Aquata Cove Ch. 75

He stands up, and turns Adam around, pushing his back onto the wet glass. Adam groans as his head slumps back, and rolls on his right shoulder. Merrick chuckles as he leans in, and kisses Adam's chin.

"Mnnnhhhh..." Adam closes his eyes as Merrick pushes the scrub pad around onto Adam's neck, and rubs in circular motions, into the divide of his chest where the layer of fuzz is pressed with the direction of the soapy pad. Merrick scrubs softly along Adam's front, and smiles as he feels along Adam's sides, and and rubs around the subtle round area of Adam's stomach.

"Gettin a little round there, babe~" Merrick said as he pats Adam's belly.

"Shuddup." Adam smirked in his daze.

"Hehehe, didn't say it was a bad thing~" Merrick said, "We both know chubby guys give the best hugs and cuddles."

"I'm not faaaat." Adam whined. Merrick chuckles as he scrubs Adam's muscular arms, as well as his soft belly, then down to his genitals. Merrick grins and blushes as he kneels down to Adam's pelvis. He gently pushes the pad along Adam's limb dick, and sneaks the pad to under his testicles.

"Have I ever mentioned that I love handling your penis and fondling your balls?" Merrick said as he carefully massages Adam's soft member with suds, also caressing his nuts.

"It's come up once or twice." Adam answers with a smile, sighing with fatigue as he feels that keen tingle in the center of his manhood again, though really not feeling like getting started.

Merrick washes down Adam's legs, circling the pad around his inner thighs, before smirking he sees Adam's thickened cock floating half way above his sack, "Hah, and now you're getting a chubby. Guess you're not too hung over after all."

"Not my fault." Adam groaned, "You're the one trying to pull cum out of my balls while cleaning me."

"Ahahaha." Merrick presses down the pad onto the top of Adam's feet, before patting onto his leg, "Hey." Adam rolled his head down to look at Merrick, "Come down here. Sit with me."

Adam chuckled before huffing and grunting down to Merrick's level. Merrick scooted up to Adam, before climbing up a little, and sitting on Adam's lap. Adam smiles as he puts his arms around Merrick somewhat, while Merrick puts his arms around and onto his lover. He tilts his head as he presses his face into the other, and pushes his lips onto Adam's.

Merrick kissed Adam softly, and then a second time. Adam nuzzles Merrick's neck before planting a kiss onto his soft flesh, his eyes resting closed as he laps his lips along Merrick's neck.

"Mnnn..." Merrick's legs coil around Adam's waist as he tucks himself into Adam's hold. He licks Adam's earlobe, and then along his cheek. Adam grins as Merrick's tongue glides over to the side of his nose, before he kisses him again.

Adam closes his eyes again as Merrick uncaps the shampoo bottle, and squeezes a dollop of it onto his palm, and rubbed it into Adam's dark hair until it started to lather with the white foam. Once rinsed off, Adam sighed as he lies back as Merrick cuddles him some more, almost prowling like a seductive feline as he kisses his lips again.

~~~

"I feel a lot better." Adam said as he puts on his uniform shirt and his casual jeans.

"Better enough for a blowjob, maybe?" Merrick asked as he gets his own uniform together. Adam scoffs as he rolls his eyes.

"Love to, but no time. I have to get to work, and so do you."

"I work in a sex shop, they'd understand." Merrick said. Adam turned around, and chuckles as he looks at his fiancé.

"Merrick, are you sure you're even allowed to wear shorts THAT short?" Merrick's uniform Lovers shorts reach only to halfway up his thighs, just as he pulls on his shirt, and picked up his cap. The shorts really show off his bottom, as well as the girth of his package.

"It's a legit choice of uniform. Nick used to where them like this before he became the manager." Merrick defended, "Besides, it attracts customers." He said with a grin and a wink.

"You're supposed to be MY slut, bitch." Adam said after coming close, and placing his hands onto Merrick's hips. His fingers trace along the side, before they pass over something else along Merrick's hips. Adam sighed and dropped his shoulders, "Alright, what's this now?"

"Just my underroos," Merrick said as he lifts his shirt a little, and shows a green strap showing above the waistline. Adam scoffs as he rolls his head, leans in, and gives Merrick a soft spank.

"What am I gonna do with you?"

"Love me. Feed me. Never leave me."

"Gheheh. 'Right, Garfield." Adam pats Merrick's hip, and turns to get his phone. The two of them leave the bedroom and enter the living room. Merrick snickers as he looks at the couch, and sees Roxas perched on top of the small mound of blanket upon there. "Speaking of which."

"Heh heh heh," Merrick goes over and pets the cat, he puts a hand towards Arnaav, but stops, "... Might as well let him sleep." He mumbles, "He's going to need his rest, he needs to go back soon."

"Yeah." Adam said as Merrick walked away, and left through the door. Underneath the covers, Arnaav sniffles as he grips the thick blanket. He doesn't care that he feels so hot from being hidden and bundled on the couch for who knows how long, coated in dried salt and sand. He feels so stupid...

"Wasted so much time... She doesn't even want me..." He despaired as he curls tighter.

---Several Hours Later---

"Thank you for your purchase," Merrick said as he puts a vibrating fleshlight into a black plastic bag, "All sales are final, no returns or refunds, and you have a nice day." He said with a smile.

"Thank you." The customer said before leaving. Merrick ponders as he stands at the clerk top, before he turns to Sasha, who is placing purple laced lingerie up on the rack.

"You know what would be REALLY hardcore?" He asked.

"I can't begin to start." She replied.

"If someone were to buy a fleshlight, and then shove it into the other's ass or vag." Sasha coughs at the random and graphic suggestion, "And then fuck the toy while it's still in the person."

"Oh my God, are you mad??" She asked with a very estranged expression.

"Hey, you humans are already doing all kinds of weird shit in the sack -- it's not that far off from fisting. Not that I would want to try it -- I'm not THAT kinky."

"That reminds me, something I've been meaning to ask." Sasha says as she adjusts the suspender harness holding a mannequin right in the middle of the store, "How DO mermaids have sex? Do you come on land and wait to you look human before getting this hot and bothered?"

"Some do," Merrick said, "Not a lot of merfolk would go on land at all though, given the fear of surface. But if we don't sense anyone nearby on some beach or island, some merfolk do mate in human form."

"I like that bit," Sasha said with a grin, "So what about when they do it all fishy and such?"

"Depends on the species." Merrick said, "Some merfolk lay eggs and have them fertilized, others don't. See," Merrick gestured to his crotch, "In our true forms, our genitals are a lot more subtle than humans. Mermen like me can mate with a mermaid in a conjoined way, and if all goes well, the mermaid gets pregnant, and soon lays an egg after a couple of moons or so. That's how I was born."

"So, what? Methods are like 50/50?"

"In a way. Like I said, it depends on the species. All merfolk are able to conceive human-style, but it varies for others." Merrick leaned back on the clerk, "That said, it's also worth noting that we merfolk find it VERY difficult to breed at all."

"Are you serious?" She raises her brows, "How difficult could it be?"

"On average, a healthy pod only turns over about 2 babies in a year if we're lucky. If a pod gets too small, or if both leaders of a pod were to die, then that pod would have to join with another pod. Syrinx said that's what happened with her pod before she was banished."

"Sounds interesting... And kind of sad, really." Sasha comes over to the clerk opposite to Merrick, and leans down on it, "So what about you?" She smiles, "You and Adam plan to have any kids?"

"Kids?" Merrick blinked, "I uh..." He scratched the back of his head, "I never really thought about it actually..."

"Oh what? You're kidding."

"No. I'm gay, Sasha. Two guys can't make a baby."

"So?" She scoffed at him, "Lots of gay couples have kids. They either adopt or get a surrogate. In fact, we all thought you and Adam were going to adopt that small brown boy following you around."

"Who... Arnaav?" Merrick asked, "No, he already has parents. And besides, he's more of a brother to me than a son. It would feel kinda weird even if he or I would be for it."

"For it?"

"To tell you the truth, adoption is... Sort of a foreign concept to merfolk. It's weird for me to wrap my mind around meeting some kid, and then deciding I'm going to be his parent from now on. Arnaav told me that Adam's mother asked if we were going to adopt him, and he actually told me that he felt a little offended when she suggested that."

"No kidding?"

"It's just a principle that merfolk aren't that familiar with, and it's a safe bet that we're not altogether open to it." Merrick takes a drink from his water bottle before shifting the subject, "What about you? Don't YOU want to have kids?"

"Me? Naw. I'm not a fan of kids myself."

"Hah, why not?" He smirked.

"Well, first off, I don't exactly have a parental lifestyle. With all the men I sleep with."

"How so?"

"You know me." Sasha gets a latter to climb on -- one of the bolts holding the suspended mannequin doesn't look right, "I'm almost like Isabella from Dragon Age 2. But it's like," She gestures with her hands, "I almost need at least 2 men at a time when I'm in the mood."

"Two men? Why not just the one?"

"Because Man-on-Man action is hot!" Sasha says while adjusting the straps, "Have you ever put on a strap-on and have your way with three or even four blokes?? All over each other while having lots of goes at me?"

"Um..." Merrick quirked his mouth, "I happen to be a man. A strap-on would be a bit obsolete in my case. And I haven't had that many horny guys going at it around me since the cruise a few years back."

"Whell," Sasha huffed as she climbed onto the back of the posed mannequin to test the weight limit, "I'm a border line man-whore when it comes down to it. Gay sex is just damn amazing, don't you know?"

"Even for a woman like yourself? Are you REALLY that into homo stuff?" He asked, genuinely curious, "I kinda figured straight woman WOULD think two men sexing would be alluring, but it's not the case for Yuri, Syrinx, Donna, and pretty much all the other women I know."

"See, I'm what most people would call a 'Fag Hag'."

Merrick spat as he hunched over, snickering as water dribbled all over him, "E-Ermbl! Gheheheh! What in the world does THAT mean??" He wipes himself up "A Fag Hag??"

"It's a pretty common expression in the LGBT crowd." Sasha answered, "Typically, it's a straight women like myself who is EXTREMELY fascinated and involved with gay men, or otherwise the LGBT in general. It adds to know when most of the men F-Hags go out with on dates turn out to be gay. You know Debbie from Queer As Folk?" She asked, "She would be considered a Fag Hag. Or that freakin blonde chick from the Eating Out movies?"

"Hahaha, Timothy Van Slut?" Merrick smirked.

"No, Tiffani Von Der Sloot." Sasha corrected, "Close though. She is also considered as an example of a Fag Hag."

"Ok, I see. Aaand what does this have to do with having kids?" Merrick asked with a raise brow.

Sasha shrugged, "I got bored. I wanted to talk about man-fucks." Both of them chuckled as she climbs down the latter, "Besides, I have like, 3 brothers and 4 sisters. All of them married, so I almost have a dozen nieces and nephews to see and coo all over. So I am in no hurry to pop out a blighter of my own."

"But you're not opposed to it?"

"Hmm." She smiles as she thought for a moment, "I suppose not. I like kids enough, when they're not insane and screaming all over the bloody grocery market."

"Hm... I'm not sure how Adam feels about it... I believe he likes kids too. But, I'm not sure I'm really ready for baby-planning yet."

"Hey, neither are half of American parents, and yet they continue to breed, eh?" Sasha smirks.

Merrick looks down at his ring, and smiles as he adjusts it. It never needs to be adjusted or moved... He just likes to see the small diamonds twinkle as the light shines along the curved metal. "... Hey Sasha?"

"Yes?"

"In a human marriage, isn't there supposed to be two rings?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Because since Adam proposed to me, I'm the only one with the ring. Am I supposed to propose to him too?"

"No," She answered, "I don't know too much about weddings, but typically, the man is supposed to propose to the partner with a ring, and then later, him or both of them get a second ring for the man."

"Hmmm..."

"And by the way, didn't your shift end like 10 minutes ago?"

"It has??" Merrick checked the clock, "Oh yeah! I better go then."

"Right, see ya." Sasha said.

After Merrick has changed and left the shop he looks at his ring as he strolls down the sidewalk. It really is beautiful; the partial swirl leading to each diamond is so thin, but it hasn't chipped or dented at all. It looks so delicate, but so strong. He takes a moment to look up to the sparkling ocean in the noon sun. Today has been a short shift -- only 9-3.

He picks up his phone and dials up Syrinx's number before holding it to his ear, "... Hey, Syrinx? Hey, are you off right now? ... Ok, cool. I'm gonna get a hold of Belinda in a sec. There's something I want you guys to help me with."

~~~

Yuri sighs as she unlocks the door to the house. Just as she got back to the hospital last night, there were several victims in critical condition. It went from a long night to a longer morning.

Exhausted, she enters into the house, and sees Arnaav on the couch, with the blanket having been dropped down from his little body. She frowns as she sees the trail of sand and dirt leading from outside to the couch. She is going to have to take the cushions to the cleaners...

"I know you're there..." Arnaav said after Yuri took one step. She sighs again as she comes to him, brushing off the dry sand and sitting down beside him.

"I wondered where you went. I thought you might've gone back to the Kenovani."

"I don't want to." He said stubbornly.

"I know... But you're going to have to go back eventually." She said softly, "What about your health?"

"What's the point... What do I have to live for if I can't even be allowed to see her..." He whimpered.

'Oh lord.' Yuri thought as she rubs her eyebrows, 'I do not have the energy for a romantic preteen tragedy.' She feels her neck as she rolls her head a little, 'Keep it together, Yuri.'

"It's not like I can even speak to her." Arnaav said with a small whine, "She speaks a different language that I cannot understand. I don't understand, why does she not speak the language that I do??"

"It's complicated," Yuri huffed, "A lot of humans speak different languages that we need to learn. Isn't it the same with merfolk?"

Arnaav doesn't answer. Yuri glances down, and sees him hugging his Mochi pillow, cringing tightly in his position. She gives yet another tired sigh as she leaned back.

"It's Japanese."

"Huh?" Arnaav looks up.

"The language Fumiko speaks is called Japanese. Otherwise known as Nihongo."

"Japa... Nihongo?" Arnaav asked.

"Nihongo is just how it's said in Japanese."

"I don't understand. What are you talking about?"

"Fumiko mostly speaks in Japanese, and she isn't very good speaking English -- English is the language you and I are speaking right now."

"I don't care anymore..." Arnaav turns back down, "It's not like she really likes me either... She kept running away from my on the day of Easter."

"Well if might help you if you knew Japanese. At least you'd be able to communicate." She said.

"..."

"That's the language that I speak, anyway." She added. Arnaav gasped lightly as he hears that. Yuri can't help but smile as he tries to make himself get up, "I am way too tired right now, but if you want, I can teach you how to read, write, and speak Japanese whenever you come over."

"You can teach me another language??" Arnaav asked, his eyes gleaming with renewed optimism as he still clings to his Mochi.

Yuri looked over to him, "Sore wa tadashīdesu." Arnaav's eyes widened, "That means 'That is correct.'"

"You can really teach me this?"

"I better warn you though," Yuri said as she adjusted in her seat, "Japanese is a very complicated language, both written and spoken -- it's just as, if not more complex than English is. I can teach you the basics in my spare time, but I also think you should practice it with assignments I give you. Depending on your rate of learning, I think you might be able to know Japanese in a couple of years or so."

"I'll do it." Arnaav said without much time for thought, "I wanna learn this Japanese!"

"Good. But, I need to sleep right now." Yuri says as she gets up, "I've been working practically all night, and I need a rest."

"O-Ok, Yuri..." Arnaav nods, slightly hesitating. Yuri chuckles as she notices this.

"I guess if I'm going to be teaching you, it's respectful to refer to me as 'Yuri-Sensei'."

"Yes, Yuri-Sensei!" Arnaav quipped up. Yuri smiles as she goes into her room for a nap. After closing her door, she went to her closet, and brought out a box with bunch of hold notebooks and texts, as well as several various supplies.

"Good thing I kept these for laughs." She muttered as she blew off the dust and peered into the box to see a glimpse of kanji on a hardcover. When she was in high school, Yuri picked Japanese to be her required Foreign Language class, partly because she wasn't interested in learning French or Spanish, and partly to get a kick on how accurate or inaccurate her teacher was in high school, who was Caucasian.

Needless to say, she's had a few giggles as well as a huge advantage; along with a few spare school supplies she finally has a use for now.

~~~

Belinda spirals through the water along the reef, over several miles away from the shore. She signals here and there, along the sand and into the cultured rocks. She leers around at the many small creatures darting and swarming about in and out of the reefs, until she finds a target. With a knife, she stabs into the rock and thick lab of solid matter behind a flayed clam.

Merrick was specific about what he needs, not to mention very explicit about using another ability that doesn't belong to her. He needs Belinda to use the signals, but he will not be around to hear her sound it.

Belinda hisses and grunts as she worked the short, sturdy blade into the reef until she managed to pry the duo shell off of the rock. She then sheathed the knife, and tucked the oyster into her pouch, adding to a handful of other bivalves she's collected thus far. She seals her pouch once more, and looms forward.

~~~

Merrick runs the towel roughly through his hair as he sits on the sand, rubbing under his neck and around his body. He turns his head, and sees the tan, pink-haired colleague of his wade through and out of the water as it washes on the sand.

"How many did you get?" He asked.

"I could barely fill half the bag," Belinda answered as she opens it to show Merrick, "I covered at least 5 miles."

"Agh." Merrick winced, "That's kinda more than I was able to find. Why can't humans just breed oysters in the wild? Why do they need to keep them all in buildings??"

"I do not know," Belinda said as she shook her head, "I'm still trying to figure out how and why they let everything else happen."

"Ok..." Merrick said as he paws through his bag, "I'm pretty sure rounded clams don't have pearls, do they? I don't know for sure."