by Kelly Risser
“Sure.” She lapsed into silence, and David sighed in relief. He wasn’t used to being questioned so much unless his youngest sister, Ula, was around. “Why did you kiss me yesterday?”
One question and his brief reprieve vanished. How could he answer that? “Because I wanted to.”
She studied him, her eyes wide and searching. Quietly, she asked, “Do you want to again?”
He swallowed a tidal wave of nerves and said, “Very much.”
She leaned toward him this time. When their lips touched, warmth spread through his body. She raised her free hand to his bicep, stroking her fingers down his arm and leaving a trail of fire. What magic did she possess that made him lose all thoughts of everything but her?
They kissed and talked for another hour before the tide had visibly risen and the air began to cool. He carried the basket back to the car. She followed him, the blanket wrapped around her shoulders like a shawl. When the path was wide enough, they held hands. He liked the feel of her soft skin against his. He loved the feel of her mouth. She was fascinating, something he never envisioned a human to be.
Sharon finished her last week of school. When she graduated, David found himself sitting next to her parents in the audience. He felt strangely proud as she crossed the stage to get her diploma, a wide smile on her face. She was beautiful, on the inside and out. He was learning so much about her and humans in general. In the important ways, humans weren’t so different from Selkies. They lived, they dreamed, and they loved.
Two weeks after the graduation ceremony, he was once again sitting and watching Sharon. This time, it was as she shopped for baby shower decorations. Like a fish out of water, David had no idea about any of it, even though she kept asking his advice.
“Do I go with green, yellow, or some combination of pink and blue?” She looked at him expectantly.
“Um…” He was so out of his league. Selkies did not throw showers of any kind. Until he met Sharon, he thought the term shower only applied to getting clean and the rain. “I like blue.” Blue was his favorite color. It represented the ocean and the sky—two of his favorite things.
“Blue…” She mulled it over, turning back to look at all the decoration choices. She didn’t seem any closer to making a decision than she was an hour ago, and he was getting hungry.
“How about these?” He held up a package of plates that had a soft yellow border and pastel dots scattered across them. “They have all the colors.”
“Of course!” Her eyes lit up as she took them from him and put them in the cart along with everything else available in that pattern. When the cart was full, she beamed at him and kissed him lightly. “You’re a genius.”
He smiled, more for the kiss than the compliment. Over the weeks they had been together, she was becoming more assertive. In the beginning, she was shy, but not anymore. She was free with her affections, and that was just one of the many things he loved about her.
Oh, gods. Did he say love? As he followed her and her overflowing cart to the checkout, he realized he did love her. Somewhere along the way between their picnics and long conversations, he lost his heart to her. Did she feel the same? How would he ever know without revealing his feelings first?
“David?” Sharon was standing next to the cart, now laden with plastic bags. “We can go.”
“Right.” He shook his head, hearing Brigid’s voice as he did. Quit being such a lovesick girl and refocus. You’re there to find our parents’ murderer, remember?
He did remember, all too well, and the guilt battled with his feelings for Sharon. Which was why, as they ate lunch, he told her he was leaving.
She set her half-eaten burger down and stared at him. “When?”
“Tomorrow,” he decided.
She blinked and her eyes looked a little watery. “Are you coming back?”
“I don’t know.” He saw her face drop at his response and reached across the table to grasp her hand. “I want to come back. I really care for you, Sharon.”
“Care?” she scoffed. “When were you going to tell me? Why did you wait?”
“I didn’t. I just decided.” She tried to pull her hand away, but he hung on. “I told you I was here to find my parents’ murderer. He’s not here. I need to move on.”
She nodded, but she wouldn’t look at him. With his free hand, he tipped her chin up, wanting to see her face when he said his next words. “This is hard for me because somewhere along the way, I fell in love with you.” She made a small noise and jerked back, away from his fingers. He dropped his hand over their joined ones. “I love you, Sharon.”
Now she was crying, but she wiped away the tears with the back of her hand. “Why are you leaving then?”
He answered truthfully. “Because whoever killed my parents is a threat to my family. That threat remains as long as the murderer is still out there.”
She nodded again and started picking at her fries. David finished his burger, but noticed that she hadn’t touched hers again. “Aren’t you hungry?”
Giving him a wry look, she said, “I lost my appetite.”
****
The sky was dark. David was lying in bed, hands behind his head, thinking, when he heard a light tap at the window. It was soon followed by another one. Then another. Curious, he went over and opened it, only to be hit by a pebble in the process.
“Ow!” He rubbed his nose. It hadn’t really hurt, more surprised him.
“Sorry!” Sharon whisper-called from below. “Can you come down?”
“I’ll be right there.” He put on his jacket and headed downstairs, treading carefully. There were several other guests at the inn, and he didn’t want to wake anyone up. She was standing next to her car, looking sheepish and a little cold. “What are you doing here?”
Crossing to him, she grabbed the collar on his seal skin. She had no idea how that drove him crazy with desire. He bit back a moan and focused on her words. “We have one last night together,” she said in a low voice. “I want to remember it always.”
If he wasn’t sure of her meaning, he was after she kissed him. Her mouth captured his and her intent became clear. Desire changed her taste from honey to honeyed brandy. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he gently moved her back. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”
“Why not?” she challenged him. “We love each other.”
“That’s true, but even if I wasn’t leaving tomorrow, sooner or later, I would. I can’t stay and give you what you need, what you deserve.”
She jutted her chin, her eyes defiant. “I don’t care. If I never see you again, I want us to have this moment, this night.”
“Sharon, be reasonable.”
“David, I am,” she replied, mimicking his tone. She stepped close and ran her palms down the front of his coat, sending shivers through him. “Are you telling me that you are going to turn me away?”
He groaned, unable to think while her hands continued to stroke his seal skin. Finally, he said, “First, I need to show you something, and then you can decide if you still want to do this.”
“Okay?” She took a step back and crossed her arms.
Without her touching him, he could think again. He looked around at the well-lit porch and sidewalk. “Not here.”
“I don’t want to come to your room,” she said. “I’d be dead if Lydia’s parents saw me.”
“Then where were you planning to have your way with me?” he asked in a teasing voice. “In your car?”
“What? No!” She sounded offended. “C’mon. Let’s go for a drive and I’ll show you.”
They drove toward the lighthouse, but stopped near another grove of trees. This one was not nearly as large, nor as thick as the pines near the cliff. A lone streetlight dimly lit the area, casting enough light to see that a path cut through the trees. Sharon got out and retrieved some blankets from the trunk before reaching for his hand. “This is one of my favorite places. Sometimes, tourists are here during the day, but never at night.”
The path opened to a narrow, grassy area. He could see the outline of large boulders in the distance and hear the ocean. He helped her spread one of the blankets so they could sit. Once they were side by side, she asked, “What did you want to show me?”
His palms were sweating. Selkies rarely revealed their true nature to humans. And yet, David knew that the only way he could really show Sharon his love and respect was to do just that—transform into his seal form. Once she knew the truth, if she still wanted him, they could be together.
“I’m not what you think I am,” he started.
She laughed. “I knew you weren’t an antiques dealer. That was a dumb cover. What are you? A salesman?”
“No,” he said slowly.
Her expression slowly turned to horror. “You’re married? Please tell me you’re not married.”
“I’m not married.” He knelt and took her hands. “I’m going to tell you something, but you can’t tell anyone else or I could be in big trouble.”
“You’re a spy,” she whispered. He narrowed his eyes and waited. Finally, she sighed. “Okay, I promise not to tell anyone your secret.”
Taking a deep breath, David closed his eyes and confessed, “I’m a Selkie.”
When Sharon didn’t say anything, he opened them again to find her staring at him in confusion. “Did you say you’re silky? What? Like soft? I don’t understand.”
“No.” He chuckled despite his best effort not to. “A Selkie. A shape shifter. I transform into a seal.”
“Yeah, right. Next you’ll be telling me your best friend is a vampire.” She waved him off, leaning back on her hands to stare up at him. “Try again. Your dissuasion techniques kind of suck.”
“I can show you.” He waited until she nodded her consent. “Don’t be afraid.”
He felt the quiver in his muscles as he willed his body to transform. The air shimmered, and then he found himself face to face with her.
“David?”
He bobbed his head.
She sat forward and stared at him with wide eyes. “This is so cool! Can I touch you?”
Another bob.
She ran her hand down his back. The touch sent waves of pleasure through him. “You’re very soft.” Rubbing his nose playfully, she planted a kiss on his head. “But can you change back? I can’t talk to you this way. Well, I can, but I feel kind of silly doing it.”
He scooted away from her, and the air once again shimmered before him. It took a little more effort to visualize clothes while he transformed, but he managed to do it.
“You took that better than I thought,” he said.
She tilted her head. “How did you expect me to take it?”
“I thought you’d be afraid.”
Her eyebrows rose. “You’re a seal, not a werewolf. I hate to break it to you, but seals are not scary. In fact, you’re pretty cute.”
“Cute?” He wrinkled his nose, then crouched down like a predator and gave her his most evil glare. “I can do scary.”
She took one look at him and laughed. “You look like you’re constipated. Oh. That’s. Funny.” Each pause was punctuated by another fit of giggles. Soon, he joined her.
When they quieted, he took her hand, rubbing his thumb over hers, and asked, “Does this change how you feel about me?”
She pulled her hand back, and his heart dropped. He feared this would happen, but he had to be honest with her. It was the only way.
Instead of moving away, she moved closer. Facing him on her knees, she looked into his eyes. “It doesn’t change anything, David. I still love you.”
Leaning forward, she kissed him. He let her set the pace and take the lead. It was, after all, her idea. He relished the feel of her soft lips on his and her honeyed taste. She smelled lightly floral tonight. She gently pushed him backwards until his weight was resting on his elbows. Her fragrant hair hung down and framed his face, cocooning him in her world. If she were a Selkie, he would make her his mate. Because he couldn’t, he had to settle for giving her his body and his heart.
****
Sharon was quiet on the drive back to the inn. When she parked and turned to him, he saw why. Her face was wet with tears.
It hurt him to see her cry. He reached over and wiped the tears away. She leaned into his hand and sighed. “Will you come back?”
He wanted to tell her yes. He wanted to tell her that he’d never leave, and he’d stay by her side always. Instead, he said, “I’ll try.”
She nodded, still holding his hand against her cheek as if she needed to memorize the feel of him. He leaned across the seat and kissed her.
“I love you,” he said. “Always remember that.”
Her eyes filled with fresh tears, but she nodded again. With one last kiss, he got out and walked to the inn’s front door. He turned to wave goodbye, but she was already driving away.
“Have you had any luck?” his grandfather asked over lunch the next day. David had woken up, showered, and ate at the inn before settling his bill and swimming to Acadia.
“None.” David tried to keep the disappointment out of his voice. “The trail lead to Peggy’s Cove, but it disappeared by the lighthouse. The few other times I picked up a scent, it was a dead end. Last week, I couldn’t even find any traces of it. Too much time has passed.”
The months had gone by since his parents were murdered. If he hadn’t found anything yet, odds were he wouldn’t find anything going forward. It was time to give up the search. His grandfather chewed on his pipe in contemplation. While his grandmother was not in the house, he still wouldn’t risk smoking it.
“Let’s go for a walk.” His grandfather stood. “I think better in fresh air.”
And with a lit pipe, David added silently.
They walked near the water where a group of Selkies were swimming and relaxing in the sun. There were several females his age, girls he’d grown up with. Yet, all he thought about was Sharon—the light sprinkle of freckles on her nose, the soft curls that fell below her slender shoulders, and her soft mouth that tempted him to kiss her in the first place.
“Somethin’ on your mind?” his grandfather asked once his pipe was lit. The exhaled smoke curled up and around his head, filling the air with the sweet scent of tobacco.
“Not really.” There was, but David wasn’t about to discuss his love life with his grandfather.
“Hmmm…” Marvin stared at his grandson. “I know you haven’t been back long, and we certainly don’t see you on a regular basis, but you seem… different.”
“Really?” He was different in so many ways. He never thought he’d meet a female who would be his equal, who could challenge him and love him at the same time. Sharon was those things, and more. Her only fault, and it was a big one, was that she was human. A human would never be allowed into the Selkie community, and if he chose to live with her, he would lose his title, his magic, and even the ability to transform. Eventually, he would become human with a human-length lifespan. He loved her, but could he make that sacrifice? She was also very young, even by human standards, and she could change her mind about him. What if he gave everything up, and she left him for someone else? They’d only known each other for a couple of months. He needed to get to know her better before he made any life-changing decisions. He would go back, he decided, but first, he needed a few weeks to reenergize amongst his kind and reconnect with his magic. After two months on land, it seemed weaker than before.
His grandfather stopped and sat, patting the spot next to him on the boulder. “Did I ever tell you about Great-Aunt Bethany?”
David sat and turned with a frown. “No. I’ve never heard of her.”
Marvin harrumphed and pulled another long drag on his pipe. He held the smoke in his mouth for a moment, and then let it out in a slow stream. “There’s a reason for that. Bethany did what few Selkies allow themselves to do. She fell in love with a human.”
David reacted with a jolt. He saw no judgement in his grandfather’s
eyes, although he did nod in understanding. The old man was quite insightful. “What happened?”
The only other Selkie-human interaction David knew of was Uncle Angus’ parents, and his mom wouldn’t give up being a Selkie. Eventually, his human father sent him to live with his mother as a Selkie. Half-Selkies had that choice—human or Selkie—they decided how they wanted to live.
“Beth loved adventure,” his grandfather started. “And she was fascinated by the fishing villages. Several times a year, she would shed her skin and walk amongst them. On one of those visits, she met a young man.” He paused to pull from his pipe again, all the while watching David’s reaction.
“They fell in love?” It was easy to guess where his grandfather was going with the story.
“Aye,” his grandfather agreed. “She tried to stay away, but her heart wouldn’t let her. Eventually, she decided she’d rather live a short, happy life as a human in love than a long life as a Selkie without him.”
“The clan turned their backs on her,” David guessed. It was cruel, this all or nothing choice they were given as Selkies.
“Not really.” Marvin paused and stared out at the sea. “But once she was human and the magic was lost to her, she couldn’t find her way home.”
David felt infinitely sad, but he wasn’t sure for whom—the great aunt he never met or himself. “Do you know what happened to her?”
“Aye, I do.” Now, his grandfather’s eyes twinkled. “She lost her way to us, but we could still find her. Someone visited her at least once a year. She lived to a considerable old age for a human, and when she died, surrounded by loved ones, she had a smile on her face.”
David felt better knowing that she made the right choice for her. Still, he asked, “Why are you telling me this?”
Resting a large hand on his grandson’s knee, Marvin said, “It’s your life, David. Not mine, not your grandmother’s, not your sisters’ or the clan’s. Only you can decide what is right for you.” He stood and stretched. The tobacco was spent, but the sweet smell lingered. “I, for one, will love and support you no matter what.”