Viv was out of breath after jogging the whole way to the beach. As she predicted, Allina was waiting for her in the sea, her copper hair dark and slicked back against her scalp. She smiled and waved animatedly at Viv, who grinned impishly back.
“I thought you weren’t going to come!”
Viv’s heart melted at the vulnerability in Allina’s tone. How could she ever think of leaving her? Allina had become the very life blood in her veins. “Are you kidding? There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
Allina smiled radiantly and Viv thought it was the loveliest thing she’d ever seen. “So what are we doing tonight?”
“Come into the water. I want to show you something.” Allina’s tone held an enigmatic allure.
Viv’s pulse points thrummed erratically as she summed up the courage to strip in front of Allina. The mermaid had seen her naked before when they’d gone swimming together; but something about Wendy knowing about her romantic feelings for the mermaid now made this night all the more poignant and terrifying.
Allina’s eyes followed the pattern of undress as it revealed more of Viv’s mocha-coloured skin and her sensual curves. Even though she had already seen Viviane’s naked form, Allina still traced a delicate line over the girl’s body with her wandering eyes. Viviane was shorter than her and impossibly thin. And yet, her stomach, arms and legs were lined with hard muscles you only got when you swam almost as much as a mermaid. Viviane had typically broad shoulders and thighs like that of a professional swimmer. She had plaited several strands of her long black hair into intricate braids tied around her head in wreath-like fashion. Despite being African-American, Viviane had slanted eyes similar to Wendy’s and a sharp, chiseled nose and arched cheekbones that bespoke of dormant Native American genes in her ancestry. And then there was those piercing hazel-green eyes of hers containing more hypnotic allure than the most powerful siren.
Even though there were technically male and female mermaids, their species had no particular preference when it came to choosing mates for carnal pleasures or amour. As for enticing human prey with their siren powers, mermaids often lured as many of them away as they could, and purely for their own twisted, deadly amusement.
With her unearthly good looks, Viviane would’ve be a target for any hot-blooded predator. With a guilty squirm, Allina realised that she might be the only predator for miles who could possibly harm the human girl. Under normal circumstances, Allina wouldn’t have hesitated in fixing Viviane with her compelling gaze and persuaded her to join in the sea. With that said, the mermaid had never felt a stronger inkling to protect another human the way she did with Lauren Viviane Macdonald. Allina’s insides boiled with want when Viv grinned devilishly at her and dove into the water. Viv soon stood beside Allina and together they stared at the full moon, the water coming up to their necks.
“Where are we going?” Viv asked with mild curiosity.
“It’s a surprise. Do you trust me?” Allina was suddenly very nervous.
Viv turned to her and smiled, the ghost of Wendy’s warning echoing through her mind. “Always.”