by Godiva Glenn
“You’re marvelous,” Annika disagreed. “Your playing touched my spirit.”
Cam brushed her shoulder. “Teall left his instruments.”
“And he won’t be getting them back,” she bristled. She put down the plate she’d been wiping bone dry for the last few minutes. “Come with me.”
Pavel followed her through the house and into a side room separated from the main living area with strands of shells threaded with silk twine. Cam remained in the kitchen where she heard him picking up the dishes.
“Is it okay to touch his things?” Pavel asked.
Annika scoffed as she moved through the room and rearranged things in her search. Of course, Pavel had no clue that she’d confiscated Teall’s skin, so touching his things was hardly comparable. “He left them here. If someday he apologizes and I feel it’s sincere, perhaps he can request his things back.”
“I was only asking from an ethical standpoint. I don’t feel much for the guy who tried to kill me.”
Annika froze. She held a sea flute in her hands and studied the collection of wood reeds and tower shells that made up the traditional instrument. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“You say that, but if not for me you’d be at your home right now. You could watch your shows and drink wine and play your violin. And you wouldn’t have nearly drowned.”
He ran a hand over the back of the chair beside him and glanced around the room. “I’d rather not look at it that way.”
She brought the instrument to him. She’d always loved when Teall played music for her, but the sound of the flute was nothing like what she’d heard Pavel play. “I don’t think we have anything that compares. I suppose you aren’t practiced with pipes.”
He took it and flipped it over in his hands briefly before setting it aside. She followed the action with her gaze but before she could ask what was wrong, he’d taken her chin in his hand. “Why do you keep flipping between happy and sad?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Of course you do.” He held her still and stared at her. “If you’re haunted by guilt, don’t be. I don’t care about my phone. You’re the only one I’d want to call. And as for my violin… I’m sure I can send for it somehow. If people can travel to Prism, I’m sure my belongings can too.”
“Yes, but, I—”
“Shhh.” His thumb pressed to her lips for a moment then caressed her cheek. “I don’t blame you. I’m just happy you’re okay.”
This close, she could see the depth of golden brown in his eyes, and a surprising patch of green that hid on the upper edge of his left eye alone.
He appeared to search for something in her stare, and whatever he found, he marked the discovery with a gentle kiss on her lips.
She trembled before him. Since he’d stood, alive and well, she’d longed to hold him. She wanted to continue where they’d left off, but they couldn’t pretend nothing had changed. “Are you sure?” she asked in a whisper. “You don’t have to—”
His thumb pressed to her lips, silencing her. He spoke, and his words were low and husky, “I’ve wanted to. Not just to show how thankful I am for all you’ve done, but because we have unfinished business, don’t we?”
Her brow arched. “We do?”
“I’m not sure how we’ll top the excitement of our second date,” he joked.
“You want to?”
“Unless you’ve changed your mind.”
She lifted on her toes and kissed him, her heart thumping wildly as she gripped his arms and pulled him down to her. His hands slid to the small of her back and a tiny moan escaped him, but he pulled away. His head turned to the doorway.
Guessing his concern, she gently used her hand to guide his face back to hers. “Don’t worry about him.”
“He’s right there. He could come in here at any moment.”
“Yes, but he’d leave if we were busy.”
“That’s… okay, that’s a strange way to handle it. Maybe we should just wait until we’re alone.”
She frowned but recognized his reluctance as a human construct. “I could ask him to leave if that would be more comfortable.”
“It’s his home too—”
“Cam! Are you going for a swim?” Annika called out.
“Sure!”
Annika smiled at Pavel’s gape-mouthed expression, and within a moment, the front door opened and closed.
“There.” She smoothed a hand down Pavel’s chest. “Now then…”
“Wasn’t that a bit rude?”
Annika toyed with the short string of leather that laced the front of Pavel’s borrowed shirt. “We usually swim after dinner. It wasn’t rude.”
“Still…”
The tension that plagued him broadcasted through his stiff shoulders. “Pavel?” she said his name with breathy inflection. “I almost lost you.”
He gazed at her, and his worried brow softened. “But you didn’t.”
“Could we celebrate then?” Her hands drifted down his arms and she entwined their fingers. “Let me show you my room.”
He allowed himself to be led through the house, and when she entered her room, she crawled onto the bed. In secret, she’d wondered if her sexual proclivity would scare him off. It was a fair concern. As she’d pointed out, the other fae looked down at selkies for their promiscuity, and the fae were more open-minded than the average human.
Except Pavel didn’t appear to be an average human. Even the word “average” seemed a paltry label. He wasn’t ordinary or typical. He was charming and fascinating. She scooted to the center of her mattress and parted her legs subtly, inviting him to join her.
The hunger in his eyes nearly glowed. His stare devoured her until she held the utmost confidence that his every thought was of her, and decadently naughty.
“The gentleman in me wants to decline and not rush things,” he said with an air of apprehension.
She ran her hands along the supple leather spread beneath her. “What does being a gentleman have to do with anything? Besides, if I understand, a gentleman isn’t supposed to keep a lady waiting.”
The conflict played out on his face, but when all was said and done, he yanked off his shirt and climbed onto the bed. Any vestiges of hesitance vanished, replaced by a carnal focus evidenced in how his eyes studied her body as he crawled over her.
“Is there anything you’d like to tell me before I touch you?” he asked.
“Such as?”
“Will being inside you dazzle me, or whatever?”
She grinned. “No. That’s not a thing. You aren’t fae-struck now, and you still won’t be after.”
“Good.”
He lowered his hips and ground his erection against her, causing her to cry out. She clawed at him and sought out his mouth. For months she’d carried around the emptiness of missing her home, but she’d also suffered from physical loneliness. A craving for intimacy. While on Earth, she’d withheld her natural urges and sought to share such release with a cherished companion, as humans preferred to do.
Maybe she’d only just met Pavel, but he held a piece of her heart somehow; Enough that sleeping with him didn’t classify as a playful fling or empty pleasure chasing. She wanted a connection with him and hoped her intentions carried through the kiss they shared.
Her fingers raked up and down his bare arms. His usual clothing hid his lean, muscular build. He was strong and defined beyond what she’d expected. Getting him out of his polo shirts and khakis was a delicious treat.
As they kissed, her hands continued to roam. They found the top of his light woven pants and pushed down, but he clicked his tongue and pulled away from her with a chiding look.
He sat back on his heels and stroked her long legs while surveying her body. She wore a simple dress of loose construction and thin fabric similar to his loaned clothing. Only a few centuries back, selkies didn’t bother with clothing at all. Annika theorized that since stripping could be fun, selk
ies were convinced to give dressing up a try. At this moment, clothing seemed to be a pure nuisance.
“You’re not wearing anything underneath this,” he observed while toying with the hem of her short dress. It had ridden up considerably already and almost left her exposed.
“I’m not,” she confirmed.
He slid from the bed and spent a moment examining her doorway, which like every room in the house was guarded only by hanging shells. He slid his hands along the wall and peered up at the ceiling. “Annika?”
“Hmm?”
“How do you control the lights?”
“Would you like less?” she asked.
“Well, yes. But how—” He stared up as the lights dimmed. “How did you do that?”
She laughed softly. “Magic, obviously. Now come on.”
After a few moments of continuing to stare up, he removed his pants and stood at the edge of the bed. “Actually…” He came around to the side of the bed and sat sideways to face her. “Could I just hold you?”
She stroked his arm with her fingertips. “Are you okay? Is it something I did?”
“I’m fine, and you’ve done nothing wrong, trust me.” He took her hand and lifted it to his lips to kiss her knuckles. “It’s been a crazy day. Waking up and being elbows deep in things I don’t understand, surrounded by magic… I’d love to hold you until we fall asleep if that’s alright with you.”
“Of course that’s alright.” She scooted back and patted beside her. “I understand completely.”
The bed dipped as he joined her, spooning his firm body against her back. The heat and lust dissipated from her, but without frustration. She wanted him, yes, but she understood that in this very moment he had other needs.
She couldn’t put herself in his shoes, but she could try. There was nothing to rush. She nuzzled Pavel’s hand and listened to his breathing, which tickled the back of her neck. And as she was drifting off to sleep, she realized he had no intentions of leaving soon. After all, he mentioned sending for his things.
Eleven
Teall
Usually, Teall wouldn’t return to grovel to Annika without a gift. Pearls, pretty corals, a pod of lobsters—things that always made her cheer up. Without his skin, it was harder to dive deep and find suitable presents.
But after the last fight they’d had, the one that had resulted in her running away, he realized that his behavior had a terrible pattern to it. Cam had pointed it out, really. After a hundred years, even if a gift made her smile, she’d have been happier without the fight as a catalyst. And more importantly, just because Annika was smiling, it didn’t mean she was happy.
So even if it felt strange to wait a week and clear his head—and hopefully give her time to clear hers—and to approach her home with empty hands, he’d decided that he was done with trying to rectify his mistakes with trinkets. The mistake being that he’d upset Annika, of course, not that he’d tried to rid her of the pasty male human who’d been pawing all over her.
His choice was for her sake. Her safety. Humans were trouble. Unfortunately, Teall knew from rumors spreading along the shore that Annika’s human was still around. He clearly hadn’t understood the message that his kind wasn’t welcome. Annika’s gentle heart was putting her in danger, and he couldn’t wait any longer to speak to her of it. Plus, he needed his skin back. Only his love for her kept him from lashing out over it.
Such a strange twist of fate that his reward for trying to save Annika’s skin was for her to hold his own ransom.
As he came upon the house he’d more often than not shared with Cam and Annika, he tried to concentrate on what mattered most. Annika mattered most. This mantra slipped, however, when he came across Annika and her human playing in the shallow waters, splashing each other and laughing while Cam sunbathed off to the side in his seal form.
They were having a grand time while Teall was suffering. Ridiculous. His jaw clenched as he approached the joyous trio. Cam noticed him first and rolled out of his selkie skin in a blink.
“Teall,” he called out as both a greeting an obvious alert to the others.
Annika straightened and leveled a severe expression in Teall’s direction.
“I came by to talk,” Teall said, meeting her stare.
“And apologize?”
“Yes, I apologize. And I’d like to speak to you in private regarding that apology.”
The man beside Annika leaned close to her. “Is that who I think it is?”
“That’s Teall, yes,” she replied.
The man moved closer to her and took on a more imposing stance. His brown eyes raked over Teall. “I wouldn’t mind a private talk.”
Teall scoffed. “I’m here only to retrieve Annika to discuss things. Nothing that concerns you.”
“I won’t go with you if you have nothing to say to Pavel.” Annika crossed her arms.
It took Teall every ounce of strength to avoid rolling his eyes at such a foolish request. He measured the lanky human beside her. Pale. Weak. Mortal. “Fine. I’m sorry I almost broke your new toy. But it’s not my fault you didn’t find something sturdier.”
Annika swore in their native tongue, but the human, Pavel, laughed. Laughed. Like a simpleton.
“What do you find amusing?” Teall demanded.
Pavel flipped his wet bangs to the side and shrugged. “You’re not the first bitter ex I’ve encountered. Though I have to admit I feel a bit sorry for you.” He glanced around. “Your attempt to kill me didn’t just backfire. It resulted in me being practically invincible. If you try it again, I’m told Iona will tear you a new one. Not that Annika wouldn’t do that herself, I imagine. You’ve got no reason to continue posturing. You can be as tough as you want, but it won’t solve your problem.”
Teall glared at Pavel for a moment before looking back at Annika. “You can’t hold my skin forever. At least let us discuss things.” He lowered his defenses as he stared into her deep brown eyes. Surely, she could sense his vulnerability in this moment. Vulnerability only for her. “A walk. Down the shore and back. Hear my side of things.”
Pavel caressed her arm, causing Teall’s hands to form tight fists. She softened, however, and dropped her fierce stance. “Fine. Just to the fire and back.”
Cam, who’d watched the exchange silently, walked over to Pavel and punched his arm. “Come on. Help me repair my net for tonight’s dinner.”
“You’re going?” Pavel asked Annika.
“I won’t be long. Promise.”
Pavel and Cam walked away. The sullen slump of Pavel’s shoulders filled Teall with satisfaction, but he did his best to hide his gloating. Annika met him on the land and began walking at a brisk pace down the beach. He jogged to catch up and slowed her with a hand on her wrist.
“It’s not fair if you don’t let me speak and simply run from me,” he said.
“You have no right to expect fairness. I’m here because I knew you wouldn’t leave otherwise, not because I want to hear what you have to say,” she snapped. “Your apology was garbage, even for you.”
“Because I’m not sorry for trying to save your life.”
“As I already told you, my life wasn’t in danger.”
He tugged her risk and she slowed from her quick pace. “You don’t see it the way I did, fine, but what I did had nothing to do with that human and everything to do with my love for you.”
“That human is Pavel,” she replied.
Teall took a deep breath. “Okay. I don’t hate Pavel, regardless of how it must seem. I hate the thought of you being trapped by him or any man. I did what I thought needed to be done in order to free you.”
“I didn’t need—”
“I only saw the two of you making out. I didn’t know the full story—which is my mistake. But you’d been away for months. I assumed he’d stolen your skin, Annika. I assumed you were his prisoner and going along with it because that is what our women have always done.”
She glanced down at her feet as
she walked, avoiding his eyes.
“I know you’re strong, but we’ve heard the same stories. Never has a selkie fought her captor. Losing your skin would have left you broken and submissive, and I couldn’t have known that he hadn’t hurt you.”
“Maybe had you not simply acted before learning the truth.”
“But I was afraid,” he reasoned. “And jealous.”
She stopped in her tracks and stared up at him. “What did you say?”
“You heard me,” he muttered. “I don’t know where it came from, and I don’t like how it feels, but it’s the truth.”
“You’ve never been jealous.”
Not entirely true. To an extent, he’d always been jealous of how easily she got along with Cam. And had Cam ever acted on things, Teall couldn’t predict how he would have reacted. “It’s not easy for me to admit to.”
“I’m surprised you admit it at all.”
He took a few steps, encouraging her to continue their walk.
“That doesn’t excuse trying to commit murder, though. I didn’t want to think you had that in you.”
“There’s plenty of darkness in me, but I only went that far because of you. I regret being hasty and causing you pain.”
She rubbed her arms as she walked beside him. “But you have no regard for harming Pavel.”
“How can I care about someone I don’t know?”
“You never change.” She gazed at the water to her left, but her words carried to him. “We’ve had this argument before. You’re rigid in your disdain for others. Pavel isn’t a selkie, so you don’t see him as having a purpose or worth. And even though you know it drives a wedge between us, you continue to accept your shallow beliefs.”
“We only have ourselves to rely on. Everyone looks down on us. Why should we give them a second thought? Waste our time reasoning with them?”
“Pavel doesn’t look down on us. And most humans, I think, wouldn’t. But you only see the black and white of the situation and refuse to believe that he is a good man. Yet he is an amazing man.”