The rest of the evening I spent with Bennett watching films and telling him about my day with Caspian. The earlier complications with Eric had been swept under the rug for now and everything was back to normal. We were led against each other on the sofa as I ran my fingers through Bennett's wavy chocolate coloured hair and he admired my bracelet.

"Aww, that bracelet is so pretty, and he made it especially for you! I want to meet him even more now." Bennett rambled cheerily. 

"He wants to meet you too, but I'm more worried why he left in a hurry yesterday, it was like I could feel his distress and nerves." I said on a more serious note.

"Hmm, I'm not sure; it does sound weird but be careful something probably is going on if he left you like that." Bennett said whilst reaching over for the popcorn.

"Maybe, well I'm going back tomorrow so I will ask him then anyway." I decided.

---

"I'm leaving now." I called out to Bennett from the backdoor. 

"Okay! Be careful, byeee." He shouted back.

 I walked down the path behind the fence with overgrown brambles and flowers to all the sea front shops. I decided I wanted to get Caspian a present like he had for me. It was a warm day and the locals were out at the harbour and the early risen holiday visitors went from shop to shop buying small trinkets. 

I opened the door to one of favourite shops that sold anything beach related. What do you get a Merman though? My best bet is probably a bracelet like me gave me as then he didn't have to leave it anywhere plus he would look cute with one. I browsed in all of the little bowels filled with them until I came across a dark blue one with tiny shells attached. Perfect! I paid then left the shop and walked to my spot. Excitement filled me yet again thinking about Caspian and everything I wanted to ask him as I hardly knew anything about him yet.

Once I made it to the same rock I stood on to call Caspian, I looked down to find a pile of slimy green seaweed and a few small broken sticks. I went to kick it below onto the sand where the sea would take it back out later when my foot hit something hard, and not seaweed-like. Is there something in the pile? I looked around nervously just to check no one was watching and of course they weren't, I bent down to pull the seaweed off whatever I just kicked. 

I found in the middle of everything a dark brown box with a picture engraved on the top. A merman holding up what looked like a crystal and what I thought was words written in a different language surrounding the merman in a circle. I ran my index finger over the picture and gasped at the temperature change. That was weird. I turned the box around to look for any other markings but found only more of the words along the bottom. I turned the box up the right way and undid the clasps that held it together. As I opened the box I was faced with one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. A perfect clear light blue crystal that sparked as the daylight hit it from every angle. The sun reflected off it and made the crystal almost glow. It was surrounded in royal blue velvet cushioning decorated with small pearls sewn into it. I was stunned from what I had seen and also from imagining who owned this and how it came to be washed up here. My mind clicked to Caspian all of a sudden and goose bumps rose all over me. Well he was the only merman I knew so it has to be his, but why is it here, and not with him?

"Caspian?" I called out a couple of times into the waves. Nothing.

I sat back down and studied the crystal some more. Attached to the top was silver threading, so I presume it is a necklace. I wanted to run my fingers along it but then again I also didn't want to get it dirty or have it break it looked so dainty. 

I scanned the surface in search for any movement but everything was as normal. Building up my courage I reached out and pulled the crystal out by the thread. I gasped at how the sun rays glistened beautifully off it now I was holding it up. I lowered the thread and placed the crystal carefully in the palm of my hand. It seemed to heat up before bursts off gold, blue, green, pink and orange lights all seeped out of it. My breathing picked up and the hairs on the back off my neck stood up and the crystal warmed up my entire body leaving energy sources up a trail of heat from the tips of my toes to my head. It returned to the original clear light blue colour before sending a ripple into the water and outwards. Oh my God what have I just done? In a panic I quickly but carefully lowered the crystal back into the box shut it and jumped off the rock and ran back home.

"Bennett! Bennett! Quick I need you, I think I've done something awful!" I screeched through the house whilst frantically running into every room looking for him.

"Jonah I'm here, what's happened? What did you do?" He asked throwing his paint brush into the sink.

"Look!" I gasped out and pulled the box out from my bag and placed it on the kitchen island. "Okay, so I was at the usual spot we always meet up and there was a pile of what I thought seaweed so I kicked it and my foot hit this." I said gesturing to the box.

"Then I opened it..." I breathed out whilst fumbling with shaky hands on the clasps to get it undone for Bennett. 

"No way..." Bennett whispered in awe as he started wide eyed at the beautiful crystal.

"Yes way!" I laughed. "But, I touched it and it warmed up then sent a ripped across the water and it looked like a signal being sent!" I said worriedly. "I think I've done something really wrong and messed up something or whatever!" I rambled nervously.

"Well from the look of the outside of the box it's probably Caspian's and with him being your mate and all it could have been left for you?" Bennett suggested running his thumb nail over his bottom lip, – he does that when he's thinking.

"But it made me feel all funny when I touched it and if he left it for me why couldn't he just give it to me instead?" I questioned. 

"Touch it again?" Bennett said eagerly.

"No way! I don't know what it did the first time I don't want to do it again!" I exclaimed.

"Maybe you're right...but I want to see it, then you'll have a second opinion!" He nodded. 

Just then the door bell rang about 5 times in a row and there were a series of loud bangs along with it.

"We're not expecting anyone right?" I asked.

"No?" He answered.

Bennett and I looked at each other before I walked to the door and opened it. There stood a soaking wet and very naked Caspian! He was breathing heavily chest rising and falling strongly, until I noticed a deep wound. It started from just below his left shoulder and straight across his chest. 

"Jonah!" Caspian gasped out relief written all over his face. Before I could blink I was lifted up and pushed into the wall as Caspian's body was pressed against mine, our faces inches apart. I heard Bennett giggle then his foot steps walking away quickly giving us privacy. I caught gazes with Caspian's lust filled gold eyes as he leaned in further to press our lips together. His lips moved against mine snapping me out of the trance I was in. As we kissed he pressed further into me and my legs wrapped round his waist. My hands were in his mass of black wavy hair that I tugged on slightly earning a moan. I don't think I will ever get tired of his lips on mine like this.

 The kiss was getting heated fast as I felt his impressive length pressing into my stomach reminding me he was still unclothed. I moaned at the contact as he rolled his hips into mine and started grinding our erections together as he broke away from my mouth for air. He rested his forehead against mine breathing deeply before his beautiful gold eyes flickered up to meet mine. His head dipped and he left wet open mouth kisses down my neck snaking his tongue out and sucking where my shoulder met my neck. I moaned tilting my head giving him even more access  which only spurred him on more as he pressed and grinded harder into me making me shudder with delight. 

I dug my heels into his lower back trying to push him further into me, needing the friction as my nails scratched his shoulder blades. I take it he liked this as a deep purr vibrated in his chest. His large warm hand slipped to the front of my shorts I was wearing as he rubbed me through my boxers. I was getting dangerously close and didn't want to finish in my shorts – in the hallway; where no doubt Bennett was in the room next to us.

I came back to my senses and even though I really didn't want to stop, I put my hands on Caspian's chest a pushed him slightly back. 

"Mate?" Caspian said breathlessly then planted a gentle kiss to my cheek.

"What happened to your chest?" I said the worry evident in my voice as I tried to push him away a tiny bit more; however Caspian wasn't having any of that as he just held me tighter.

"Umm, Caspian I'm really glad you're here but what are doing here how did you find me?" I tried again nuzzling his neck as I was still trapped between him and the wall.

"I followed your scent, but this is not what I came for, Jonah did you find the box?" Caspian's light blue eyes grew brighter as he starred down at me.

Oh no. I stiffened at the mention of, the box...

"Uhh yeah... um is t-that okay, I-I-" Before I had chance to finish what I was trying to get out, he began licking all over my face whilst he tried to purr at the same time. I heard a giggle from behind me and turned my head to see Bennett with his hand over his mouth trying not to laugh. I rolled my eyes at him but laughed at the cute noises Caspian was making. He eventually stopped then put me back on the ground and his face and eyes turned more serious and lost the playfulness they held just moments ago.

"Are you okay Caspian?" I said softly.

"Jonah, you are my mate and I need to protect you. I promise that if you stay with me nothing will hurt you, promise to stay..." He got quieter towards the end like he was expecting me to reject his offer. 

Who wouldn't want to be protected by a hot, sexy and naked merman? I would!

"Of course, I understand but why what's happened?" I asked searching his beautiful sky blue eyes.

"Please can we stay? I need you close always mate." He whispered and rested his forehead against mine and his strong arms wrapped around my waist.

"We?" I asked thinking he might have gotten confused.

"My brother and I." 

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Thank you all for the reads and votes!

-Alice