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to the side.
David scooped up the back of his head and pulled him into a
desperate kiss. Nereus s mouth opened on instinct, the weird pulsing
warmth that had built in his body for the last half hour urging him on.
He pulled away from David. What the fuck was that about? He
felt angry, but his words sounded sultry, hot, even to his own ears.
David still gripped Nereus s hair, staring down at him with
undisguised lust. I think it s the airborne pheromones. He breathed,
lowering his lips closer to Nereus s mouth. But I ve wanted to do
that from the first moment I saw you.
154 Daisy Harris
David moaned into his mouth as he plunged his tongue in again.
Against his will, Nereus answered with a groan of his own. His
hands tangled in David s thick red hair and his lover s hand swept
down, over his neck, his shoulder.
Gasping, David pulled away. I really do need your help, though.
I need to contact the Dragon Council.
Nereus felt his jaw clench. You think they give a shit about what
goes on here?
David stroked his finger along his jaw, eyes still riveted to
Nereus s mouth. They will if they find out Friedson s holding a
dragon. One in heat, nonetheless.
The merman groaned. With all the pheromones floating around, it
was all he could do not to crawl out of his tank and fuck the scientist
senseless.
David nodded again, and then lowered his head for another kiss.
Nereus pulled back. I can help you, but& A kiss cut him off,
passionate and hungry.
Anything, baby& David whispered against his lips.
You need to stop these experiments.
David s fingers clenched. His fingernails cut into Nereus s
shoulder. When he spoke, it was through clenched teeth. You know I
can t do that.
Nereus tried to hold his gaze even as David pulled back and
looked away. Can t or won t?
When David s eyes met his again, they were full of remorse.
Won t. I ll change things around here. Do everything I can to make
participation voluntary. Nereus scoffed, and David added, Dendric
can afford to pay its subjects. It just takes the right accounting& and
the right motivation. And there s always someone willing to donate
their time and their body, for the right price.
Nereus wanted to believe him. How are you going to recruit
these voluntary test subjects? Humans couldn t even see mere
habitats.
Shark Bait 155
I have a few ideas. The corner of David s mouth twitched up
and Nereus s realization dawned slowly.
Oh, crap no! You think I d recruit for you? After everything
that s been done to me here?
David s lip straightened to a hard thin line. Well if not you, then
I m sure I can find someone else who d be interested.
It was stupid to feel jealous over something so idiotic, but Nereus
felt envy, cold and clammy creep into his belly. And where do you
think you ll find this fictional mere?
David leveled him a hard stare. What did you do for work before
you came here?
Nereus tensed at the question. Like most mere habitats, his had
been dirt poor. He d worked at a convenience store in a nearby human
area. No way he d tell his fancy-pants scientist that.
Yeah, I know most mere don t have access to decent jobs, or
even much education.
Nereus shrugged and rolled his eyes, pretending that the
scientist s words didn t strike a chord.
I could provide recruiters with a decent salary, training&
In exchange for selling their powers. Nereus knew he sounded
sulky, but David just didn t get it. Maybe humans weren t meant to
heal super-fast or hold their breath longer underwater. Maybe humans
should just live with their limitations, just like the rest of the world s
species.
David petted his neck. Even with residual anger thrumming
through his veins, Nereus leaned into the touch. Everyone sells
something. David said it wistfully, as if he wished it weren t true.
Nereus lifted out of the water so that he rested on straight arms at
the tank s lip. Okay. I ll help you contact the Dragon Council.
When David s face lit up, he added, but after that, you re on your
own.
* * * *
156 Daisy Harris
David felt Nereus s words in the pit of his stomach. He knew that
mere lived 300 years, so a future between him and the merman was
impossible, but it still stung. He d happily give up a future for a little
more now.
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