“I’m not uncomfortable, Reed. I just…I only want to sleep. Do you understand?” she forced herself to say.
“Only sleep?” he parroted. “Do you use the bed for other things?”
As the words left his lips, he seemed to put the pieces together in his mind. Tempest could practically see the blush creeping up his neck and cheeks as he shook his head vehemently. That, at least, was a relief—they were on the same page.
“I have no intention of asking for anything else from you tonight, Tempest,” Reed said softly, those hazel eyes trained on hers.
She gave him a rueful smile. “Okay. Good. I-I don’t want to rush this.”
“Your company is more than enough for me,” replied the merman with a small smile.
Just like that, Tempest found herself helping him out of her borrowed clothes and climbing into bed. She shimmied to the far side, against the wall, to allow him the easier spot to climb out of in the morning. At first, they both lay on their backs, the tension heavy between them.
Then she heard him clear his throat and speak into the quiet bedroom.
“Can I…hold you?” Reed asked hesitantly. “I think it would help me sleep.”
“Oh, really?” she giggled, rolling onto her side to face him.
“Please, Little Storm. Let me hold you, just this once,” pleaded the merman in that deep, soothing voice of his.
That was all it took. Tempest could not resist the plaintive tone or his warm body, which radiated heat she absolutely wanted to soak in. Carefully, she scootched closer to him, then moved his arm out of her way. Reed held perfectly still, waiting for her direction.
When she rested her head on his chest and he wrapped that arm around her back, she could hardly stop the contented sigh that escaped her. He felt strong and solid beside her, the warmth of him seeping straight into her skin. Tempest feared she could get used to this entirely too easily.
“Goodnight, Reed,” she whispered as sleep pulled her under.
“Goodnight, Tempest,” her merman whispered into her hair.
Sleep made her eyelids heavy and she struggled to stay awake. In moments, she was fast asleep, curled up against the handsome merman who had somehow gotten past all her defenses. Sleep consumed her completely, a deep and dreamless sleep devoid of any nightmares or worries.
Before she knew it, Tempest found herself slowly waking up in the early morning light. She blinked awake slowly, wondering at the firm, warm body wrapped around her. As she tilted her head up, she got a good look at the sleeping face of Reed, his hair mussed and falling over his eyes.
God, he’s stunning,she thought as she stared silently.
His thick, dark eyelashes and smooth skin were gorgeous up close like this. The merman snored ever so slightly as he remained fast asleep, one arm wrapped around her waist, preventing her from getting up. Gently, she ran her fingers through those ink-black tresses and marvelled at how soft they were.
Tempest needed to get up and get ready for another day out on the water with Elliot. She needed to make breakfast and coffee,change into her wetsuit, then head down to the main office, where her partner in crime would be preparing their boat for the day. Yet the temptation to curl up and drift back to sleep beside this man felt like an insistent tug on her heart.
Slowly, carefully, she extracted herself from Reed’s grip. Normally, she’d start her day with a hot, steamy shower and wake up slowly. The thought didn’t appeal to her that morning, though. If she showered, she’d wash away the scent of him— saltwater and fresh squeezed lemons and sunshine, somehow.
She didn’t know why she could identify those specific smells on the merman’s skin, and rubbed onto hers from the night of cuddling. Tempest only knew he smelled like a day out on the open ocean, the sun shining brightly overhead and the spray of the waves cooling her warm skin. Like all of her favorite things rolled into one—one scent, one person.
When she’d finished her breakfast and dressed for her shift, Tempest frowned at Reed’s still sleeping form curled up in her bed and wrapped in her blanket. She hated to leave without saying goodbye, but didn’t want to wake him, either. He had obviously been dealing with a lot recently and probably really needed this rest.
Instead, Tempest scribbled a note and left it on the bedside table. Hopefully he would find it when he awoke. Maybe he would even still be here when she got home tonight. The thought made her inexplicably happy.
That Imaginary Town
REED
B
y the time Reed opened his eyes the following morning, the sun had risen and daylight streamed through the curtain on Tempest’s bedroom window. He stretched his arms above his head and yawned, rolling his shoulders and his neck. This human bed had been far more comfortable than his clam shell at home, just as he’d expected.
He knew, more than anything, the real difference in the quality of his sleep was the company of the beautiful storm witch who had slept beside him. When she had snuggled up against him, his heart had nearly beat out of his chest. The feel of her soft curves against his side, and his skin, felt unbelievably good.
Reed had wrapped one arm around her waist, settling his hand on her hip bone as if they were made for each other. Just the right size to tuck perfectly into his side. The feel of those hips under his fingers had been tantalizing in the most delightful way. He had struggled to fall asleep because of the electric buzzing in his body from where they touched.
