DEEPER

Book One of the Elemental Series

By Christine DePetrillo





Copyright 2012 Christine DePetrillo



Cover Art by Calista Taylor

www.coversbycali.com



All Rights Reserved



This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the copyright owners except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.



This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, places, events, business establishments or locales is entirely coincidental.





Table of Contents


Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

SNEAK PEAK AT HIGHER, Book Two in the Elemental Series

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

OTHER TITLES





Dedication



To all who have thought they’ve seen �śsomething”

out there in the ocean





Chapter One




Crystal Bawle yawned for the billionth time. Her fist barely supported her chin while she leaned against the front desk of Breezes Resort in Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda. If she had another sleepless night, another night packed with nightmares, she would rent a boat, sail directly to the center of the Bermuda Triangle, and let the mysterious zone swallow her. She swore she’d do it this time.

�śYou look like shit, Crys,” Rionne D’Agestine, Breezes Resort’s Perkiest Employee announced. Funny thing was Crystal had been out with Rionne a few times. Perky was so not the word to describe her. Pessimistic, perturbed, pissed. Yep, all those fit. Perky? No. The only thing perky about Rionne were her boobs, their overinflated glory bound and boosted to add some allure to her otherwise bitchy demeanor. Day after day, male customers changed lines to be serviced by Rionne at the front desk instead of Crystal, whose own boobs were less than perky. Less than plump, less than protruding, less than perfect.

�śDid you hear me?” Rionne tapped her pen on Crystal’s forearm. �śYou look like death.”

�śWhat happened to looking like shit?” Crystal took a step away from the front desk, but could hardly manage to move her gaze to Rionne’s face. Her eyes felt as if someone had removed them, used them as beach balls for the afternoon, then put them back full of sand. A lovely side effect of not sleeping a damn wink.

Ever.

�śI had to downgrade for the sickly gray bags under your eyes. I mean, you always look somewhat zombie-esque, but it’s really bad today. Totally not attractive.” Rionne flipped her straight blond hair off her sun-tanned shoulder, her full, pink lips turned down in disapproval.

Crystal opened her mouth to reply, but another yawn overtook her.

�śYou’ve got to ease off on the partying, mon amie.” Rionne perched herself on one of the stools behind the front desk and crossed her impossibly long legs. Allowing her sandal, one with complicated straps and a cork heel, to dangle from her toes, she said, �śTell me it’s wild sex keeping you up at night. Your appearance would be worth it if the sex was mind blowing.”

Sex? Ha! I barely have enough energy to bathe myself, never mind have sex. Besides, who the hell would be my partner? Rionne reels in all the cute ones.

Crystal shook her head and immediately regretted it. With no sleep came whopping headaches. She was used to no sleep. Hadn’t been dozing productively since she was a teenager, but her teenage body hadn’t cared. It could still keep up. She’d fudged her way through her twenties with lots of energy drinks. Now that she’d turned thirty, however, and all she had to show for her life was a stupid Breezes Resort name tag, her body just couldn’t manage on so little sleep anymore. She didn’t even dream of a full eight hours either. She’d give her right arm for just twenty minutes of peaceful slumber. Twenty minutes. Was that too much to ask?

�śDo I really look that bad?” Crystal squinted at her reflection in the black granite covering the front desk. While she couldn’t see the color of the bags Rionne had so graciously pointed out, she could definitely see their size. And a trio of nasty pimples on her chin. And a few wild strands of long, wavy brown hair that had escaped from her ponytail. Actually escaped wasn’t the right word. That would mean she’d attempted to get those strands into the ponytail in the first place, which she hadn’t. Why bother?

Rionne’s face came into view in the granite. She looked so�Śalive. So I-slept-like-a-baby-and-always-do.

Oh how Crystal longed to punch that well-rested face.

Instead, she let out a groan and rested her forehead on the cool granite. �śYou want to dig a hole tonight, drop me into it, and bury me?” She pressed her cheek into the desk and closed her dry, scratchy eyes. Maybe she would find some sleep six feet under the ground. It’d be worth suffocating just to try.

�śNope. I have a date tonight, and I’m too busy to play in the dirt for your sorry ass, Crys. Go see a doctor or something.”

A doctor. Now there was an idea. Only the last quack she went to pumped her full of medication that made her feel a hundred times worse. The one before that told her to meditate before going to bed. The one before that had suggested exercising more so her body would be tired.

Her body was tired, dammit. So tired, but it refused to grant her sweet repose.

The nightmare was always the same.

Water. Everywhere. All around her.

One moment the Bermuda sun beamed down on her face, warm and bright. The water lapped gently against her skin. Her legs kicked rhythmically keeping her afloat. She bobbed like a happy rubber ducky.

Then the blue sky turned stormy black and lightning zapped down to the water’s tumultuous surface, sending waves of electricity directly into her. The violent jolts stole her breath away. Paralyzed her limbs. Sucked her under the dark depths of the ocean. She tried to swim, tried to break through the surface, but her body was useless and the water would not allow her. It wanted her. It intended to keep her. Locked in the great blue abyss.

Forever.

Heaving in a deep breath now, Crystal rocked her head back and forth, not looking forward to the nightmare’s encore performance the moment she crawled into bed tonight. Why she attempted to sleep anymore was a huge question mark. The moment her eyes closed, she’d be drowning all over again. Hence her constant state of unquenchable drowsiness. She’d tried moving to Vermont, a state not bordered by water, but that didn’t change a thing, besides give her chapped lips and dry skin during the freeze-your-ass-off winters they had up there.

No thanks.

�śExcuse me,” a rich male voice said.

Crystal was semi-comfortable slouched on her stool, so she didn’t raise her head. Rich male voices usually meant Rionne would take this customer anyway.

�śBonjour, welcome to Breezes Resort,” Mademoiselle Perky said right on cue.

�śIs she okay?”

God, that was some voice. Crystal felt its vibration deep down in her core. Still, she didn’t have the energy to lift her head. Besides, Rionne was already handling Mr. Sexy Voice.

�śNo, she’s not okay,” Rionne said, �śbut you’re not here to discuss my associate, are you, Mister�Ś” She dragged out the word, waiting for the guest to fill in the blank.

�śDoctor Ray Taimen.” The voice caressed Crystal’s insides and she nearly sighed. �śAnd I think I would like to at least see your associate if not discuss her exactly.”

Interesting.

A sharp jab to Crystal’s side had her sitting upright before she had decided to reveal herself. �śRionne! Ouch.”

It took a moment for her battered eyes to adjust to the blazing sunshine backlighting the man, revealing only his tall, shadowy outline. When the details of Doctor Ray Taimen came into focus, Crystal suddenly felt completely awake.

�śYou’re beautiful.”

His sea-green eyes glittered like sun reflecting off water. His jet-black hair hung to his slightly bearded jaw, giving him a roguish pirate ambiance as he chuckled.

�śWhat’s so funny?” Crystal asked, blinking to try to take in more of him.

�śYou think I’m beautiful.” He set his bags down then leaned against the front desk on well-muscled arms. He smelled like sea air and warm sand.

�śShit,” Crystal whispered. �śDid I say that out loud?” Lack of sleep was turning her into a moron.

�śYou did.”

�śWell, I take it back.” Crystal shook off her fatigue, smoothed out her tacky, flowered uniform shirt, and woke her computer. �śHere to check in?”

�śNo, you can’t take it back, and yes, I’m here to check in.” His words were music, soothing all the tension out of Crystal’s shoulders and neck. All the tension from being awake night after night.

She rolled her shoulders, marveling over the looseness of them. �śI can take it back. I said it, and I can un-say it.”

He shook his head. �śIt already reached here.” He pointed to his left ear, where a simply fantastic scar bolted artistically down toward his jaw. �śCan’t be erased.”

�śFine.” Crystal opened the check-in program. �śWhat was your name again?”

�śDoctor Ray Taimen.” He squinted those amazing eyes at her name tag. �śTell me your last name is not pronounced how I think it is.”

�śAfraid so, Doctor Ray Taimen.”

�śYour name is Crystal Bawle, like crystal ball?”

�śHer parents were stoned when she was born. For sure.” Rionne’s attempt to insert herself into the conversation did not work. Doctor Beautiful didn’t take his eyes off Crystal.

�śMy parents probably were stoned.” That would certainly explain her messed up psyche. �śI don’t see the future if that’s your next question.” Though a sweet vision of him naked filled her head. His entire body was as toned as his arms, and Crystal had to bite back a sigh. In the vision, he looked truly delighted to touch her.

If only�Ś

�śYou sure about not seeing the future?” He smiled wickedly as if he’d seen her vision, and Crystal fumbled with the credit card he’d handed her to pay for his room.

She swiped it through the computer, resisting the urge to leap over the front desk and throw herself at him. �śI’m sure.”

�śWe’ll see.” He accepted the room keycard, picked up his bags, and sauntered off toward the elevators. His black pants highlighted a phenomenal backside and two long, sturdy legs. The plain white dress shirt he wore untucked hung off broad shoulders that Crystal wanted to massage.

�śHe was weird.” Rionne settled back on her stool, adjusting her uniform shirt so her cleavage was at maximum perk.

He was something all right. Crystal wasn’t sure what just yet.

****

The hotel room was as he’d expected. Lots of framed pictures of beach scenes. Tropical flowers on the bedspread. Seashell decorations all over the bathroom. None of that concerned Doctor Ray Taimen. The only thing that mattered was how close the room was to the water.

He set his bags down, opened the French doors, and stepped onto the balcony. Filling his lungs with sea air, he scanned the sprawling ocean before him. He would have preferred a first floor room with direct access to the water, but the third floor wasn’t bad. The stairs down to the beach were close. He could get to the water quickly.

Already he felt pulled toward it. The moment he set foot on land, his body craved the salt, the liquid embrace, the cool depths of the ocean. His skin itched like crazy. It always did whenever he spent extended time in human form. He didn’t mind being amongst them. They were fascinating creatures after all, but life beneath the sea was his true destiny. He’d do anything to keep his home, Selecahnia, his underwater kingdom, safe.

Even if that meant ignoring the curious female at the hotel’s front desk.

It had been fun engaging in playful banter with Miss Crystal Bawle. It was even more entertaining realizing she wanted him naked, but he had work to do. He hadn’t spent all this time on land attending different marine conferences and speaking about keeping the oceans healthy only to lose his momentum. Although that vision of hers had painted an incredible scenario. She’d been ravishing in it with her chestnut hair flowing in long waves about her shoulders, her eyes a bright sapphire, and her skin simply glowing. Ray could tell that woman existed underneath the exhausted version he’d met at the front desk.

What was keeping poor Crystal Bawle from sleeping? So unfortunate that his mind reading wasn’t all encompassing. The ability was limited to what people were subconsciously willing to share. If he could determine the source of her sleeplessness�Ś

�śNo. You don’t have time to solve her problems. Everyone is counting on you.”

Squaring his shoulders, Ray walked back into his room and hauled out his presentation to review. The Marine Wellness Conference here in Bermuda would be the biggest audience he’d lectured so far. He was so close to getting policy makers to pass stricter hazardous waste guidelines for ocean vessels and seaside businesses. He’d already lost too many of his kin to human carelessness when it came to the water. He would lose no more. He refused to look upon his people covered in oil, poisoned by factory chemicals, or injured by the items humans discarded. Selecahnia, his treasured home under the sea, had been around since Earth’s beginnings. Ray would do whatever it took to guarantee it and his people would be around forever.

You could mate with Crystal Bawle and create new generations. That would help the cause.

He pushed that thought away. Though it was true he could turn any human into a Selecahe, a mermaid, or a Selecahi, a merman, doing so for one evening of physical pleasure was not acceptable.

And mating? He certainly didn’t have time for that.

�śThere is something about her though.” He had seen countless human females in his journeys on land, but their faces quickly faded from his memory. Crystal’s delicate features and eyes that reminded him of home, however, were burned into his mind, coming into view each time he blinked.

�śWork. Focus on work.”

He changed out of his traveling clothes into a pair of gray cotton shorts. For the next three hours, Ray tweaked his presentation, prepared his materials, and rehearsed. When he finally took a breath, he was surprised to find a blue-green patch of scales on his abdomen.

�śDamn.”

He’d gone too long out of the water. If he wasn’t careful, he’d morph back to full merman and literally be a fish out of water. Fortunately, the sun had gone down and a lovely night bloomed on the beach outside. After putting his presentation away so it’d be ready for the morning, Ray slipped on swimming trunks�"purely for appearances�"and grabbed a towel.

When he arrived at the shore, he was pleased to find it quiet. Most of the hotel guests were at the conference dinner party. A dinner party he was supposed to be at as well. Just a quick swim to rejuvenate and he’d make an appearance at the party to chat up his initiatives with other presenters.

After a quick glimpse around, he dropped his towel and swimming trunks on the nearest beach chair then ran for the water before anyone could see he was naked. He didn’t stop until the water covered him completely.

So good.

The rush of water caressing his body from all sides caused the rest of his scales to blossom from under his ribs all the way to his tailfin. With powerful thrusts of his fin, he burrowed ever deeper until schools of small fish joined him. Two dusky sharks flanked either side of him, sending vibrations of greeting. He felt so connected to them, to everything. He’d be glad when his time on land was done. Between attending human school to get a doctorate in marine biology, so he’d be taken seriously, and traveling the globe spreading his messages of marine health, he’d been away from Selecahnia for too long. Making only pit stops to check in with his father, king of his people, Ray hadn’t been afforded a chance to soak up his true lifestyle in years. It was taking a toll on him physically. He’d noticed he needed more frequent swims to keep his human form, and sometimes he found it difficult to breathe on land. With this conference, however, he should be able to wrap things up and return home for good.

Until the next time his people needed him. He’d sworn to protect them, and he’d honor that promise.

After swimming until the moon hung solidly overhead, Ray broke through to the surface. As he reached the shallower shore, he stood on reformed human legs and his scales retreated with the water that rolled off him. When his feet touched sand, that patch of scales on his abdomen below his ribs remained.

�śWhat in Hades?” That hadn’t happened before. Usually he emerged from a swim completely human in appearance. What did this patch mean? Thank Poseidon he was almost done with his work on land.

�śWhat is that? And why are you naked?”

The voice startled him. There hadn’t been anyone on the beach when he’d walked out of the water, but now Crystal stood there, her hotel uniform replaced by a killer bikini the same blue-green as his scales. A small, glittery hoop pierced her belly button, decorating a sublime navel, all smooth and fit. Ray’s gaze combed the length of her and though her eyes still looked tired, the rest of her lean body was amazing.

�śWhy are you out here?” His voice was harsh. Too harsh. Why did his towel have to be behind her?

�śCan’t sleep, per usual.” She shrugged her right shoulder, one Ray wanted to run a finger along as she looked over his naked body, lingering first on the scales then on his other equipment.

�śSo you’re going to swim instead?” He put his hands just above his hips hoping to both hide the scales and look as if he were impatient for her answer. Nothing he could do to conceal his other exposed�Śpieces.

At this question, Crystal took a few steps back enough to be behind the beach chair now. He whipped out a hand and wrapped the towel around his torso so it covered the scales and anything else he didn’t wish to advertise.

�śNo. I�ŚI don’t swim.” Crystal dug in the sand with her big toe.

Even in the dim lighting, Ray saw her pale at the mention of swimming.

�śWhy the gorgeous bikini then?”

Her lip twitched up at the corner. �śWell, it is Bermuda, and it is hot out here. Do you recommend I wear a fur coat instead?”

�śNo fur coat. Please.” He took a step closer. Her hair was unbound, no longer corralled into that messy ponytail. A faint breeze sent wisps fluttering about her face, and she hooked some of them behind her ear. Her movements captivated Ray.

�śSo, are you going to tell me what that blue stuff is on your stomach and why you’re swimming naked?”

�śBlue stuff? What blue stuff?”

�śI may be exhausted, Doctor Ray, but I know what I saw. It looked like�Śscales.” She narrowed her lovely blue eyes at him.

�śThat’s ridiculous.” His voice wavered.

�śIs it?” She reached out a hand and tugged at the towel until it fell at their feet.

No use in trying to react, trying to stop her. He had only two options now. Lie and tell her it was a tattoo or something while he high-tailfinned it back to his room or�Śtell her the truth.

For some strange reason, he didn’t want to lie to Crystal.

He didn’t say anything as she ran her fingers over the scales, her nose crinkled in confusion. Her touch was outstanding, like newborn gull feathers brushing against him.

�śThey are scales,” she whispered, meeting his gaze.

�śDo they frighten you?” He held his breath.

�śNo, but you have some explaining to do.”

And so, for the first time, he did.





Chapter Two




�śA merman? Come to save the oceans?”

Crystal folded and unfolded her arms as she sat on the couch in Ray’s hotel room. He sat across from her in an overstuffed chair. He’d slipped his swimming trunks back on before leading her up the stairs to his balcony doors, his towel gathered securely around his mid-section. Of all the possible explanations she’d thought he’d give her, a merman complete with an underwater kingdom was not one of them.

�śYou don’t believe me.” He looked down to his lap, resting his elbows on his knees.

Crystal studied the top of his head. All that thick, black hair, still wet from his swim, beckoned her fingers to comb through it. �śWhat scares the shit out of me is that I do believe you.”

He raised his head, his unusual colored eyes searching her face. She’d never seen a more perfect combination of features on a man. He did have an otherworldly aura about him. A glow of some kind.

�śAnswer this,” she said. �śAm I asleep right now? Have I finally fallen to sleep, a slumber so deep and complete that this is actually a dream? Not the nightmare I usually have, but a fantasy dream with an attractive man in it? Well, actually a crazy man, but you’re still ridiculously handsome.”

He laughed, and damn, it sounded like a real laugh. �śYou’re awake, Crystal. This isn’t a dream. Come to the conference tomorrow, and I’ll prove everything I’ve said is true after my presentation.” He moved to sit on the couch, a single cushion the only buffer between them.

�śSure, why not? It’s my day off anyway. I’d like to spend it sleeping, but that’s unlikely.”

�śTell me about your nightmare.” Ray propped a foot on the driftwood coffee table in front of the couch, and Crystal’s gaze traveled from his heel all the way up to the hem of his swimming trunks. She couldn’t get rid of the image of him naked. Scales or no, human or merman, she wanted to see all of him again. Better yet, she wanted to touch him again. Running her fingers over those scales had brought her such a sense of tranquility and restfulness. She hadn’t felt that in forever.

�śThe nightmare always starts out the same.” She recanted the familiar, plaguing sequence of deadly events, the need to touch him growing more powerful as she became anxious replaying the nightmare in words.

When she finished telling him about the water, the lightning, the paralysis, and the drowning, Ray’s dark eyebrows lowered as he pulled at his lower lip with his index finger and thumb. Crystal couldn’t help wondering if in merman form webbing connected his long fingers.

�śWhat?” she finally asked when his pensive expression remained.

He blinked as if coming back to the present time and looked at her. �śNothing. I’ll explain later. After the conference.”

Crystal shrugged. �śOkay.” She glanced at the towel he held closed with his other hand. �śCan I�Ścan I see them again?”

He tightened his grip, his knuckles going white.

�śPlease?” Crystal rarely begged for anything besides sleep, but she had to see them again.

Slowly, Ray loosened the towel until it pooled in his lap. �śAfter a swim, they usually fade away. I think I’ve been on land too long.”

�śThey’re stunning, Ray.”

He offered her a half-smile. One that made her feel totally comfortable around him. �śNo human has ever seen my scales before. You’re the first.”

�śBet you weren’t looking forward to telling someone your secret, were you?” She inched a little closer, dying to get her fingers on those scales.

�śI wasn’t. I thought there might be more screaming or fainting or�Śsomething.” He slid the towel off his lap and put it behind him as he moved onto the cushion between them.

�śI’m not a screamer or a fainter, but if someone told me this morning that I’d be sitting on a couch with a merman tonight, I’d have called hotel security.” Her hand made its way onto his bare thigh. His skin was cool and speckled with sand that sparkled in the dim light of a single lamp.

�śI’m glad I didn’t use, �Śhello, I’m a merman’ as my opening line then.” He covered her hand with his, brought it over to his scales, and pressed her palm against them.

Crystal shivered with arousal. The salty sea air fragrance exploded into the room, and she took a deep breath. Closing her eyes, she sifted the breath out slowly. When she opened her eyes, Ray had moved closer, his lips mere inches from hers. She traced a finger down the scar on the side of his face. It made him more real somehow. That small imperfection.

�śHow did you get this?”

�śShark.”

�śYou mean you don’t all live as one big happy family under the sea?”

�śGenerally we do, but sometimes you have to get rough to keep everyone in line. I am my people’s prince,” he said. �śI have to do whatever it takes to keep them all safe.”

�śYou love your people.”

�śI do.” He stroked her cheek with his knuckles. �śMay I kiss you?” he whispered.

�śSuch a gentlemerman.”

She closed the distance between them, and when their lips met, every nerve ending in Crystal’s body shot wide awake. She actually felt her blood moving in her veins, her limbs tingled, and her girl parts rocked �Śn rolled. She’d been kissed before, but not like this. Never like this. She was aware of every part of her body and every part of Ray’s as well. He was just as aroused, just as heated. When he pushed his fingers up into her hair, she groaned against his lips.

He broke the kiss, and Crystal prepared to throw an all out tantrum until she saw the grin on his face.

�śWe’ve only known each other a few hours, and I’ve told you unbelievable things about myself, but would you do me the great honor of staying the evening with me?”

Crystal smiled over his polite manner. The last guy who wanted her to stay the night had said something along the lines of, �śYou wanna screw?” Thinking she’d maybe be able to sleep after a good lay, she’d agreed. The sex hadn’t been that good and the nightmare had been even more terrifying that night.

Tracing a fingertip over his scales, she let her gaze sweep over his defined chest muscles down to his apparent anticipation waiting beneath his swimming trunks. �śDo all your human parts�Śyou know�Śwork?”

�śYes, ma’am, they do.”

�śFabulous.”

Ray stood and held out a hand to her. He led her to the bed where he backed her onto it. �śYou’ve seen all of me on the beach this evening, my crystal ball. Now I want to see all of you.”

�śIn this bikini, there isn’t much left to see.” Still, she turned around and swept her hair out of the way to expose the strings on the swimsuit’s top. �śHave at it.”

Ray made quick work of freeing her then Crystal shimmied out of the bottom piece. �śPerfect,” he said.

She faced him and got to her knees. Resting her hands on his broad shoulders, she caught his lips again. They kissed with a certain wild hunger that supercharged her entire body. Kissing him was both brand new and oddly familiar. She couldn’t get enough. She slid his swimming trunks off, and he crawled onto the bed like a beautiful predator, capturing her beneath him. Her vision of his naked body from this morning at the front desk had somehow been spot on.

�śLet me take your nightmares away,” he said before kissing a line up her thigh, over her belly button piercing where he tugged lightly with his teeth, then around her breasts. By the time he slid inside her ready heat, Crystal was drunk on his attention. With the beachy scent of him, the sandy scruff of his skin, and the cool press of his scaled patch against her stomach, she let all the tension and anxiety slough away. Her only concern was pleasing him, pleasing him completely.

And from the sound of things, she was succeeding.

When they both reached their peaks, Crystal swore she heard enormous waves crashing outside. Only they felt as if they were crashing inside her, washing her clean, renewing her.

�śWelcome to Bermuda,” she said as Ray folded his arms around her and cuddled her close.

�śSleep, sweet Crystal.”

The last thing she remembered was the light brush of his lips against her neck.

****

Ray rolled up the sleeves of his light green dress shirt, a shirt Crystal had told him made his eyes look electric. Waking up with her in his arms had been like returning home. How that was possible he didn’t know. She was a human after all. He hadn’t changed her into a mermaid, though the notion kept bouncing around inside his skull since he’d made love to her.

Don’t get ahead of yourself. He still had things to explain to her. Things that might prevent her from ever wanting to see him again. That was an ugly thought. He had to see her again.

He must.

At that moment, his extra senses kicked in, and he became immediately aware of her presence in the hotel’s crowded auditorium. Wearing a purple sundress that highlighted her exquisite curves, Crystal took a seat a few rows back from the stage and gave him a covert wave. He took great pleasure in knowing that fresh, rested look on her face was his doing. He’d spent part of the overnight hours blocking the nightmare from her mind. It was a strong one. One that confused him.

Why was she dreaming about the hydrelam, the transformation from human to merfolk?

He couldn’t come up with one instance of such a thing happening in Selecahnia’s history. No human was to know of the metamorphosis unless he or she was going through it. Ray knew it was a terrifying experience, but the bond the human had with one of his people was always strong enough to protect the human. He couldn’t imagine what Crystal had been going through, being subjected to that night after night in her dreams. Had he known, he could have found her sooner perhaps.

And what did it mean now that he had found her?

Too many questions. He needed to focus on the presentation and sort everything else out later. Later, when he hopefully had Crystal snug beside him again.

He sent her a quick smile to which she responded with a wink and a truly sexy grin that almost had him diving off the stage to be near her. Instead he hooked his laptop into the large projector and brought up the first slide in his presentation. He took a seat next to the other two guest speakers and loosened his tie around his neck.

Why is it so hot in here?

The hotel’s air conditioner was humming along, however, Ray felt anything but his normal cool. Maybe last night’s activities had altered his body temperature. Making love to Crystal had been a little like being set on fire. Consuming. Blocking her nightmare had probably depleted his energy as well.

Fanning himself with a stack of handouts, Ray found Crystal again. She mouthed the words, Are you okay? He nodded, though his throat was extra dry. After pouring himself a drink of water from the pitcher on a side table, he sat again and fought not to chug the water. He felt a little better after the drink, but an itch grew in intensity beneath his shirt.

Just get through the presentation. Looking out into the audience, he saw many lawmakers and other important guests who could really support his cause and make a difference in preserving the oceans. A few of their strongest thoughts reached his own mind, and he knew he could get them onboard with this presentation. He could fall apart later.

By the time it was his turn to approach the podium, he’d developed a ring of scales around his right forearm, the mark of his royalty. Forced to roll his sleeves back down, he was hotter than ever. He must have looked like Hades because Crystal had moved to the front row and sat at the edge of her seat.

�śLadies and gentlemen, I give you Doctor Ray Taimen, expert in marine health.” He heard the facilitator announce his name and stood, but his legs couldn’t support him. His hands reached for the podium but ended up slapping the stage floor instead. Voices cut in and out from the audience as his vision blurred. He couldn’t take a deep breath. No oxygen was getting to his lungs. His throat felt as if someone had stuffed a beach towel down there.

�śRay.” He lifted his head and focused long enough to see Crystal kneeling beside him.

�śWater,” he rasped just before everything went black.

****

�śHelp me get him outside,” Crystal barked at the other two speakers. A weird image of Ray’s scales, dull, dried, and peeling flashed into her head. She instantly hated the picture.

�śOutside? Shouldn’t we call 911?” one of them asked.

�śThat’s not going to help.” Crystal didn’t like the way Ray was wheezing while unconscious. �śPlease, let’s get him outside to the water. You can still call 911 if you want. Tell them we’re on the beach.”

The second speaker got an audience member to help carry Ray to the shore while the first speaker got out his cell phone. Crystal was certain no doctor would be able to tell what was wrong with Ray. Though he was in human form, this was clearly a merman problem. She’d seen him unroll his sleeves and surmised that more scales had made an appearance.

Ray mumbled something that sounded like deeper�"or had she only heard that in her mind? Either way, Crystal knew merely getting his feet wet wasn’t going to be enough. She’d have to�Śgo in there with him. Have to swim him out to deeper water. Submerge him.

All the details of her nightmare came rushing back. Last night had been amazing getting a full eight hours of uninterrupted, non-petrifying sleep. She owed Ray for that, but the idea of actually swimming and being surrounded by the dangerous sea made her want to puke.

The men carrying Ray started to lower him to a beach chair.

�śNo. In the water,” Crystal said.

�śMiss, he’s shaking. He’d be better off waiting here for the paramedics.”

Crystal let out a frustrated growl. She kicked off her sandals and marched over to the beach chair, which had wheels. �śI can handle it from here.” She pushed the chair toward the water.

�śWhat are you doing?” someone asked.

�śSaving him.”

�śShe’s crazy,” a voice that sounded a lot like Rionne’s said.

Maybe she was crazy, but she knew Ray’s time on land was killing him. Just like the fish her father used to catch and let flip-flop to their deaths on the deck of his powerboat when she was a kid.

Grunting and sweating like a wrestler, Crystal managed to evade the folks trying to stop her and slid Ray’s body into the sea. As much as she didn’t want to, she hooked her left arm around his torso and swam him out to deeper water. She was terrified of her nightmare coming true, but more terrified of losing Ray. And it was more than the amazing sex and peaceful night’s sleep he had given her.

They were�Śconnected.

Ray coughed and opened his eyes. �śLet me go.”

�śNo.”

�śI need to go deeper.”

�śI’m going with you.”

�śYou can’t go as deep as I need to go. Not as a human.” His body jerked in her hold, and she almost lost her grip.

Dark, gray clouds moved in, blocking the warm Bermuda sun. The blue sky was gone, turning the water almost black. A few flashes of lightning zig-zagged across the sky followed by a rumble of thunder. The water around them churned and undulated, white foam forming on the surface.

Crystal recognized all of it. This was her nightmare. The only difference? Ray was in it too.

This doesn’t make sense.

�śI must go deeper, Crystal.” Ray’s voice was strained as he struggled to breathe. �śLet me go.

�śI don’t want to.” Hot tears stung her eyes as she fought to keep them both afloat. Before meeting Ray, she would have done anything to stop the nightmare. Now it was really happening, but all she could think about was not losing him.

Ray grabbed her arm with surprising strength. �śWhat do you want then?”

She focused on his face as the ocean beat against their bodies. More beautiful scales appeared in an intricate pattern on the side of his neck. When the lightning flashed, it reflected off the scales making them look like stained glass. The stormy wind had turned Ray’s hair into a wild, black mane, and his eyes nearly glowed with a sea-green fire.

�śI want to be with you, Ray.” She tightened her hold on him. �śMake me one of your kind.”

�śYou don’t know what you’re saying.” He coughed again, but his eyes were hopeful. �śIf I did the hydrelam, you’d have to leave your world behind. It takes a while for newly turned merfolk to be able to spend any time on land.”

�śThere’s nothing on land for me anyway. I have no family anymore. Rionne is my only friend, and I don’t even like her most of the time. You think I want to spend one more day at Breezes Resort’s front desk dealing with lunatics who claim to be mermen?”

Ray laughed, but started choking again. When he regained some control, he said, �śYou should know that your nightmare is the way I will change you.”

�śWhat?” Crystal stopped kicking for a moment, but Ray kept their heads above water with his own sporadic kicking.

�śYou will drown, Crystal. Sky fire, or lightning as humans call it, will strike you, and you will be paralyzed. The sea will drag you under. You will cease to breathe until I give you the breath of Selecahnia. Then you will be one of us.”

�śThere’s no other way?” She didn’t like the panic in her voice or how hard her damn heart was pounding in her chest. Drown or die of a heart attack? Hmmm. Decisions, decisions.

�śThis is the way it’s been done for eons.”

�śWell, it sucks.”

She braced for a huge wave heading their way. It crashed over them, and for a moment, she lost contact with Ray. He was no longer in her arms, and she couldn’t see him anywhere.

She was so alone and empty.

When his head resurfaced a few feet away, she nearly screamed. He swam toward her, looking stronger and�Śshimmery? His skin didn’t look human anymore.

�śDo you want it?” he asked, his eyes looking like the sea glass her mother used to make into jewelry.

Another wave tried to swallow them as a zap of lightning split the sky in half.

�śThe nightmare won’t happen anymore if you come with me,” Ray said.

An image of herself with a gorgeous silvery-purple tailfin burst into her mind. Her brown hair was lush and shiny. Her blue eyes were piercing. In the vision, Ray was beside her, sexy as hell in full merman form. He was kissing her, holding her, loving her.

�śIt can be like that,” he yelled above the turbulent sea. �śI will love you. I already do, my crystal ball.”

Was she seeing the future? Had she been all along with her nightmare? Did she always know this moment would come?

Ray took her hand and pulled her close to him.

Yes, she always knew.

�śI want to go deeper,” she said.

The smile that stretched across Ray’s face made all her worries disappear. He dropped a kiss on her nose and backed away. �śSee you below, my love.”

He was gone, a splashing blue-green tailfin disappearing behind him. A snake of lightning slithered along the surface of the water toward Crystal. Unlike in her nightmare, she didn’t want it to miss her. She wanted it to hit its target, do its job.

Make her a mermaid.

When the bolt slammed into her, the paralysis came, but for the first time, she wasn’t afraid.





Chapter Three




�śHer name is Crystal Bawle,” Ray told his father, King Delnis while his mother, Queen Farina sat by Crystal’s bedside inside Selecahnia’s royal palace. �śShe has the gift of sight, though it has not been a blessing to her for many years. She’s dreamed of the hydrelam night after night, causing her to go without sleep.”

The queen shuddered. �śThe poor dear. How horrible. Why was she not made known to us sooner?”

�śThat is not for us to question,” the king said. �śIt is as Poseidon has wished it to be. She is one of us now, but�Ś”

�śBut what, Father?” Ray stole a quick look at Crystal as she made a small noise in her sleep. She’d been asleep for three hours. Would she be awake soon? He desperately wanted to show her everything about Selecahnia, her new home. He wanted her to love it.

To love him.

�śYou just surprise me, son. You have been so singularly focused on your mission to keep the seas healthy for our kind. We are eternally grateful and proud of you, but I never thought you’d find someone you wanted to call your own. Your mother and I were beginning to wonder if our line would end with you,” the king teased.

�śLeave him be, Delnis.” Farina got up from her seat and took both of Ray’s hands in her own. �śWe are happy for you, Ray. She is breathtaking.”

�śThank you, Mother.” He leaned down and dropped a kiss on each of Farina’s cheeks.

�śCome, Delnis,” Farina said. �śWe must see that the spectacle these two caused on that Bermuda beach has been cleaned up.”

�śI’m sorry.” Ray knew that transforming a human was secret business, best done under the cover of night. He’d done it with an auditorium load of conference onlookers on a bright, sunny morning.

�śYou had no choice, dear. You weren’t well yourself.” Farina patted his arm. �śWe’re just glad to have you here, safe and sound.” She glanced at a stirring Crystal. �śBoth of you. We look forward to meeting her later.”

With a slight smile, she edged Delnis out of the room, leaving Ray alone with Crystal. When Crystal opened her eyes, his breath got caught in his throat.

Holy gods, she’s really here with me.

�śYou’re awake,” he said.

She sat up and stretched out her arms. �śYes. Does that mean I’ve been sleeping?”

�śFor three hours.”

�śThree hours! In a row? No wonder I feel so wonderful.” She glanced down at herself and frowned as she wiggled her toes. �śBut where’s the tailfin I was promised and the scales? Where are yours for that matter?”

She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood in front of Ray. He wanted nothing more than to fold his arms around her and never let go.

�śYou’re in the palace. You don’t need fins in here. There’s no water.”

�śOh.” Her bottom lip puckered in disappointment, but all Ray could think about was how delicious that lip looked. �śI have a lot to learn about this place and lifestyle, don’t I?”

�śDon’t worry. I’ll teach you, and the fin comes back once you hit the water.” He lowered so his forehead touched hers. �śAnd your fin is truly beautiful. Just like the rest of you.”

The smile Crystal rewarded him made his heart soar.

�śCan we go swimming? Now?” She leaned against him, excitement leaping off her in waves.

�śOf course. We can do whatever you want.” He laughed when she clapped her hands.

�śOkay, first a tour of this place.”

�śAs you wish.”

Ray led her through room after room in the palace. She loved the sand-textured walls, the stone-lined windows, the seashell mosaic floors.

�śOh, Ray! It’s exactly how I pictured it right before my transformation. Your world is magnificent.” She threw herself into his arms and caught his lips in a heated kiss.

�śIt is now.” He returned the kiss and held her for a long moment. �śWill you help me keep this world magnificent?”

�śDefinitely.” Her eyebrows lowered. �śYou missed your conference, your chance at speaking to all those important people.”

�śThere will be other conferences, and now I have a sidekick.”

�śYou have a partner is what you meant to say.” She wagged a finger at him.

�śPartner, yes. That’s what I meant.”

�śAnd don’t you forget it.”

They reached the huge coral doors of the palace. Crystal ran her fingers along the seam where the two doors met.

�śHow does this work?”

�śSame as any other doors.”

�śIsn’t water going to rush in?”

Ray pointed to the drains in the floor. �śYes, but it’ll go into these and get recycled back out.”

�śWell, what are we waiting for then?” She hopped on one foot then the other while tugging Ray’s arm toward the doors.

�śMy, you’re frisky when you’re fully rested.”

�śDon’t complain. It’s your fault. You let me sleep, but you also woke me up from the piece of crap life I was living, Ray. I don’t know how to thank you.”

�śI have a few ideas on how you can show your gratitude.” He caught her around the waist and squeezed her close. Kissing a trail down her neck, he nudged aside the shoulder straps on the dress one of his kin had loaned him for Crystal. �śYou won’t need this when we swim�Śor later.”

He let the dress drop to her feet. He absolutely loved when Crystal untied the belt around his princely robe and kicked it and her dress away.

�śLet’s go, Dr. Fish. The sooner we go for a swim, the sooner we can get to those other ideas of yours.”

She put her hand on the seashell doorknob and looked to Ray. He nodded, and she pulled open the door. Water immediately came gushing in. As soon as it touched him, Ray felt the familiar tingle of his tailfin forming.

�śHoly shit!” Crystal yelled. �śThis is wild!”

Her own fin, all silvery-purple, appeared, and she was off like a dart through the water. Ray swam after her, but gave her some space to explore. He was delighted when she beckoned to him with her hand.

What is it? He didn’t have to say the words aloud.

Crystal’s eyes widened. You were in my head at the hotel too, weren’t you? Her voice echoed in his ears.

One of my people’s abilities. It’s handy for underwater communication.

She swam closer and caressed his cheek. It’s also handy for telling mermen that you love them. I know we just met, but I feel as if I’ve known you my entire life. Or at least I’ve been waiting for you that long. Crystal pressed a watery kiss to his lips.

I love you too. He grabbed her hand and turned her in a few whirlpool-like twists. Love had been the last thing on his mind when he was on land.

Until he’d seen Crystal at the front desk.

Want to go deeper? There’s so much more I want to show you. He was as eager as a child.

I want to go wherever you’re going. Always.

That’s all he needed to hear. Ray dashed down into the depths, a firm grip on this gorgeous mermaid’s hand. A hand he forever wanted to hold.

He would spend a lifetime�"and merfolk’s were extra long�"loving Crystal Bawle as deeply as he could. They would spend their days fighting for the seas and their nights sleeping, nightmare free, in each other’s arms. That would be their purpose.

That’s what I see too. Crystal smiled before playfully flicking her tailfin at him.

Ray wasn’t one to doubt a crystal ball, especially his own.





SNEAK PEAK AT HIGHER, Book Two in the Elemental Series





Chapter One




Rionne D’Agestine could not believe the ocean had swallowed her friend. Well, friend was a strong word. Too strong. Crystal Bawle had been a coworker at Breezes Resort in Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda and someone she could have a few drinks with now and then. For the most part though, the girl was always too tired to really get to know. She’d perked up a bit when that weird doctor checked in for the Marine Wellness Conference, but who wouldn’t perk up after getting an eyeful of him? He’d been gorgeous with that dark hair and those sea-green eyes.

But there’d been something�Śoff�Śabout him. Something Rionne couldn’t quite put a finger on. Turns out her intuition had been right on the mark. Crystal had drowned along with that doctor only a week ago. No bodies. No explanations. No nothing.

A shiver worked its way up Rionne’s spine as she sat at the resort’s front desk. She’d learned a lesson from what had happened to Crystal. Don’t trust every beautiful face that walked into Breezes Resort. An important lesson to learn, because she generally tried to experience the buffet of gorgeous men that traipsed in and out of the hotel as either guests or employees.

She looked down at her ample cleavage held back only by lace and Lycra under her stupid, flowered uniform shirt. Maybe it’s time to keep the girls behind the scenes. No sense in attracting attention if there were lunatics around bent on drowning innocent women.

Another shiver rippled through Rionne’s body and she glanced at the clock. 1:00 PM. Quitting time. She tapped a hot pink fingernail on the granite top of the front desk as she scanned the few people in the lobby area.

Where is Janice? That girl was always late, and being late meant Rionne couldn’t leave her post until coverage showed up. Not being able to leave the front desk meant the peak rays of sunshine outside were going to waste as Rionne’s tan cried for rejuvenation. There was a lounge chair on the beach with her name on it. One of the few perks of working at Breezes Resort, and she didn’t want to underuse it.

�śOMG, I’m like, so sorry, Ri.” Janice stumbled into the area behind the front desk. �śMy alarm clock failed me.”

�śAgain?” Rionne rolled her eyes. �śYou do know how to set an alarm clock, don’t you?” She slid off her stool and straightened her red mini-skirt.

�śYeah. I know how.” Janice smiled. �śI just don’t know how to get up when it goes off.” She nudged Rionne with a dagger-like elbow and let out a laugh that ended with a nasally snort. �śWhere are you off to?” Janice hopped up onto the stool Rionne had vacated.

�śBeach.”

Rionne didn’t hang around for any more small talk. She found Janice to be a complete bore and again, the sun was all fired up and waiting.

In the staff room where employees kept their personal items, Rionne used the small bathroom to change into her swimsuit�"a silver bikini that had caused three retail associates in the boutique where she’d bought the suit to ooh and ahh in envious approval. Looking in the mirror along the wall above the sink, Rionne had to agree the bikini highlighted the girls, showcased her derriere, and amplified her mile-long legs. A guy once told her he’d sell his soul to the devil to touch those legs. And why not? She worked on keeping her legs and the rest of her thirty-year old body in top form. Running, yoga, swimming, though seeing Crystal go down in the waves had put a little damper on that last one.

Gathering her long blond hair into a high ponytail, Rionne grabbed her sunglasses, a cheesy romance novel Janice had passed to her, and a resort towel. She gave two cute waiters at the hotel’s bistro a little wave as she sashayed out the door toward the beach. With any luck, their shifts ended soon and they’d be out to find her.

So much for cutting back on the man buffet.

She couldn’t help it. She liked men. Craved them. All different kinds. In all different positions. At all different places. Besides, she wasn’t desperate for dates like Crystal had probably been. She wouldn’t saddle up with a lunatic just to get some attention. Rionne always had choices. Always. And if hanging out with a different guy every night sometimes got old, she could overlook it. Now was the time to have fun. Most nights it even seemed like fun.

Some nights she could almost forget how she’d trusted certain men and they’d let her down. Monumentally.

Finding her favorite spot right in the epicenter of the resort’s private beach, she was pleased to see a chair free. She took a moment to peruse the crowd, and not sniffing out any particular hotties, she sunk into the chair to seriously update her tan. The sun was all toasty warm, and Rionne felt positively feline as she soaked in the rays.

Until a shadow fell across her.



To read more of HIGHER, download it today!





ABOUT THE AUTHOR



Christine DePetrillo tried not being a writer. She attempted to ignore the voices in her head, but they would not stop. The only way she could achieve peace and quiet was to write the stories the voices demanded. Today, she writes tales meant to make you laugh, maybe make you sweat, and definitely make you believe in the power of love.

She lives in Rhode Island and occasionally Vermont with her husband, two cats, a big, black German Shepherd, and a lizard.

Find Christine’s other titles on Amazon.com and at christinedepetrillo.weebly.com. Connect on Facebook, on Twitter at @cdepetrillo, at nighteternal.weebly.com (where she writes poems as Drake, the vampire), and at rosesofprose.blogspot.com on the 4th and 14th of every month.





OTHER TITLES




HIGHER

(Book Two of the Elemental Series)



KISSES TO REMEMBER



ALASKA HEART



FIREFLY MOUNTAIN



ABRA CADAVER



LAZULI MOON