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He smiled to himself as he navigated through the water toward his cave at the outskirts of Vythos. The human—Christina—was fun. Obsessed with penises, but fun. And cute, if you went for bubbly blondes with huge, blue eyes and large breasts. He didn’t have a type, but if he did, it’d be someone with eyes green like the sea and a leaner frame. Someone like Pherusa. Who was just his friend and happily bonded to her male. He wasn’t pining over her. Hadn’t avoided the palace because he couldn’t witness her happiness. If anything, he was happy for his friend and giving her space while she and her soulmate got reacquainted.
And the thought didn’t taste as bitter as he expected it to. Maybe because he still felt the warmth of Christina’s breasts pressed to his back. She blushed the most delightful pink when he caught her gazing at him. And her lips... Rosy and full, they seemed made for laughing. And kissing. And sucking.
Luckily, his half-fish form didn’t let his anatomy betray his thoughts, and with everyone who knew Christina safely inside the palace bubble, he was in no danger of being overheard.
Unlike merpeople and Nereus’ family, Palaemon didn’t automatically change into this form underwater. He could shift into any living creature at will. In fact, he’d looked fully human when he first laid eyes on Christina, but opted for the tail before she reached him, because it made swimming easier—as well as hiding unsolicited erections from innocent human eyes.
With his cave in sight, he ordered his body to reshape into his human form and strode the rest of the distance to the bubble surrounding the cavern, and then through it.
He lay atop his coral bed. He should be back at the palace for dinner, but someone would fetch him, and in the meantime, he could take a nap. It had been a long day, with patrolling the Aegean for signs of Titan activity, and he’d been moody when Circe suggested he go bring the human below.
Christina’s smile when she introduced herself had made his weariness evaporate though, and then, when she wrapped her arms and legs around him, every curve of her supple form pressed against him...
He closed his fist around his erection and tugged. He didn’t make a habit of this. Pleasuring himself while thinking of an unattainable female wasn’t his style. He could have a woman if he wanted, but he wasn’t interested. His duty to Vythos, as one of King Nereus’ generals was his raison d'être. It fulfilled him.
Yet he kept tugging. And thinking of the line of Christina’s mouth. And the waves of her blond hair. And the hint of a nipple almost slipping out of her top.
He spilled all over his lap, his mind painting a vivid picture of Christina licking him clean that threatened to make him hard again.
In the distance, he heard the horn calling the generals to the palace. No time for a nap, then. No matter. He felt more refreshed than he’d been in ages. He hurried outside and cleaned up, then brought his armor out of the treasure chest he’d salvaged and put it on one piece at a time. The blue steel glinted in the pale glow coming from outside, as he secured it in place. It covered him from his neck to the middle of his thighs, allowing his tail full movement, and keeping him reasonably decent while he walked on human legs. He was expected to wear it at official gatherings. Dinner at the palace wasn’t that official, but he refused to make it through the night in one of the seaweed robes Queen Doris loved so much.
The robes hadn’t bothered him before, but Christina hadn’t been around to see him in one before. Besides, blue was much more his color than green was.
By the time he was shown inside the ballroom, everyone was seated at the long semicircular table that span half the great hall.
“Finally.” Nereus nodded. “I was about to send Delphinos after you.”
“My king, I apologize. Time slipped by me.” Palaemon gave a sweeping bow. Nereus demanded no such shows of reverence, but they had guests, and some formalities were necessary.
“Come sit with us. We saved you a seat,” Olivia said in Greek. She pointed at the empty chair between her and Christina, whose gaze was trained to her plate.
“Thank you.” Palaemon took the seat and winced when the chair screeched as he pulled it back in place.
Olivia smiled. “Christina and I were actually just talking about you. Tell us, what do sea daimons do, exactly?”
The way she phrased it made him sound like a utensil. “We basically keep the world safe,” he said as non-smugly as he could.
Christina snorted. Had she understood?
“And how do you do that?” Olivia asked.
“What is this? Twenty questions?” Christina said. So she did speak Greek now? The sea witch must have had something to do with it.
“What? I’m curious,” Olivia said.
“I get it, but let him take a bite first. The poor man literally just sat down.” Christina gasped and brought her dainty hand to her mouth. “Oh my God. Is that specieist?”
Palaemon laughed. From the other side of the table, Delphinos arched an eyebrow at him and whispered something in his soulmate’s ear. Halie nodded and looked at Palaemon through lowered eyelashes.
“What?” Palaemon asked.
“You’re laughing,” Pherusa said from Halie’s other side. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you laugh before.”
Thankfully, Queen Doris chose that moment to make a toast to their guests, and soon the sounds of silverware clanking against china rivaled the light chatter filling the room. Palaemon was off the hook.
Christina trailed her fork across her plate, not touching her crispy seaweed salad.
“You don’t like it?” he asked her.
“You could have said no. Didn’t have to laugh at me.” Her words were hushed, but they found their way to his ears and down to his chest, to wind around his heart. She thought he was mocking her?
He covered her hand with his and tried to ignore the jolt of desire that raced along his skin at the contact. “Forgive me. I meant no offense. Your question surprised me. I very much think of myself as a man.” Leaning closer, he whispered, “One with a cock.”
The blush that creeped up her neck and to her cheeks clashed with the green of the robe that had never looked more appealing. She tucked her hair behind her ear and whispered back, “Really? I didn’t notice.”
He should pull her in his lap and let her feel his cock and the fact that it was rock hard, but he had an inkling the king might not appreciate the initiative. Instead, he pretended to wipe his mouth with his napkin. “I’ll have to show you after dinner,” he said, relying on the piece of cloth to muffle his words.
“Show her what? I want to see too,” Olivia said.
Christina let out a snort and choked, her bosom heaving with the effort to breathe. No, wait. She was laughing and trying to mask it. And the sliver of skin revealed at the opening of her robe called for his fingers to trace it.
“So what are we seeing?” Olivia asked.
All talk ceased, and everyone’s gazes were on Palaemon, waiting for his answer.
“His seashell collection,” Christina said.
Palaemon sent a quick prayer to Oceanus, wherever he was, that Olivia didn’t care to see those, since he didn’t have any.
And... prayer answered. “Oh,” she said. “Oh, okay. I was thinking maybe you’d show her around the city.”
“Kingdom, not city,” Prometheus interjected, not looking up from his dish. “I’m sure Palaemon would love to show you around tonight. After he shows Christina his shells. I hear he has a large cephalopod he’s rather proud of.”
Hyperion chuckled.
Damned Titans and their super-sensitive hearing. Palaemon had no doubt they’d made out his private conversation with Christina loud and clear.
“Not sure I wanna see that. I hear those things can be icky.” Christina arched an eyebrow Palaemon’s way.
He gave her a smug smile. “You can judge for yourself. Unless you’re scared it might bite.”
“How could a husk bite her?” Queen Doris sounded perplexed.
Prometheus laughed heartily, and Hyperion joined in, while Pherusa and Olivia exchanged knowing glances. Lovely. The protogod bastards had shared what they heard with their soulmates through their mental link. Palaemon should drop this.
He glanced at Christina, but she was diligently avoiding his gaze, as she tried a mouthful of sea anemone. “This is incredible.” She moaned.
Matter closed, then. She was obviously not interested. And someone should tell his cock that.