I see the worry in his eyes, so I decide to put him out of his misery. “Don’t worry about me. I’m lucky enough to have more than one form, remember?”
“Yeah, but you don’t have enough time to master any of them, which is a disadvantage.”
“Micah, once shifters see what my original form is, no one will challenge me for anything,” I assure him.
“What are you?” he asks again, and this time I decide to answer instead of leaving him hanging.
“I’m a hydra.” His reaction is so comical, I can’t help but burst into laughter when his eyes widen and his mouth drops open.
“A hydra? Fuck,” he mutters, running all the possibilities through his mind. “No one will challenge you once they know that.”
I nod. “Yes, that’s what we’re all counting on, and if they do, well, apparently the hydra has a few tricks up its sleeve—poisonous claws and acid spit or breath to start with, not to mention the ability to regenerate. I’m basically indestructible. I just need to learn how to stay on my feet, which hasn’t been very successful.” I feel my cheeks heat with a blush, and he chuckles.
“That’s okay. I’m sure you will get the hang of it quickly. You did with this form.” He waves a hand at me. “You scared the crap out of the others when you disappeared.”
I scowl. “Maybe Liam shouldn’t have tossed me into the pond. That was a dick move.”
“Definitely a dick move,” he agrees, “but effective. Let’s relieve their panic though. They were freaking out, thinking they killed their mate, and the others were about to send Liam to his own watery grave.”
To be honest, I kind of feel the same way about Liam right now, despite our rather hot interaction outside of my bedroom, but as a polar bear, he probably wouldn’t drown. I guess he’s as comfortable in the water as he is on land.
He offers me his hand, looking hopeful, and as I place mine in his, I feel a pulse of happiness. He looks around the cave, and his eyes twinkle. “I wouldn’t mind coming back here when we have more time. I’d like to show you all the pleasures of having a mer form.” He winks, and my eyes widen with curiosity.
“What do you mean?” The water flows around us, and he glides toward me, wrapping one of his hands around my waist before pulling me against his muscular torso. Our tails brush below the surface, and I moan as a rush of sensation courses through my limbs.
“Holy crap,” I murmur as he brushes our tails together again with deliberate, powerful strokes.
“Unlike animal shifters, who don’t often fuck in their animal form because they’re mates are not always the same creature, mers can and do. I can show you the pleasures of what being a mer mate is about. Our scales are designed to send signals to the brain, warning us of dangers in the ocean, but they can also amplify pleasurable sensations as well. I can bring you to orgasm just by brushing my tail against yours.”
My breath becomes shallow, and my nipples prickle beneath my sports bra, becoming hard points. Micah’s smooth torso brushes against my exposed skin, and all I want to do is rub myself against him like a cat. Instead, I sigh, knowing I need to prioritize having full control of my shifts before any pursuit of pleasure.
Rain check?” I ask hopefully, and although I see the disappointment in his eyes, he gives me a nod.
“Anytime. Let’s go put your other mates out of their misery and work on getting you to shift seamlessly between forms. If you can do that, even if there is some idiot who wants to challenge your hydra, then showing you have access to nine different forms will leave no one questioning your ability to lead.”
He slowly sinks below the surface, dragging me with him, and I hold my breath, my body tense with the unnatural idea of breathing underwater. Soon, the need to inhale overrides my compulsion, and water flows through my gills, expanding my lungs once more. That’s going to take time to get used to. “
Micah leads me under the churning waterfall, and light returns to the depths as the sun shines through from above. When we surface not far from where Liam threw me in, the remaining five are arguing with one another, but that quickly comes to a stop when they spot us.
“Oh thank God.” Brodie sinks to his knees and gazes at me with relief. “I thought he killed you.”
Liam scoffs, and I notice he has a split lip that dribbles blood. “She’s a hydra shifter. Even if she didn’t have a mer form, they are just as much at home in the water as on land, you fucking asshole.”
He swipes the back of his hand across his chin and smears the blood across his face, yet it makes him look even hotter. I flip him off, and he smirks at me, looking pretty pleased with himself, and my gaze drops to his mostly naked body. He catches where I’m looking, and his eyes narrow in challenge. His hands go to the waistband of his shorts before he shoves them down.
“How’s the water? I wouldn’t mind a swim myself.” He steps forward, and I can’t stop my gaze from going to the weapon that swings between his legs. Holy shit, is that even legal? There is no way that’s going to fit inside me.
He chuckles darkly, noticing that I’m looking exactly where he wanted me to. He fists his cock, and something glints in the sunlight—a piercing. Well, that might be fun. He strokes up and down, and my creature rolls around inside me in delight.
“See something you like?” he growls, his bear in his tone. I drag my eyes away from the mesmerizing sight of him handling his dick and arch an eyebrow.
“Meh, I’ve seen better.” It’s a lie, but he doesn’t like it. He throws his head back and roars. It’s a sound I’ve never heard come out of a human’s mouth before. His body starts to contort, and within moments, a huge polar bear is standing on the side of the pool.
“Oh fuck, you’re in trouble now,” Gem mutters, grinning like an idiot.
The bear stalks toward the pool, his black eyes locked on me. I swim backwards, but he just keeps coming, launching himself into the water. A squeak leaves my mouth as a large figure brushes past my tail. He swims a circle around me, and I spin to keep him in sight.
“Stay still, Colbie. If you swim away, he’s going to take it as a challenge and treat you like prey,” Gryffin warns, crouching down and watching Liam’s path. “Liam’s bear has been on edge for months now. One wrong move, and it will take the mating choice out of your hands.”
