Seri swam over and nudged him. “Relax. She has gills, remember? I gave birth to her in a tub. Nymphs can swim before they can crawl or walk. She just…hasn’t had much opportunity.”
“I know that…but my body doesn’t care. Like, it’s just an ingrained idea that babies and pools don’t mix.” He grimaced. “I do have one thing to admit…”
“Mm?” the man hummed in question.
“I’m not the best swimmer.”
Seri’s head cocked. “You aren’t?”
“No…”
“Well…maybe we can fix that? Maybe when we can use an actual pool.”
Severo, almost too quickly, blurted out, “It’s a date! After this, once Preston is locked away, let’s go to a lake, or a pool, or really anywhere where we can swim. Maybe not the ocean though,” he said the last part with slight trepidation. “But yeah, you can teach me all that you know. At least, all that isn’t due to you being a Nymph. Unfortunately, I will not be growing gills anytime soon.”
His heart was oddly beating fast. But then, he had just suggested plans after all this was over. He wasn’t trying to be sly and get a promise for more after this, yet…he couldn’t help but try to in some way show Seri that he wanted more…without actually saying it.
Seri blinked at his words. Silent for a moment, before he shyly nodded and agreed. “Yes. Let’s do that.” The Nymph pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you.”
“Perfect!” Severo smiled. “You missed it, huh?”
“Yes… Preston kept me away from water. He kept me cut off from my powers. And when I escaped…I feared the risks I would be taking going to a public pool, or even going to places outdoors. I missed it so much. It was like a piece of me was cut off. Beyond me…Skya no doubt felt the loss too…”
Severo wrapped an arm around Seri’s waist, pulling him close as he kissed the top of his head. He lightly gripped his little pouch of a stomach, thumb running over some of his stretch marks. “Well, I can’t give you the ocean, lake, or a giant pool right now, but if I can find a bigger mini pool that will fit in our living room, I’m willing to sacrifice the couch to set it up.”
“Nonsense.” Seri giggled, cheeks flushing slightly as he continued to hold him. One of the Nymph’s hands hesitantly rested over the one he had on the man’s stomach.
Severo smiled and pressed a kiss to his neck and those gills that let him breathe underwater.
Seri slowly laidthe passed-out baby into her crib. They’d swam all day, stopping only for restroom breaks, diaper changes, and to eat. Skya had even missed her afternoon nap. Which wasn’t a good idea normally, but he hadn’t been able to bring himself to drag her away from the water when she’d been having so much fun.
“Goodnight, dewdrop,” he said softly. Backing up, he made sure the baby monitor was set to go and left the room.
He felt amazing after swimming. While his muscles were slightly tired, he was otherwise wide awake. And he was determined to use this energy he had in a very specific way, that involved Severo in many positions. Well, it involved Seri doing many things to him.
He smiled as his plans formed. But then what the man had said earlier floated into his head, and his dirty smile turned mushy. Severo…wanted to do something with him after Preston was no longer a problem! That meant he wanted more, right? Maybe? Yes?
It meant something. It meant Severo maybe…wasn’t going to disappear after all this.
Entering the bedroom they shared, he found the Dweller laying back against the headboard in a robe, looking at his tablet.
“Busy?” Seri asked as he slipped his robe off, standing there completely nude. It was a bit of a revelation that he had no urge to cover his stomach in front of the man.
Severo’s gaze flicked up. Eyes widening, the man tossed his tablet aside and said, “Not at all.”
He giggled. “Good, because I want to have fun.”
Seri approached. Shuddering under the Dweller's gaze, the man seemed to be trying to memorize every inch of him.
“Can I touch you this time?” Severo licked his lip.
Seri sat on the edge of the bed, head tilting as he considered it. The Dweller stared, unmoving on the bed. He seemed to be holding his breath in anticipation.
“Is that what you want?”
“Nothing would give me more pleasure,” Severo growled.
Well…he had been intending to reward the man…but if this was what he wanted then… Seri smirked and purred. “Get on your knees.”
