The One That Got Away

Published by
Melange Books, LLC
White Bear Lake, MN 55110
www.melange-books.com

Copyright © 2012
The One That Got Away, Megan Hussey

Names, characters, and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Published in the United States of America.
Cover Art by Caroline Andrus

The One That Got Away

Megan Hussey

Port Emerald, Fla., 1992   

“I gotta tell ya, Cecily. That bathing suit just isn’t you.”

“I gotta tell ya, Dallas. Basic human interactions and intelligent, sensitive comments just aren’t you.”

Seated on a lonely fishing pier at a remote beach area in Port Emerald, Fla., Cecily Jacobs decided that Port Emerald Pier was not quite lonely or remote enough; seeing that she couldn’t seem to lose the obnoxious boyfriend who shared her stretch of the pier.

“You promised to lose twenty pounds before our vacation.” Dallas Hillford thrust forth his prized fishing rod, aiming his reel for a large green fin that protruded upward in the water.

“You seem to take such great pride in that big, long reel.” A smirking Cecily snuck a long, hooded glance at his unobtrusive groin. “Could you, by chance, be overcompensating for something rather small?”

Her smirk dissolved to a concerned frown seconds later, as Dallas’ hook snagged its target: the smooth, gem-hued fin that seemed too large to belong to a typical fish of the sea.

“What is that thing?” She pointed toward the fin, jumping to her feet as a low, keening wail arose from the waters below her. “Whatever it is, you’re hurting it!”

“Well dear, that is kinda the point of fishing. You do have to kill the thing before you eat it.” Dallas rolled his eyes. “And it looks like I’ve got the catch of the day.”

Ignoring her boyfriend’s sarcasm, Cecily jumped headfirst from the pier, her body hitting the waters below with a loud, resounding splash. Wincing as the creature’s wailing and crying became more keen and insistent, she ripped the hook from its fin and tossed it into the water.

“I cannot believe that you just did that.” Shaking his head, an apathetic Dallas stood to his feet and reeled in his line. “Thanks to you, the catch of the day just became the one that got away.”

Oblivious to his ire, Cecily ran her fingers across the surface of the still protruding fin, ensuring that no tears or puncture wounds tore its perfect surface. Satisfied that no permanent damage was done, she let go of the fin and watched with a smile as it disappeared beneath the waves.

Sighing her relief, Cecily closed her eyes and relished the newfound quiet that permeated her airspace. The crying and wailing of the entrapped creature subsided into silence, to be replaced by quiet birdsong and the delicate ring of distant wind chimes. She felt beautiful, sedate, and at peace with her surroundings.

Heaven knows that didn’t last long.

“I swear, Cecily, sometimes I wonder if you’re just bat shit crazy.”

Her eyes flew open to reveal the retreating form of her disenchanted boyfriend, who gathered up his fishing equipment and headed away from the pier.

“Whenever you decide to come to your senses, I’ll be back at the hotel,” he sniffed over his shoulder.

“Au revoir!” Cecily waved with a smile.

Turning with a flourish away from the pier, she came face to face with the most beautiful man she ever had seen.

His hair shone a rich shade of cinnamon brown, and fell in long, lustrous waves down his planed back, framing a face that boasted wide olive eyes and sculpted cheekbones.

“Damn, you’re hot.” Cecily’s gaze took a leisurely walk down the length of his massive chest, covered as it was with bronze skin and not a bit of intrusive body hair. “Where in the heck did you come from?”

His answering laugh, deep and melodic, sent chills up her spine.

“Don’t you remember, my Lady?” He drew closer to her in the water. “We just met.”

Cecily shook her head, confused.

“That’s impossible. My boyfriend and I have been out here alone all morning.” She charmed him with a winsome grin. “Besides, if we had met before, I’m sure I’d remember you.”

“So let me remind you.”

The stranger disappeared beneath the waves; seconds later a fin appeared above the water’s surface, fanning gracefully from side to side.

“You—you’re the one that got away,” Cecily murmured, eyes flying wide. “No way!”

“Yes way.” A garbled, bubbled voice arose from the waves, capturing her curiosity—not to mention her abject shock.

Immediately she had to learn the full identity of this mysterious, surreal stranger. So she took a deep breath and broke the waves, plunging beneath the water’s surface to get a better look at the man who so intrigued her.

And never, she mused, had she seen anything more beautiful.

While the man’s upper half appeared planed and muscular, as reflected in a broad, massive chest and flawless abs, his lower half took the form of a contoured fin; yet far from being rough or scaly in appearance, this shiny appendage was smooth, contoured, and downright…

“Beautiful,” she breathed, swallowing a mouthful of water in the process.

Jutting herself upward above the water’s surface, she released a sharp, rough cough as her concerned companion joined her.

“Are you all right?” Flying to her side, the stranger gathered a shivering Cecily in his arms and warmed her with his caress; gathering her up in a nurturing embrace that soothed and heated her soaking limbs.

“And, as it turns out, one limb seems warmer than the others.” Cecily’s heart and clit pounded in strong, demanding accord, driving her farther into his arms.

For a moment, she sat silently, reveling in his tenderness; a quality she rarely saw in her rude, irritable significant other. Laying her head against the broad chest of this sweet, loving man, she lingered in his embrace, seeming to savor both the divine strength and the gentle clasp of his arms.

Finally, she stared deep into his eyes and asked in an awestruck tone, “Just what the hell are you?”

She felt his chest vibrate with laughter as he guffawed his response.

“Sorry,” she bit her lip. “Let me amend that question. Who are you?”

“No, no, you were right the first time.” He squeezed her shoulders. “The questions that you pose are separate and distinct. Who I am is Logan, a man who spends part of his time onshore, living in a small cavern and guarding and cleaning the sands of Port Emerald Beach. I also love to read and have a weakness for Xbox.” He grinned, but only briefly. “What I am, dear lady is a merman.” With this, he graced her gaping lips with a hard, impulsive kiss. “And you have saved this merman’s life.”

In an impulsive move Cecily threw her arms around his broad shoulders and pulled him closer than close. 

“You were the one that got away,” she released on a sob. “My boyfriend could have murdered you.”

“He thought I was just a fish, darling.” Logan took her in a tender embrace, kissing away her errant tears. “Even so, it’s good that you stepped—or rather, dove—in to help me.” He drew back to grace her with a devastating smile. “You saved my life, Cecily.”

Cecily nodded.

“I never have had much of a taste for Dallas’ hobbies.” She cringed in spite of himself. “Hunting, fishing, ogling and comparing me unfavorably to every bimbo who crosses his line of vision…”

She took in her breath as Logan cut her off with a long, warm kiss. She sighed as his hands rubbed her shoulders, moving in smooth and luxurious synch with his soft, moist lips.

“You deserve better,” he hissed against her mouth, his citrus-tinged breath falling soft onto her lips. “Let me show you, baby. Let me make you feel better.” He ran a long, wet tongue down the length of her ivory-skinned neck. “Let me make love to you, Cecily.”

“What? Huh? Hold up.”

Breaking abruptly from his embrace, she met his advances with a glance and a gape that bespoke her total shock.

“We so cannot have sex.” She shook her head, planting her hands on hips.

“Why, darling?” He seared her with a seductive leer.

“Why?” she repeated, cocking her head. “Where do I start? I have a boyfriend, and you have a fin.”

“The fin disappears the moment I step onshore. I notice that your boyfriend disappeared the moment you had a disagreement. And if you give me half a chance, I can make him and his idiotic comments disappear from your mind.” Logan waggled his eyebrows, crooking a sly finger in her direction.

Cecily remained unconvinced.

Horny as all get out
, she bit her lip,
but unconvinced, all the same
.

Aloud she reasoned, “Surely someone who looks like you could have his choice of centerfold beach babes.” She gestured down the length of her Rubenesque form. “As you can see, a bikini is about as useful to me as a codpiece.”

Logan shrugged. “A lot of those ‘centerfold beach babes’ tend to be rather unkind to anyone who is different from them.” He frowned at the thought of what seemed to be some painful recollections. “Including those with fins.”

Erasing the distance between them, he joined their hands together and stared deep into her eyes.

“I like real women,” he whispered. “I can tell you’re a woman of passion, Cecily, I can see it in your eyes. Show me your passion, baby.” He rubbed his hard, bare chest temptingly against hers. “Take me, Cecily. Just have your way with me. I’ll do anything you want….”

“OK, so you sold me.”

Jumping into Logan’s arms, Cecily wrapped her arms around his bulging shoulders and rested her head against his golden chest.

“That’s a good girl,” Logan purred, holding her close as his powerful fin drove them forward into the water. “Just relax and let me do everything.” His whisper was low and hypnotic. “Let me take care of you.”

Breaking away from his entranced lover, Logan surged upward in a graceful leap from the waters below him. Cecily watched in wonder as his flawless form floated with uncommon grace in the air above them, his fin shining like a sparkling emerald in the light of the noble sun.

Finally he descended with a graceless thump in the softness of the grasses that lined the sparkling brook; a move that brought Cecily scurrying from the water, kneeling over the still—but, she had to admit, still smoking hawt—figure of the merman.

“Are you all right?” She stared with concern at the placid carved face of her silent lover, noting the closure of his ebony eyes and the relaxed set of his full, firm lips.