Page 26 of The Tides of March

“Turn them off. I’d rather eat yer backside fer breakfast.”

Tony waved over his shoulder as he worked, then took the skillet off the burner. “They’re just about done,” he said and returned to the bed. There was cum smeared on his stomach and Ronan used a finger to gather it.

“What was this dream?” Ronan asked as he sucked his finger clean, then made room for Tony, nodding in approval when he rolled onto his stomach.

Tony folded his arms and made a thoughtful sound as he rested his chin on them. “I’m not sure how to explain it. There were tentacles and they were wrapping around the sun.”

“From a flyin’ octopus?” Ronan guessed and Tony shrugged. “Where was I, if the dream was about me?”

“You were hurt. I don’t know how, but you were bloody and all beat up. You were on the beach and you were dying.”

Ronan frowned as he traced Tony’s spine and the cleft of his ass. Cum had leaked from his hole, hot and slick as it coated the inside of his cheeks. “From a flyin’ octopus attack?”

“I really hope not,” Tony murmured while Ronan coated his fingers and licked the cum from them.

They pondered Tony’s dream while Ronan cleaned him, then shared a delicious breakfast of fried potatoes, eggs, bacon, and toast. Afterwards, they took the dogs out for a long walk around the island, leaving Myrtle to guard the cottage. It was just as Ronan had imagined, with Tony and the dogs playing chase in the waves. But Tony made it even better when he surprised Ronan by taking his hand as they walked.

Ronan had made countless trips around Pooles Island throughout his many, many years there. But all those lonely days had been worth it as Tony slid his arm around Ronan’s, huddling closer when the wind picked up. It ruffled his hair and made his cheeks pink and Ronan wished he knew real magick and could stop time.

He would never wish for Tony to stay. Ronan couldn’t risk enchanting Tony and imprisoning him on the island. Tony’s place was on the mainland, in the land of men, not as a merrow’s cursed companion.

“I think all my stuff will fit,” Tony said, yelling over the dogs and the waves.

“Yer stuff?” Ronan asked as he halted them. They were by the lighthouse and Tony pointed at a pair of seagulls that had perched on the steps.

“I took a peek upstairs while you were sleeping and I think there’s plenty of room on your shelves for my books. I might have to downsize my wardrobe, but we can make it all fit if we’re creative,” Tony said.

“Ye took a peek?” Ronan repeated, suddenly embarrassed.

“Yeah. You’re so talented, your work should be in a gallery. Could you make me a little desk so I could work while I watch you paint?” Tony asked and Ronan wasn’t sure what had made him dizzy: Tony’s compliment or the thought of a lifetime with Tony.

Ronan recalled that the rest of Tony’s lifetime could be a blink, compared to the life of a merrow. And after Tony was gone, Ronan would slowly waste away as he mourned him. “We’ll see. Ye might come to yer senses and miss yer old life.”

“What’s to miss, aside from my mom?”

A dubious snort huffed from Ronan and he shook his head. “I’m sure there are lots of people ye miss and I’m sure they miss ye too.”

“My dad left me, Aubrey left me, Nox left mehere, and the university doesn’t care how much leave I take or if I ever come back, apparently.”

“Don’ think that’s exactly accurate,” Ronan said but Tony shrugged.

“I’m happy here. Happier than I’ve been in a long, long time. Why? You don’t want me to stay?” he countered suspiciously and Ronan held up a hand, shushing softly.

“Don’ ask a merrow that. Not if ye wanna have a say in the matter later,” he warned.

Tony’s eyes widened and he nodded. “Right! Sorry,” he said, then took stock around them. “What about the lighthouse? I’d love a tour!”

“No, ye wouldn’.” Ronan pulled Tony against his side and turned them toward the cottage. “Let’s go,” he called and whistled to get the pack’s attention.

“Why not?” Tony asked, his lip pushing out as he looked over his shoulder.

“It’s haunted.”

“Haunted?” Tony stopped them and gestured for Ronan to explain.

“Well…” he tugged at his beard, trying to recall all the details. “It was back in 1855… Two brothers were sailin’ and their ship went down in the bay, out there,” he said as he raised a hand and pointed past the lighthouse. “Fog was so thick ye wouldn’ havebeen able to see me finger. Not sure what possessed Elijah and James Williams to set out that day, but James’s body was never found. Elijah washed up just about there,” Ronan said, nodding at the shore. “I had no way of calling fer help and no place to store him until someone came to get him, so I buried him by the peach trees.”

“Elijah haunts the lighthouse?” Tony asked, earning a sad chuckle from Ronan.

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