“Yes, that is the other part of the story.” She drew the blanket tighter around her and shifted to the side so she was facing Jake. It was now or never. She could continue running and hiding, or she could face down her demons.
“There was a prince that was drowning in the ocean. I saved his life, and I fell in love with him.” Her eyes pricked with tears as she remembered the first time she laid eyes on Derrick. “But there was one problem.”
“Fins?” Jake asked.
She looked up at him and nodded yes.
“So, how did you come about these gorgeous legs?” He emphasized his point by running a hand up her thigh. She blushed and dipped her chin into her chest at the compliment.
“This is where my lack of attention to detail sort of gets us in trouble.”
“Us?” he asked, motioning between them.
She gave a quick affirmative nod and continued, “There is this sea witch. She’s the most powerful being in the ocean. I was so desperate. Desperate for a new life, desperate to find love with the only man I was sure would love me back.”
Jake put a hand on her cheek at her words, and she leaned her face into his palm, a silent thank you for loving her.
“She made me sign this contract. I didn’t really read the whole thing through before I signed it.”
His eyes were wide when she looked up. “What did you have to give her?”
“Nothing. She cast a spell on me to turn my tail into legs.” She sat up straight and squared her shoulders, ready to confess the rest. “The fine print just said that I needed to get the prince to fall in love with me. He would be the only one I could be with. Otherwise, the contract was null and void and I needed to make my way directly back to the sea. Once there I would be turned back into a mermaid and enslaved to the sea witch for the rest of eternity.”
“So what happened?” He was hanging on her every word and Coral’s heart broke that she was about to tell him his part in this story.
“Well, Prince Derrick decided he was in love with someone else. I tried my best to get him back, but I think she may have been his one and only true love.” She felt the hot tears hitting her cheeks, pain that had not faded with time. A life sacrificed and years in hiding, her broken heart had just started to mend.
“But you’re here,” he whispered. “You’re still here. The contract must have been wrong.”
“You’re not understanding. I only just broke the contract,” she said.
His brows knit as he tried to process this information. “But you’ve been here for years.”
“The contract said the prince was the only one I could ever be with. As in the, um, sexual sense.” She stopped and looked at him.
Jake narrowed his eyes at her and she stood from the bed, ready for his ire.
“Nothing ever got that far with him. Although, now that I think of it, I would have been bored to tears. He was rather vanilla. Like vanilla with vanilla sprinkles on top.” She started to pace. “I maybe could have dealt with vanilla and rainbow sprinkles—at least then there’s some color, you know?”
Jake rose and stopped her rambling and pacing with his body. “Coral, what are you saying?” He placed his hands on her shoulders. “We broke the contract when we made love? Is that what you’re telling me?”
“Please don’t be mad.” Her voice broke. Her first chance at happiness and she had mucked it up.
“Don’t be mad? Don’t be mad? I am so furious.” He released her shoulders and stomped across the room.
She choked out a sob. “I’m so sorry. I should have told you. You just caught me off guard. I got swept up and forgot.” She collapsed on the bed, her shoulders heaving in sobs.
The next thing she knew she was against a hard chest, Jake was rocking her against him, and she looked up at him in surprise.
“I didn’t mean I was mad at you. I’m mad at this awful old witch who thinks she can run your life,” his tone was much softer. He brushed the hair from her face and kissed her lips. “Tell me where to find her. This contract can’t be legally binding. I’ll call a lawyer?—”
“Jake, it’s not that kind of contract,” she cut him off. “It’s like magick or something. Black magick? Lawyers have nothing to do with it. She’ll be looking for me now that I’m no longer a virgin. But I’ve thought it through, and I justneed to leave. I’ll try to find her before she finds us. Then you’ll be safe.”
Jake pushed her back on the bed, causing her to squeal. “Absolutely not. She can come and answer to me. She doesn’t own you.”
“You can’t fight her,” Coral pleaded. “She’ll kill you. She’s too powerful. Just let me do this.”
“And let her kill you? I don’t think so, babe.”
