Page 128 of Mermaid on Heels

“Take good care of Ced!” Liriya called back with a wave and laughed as Ella glared at her playfully in response. She was sure he was waiting for them on the secluded shore, sitting on the fallen tree trunk with a book.

“And where is thissomewherewe’re heading to?” Luke asked as Liriya led the way, her tail moving gracefully through the waters.

“You will see.”

“Have I told you that, while I prefer you having legs so I could keep you on land with me and adore you in gowns and heels,I lovethisversion of you the most?”

“Only about twenty-eight times,” Liriya said with a laugh.

“Oh, howprecise,my lovely mermaid on heels,” Luke crooned and laughed with her.

Liriya laughed hard.Mermaid on heels.It was a rarely used endearment, and every time he used it, she found it funny. Because, the first he ever called her that, she thought he meant the heels she wore—it would’ve made sense too—but he corrected her and said, he meantheelsas in part of the foot.

“Or else I would have called you my mermaidinheels,” he had said then.

When they reached her destination, Liriya’s glide came to a stop. She turned and positioned herself in front of him. “Remember this place?”

“How could I ever forget?” Luke’s eyes darkened as he drew her to him. “It is where you first saw me and thought I was a merman with weirdly short, parted tails and tiny fins—wasn’t that your description?”

Liriya laughed, placing a hand against his chest. “Precisely.”

“So, what is it?” he murmured in a deep voice, bringing up a hand to caress her cheek.

“Um…” Liriya tilted her head and looked into his eyes, the desire in them making her knees—tail!—go weak. “Can you guess?”

“Um…” Luke repeated her hum and tilted his head as well. “No?”

“You did not even try!” Liriya swatted at his chest.

“Ouch,careful little mermaid, my poor heart is beating for you.”

“You are impossible.” She laughed.

“Impossibly handsome, I know.”

Her eyes widened for a faction at his unexpected wit. “You are unbelievable.”

“Unbelievably charming, I know that too.”

Liriya laughed hard. “You are funny.”

“And you are shiny.” Luke smirked.

She widened her eyes again. “You infuriate me.”

“And youinfatuateme, my love.” He leaned in to kiss her jaw and her cheeks. “Now,” he murmured against her skin huskily, “tell me.”

“No, you guess it.”

“You are stubborn.” He moved his lips to her ear, kissing a sensitive spot behind.

“Stubbornly in love with you, I know,” Liriya said breathlessly, although smirking in triumph.

“You are Liriya,” he continued, challenging their banter further.

Liriya burst with laughter. “You are Luke,” she countered and pulled away to look at him. “And we,” she pointed out between the two of them, “are silly.”

“I know,” Luke murmured, his eyes laughing. “That’s why I married you; you’re as silly as me.”

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