Flipped Off (7 page)

She laughed in relief and leaned her head against his shoulder. “Finally.”

He chuckled and released her legs to slide her down his body. “I thought that time didn’t mean much to you.”

Lorai looked into his beloved face. “It didn’t. Now that I have you and my little guppy here, each moment is precious.”

Adam ran his hand through her hair, and their kiss shared the sparks of the first time.

Lorai drew back. “That is different.”

He chuckled. “Derix mentioned that the tower had a gift for us. I am guessing that this is it.”

She leaned back, out of his embrace. With a smile, she extended her hand to his, and their handshake carried the crackling energy of their first contact.

“This is going to be fun.” She smiled and stroked her other hand down his body, an inch from his flesh.

The crackle of energy caressed him without her touching him.

The column of his throat tensed as her hand moved over his groin without touching. His cock rose under his wrap and elevated the fabric.

Not one to be outdone, Adam ran his hand above the bodice of her gown, spearing prickles of sensation through her breasts and the surface of her skin.

Unsatisfied with the lack of contact, Adam unfastened her gown and eased the heavy fabric from her shoulders.

She returned the favour on his wrap, and he backed her up to the bed.

A glance at the headboard made her smile. “I don’t remember them from the first time.”

Adam looked at the cuffs and chains. “They look too large for you.”

“Oh, they are.”

He looked from the cuffs to her. “You are serious?”

“I am. As much as I love being pinned under you—and I do love it—I think a little experimentation for our new start is in order.”

Adam grinned and lay on the bed; Lorai straddled his chest and buckled the cuffs into place. She chuckled at his attempts to reach her breasts and leaned down to let him suck and bite at her flesh while her body prepared a welcome.

Her eyes closed as her senses took over. The crackling power between them was more intense now that she knew every part of him and him her.

She slowly slid back and raised her hands above his skin, skating the sparks of power over him and watching the telltale marks of jumping muscle and tightening skin.

He groaned as she backed up until she was across his thighs and his cock was standing up between them.

With care and focus, she placed her hands on either side of his erection, and she ran the sparks through the engorged flesh under her control. He stiffened, arched his back and precum began to seep from the flared head.

Lorai laughed and bent forward, licking at the salty drops while her lover shuddered and pulled at his restraints. It was far less than she wanted to do, but it was enough.

She raised herself up and moved forward until he was nudging at her slit. She was wet and ready and eased down on him with a smile.

He groaned, and she heard the creak of the restraints. He could get loose; she didn’t care. The feel of riding him with the energy crackling along her skin was enough for the moment.

Sweat coated her as her ride slid him in and out of her with delicious slowness. She shivered as her body tightened around him. She wanted his hands on her, and as she wished it, it happened.

The cuffs snapped loose, and Adam gripped her hips, sliding his hands around her waist and up her belly to her breasts.

She rode him faster, and he slid a hand between them, stroking her clit with the rhythm she liked, and she exhaled and then jerked upright as her orgasm struck.

Lorai gripped his hands and held on for dear life as her body tried to shake apart.

When she was slumped against him, she looked up and met his gaze. He grinned. “My turn.”

He rolled her to her back and then to her side. He wrapped himself around her back, lifted her thigh to her chest and slid into her.

He rocked into her, cupping her breasts and kissing her neck.

When he started to run his tongue around the edge of her ear, she began to shake again. His thrusts slid against the front wall of her channel, and when he picked up speed, the friction sent her into a world of sensation as the caress of seldom-touched nerves blinded her senses.

She gasped when he nibbled carefully at the point of her ear, and the choked scream heralded the second climax. He was with her this time and groaned against her neck as he jerked into her.

They shook together, her hands were on his and she held him tight.

She had waited for what felt like an eternity to find her mate, now he was here and there was a baby on the way. She wouldn’t have done anything differently.

The tiny island was swamped with visitors.

Lorai was on the wide deck, looking out to the ocean with her daughter in her arms. Adam was dealing with the next wave of guests, but Lorai was waiting to hear from her mother.

Mer tradition meant that the first person aside from the parents to hold the baby had to be the mother’s mother. It was frustrating Veema, but Lorai was willing to hang on one more day.

A gleam in the water made her stand straight. She walked toward the water with little Raia in her arms. The gathering on the deck was suddenly silent. Adam walked after her, but he didn’t stop her.

“What do you see, Lorai?”

Lorai looked down at her five-day-old daughter. “I see Grandma.”

As she spoke, a head crowned with silver and pearls began to emerge from the water. Lorwella walked up the beach with a huge chest carried in front of her.

She walked up to Lorai and set the chest down before she changed into a more human size. She kissed her daughter’s cheek and smiled at Adam. “Thank you for the mage. He could not get me here in time, but I believe it is better than waiting until the child is in school to meet its grandmother.”

Adam inclined his head. “It was the least I could do, Mother.”

Lorwella smiled.

Lorai grinned. “May I introduce you to Raia Srim, your granddaughter.”

Lorwella held out her hands and took the tiny, squirming bundle into her arms. “Hello, Raia. You may call me Nana Wella.”

“She won’t be calling you anything for a while, Mother.”

Lorwella kissed her granddaughter and leaned down, taking some water and putting a drop on Raia’s lips.

Lorai smiled. She had already introduced Raia to the sea, as had Adam. It was nice to see that her mother carried on her father’s traditions.

“Now, dearling. Back to your mother so I can show her what I have brought.”

Adam wrapped his arm around Lorai’s waist. “A gift?”

Lorwella smiled. “No, this is her bridal gift. Her dowry. As she got older, we kept adding to it, but you are the one to finally benefit. It is our gift to you for taking a risk on my daughter.”

Lorai rolled her eyes as her mother opened the chest.

Gold, jewels, pearls the size of Adam’s fist. Everything was tumbled together, and it filled the chest.

Adam’s eyes bugged slightly. “All that?”

“Oh no. There are six more chests.”

Lorai grinned and fished out a necklace with dangles, waving it above Raia. “I was single for a really long time.”

Adam’s shock was funny, and he stared. “Where did it all come from?”

Lorwella shrugged. “Any beings that sailed the sea. Her father was astute in collecting a dowry for his daughter. It was how he finally passed.”

Lorai whispered, “Harpooned while sinking a ship. My mother sought out every survivor and destroyed them.”

“So, serious family loyalty.”

She leaned against him. “Nothing lasts forever, except family. No matter how dangerous or crazy, blood ties us now and into the future.”

“What a cheery thought.”

Lorwella closed the chest and smiled. “So, shall we meet Adam’s family? They look a little confused.”

Lorai chuckled. “Veema has been trying to hold Raia for days. I think I should put her out of her misery.”

Lorwella laughed. “You held to that tradition.”

“I did.”

“Good for you. Now, if she has any giant characteristics let me know. I will create a lesson plan for her.”

They talked about Raia’s future as Veema showed the baby off to the rest of Adam’s family.

With the family issues sorted, Lorai leaned against her husband. “So, Flipper, still happy that you chased my tail?”

He squeezed her, kissed her passionately and whispered, “I really hate that show.”

She snickered and enjoyed the sight of friends and family enjoying the baby. The island had several guesthouses, and many of the guests would return to the sea. It was the perfect home for merfolk and shifters who liked privacy and the rich fishing areas nearby.

Life was good; it had just taken time to get here. Patience wasn’t a virtue, it had been her destiny.

I have often wondered what fictional characters would think of modern entertainment. At least, this time, we got to take a look under the sea.

Zenina Masters

Viola Grace (aka Zenina Masters) is a Canadian sci-fi/paranormal romance writer with ambitions to keep writing for the rest of her life. She specializes in short stories because the thrill of discovery, of all those firsts, is what keeps her writing.

An artist who enjoys a story that catches you up, whirls you around and sets you down with a smile on your face is all she endeavours to be. She prefers to leave the drama to those who are better suited to it, she always goes for the cheap laugh.