Page 20 of Mermaid For You

“Oh, but he did. We were making out and he just stopped, got up, and left me. Never came back looking for me, and I’ve never seen or heard from him. It really messed me up. I fell pretty hard for him. And his kiss was something else. I tried to tell myself it was because I was so young and it was exciting, plus I’d been drinking.”

Something flickers in Van’s eyes. He seems to be more moved by this story than I was expecting. I push forward before I lose all courage. “In college, I developed a crush, more like an obsession, for this guy. Blake Doozer.”

“Doozer? Bla-ke Doo-zer.” He emphasis his name like it’s the most absurd thing he’s ever heard.

Feeling defensive on his behalf for reasons unknown to me, I snap, “Yes! Blake Doozer. And he was the big man on campus. His larger-than-life personality, classic good looks, and dark hair reminded me of the other guy. I don’t even know how, honestly. It was weird. Maybe I just wanted someone to fixate on since I knew I’d never see the kiss-and-run guy again.”

Van fidgets in his seat and clears his throat. “So did you and Blake date?”

“No. In fact, he’s the reason I hate names. Gosh, this is mortifying.” I inhale a deep breath and exhale a ramble of words. “I stepped in dog shit before class and didn’t have time to clean it off my shoe properly. The smell lingered because I guess there were still remnants. Blake and his friend wouldn’t let it go. Referenced me as being a dog… because of the smell. You know how some guys use the term good girl in a sexy way? He told me to take a bath like a good girl. His friends joined in on campus. They barked every time they saw me or made a point to sniff the air.”

I gave him a watered-down version of my teen years, and now he knows the insecurities that I’m coping with while transitioning into adulthood. Why I’d get so angry and always ready to argue. Sometimes being angry and pushing someone away is easier. I thought it’d hurt less, but no such luck. I’m going to hurt if I long for him, and there’s no doubt I’ll hurt after I’ve given in.

Van stands up and takes my hand. He leads me to the bed and sits me down. Then he goes and grabs his camera before joining me on the edge of the bed. I’m caught off guard by his reaction, unsure what’s happening. He switches on the camera and clicks a few buttons. Wordlessly, he hands me the camera. It’s a close-up portrait of me.

He motions for me to keep going—more and more photos capturing different emotions, moments, and me.

“Weren’t you supposed to be focusing on the guests?”

“I did.” He presses a few buttons, and I see the photos with guests. “Let me show you how I see you.” Van takes the camera and then turns it around to show me the screen. It’s a candid photo of me looking up through my lashes, with a playful smirk on my lips. It’s both seductive and playful while maintaining a hint of innocence.

“Don’t ever let anyone make you feel less than. You’re gorgeous. I’m sorry that one bad incident led to others, but don’t let them ruin you from being yourself and giving pieces of yourself to others. Only give those pieces to those you feel are worthy.”

His throaty voice combined with the photographs has me wetter than I’ve ever been in my whole life. Somehow Van senses it. A growl leaves his throat, and he’s taking the camera from my hand and placing it out of our way. My back is on the bed, and Van’s body is covering mine.

“Tell me to stop, Ava.”

“Are you kidding? I was about to tell you to not stop.”

“If you insist.”

His fingers make quick work of removing my bottoms. Open and bare to him, he slides his fingers between my wetness. Little whimpers escape me, encouraging him to rub me harder, faster, and then slide in deeper. My hips begin to move with him.

“How about instead of my hand, you ride my face?”

I about come right then. In one swift move, his back is on the bed and he’s positioning me above him. Embarrassment floods me when I hear him inhale my scent. Those insecurities come back in full force. “What about fishy pussy?”

My body jolts when his fingers reach up and spread my lips. I’m completely exposed, and if I do smell fishy, he’s going to know. But he inhales again.

“This is my new favorite smell. Let’s see if it’s going to be my new favorite snack.” He grips my hips as he forces me down onto him. I’m going to suffocate him. I try to lift up, but he growls against my sensitive flesh. “No.”

His tongue laps all of me, making out with my pussy. He traces every part of me, and I cry out as he relentlessly brings me to orgasm. Van comes up for air long enough to demand, “Tell me it’s only me for me. That you’re this wet for me. That I’m the only person you’re thinking about right now.”

“Yes. Yes. It’s only you. You’re the only one who can make me this wet.”

After my body stops trembling, Van flips us back over. We practically rip each other’s clothes off. He leans over and grabs a condom from the nightstand. Holding his dick in his grasp, he cocks a brow at me.

“Do you want to do the honors?”

I no sooner get the condom rolled onto him than he’s positioning himself between my thighs. He pushes in deep, burying himself inside me. I release something between a moan and a gasp. He maintains a rhythm that has my whole body feeling like it’s going to explode. With his arms locked around me, holding me tightly against him, our moans mingle together.

Van begins to move more deliberately and in less of a frenzy. He’s still greedy, only now moving in a slow assault. I do the same, taking my time to explore every inch of his body. He cups my face, and suddenly, I’m back to looking at the man who’d been staring into my soul since he first pointed a camera at me. He holds my gaze, and so much passes between us.

My back arches and it’s too intense. His stare. Him inside me. Everything that’s not being said. All of me comes apart, and I shatter into a million pieces beneath him.

Chapter Ten

VAN

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