“-- magic?”

  “You said it. I didn’t.”

  He put his arms around her and pulled her to him. If what he’d just experienced wasn’t magic, it had still turned his reality onto its ear. Holding onto another human being could serve as an anchor of sorts.

  “There is magic in the world,” she said. “Admit it.”

  “I admit nothing,” he said. A purely defensive statement. The easy way he moved through life wasn’t going to work anymore. His conviction that he understood how the world operated stood on shaky legs. And a lot of that had to do with the woman in his arms.

  * * *

  Uma had taken a risk, and it had paid off. Mark didn’t appear to have noticed that she was nowhere to be seen when Nate’s creature swam with him and she’d suddenly showed up when the creature left. He was determined now to stay here and start a search for his friend instead of calling in the local authorities and returning to New York.

  That latter mattered most to her, and it shouldn’t have. He wasn’t the hero type, like his friend. He wouldn’t risk everything to stay here with his mate. He’d leave, and she’d go on with her life the way selkies always had. She’d have his daughter.

  She lay in the narrow bed with him, surrounded by the warmth of his body. He’d snaked an arm around her as soon as they’d climbed under the light cover, and now even in sleep, he held her next to him. Possessive, as if he truly cared about her.

  He probably did. He didn’t seem to be the sort of shallow man who only used women for their bodies and then didn’t want to be bothered. They’d shared some pretty amazing sex -- not a trivial matter. But he wouldn’t give up his life for her the way Nate had done for Ara.

  No, if anything, he’d try to take her back to his world when he left here. He’d try to make her into the sort of women he usually had relations with. He’d dress her up and have her hair styled. He’d want her to put on makeup. Makeup, by the gods. He’d want her to totter around in impossible shoes.

  She couldn’t possibly do all that. More important, she couldn’t abandon her seal nature. She couldn’t swim in the harbor there. And she couldn’t even attempt to do any of that unless she revealed her true identity to him. She was stuck with having to leave him, and soon.

  She eased herself out from under his arm, put on his shirt, which she’d laid at the foot of the bed, and went out of the hut toward the beach.

  How could anyone look at this place and want to live somewhere else? Maybe she was just biased from a lifetime of happiness with her sisters and all the animals here. She’d had a friendly octopus she’d visited every day. She’d swum with sea lion pups, and she’d learned about being a seal by diving among rays and sea turtles. She’d watched boobies and frigate birds perform their mating displays. All of nature had been hers for play and for learning.

  Just then, a familiar figure appeared in the water near the shore. The moonlight shimmered off its skin -- skin so much like her own when in seal form. One of her sisters had arrived, and… oh… she’d missed them so much.

  She ran down toward the water and watched as her sister pulled herself up onto the beach. Finally close enough now, she could recognize Ara. Their kind probably all looked the same to humans, but each had her own distinct features. The facial expression… and the thickening of her belly, which signaled pregnancy… announced Ara. She waited until Ara had slipped out of her seal skin and risen before going to her and hugging her fiercely.

  “I thought I’d come by on the off chance you were in the water,” Ara said.

  “I’ve managed to shift and swim a few times,” Uma said. “Although Mark wonders why I’m gone so long.”

  “Let’s sit and talk.” Ara took Uma’s hand, and the two of them went to a space of beach that wasn’t in the immediate line-of-sight from the hut. There, they sat in the sand with the moonlight spilling over them. This near the equator, they wouldn’t be chilled, not even near the water.

  Uma stretched out a hand toward Ara’s pregnant belly and then pulled it back.

  “You can touch it.” Ara took Uma’s hand and placed it over where her child grew within her.

  “Is she moving?”

  “Too early,” Ara answered. “But everything is going well.”

  Uma put her hands in her lap. “I’m glad… and Nate, is he happy?”

  “Over the moon,” Ara answered. “I came to find out about you.”

  “I’m fine.” She’d said that too quickly, and it didn’t sound convincing even to her own ears. But she had to be fine. She had no choice in the matter.

  “I wasn’t fine at this point in my relationship with Nate. I was coming to love him and afraid I’d have to leave him.”

  “Sometimes that’s for the best.”

  “Hm.” Ara touched her cheek. “Are you sure that’s the best for you?”

  “He’s a creature of the city.” Uma threw up her hands. “He can’t stay here, and I can’t go to New York.”

  “I didn’t think Nate would find me, but he did. Maybe Mark will do the same for you.”

  “You told me once that I could only have my mate if he fought for me,” Uma said.

  “That’s right.”

  “He wouldn’t fight for me. He wouldn’t believe a creature like me could exist,” Uma said. “He doesn’t believe in magic.”

  Ara sighed. “He does sound like a difficult case.”

  “I’ll have the traditional mating. I’ll have wonderful sex for a while. I’ll have a daughter as a result. It will be enough.” She’d have to convince herself of that, too, before Ara would believe her. She might have been better off not to think she might have a permanent relationship with Mark at all. Now, she’d have to live with Ara and her mate as an example of happiness she could never share.

  Why did mating have to be so complicated? Why couldn’t she enjoy the physical part and keep emotions out of it? Mark seemed to manage. He didn’t act as if any feelings were involved. Maybe if she could remember that, it wouldn’t hurt so much to leave him.

  “Well, while I’m here, let’s go for a swim together,” Ara said.

  “Wonderful idea.” At least she could enjoy the water with one of her sisters. Their bond could make anything better on land or in the sea.

  They both rose, and Uma hugged Ara again. “I’ll go get my seal skin and meet you in the water.”

  Chapter Five

  Uma knew she was in trouble when she spotted the light coming from the hut as she approached after her swim. Mark was awake. He’d noticed her absence, and she was going to have to explain it.

  She mentally girded her loins as she entered to find he’d lit not one but three of the lanterns and sat, clothed, at the worktable, facing the door.

  When he spotted her, he expelled a loud breath. “For Chrissake, where have you been?”

  “I went for a walk.” Lame, lame, lame.

  “There isn’t enough room on this island for you to be gone so long.”

  “So, I took a swim.” Lamer, even though it was the truth.

  “No one swims as long as you do,” he said. “No one.”

  No human likely did. Swimming was different -- more elemental and necessary -- for selkies. How long had she been gone, anyway? He made it sound like hours. She probably had lost track of time with Ara.

  “I woke up, and you were gone,” he said. “I went outside with a lantern to look for you. I called to you over and over. Nothing.”

  “I guess I didn’t hear you.”

  “Damn it all, Uma.” He slapped his palm against the tabletop. A holder full of pens rattled. “I was scared out of my mind.”

  “I’m sorry.” He had to have come out while she and Ara were swimming. Otherwise, she would have heard him. Which meant he hadn’t seen Ara and, more important, hadn’t seen either Ara or herself in their seal form. She could be thankful for that.

  “What do you do when you disappear?” he asked.

  “I walk around. I swim. I look at all the animals.”

  “At night?” He ran his fingers through his hair. “It’s dark out there.”

  “There’s a moon.”

  “You’re lying to me.” He got up and approached her. “And if you’re lying about this, what else are you lying about?”

  So much. She hadn’t meant to deceive him when she got here. But she had secrets to keep. Ara’s mate might have accepted who she was. This skeptic, as he called himself, might not do that. He might just reject her. So, she couldn’t tell him about the Sisterhood or where Nate had gone to live with his mate. She couldn’t tell him where to find his friend. Most of all, she couldn’t tell him about herself. Lie upon lie upon lie had her stomach in knots.

  He walked up to her and bent to put his face next to hers. “Who are you?”

  “It doesn’t matter.” At least, that wasn’t a complete lie. He didn’t need to know about her identity as a selkie as long as he impregnated her. The answer wouldn’t satisfy him, though.

  “Damn it, I’m falling in love with you, and I don’t know who you are.” Now, he was shouting.

  “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” Finally, truth.

  He backed off a bit, his fingers digging into his hair again. “This is funny. Funny in a really twisted way.”

  She could only watch him as he struggled. He loved her. Despite everything else, a sense of joy bubbled up inside her. Along with that came hope, and she’d have to squash that. But for a few seconds, she could let herself imagine they could have a happy ending, as Ara and Nate had. He loved her.

  She reached out and touched his arm. “I’m sorry, Mark. That’s all I can tell you. I’m Uma. Accept that for what it’s worth.”

  He went back to the chair and sat down with his elbows on his knees and his face in his hands. Her heart melted looking at him. She went to him and knelt before him.

  “I love you, too, Mark.” She shouldn’t have said that, no matter how true. She just flat-out should have kept that to herself. It could only make things worse for him.

  He lifted his head. “What in hell am I supposed to do?”

  “Make love with me?”

  “God.” He tipped his head back, stared at the ceiling, and let out a strangled laugh.

  “Or not.” She sat on the bed, just as hopeless as he appeared to be. She could have told him he wouldn’t remember ever meeting her, but he wouldn’t believe that. She could have told him she lived in an all-female society of women who were also seals. Also what he would call “magic.” Above all, she wouldn’t tell him the whole point of this was to conceive a child. His daughter.

  He stared at her, searching her face as if he could find answers there. She sat and let him do it. She wouldn’t give anything away, even if her body trembled a bit under his gaze. She ought to leave him now, before they could become even more entangled. But if she could continue to have his body, she’d do it out of pure selfishness. She’d force herself to wipe out his memory of how they’d been together and return to the Sisterhood. Soon, but not right now.

  “I can’t say no to you,” he said.

  She opened her arms to him, and he joined her on the bed. This time he kissed her as if he couldn’t get enough of her. Pass after urgent pass of his lips over hers. She did her best to keep up, but at the same time, he was tugging the shirt she wore up toward her head. They stopped briefly to remove the garment and then his clothing. Now both naked, they lay among the tangled sheets as he began an all-out assault attack on her senses.

  His hands were everywhere as he kissed her again. His tongue pressed for entrance between her lips, and when she grazed it with her own tongue, a river of fire raced through her. Suddenly, her need matched his, and she grasped at any part of him she could reach. His face, his shoulders, the expanse of his back. Their bodies moved against each other, creating friction against her breasts.

  Every time they had sex was different, and now hunger replaced tenderness. She reached for his cock, but it was pressed against her hip. Who knew how much longer she’d be able to touch it and feel it swell? Sense it pulsing against her palm? Her sex ached for it, craving total penetration. If only she could stroke him and make him crazy with lust, he’d take her, rough and deep.

  He shifted to give her access, and she curled her fingers around the shaft, pumping. And yet, she could do more. Pushing against him, she managed to roll him onto his back, and before he could stop her or object, she bent to take him into her mouth.

  His hips jerked upward. “What are you doing?”

  She didn’t stop sucking on him to answer. He knew damned well what she was doing.

  “You’re going to make me come,” he said.

  He wouldn’t do that. He was far too good a lover. But when she’d finished with this, he’d fuck her with a force that would tear her world apart. For a moment, she’d own him. If she couldn’t have him forever, she’d have this time and the certainty he belonged to her.

  He sucked in a breath. “Damn… oh, shit…”

  He wouldn’t last long now, and she’d stop soon. The sense of power was an aphrodisiac, driving her own lust higher. When they did come together, they’d set off explosions. Neither of them would remain in control. It would be glorious.

  In the end, he made the decision. He pushed her away from him, guiding her onto her back. Then, he settled himself between her legs and drove his cock home in one thrust.

  Yes… oh yessss. What she’d imagined and more. Now, he possessed her totally, shoving into her, nearly pulling out, and then impaling her again. His muscles bunched with the effort to keep his weight off her, and his face twisted into a mask of pure lust. She wrapped her legs around him to hold on as his movements became violent.

  Still, she needed more, so she raised her hips to meet his thrusts, burying him deeper inside her. Her clit had already come to life, and now the force of his thrusts increased the pressure against it. She closed her eyes as the pressure built and built. She’d fly into pieces in a moment and take him with her.

  “Come.” His voice had a rasp to it as he strained to give her more. Despite his need, he’d deny himself until he’d satisfied her. She hovered so close to the edge. Now, and now, and now!

  The orgasm burst over her, stealing the air from her lungs. Pleasure too intense to be endured. Her sex grasped at his over and over as she cried out. A roar escaped him then, and he thrust a few more times before going stiff in her arms. Inside, he’d be releasing the proof of his desire and even love. The magic that would give her a child.

  In the end, she sagged into the mattress, utterly drained. He lay on top of her, a welcome weight. She held him and stroked his back as he returned to reality. After a bit, he flopped onto his side, holding her against him.

  Yes, she loved him, and he loved her. For humans, that made things simple. She’d go back to New York with him and let him shower her with riches. For a selkie, that was impossible.

  * * *

  Enough. Mark had put up with Uma’s disappearances for too long. This time, he was going to find out what in hell she was doing. Off for one of her swims, only this time she’d sworn she wouldn’t be gone long. She hadn’t defined “long,” though. Her definition had to be different from his.

  As usual, there was no sign of her on the beach where they usually hung out. But every time she’d appeared, she’d come from another direction, so he went that way. There was a smaller spit of sand on this side of the island, and she must reappear there. So, he settled down on a rock and stared out over the water.

  On second thought, he sat behind the rock so she wouldn’t know he was searching for her. And he waited some more and waited and waited.

  Eventually, a sound came to him. Like heavy breathing after exertion. He glanced over the top of the rock to discover that seal-creature had returned. Had it come looking for him, or was this a chance meeting?

  Before he could rise to approach it, something really weird happened. A seam opened up in the creature’s side. Not a wound. It was a straight line, and no blood poured out. More like an opening that was supposed to be there.

  Something emerged. No, not something. Someone. Uma. Holy shit. He sat, almost paralyzed, and watched her. Naked, she picked up what was left of the creature, stashed it under a bush, and rolled a rock to cover the spot. When she straightened, she had his shirt in her hand. She put it on and headed toward the hut.

  Finally, he found enough strength to stand up. When she saw him, she jumped and brought her hand to her throat. They stood in silence for a moment, staring at each other.

  “What the fuck?” he managed to say.

  “Did you see?” she answered.

  “Did I see you change from that…” He pointed toward where she’d stashed the creature. “… into you? Yeah.”

  “I can explain.”

  “I’d like to hear that.”

  She took a step toward him. “Mark --”

  “Oh, no.” He held out his arms. “Not until you tell me who and what you are.”

  “I’m a selkie.”

  “You’re a what?”

  “Please.” She begged with her eyes. They even threatened tears. “I’ll tell you everything if you promise to listen.”

  He threw his hands out to his sides. “Sure. I have nothing else going on right now.”

  “Let’s sit down.” She went to a spot near the water line and plopped down onto the sand. Of course. A seal wouldn’t need a blanket. He joined her and also sat a few feet away. Right this moment, touching her didn’t feel like a great idea without knowing what species she was.

  Uma dug her fingers into the sand and played with it for a moment. Mark just waited.

  “A selkie is a woman who can be both a human female and a seal,” she said. “Mostly you read about us in Norse or Celtic mythology, but we can exist in most oceans.”

  “So, you are that seal I swam with?”

  “And I lied when I told you I’d seen the same creature. To fool you into not guessing why you didn’t see me when your seal was around.”

  “And I totally bought it.” What else had he bought hook, line and sinker? Just how badly had the sex scrambled his brain?

 

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