My mind’s made up,he thought, casting one last glance at the crashing waves before he and Tempest began the short walk back to her house.
Please, Little Storm
TEMPEST
T
he walk back to Tempest’s place didn’t take long for her with Reed by her side. His warm, soft hand kept the slight chill from the wind off the sea from becoming too much for her. Waves crashed just out of sight in the dark, far enough away that her feet didn’t get wet, but close enough to hear them lapping at the shore.
The merman seemed melancholy on the way home, quieter than usual. She figured he must be contemplating all he’d learned today about Crescent Cove and their magical community. Tempest didn’t want to pressure him into sharing his thoughts, so she waited for him to speak again.
“Under the sea, we have beds made of giant clam shells and filled with soft moss and kelp,” Reed said finally. “Your bed felt far more comfortable than mine.”
“Yes, I imagine a mattress would be considerably softer than a shell,” she chuckled at the image it conjured.
He hesitated before asking, “Will I sleep there? With you? Or somewhere else?”
“Oh,” Tempest breathed, surprised by his directness. “Well, normally, I would have you stay on the couch in the living room. Where we watched the ocean documentary earlier.”
81
“And this is…not normal?” Reed gestured between them. In the light from her front porch, she could make out his
puzzled expression and nervousness as he waited for her answer. Tempest squeezed his hand reassuringly before replying.
“No, this is not normal for me. I don’t usually connect with people this quickly,” she said softly, opening the door to let them in.
“Really?” he asked, surprise written across his face. “You’re so easy to talk to and comfortable to be around. I would think everyone who meets you would want your friendship.”
Tempest blinked at him in disbelief. “That’s…I don’t think anyone has ever thought that about me. Certainly no one has ever said it to me.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Reed replied immediately, taking her shoulders in his hands. “I have enjoyed every part of today with you, Tempest.”
Those lovely hazel eyes were earnest as he stared her down, trying to make her believe him. All she could think was the feeling wasincredibly mutual. Her time with the merman had been so effortless, so comfortable, in a way that she truly had not expected.
His hands were warm on her shoulders as he held her there until she nodded. Only then did Reed let go of her, and she instantly missed the warmth of his touch. Tempest couldn’t remember the last time a man had made her feel like this— safe, wanted, adored.
It should make her uneasy, like maybe he had enchanted her with his magic or something. Not that she hadn’t had the occasional dalliance with a witch or a shifter in their community, of course. It happened once in a blue moon, and then she simply had no interest in actually dating them. They had each seemed to agree and left it at that.
But this man—thismerman—brought out something different in her. Already, Tempest could see herself coming home from a long day out on the water with Elliot to this handsome man in a frilly apron, fresh fish on the table for dinner. She could imagine curling up beside him at night, with Reed wrapping himself around her, the big spoon to her little spoon.
She’d never really been the cuddling after type. Shifters usually wanted to rinse off and get back in the water. Witches usually had jobs and families to juggle. Despite all of this, Tempest found herself imagining a future with Reed by her side.
“The couch is quite comfortable,” said the merman softly. “I…,” she hesitated, glancing away.
The merman took one of her hands in his and tilted her
chin until she resumed looking into those hazel eyes of his. He gave her a gentle smile but said nothing.
“You can sleep in the bed. With me,” Tempest blurted out, flustered.
“Are you sure? I would not want to make you uncomfortable,” Reed watched her face closely to gauge her reaction.
Silently, she took his hand and pulled him toward the bedroom. He followed, stumbling only slightly over the uneven floors of her old house. Grabbing her pajamas, she slipped down the hall to the bathroom and changed.
Then she realized nothing she owned would likely fit Reed comfortably for sleeping in and frowned. The merman would have to sleep in those little white shorts that appeared when he transformed. Tempest stifled a groan at the thought of him, nearly naked, in bed beside her.
Though she had absolutely no intention of doing anything besides sleeping tonight, the simple fact of it made her pause. Did she have enough self control not to snuggle up to him in her sleep? Would he assume sleeping in the same bed was permission to do more?
