Merlicious 1 Read online

  Kass took a sip. The delicately sweet and naturally creamy flavor took her by surprise. The black liquid held no hint of cream. “This is delicious. Our worlds seem to have a few similar customs."

  "Yes, we do. But while on Earth, I once dined with a friend who showed me one of the customs of having after dinner coffee and a cigarette. I understand it is polite to offer it, but acceptable if the guest declines. We have a similar custom here and I have always enjoyed this part of the meal immensely."

  Then he opened the square box and offered it up to her. Inside were several tubes of tobacco ranging from the thick circumference of the finest Earth Cuban to the slender cigarettes of one hundred millimeters in length. She chose one of the delicate filtered cigarettes wrapped in leaf. He picked out a cigar of medium size no longer than hers. He lit hers and snipped the end of his before lighting it.

  Kass inhaled the smooth smoke. When she exhaled, she watched the graceful, swirling plume cross the room, drawn to the ventilation ducts at the stairwell, and create a misty screen over the sea view. The taste was far superior to any produced on Earth. When she looked at Deverel, he was watching her.

  "The plant from which these are made grows only on Aquinia, on the southern part of the island."

  "I may have to take a box of these back with me.” Kass took another draw and let the smoke drift lazily from between her lips."

  "I'll have a box delivered to your suite."

  "Oh, no, you've given me enough already. The aquarium vase of sea roses and candy were more than enough. And the jewelry, which I really can't accept."

  "I wish you'd change your mind. You make them look stunning."

  Kass felt the heat rise in her cheeks. “Thank you. They are simply gorgeous, but I can't."

  When they'd finished their sweet coffee and she had crushed out her cigarette in a shell-shaped ashtray, she started to remove the bracelet.

  Deverel moved to her side. “If you insist, please allow me."

  With nimble fingers, he removed the strands of coral beads from her wrist and neck and the dangles from her ears.

  After he'd replaced them in the box, Kass stood. “Thank you for lunch. I enjoyed it very much."

  Deverel stood as well. “You're leaving? With your research completed, I'd hoped you'd spend the rest of the day with me. I want to swim with you."

  Kass bit her lip. “I hoped you'd ask me to stay, but I didn't want to presume. I want to swim with you, too."

  "Good.” Deverel took her hand. “I have swimsuits for guests in a dressing area off the service room where we entered. If you like, we can change now."

  She followed him down the steps and through the service room to a paneled square room with two walls lined with shelves.

  He showed her the swimwear in the small closet and grabbed towels and gear from the shelves. “I'll change in my bedroom and meet you by the pool."

  When he'd gone, Kass looked through the swimwear, selecting a one-piece white suit. She changed into it, then unpinned her hair and braided it into one long rope down her back. She took a pair of flippers from a shelf.

  She didn't know how the day—or night—would end, but she was enjoying herself more than she had in a long time. She suspected she'd end up in Deverel's bed, and that was fine by her.

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  Chapter Five

  When Kass entered the living area again, the beauty of being surrounded by the sea struck her anew. She joined Deverel, who sat on the sunken ledge just inside the rim of the pool's edge and dangled his webbed feet in the water. He wore a pair of swimming trunks the same shade of light mint green as his skin so that it almost seemed like he wore nothing at all.

  She tried not to imagine what those trunks hid and instead concentrated on tugging the flippers onto her feet.

  Deverel held what appeared to be scuba headgear and mouthpiece ... but no tank.

  "I believe this is similar to scuba equipment that you have on Earth,” he explained as he fitted the goggles around her eyes and nose. “Recent advances in technology have made them smaller. The mechanism—the small pack at the back of the headband and where the tubes from the mouthpiece attach—filters oxygen from the water. The battery is limited to several hours of usage. A blinking light on the edge of the goggles and a slight vibration will signal when you need to return."

  Kass felt the small rectangle pack at the back of her head and the tubes leading to the mouthpiece. “This is amazing. We don't have anything this compact back home."

  "It's experimental and hasn't yet been put on the market. I can assure you it's been thoroughly tested. This is a sample model. They'll be on the market within a few months."

  "We land-bound people will be clamoring for them,” Kass commented. “Maybe I should buy stock in the company."

  Deverel laughed and tapped the device hooked over his ruffled ear. A wire ran near his mouth. “This is a transmitter and your headband is fitted with a receiver. I'll be able to talk to you."

  "Too bad I won't be able to talk back.” Kass placed the mouthpiece between her lips.

  He took her hand. “Are you ready?"

  She removed her mouthpiece with her other hand. “Don't you need one of these?"

  He turned and pointed just behind his ear and below his hairline. “Gills. I can breathe underwater."

  "Ah. It must be wonderful to be able to breathe both air and water.” Kass replaced her mouthpiece.

  They jumped in feet first at the same time, still holding hands. Illumination outside the bubble allowed them to be able to see quite a distance. She could see through the pool opening, but the rest of the bubble was opaque, as Deverel had told her.

  As they swam apart, Kass noted Deverel's bubble home was positioned in the shallow sea over the mountain shelf—the extended underwater perimeter of the Aquinian montane corresponded similarly to the continental shelf on Earth. She spied several smaller bubbles landward and situated out of view of the large living area bubble. They were attached to where she thought the main entrance to his home was located underground.

  They swam side by side, in sync, and Deverel pointed out interesting flora and fauna as they passed by. None of the creatures reacted to their presence with aggression or fear. Most went on their way, ignoring her and Deverel. A school of tiny silver and blue fish swam along with them, and then surrounded them.

  Deverel took her hand and squeezed reassuringly. “They won't hurt us,” he said into the transmitter.

  The fish touched their mouths to her skin and hair. The tickling sensation made her laugh.

  "That's why we call them tickle fish,” Deverel told her.

  After a few moments, the school went on its own way.

  Deverel led her closer toward land and took her hand again.

  They squeezed through a narrow opening in the rock, and her body had to press close to Deverel's. She enjoyed the feel of his skin next to hers, and he seemed to like it, too. His hands ran over her shoulders, arms, waist, and hips briefly. Then they were inside the cavern and drifting apart.

  A soft glow, allowing them to be able to see, came from some kind of crystal formations embedded in the rock. When she looked closer, she realized they were living creatures, not embedded and not crystal. They shifted and slid ever so slightly.

  "What we call them translates roughly to crystalites.” Deverel picked one up and handed it to her.

  About the size of a baseball, the crystalite fit comfortably in her hand. Its faceted surface was soft, reminding her of a firefly's light but not as delicate, and emitted a soft white glow. She held it on her palm and ran the fingers of her other hand over it. It shivered at her touch, but moved into it, much the way a cat would.

  "Some keep them for pets, but I'd rather visit them in their natural habitat,” Deverel said.

  Kass nodded in agreement and carefully replaced the crystalite in the spot where Deverel had removed it.

  Skin to skin, they slipped through the crevice again. On their
way back to the bubble, Deverel amused her with a variety of acrobatic moves. She watched his strong body move effortlessly through the water, the fluted tips of his ears swaying with each turn. After several tries, she was able to duplicate a few of them.

  "Very good! But we'd better head back. Your air pack is probably getting low."

  About the time he spoke, she saw the flashing warning light and felt the vibration and nodded to him.

  When they reached a few meters beneath the pool, they came together as closely as they had when entering the crystalite cave. Deverel's arms went around her, and his legs entwined with hers. He looked deeply into her eyes, the color of his darkening with desire.

  Kass took a deep breath, held it, and dropped the mouthpiece. She wrapped her arms around him and placed her lips over his. She heated from the inside out, her body trembling with her need and want of him.

  She felt the motions of his legs as he propelled them upward, and by the time they broke the surface of the pool, she was ready to draw a breath. Deverel pulled away, allowing her to breathe. He slipped the scuba pack from her head and tossed it to the side of the pool. He held her, the lazy motions of his legs continuing to keep them above water.

  His hands traced the curves of her back, waist, and hips as his eyes searched hers. What did he seek? That she wanted him as desperately as he seemed to want her?

  She touched him, too, running her hands over his smoothly muscled shoulders and across the soft ridges of his gills until her fingers reached his hairline at the nape of his neck. She kissed him again and enjoyed his strong, fierce response. When she wrapped her legs around his waist, hooking her heels at his back, Deverel's hands ran along her thighs, pressing her closer until his cock rubbed her intimately through the fabric of their suits.

  Kass’ breath quickened and her heart pounded. She heard and felt him groan against her lips. His legs moved faster, and he used one arm to guide them to the edge of the pool. With one hand supported on the edge, he heaved up until he sat on the ledge with Kass sitting snugly in his lap.

  Somehow, he managed to gain his feet. When he stood, he ran his fingertips along her cheek, and she turned her head to place a kiss in the center of his palm.

  "I'll show you my bedroom now,” he said, his voice husky and low.

  "Please do,” Kass whispered and kissed him again.

  He carried her across the living area, down the stairs, and then down another flight of stairs she hadn't noticed before. Another short flight up led to a much smaller bubble room, five or six meters in diameter. A large round water mattress on a transparent frame sat in the center of the room. When a fish swam up to the mattress then quickly darted away, she realized the frame and mattress were actually built into the floor so that the sea filled the mattress.

  Deverel knelt on the mattress and laid her on her back. The mattress covering was firm but as smooth and soft as satin. This was as close as she'd ever get to making love in the water without getting wet or having to wear breathing apparatus.

  She watched as Deverel pushed his trunks off his hips, his long, thick cock jutting free. He dropped the swimwear on the floor. Then he joined her on the mattress and lay beside her, his cock nudging her thigh. She took it in hand, wrapping her fingers around its full hardness and rubbing up and down, firmly but gently. Deverel groaned deeply, but her busy hand didn't deter him from slipping the straps of her suit off her shoulders.

  When he pushed the suit down enough to expose her breasts, his head dipped and he took one nipple between his lips, his tongue massaging the hard tip. Kass moaned and arched toward him, nearly bursting with the sensations he aroused within her.

  Deverel finished pulling the suit from her body and wedged a leg between hers, his shaft nestled against her sex. He licked her other nipple, bringing it to a hard peak and doubling her desire. Her moans of pleasure seemed to entice him to caress every centimeter of her skin. With tongue, lips and fingertips, he explored every curve and dip. He kissed and stoked and touched until Kass squirmed.

  He placed more kisses across her belly, his fingers raking through her curls. “Your body sings to me, Kass, luring me in,” he murmured against her skin. “That's why I call you my sea siren. You have my heart, whether you can accept it or not."

  Parting her thighs wider, he lowered his head. Her body bucked when he touched her throbbing center. His tongue and lips caressed all of her tender flesh, and then he gently licked her nub of pleasure until she cried out in desperate need.

  Deverel slipped up along her body, licking his way back to her breasts and settling tightly between her thighs. Her hips arched up to meet him, cradling his cock, her clit thrumming in anticipation of his entry. She hooked her legs on his hips and reached between them, taking his long, hard erection in her hand.

  He pushed and pulled through the grip of her fingers in a steady rhythm, a harsh sound vibrating in his chest. With each of his forward thrusts, Kass’ hips automatically rose to meet him. After several strokes, he pulled free of her hand and rested the tip of his shaft against her.

  With no more hesitation, he drove deeply inside her with one hard stroke. She cried out, her body pushing to meet his with equal fervor. Their wild coupling caused the mattress beneath them to undulate, and Deverel's cock plunged within her each time they crested a wave. Her arms around him, she let her hands run over the smooth silky skin that covered his taut muscles.

  Then she clung to him, digging her fingers into his skin as pleasure seared through her. She felt as if he were a shooting star raging fiercely within every part of her body.

  He lowered his head closer to hers and teased her neck with his warm tongue, trailing hot wet kisses to her earlobe then back down to her shoulder. She moaned with delight as she reached the height of bliss, bursting with the heat of a thousand suns. Kass felt Deverel's body stiffen as he too experienced the ecstatic explosion of completeness.

  Together, they rode the final waves of an ascending, rampant star, rising to the peak with heaven only centimeters away.

  Drifting down, Kass lay panting against Deverel and felt his arms surround her in a warm embrace. She snuggled closer to him, her backside to his front, her head nestled in the crook of his shoulder. When her breathing had evened, she peered over his arm into the depths of the sea. The outside lights enabled her to see a variety of fish swim by and the tops of plants growing from the montane shelf.

  "You know, now, I really didn't mind being called your sea siren.” She sighed. “You're amazing, and you have a beautiful home. And this bed—I've never seen anything like it. I've always dreamed of having a home like this, where I'm always surrounded by the sea."

  "It's not an unusual home or bed for Aquinians. We like to be enclosed by the water even though we're more suited for the land and air."

  She patted the mattress. “I expected it to be cold because of the seawater filling it."

  "Miniature heating units keep the fabric warmed.” He cupped her chin and turned her face toward him. “I have another surprise for you if you agree. I've arranged an open-ended extension on your visa. I can have the data sent to your research team instead of you taking it to them personally. You can stay on Seamyst as long as you like ... if it's what you want."

  "I...” Kass started to protest, but while it was imperative they found a cure for the algae disease, it wasn't urgent that she return to Earth immediately. They would either find the answer in the data or they wouldn't. Her presence wouldn't make a difference in that respect. Most of the files would have to be translated and that would take time—weeks, maybe months—before the team could study them anyway.

  Deverel nuzzled her ear, his warm breath tickling her. “I fell in love with you, sweet siren, the moment I bumped into you at the chute. I knew you were the woman destined to be mine. When I said your body sings to me, I meant it. It hums a melody I want to dance to the rest of my life."

  His words swept away any doubts she had. She couldn't let this chance at happiness slip aw
ay from her. “I think I'm falling in love with you, too, Deverel, and I want the opportunity to let it grow. But—” She bit her lip and frowned. “I can only stay a few weeks at the most then I'll have to go back. My work at SEA is very important, and I enjoy it. It's not something I can give up now."

  "I would never ask you to, Kass. I'll go with you to Earth. I'll turn in my notice tomorrow and have everything arranged by the time you're ready to leave."

  Kass sat up and looked down at him. “Are you sure? It's a big step to take when we've only known each other less than a day."

  He placed his hand in the bend of her neck. “My job here is just that, a job. But you ... I know in my heart and soul, my destiny lies with you."

  She didn't want him to give up this beautiful home of his. In time, they could live on Seamyst and be happy here. They would work it out, and she wanted to open her heart and life to him. Kass covered his hand with hers and bent closer until her lips almost touched his. “Oh, Deverel, I look forward to dancing with you, in my sea or yours."

  The End

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  Megan Hussey

  Passion Storm

  by

  Megan Hussey

  While overseeing a storm shelter, Jill rescues a gorgeous man stranded on the beach. Smitten with her; Jaiden fails to disclose a secret: his fins.

  goldenmuse.tripod.com/

  Also by Megan Hussey at Midnight Showcase:

  Irish Intimacies 2

  Vamptations, Song of the Vamp

  Deities of Desire, Behold the Beauty

  Jaded Beasts 4, The Prize of Queens

  Into Tomorrow, Seductions Beyond

  Azure Masquerade (A Port Emerald merman story)

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  Passion Storm

  by

  Megan Hussey

  Chapter One

  The usually smooth, golden sands of Port Emerald Beach stirred with a certain fury, matched only by the intense quaking of the palm trees above them.

  Standing within the relative safety of a crowded, noisy community center, Jillian Gregory cringed as she stared out a wide bay window at the spectacle that was her home.