Page 4 of The Mountain Merman's Curvy Bride

I think I respond with a thank you but I’m not entirely sure.

“Please come in.”

Paige walks across my entrance way, smiling at me. Liora places the basket and blanket inside the doorway, waves, and closes the door behind her. Her car starts up immediately and I hear her drive off my property. I turn to Paige, who is looking around my living room.

“Your home is gorgeous. I love the wood.”

“Thank you.”

We stare at each other awkwardly. There’s an electricity between us. I fight the urge to kiss her right here and now. I clear my throat.

“Well, it’s beautiful outside. The lake is behind the house. We could picnic on the shore.”

“I would love that.”

Liora not only can read people, she also knows how to pack a picnic basket. Wine, cheeses, bread, fruit, and various meats. Paige and I tuck into the lunch, taking turns asking each other questions.

“That’s a boring answer. I’m an accountant.”

Paige chokes and once she recovers, she replies, “Seriously? I totally thought it would have been something physical. You’re so, um, strong looking.”

Her cheeks turn pink and she looks down at her plate. I reach out to her arm and give it a squeeze. Paige looks up at me with surprise, breathing in sharply.

“Did you feel that?” she asks.

I had. When I touched her skin it was as if a sparkler went off in between us. The feeling didn’t hurt but it did burn. Hot sparks shot through my body.

I close the gap in between us and look down into her dark, brown eyes. I want to kiss her. My body insists upon kissing her.

“Lachlan,” she breathes out, looking at me intensely.

I start to lean in, breathing in her scent, letting it consume me. She smells like honey, fresh pages of a book, and chamomile. And human.

I sit up.

“Paige? You’re a human?”

Paige looks at me, clearly disappointed that I did not kiss her.

“Yes, I am. Liora told me you are not but she did not elaborate. She thought you should be the one to explain to me.”

Paige sits up straighter, her eyes imploring me to share.

I had not even thought that my match would be a human. I was so enthralled with her when she came to my door that my usual instincts were too clouded by my intense desire. Fear grips me. This woman, who I know I am meant to be with, may reject me now. I stand up.

“Lachlan? Are you leaving? Please don’t go. I want to know you, the real you.”

Paige stands up directly in front of me and places her hand on my chest.

“I realize this may not be what you signed up for,” I state, as I start unbuttoning my shirt.

Paige swallows hard as I let the shirt drop to the ground.

“I will show you what I am but you may want to look away. I have to take off my pants as well.”

Paige stares at me intensely, her cheeks flushed, and whispers, “I don’t want to look away.”

Our eyes don’t leave each other as I undo my jeans and let them fall to the ground. Next goes my boxers. Paige’s breath catches as she allows her eyes to wander down to my hard cock. I can’t help it. That electrical touch woke up every inch of my body. She looks back up at me and a hoarse whisper comes out of her soft, full lips.

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