Page 10 of Where the Current Takes Him
Loriun’s arms were perched on a low wall of smooth river stones. The ocean entrance to his new home was spacious and comfortable, complete with a shell-wrought bench for a human to join him.
HisOmega.
Loriun’s heart lurched into his throat. He should check the home, make sure it was suitably stocked for Beaumont. But as he hauled himself from the pool, it occurred to him that he had no idea what a properly stocked home would even look like for a human. He didn’t even know what Beaumont liked to eat, or what his hobbies were. How much did a human consume per meal, anyway?
Water slipped from the hydrophobic surface of Loriun’s scales. He drew the scales together, trapping a layer of moisture beneath them. He left his tail dragging behind him as he moved through the home.
It seemed appropriate—the bed was large enough for a Mer and a human, the bathtub and shower were equally spacious, and the living room pool was positioned beside a waterproof, leather couch. Loriun opened the cabinets in thekitchen, staring aimlessly at the human foods within. He noted the array of breakfast cereals near the refrigerator. Dry grains and lactation secretions from a cow. Utterly bizarre.
Just beyond the front door, a staircase led to the home’s second floor. Two spare rooms with Mer-sized beds, but the rooms on the left stopped him in his tracks. One held a colorful playroom, already stocked with toys and activities.
A little Mer child dashed across his mind, his scales gleaming a familiar teal. The thought made his heart ache. The room beside it was a nursery, the crib specialized for hybrid babies. Misting apparatuses were perched on all four corners of the little bed, and the mattress was made from a sponge-like material.
Another beautiful picture blossomed in Loriun’s mind; his sandy-haired Omega, sitting in the rocking chair, cradling a bundle against his chest. He imagined the pastel tail of a nymph falling across itsjaei’sforearm, and Beaumont looking down at the sleeping child with a loving smile on his face.
Loriun’s own lips curved in a soft smile at the thought. In a species on the brink of extinction, nothing was more precious than a healthy nymph. Fatherhood was something Loriun desired deeply, something all Mer craved.
Beaumont, however, was human. A species that had only known growth and expansion. A species that did not settle down with a life partner and begin having children from the day they met. In fact, a species that struggled to commit to practically anything.
Loriun reached out to close the nursery door, but found himself unable to snap it shut. He left it cracked open—a little fragment of hope for his future.
Back downstairs, Loriun glanced at the time, gleaming in red on the stove, and received a jolt of shock. His Omegawould be landing at the Miami docks in mere hours, and he was standing stark naked in an unfamiliar kitchen.
“Turys’asi nuonumsh.”
∞∞∞
He was early. Embarrassingly early.
Loriun had booked the entire second floor of the Sea Glass, then proceeded to arrive two entire hours prior to the time he’d chosen. The Omega hostess was kind enough to seat him, saying there were no other reservations that night.
Loriun brought a glass of gose to his lips and tried to focus on the sunset-burnished waves beyond the glass. But no matter how hard he tried to empty his mind, Beaumont Montgomery’s smile swam to the forefront. His lips looked so warm and soft, like they were made to be kissed. His golden skin could pass for Mer scales, and that sandy brown hair would feel silky under Loriun’s webs.
His cock stiffened within his slit.
“Noivux’asi iaka,”he swore. He let his face fall into his palms. Sometimes, he wished Mer religion had not passed into myth so long ago. Part of him envied the humans’ ability to seek comfort in their deities. Though Noivux was an Alpha god. Perhaps Xui, the Omega god, was a better option for his current predicament.
Why was he so nervous? It wasn’t as if this was his first romantic encounter. Loriun took a deep breath. The air in the restaurant was fortified with a fine mist which radiated from the ceiling—far more comfortable than his arid desert of an office. Disconcertingly green plants grew in small planters along the windows and walls. Black lava stone gravel concealed the dirtbelow. Loriun was fairly certain that he would never be fully accustomed to Earth’s flora—not while the islands boasted the violet and maroon plants of his species’ home.
Pondering botany didn’t distract him for as long as he would have liked.
What is the worst case scenario?Loriun asked himself. Instantly, an image of Beaumont fleeing from the room at the very sight of him arranged itself in his mind’s eye.
That’s ridiculous. He was actively seeking a Mer mate.Next, Loriun pictured Beaumont seated in front of him, his petal-like lip curled in distaste.
Lorian ran a hand through his coiled, red hair. He was good-looking by Mer standards, but human? He’d never bothered to ask a human what they found attractive. What an idiotic thing to overlook.
He was dressed well. At least he knew how to dothatin accordance with human tastes. His dark blue shirt was neatly tailored, and he’d remembered to steam the creases from his tan slacks.
On the other hand, human attire was often far too hot for the weather of this region. Loriun sighed, and began to roll his sleeves to his elbows. He wanted to make a good impression, but he could hardly do that if he dried out beneath the fabric. For good measure, he also undid the top button of his shirt.
Immediately, he felt less restricted and restless, but new concerns swooped in as replacements. Would Beaumont want to move into the house right away? More importantly, would he want Loriun to move in right away? Was Beaumont expecting a Mer-style bond, with instant partnership and family-planning? Or was he imagining a more human method of meeting a lover?
Humans often went on “dates,” Loriun knew, and they paired up as often as they split apart. Did Beaumont view this meeting as a mere date? Loriun had chosen to meet at the SeaGlass after a somewhat frantic conversation with his human employees. He didn’t want to convey that their arrangement was casual. But he also couldn’t have Beaumont thinking it was too intense.
“Gaish ausye.”Loriun slumped forward, his head thunking against the table. He was a disaster, and the Omega hadn’t even arrived yet.
Ashford warned him that Beaumont had been unable to attend an orientation session. It was standard procedure for an Omega applying for relocation—a weekend crash course on interspecies relations and social programs on the islands. Ashford was vague about the exact reasoning, but Loriun had to assume a politician’s son was a busy man.
