” Loriun shrugged. “I suppose having gills helps.”

“Could you understand me if I tried to talk underwater?” Beau asked, fascinated. His education had definitely not included enough Mer biology.

Loriun looked skeptical. “I have never heard a human try, but I doubt it will work.”

“I’m gonna try.” Beau dove down a few feet, then attempted to shout, “Loriun!” A large bubble burst from his mouth and wobbled to the surface.

Clear laughter sounded in his ears. “I don’t think your kind were meant to speak in the sea.”

Beau popped back out of the water. “Damn, that would have been really cool.”

A soft brush of Loriun’s tail caressed Beau’s legs. “I cannot say I’m surprised,” he said. “You humans can barely swim.”

Indignation sparked in Beau’s chest. “Hey, we can swim!”

“Sure, you can avoid drowning, but I wouldn’t call that swimming .”

“Excuse you, watch this.” Beau took in another lungful of air and propelled himself down toward the seafloor. Through the stinging salt water, Beau could see an amorphous, teal blur watching his progress.

“You are incredibly slow.”

Unable to retort, Beau made do with a middle finger. His lungs were starting to protest the lack of air.

I really need to improve my lung capacity if I’m going to be with a Mer for the rest of my life. And have Mer babies. And live on the beach forever.

“You’ve made your point.” Loriun’s voice was amused. “Go back. I can hear your heart rate increasing.”

Ever stubborn, Beau kicked out one last time. Without warning, a rip current seized his upper body, tearing him from the nearby surface. He let out a shout on instinct, losing most of the air in his lungs.

“Beau!” Loriun’s voice was fading into the distance.

His chest was on fire, desperate for air. The ocean’s pressure dug into his ear drums and pounded in his head. He was going to drown. Seawater filled his mouth and throat, flooding his lungs and shocking the tissues.

Then, he had oxygen. Beau floated where the current had spat him out, feeling little swirls of water escape the sides of his neck. Terror held him captive as his body took over. Water poured in, bringing oxygen to his blood, then filtered back out. Again and again.

“Beau!” Loriun’s panicked shout was close.

Beau could see the indistinct shape of his mate slicing through the water, arms outstretched.

“Wait,” Beau said, just as Loriun’s fingers reached him. The Mer froze.

“Loriun, I’m breathing.”

“You—You’re talking,” he said, dazed. “What…?”

“I don’t know.” Beau ran a hand over his neck. Little frills jutted out from narrow slits in his skin. “I think I have gills.”

Loriun’s hand joined his, brushing along the sides of his neck.

“ Turys’asi nuonumsh,” he swore softly.