Wyatt sighed loudly. “Thank God.”
What would he tell her? Or, harder to envision, what would she relay to him? For all he’d believed twenty-four hours ago, he didn’t know what shore he now stood upon. His entire existence had come unraveled when he had found Marissa wounded. And now, his future balanced upon this fragile woman. The laws of his universe had come undone. Rippling, rolling, shifting—his whole world had changed.
Marissa’s eyelids fluttered and she coughed and, suddenly, nothing else mattered except her. This precious woman—the keeper of his heart.
“Drink a sip, my darling.” He held a glass of water to her lips.
He drew his mouth across her forehead, and set his cheek against her brow. An act he’d done a hundred times during the night.
He stood up smiling, his shoulders relaxing. “You’ve come back,” he whispered, taking hold of her fingers.
She gazed up at him, a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “How long have I been sleeping?”
“A day. It’s the 16th.”
“Oh,” she said, wincing. He let go of her hands, moved closer to her side, and gently brushed back her hair.
His insides churned, warring against the need to protect her, and still having so many unanswered questions.
He’d have to tell her he knew her secret. His heart slammed against his chest. In the next few minutes his life would change. Forever. Completely. Change. He didn’t want to lose Marissa by scaring her.
“You were injured.” He lifted his gaze, directing it to the terrace and beyond. “In the water. I don’t know how. Do you remember?” He faced her again, wide aqua eyes meeting his gaze. Her brow had creased and she twisted the sheet between her hands.
She inhaled and cleared her throat. “Not everything, but I do remember being injured while swimming.” Her voice had begun to shake.
He took hold of her hands again. “I found you on the shore yesterday morning about this time.”
“I’d gone out early. You were still asleep.” she said hesitantly.
He rubbed the tops of her knuckles. Now, her hands were warm in his. “Baby, maybe if I tell you what I’m thinking then it will be easier for you. Is that alright?”
She nodded, the side of her lip held between her teeth. She pushed down the comforter, frowning at her injury He helped her sit upright. Her hair fell over her naked body, draping across her chest and arms.
He lifted her hair back from her shoulder. “Darling, a group of dolphins kept you safe along the shore. At first, I thought they were injured. Beached or stranded.” He let that information sink in.
“I approached and noticed your hair. One of the dolphins got ahold of my arm when I tried to reach you.” He held up his hand where he had a neat double row of puncture marks on either side of his arm. “Nothing serious. I think the dolphins were protecting you. Finally, I was able to get you back to the house. I removed a piece of metal that wounded you here.” He lightly touched beyond her injury.”
He picked up the two pieces of the trident he’d removed from her shoulder, now cleaned yet savagely pointed. He held them out in front of her.
“I didn’t know what it was that wounded my shoulder.” The crease between her brows deepened. She shook her head, murmuring, “Senseless.”
“That’s not all.” He rose. “May I?” He took hold of the sheets and blankets.
“What are you doing?”
“I just want to show you something, that’s all.”
“Another injury?” Her face filled with concern, and she vehemently attempted to push the covers free with her good arm.
“Slow down, sweetheart. No, not another wound,” he was quick to say as he took hold of her hand with his and squeezed.
She inhaled and nodded, gazing up into his face.
He let go of her hand, and then folded the comforter and sheets back from her body. “It’s just that you changed.” He stopped and stared at two hopelessly beautiful legs. No tail.
Carefully, he ran his hand down her skin, reliving the pleasure he’d experienced with her beautiful legs wrapped around his waist, and thrown over his shoulders. He was the only man with such memories of her. Now, he must tell her. Had to tell her when he found her, she’d not had legs but a tail. Even last night, before he’d covered her with blankets, her brilliantly colored tail lay shimmering on top of the mattress.
“You’ve changed back.” He sunk down next to Marissa on the bed, confusion taking over.
“Yes, I always do,” she whispered.
Chapter Thirteen
Marissa squinted, gazing across the sand stretching from beyond the terrace patio overlooking the beach. Another perfect South Florida day and she lay back against the comfy cushions of the chaise lounge. She slathered on suntan oil under a large patio umbrella. Even though the sun was on the other side of the house, her skin was delicate and prone to sunburns. The shade provided coverage to watch the rise and fall of the waves, cresting and converging in the afternoon surf.
Today was the first day after the full moon. She stretched, relaxed and loose from a night of incredible renewal, not to mention hot, delicious sex with the most ambitiously romantic man.
She moved her hands to the top of her thighs, and downward to the point where her white shorts creased. She shivered underneath a camisole, her nipples aching, and she pressed her knees together. Her skin tingled from Wyatt’s exploration of her body, both on land and in the saltwater waves.
Over the last year, he’d taught her how to receive as well as give pleasure.
My goodness, she quivered. Wyatt’s ability to make her scream echoed inside her body. His imagination as her lover kept her yearning for his touch and hungry to satisfy him as much as he sated her. He refused to allow anything to stand between them and nothing did, once they had talked, getting the truth out in the open or, at least, sharing the truth between them.
Wyatt hadn’t just talked. He had asked her every possible question. And she had filled him in with the tiniest of details. As well as the parts of her life that she’d kept locked away, including the death of her parents and siblings. She’d explained how she’d been living on her own, and what her life had been like on the land. He’d pressed to know everything. It was the moment that she realized, either she could trust him or remain alone. So, she’d held her breath describing what her once-a-month return to the sea encompassed. He’d listened attentively for what took hours, pacing up and down over the floor. Afterward, he’d quietly stated that he needed time to think. He’d gone for a walk by the seashore and she’d assumed their romance was over. In her mind she’d lost him from a truth too difficult to bear.
His walk had lasted for an hour. He’d returned, taking her hands into his and making her promise only one thing—never to go swimming by herself again. Well, there were other vows he had wrangled after he’d asked a few sweet questions, but that was the only mermaid promise.
Suddenly, the terrace door opened. Wyatt’s piercing gaze locked with hers. His lips quirked in the same devilish way that always made her breath catch in her throat.
“You’re a vision, my love,” he murmured, walking over to her with two flute glasses in his hands. “You look good enough to eat. Again.” His voice was like velvet, caressing her skin, and making her ache for his touch.
“Come sit by me.” She scooted over, entranced by the sight of his strong fingers.
She licked her lips, recalling what he’d done to her only moments before with his fingertips and mouth on her body. The air condensed against the smooth surface of the crystal flutes. Beads of moisture collected and dripped down the sides of each glass, over his thumbs.
“You look good enough to lick,” she returned.
“I’ll take you up on that tonight,” he laughed, handing her a glass. “Cheers, baby.”
“What are we celebrating?” She gazed innocently up at this gorgeous man who still made her go piping hot with his fierce, possessive gaze.
He arc
hed a brow. “Don’t be so droll. You know only too well, my love. Or shall I remind you?” He lowered himself next to her on the chaise lounge. She inhaled his scent, cherishing and delighting in it, before exhaling.
She sat forward, unable to stop from giggling, and tapped her glass against his. “Happy anniversary, sweetheart. Mmmm, our first year.” She sipped the fizzling ginger ale and sighed.
He leaned across her legs, feathering his fingers along her jaw, and kissed her long and deep. “I’ve got plans for you.” His eyes flashed dangerously, making her insides smolder.
Her toes instinctively curled. “You make my head spin.”
“I’m trying. Kitten, you sorely tempt me. I can’t seem to get my fill of you. Is that the siren or vixen in you?” His voice dropped into a growl.
“Don’t blame me for what you’ve created.” She ran her fingers over his jaw. “Are you satisfied with the house? It’s everything I ever dreamed.”
He surveyed the front of the terrace. “The landscapers will be back next week. I reviewed the shade house for your herbs. Then we’re officially done until you’ve decided on the plans to convert the sitting room next to our bedroom.”
Last year, they had married on the Saturday after Valentine’s Day. And then they’d traveled for weeks on an amazing honeymoon before returning to Florida. By the end of the month, they’d broken ground on the South Beach property. Wyatt’s wedding gift to her. He’d directed the closing attorney to put the beachfront property in her name, and had given her complete freedom in designing a home for them to enjoy each other. A private, oceanfront oasis, and soon they’d be joined by another Herndon. She inhaled a skittering breath and set her glass on the side table.
Wyatt pressed his body against her legs. “How do you feel? Any dizziness?”
“Perfect.” She fanned her hands over the front of her shorts. Already a baby bump rose from her abdomen.
“I agree.” He rubbed his hand lovingly over her stomach.
“She’s growing. I think soon I’ll need new clothes.”
“Or you could just run around naked. I’d keep you warm.” His hand continued to caress her skin. “I love your body and the way you look with our baby inside your belly.”
She smiled and contently pressed into him. “I hope you say that at the end of the summer. When I’m as round as a beach ball floating in the waves.”
Their baby would be born in the fall during the cycle of the harvest moon just like when she’d been born. She didn’t know if the child would carry mermaid genes and so far that detail didn’t matter. Not with Wyatt, so it seemed.
“I will and all the better. Did you enjoy your swim?” He asked. “I noticed we’re not the only pod increasing. More calves. Girls or boys?”
“Incredible eye, Mr. Herndon. Two more girls. And yes. It was delightful. Thank you for accompanying me.”
He kissed her full on the mouth again. His thumb stroked the side of her cheek. His eyes fell for a second to her shoulder and she reached up to hold his face.
“My hero. Thank you for everything you’ve done.”
“I hope the memory of our first evening overrides all else.” He held her by the hips.
“The night lives with me. Always will. You’re my perfect lover.”
“What about husband?”
“And yes, my wildly seductive husband. And…”
“Yes? And?” he asked, patiently waiting for her to continue.
“I hope you’ll forgive me for being sentimental. But from the start, you’ve always been my soul mate.”
He held her gaze. An expression of deep satisfaction blanketed his face. He raised his glass, signaling her to continue. “A toast, please, you go first.”
She held out her glass. “To my perfect lover, husband, and soul mate. I love you with all my heart.”
“My lover and wife.” Wyatt reached over and tapped her glass, a pealing ring of crystal filling the air. “And to the siren of my heart, my one true soul mate. Soon, you’ll also be the perfect mother.” He set his glass down and took Marissa into his arms. “Sweetheart, I love you so much. You’ve got my heart. I promise to keep you and our child safe within an ocean of love.”
She pressed his hands over her abdomen, absorbing the rhythm of their baby. While he rubbed her belly, she held his face between your palms, kissing him with the strength of their love. The baby kicked. And kicked again. He studied his hands, and then started to laugh when the baby kicked another time. She joined him, almost snorting. Afterward, she laid her head against his cheek, running her fingers over the stubble on his jaw, and released a sigh of contentment.
“Our baby is one strong-willed child,” he murmured, hugging her. “Just like you, my love.”
Ocean of Love Page 14