"Excellent. Now we've got that part of the drama over with, we get to the main event." Crimson liquid leaked into her deep brown eyes and I knew all too well what she was implying.
Wrapping her arms around my neck, she pushed her nose towards mine, the front of her body touching mine. I could feel the adrenalin surge through my body in pure anticipation.
Tilting my head towards her ear, I whispered gently, "Yes, I would like that. I would like that very much."
Thank you for all your support and I'm sorry for the huge delay... but I've been really busy and all that crap. But anyways... here it is.
Syrena's lips had begun to press themselves against the corner of my lips and I was feeling too worked up to allow all this tension between us, "Enough teasing, Syrena. Let's really get to the main event."
I could feel her mouth pull up into a smirk against my jaw and she tugged on my neck, leading me towards the wall of the cavern, "Who said anything about teasing not being the main event?"
"I should hope that there's a little more than just kissing involved..." I muttered, burying my face into the crook of her neck.
"Well... perhaps... if you're well behaved, I'll consider the possibilities."
"Consider? But, Syrena... I think we both deserve a little... excitement, don't you think?" My hands slid down to her waist, fervently clutching her closer to my body as her back pressed lightly against the rock behind her, "I mean... I think I'm ready for a little reward for passing my test, am I not?"
Feeling her breathing pause, I could tell I was beginning to win her over to my point of view.
Maybe she was just teasing me for the fun of it... and it was fun... but I could feel every hormone in my merman body screaming out in delight at the thought of pleasuring the one I loved.
Her fingertips rested on the nape of my neck, "What's not exciting or rewarding about this?" She looked up at me through those damned innocent eyes of hers and I half wondered if she was plotting something.
Then I realised... of course she was. Before I could fathom what was happening, her fangs had sunk deep into my neck, drawing blood.
The groan that escaped my parted lips took me by surprise and the mermaid prisoned against my body gave a soft laugh, "That didn't hurt, did it?"
I took a breath as the pleasure coursed through my veins and shook my head. Feeling my own fangs lengthen, I thought it would only be fair to give her a taste of her own medicine. Leaning down towards her lips, she awaited my kiss but received none.
Two sharp teeth grazed against her skin and her hands balled into tight fists against my back, the sharp nails dragging across my skin.
Emitting a moan of bliss, she thrust herself against me and I could feel the arousal stir at my midriff, "I need to be inside you." I told her, my voice turning husky as it always did when Syrena was appealing to my carnal nature so sweetly.
Her arms pulled me closer to her as I licked the delicious blood seeping from her shoulder.
"Then what are you waiting for?"
I hesitated, realising that I had no idea how to make love to her in a merman's body.
"Syrena... I... I don't suppose you know how... how I... I don't know where it is."
"You don't know where what is?" She asked, tilting her head to one side, curiously.
"You know... it."
Comprehension dawned on her features and she laughed, "You don't know where it is? Well, of course it's in the same place as it would be if you were human..."
"Yes, but, I can't..." I lowered my voice a little, "I can't find it... There are too many scales..."
I wrinkled my nose in disgust at the thought of a scaly...
...Never mind.
"Well, assuming you haven't misplaced it since the last time you used it, then I believe it is the bulge currently poking my hip..."
I felt a little ill at searching around for it and instead, I leaned my head forwards and kissed her neck, nipping against her skin.
She sighed, "Philip, I thought you wanted to make love..."
"Well, I do... but I think maybe I'll do it later."
Rolling her bright eyes, she guided my hips with her hands towards hers, "You know, you'll have to discover yourself sooner or later or we'll end up going up on land every single time we want to mate."
"I don't think I'd be too objected to that." I replied, creasing my brow.
"Neither would I really, but sometimes it'll mean that once we get up there, we'll not be in the mood for it anymore."
"Is that even possible? I thought merpeople were always wanting it."
She shrugged, "Nine times out of ten, yes. But when you plan it, sometimes, it loses the edge and it just becomes too scheduled and boring. Mermaids particularly enjoy spur of the moment pleasure."
"Can I not just happen to take you up on land on the spur of the moment?"
"Now you've just revealed your plans, it won't be as unexpected." She laughed into my shoulder and I grumbled something incoherent before Syrena urged me with her lips on my jaw to give it a try.
"...Fine... But if I throw up half way through, don't blame me..."
"Of course I'll blame you. What a stupid thing to say. Now, bite me." The instruction was so quiet yet so authoritative that I couldn't resist.
Feeling excitement build up within my body again, I brushed her neck with my teeth, tasting the irresistible blood against my tongue.
"Again." She whispered, pushing her breasts suggestively against my chest. My lips trailed down her neck, pausing at the base of her throat.
The urgency in her soft tone was enough to make me shiver as I shifted one hand towards her bosom, fondling it gently between my fingers.
Just as began to find the courage to search for my hidden member, I heard a voice behind me.
A voice that was most unwelcome to my ears.
"Well, well, well, Syrena. I never dreamed that you would once stoop so low as to entertain the desires of mermen right beneath your lover's nose. Ha, how foolish of me. I should have known." The dry tones of Cynthia really weren't appreciated at that point in time, "Just wait until I tell Philip." Her malicious laughter grated upon my nerves and I broke away from Syrena, angrily.
"Tell me what, hm?" I asked, my eyebrows pushing together, furiously.
"Philip." She raised her eyebrows, shock flickering across her cold eyes.
"Yes? Was there something you wanted, Cynthia? Poking your nose in other people's business again? Trying to cause trouble? Why don't you just get out of here?"
"Philip..." Syrena's hand rested on my biceps, "...Let's just leave."
"No. Your sister needs to understand something." I leaned closer to Cynthia's face, making sure to speak each word distinctly enough for her to understand, "Look, I'm sick and tired of you. Can you not just accept the fact that perhaps once Syrena made a mistake like we all do – even though in my opinion she is guiltless, but maybe I'm just biased. I don't know. But whatever has happened between you will only continue to get worse and worse until it festers the weak bond you share completely."
"Look at you, Philip Swift. A merman. I bet you feel like such a big-shot, don't you? Talking down to me as if I am a child." Her red lips pulled back against her white fangs, "You have no idea what I could do to you, do you, you little rat?"
"Oh, if it's anything close to what I'll do to you unless you back off, then I have a vague idea, yes." I retorted, my eyes narrowing into a furious glare.
She growled and drifted forwards, "I could ever so easily turn you in."
"In which case you'd better hurry up and do it seeing as though you have such an eager wish to be slaughtered."
"Slaughtered? You think...?" She laughed, cruelly, "Of course you aren't under some false pretences and beliefs that you could actually do anything to harm me, do you?"
"No. I am not under any false pretences. I think you're scared, Cynthia. I can see the way your body is hunching in quiet defence that you're terrified of what I can and will do to you, should you interfere with Syrena's relationship with me."
"Well, I confess myself shaking in fear." She snarled, sarcastically, "Now, if you wouldn't mind, I would like to enter into my cavern to sleep. So take your sick sensations elsewhere."
On passing Syrena, she knocked her shoulder with her own, harshly.
That just about did it for me and as I turned around to react, Syrena had already blocked my path, "Philip. Please... let it go."
"Yes, Philip, let it go." Cynthia smirked, wickedly, continuing on her way, swinging her hips side-to-side, "But in honesty, I'm surprised you're still alive. I thought your encounter with the Queen would have given your position away completely."
Had Syrena not have been pressing her palms against my chest to prevent me from travelling any closer to her sister, I would have pursued and tore her throat out.
After all the grief she had caused Syrena, after all the accusing, the lies, the hatred... I wondered how she could even dwell in the same waters as her without feeling the slightest trace of guilt or remorse.
The bitterness inside her could not last for much longer before Cynthia decided to do something drastic.
But I'd be ready for when that time came.
I wouldn't let her anywhere near Syrena.
The least I could do was protect her.
"Come on, Philip... let's go." She took my hand and pulled me towards the beach, "And please don't... don't hurt her."
"Don't hurt her? Are you mad?" I growled, surfacing from the ocean, "I want to – I want to rip her apart."
"Philip," She shook her head, sadly, "please stop."
Wading through the water towards the shore, I fixed my gaze ahead into the black night.
Surely, I wasn't overreacting, was I?
Cynthia was... evil.
Then again, I was a merman and I had begun to notice the changes in my personality as well as in my body.
I had become more angry, less fair and forgiving.
Things had to change before God lost it with me completely.
"Why?" I asked, sand slipping in between my toes.
"Because... she's my sister. I understand that when you're a merman, it is difficult to control your emotions and they become magnified... but, honestly, Philip... I can't deal with this."
I strode along the white beach, completely forgetting that I had no clothes on me, "Yeah? That's why something needs to be done about it! I can't cope with seeing her upset you. It's driving me mental, Syrena."
She stopped and looked at me, her head cocking to one side. Then she began to laugh – a sweet sound to my ears – though I had no idea what the joke was.
"What is so funny?"
"It's hard to take you seriously... when you're completely naked... and have seaweed on your head."
I blinked at her before reaching to pull the long weed from my hair. Her expression was light and playful and I couldn't help but join in her laughter, "I should probably put this seaweed somewhere more appropriate for public viewing." I wrapped the plant about my midriff and began running parallel to the surf, Syrena behind me, laughing just as hard.
"You're – ridiculous!" She shouted, breathlessly.
"I know. It's wonderful, isn't it?" I wasn't entirely sure why I felt so elated all of a sudden, but just as quickly as I acknowledged the emotion, it had disappeared as I stubbed my toes against a large pebble and landed on the ground, sprawled on my back.
I was only vaguely aware that a silhouette had collided with my legs and stumbled over them, clumsily.
A weight dropped onto my body and I wheezed a painful breath, "What on Earth–"
"–Philip? What are you doing on the floor?" Syrena asked, her head hovering just above mine.
"Well... I tripped on a stone... then a creature who belongs to a species I believed were meant to be graceful landed on top of me and now I can't move."
"If it wasn't so dark around here, you would have seen just how gracefully I fell over. It should have been a beautiful sight, really." She replied, laughing softly.
My hand curled around the back of her neck and I tilted her lips towards mine, "Then this sight is about to get so much more beautiful."
"That's only because I'm on top."
"Well, I could easily change that." In one quick manoeuvre, I had switched our positions so Syrena's body was caught beneath mine, the water on her skin pressing against the sand on mine.
"I think we've had enough delays and intermissions now, don't you?" Syrena asked, kissing my chin.
Nodding my head in agreement, I leaned over her body, holding my non-scaly member in my hand, ready to ease it into the girl I'd been dying to feel for the past couple of days.
Being a merman really did take it's toll on my hormones. Syrena only had to wink at me and it would put me right in the mood.
I sincerely hoped I would find forgiveness for this...
But it couldn't have been that wrong, could it?
Surely not...
Distracting myself from the thoughts plaguing my mind, I slid my way into Syrena, feeling her whole body lurch beneath mine.
Slowly, pumping my hips, I poised my lips above her left breast. Taking the nipple in my teeth and feeling it harden at my tender nips, she inhaled sharply, closing her eyes.
Rocking deeper into her, I dragged my hand down to her unattended breast and pinched her swelling nub.
Capturing her ragged breaths with my lips in a ferocious kiss, I picked up the pace of my hips, moving deeper within her, relishing every sound she'd make.
Fingers tore at the skin on my back.
Teeth dug into my neck.
My feral growls only spurred Syrena on more enough to raise her hips to meet mine in every thrust I gave.
Our perspiring bodies collided repeatedly in our desperate attempts to create as much pleasure as was physically possible – and believe me, it was working.
Dizziness infested my head as the heat radiated from the exertion of our thrashing bodies, the building rapture intensifying in my system and white hot ecstasy surged through every nerve in my body as Syrena began to tighten around my length, her eyes glazing over, lasciviously.
Attempting to prolong the moment for as long as possible, her name escaped my lips in a strained moan.
After I'd released all of me into her, I rested my head in the crook of her neck, "...Sorry it was over so soon..."
"Hey – I'm not complaining." She replied, breathlessly, "Besides... we have all the time in the world to work on our self-control."
"I don't think I'm very good at working that..."
The word 'work' provoked a thought in my mind.
When was the last time I showed up to work?
When was the last time I attended church?
I had never realised just how stressful being a merman could be...
"What's wrong?" She asked, suddenly.
"Nothing ,why?"
She pushed me off her and stood up, hoisting me up with her hand, "Don't be stupid, Philip. I trust you haven't forgotten our blood bond, have you?"
"Oh, right. Of course not..."
She linked our fingers together, "Can we go back to yours? I don't really want to go back to the cavern..."
"I can completely understand that. Especially with that... sister of yours being there. Yes, of course we can." Treading the familiar route back to my house, I thought about my position in life. If I dropped everything and stopped working, how would I provide for myself if we ever decided to live on land?
How could I worship God if I had no track of time?
"Right, well in answer to your first question, I'm sure we'll be fine. Jobs are relatively easy to come across on land, aren't they? If not, then we'll be fine in the sea for a time, won't we?" Syrena spoke, matter-of-factly.
"How did you know...?" I began, my brow furrowing.
"So, I was right? I sort of got the feeling that it was something to do with worrying about your life on land. I guess I can just read you better than we thought." A small smug smile played at her lips and I rolled my eyes.
"Right... Well... I guess you're right. Any ideas about my second question?"
"Hm..." She pondered for a moment, "Your religion?"
"What about it?"
Tipping her head back, she looked up to the stars, "If this god of yours exists... I know he still loves you."
"How do you know this? I know he loves me as his child... but I believe I'm becoming more and more of a disappointment to him."
Syrena was already shaking her head before I'd finished speaking, "Believe me, Philip, if there's anyone in this world more pure than you, I would think I was dreaming."
Giving a bitter laugh, I replied, "How so? I have never been pure. I have aspired to become so, but I fear I'm drifting further away."
"It's my fault." It wasn't a question.
"That's a lie." My teeth gritted together, "Nobody is to blame but myself. I should really organise myself but I can't... I can't do it. I lose track of time."
"Philip... tomorrow morning, I'm going to go back to the seas, but you should stay at home for a while."
I stopped walking, "You're leaving me?"
"No! I'm just saying I think you need chance to stand on your feet for a short period of time. Do some work, go and worship, meet your friends. Have a break, Philip."
I hesitated, "Will you come visit me at night?"
A coy smile played at her lips, "I had no intention of sleeping alone at any point."
Planting a kiss on her lips, I smiled, "Glad to hear that."
"I wonder how long it is until morning." Syrena looked about us at the inky sky, "How ever much time we have left... I don't know if you'll get enough sleep for tomorrow."
"Well, I can be certain that if you're by my side, I won't be getting any sleep at all."
Cocking an eyebrow she smirked, "What's that supposed to mean?"
I released her hand and pulled her to my side, my arm draping over her shoulders, "I think you know exactly what I mean."
Lifting her lips up, she kissed the underside of my jaw, "I think I know what you mean too."
…
The next morning, the sun poured through the gap in the thin curtains and sat up, rubbing my bleary eyes to see Syrena sleeping peacefully among the blankets beside me.
Half-smiling, I stood up and made my way to the closet to find some clothes to wear.
I was almost forgetting that people on land preferred a bit of modest decency.
"What on Earth are you putting on clothes for, Philip?" Syrena was propping herself against the headboard, concealing a smirk.
"Covering myself up. Apparently people still have some morals left here on land."
"Oh, well, when I come to see you tonight, I hope you'll be getting rid of all morals you have."
"Of course I won't! I do hope you aren't suggesting that when I make love with you, I'm being immoral." I replied, pulling on my trousers.
Shrugging, she stood up and stretched her whole body, the bones in her spine cracking.
"Stop it." I told her sternly, buttoning up my shirt.
Her long dark hair flowed down her bare back as she turned her head around to survey me side on, "Stop what?"
"Being all innocent and stuff..." I muttered, rolling my eyes.
Giving a snort at my remark, she began walking – no, swaggering – towards me, running a tongue down her fang, eyes reddening, "If you don't want me to be innocent... what do you want me to be?"
I felt my back hit the wall behind me as Syrena's naked body pressed against me, "Good gracious, Syrena!"
Letting out a laugh, she pulled away from me and reached into my closet, grabbing one of my shirts, "Don't get all excited, I was only teasing."
I narrowed my eyes at her and snorted, "Yeah, whatever."
"Hey – you look genuinely upset. Did I disappoint you? Did you think you were going to have a taste of me before I left? That's a shame."
"Syrena... you are so unbelievably impossible." I sighed, pulling her into a warm embrace, "I'll see you tonight."
Chuckling softly into my shoulder, she returned my hug and kissed my cheek, "Oh, I look forwards to it."
"Yeah? Me too."
…
"Philip? What in the devil's name are you doing here?"
"I'm sorry I haven't shown up, Sir." I told the blacksmith I was supposed to be working for, "I've been away and I know I should have really informed you in advance but it has all happened rather quickly..."
"So, you're saying you wish to work for me again?" Wiping his hands with a dirty rag, the blacksmith surveyed me through curious eyes as I nodded, "Well, Philip, I can't say it wasn't a shame that I thought you'd gone for good and I would gladly take you back on, but please keep me informed next time, alright?"
"Thank you so much. I just have a question... what day is it?"
He sent me a blank look, "Tuesday."
"Right... thanks."
"Are you alright, Philip?" He asked, cautiously.
"Of course, I'm fine. I've just not been completely... with reality as of recently. But, may I request to work only two days a week in future?"
"I can give you Tuesdays and Thursdays, if that's suited to you. But I can't do Fridays or Saturdays because I have my younger brother working with me then."
"That's perfect. Thank you."
Giving me a crooked smile, the blacksmith chuckled, "That's if you can even remember when Thursday is..."
I laughed and picked up the hammer resting on the anvil.
...But he did have a point...
…
Feeling every bone in my body ache as I trudged back to the house, I was rather looking forwards to being welcomed home by Syrena.
As I opened the door, I stepped inside, fully expecting her to dive on me like she was so accustomed to doing in the past but I was greeted with nothing of the sort. Glancing about the room as I closed the door behind me, I called, "Syrena? Are you in?"
No answer.
I guessed she was going to come up later. But, I was feeling pretty hungry so it was just as well she didn't attack me as soon as I walked through the door or I might have gone hungry until morning...
Making my way into the kitchen, I grabbed a few bits and bobs from the cupboards and throwing it all together in what I hoped would be a poison-free meal, I waited for them to finish cooking on the hob. Just as I began piling it all onto a plate, I could feel the presence of someone standing behind me.
Finally.
"Just give me a second to eat this." I told her, turning around to face the girl I loved.
But she wasn't there.
Instead I found myself staring face to face with Erin.
At first glimpse I was almost fooled.
She was standing a little rigid, her brown hair just beginning to dry from the water and I knew she hadn't taken her time in travelling here, "What's wrong?"
Closing her eyes, she spoke, "Claudia was going to come tell you herself, but we both decided it would be better if you heard it from Syrena..."
"Heard what from Syrena?"
Erin turned to walk towards the door and indicated for me to follow her but I wasn't moving until I'd found out what was going on.
"Erin. What on Earth is happening?"
"I just told you, Philip. Come on, the quicker you move, the quicker you get to see Syrena.
After a moment of consideration, I nodded, took one quick mouthful of food before placing it on the table and preceding Erin out the door.
…
"Is he here?" Syrena's voice was faint coming from the cavern where she slept and as I swam hurriedly towards her, I could see several of her sisters crowding her bed.
"Syrena, what's going on?" I dodged my way between the crowd of mermaids and Claudia was sitting by Syrena, running a hand through her hair in a soothing motion.
On my approach, Claudia stood up and ushered the other sisters away, following them all out the cavern until it was just Syrena and I left alone.
Dark shadows circled the underside of her eyes and she attempted to sit up but I held a hand out to lay her back down, "Syrena, tell me what's going on."
"I should have realised earlier on... I could tell there was something happening in my body about a week ago but I wasn't sure what."
"Are you sick?" I asked, alarmed.
"Shh, listen to me." Her voice was soft and subdued as she placed her hand on my chest, "I did speak to Claudia yesterday about how I felt and she couldn't say for certain. But... tonight, I really wanted to come up to see you, Philip, but I couldn't... I couldn't move. Then Erin fetched Claudia because she said I looked really ill. Anyway, so Claudia came and checked me over and she said it could be something... serious."
"You are sick, aren't you?" My voice was wavering as I looked upon Syrena laying so vulnerable on her bed of flowers. Her pale skin was sickly and her cheeks sallow.
"No – Philip... it's something much more serious than that."
"Don't say it!" I felt like covering my ears up with my hands, silently praying to God that he could let me keep my beloved or at least take me in her place. Her fingers closed around my arm and she pulled me closer to her wearing a blissful smile.
It didn't make sense to me. How could she look so peaceful when she was on her death bed?
"Philip... stop stressing."
"How can I? You should have called me earlier from work!"
"That would have looked good. Sending a naked sister to go and pick you out from your work – it would ruin both your job and your reputation."
"Why on Earth would I care about something like that? Syrena, tell me how bad it is."
Her soft smile turned into a smirk, "Bad? It's quite the opposite to that, Philip."
Was I missing something?
"What do you mean?"
Clutching onto my shoulder, she propped herself up and pulled my head towards hers, "You have no idea do you?"
"No!" I told her, exasperated, "I don't!"
Letting out a quiet laugh, she pressed her lips to my ear, "Philip... we're going to have a baby."
So, there you have it! I regret to say we're drawing to the close of my story – but don't worry, there's still at least another chapter or two I can do before it ends.
Again, sorry for the delay and I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please don't forget to leave a review and thank you so much for all the support I've had so far! And make sure to keep tuned for the next chapter!
Thank you!