Page 38 of The Noble's Merman

He didn’t even realize how close Kent had gotten to him, shoulders touching, hands intertwined. Katherine didn’t seem to mind, but she kept looking back toward the trees, back toward their horse still standing by. It was getting somewhat late, as oranges meshed with blues, but not so late enough for the stars quite yet.

“I think I shall take my leave,” said Katherine, smiling. “Biscuit seems rather restless, and I think you two deserve some… alone time.”

Mo noticed Kent’s cheeks flush red at that comment, along with feeling his own heat up. It was comforting to know that one of Kent’s family was accepting of their relationship, given what Kent said about human attitudes before. “Are you still sure you’ll be fine waiting for me in town?” asked Kent.

“Yes! It’s not London; nothing is going to happen to me in little old Stubbington.”

“You’re to meet up later?” asked Mo.

Kent nodded, and squeezed his hand gently. “Yes, Katherine and I talked about it earlier on our ride here. How we can split up here, but arrive home together to not cause suspicions. We’re still to meet at the church, correct?”

“Yes, still correct. You needn’t worry.” She smiled.

“All right.” Kent smiled back, letting go of Mo’s hand. “I shall see you off. I’ll be right back, Mo.”

Mo nodded as Kent stood up, escorting his sister back to their horse. He saw her put her stockings and shoes back on, and her brother assisted in lifting her onto Biscuit’s back. Mo longed to know what it felt like to have a loving sibling relationship such as theirs. For he had none—he’d been the only youngling of his parents. But he was still happy for Kent, to have someone close who was not only family, but a dear friend as well.

After Katherine and Biscuit disappeared into the shadows of the wood, Kent walked back over to Mo. He sat down just as before, pebbles clicking as his bottom hit the ground.

“Ah, there,” said Kent, patting down his shirt sleeves. “What did you think of her?”

Mo scooched closer to his human, grabbing his hand again. He couldn’t help himself—if he was near, he wanted to be touching him at all times. “She was delightful. I truly appreciate how kind she was, and how she was accepting of the nature of our relationship.”

“Yes, of course. I’m thankful, too. She is such a kind soul toward all sorts of people. I believe the only way she’d hate someone was if… they were something terrible, like a murderer.” He laughed.

Mo tried to laugh as well, forcing it, masking his face with a smile. “Yes, I’ve—I’ve no doubt.” Oh, if only Kent knew…

“But anyway,” said Kent, thankfully not noticing anything strange about Mo’s façade of a demeanor. “I’m glad. Glad you like her, but also glad she gave us some… time to ourselves, too.”

“Absolutely.” A flutter swam in Mo’s chest at the thought, and he grasped Kent’s hand a little tighter. “We might only have tonight, and possibly one more night before you set sail. Things will be quite different for both of us. Though I’m certain it will be better than the stressful situation you’re in now. You’ll be free.”

Kent grinned at that. “You’re right. We’ll be together, anywhen we wish. However, I have grown fond of the setting around us now, at the beach. It’s quite scenic, don’t you think?”

Mo looked around at the soft foamy waves, the calm darkening sky, the rustling green leaves of the nearby wood. While he greatly admired the landscape underwater, nothing quite captured the same wondrous beauty of nature on land. “Yes, it is. However, I’ve no doubt we’ll see countless more beaches on our journey up ahead. But I understand, I enjoy this particular beach greatly. It’s… ours, in a way.”

Kent nodded, his smile growing brighter. “Then I think we should make the most of it while we’re here, don’t you think?”

FOURTEEN

“So you’ve been thinking what I’ve been thinking?” Mo said, giving Kent a fiendishly devilish smirk, and it did something to Kent’s insides that could only be described as exciting.

“I don’t know, what have you been thinking?” He couldn’t help but give the same smirk back, as best as he could manage.

“Only how much I want to touch you some more. Were your thoughts the same?”

Kent felt his cheeks burn up, and his prick twitched in his breeches. “My thoughts are definitely along the same lines as that.”

Mo was still holding Kent’s hand, making little circles with his thumb. Mo lifted his other hand to caress Kent’s cheek, ever so gently, sifting his fingers through his curls. The soft touches dearly warmed his chest; the soothing crackling fire from a hearth after a long day at work. “I know it’s only been two days since our last encounter, but I dearly missed the feel of you in my hands during that time away.”

“I missed it too,” said Kent, nuzzling his face into Mo’s palm. “Every time we part, all that’s on my mind is the next time we meet. Is that strange? The heaviness that I feel when you’re not there. We haven’t known each other for that long. Yet here I am, confessing this to you as if we’ve known each other forever.”

“That’s not strange, when I feel the exact same way. That’s why we’ve made this plan in the first place, is it not?”

“Yes… yes, you’re right.”

“That’s the remedy, right there. To heal the heaviness you feel, we just need to be together.”

Mo finally bridged the gap, leaning forward, capturing Kent’s lips in a kiss. Oh, did it make butterflies flutter in his chest. Every kiss did that to him—every single one. Who would’ve thought that Kent would be here, sitting on this beach, kissing none other than a merman? The thought was so silly in its concept, but the fact that it was real and happening only intensified those flutters more. Though, Mo wasn’t just any merman. He was someone who seemed to care for Kent deeply, as his equal, despite not being human himself. That intense adoration was one Kent shared for him as well, and a feeling he so desperately did not want to let go of.

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