His chest tightened with a heart-wrenching pain. “Let—her—go!” he barked the demand again.
Her face expressed the anguish of her entrapment.
Suddenly, the net dropped on the one side, and swifter than he'd seen a fish fly, she dove into the water. Her direction to the south had Daire running along the deck looking for every glimpse of her he could get.
With hair the color of silver moonbeams, the delicate outline of her face made his heart stop. She looked right at him and tipped her head as if thanking him. Then, within the blink of an eye, she disappeared into the murky depths of the sea.
"It looks like ye lost thy mermaid, Daire.” Niles clamped a hand on his shoulder.
Daire shuddered at the touch and moved from the man.
"Take us home,” he ordered.
"As ye wish, Captain."
A strange feeling rippled heavily beneath the layers of Daire's skin. Hot sparks tingled making his body pulse. He stared at the water still covered with a floating mist and recalled the fear he had of such a sensation. Gripping the pendant at his neck firmly, the hard shell left an imprint on his palm.
"Niles, wait.” Daire stared at the splash of white caps dancing.
"Aye?"
"Do ye remember what the merlad looked like?"
"That was too many years ago. I barely recall what I ate for supper last night."
Daire continued to stare at the water, wishing, hoping to see the lovely mermaid again. He had an outlandish urge to jump overboard and find her. It didn't seem as bizarre as a dream he had of swimming in the sea. Maybe it would be normal if he knew how to swim. If he had known, Daire was sure he'd be down there in the frothy capped waves, searching for the angel in the sea.
Chapter 2
Nerina's body undulated with the currents as she swam parallel with the ship. She remained below the surface, poking her head out at times, looking again at the ship. The memory of almost being captured by humans sent a chill down her spine, and involuntarily, her tail slapped against the water.
"What are ye up to?” Merman Selk snuck up alongside her.
"Nothing.” She moved faster wishing she could avoid him.
"Wait up, Nerina."
The formation of rocks and coral trapped her from out-dodging him. She drifted back at Selk's advance. His wide sleek chest pressed against hers and forced her back to the barrier.
"I want ye, Nerina."
The currents lifted her, and his body moved against her, creating a heated friction. Her nipples rubbed at his and she closed her eyes, letting the sensation travel through her willful soul.
"Say ye want me and I will be faithful to ye forever.” He grabbed her arms and stretched them above her head.
The ship sailed overhead, casting a shadow. She looked up.
"Selk, do ye know why a merman would live with humans?"
"No.” He rocked against her.
"I-I saw a merman on that ship.” She looked up again, and his head tipped to look as well.
"Ye have to be mistaken.” His lips pressed the underside of her chin.
"I know a merman when I see one.” She pushed him away.
"Fine, ye saw a merman using his power to have legs and spy on humans. ‘Tis no concern of mine.” He grabbed her around the waist and hauled her back to him. “Now let me couple with ye."
She moaned at the liberties he took in rubbing the scales over her sex.
"I should thank him.” She breathed harder.
Selk was her playmate since childhood. She liked the way he made her feel good, but something always held her back from wanting him in a forever kind of way. Even now, when she liked to have her sex opening fanned and stroked, a deeper urge fought the temporary sating.
"Stop.” She pushed down on his hand, forcing his fingers from the channel he thrust them in.
"What is wrong with ye?"
"I am interested in learning more about the merman on the ship.” She swam around the rocks.
"Fine. If I find out who he is for ye, will ye join lives with me?"
Nerina shook her head.
"Will ye consider it?"
She nodded and gave him an encouraging smile, but she never saw him as her lifelong love.
Nerina returned to her quest to see where the merman went with the ship. She followed its journey along the Northern Ireland Coast. Perched atop the high cliffs sat a castle. The stone structure never intrigued her until now.
When a small boat of men left the ship with the merman, and headed to shore, she followed.
"Nerina.” Selk startled her.
She swam toward the rougher water bursting over jagged rocks.
"Did ye find out?” she asked, skirting a cropping of stone.
"I think I might have and ‘tis a very interesting story.” Selk put his hands on a flat rock and hoisted himself to the shelf.
His long blond hair hung around his shoulders. She never liked when he preened himself. Raking a serrated shell over his head, he combed the thick locks back out of his face.
"Well?” Her impatience got the better of her.
"Do we have a deal?"
"What deal?” She feigned ignorance and stroked a seductive hand over his fin.
"Forever."
"No."
"Then I will not tell ye."
"Very well.” She floated on her back and splashed him with a smack of her tail on the water.
"Hey, I was just getting dry.” Droplets hung from his nose and chin.
"Vanity is not a good quality,” she told him as he resumed combing his hair.
Nerina watched the small boat on the shore and she circled the ship, maneuvering around rocks, getting close enough to see what the merman on legs did next.
Selk swirled the water around her tail and came up in front of her.
"How about we go to a quiet beach and sprout legs?"
"Why?” She didn't stop him from fondling her breast.
"Sex. Why else?"
"That is all ye ever think about."
"Well, if ‘tis the only way I can get my cock in ye, I am willing."
"Too willing and I am not interested today.” She pushed him away.
"Not interested at all or just in me?” He circled in front of her again. “Kiss me, Nerina, and I will tell ye the story."
"Tell me, and then I will kiss ye.” She cocked her head and smiled.
"Promise?"
"Aye, I will kiss ye."
"Hmmm, ye always get the better of me, but ye leave me no choice.” He stroked her cheek as he talked. “When I asked the elders, they said many years ago, a merman had a son stolen by humans on that very ship, a young merlad called Daire."
"Daire,” she breathed.
"Anyways, they never got the baby back and have suspected he was eaten or made a slave by the human men. I guess it was slave."
"He did not act like a slave. Actually, the others seemed to be the ones who did his bidding. When he gave orders to free me, they moved swiftly at the task."
"Where is my kiss?” He stretched out his neck and offered her his puckered lips.
Quickly, she pecked his cheek and swam off.
"Nerina!"
She ignored Selk and headed for the ship. Waiting for the return of the merman strained her nerves, but she had a mission—to thank him for his help in the same way Selk suggested.
With human legs, sex between merpeople was nothing more than entertainment. She'd not conceive a child and it didn't mean a lifelong commitment. Though, from one look of the merman on the ship, she did have a fuzzy warmth in her belly from the way he stared at her.
Chapter 3
Daire went to his quarters onboard the ship. Frustrated beyond relief, his body ached strangely. Goosebumps rose and fell on the surface of his flesh. He didn't like the boat ride to and from shore. It put him too close to the surface of the water. The fact his parents were having a party in two days did nothing to settle his upset stomach.
"I thank ye for thy help
today."
The feminine voice made him spin around and he stared at the mermaid in the wide portal window. She hung by her arms on the ledge, holding herself up against the body of his ship, observing him.
"Are ye not going to help me in?"
"In?” He rushed to the window. “But ye cannot ... Ye should not be out of the water, should ye?"
"'Tis not forbidden or unheard of.” She lifted a hand while supporting her weight on one arm.
Daire grabbed her immediately. As he pulled her up into the cabin, every inch of his skin quivered with an exciting rush of energy following the currents of blood through his arteries.
"I am Nerina."
"Daire,” he barely said above a whisper.
Her cool, wet limbs wrapped around his shoulders.
In his arms, he held a perfectly shaped, beautifully naked, woman—no fishtail, fins, scales, nothing but a pale ivory-fleshed female. Shock stunned his vocal cords.
"I thank ye, Daire, for thy help today.” Her pink lips remained enticingly parted.
"Ye are welcome."
"I wish to thank ye properly.” Her fingers scratched against his skin beneath the hair on the nape of his neck.
"Oh?” His shirt absorbed the wetness from her skin.
"Aye, Daire.” She played with the cord of leather holding his pendant.
He bowed his head and pressed his mouth to hers. Salty wet and sweetly delicious, she purred like a contented cat—an amusing notion, since a cat would want to eat her up. Hell, he wanted to eat her.
Every move he made, she mimicked. Her soft lips worked magically with his. Sipping, sucking, slurping, they spent a long time on kissing, and he thoroughly enjoyed it.
"Ye are warm.” Nerina's lips left cool imprints on his jaw.
"I am hot.” He cupped her breast and let the bead of her hard nipple tickle his palm. “I am always hot, except when it rains."
"If ye were in the sea, ye would not feel so warm.” She arched against his touch.
"If I were in the sea, I would drown.” He groaned when the erotic touch of her fingers looped into his britches and tugged his shirt from the waistband.
She pushed her hands up under the cloth. His stomach shrank back from the contact of her cool fingers, but he wouldn't move from her unrelenting exploration.
"Ye are very firm.” She pressed her hands to his ribs. “Muscles ripple thy body more than the mermen's in the sea."
"Maybe they have not the strain of hard work."
"They work.” Her tone suggested she took offense.
"What I mean is the water—its buoyancy helps lift weight on its own."
"Lift me, Daire."
He scooped an arm under her slender legs. Anxious to progress, he didn't ask if she was sure of her decision.
"I want ye.” He carried Nerina to the bed and lowered her to the rumpled covers.
"And ye can have me so long as we have legs.” She swept a kiss over his cheek with a whisper. “Maybe even longer."
The heat of her breath swirled around his ear, followed by the lick of her tongue.
He kissed her face, drying the sea moisture from her cheeks. Her long, wet hair lay in tendrils of shimmering beauty all over the bunk.
"Take off thy clothes, Daire. I want to see what ye look like beneath the human garments."
He whipped his shirt off over his head.
The pendant swung out from his body and she caught it. Her eyes sparkled with interest as she turned it in different directions.
"This is pretty, may I have it?"
"If it were not something important to me, I would happily give it to ye."
"'Tis important? Why?"
"My father gave it to me. When I was small, he personally put it around my neck and made me promise to never remove it."
"Was he afraid ye would lose it?” She rubbed it between her fingers.
"Mayhap it was his concern."
She let it go to caress his skin over his chest. Her inspection took in his nipples. Where her interest led, she followed with her lips. She nipped and tugged on the aching peak of skin.
"By the gods, Nerina,” he groaned.
"I want ye, Daire.” Her kisses traveled up his neck. “Rid thyself of this."
Her hand rubbed the front of his britches.
"Ye are huge,” she exclaimed, apparently not expecting to feel his desire, already hard and throbbing.
He stood up and rushed to free himself of the confining remnants of clothing.
Nerina swung her legs over the side of the bunk and sat up. She obviously had no modesty for the position she put herself in with her legs parted so the lips of her sex opened, exposing the pink center.
He kicked his boots aside and dropped his britches to the floor. She held her hand to him and he went to her. Once again, her inspection focused on his sensitive arousal. Her fingers wrapped his cock, and her tongue swept over the tip.
"Ahhh,” he moaned.
She pushed a hand up his abdomen and he gripped her fingers, weaving them with his. Her kisses sweetly hit his body in a haphazard path. His groin, his abdomen, and his hip had her extracting more sounds from him than a wounded animal.
When he couldn't take another moment of the pleasurable torture, he pushed her down on the mattress of the narrow bunk. He crawled over her and captured her lips in his.
"Are ye a dream, my naked mermaid?"
"Nay, Daire. I am real."
Daire fondled her breasts, tugging them, twisting, and pulling on the tips. He stared into her emerald eyes, watching and wondering what her thoughts were as he rubbed her nipples.
He took the delicious spiked tip of her breast into his mouth. The coolness of her skin excited him. Swirling his hand over the sleek skin of her belly, he traveled to the slick mound of her sex. It was strangely barren of hair, but she was a mermaid, not a human woman.
Nerina made a soft, delicate sound, uttering pleasure. In return, he responded with a moan, deep, guttural, and dangerous to his sanity. It expressed his desperation too much, and yet he didn't care.
Dragging his tongue to her other breast, he lapped up the salty sweetness from her pores. He stroked her smooth nether lips, enjoying the dampness of her creamy center.
With the tip of his tongue, he trailed a line from between her breasts to her navel. Against his taste buds, he enjoyed the flavor of the seawater clinging to her skin.
He ventured lower.
Overcome with the excitement waiting for him in the tantalizing spilt of her supple inner lips, he slid up the length of her and captured her mouth. Her eager breath rushed into his lungs.
Daire raked a finger into the split of her sex and dipped into the rich wetness of her savory center. He thrust it in several times, loving the sounds of her rising stimulation.
When she lifted her arm and dropped it above her head, Daire braced his weight on his one elbow and kissed the delicate skin of her limb. He slid his other hand up, weaving his fingers with hers, and squeezing against her clenching grip.
"Please, Daire, join with me now,” she murmured.
He rose over her. Against her moist folds of flesh, he pressed his cock head into place. He kissed her on the mouth, sipping the sweet saliva from her lips. However, she kissed him harder, driving her tongue into his mouth with her lustful demands.
Daire thrust his hips, sending his rigid cock into her, and hitting depths of immeasurable tightness. They rocked in unison, then they pulled apart. Nothing separated him from his need to make her feel him.
"Aye,” she breathed out. “Aye, Daire, ride me,” she wheezed. “Daire,” she cried with a breathless eagerness.
He forced her into the mattress with the flex of his hips. Her rocking shoved him up, but never away. Their mouths moved together, kissing and mumbling intimate words with meaning. They rocked as the ship pitched on the waves of the sea. With gentleness and passion, he drove farther and deeper into her core. Nerina's response came with a firm grip of her insides on his cock. Her
interior muscles clenched and tugged, squeezed and pulled at him.
Daire trembled. His legs shook where his knees were propped on the bunk between her thighs. Hip to hip, they collided with a frenzied need. The blood pulsed and he couldn't stop ramming into her with his expectant orgasm hovering behind in a swollen cock.
Their lips separated and Daire stared down at her.
What did she think? Did she consider him a cad, a rogue, a defiler of women?
The mermaid would know of no such flaws. She lived in a world beyond his knowledge. He felt it a passionate place she came from—a sea of sexual wonderment that humans would never understand or appreciate.
Nerina's exquisite body molded to him as he crushed her with his fervor. The sounds of her rapture sung serenely and heightened his aroused urgency. He kissed her breasts, suckling the tips until they hardened into knots of puckered flesh. She cried out with her orgasm and her high-pitched reverberation erupted with his roar.
Before he was done shaking from their explosive coupling, someone pounded on his cabin door.
"Captain, is everything all right in there?"
Daire made his final thrust against Nerina—filling her with the warmth of his seed spilling into her until it overflowed.
"Daire!” Niles yelled again.
"Go away, I am all right,” he said, annoyed by the interruption.
"We thought we heard a woman scream."
"Forget it,” Daire answered, relaxing upon Nerina, his lust sated for the moment.
He ran a hand over her head and kissed her nose.
"Why are ye here?” He had a thousand questions.
"I told ye, I came to thank ye."
"Like this?” He shifted off to the side
"I felt I owed ye something special. Those men might have eaten me."
Daire laughed hard until he took notice of the seriousness on her face. It stilled his amusement.
"They would not have eaten ye, and if ye thought that, why would ye not think I would as well?"
"Ye are not like them.” She smiled. “Ye are like me."
He smoothed a hand down her back, over her velvety bottom, and jerked her closer.
"I am hardly like ye, but no matter. This works for me.” He kneaded one of her firm ass cheeks and slapped the supple flesh. “Sleep if ye must, but I will want ye again, before we get off this bunk."
Celtic Love Knots Volume 6 Page 3