Page 81 of Sea's Secret

“Sorry, I–”

“Stop it,” he demanded, but as he did so, he brushed his cheek against my cheek, the stubble of his jaw, marking my skin, making it tingle.

“Okay, sorry–”

“Stop apologizing,” he whispered into my ear.

“But you are upset,” I whispered back.

Regretfully, he pulled away, but then, he looked into my eyes again.

“So, do you regret helping me?” he asked.

“No–of course, not,” I said, and he caressed the side of my face, moving a lock of hair and tucking it behind my ear. He had no gloves on, and his skin was on mine. I never had felt anything so wonderful as those touches from Dominick.

“Then, do not apologize for it. Stand up for yourself, Meria.”

“I just–” I stopped, unsure of what to say, or how to ‘stand up for’ myself, how to exactly express what I desired, and why I did what I did.

“No, go on.”

“I am not used to having an opinion, and when on a rare occasion I do have one, I am not used to expressing it.”

“Never heal me again,” he said with another caress of my skin, his thumb so dangerously close to my lips. How my lips ached for his lips. I looked at his mouth; he was smiling, but only just slightly. If someone did not know him, I was sure they would not see it, but I did.

I could not agree to never heal him again. I would give him all of my magic if I could in order to help him. He had become so incredibly dear to me.

Dear. He is dear to me. What is this I am feeling? What is this between us–a charged, unfamiliar magic that seems to draw us together? I wondered. Is this what true love feels like?

I knew that what I had with Edmar was not anything close to what I felt with Dominick. My heart sank inside of me as I thought about the life I almost had been confined to, a life where I was married to Edmar, and where I never would have known Dominick. That could have been my life, and it was horrible to think of it.

Whatever it was between Dominick and me, it was more beautiful than anything I had ever seen or felt in all my life, under the sea and above.

“No?” I questioned.

“Better–but maybe, do not answer it like a question.” He paused and moved further back. His eyes looked so angry, and it made me nervous. His hand dropped from my face and rested upon the edge of the bed.

“Don't you ever, Meria, heal me and cause yourself to lose some of your ‘life force’; do you hear me?” he said harshly, but I could see the kindness there in his eyes, the playfulness hidden there.

He was testing me. I had no doubt that those were his real feelings, but the thing I liked about Dominick so much was how even when we had differing opinions, he gave me information, reasons for his perspectives, and yet, when I disagreed, he still let me, even encouraged me. He let me believe and do as I wished. I had never had such freedom. Dominick was opening up a new world to me, not just a life above the sea or that strange human life, but so much more.

“No, Dominick, I will not do as you say,” I said, trying to sound confident, but I had a shift in my voice.

“That is good,” he said with a nod. “But truly, if healing me hurts you, if helping the crew with that monster hurt you, I cannot let you keep doing it.”

“It is not painful. It only drains me. As long as I rest, I am well. I want to help. That is why I am here, Dominick. We have a deal. I will help you, and then you will help me find my mother.”

“I was thinking about that. Prince Peter might be better at helping you find your mother.”

“I know he could help me, too, but my deal is with you. I am a mermaid of my word,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest.

“I do not want anything to happen to you, Meria,” he sighed, wiping his face with his hand, dragging it down, and as I watched, I wished I could have touched his face–trace every curve, kiss that scar until it no longer existed, kiss every single dark vein until he couldn't remember ever having pain.

My thoughts surprised me. My feelings were so strong, so raw, flowing through my entire body, and they were for Dominick.

“I am okay, Dominick, truly. Mermaids are strong.”

“Thank you for helping. I do not know what I would have done without you. If you ever need or desire anything, please let me know.”

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