Page 27 of The Noble's Merman

This is amazing, Mo thought. To hear of a mermaid having any sort of physical relationship with a human, something he’d only heard in gossip and tales, yet here was a mermaid with first-hand experience. He had to know more, he had to pry.

“So this Captain Clarke,” said Mo, “how long were you with him? And are you still acquainted with each other?”

Pazi pursed her lips—not sad, but not necessarily happy, either. “We were together for… I want to say a couple moons. But when he returned to the land here nearby, he left me. I knew it was coming, though, so I wasn’t surprised. Being a mermaid, I knew we weren’t ‘meant’ to be together anyway. But we still took pleasure in each other while he was at sea, and that was very, very, enjoyable.”

Mo chuckled, nodding, his cheeks still burning. It all made him think of Kent again. How Kent said his father was pressuring him to wed, to find a wife. While Kent was unmarried now, what if that changed? What if he did find a human partner, someone who he could actually be with on land—him and Mo could not keep what they had. Why stay with a merman when he could live freely with someone of his own kind, whom he could walk with side-by-side? What if merfolk truly weren’t meant to be together with humans?

Then why all the legends that deem it so true? Why are we as species so similar to each other? Why so many stories of merfolk becoming human? It must be possible—it must.

“Pazi, forgive me for being forward with this question, but I am merely curious,” said Mo. “But during that time you were with the captain, were you able to gain legs, too?”

The mermaid raised her brows. “No, never! You know, it’s rather funny, I thought perhaps some sort of magic like that might happen, because of all the stories. But no, not from a kiss, not from sex, none of that changed my body. I’ll admit, it would’ve been quite the scene if that were to have happened, though. I don’t think I could’ve dealt with it.” She lightened her words with a laugh.

“It must be something else, then. For a mer to become human,” he said.

“Really?” Mahs piped in. “You believe all that nonsense?”

“It might not be nonsense. I think there’s some truth to it all.”

“Yes, possibly,” said Pazi. “Though, I have no idea. Regardless, my initial point still stands. If you have an… opportunity with a human, you should take it. You will thank me later.” She winked.

“Duly noted.” Mo smirked, heart still thudding.

There had to be a way for merfolk to gain legs. He’d always believed it to be true. But if he couldn’t figure out a way to transform in the moment—what could he do to ensure Kent wouldn’t leave him for another human? For them to have a real, serious relationship, and not just secret meetings on the beach until he no longer could?

Pazi was with a sailor. A human who spent their time at sea.

If Kent could go out to sea, too, then perhaps…

ELEVEN

It always warmed Kent’s heart to see Mo waiting for him. Kent shed his coat and stockings, reaching the water wearing his cravat, shirt, and breeches. He pulled Mo out of the water and onto the beach. It had become so much of a routine, Kent could sense each time getting easier.

As always, he sat with Mo to his left, closer to his good eye, and he offered Mo another type of human food. “These are raspberries.” He held a few in his palm. “If you like the sweetness of cake, you’ll rather like these as well.”

“If you say so, then I don’t doubt it.” Mo plucked one from Kent’s hand, examining it from all angles like he usually would.

Mo took a small bite; his sharp fangs sinking into half the fruit. And he moaned—sweetness must’ve taken its hold on his tongue, raspberry juice seeping out his mouth and dripping down his chin. It was a rather eerie sight, with pointed teeth like that, red liquid on his lips, he resembled some sort of creature of the night. But not just eerie—tantalizing. Alluring. Seductive. Kent could not ignore the way his prick began to stir.

“This is so fucking wonderful,” Mo said after he finished.

“What if I told you there’s something even more delightful—raspberry tarts.” He smirked.

“Tarts?”

“It’s another sort of sweet treat, like cake. I can ask the cook to make it for dessert next time for me.”

“Goodness, Kent. You are too sweet. Sweeter than cake itself. Now please…”

“Yes, of course!”

He gave Mo the remaining raspberries, and Mo chomped them down like the rabid fish he was. Every sultry bite he took sent shivers down Kent’s spine, and he held onto his merfolk book resting on his lap.

Mo reached over beside him to grab his own gift, and held it out in his palm to Kent. This time it wasn’t a shell, it was— “This is some artwork I bought from the market in Portica,” said Mo. “A mermaid weaved this out of seaweed, and it looks like a land flower called the white lily.”

Kent couldn’t restrain his grin. “Goodness, wow! This is beautiful. I remember you mentioning how merfolk create things like this, but it’s another thing to see it in person. I really can have this?”

“Of course.”

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