I threw my camera in my backpack along with my sketchbook and pencils, ready to go down to the shoreline to start my project.

The art college I go to is quite small and we often have projects assigned to us to do what we like on. My starting title is perspective, and I've chosen to do mine on marine life because there are so many different directions you can take it in. Also, it's pretty easy that I live right next to a beach as I can go down whenever I like, usually it's just to relax.

I've always found the ocean calming so when I got the opportunity to move here; out of the city, I jumped at the chance. The rest of my small family are still in London with my brother being a mechanic and mum and dad owning a small shop.

The pebbles crunched under my feet as I walked to my favourite, more private spots along the beach. There were small rock pools filled with life and larger rocks around where the sea splashed up against. I stepped across the bigger rocks and set my backpack down on the flat sand where I usually sit, took out my sketch book along with a pencil and began deciding what to draw. I looked out across the sea, hoping to find inspiration, but it was a pretty average day. Blue sky with clouds, calm sea and not much happening. Sometimes you could see dolphins splashing at the surface far out but that was if you were lucky. I moved further down the sand peering into a large rock pool where I saw lots of colourful shells, rocks with seaweed, small fish and a red starfish. I focused in on a section with the starfish that would have the most detail, I started sketching.

I was so engrossed in my drawing that I hadn't noticed the hour pass and I'd made a lot of progress. I laid back against a rock, closing my eyes enjoying the warm sun rays. The sound of calming waves hitting the rocks made me relax in the warmth until a shadow passed over me leaving droplets of water on my face.

Startled, I sat up immediately looking around. My heartbeat quickened as I got a feeling of being watched. Wanting to get back to my house, I looked around for my sketchbook and threw it in my bag, scrambled to my feet and started to fast walk to the rocks to climb across.

A loud splashing stopped me in my tracks as the sound came from the end of the rock I was stood on.

Probably a fish... right?

Maybe it's a dolphin that's come too far in?

I'm just freaking myself out now. Err...do I go and look, something might be hurt and need help? The splashing continued quite frequently as I just stood debating whether to go and see. Finally, I dropped my bag by my feet and slowly and hesitantly walked to the edge.

"H-Hello?"

Wasn't quite sure why I said that as fish can't talk but you never know. The frantic slashing stopped; that worried me.

"Is anyone there?" I asked rather stupidly, but I was scared now with probably with no reason to be.

"Need help."

I gasped. Oh, my god, there is actually someone there, what do I do? I wasn't expecting this. The voice was deep and sent shivers down my spine but made me feel calm, in a strange way.

"A-Are you hurt?" Why did I stutter?!

There was a pause and all I could hear was the waves until he started speaking again.

"Can you give me your hands? I'm stuck." The voice was smooth and it held no fear or panic that someone who was stuck under a rock would have thought to hold.

Hesitantly, I laid down on my stomach and shuffled closer to the edge, hoping to lean over just enough to get a glimpse of 'the voice' as I didn't want to just drop my hands down when I couldn't even see the person. Not having much luck without leaning too much of my weight forward and falling face first into the water, I wondered what this guy was doing here. I've never seen anyone out swimming close to the rocks and of all my time of coming to this spot, I haven't seen anyone nor has there been evidence someone was here. Maybe a surfer? There were no waves today, though.

"Hands?" The voice said in a questioning tone.

"U-Uhh yeah, h-hold on a minute." I sounded nervous and shaky. Come on Jojo you can do this. Mental preparation!

I reached one of my hands down below the rocks just above the deep water. I had my other gripping onto the rock I was on; to stop myself from being pulled down by the person I was reaching out for.

"Can you grab my hand?" Deep breaths I'm going to rescue someone, everything will be fine. "Hello? Are you okay?" What if I was too long and they've drowned?! Oh my god I could have saved someone and now they ar-

Suddenly, a cold hand wrapped around my arm, and with force, pulled me straight forward into the water. I was trying to pull my arm out of the bruising grip they had it in whilst kicking my legs to try and get to the surface for some air. Panic set in as my lungs burned my eyes stung from the sea water and I was being pulled along with speed. I attempted throwing all of my body weight to the side trying to reach my arms out for the rocks. I must have succeeded in some way as then everything went black.

Something cold was dripped onto my face and ran down my neck. It happened again before a colder, slimy object was trailed over my cheeks.

"Wha..." Trying to talk was a bad idea as I just started coughing and couldn't breathe. I coughed up water and stayed turned to the side breathing deeply for a second and trying to deal with the burning pain in my throat.

I turned over onto my back and opened my eyes. I tried to get my vision straight as I blinked and attempted to focus my eyes to see where I was. As I came back to my senses, a shadow was blocking my face from the sun which I was pretty grateful for. I didn't want the blinding sun straight in my sensitive eyes when I was just coming to. I took deep breaths and snapped out of the dream-like haze I was in and saw the most beautiful man I have ever seen in my life. He had gorgeous pale blue eyes with gold flecks in them, thick black hair that was matted in places from the drying sea water and sand grains along the side of his face down this neck and along his shoulders. He had tanned skin with a few small scars littering the tops of his shoulders and down his arms slightly. My eyes roamed further drown his chest and to his strong firm muscles at his stomach.

Until I realised, he had a tail. A FISHTAIL! Memories flooded my mind of being pulled down into the water and not being able to breathe. The sharp rocks that cut and scratched my legs when I kicked out, the firm grip on my arm and the noises of high pitched squeaks like dolphins and birds. I scrambled back scared, only to hit my head on another rock above me when I sat up.

"Careful human." The... thing said in a concerned voice.

"W-w-what are you, what d-do you want?" I shakily asked him curling up my body, protecting myself.

"Shh human, don't be afraid. You are my mate." What is a mate? Why did he bring me here? Who is he? Why is he looking at me that way?

From the distance I put between us I could admire him more, and his tail. He really is beautiful. It was a deep teal green colour with gold and blue blended in with it that reminded me of his eyes. He was holding himself up with his arms and looking at me inquisitively, head slightly bent to the side and all.

"What are you? What do you want?" I asked slowly, my heartbeat has almost reduced to normal again but feeling a strange pull towards the creature in front of me.

"I am a merman and you are my mate." His voice was deep and almost sounded like music the way he spoke. But mate? Like a soul mate?

"Mate?" I asked hoping to find out the way in which he was directing this word.

"My love," He paused looking into my hazel eyes. "Come closer human you are beautiful...and mine." Umm I didn't belong to him he just dragged me off and rock and now here I am, staring at a real life merman whom I thought only existed in fairy tales and films!

Suddenly, probably sensing I had no plans to make movements towards him, he started pulling himself up the sand towards me.

"N-No don't come any closer.. please." I whimpered.

The tide was coming in slowly and the sea flowed over his tail that he was flicking about in the waves, splashing water about.

"Shh don't be afraid, I would never hurt you. I can turn human if that would calm you?"

I was shaking now from fear that he would decide to drag me under the water and also from the cold damp clothes I was wearing. Turn human? He can do that?

"Uhh... you can turn h-human?" he nodded and smiled up at me showing his perfect white teeth. He closed his eyes remaining still then he slowly lifted his head and sat up.

Oh my gosh, he has legs! And he was naked...

I could feel the heat rise up to my face and tried not to giggle. As awkward as I found the situation he didn't seem to have a problem. I had turned my head to the side trying my best not to look in his direction until I felt warm breath on the side of my neck and then a rough lick.

Turning my head quickly to the merman who was now in front of me grinning and his eyes filled with mischief.

"Very beautiful mate." He murmured.

I couldn't help but blush at the merman before me as his arms reached out wrapping around my waist pulling me closer to him. All fear swept out of the window as sparks ignited in my palms as I placed them on his biceps running them along to his shoulders.

"Love my mate." He breathed out against my heated skin.

He nuzzled his face into my neck and inhaled deeply making funny purring sounds like a cat. He lowered me onto the wet sand leaving firm kisses and licks on my neck. When he sucked and bit gently on the sensitive skin I moaned softly and arched my back into him. He slowly brought his face up to mine and I gasped at the colour change in his eyes. The pale blue that they had previously held had disappeared but the gold remained, glowing. My light caramel hair had fallen limply across my forehead and slightly in my eyes. The merman brought his hand up and brushed it away with his fingers, running his thumb along my cheek bone. His eyes flickered down to my lips then he looked back into my eyes in a silent question as if he was asking if could kiss me, unsure of what to do.

I reached one of my hands to the back of his neck pulling him down to meet my lips. The kiss was gentle and filled with passion nothing like I have had before. His tongue swept my lower lip and I didn't hesitate to let him in. Our tongues danced but he was the dominant one in the kiss and I didn't mind him taking control, it made everything seem more exciting. He tugged on my bottom lip as his hands moved up and down my waist spreading more tingles that caused me to moan as I felt myself get hard. My hips moved upwards trying to find friction on the merman's god-like body. He didn't try to hide his excitement either as it was pressing rather firmly into my right thigh.

Suddenly, a bigger wave rolled over the top of us breaking the spell I was under. I sat up coughing and rubbing sea water out of my eyes.

I looked over in the direction of the merman and we caught gazes. Unsure of what to do I lowered my gaze to the sand and blushed. Seconds later gentle fingers pushed under my chin making my head rise to look directly into his eyes. He leant down to press a soft kiss to my forehead and murmured something I couldn't quite make out.

"What did you say?" I asked breathlessly.

"Caspian." He mumbled into my hair. He trailed his nose down the side of my neck sucking on my soft skin. "My name is Caspian, what is yours, mate?"

"Jonah," I said, no louder than a whisper.

We remained still for a few minutes with Caspian just holding me kissing and sucking at my neck and nuzzling my hair. He made purring sounds and licked my cheek, breathing heavily.

I was about to start asking my hundreds of questions that were swimming around in my head about himself, the mate situation, how he found me and the merpeople as I presumed there were more, but the faint sound of my ringtone made me look around and notice we weren't far away from my spot and the rock I was dragged off.

"Umm Caspian that's my phone, I need to answer it..." I trailed off as he started rubbing his cheek along my chest and making that purring sound again. He didn't seem to register the fact that he needed to let me go from the death grip around my waist until I started shuffling trying to get out.

"Err Caspian can I just... umm can you let me go a second?"

"Don't wanna. Mate stay with me now." I can just imagine his pout!

Being tightly held by a merman even if he was human now is a little nerve wracking after he just told me I'm staying with him. What was I doing? Lying on a beach kissing a merman I needed to get home to Bennett. I said I wouldn't be long and that's probably him ringing me.

"Jonah, you are not breathing correctly. Calm down shhh." He pulled his face away from my neck and brought his palm up to rest on my cheek. Something about his touch made me feel safe and realise not to fear him. He leant in and pressed his forehead to mine, his eyes were a deep blue filled with emotion.

"Caspian what's wrong?" He made a whistle sound then looked into my eyes.

"Don't leave, I've only just found you, Jonah." He whispered.

"I'll come back tomorrow Caspian, I promise I just really need to get back to my friend it's important." He whistled again then kissed me softly.

"Okay, but you will come back here tomorrow please?" Light blue hopeful eyes looked up at me and couldn't help but smile and nod my head. He stood up and held me in his arms close to his chest. Rubbing his cheek against my hair and kissing every now and then.

"Caspian," I giggled.

"Yes mate?" He said as he worked his way down my neck sucking and nipping.

"You need to put me down now." I smiled up at him looking into those sparkling blue eyes filled with mystery. He sighed then lowered me to my feet.

"Promise you will come back tomorrow, Jonah?" He whispered still holding me protectively into his muscular chest.

He made me feel relaxed and safe. I know it's funny to think that about someone you've only just met but it is true. Like a bond that has been made but not awoken until you find the right person. That's what it felt like to me anyway. He whined softly into my neck then kissed my cheek then walked back into the waves where he turned back into his Mer form. I smiled and stood there watching him flip his tail before running out from under the rock and the little way up the sand to where my bag was. I could see Caspian swimming in the water alongside me, I waved at him and heard a smooth whistle in response.

Smiling to myself, I quickly ran back towards the house in soaking wet clothes where I would most likely find an annoyed Bennett.