The Tides of Loss and Longing (Love from the Deep #1)

Chapter 8

Aurelia

A urelia watched in rapt silence as Drake leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. She froze, stunned by the sudden contact. This wasn’t something the merfolk did—she had no idea how to react. Drake’s lips were soft yet firm, moving gently against hers. The prickly sensation of his stubble brushed against her cheeks, a strange contrast to the tenderness of his kiss.

Heat built within her, the ache deep in her core intensifying, almost as if it rejoiced at his touch. Why had she been so afraid of this feeling? His kiss was commanding, his lips coaxing her to respond, and at last, she gave in.

Aurelia’s mouth moved eagerly against his, her lips mirroring his movements. When his tongue pressed insistently against the seam of her lips, she parted them slightly, allowing him entrance. His tongue slid inside, claiming her mouth in a way that overwhelmed her senses. His taste—salty and sweet, with a hint of something rich and earthy—flooded her, as did the warmth of his embrace.

She deepened the kiss, her fingers tangling in his hair before clutching his broad shoulders. Drake’s hand slid to the back of her head, gripping her hair and tilting her head back, giving him better access to her mouth. Aurelia surrendered to the burning heat spreading through her body, completely lost in the moment.

His kiss became fiercer, more insistent, tasting and savoring her. When his teeth grazed her bottom lip, a shiver ran down her spine, and a soft moan escaped her lips. Her hands roamed over his muscular back, tracing the contours of his body. She wanted more—needed more—but she wasn’t sure what that meant. This side of being human was entirely new, and she hadn’t even known it existed until now. A new world was opening up before her.

Drake’s hand trailed down her front, cupping her breast, and all coherent thoughts fled.When he plucked at her hardened nipple, pleasure shot through her, making her arch into his touch.

Suddenly, his lips left hers, and she groaned in protest. He kissed along her jaw, down her neck, and lower still until his mouth closed over one pert nipple.The sensation of his warm mouth on her breast made her gasp, the swirl of his tongue sending jolts of pleasure coursing through her. The wet heat of his lips teased her nipple, making it strain against his touch. He moved to her other breast, repeating the same torturous motions, his tongue lashing at her sensitive skin mercilessly. Aurelia writhed beneath him, her body arching, desperate for more.

But suddenly, Drake pulled back, breathing hard.

He glanced down at himself and groaned. Aurelia followed his gaze to the prominent bulge between his legs. Her eyes went wide. Drake grumbled and adjusted his pants, trying to conceal it.

“Drake,” she panted, her voice edged with desperation. “What is this feeling? This ache in my body, heat in my blood… the overwhelming need to touch you. It’s too much!”

Her words snapped his attention back to her. He studied her face, his green eyes searching for something even she couldn’t quite understand. Whatever it was, he must have found it because his lips curved into a wide grin, revealing the teeth that had teased her only moments before.

“Lust, little mermaid. You want me just as badly as I want you,” he said smugly.

He rose slowly from the sand, his body dusted with grit, wet and tousled from their kiss. Somehow, he managed to look both frustrated and pleased. Aurelia couldn’t suppress the laughter that bubbled up inside her.

Taken aback, Drake’s gaze flicked back to her before dropping to himself. A playful glint lit his eyes as his lips quirked into a teasing smile. “Laugh all you want,” he said. “I’m going to rinse off in the waterfall. But when I get back, I have some questions of my own.” With those ominous words, Drake stalked toward the back of the cave, disappearing through the not-so-hidden entrance.

Aurelia sat up and stretched, her fingers lightly tracing the places where Drake’s rough hands and soft lips had touched her. She exhaled a long breath as her fingers grazed over her nipple before trailing up to her lips.

That had been intense.

Nothing in her life had prepared her for such a feeling—and she wanted more. Drake had awakened sensations in her she never could have imagined. She knew it was her newfound human side that was allowing her to experience these things. Lust was not something the merfolk had ever needed to contend with.

Her thoughts drifted back to the feel of her hands on his strong shoulders, wishing she could have touched his bare skin. And then there was the bulge she’d noticed in his breeches. The idea of Drake fully nude before her sent a flush of warmth through her entire body.

Frustrated with her spiraling thoughts, she pushed herself back into the pool and dove underwater, letting the cool water wash away her desires. By the time Drake returned to the grotto, Aurelia had calmed her mind and body. She popped her head above the surface, feeling more in control.

Drake paused mid-stride, his gaze locking on her. “Have I told you how beautiful you are, Aurelia?” His voice was gravelly, and the way he looked at her made her stomach flip.

She blushed and glanced down at the water. “No, but thank you,” she replied.

“Now come here,” Drake said, his tone commanding yet teasing. “I have questions to ask you. I promise I won’t bite… this time.” He smirked.

With only a slight hesitation, Aurelia swam to the shoreline and took her usual position, lying on her stomach with her head propped in her hands. She knew the moment had come for her to share more about herself, but she would need to choose her words carefully. There were secrets she was not willing to reveal yet.

“What do you wish to know about me,” she asked, her voice steady despite the unease in her chest.

Drake stroked his chin, his stubbled jaw reminding her of how it felt against her skin earlier. Her cheeks flushed again at the memory.

“Well,” he said, “considering I—and most humans—know very little about you mysterious merfolk, I’d find almost anything you share fascinating.”

Aurelia relaxed slightly, feeling more confident now that she could steer the conversation and remain in safe waters. “Merfolk don’t live in large groups or… cities, as you call them. We much prefer solitude or small pods. I used to live with my parents, brother, and another family in a small grotto not far from here. I still visit them occasionally.”

“Why do you live alone now?” Drake asked, a crease forming between his brows.

She hesitated but decided to give him a partial truth. “My family didn’t support my… curious nature. It’s considered taboo to be so interested in humans, and they disapproved of my collection of human objects—my treasures.” Her gaze drifted toward her hoard of pretty trinkets. “Not even the glimmering gems could sway them. ‘We are merfolk,’ they’d say. ‘We don’t mingle with humans.’” She mimicked her father’s stern voice with a small smile.

Drake smirked. “So, you were the rebellious one?”

“Yes, you could say that,” she replied with a soft laugh.

“That we have in common.” Drake teased her. His expression shifted, growing thoughtful, “Why are you so uncertain of your own emotions,” he asked.

Aurelia’s heart skipped a beat. This was just the type of question she had wanted to avoid. Drake was observant, too much so for her comfort. “Well,” she started, trying to come up with a plausible answer. When she could find none, she decided to go with part of the truth. “Merfolk don’t experience the full range of emotions that humans do. We feel the basics—joy, sadness, fear, and anger—but nothing as vivid as what humans seem to feel.”

Drake’s eyes narrowed. “Then why do you feel these emotions?”

“I—I don’t know,” Aurelia stammered, refusing to meet his eyes. She knew if she did, he’d see right through her.

“You don’t know, or you don’t want to tell me?” His voice held an edge of anger.

“I don’t want to tell you,” Aurelia whispered, her eyes fixed on the sandy beach.

“I see,” Drake said through his teeth. “I share my past with you, but I can’t expect the same honesty in return?”

Her head snapped up, and she immediately regretted it. His expression had darkened, his brows drawn together, his lips pressed into a thin line. His movements were sharp and agitated as he stood, the tension in his body unmistakable.

She had angered him .

“I know you’re hiding something,” he said, his voice hard with accusation.

Aurelia winced. He was right—she was keeping things from him, even after he had been so open with her. But she was scared. How could he expect her to reveal all her secrets when she barely knew him? His stance was imposing, shoulders back, fists clenched, and jaw set like stone.

Wrapping her arms around herself, she whispered, “I— I’m sorry, Drake.” And then, as she always did when overwhelmed, she fled.

Aurelia dove into the water, escaping to her grotto’s entrance, leaving Drake alone on the shoreline. She grabbed her belt, knife, and sack before darting into the open ocean. She knew she was being a coward, but it was all too much. How could he get so angry so quickly? She had saved this man just days ago, and now he demanded her deepest secrets.

Yet, in such a short time, she felt an undeniable connection to him, as if they had been tied together by something more profound than mere circumstance. Perhaps it was simply because he was the first human she had ever spoken to. It made sense that she would form an attachment to her only real link to the human world.

But what about that kiss?

She couldn’t stop thinking about the way he had kissed her. How his lips had awakened something inside her, she didn’t know existed. She longed to feel his touch again, his lips devouring hers. But worst of all, deep down, she knew it wasn’t just physical. She wanted more than his touch; she wanted to understand him, to learn everything about him. Merfolk were not meant to feel this way, especially not about humans.

The ocean was dark as she swam, with the moon her only source of light. Not that it mattered; she was headed somewhere she could find blindfolded—her family’s grotto. The journey would take most of the night, but she craved the comfort of familiar faces. It had been a while since she last visited them, right before her fateful deal with the Sea Witch.

There was a certain peacefulness to swimming at night. The haunting calls of distant whales and the gentle melodies of nocturnal sea creatures kept her company in the dark waters. Aurelia remained near the surface, where the stars twinkled like diamonds in the dark sky above. Occasionally, she passed glowing plankton or jellyfish, painting the water with trails of shimmering light, casting a magical glow underwater.

Tomorrow, she would return to Drake. Tonight, she needed peace to swim beneath the stars and quiet her mind.