The Merman 
by Delilah Jones

I've been body surfing since I was a little girl. Growing up in a coastal city in Southern California I spent every free moment at the beach. Never the sun worshipper I spent all my time in the water, sometimes I was out body surfing for so long that I came back dizzy, lightheaded and very famished. I would collapse in the sand and dream up this on going fantasy of the merman that would save me from the evil world of the land lubbers and take me to his secret place for a love feast that didn't end until I was dizzy and totally satiated. Here we go, ride the wave with me!

I was enjoying a quiet stroll alone on the board- walk. A salty mist gently blew my hair, as the clouds gathered over the ocean like a soft gray blanket. The dew on my skin felt nourishing as I left the walkway for the sand. No one is sight. "Oh good" I heard myself say out loud. I craned my neck to look down both ends of the beach as I kicked off my sandals and wiggled my toes into the sand. I waited for it a few minutes and breathed deeply, letting the salt air clear my mind. I tingled with anticipation as I drew my shirt over my head and slid out of my jeans. Still no one in sight, so I ran down to the waters edge, naked and free, my nipples tight and hard from the misty spray. It had been a long time since I had entered my mother waters. The water was warm and I dove in abandoning all cares of the world I left behind, even if it was for only a while. I reached my long arms out to cup the waters and pull me through the waves and rolled to my back to float languidly over the swells.

Before I could catch my breath a huge wave rumbled toward me unexpectedly, catching and pounding me under it's torrent rolling me mercilessly under. Over and over my strong body turned, like a rag doll in the washing machine. I struggled to pull myself up but had no idea of which way to go. I knew I was going to die as the seconds seemed like hours, I tumbled, no air, no hope, no more…but as I drifted off I felt someone grab me firmly, then lips sealed themselves over mine and shared a breath of air with me. I gasped and exhaled quickly to be answered with another breath. Everything went black.

A beautiful low chant slowly brought me back. I fell back into my body as consciousness awoke within me. I couldn't move something was heavy and holding me down. My eyes refused to open as I strained to will them to see whom it was that was chanting so mysteriously. I could smell smoke and heard the crackle of a fire. The aroma of the sea and the smoke comforted me and I was surprisingly unafraid. New sounds came forth, soft working sounds that came from the chanter with the male voice. I heard the soft lapping of water nearby. Where was I? What am I doing here, and why can't I open my eyes or move? The chanting subsided and I heard the man coming toward me.

He lifted the heavy skin blanket off of me. I felt strong, warm hands take hold of my foot and squeeze, then felt warm oil being massaged and worked into my muscles. He then worked his way up along my calf squeezing and kneading with expert finesse. I sighed deeply and he stopped for a second then uttered a sound of approval. As he squeezed his way to my thigh he gently rolled me to my side and continued the massage to my firm buttocks and lower back. Then he rolled me to my other side and continued the massage. My body relaxed into this man's gentle, yet strong touch. I tried to speak but the words would not form. My eyes, glued shut tried earnestly to open but…nothing. I surrendered myself into the hands of the stranger.

He worked his oiled hands along my back and massaged every fiber. Carefully, gently he cupped a hand under my neck as he rolled me to face him and he rubbed my hands, arms, breasts and abdomen. Swirling his hands in a circular pattern I breathed along in trance with his movements. He stroked my hair and face lightly then got up and returned a few minutes later. Cradling me in one arm he pulled me upright and brought a warm, salty broth to my lips. I sipped at it, for his loving touch invoked my trust, then drank some more. He held another cup-full to my mouth and I drank it, all the while wishing I could see who this rescuer was.

I felt the heavy skin being placed around me and my eyes finally followed my command. They opened enough to let in the yellow glow of firelight. As they adjusted and focused I lifted my hand to push back the blanket a bit. I could move! I sat up and looked around. I was in a black cave, a small cave. Across from me was a small fire and long worm hole type lava tunnels above the fire, sucking the smoke in its draft. The shiny black obsidian of the cave walls were black glass and reflected the firelight. It seemed unreal, surreal. I got up to explore. My body swayed but obeyed my commands. There were skins and shells and caches full of dried fish and things I couldn't recognize. I also saw old treasures and junk being used for various purposes. Where was the mysterious savior? I walked over to a lava tunnel level with the floor of the room. Coarse, black sand stuck to my oily feet. The tunnel was lit with torches but I still couldn't see much. I turned to explore the lava cave when an echo of splashing coming from the tunnel startled me. I heard footsteps crunching through the heavy sand and had to prop myself against the wall of the cave to keep from fainting. There in the mouth of the cave stood the man. He was naked and wet.

A tall streamlined body with well-defined muscles, light skin and soft curly brown hair covered the usual hairy spots on a man. The hair gracing his head was long, wavy and brown like the rest of him and hung to his buttocks. My eyes widened, my mind went blank and I just stood there frozen. Had I died and gone to heaven? His green eyes glowed a shade of emerald in the firelight and he nodded and motioned at me toward the bed. I numbly walked to the skin bed and sat down, just now realizing that I was stark naked, but somehow didn't care. His angular features were strong and held beauty. I studied him from my pallet as he sliced fresh fish with a bone knife. I watched as he arranged the pieces with bits of sea vegetables on a huge white shell. Then he dipped some broth from the pot over the fire and added various exotic tidbits to it. It smelled good. I was famished! My stomach was about to be filled but the primal hunger that gnawed at my core could not be satisfied with just a good seafood meal. I wanted him!

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