The sun had just begun its slow descent toward the horizon when Siobhan's father and the other fishermen returned to the small Irish coastal village. Their boats creaked and groaned as they were pulled up onto the sandy shore, nets bulging with the day's catch. The men were bone-tired and weathered, but there was a glint of satisfaction in their eyes as they went about their work, unloading the day's bounty.
Siobhan, on the other hand, was left to sort through the slippery, wriggling mass of fish that spilled out from the nets. She was soaked from head to toe, her long auburn hair plastered to her face and neck, her simple homespun dress clinging to her lithe form. She worked quickly, her nimble fingers flying as she separated the valuable catch from the unwanted bycatch.
As she worked, something unusual caught her eye. Amidst the flopping, silver-scaled fish, a flash of iridescent color lay half-buried in the sand. Curiosity piqued, Siobhan reached down and carefully extracted the object, revealing a mermaid, her tail fin shimmering in the fading sunlight.
The creature was exquisite, her skin the color of alabaster, her long, flowing hair the hue of midnight. Her eyes were closed, her breathing shallow. A nasty gash marred her side, red and angry against her pale flesh. Siobhan's heart went out to the poor creature - she couldn't simply leave her here to die.
And so, with a surge of determination, Siobhan gathered the mermaid into her arms and began the trek back to her family's small cottage. The men called out to her as she passed, but she didn't pause, her focus entirely on the fragile life she cradled against her chest.
Once back at the cottage, Siobhan wasted no time in tending to the mermaid's injuries. She cleaned and dressed the wound, her hands surprisingly steady as she worked. The mermaid stirred faintly, her eyes fluttering open to reveal a deep, vivid blue that seemed to see straight through Siobhan.
"Thank you," the mermaid whispered, her voice a soft, musical lilt that sent shivers down Siobhan's spine. "I owe you my life."
Siobhan shrugged off the gratitude, her cheeks flushed. "It's nothing," she murmured. "You would have done the same for me."
The mermaid's lips quirked into a small, enchanting smile. "I would have," she agreed. "But perhaps I can repay your kindness in another way."
Siobhan's heart skipped a beat, her breath hitching in her throat. She had no idea what the mermaid meant, but a sudden, intense heat pooled low in her belly.
The mermaid's gaze dropped to Siobhan's mouth, her tongue darting out to wet her full, pink lips. "May I kiss you?" she asked, her voice husky and low.
Siobhan's mind went blank, all thoughts of modesty and propriety evaporating in an instant. She nodded, her lips parting in silent invitation.
The mermaid didn't need a second invitation. She leaned in, her lips brushing against Siobhan's in a gentle, chaste kiss. But the heat between them was anything but chaste, igniting a fire that seemed to consume them both.
The mermaid's hands came up to cup Siobhan's face, her fingers tangling in the other woman's damp hair. She deepened the kiss, her tongue sliding against Siobhan's bottom lip, seeking entry. Siobhan gasped, her hands coming up to grip the mermaid's shoulders, her fingers digging into the soft flesh.
The mermaid took full advantage, her tongue plundering Siobhan's mouth in a kiss that was both passionate and exploratory. Siobhan could do nothing but respond, her body coming alive under the mermaid's skilled touch.
The mermaid's hands roamed, tracing the curve of Siobhan's waist, the swell of her breasts. She cupped Siobhan's breasts through the thin fabric of her dress, her thumbs brushing against the hard, aching peaks of her nipples.
Siobhan's back arched, a low moan escaping her lips as the mermaid continued her sensual assault. She was lost, completely and utterly lost in the mermaid's embrace.
The mermaid's mouth trailed down Siobhan's neck, her teeth nipping at the sensitive skin. She reached the neckline of Siobhan's dress, her fingers hooking into the fabric and pulling it down, baring Siobhan's breasts to her gaze.
Siobhan's breath hitched as the cool air hit her heated flesh, her nipples peaking even further. The mermaid's mouth closed around one hard nub, her tongue swirling around the sensitive flesh. Siobhan's hands fisted in the mermaid's hair, her hips bucking as the mermaid's fingers found their way between her thighs.
The mermaid's touch was confident, knowing. She stroked Siobhan through the thin fabric of her dress, the material growing damp with Siobhan's arousal. Siobhan was beyond caring, beyond thought. She could only feel, her body alive with sensations she had never experienced before.
The mermaid's mouth returned to Siobhan's, her kiss deep and hungry. She broke away, her breath hot against Siobhan's lips.
"I want you," the mermaid whispered, her voice a low growl. "I want to taste you, to feel you. Will you let me?"
Siobhan could only nod, her body trembling with anticipation. The mermaid's eyes blazed with desire, her smile wicked. She urged Siobhan onto the bed, her hands working quickly to remove the rest of Siobhan's clothing.
Siobhan lay before her, completely bared, completely vulnerable. The mermaid's eyes raked over her, a slow, deliberate perusal that made Siobhan's pulse race.
The mermaid knelt between Siobhan's thighs, her hands parting the soft folds of flesh. She leaned down, her breath warm against Siobhan's heated core.