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. Tennian actually gasped in horror. Then I have given offense! No, Thomas breathed. Not at all. Yeah, Fred said sourly. Not at all. It is good of you to overlook my lapse. No problem, Thomas murmured. Yeah, don t even worry about it. Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlThomas was trying not to gape, or leer, and Fred actually had a bit of sympathy for the guy.He d beenminding his own business in his underwater dorm room, and suddenly two naked women were drippingall over his tile.In fact, Thomas was so determinedly making eye contact and avoiding looking elsewhere, his own eyeswere almost watering.Given that Tennian was lithe, exotic, and pretty, and had the nicest set of knockersFred had ever seen outside of a Victoria s Secret catalog, that was quite an accomplishment. I saw you outside, he said, then coughed to clear his throat.When he continued, he sounded more likea man and less like a Ford 4 × 4. You were like like a daydream I had once. Tennian smiled shyly, and Fred was startled and annoyed to feel a stab of jealousy.And not a littlepoke, either, but a vicious stab.It felt like someone had slammed an icicle through her chest.Her facewas probably as green as her hair right now.Jealousy?Not only was it stupid, it was pointless.She had absolutely no right to that emotion at all.She d spent anawful lot of time shoving Thomasand Artur away.And had been devastated when they d both actually upand left.Now here they were, the three of them, together again.And she was still pushing them away.Make up your damned mind,she told herself savagely,very glad she wasn t underwater where justanyone could pick up her thoughts.Pick one, or pick neither, or become a Mormon and pick both, but stop all this wishy-washybullshit. known Fredrika for long? We met a year ago.Your king sent Artur to Boston that s a city on the coast She lives in Chesapeake Bay, Thomas, Fred said, exasperated. Oh.Then you know where Boston is.Anyway, King Mekkam sent Artur to find Fred and help figureout who was dumping poison into the bay. Yes, yes! Tennian actually jumped up and down.This did excellent things to her cleavage.Thomas seyes watered even more. His Highness Prince Artur had many exciting tales when he returned! Wewere shocked that he took life, but it seems as though the villain left him no choice. Not hardly.He was shooting up the place.He shot Fred, too. Yes! It was so exciting! Tennian glanced at Fred. Ah, although it was regrettable that you wereinjured. Oh, she was totally fine, Thomas said, waving away Fred s gunshot wound to the chest.She glared athim so hard she thought her skull was going to crack, but he was oblivious. But anyway, here you are,so let me show you around.This is the galley are you hungry? Do you want a snack? She had one outside, Fred said, still shuddering at the memory.She wondered if Thomas would still beso infatuated once he saw gentle, shy Tennian chow her way through the belly of a nurse shark. She sprobably still got fish scales in her teeth. Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html Great, that s great.Something to drink? Your tiny house makes drinks? Sure! Thomas opened the small, silver fridge. Here, have a Coke.Do you like Coke? Tennian found she did.In fact, the caffeine and sugar from the three Cokes made her as talkative as sheever got out of water.In fact, for Tennian, she was practically gushing. so shiny and beautiful from the outside! I was drawn to it like like A crow is drawn to tinfoil? Fred suggested.Thomas gave her a look. Never mind Dr.Sourpuss over there; she s always grouchy.And here swhere I sleep. Fred had been following them through the small ship, feeling out of place but also strangely reluctant toleave the two of them alone.Thomas was a mermaid geek; when he was a little boy his mom had readhim all kinds of mermaid stories and the lonely little boy (his dad was always off on some mystery job orother) often fantasized about finding a friend in the sea.He d become a marine biologist as a direct resultof those stories, and that childhood.And maybe& maybe he only liked Fredbecause she was a mermaid.To posit that further, maybe he dlikeany mermaid.Well, sure he would.And why not? God knew Fred was no Miss Congeniality.She wasn t even a MissOctober.And this month Thomas was going to meet scads of mermaids.Hundreds.Maybe eventhousands.Her rotten luck that he ran into Tennian, who was apparently pretty open-minded for her people.Anyother mermaid probably would have been scared shitless of him (treacherous bipeds, don t you know).Or disdainful.But not this mermaid.Of all the rotten! Damned! Luck!Tennian was patting the bed, then sitting on it, then bouncing on it. If you can t sleep underwater and letthe current rock you, this is likely the next best thing, she said, her blue hair flying all over the place asshe bounced, bounced, bounced.Thomas lost the battle and stared at her breasts, which were alsobouncing. So.I.Uh. Thomas cleared his throat. I noticed you re a natural I mean, that s your natural haircolor.I mean, obviously it s your natural hair color.A very, um, striking and vivid blue.Is that, um,common in your family? Ow! I m sorry, Fred said sweetly. Was that your kneecap? Right, thanks, he muttered.Then, louder, Sorry, Tennian, those were pretty rude questions.It s notevery day I have a naked, gorgeous mermaid in my ow, goddammit! I m sorry.Was that your other kneecap? Thomas hobbled over to the chair in the corner and sat down, groaning softly. Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html Are you well, Thomas? Tennian asked, stopping in mid-bounce. As well as can be expected, he said through gritted teeth, rubbing his knees. Anyway, that s all of theURV. It is wonderful! Thank you.I worked hard on it. What, work? Fred scoffed. You drew up the plans and then hired a bunch of people to build it foryou. You know how many sex scenes I had to write to afford this thing? Thomas griped. Let s just say allmy characters aren t going to be doing anything below the shoulders for a while.I m so burned out it snot even funny. Burned out? Sex scenes? Biped talk, Thomas said hastily. Don t you want to tell Tennian about your girlie books? Maybe later.Say, Tennian, do you know when the Pelagic is supposed to start? Tomorrow morning.His Majesty wanted to give you and Fredrika plenty of time to rest from yourtravels. Well, that was thoughtful.Oh, that reminds me, Mekkam s coming back tonight for season three.Idon t know when the guy sleeps. Season three? Fred yelped. You couldn t have tried him out on the Discovery Channel? Let himwatchMeerkat Manor or a show about grubs? Jeez, anything but HBO, evenDirty Jobs , fer Crissakes. Look, he saw me watchingDeadwood , he wanted to watchDeadwood.I m supposed to tell a kingwhat to do? Back off, Fred, or I ll put the bullet I pulled out of you right back in. I d like to see you try, Romance Boy
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