“No, no,” Connor said, catching that hand quickly. “I’m too sensitive, okay?”
Adonis released his cock in favour of his waist.
Connor tried to twist around to see Adonis’s expression, but Adonis wasn’t giving him enough room to move; he held on, his entire body trembling in unhappiness. The complaints grew louder, more emphatic. Connor interpreted Adonis’s complaints as, “No, Connor. You live in the ocean with me now.”
This was what Connor had been afraid of happening yesterday; Adonis not wanting Connor to go back to land. He wasn’t afraid. Adonis’s behaviour was enough to show Connor that he didn’t want to hurt him—bites aside, of course, but Connor guessed that happened because Adonis got excited, and it was something mermen did when aroused. There were plenty of people in the world who enjoyed that kind of thing, too… Connor would have to count himself among them after coming that hard.
Connor took in a deep breath.
“I’m going in, Adonis,” he used a stern tone.
Adonis whined. He loosened his grip enough that Connor could turn. He twisted in Adonis’s arms and found him heavy-lidded and unhappy. Connor cupped his cheeks, leaning in to press his forehead to his.
Adonis made a pleased sound in response, stroking Connor’s backside.
Connor twitched, and so did his cock. He hoped Adonis didn’t notice because a third round and he would probably go live with Adonis in the ocean. Perhaps something like that had happened before—those legends of sirens luring seamen into the ocean may not have been legends after all.
“I’ll see you tomorrow. Okay?”
Adonis made a garbled sound that sounded like, “not okay.”
“I promise. I won’t even be mad about all the bites if you help me swim to shore.”
Adonis stroked the one on Connor’s shoulder. With obvious reluctance and a lazy swish of his tail, they drifted down the length of the dock toward shore. Adonis brought him halfway and stopped.
Connor parted from him, floating in with the waves. Adonis caught his ankle just before he was beyond reach and pulled him back into his arms.
A tired laugh spluttered from Connor. “Leave it, Adonis. I have to change into my spare clothes before anyone sees me.”
Adonis let him go but watched from the dock as he dragged himself onto the beach. Connor changed quickly, noting that he would need to bandage the bites since they’d pierced deep enough to draw blood. Oddly enough, the salt water didn’t sting them.
“Connor?” Trevor called.
Connor tried not to look too guilty as he turned to watch Trevor coming down the footpath. His face filled with obvious relief when he laid eyes on him.
“Mind helping me with this?” Connor asked, actually grateful that Trevor had chosen now to come down because he didn’t have the strength to pull the board in alone.
Trevor did, and raised an eyebrow at Connor when he was left to shoulder almost the entire weight. Luckily, Trevor could probably bench press two boards with ease.
“Sorry,” Connor said. “I’m wrecked.”
“It might be an idea to give the paddle boarding a rest for tomorrow?” Trevor said.
Connor hummed.
Trevor set his hands on his hips. “Going out alone is one thing; going out when you’re exhausted is another. You need to give your body time to rest and recover. Besides,” Trevor added. “I also checked out the weather reports. Tomorrow isn’t promised good.”
“It’s calm tomorrow, isn’t it?” Connor glanced toward the spot Adonis had been, sure that he would be gone. He startled when he saw two dark eyes shining out from underneath the dock.
“Not according to this evening’s report,” Trevor said. He nodded out to sea. “Even I can tell that isn’t promising.”
Connor dragged his gaze from Adonis to the storm clouds on the horizon. His heart sank. Even if it was storming tomorrow, he would have to come out to the dock, at least. The thought of Adonis waiting out here for him was too much. It took him a moment to realise that Trevor was waiting for his answer.
“I’ll stick to dry land tomorrow,” Connor promised. He could surf if there were big waves, but Connor suspected he wouldn’t have the energy for it, even if the sea was agreeable.
Chapter Eighteen
“Are you up for some company?” Trevor asked him as they traversed the sandy path to the house.
