Page 63 of Where the Current Takes Him
Loriun swallowed the chuckle that would have surely triggered exactly what Beau was afraid of.
Chapter 26
Beau
Beau lay boneless in his Alpha’s arms, breathing in the scent of crushed pine and cedar. When he finally worked up the strength to speak again, he said, “I should have asked sooner, but what is luae? You always call me that.”
Loriun hummed behind him. “It’s a term for one’s partner. There is no equivalent in English. Its literal translation is the feeling of returning to the water after a long time on land.”
Warmth bloomed in Beau’s chest. “That’s… beautiful.”
Cool lips pressed to his mating mark in response.
A few minutes of contented silence fell. Loriun’s arm cushioned Beau’s head while the other wrapped around his middle.
Then a thought occurred to Beau. “Is it uncomfortable for you to be on land? Are you uncomfortable now?”
“No,” Loriun assured him. “Our bodies are made to traverse both land and sea. Of course, Earth’s climate is significantly drier than my home world. That is why you will see most Mer carrying mist bottles, and most businesses have mist nozzles.”
Beau frowned. “How long have you been out of the water?”
Loriun paused. “Perhaps an hour? I suppose it’s been an hour and a half after our… distraction.”
Only the sensation of burning stretch prevented Beau from whipping around. “You did all this in an hour?”
“Not alone,” Loriun chuckled. “My assistant, Kaoi, helped me.”
“Oh. Is Kaoi male?”
“Yes.”
Beau didn’t like that answer. “Omega?”
“Yes.”
He liked that answer even less. “What does he look like?”
Loriun’s fingers traced an absent pattern along Beau’s arm. “Petite, golden brown hair, copper scales and fins… Why do you ask?”
Beau scowled. “He sounds very attractive.”
A soft puff of air burst against Beau’s ear. He shivered.
“Are you jealous of my assistant?” Loriun sounded like he was trying to hold back laughter.
“No,”Beau snapped.
“Well that’s good, because he and I have been working together for the past five years. It would be a shame to fire him.”
“Did you two ever date?” Beau shot back.
“No.” Beau could hear the irritating smile in Loriun’s response. “He is not my type. And I believe I am far from his.”
“Good,” Beau grumbled. “It’s hard to be a soft, squishy, hairy human on an island of stupidly beautiful fish people.”
Laughter overtook Loriun’s entire body. Thankfully, his knot had gone down enough for Beau to wriggle free. He rolled over, flat on his back.
“My legs. They’re gone.”
