Delmar was on the couch, the flickering light of the television casting bluish shadows across his face. He looked relaxed, legs spread out, an arm draped over the backrest like he owned the place. K'liira wasn't around...probably back in the bathroom, soaking in the tub where she felt safest.
"How was the date?" Delmar asked casually, not even glancing at me.
I stepped inside and shut the door behind me, pressing my back to it for a second longer than necessary, collecting my thoughts. The night had been... exhausting.
"I didn't know they were streaming The Shape of Water," I said instead, walking over and dropping beside him, trying to steer the conversation somewhere...anywhere else.
Delmar finally turned to me, his profile illuminated by the soft blue glow of the screen. "It makes me think of us," he said simply, then added, "You smell like him."
My heart stuttered. "Like who?" I asked, confused.
His eyes narrowed. "That man."
I laughed awkwardly, raising an arm and sniffing my armpit. "No, I don't."
But he didn't laugh with me.
"I told you not to let him touch you."
He was on me before I could blink..his body moving like liquid, fast and smooth, as if his bones bent in ways mine never could. One knee slid between my thighs, pressing there like it belonged.
"Delmar—" I started, but the name left my lips like a prayer or a warning...I didn't know which.
"He is my boyfriend," I added, just to needle him, just to see what he'd do. Maybe I wanted him angry. Maybe I wanted to see the monster he tried so hard to hide.
His expression didn't change, but his body did. His knee pressed higher, tighter, grinding slow against the unmistakable bulge in my pants. I shuddered.
"I thought you wanted me," he said quietly, voice like smoke wrapping around my nerves.
"Things are... complicated," I breathed. My hips twitched without permission.
"How complicated?" he whispered, his mouth close...so close...the heat of it brushing my jaw as his knee pressed firmer against my cock.
"Wha—what?" My voice cracked. My mouth was dry. My thoughts? Scrambled. It was as if every rational part of me had shut down and every nerve had tuned in to where he touched me.
"How's K'liira?" I managed to choke out, like that could shift the direction of the conversation. Like that could save me.
"She's sleeping," he murmured, licking his lips slowly, his eyes never leaving mine. His gaze was predatory but tender, like I was something precious he didn't want to break...just claim.
"Oh," I breathed, my voice barely audible.
The heat between us was unbearable. My body was coiled so tight I felt like I'd explode at the slightest nudge.
"Humans are funny creatures," he mused, a sly grin tugging at the edge of his lips. "You turn so red when you're aroused."
"I'm not aroused," I lied weakly.
His smirk deepened. "Really? So if I slipped my hand into your pants, I wouldn't find you hard and leaking?"
I swallowed so hard it hurt. My brain screamed no. My body... wanted to scream yes.
He leaned forward until his lips barely brushed mine, so lightly it almost wasn't there.
"I'm aroused too, Kash," he whispered, his breath mixing with mine.
"But we can't," I rasped, almost disappointed. "We can't."
He pulled back just enough to meet my eyes again. "I don't want our first time to be on land."
I blinked. "What does that even mean?"
"I'm a sea creature," he said, voice rich with humor and a flash of something darker. "We perform best in water."
Then he winked.
A fucking wink.
My breath caught, my cock twitched painfully, and I knew...I knew...I was royally screwed.
"Go wash up," he said, casually turning his attention back to the television. "I don't want to smell him on you anymore."
That was it. He went back to watching The Shape of Water like he hadn't just melted my brain with three sentences and a wink.
I sat there for a second, stunned, my heart pounding like a war drum. My body? A bundle of static electricity and desperation. One wrong move and I'd combust.
I stood, wobbly, heat crawling up the back of my neck. "Right... washing up," I muttered, and stumbled toward my room, already unbuttoning my shirt, hoping the shower could do what my self-control clearly couldn't.
Steam curled around me as I stepped beneath the shower, the water cascading over my skin in soothing, heated waves. I closed my eyes, letting the spray drum against my shoulders, and let my mind drift...straight to Delmar. I pictured his hands, strong and sure, gliding over my wet skin, their touch lingering, possessive. My own hands followed the fantasy, sliding across my soapy abdomen, tracing the lines of my body the way I imagined Delmar would: slow, deliberate, savoring every inch.
I leaned back against the cool tile, the contrast making me shiver. In my mind, Delmar's body pressed against mine, his chest slick with water, his breath hot against my ear. I could almost feel his lips at my neck, his long fingers mapping my hips, teasing lower. My hand wrapped around my aching cock, the other cupping my balls, and I stroked myself with a lazy rhythm, imagining it was Delmar's hand..his grip firmer, his thumb brushing just beneath the head, coaxing pleasure from me with practiced ease.
My hips rocked forward, chasing the sensation, my breath coming faster. I pictured Delmar's mouth, lush and greedy, taking me in, his tongue swirling, his gaze locked to mine...hungry, adoring, possessive. The thought of his lethal, beautiful body tangled with mine made my knees weak. I moaned softly, head falling back, letting the water wash away every sound but the slick slide of my hand.
It didn't take long. The fantasy of Delmar...his mouth, his hands, his need...overwhelmed me. My body tensed, pleasure crashing through me as I spilled onto the shower floor, the heat of release mingling with the rush of the water. I stayed there, breathless, letting the aftershocks roll through me, wishing it was his hands, his mouth, making me come undone.
Fucking Merman.
I didn't leave my room after I got in. I just slipped under the sheets. But sleep didn't come easy. It clung to me in patches, restless and thin, until a noise stirred me sometime later. There was a muffled sound...clicks, sharp and quick, like an Delmar's language being spoken too fast.
My heart clenched. K'liira?
I threw the blanket off and padded out barefoot, still in the same threadbare boy shorts and nothing else. I pushed open the bathroom door gently...and there she was.
K'liira was curled in the bathtub, her legs half-formed, her fingers clutched tightly around the porcelain edges like she was trying to anchor herself. Her skin shimmered faintly in the light, gill flaps along her neck puffing open and closed in a strange, anxious rhythm. Soft, pitiful whimpers escaped her, each one making something twist painfully inside me.
And Delmar... he stood by the tub, his expression stern, his voice rising and falling in rapid, sharp clicks that didn't sound comforting at all. It sounded like... like he was scolding her.
"Hey," I said, stepping into the bathroom.
Delmar turned. His eyes immediately dropped to my bare chest, then dipped lower to the clingy shorts hanging low on my hips, before rising again to meet my gaze. His stare lingered, but when he spoke, his voice was gentle.
"I'm sorry. We didn't mean to wake you."
"It's okay." I looked past him at K'liira, who ducked her face away from me like she was ashamed. "Is she okay? Were you... scolding her?"
Delmar sighed, running his fingers through his hair in a rare display of tension. "It's nothing serious."
"Is she having trouble adjusting? I mean, I can only imagine what it's like for her...being stuck in a cramped tub all day, away from the sea. It must be miserable."
"Kash," he said, shaking his head, "it's not just about that..."
"I have an idea," I interrupted, something sparking suddenly in my chest. "Get dressed. Both of you."
Without explaining further, I turned and went back to my room. I threw on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt, grabbing my keys and wallet. When I returned to the living room, Delmar was helping K'liira pull up a pair of jeans over her legs, his hands gentle and patient.
"Where are we going?" Delmar asked, as I ushered them into the car.
"You'll see," I said with a small grin, starting the engine.
We drove for about half an hour in the dark. The roads were quiet at this hour, streetlights casting long golden beams across the asphalt. Neither of them asked questions after that. K'liira pressed her face to the window, watching the empty streets like they were full of wonders. Delmar kept glancing at me from the passenger seat, his hand resting just close enough to mine to feel the warmth.
Finally, I pulled up in front of a massive property.
A mansion.
Its tall iron gates were locked, and there were no cars in the driveway. The place had always caught my attention during my commute to work. The architecture was mesmerizing...arched windows, grand balconies, a driveway of white stone, and most importantly, a goddamn Olympic-sized swimming pool in the backyard. I'd asked around once, hoping the owner might be some hot, lonely businessman. Turned out it was an elderly retired shipping magnate who lived with his wife and four grown kids in L.A., only visiting twice a year.
Did that stop me from fantasizing about sneaking into the pool at night? Hell no.
"Can you climb?" I asked, looking at K'liira.
She nodded, eyes wide with anticipation.
We scaled the wall with some effort, me landing awkwardly and brushing dust off my jeans while Delmar helped her down with graceful ease.
The moment K'liira saw the pool, she gasped. Her eyes widened, glowing slightly in the moonlight, and then—she smiled. Like truly, genuinely smiled, the kind of smile that made your throat close up because it was too pure for this world.
"Surprise," I whispered.
"Wow..." Delmar murmured beside me, staring at the water like it was a treasure trove. "It's beautiful."
"It's chlorinated though," I warned.
Delmar glanced at me, and something warm glowed behind his eyes. "It'll do."
The way he looked at me made my insides twist. Like I'd hung the moon just for him. Like I was more than human. I looked away, embarrassed, my cheeks heating up.
"Thanks," he said softly.
K'liira, without hesitation, tore off her clothes in a blur and leapt into the pool with a splash, giggling as her legs joined to form fin-like, under the water. She dove beneath the surface and stayed there.
Delmar chuckled, the sound low and musical under the moonlight, before he peeled off his clothes without shame or hesitation. His bare skin shimmered faintly under the glow of the pool lights, taking on an almost opalescent sheen that seemed unearthly the moment water kissed it. He dove in with practiced grace, barely a splash marking his entry.
A moment later, his head broke the surface. His wet hair clung to his forehead, and his eyes locked with mine...steady, inviting, undeniably magnetic.
"Come in," he said, extending a hand toward me.
I hesitated at the edge of the pool, my arms wrapped tightly around myself as the wind nipped at my bare skin. "No, I'm good," I said, forcing a casual shrug.
His brow creased, a flicker of concern flitting across his face. "Are you scared?"
I should've been. I really, truly should've.
Inside that water were two ocean-dwelling creatures...one of them hiding below the surface, the other floating in front of me like a dream given flesh. Their true elements surrounded them here. K'liira had disappeared beneath the pool's dark surface the moment she dove in, not a ripple betraying her position. And Delmar...God, Delmar didn't human anymore.
His skin shimmered beneath the water, soft blues and silvers dancing over it in a mesmerizing iridescence, like light refracted through pearl. His form had shifted slightly, subtly...something about the slant of his eyes, the way his shoulders flexed, his limbs too powerfully, too controlled. He looked otherworldly. Dangerous.
He looked exactly like the man I'd met on that island.
And yet... I wasn't afraid.
What I felt wasn't fear. It was the pulse again...hot, low, and aching. That primal tug between my legs. That traitorous, consuming need that melted any caution in my bones.
Without another word, I began to undress. Slowly. Peeling away layers of denim and cotton until I stood in nothing but my briefs. Then I dove in.
The shock of cold water slammed into me like a breath stolen. "Shit, it's cold!" I gasped as I surfaced, water sliding over my skin like ice.
"Here," Delmar said, his voice suddenly closer. I turned...and he was already there.
He wrapped his arms around me, his warm body pressing against mine, heat seeping into me like sunlight through glass.
"Is this better?"
I couldn't speak. I just nodded, my breath catching in my throat as he held me. His chest rose and fell against mine, and I was acutely aware of the slickness of our skin, the way his lower body brushed against my thighs...tentative, but deliberate. It was impossible to think. Every part of me was alive, alert, trembling.
"How do you even stay warm in freezing water?" I managed to ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
His lips were so close I could feel the answer before he even said it. "We're built to survive in cold water, Kash." His hand came up to cradle my cheek. "But if you're cold... come closer. Let me warm you up."
I didn't know who moved first.
Our mouths found each other in a kiss that started slow...tender, almost reverent..but quickly deepened, turning hungry and breathless. His lips molded over mine, and I moaned softly when I felt his tongue flick against mine, tasting, coaxing. My arms looped around his neck instinctively, fingers threading through his soaked hair.
Then something brushed my stomach.
Firm. Slippery. Alive.
My eyes opened in surprise, breath caught in my throat...but before I could even glance down, something else caught my attention.
Something that made my blood run cold.
K'liira.
She surfaced from the deep, half her face emerging from the water at the far end of the pool. The soft pool lights caught her face...and I froze.
She didn't look like the shy, trembling girl I'd watched curl into herself on the couch. No, this version of K'liira was... glowing. Her skin emitted a pale luminescent hue, not like human skin at all, but something other. Alien. Sea-born. Her eyes were glassy, reflective like deep water, unblinking and unreadable.
She watched us.
But it wasn't curiosity in her gaze. It was hunger. Or longing. Or something far more primal and ancient.
There was something sirenic about her, something mythic. Like she wasn't just observing me...she was luring me. Drawing me in with that eerie, spectral beauty. The delicate way her head tilted. The ghost of a smile that wasn't quite a smile. Her presence pulled at something deep inside my gut, like she was inviting me to follow her. To slip beneath the surface. To go with her to places I wouldn't return from.
It was beautiful.
And terrifying.
A chill ran down my spine...not from the water, but from instinct.
Real fear. Not the distant, logical kind. But a visceral warning that screamed inside my chest.
Delmar's back was to her, but the change in my expression must've registered even through the silence. He turned slowly, following my gaze.
His eyes landed on K'liira, and a faint scowl passed over his face...quick, but unmistakable. A flicker of something darker. Irritation? Concern? A secret gnawing at the edges of his calm?
He turned away almost immediately.
"Let's get out," he said abruptly, his voice clipped and devoid of the warmth it had held just moments ago. I blinked, startled by the shift. The water no longer felt welcoming...it felt cold, charged with something I couldn't name.
I climbed out without protest, dripping and confused, watching as Delmar swam back toward K'liira. But unlike at home, he didn't reach out to comfort her. He stayed at a distance. His shoulders were tense, his posture stiff. He spoke to her...clicks and hisses that echoed faintly over the water...but she didn't respond. She didn't even look at him. Her eyes darted to me once before she dipped beneath the surface without a word, disappearing like a shadow.
Delmar exhaled hard and dove in after her.
When he emerged a few minutes later, something was different. His jaw was clenched. His chest heaved. Water streamed down his torso...but what caught my eye was the angry, raw bite mark on his upper arm. Deep. Fresh. The indentations of sharp teeth were clear against his iridescent skin.
My heart lurched. "Did she bite you?"
Delmar didn't answer immediately. His eyes darted toward the trees, the fence, anywhere but me.
"Can you go back to the car?" he said after a long pause, his voice low. Controlled. "I'll bring her back."
That wasn't a no.
I stared at him, my pulse racing. "Delmar... is there something you're not telling me?"
His gaze snapped to mine then, and I saw something in his eyes...tension, fear, maybe even guilt. "Kash," he said softly but firmly, "Please. Let me handle this."
The words sat like lead in my chest. Heavy. Final. I opened my mouth to say something...anything...but there was nothing left to say. I turned around without another word and walked barefoot back across the grass to my car, my wet clothes clinging to my skin, the cool night air biting into my arms.
I sat there for over an hour, every tick of the clock a fresh stab of worry. The dark sky stretched above me like a shroud, and my reflection in the rearview mirror looked gaunt, hollow-eyed. My thoughts raced...questions looping endlessly.
What had I seen in K'liira's eyes?
Why did Delmar look so shaken?
Why the hell was she glowing like a goddess and moving like a predator?
When they finally returned, Delmar opened the passenger door without a word. K'liira followed closely behind, barefoot and dripping, her wet hair clinging to her neck. She looked small again, frail even, like the girl I see curled up in the bathtub.
But then she looked at me.
And something in her gaze made my stomach twist. There was no malice, no smile, no expression at all...just a flat, curious stare, like she was watching me not as a person, but as something to be studied. Something to be understood.
Or maybe... something to be claimed.
She slid into the back seat silently, pressing herself behind Delmar, who kept his eyes forward. He didn't speak. Didn't glance at me. His jaw was tight, his posture rigid. There was blood crusting over the bite on his arm.
I started the car, the silence between us loud and suffocating.
I didn't know what was happening.
But whatever it was, it wasn't good.
***
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