“I was shown the cavern by one of the matriarch’s consorts. Back when I was eighteen, Unca took me aside and showed me both the water and human accesses. And before you ask, I don’t know why he did it.
“He knew I’d had dreams of the cave since meeting Alexia when we were teens, but I never sought the information until Unca volunteered it.”
There was an uneasy tingle in the back of his neck, and Joshua glanced toward the ocean. The sight of a man walking fully dressed into the water made him hesitate before swinging the vehicle around into the nearest parking spot. Something was wrong. The man disappeared from sight, and the uneasy feeling in his gut increased to the point he shut off the ignition and removed his seat belt.
“What in heaven’s name are you doing? I thought we were headed home.” Victoria’s touch on his arm distracted him.
He turned and handed her his cell phone. “Press star one seven and Braden will come and get you. I’m sorry I can’t escort you home, but I think Alexia needs me.” He looked around carefully to make sure the area was clear of tourists and locals not aware of merfolk. He had intended on following the example of the man before him and wading clothed into the tide, but the sense of urgency rose to a feverish pitch, and he made the radical decision to change right then and there to St. Elmo’s fire, his clothing falling to the seat of the truck.
“Joshua, you are the most impulsive boy I’ve ever met.” There was a trace of amusement in Victoria’s voice along with the concern. “I can believe Unca shared secrets with you. He always did march to the beat of a different drummer.” She flung open her door and gestured out. “Now go help my granddaughter.”
Joshua heard no more as he streaked across the beach and over the water toward where he sensed Alexia’s presence.
Chapter Nine
Alexia stood in the water next to Anthony as the tide tugged them toward the open ocean. He removed his shorts and threw them far up the sandy shore, above the high tide line. She stared in admiration at his firm body, muscles glistening in the reflected sunlight off the water.
“I said I’d take you for a ride, but if you keep looking at me like that I can’t guarantee it will be on my dolphin.” He caught her in his arms, his erection pressed hard against her thigh.
“Why isn’t the water too cold for…?” Alexia shimmied her hips against him and giggled. It felt good to relax and enjoy his company, the warmth of their lovemaking still clinging to her heart. His hand brushed her breast and Anthony wrapped them closer together, their bodies touching intimately, the thin material of her swimsuit all that separated them.
“Are you cold?” he asked. “The water feels fine to me.”
Alexia considered for a moment and decided he was right. The water did feel slightly warmer than the air against her skin. She could also feel warmth radiating off his skin as he stood close beside her. The urge to touch was irresistible, and she wrapped her fist around his cock and watched Anthony close his eyes and moan. She stroked him firmly, her hand slipping easily over his shaft. It amazed her how he and Joshua seemed to always be either hard or at half-mast, and she wondered if it was a merfolk thing.
Anthony reluctantly pried her fingers off him. “Even though I’d like you to continue, you need to see something other than how much I desire you.” He pulled her deeper until they were treading water, floating up and down with the ocean swells.
“Can you show me your other two forms?” Alexia asked. “The dolphin and the merman?”
“I have three other forms, remember? The merfolk one is hard to show—the changes aren’t very visible, we pretty much look like our human forms—but I’ll try. Trust me?” He did a back float, pulling her on top of him.
“Of course.” How could she not? A constant stream of emotions flowed from him. Anthony’s confidence in the water rested on her like a warm blanket. His pleasure in being able to teach her about her pod swirled around them, sweet like a favorite dessert. His desire for her was there as well, present in every move he made.
He ran his hands down her sides and dragged her even higher, their mouths inches apart.
“Kiss me,” he said.
Mouths touched, his passion flowing over her as he slanted her mouth to the side and sealed them together. He stopped kicking and let them drop beneath the waves, the blue light of St. Elmo’s fire meshing together with the new blue tones of the sky as seen from underwater. Her vision was hazy as she looked past Anthony’s cheek, the sandy bottom blurred as she blinked in the salt water. His kiss distracted her for a moment but she needed to breathe soon and tightness began to bind her chest as she waited for Anthony to release her to the surface.
Alexia delayed as long as she could before struggling, pushing away to reach the air she needed as stars appeared in front of her eyes. A tinge of fear shivered up her spine. Why was Anthony not helping her? His hand cupped her neck, keeping her mouth open on his and suddenly her cheeks puffed out like a balloon.
If it were possible she would have laughed. It took a few tries to coordinate the timing, but eventually she realized if she breathed normally, her mouth sealed to Anthony’s, his body provided the oxygen for them both.
They dropped to the ocean floor, the current wiggling them back and forth gently. It was awkward to look around plastered to Anthony, so she took a deep breath and pulled away. Her fingers clung to his arm to keep him near enough that as soon as she needed more air it was simple to touch mouths and breathe in.
Alexia wished she had a pair of goggles. The blur of the water continued and her eyes stung from the salt. Suddenly she blinked and the watery world around them turned crystal clear. She faced Anthony and carefully examined him. His eyes twinkled back at her from behind a thin membrane, like a set of clear eyelids and she realized her body had changed.
Shit, it was true. She was going to be able to turn into something not human. She pointed toward the surface and Anthony nodded. He gave her a final breath of air and swam them upward with an easy dolphin kick, his strong body holding her close.
As their heads broke the surface Alexia let out a shriek, threw her arms in the air and splashed the water around them like a little child in a puddle.
“Holy fuck, I could see you! As clearly as if I were above water. I could see you!” She hugged him hard and they both submerged under the next wave as it broke over their heads. Alexia surfaced sputtering and spitting. Anthony supported her to let her catch her breath. “You asshole, stop laughing at me.”
He brushed a hand against her cheek. “I’m thrilled for you, Alexia, but it seems you still need to work on the breathing-water bit.”
She stuck out her tongue before lying back on the surface, her heart pounding. It was really true. Her mind spun with excitement. She pulled up to tread water again, grabbing Anthony’s arm. “Show me your dolphin.” He raised a brow and she bit her lip. That must have come across like a bossy child, and that’s not what she intended. “Please?”
He nodded. “Remember, the best way to ride is to hang onto my dorsal fin. And don’t go sticking your fingers in my blowhole—that’s kind of like sticking your finger up my nose and it’s not very polite.”
Alexia splashed water at him.
“Be careful, sweetheart. I have a bigger water pistol than you do.” He kissed her one last time, his lips clinging to her mouth before he backed up to tread water from a short distance away.
She watched closely, but she missed the actual moment of his change. One minute she stared at his sparkling green eyes and beautiful smile, the next—he was a sleek gray dolphin, his head hovering at the surface of the water. His smile had changed appearance but still warmed her heart.