Page 5 of Stealing the Merman

He wasn’t given as much as a second to worry about being naked in front of his captain because Conall was unbuttoning his own breeches, which proved to be a potent distraction. Darin expected him to take them off, but he didn’t, like he hadn’t discarded his unlaced shirt. He simply reached inside and pulled out the tall, hard length of his cock. Darin gulped at the eight or nine inches of thick, veiny glory. Conall gave himself a leisurely upstroke, which he ended with a brush of his thumb over his mushroom head. Darin licked his lips.

Conall pressed a hand to the small of Darin’s back, urging him toward him. Darin complied, and when there was no more room, his thighs brushing the fabric of Conall’s breeches, he climbed onto his lap, straddling him. Conall’s body heat penetrated him everywhere, from his thighs that sat on Conall’s clothed legs to their chests separated by a handbreadth. The position eliminated their height difference, which teased a smile out of Darin—until his length brushed Conall’s. The skin-to-skin contact zapped through Darin, and he spilled an involuntary, strained moan. His eyelids fluttered.

Conall’s hand roamed from his back over his hip and settled on his thigh, the touch singeing Darin’s skin. The need to connect overwhelmed him, and he searched Conall’s face. Shadow and lust had darkened his steely eyes to a deep blue. His lips were pale but oh so inviting. Darin couldn’t resist, even though he knew it wasn’t his place, and he leaned in, intent to capture Conall’s mouth.

Conall’s hand shot up, grabbed the hair at the back of his head and forced him back. His nostrils flared, and Darin’s eyes widened in shock. He’d gone too far. Conall’s grip stung. Self-consciously admiring the wooden floor paneling, arms hanging by his sides, Darin mumbled an apology. “Please forgive me, sir. I forgot myself.”

Conall loosened the hold on his hair, and when Darin lifted his head, a series of shifting emotions chased over Conall’s face. His fingertips massaged Darin’s scalp, telling him with soothing motions that he was sorry for the gruff reaction. Darin bit his tongue so as not to purr, but he leaned into the touch. How did Conall bring him such a welter of emotions?

“It’s been a long time,” Conall said.

“Since you kissed?” Darin asked, feeling brave. He didn’t dare drop the real question that popped into his thoughts:why?Conall was handsome, a well-known pirate captain; he’d have the pick of the litter in any outlaw port. Men had to throw themselves at this mountain of strength and muscle.

“Aye.”

“Who was it last time?” Darin asked, a playful tone sliding into his voice as his hands sank into Conall’s shirt. He was determined to not let this misunderstanding ruin the mood. “Pray tell, how did he tempt you into kissing?” He was pushing his luck.

“He?” Conall raised a severe eyebrow, but a smirk played on his lips. “What makes you think it was a man?”

“Just a hunch.” Darin shuffled forward another inch until his cock rested against Conall’s. This time, he moaned on purpose. Conall, too, let loose a suspicious sound. Mood saved.

“Not everyone has a singular preference. But you’re right, it was a man. Well, a merman.”

Darin blinked. “A merman?” Like every sailor, he’d heard stories of men being lured in by the ethereal song of those mysterious creatures. Sometimes entire ships were lost, never to be seen again. “Aren’t mermen dangerous?”

“As dangerous as any beautiful young man who begs you to let him suck your cock. Legend says there’s a curse on them that wrecks them with desire while they have no genitals and no chance to find release. So they seek out men to play with. They love nothing more than giving pleasure.”

“Damn.”

“Their song is irresistible, and yes, they will take you to their bay or a cave and have their way with you, but trust me, no man would dream of resisting a merman. Even the ones that swear only women excite them lose to passion when a merman lays claim on them. Mermen are more gorgeous than you could imagine in your wildest dreams.

“Some say the curse extends to those who engage with mermen. They say mermen can get so carried away that a man cannot take it and his heart gives in during the act. That’s why mermen are feared, and ships avoid waters supposedly inhabited by them. But the lust one can experience at their hands is worth any risk.”

“And you met one of them,” Darin said.

“Aye. He was the most stunning thing I’ve ever seen. I spent a few days with him on a lonely island. He was marvelous company. A great kisser.”

“Was he?” Darin’s gaze dropped to Conall’s mouth, though he knew better than to make another move.

“Hm.”

Conall’s attention fixed on his lips, and Darin parted them, running his tongue along the bottom one. He wouldn’t kiss Conall, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t try to seduce him into it.

Darin shifted on Conall’s lap, their cocks brushing. He panted and lowered his eyelids to half-mast.

“Mermen taste differently,” Conall said. He was so close that his breath ghosted Darin, who caught the subtle scent of vanilla and alcohol. Delicious.

“How so?”

“Their saliva is sweet and thick.” Conall’s hands ran down his back until they arrived at his ass. He cupped and squeezed him, and Darin jolted. “It has interesting properties.” Conall let go and reached into the drawers behind him and produced a vial filled with an amber liquid. Oil. “It’s warm and slick, and mermen know how to use it to make you feel good.” He twisted off the lid and poured the liquid onto his fingers, moving them to spread and warm the oil. Lubricated, his digits shimmered in the muted glow of the lamp. “Lift.”

“Yes, sir.” Darin rose to a hovering crouch to let Conall’s hand pass under him, and he grabbed onto his shoulders to take the weight off his legs. He gasped when Conall’s wrist brushed his balls.

“Their saliva feels nicer than oil,” Conall said, and Darin sucked in air when a fingertip pushed between his cheeks and swept his rim. “But we must make do with what we have.”

Conall stroked his sphincter, and Darin’s mouth fell open. His grip on Conall’s shirt tightened, pulling the fabric taut. More force and it’d rip. He hovered over Conall, breathing hard as that slippery fingertip circled his cinched entrance. If Conall continued, he wouldn’t stay closed for much longer. A depraved whine escaped him, and suddenly Conall’s face was all too close. It cost Darin every ounce of self-restraint to remain still, poised over him.

Conall’s lips parted. Mere inches separated them, and yet Darin made no move but panted in keen need and rolled his hips as his most private orifice twitched against that soft, probing finger pad. Conall sought him out, and mouth open, he brushed his lips against Darin’s. It lasted a heartbeat. Conall broke away to look at him, face contorted with warring emotions. Darin had no time to process because then Conall was back, claiming his mouth with force. He tasted of rum and man and lust, and Darin shuddered at the sensations of soft lips, rough stubble and the insistent digit pressing into his helplessly clenching hole.

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