"I knew what I was doing.” She held his pendant up. “This kept ye ignorant of who ye are. It rendered ye powerless to transform."
He didn't care what she babbled about. Her, securely in his arms was all that mattered.
"Come home, Daire."
Her body twisted against him and they sank beneath the water's ever-moving surface. Spinning around, she pushed him into the deeper water. His feet didn't reach the sandy bottom and his head remained covered by the rippling sea. However, his body pulsating rapidly consumed his attention.
The funny sensation flowed downward until his toes tingled. Nerina held her arm out. Her hand opened and he watched his Celtic knot pendant sink. He reached to grab it, but her arms wrapped around him and the carved shell disappeared.
"That was important to me."
"It was important to the man who held ye captive.” Her lips pushed against his and she waited for him to respond.
"Nerina.” He pushed her back.
"That shell is from a Celtic goddess who likes to stir up trouble between merfolk and humans. As long as ye wore it, ye would never get your tail back."
He pried her away and glanced down at his legs—but astonishingly a fishtail had replaced what he knew of his limbs.
"See, ye are very much like me, Daire.” She laughed swimming circles around him. “Welcome home."
Chapter 8
Nerina nipped Daire's neck, his ear, and across his shoulder. She flicked her tail feeling the sensations tingling inside her. He turned and gave her a strange, confused look.
"This is true?” His tail flipped up and he tumbled back.
"Ye will get used to it.” She swam to his side and pulled him to her.
"I am a fish!"
"A merman,” she corrected. “'Tis strange I knew what ye were, but ye did not."
"How can this be? Why would my father—"
"He is not your father and since seeing him and the woman ye thought was yer mother, I am sure they never meant any harm."
She took his hand and led him on a swim out of the cove into the expanse of the sea she knew.
He caught on naturally and she let him go on his own. She laughed with a great delight to see him stumble over simple moves, but he learned quickly. His happiness meant everything to her.
"Come here.” He grabbed her. “Tell me more about all this."
"Ye were caught in a net like the one on thy ship."
"My father and Niles,” he muttered. “They mentioned a story I had never heard."
"Those men who took ye, did they treat ye bad and make ye a slave?"
"No, my sweet Nerina.” He swept his lips over hers. “I was in charge of those men. I have had a good life and one I do not regret."
His kiss traveled, drifting from her cheek back to her mouth. His body coiled tighter to hers. Each swipe of Daire's tongue against her skin heightened her excitement.
He moved down. Pinching her nipple between his teeth, he tugged.
"Oh, Daire.” She hummed to the suckling of his lips continuing lower to her belly.
"I want to devour ye."
"Aye,” she sung, arching into a ring.
She held the tip of her tail and Daire held her waist. Her scales parted and exposed her pink slit—the very spot she needed his tongue to caress her. She couldn't speak. The tingling tightened her muscles and she felt the ecstasy rising up the moment he pressed his lips to her entrance.
"Oh,” she said between pants. “By all the gods, do not stop."
His grip steadied her as she thrashed and bucked like a seahorse when the climax became greater than her restraint. He sucked and sipped until she couldn't stand it anymore and broke free.
"Ye are a desirable merman, Daire. I want ye more than I thought I could ever want anything.” She swam around him, entwining his tail with hers. His arms circled and pulled her back against his chest.
"As strange as all this is for me, I cannot resist wanting ye.” He rubbed against her while folding up his arms to grab her breasts.
She shivered and dropped her head back on his shoulder. Placing her hands over his, she guided his touch to her aching nipples.
"I want in ye,” he rasped, heavy with desire.
"Merpeople only couple when they are on the beaches and have legs. With our tails, it means a life commitment and is meant for spawning.” She grabbed his hand and pulled it down to her slit she fanned open for him.
"Then we have a baby.” His finger dipped in slightly and she pulled away.
"That is a serious thing, Daire."
"And ye do not want that?” He lazily swam around her.
"Not yet.” She saw his displeasure. “But it does not mean we cannot couple the other way."
Desperate to feel the riveting heated sensations she had a profound pleasure in enjoying, she reached out and rubbed her hand over the area sheathing Daire's cock.
"What are ye doing?"
"Loving ye.” She shimmied down and took his aroused cock into her mouth.
"I like that,” he groaned.
Nerina slapped his bottom making his scales flinch. Selk told her mermen liked it. The sound Daire made, confirmed it.
Daire pulled from her. He grabbed her arms and dragged her up close.
"I want in ye.” His chest heaved against hers.
"I know ye do."
"I want babies with ye, Nerina."
She looked into his eyes, wanting to trust him.
"I fear the future.” She molded herself to him. “Ye have not lived freely exploring who ye are in the sea. Ye need to do that before committing to me."
"Do I, Nerina? Do ye think if I were to couple with a hundred females, I would want any of them more than I want ye?"
"Ye might."
He shook his head. “Ye are who I want, but if ye insist on testing me, then I will rub up against every softly curved mermaid I find. I will enjoy the sexual encounters and talk until my heart's content. And ye are right. I may find a more willing female."
Nerina pinched her lips displaying her annoyance at his flippant attitude. He needed to do just as he described, but his smile gave every indication he was more amused than serious.
"Ah, my precious.” He swam to her and gathered her close. “I have had my fill of flirtatious females and their conniving ways. I have known ye only a couple days and I want to spend the rest of my life with ye."
"Selk tells me the same thing.” She put her hands against his broad shoulders.
Instead of pushing to free herself, she rubbed at the solid muscle.
"Who is Selk?"
She laughed. “A merman ... a handsome merman who wants me forever, too."
"And why have ye not agreed?"
"How do ye know I have not?"
"The way I feel thy body throbbing against me now."
"That is sexual and it happens all the time."
"With him?” A sadness crept into his tone.
She turned her head away, knowing from experience how jealousy hurt.
"Let us not talk about Selk.” She twisted free.
He caught her hand. “Has he told ye he loves ye?"
She shook her head. “Selk would never say anything so sentimental."
"But ye would like to hear it, would ye not?” His hand cupped her face. “I love ye, Nerina."
"Do ye really want me forever, without knowing how much thy life has changed?"
"Aye."
The one word had an effortless ring and she kissed him.
"Then I will belong to ye forever, Daire."
"Ye are sure?"
"I love no other merman, except ye."
His smile widened against her lips when he kissed her.
"Ye are crushing me."
He swung her around, churning the water into a whirlpool. I want ye, Nerina. Never doubt it."
"I love ye.” She sighed, accepting another of his hungry kisses.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Ann Cory delves into the worlds of vampires, par
anormal, shape-shifters, contemporary, historical, urban fantasy, and lore. Escape with her magical romance. www.anncory.com
Brenda Williamson was born in the state of New Jersey in the United States. She is married, has one son, and a house full of cats. Writing full-time, one would think she has a hobby to get away from the many hours of writing, but writing is her hobby, too. She writes in all genres of romance, generally with erotic elements: historical, suspense, paranormal, and contemporary. She is a Pan member of Romance Writer's of America and a member of several RWA special interest chapters.
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Celtic Love Knots Volume 6 Page 5