Natasha
After eating a big pancake breakfast together with Roger, I leave the blue dragon egg tucked between my bedsheets before heading outside to explore New Tortuga.
Hayden can wait.
I need to focus on myself, but to do that, I have to take care of a slight problem—my female hormones and my horniness.
Therefore, I search through the pirate town until finding a bookstore. Every house is built of wood, and the colors are flaky, yet I feel at home on this island. Even the bookstore gives me an inviting spirit as I enter it.
The bell above the door makes a sound, and I wave at the older man standing behind the desk as I enter the dusty old bookstore.
"Good morning!"
"Ah, a customer! How exciting!" The man pushes his glasses further up his nose and tilts his head at me. His hair is whiter than snow, while his skin is tanned from staying outside for too long. "Anything, in particular, you're looking for?"
I nod at him, loo
NatashaAfter the initial shock of running into Hayden wore off, I hurried to find his hotel on top of the cliff of New Tortuga.The ocean lies behind the hotel, and a cobblestone path leads up to the grand, white building. Cottages inhabit the sides of the road, and I passed many glaring pirates on the way here."Okay." I take a deep breath. "Time to convince the CEO that I'm worth hiring as his cleaning lady."I walk inside the magnificent building with burning confidence coursing through my veins. My back is held straight, and for a moment, I feel good about myself. Sadly, I instantly lose my ability to breathe when I notice the fancy people inside.Jesus Christ.What am I doing here?I don't belong here. I wear rags, my black captain hat with a skull, and other clothes with holes in them, while the other guests carry expensive dresses and monocles.Shit.Everywhere I turn, the lounge is filled with people as tall as
Natasha I watch Hayden put on his clothes, aware of my flaring heartbeat. When his dark eyelashes flicker down to mine, I feel lightning surge in my veins. He offers me a smile too wolfish to be friendly, and the desire to touch him turns almost painful. What the hell is wrong with me? Whenever I look at him, it's like my body gets overwhelmed by a fever. Hayden Archer is in my dreams and sweet reveries, and slowly but surely, he is taking over my mind. Hayden's lips part while his hands are closing the buttons on his suit. "I'm supposed to be holding a speech outside in the garden—come and listen to it. I think you will find the conversation rather interesting." "What are you supposed to talk about?" His smile widens, and his eyes glimmer in the dark. "I won't tell you anything. Find out by yourself." With those words, the man leaves me alone. Hayden hurries down the stairs, and after many minutes of blinking and recovering fr
Vivian Past I'm enjoying the evening in the company of two best friends and hoping Hayden won't come down to join us. I find it tiresome how Tiffany deems it appropriate to touch my husband. I might not love Hayden—he is a monster, but I can still ride him if I ignore the circumstances. Because as fucked up as it is, my once hideous husband has turned into a snack. Hayden is hot. And he is also my slave. Jessica cuts into her fish before whispering. "I'm glad you had an abortion to get rid of the monster daughter in your womb, but don't tell Hayden the truth—he needs to be guilt-ridden to stay by your side, and girl, in this crazy world, you need him." I laugh and lift my glass to my lips, smearing it with red lipstick as I down my cocktail. I'm not worried about Hayden. The foolish man is wrapped around my finger. "Don't worry, Hayden won't leave me—the poor bastard tried to commit suicide two days ago, and right now,
Hayden My head isn't in the right place tonight. I'm feeling hurt and betrayed by the gods for picking me this fantastic mate and then making her so terribly afraid of me. I understand that I'm not a human, and yes, I have some aggressive tendencies. My mood shifts a hundred times a day. I'm bad at keeping my temper. I yell, and I fight. I'm huge and still growing every day—I'm a freak of nature, capable of destroying ships and men alike, but I would never physically hurt Natasha! Natasha, fuck, when did I even fall for her? It wasn't love at first sight—it was more like head-first into a pole and unable to think straight for days. She occupies all my thoughts, and every time she looks my way, my insides turn into mush. My entire being belongs to Natasha, the gorgeous, clever woman who makes me laugh and hope for a brighter future. She blows my mind whenever she talks. She is brave, fierce when needed, and when she bites her bottom lip and sizes me up
NatashaIt broke my heart to see Hayden kiss that other woman earlier, but I guess it was inevitable.Hayden told me he was married, and the gorgeous blonde seemed like someone he would date and cherish. They both looked like two supermodels making out, and I'm having difficulty believing Hayden would get invested in someone like me.I'm not pretty.Neither am I wealthy nor successful.What do I even have to offer?I'm funny—I think that's my only good quality.Meanwhile, Hayden is older than me, and he has had a career that he is still trying to retain. He has more life experience than me. He spent his money building hotels and making a family while I was orphaned and raised by pirates.What do we even have in common?No way would Hayden pick me. I'm only his sex toy, someone to fool around with for the hell of it."Nice weather, isn't it?"Oh, right—I'm on a date.I pass Nick a forced s
Natasha Fear curls around my neck, and unexpected tears prickle behind my eyelids when Hayden crawls closer. A large, muscled arm turns into my ceiling, and I have the urge to run and beg for my life when his gigantic, ocean-blue eyes peer down into my face. I always looked into those eyes with awe, wanting the handsome, rugged man to want me as much as I wanted him as I gazed upon him. I still want him, I realize, even if my entire body is shaking. Hayden's lips are a stretch on his face. He doesn't say a single word, and tension grows in my limbs when he uses a finger to move my arm above my head. What is he doing? My breaths become more rapid, more shallow. I count to ten in an attempt to calm down, my heart racing faster—it's not working. Hayden narrows his gaze, dips his head, and licks my wound. Wet saliva covers my entire arm, and the pain ebbs away. Is the merman healing me? At that moment, everything melts away
Hayden I gaze down at Natasha's sleeping form, wishing to join her. The only thing stopping me is how awkward it would be to explain what I'm doing sleeping naked next to her when she wakes up. "Hayden..." Natasha mumbles in her sleep. Smiling, I brush her hair away from her face. "I can't tell whether your attraction or fear felt toward me is stronger. I'm hoping, no, praying the first will take out the other." As expected, Natasha doesn't answer me, and I silently take her tiny cold hand in mine. Yesterday, after she passed out in the sand on the beach, I carried her to the hotel, and now I'm refusing to leave her side, convinced she has caught a fever. My heart clenches in pain as I watch Natasha stir in her sleep. I've never had a person to turn to when the world is cold and dark. Yet, as I sit here, I realize how wrong those words are as I gaze down upon Natasha. Natasha gives me hope for a brighter future, and my heart longs for
Hayden I make it to Natasha's cabin and notice the door is unlocked. Cautiously, I push it open with searching eyes. "Hello? Anybody home?" When there isn't a reply, I relax my shoulders and enter one bedroom. The bedsheets carry my mate's scent, overwhelming my senses. For a merman, the smell of their mate is intoxicating, and when I spot a pair of used underwear on the floor, I forget all about the damn dragon egg. I pick up Natasha's pink underwear, and without a bone of shame in my body, I press it to my nose. Fuck, she smells so sweet! My back tenses and my skin is prickling. I'm struggling to stand still and not take my twitching cock out from my jeans—I have to slap myself to slip the underwear into my pocket. Shit, what the hell is the matter with me? I inhale and slowly exhale when I realize I'm rigid as a pole from sniffing Natasha's underwear like some sick pervert. I'm pathetic, head-over-heels in love already, and I rake my hand t
John Epilogue Many years later, I still wake up wanting to see my wife first thing in the morning. Kitty Kat and I have been together forever, but something about merman genes and the mate-bond keeps us from aging. We do age, only much slower. Not that I mind—it only means I get more time to spend with the love of my life. She makes it a true blessing to wake up every morning. I peer down at my left palm, smiling at the human who uses one of my fingers as her body pillow. I'm not much larger than I was ten years ago, but since Kat was attacked by a group of dire wolves last year, my resolve to protect her has grown. Kat is prohibited from sleeping without me, and I want her around me all the time, even if she is a loud snoring lady. I find it amusing when she sounds like an airplane, so I haven't told her about it. As I hover above her, I stroke a finger down her petite back, biting my lower lip when she smiles in her sleep. My
Katja I wake to the sound of tropical birds and the blazing sun trying to kill me with its light. I roll over with a groan, only to almost slip down from John's muscular neck. Ah, that's right. I was nuzzling John before we fell asleep, talking about favorite songs and music before dozing off on top of him. His neck, dark hair, and pulse felt warm, and the merman promised he wouldn't move in his sleep, so I stayed. A loud voice yawns. "Morning..." John reaches for me with one hand, and I slide into his palm. His sleepy blue eyes become my beautiful sky, and he breathes a laugh through half-curled lips. "You have bed hair..." John says. His eyes are warm, filled with affection before he kisses me with those lips I can't run away from—not that I want to. A flock of doves swarms my stomach, and I laugh as his soft lips cover my body's upper half. I don't remember ever putting on my clothes after our love-making or when my pants di
Katja My eyes are caught on the moon while my heart is trying to pound through my ribcage. I'm nervous. John is the more experienced one, the older, hot guy who has had his fill of plenty of women. I've seen women throw themselves at his feet, but I can't precisely blame them. John is hotter than hell, and I grow self-conscious of that insight. His large, manly hands are on my thighs, tongue licking me between my legs. I see his dark hair and mountainous shoulders move when I lower my gaze, and my insides throb with need. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. I want him. But what if my vagina looks weird or something? A hundred thoughts are racing through my skull. But then an involuntary moan slips out through my parted lips, interrupting me. Oh-my-god, John is the devil—merciless as he sucks my clit! My fingers grab his hair, twisting it, and I can sense John smiling in satisfaction against my skin. "Enjoying ourselves, are we?"
Katja After John has pulled up the shipwreck on the shore, and we have made sure nobody died, I'm left with the giant merman holding me in his massive paws like I'm a delicate treasure. In some ways, I am, at least compared to John. He is absurdly monstrous, but he isn't like Hayden. My sister and her boyfriend are adrenaline junkies, and they are never careful. On the other hand, John is sweet and gentle in a way that makes my insides sizzle like bacon in a frying pan. I lie flat in his palm, turning my head toward his large, brilliant eyes. He is staring at me. I blush, asking softly. "So, are you ever going to change back into a human?" His lips pull into a smile. I try to look away from him―to act like I don't notice the fire in his gaze, but I can't help it. He looks like every fantasy I've ever had come to life, merman perfection with a hint of cockiness to match. His stark blue eyes gleam in the moonlight
Katja A violin, paced and furious, plays a melody of fear through my bones. It's awakening my senses and making me see black. John's lush lips are so close, and there isn't a sign of his kind soul within those dark eyes. Yet I have to reach him. I can't give up. His tongue flicks out, ready to devour me, and I move while held by his tentacle, fighting my better judgment. I know my idea is stupid, yet I do it—I grab hold of his upper lip. He is trying to throw me into his mouth, but I lean in, giving him a peck of a kiss. My eyes close on instinct, and I try to convey everything: love, hope, despair, and the will to be with him through my lips. I know I'm smaller than him and that he probably can't physically feel me, but the emotions within my heart feel so large. I love John, and he needs to know. I think back to the times we bickered in the kitchen and the lustful glances we sent each other. Tears prickle behind my eyelids, a
Katja My eyes are glued to John. His transformation is different this time, probably painful if I'm to judge from his screams. Those tentacles are giant now, and his height is downright terrifying. I don't think I've ever seen a kaiju or a merman so big. John is putting even Hayden to shame. Dark hair hangs over his muscled back, and his tentacles are black with a white underside. He knocks down the tree above me without warning, and I shriek in fright. It falls in the other direction, and I lift my chin. John seems about ready to move, and while I know it's foolish trying to follow a monster rivaling Hayden's size, I can't stay on this island. John's face is darkened, eyes glazed over, and nothing seems to happen inside his thick head. Scarlett has taken control. John is now a threat and danger to everyone on our ship. Since Hayden isn't at home, John will have a simple time battling us. Because let's face it, no one on the ship could
JohnMy chest is warm, and my heart beats an entirely new rhythm. Kat is in my arms, watching me apprehensively. Her lips attempt a smile, but I can smell small traces of fear in the air.I get it—I'm a sea monster, much bigger than Kat and capable of hurting her even by accident. We aren't mates, and there is no reason for her to trust me other than because we used to be close friends in the past.But I wouldn't hurt her, and it hurts acknowledging that idea seems to have rooted itself into Kat's brain.She appears terrified of my every breath, and her face is rapidly turning pale as she absorbs my features.It saddens me. Even with no romantic feelings involved, Kat is my best friend, and I wouldn't hurt her, not willingly. Scarlett wants me to kill her, but I'm fighting the throbbing command within my blood.I focus on the warmth and the butterflies instead. Kat hesitantly lifts her chin to meet my eyes, and I smile."I'm not
Katja"So you don't mind my scars?" John asks while we both stare up at the starry sky. His eyes flicker to mine, and I feel them like a physical weight on my shoulder. "You can be honest with me, Kitty Kat. I won't get offended."What is he talking about?I don't mind his scars at all!I have to tell him, but I'm too shy!A flustered smile spreads over my lips, and I nervously brush my hair behind my ear. I'm experiencing heart palpitations around John. I've never been on a date before, and this must count as one.And knowing this is a date, how am I supposed to stay calm? Being with him is the rush of a lifetime—every time I take him in, I feel my heart skip a beat again. I'm drowning in these warm bubbles of joy.I'm seriously hyperaware of John, and I'm afraid. I don't want to screw things up between us by acting weird, but I'm this smiling, giggling mess around him because nothing can stop the butterflies from swarming my c
JohnI've been with plenty of women in my lifetime. Pretty ones, loud ones, blondes, brunettes, big boobs, small breasts, ladies who won't stop talking, and the kind that makes you laugh. Yes, I was a manwhore in the past, never once settling for one person.I determined love didn't exist; never once did I expect my heart would pound for one person—oh, how stupid I was!A few seconds ago, Kat told me she likes me, and my world did an instant backflip, and now I can't think. I can't breathe. I mean, why? How can a pretty girl like her want to be with a monster like me?I stare at her, take in her features, and wait for the punchline. There must be one! She can't honestly like me—I don't deserve her!And shit, my master, Scarlett, ordered me to kill Kat, and here I am, daydreaming about our future wedding. I can hear wedding bells, and a dumb smile spreads to my lips when I notice Kat is blushing."Aren't you going to say anything?