Those blue-green eyes grew wide as she took in his meaning. He meant it—he would do anything for her. For the storm witch whomade every moment exciting and new to him. For the woman who asked for nothing but his company. He wondered if she felt the same way, then decided it didn’t truly matter.
His adoration of her was enough. Reed simply wanted to stay here, beside her, holding her hand like this for as long as he could. Perhaps that was naive of him, given how little he knew about her or her world. He had been accused of such things before; his pod had just reprimanded him for such behavior.
“Will you show me around your town today?” he asked, squeezing her hand encouragingly.
“You saw most of it the other night,” Tempest chuckled. “If that’s what you really want, Reed.”
“I really want to spend the day with you. To learn about you and this place, and experience it for myself,” Reed spoke softly, but they sat close enough together that he knew she could hear every word.
She nodded. His heart leapt into his throat, that lightning dancing through his limbs again as he tried to get up from their warm, comfortable spot on the couch. Tempest made a little tutting sound and he paused, turning to look at her.
“But you can’t go out like that,” she turned a brilliant shade of pink as she gestured to his body.
“Why not? This is what I wore the last time, and no one said anything,” Reed blinked in confusion.
“You just can’t!” Tempest giggled, covering her face with both hands. “Let me see what we can find in my closet that might fit you.”
As she walked to the smaller room at the back of her little house, Reed followed closely behind her. He watched her sort through all kinds of clothes and fabrics, completely useless to her in this task. Instead, he settled on her large, comfortable bed andwatched her talk to herself.
If Tempest wanted to dress him, he had no complaints. Human customs were strange and confusing to him, but she would know what was best. That was enough for him.
I Like Chocolate
TEMPEST
T
empest rifled through her closet, pulling out every piece of clothing she owned to inspect it in this new light. Could she possibly have anything that would fit the beautiful merman in front of her? Most of her clothes were loose and flowy, but very soft and feminine as well.
Finally, she spotted an oversized t-shirt she often slept in. The black shirt with a band logo would probably fit across his wide shoulders. Tempest held it up in front of him, trying to assess the fit with just her eyes.
On her bed, Reed sat with his ankles crossed, leaning back on both palms as he watched her. His ink black hair hung loose, drooping into his eyes and falling over his shoulders.
When she looked carefully, though, she could still make out the little turquoise fins that were his ears. She could also see the occasional dusting of sparkling scales along his legs and torso.
For a moment, she simply admired him. Then she gestured for him to sit up.
“Here, try this on,” Tempest said, tossing the shirt to him.
She watched him turn the fabric a dozen different ways, trying to figure out how to put it on.
67
Right, she thought.The merman doesn’t know how to put on a shirt.
“Like this,” she said, taking it and rolling it to go over his head. Her fingers brushed his skin as she lowered the shirt down the length of his body and she quivered at the contact.
“What is this called?” Reed asked, his breath warm against her throat as she straightened the collar.
“This is a shirt,” said Tempest, biting her lip.
She stood close, leaning over him, her fingers mere inches from his dark tresses. The unexplainable urge to run her fingers through his hair coursed through her but she resisted, if barely.
His body heat emanated off him in waves, drawing her in.
“You’ll also need some kind of pants,” said Tempest as she looked down at the gorgeous man in front of her. “That’s clothing for your legs.”
He hummed as if saving that knowledge for later. Carefully, intentionally, he tested out the words. “Shirt. Pants. Clothes.”
