As I blow-dried my hair, I tried not to think about all of the events of the past week. After my hair was dry, I made my way into my bedroom, my towel wrapped securely around my body. Fumbling through my closet, I pulled out a cute, but comfortable, sundress. The navy blue stripes ran parallel across the white fabric, bringing out the red in my hair as I pulled the dress on over my head. Grabbing a pair of my favorite sandals, I slipped them on my feet, not bothering to put on makeup as I didn't own any. As I grabbed my purse and my keys, I made my way into the living room to wait for Delmare.403Please respect copyright.PENANA6jMLmjo0J7
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A few minutes later, I turned around to see Delmare walking towards me, his hair falling into his unique eyes, which were their normal silver color, while he wore a light blue button down and a nice pair of denim jeans. He smiled down at me as he came closer automatically making me smile back at him.403Please respect copyright.PENANAXfjLuBG0KY
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"You look great." I said, placing my purse's strap on my arm.403Please respect copyright.PENANAHW2pQDiv30
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"So do you." He grinned, "Are you ready to go?"403Please respect copyright.PENANAhd0fgM03HU
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"Yeah, I am." I replied, moving to open the front door but Delmare beat me to it, opening the door and waving for me to go ahead of him, "You eat sea food right? And thanks, for opening the front door, that was sweet of you."403Please respect copyright.PENANAOZmEBQWwcM
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"You're welcome," He said, grinning proudly as I walked past him and into my truck just as he hopped in beside me, "And yes, we eat seafood."403Please respect copyright.PENANAih9JqmZMOL
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"Good, because there's some good seafood places around here." I smiled almost shyly as I started up the vehicle, ready to get on the road.403Please respect copyright.PENANApGgMwtdAoJ
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The five minute drive to the restaurant seemed to go by to fast as I parked at the side of the building. I wasn't nervous earlier but now I could distinctly remember how the butterflies felt yesterday and now they were back, filling my stomach with a storm of nervousness.403Please respect copyright.PENANAKdRFEfjZG4
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"Are you okay?" Delmare asked as he unbuckled his seatbelt, concern lacing his tone.403Please respect copyright.PENANAfves3TFZ07
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"Yeah, I'm just nervous." I admitted, unbuckling my own seatbelt.403Please respect copyright.PENANArQz5L3bqyn
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"You're nervous," He laughed, his tone as nervous as mine, "This is the first time I will be in public with a room full of humans."403Please respect copyright.PENANAUZCcmDst7N
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I couldn't help but giggle at his comment and the predicament we were in, "Yeah, I guess you have more reason to be nervous than I do." I paused, shutting the truck off, "Let's just go in and have lunch together. Don't worry about anyone else, let's just try to have a good time."403Please respect copyright.PENANAXmpD7hiMhR
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He smiled over at me, the nervousness still evident across his features but I could tell he was feeling better about our lunch date, "Okay, let's do this."403Please respect copyright.PENANAB3rappImRl
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I grinned, exiting my vehicle after him before we walked together into the restaurant, our arms touching slightly as we both greeted the woman standing at the podium. I watched as she grabbed our silverware and menus and followed her as she led us to a table not too far from the outside world that overlooks the sea.403Please respect copyright.PENANAPk2vPE6WRK
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"Your server will be right with you can I interest you in anything to drink?" She asked as we sat down, Delmare deciding to sit across from me rather than right next to each other.403Please respect copyright.PENANAshfKf4DLVj
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"Water is fine, thank you." I replied as Delmare said the same and then we were left alone, staring at each other not saying a word. His eyes flickered gold, shinning bright against the dark color of his hair, concerning me as to who might see the mystical change of his irises. "Delmare, control your eye color, someone might see you!"403Please respect copyright.PENANAKaIYLoclKU
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I watched him smile at my panic, his eyes not changing back as he spoke, "I can't believe you agreed to this." he paused, fumbling with his napkin, "I can't believe that you are so calm about all that you have been told these last few days. I find it interesting how you are okay with it all, how you just go with the flow and that you haven't freaked out yet."403Please respect copyright.PENANABprfEUrj8o
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"I mean, I wouldn't say I've taken it all insanely well." I replied, absentmindedly scratching the back of my head, "I did faint when you changed." I whispered the last word so no-one would hear, entirely in tune with the fact that we were surrounded by people who might not take too kindly to another intelligent being in their world.403Please respect copyright.PENANAhixygX2UlE
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"Yeah," He said, taking a drink from his glass after it was set down in front of us, "That's true. I'm sorry about that and your lamp. And you know, showing up in your home not entirely clothed."403Please respect copyright.PENANAhqEQvLf1FI
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A blush began to make its way across my skin when he mentioned him being naked and I couldn't help but have that thought in my head even though I did not want to spend my afternoon hot and bothered. "It's alright, let's just put it behind us and start over." I said, clearing my throat as I tried not to think about his nakedness or the fact that I had woken up the other day clothed but before there was only a towel to shield him from my own nakedness. I wondered if he had tried to shield my assets when he dressed me or if he had admired me. Apart of me knew I should be freaking out that a man I barely knew saw me naked without my permission but I found myself wanting to see what color his eyes changed when he saw me again. I knew that if we did anything more than just talk we would probably regret it, and it was in our own best interest that we wait, but this bond as he called it, wanted me to rip the handsome button down off of him.403Please respect copyright.PENANA8DrTO5LWl4
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I watched his eyes spark in amusement as he stared back at me calculating what he should say before I spoke again, "Are you reading my mind?" The horrified tone in my voice to anyone else would tell them that I was thinking some thoughts I probably shouldn't as the embarrassment took hold.403Please respect copyright.PENANAhPbHM8wLGo
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He only nodded, his face as red as mine was as I gasped and playfully hit him on his shoulder, "Quit that!"403Please respect copyright.PENANAap7qaqcKVZ
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"I couldn't help it!" He grinned playfully at me, "I always want to know what's on your mind."403Please respect copyright.PENANA1ehZGogyew
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We were so engrossed in eachother that we hadn't realised our server had arrived until she spoke beside us, "Hi, my name is Anna Beth and I'll be your server this afternoon. Are we wanting to start with some appetizers today?"403Please respect copyright.PENANAM2YOdUIIti
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Immediately I looked over, trying to process what she said as my mind swirled with my previous thoughts, "Um, I'm sorry, I think we're good," I replied, "We're going to need a few minutes to decide what we want, sorry."403Please respect copyright.PENANAvVuFLGPIUt
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"That's fine, take all the time you need!" She grinned before turning away to help another table.403Please respect copyright.PENANANyE9cqvTVM
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Picking up my menu, I pursed my lips together as I tried not to think about anything other than what I wanted to eat. Fumbling through the menu, I decided the snow crab looked good, with a side of asperagus, and mashed potatoes. As I looked over my options for my salad I looked up, feeling eyes on me. Delmare's eyes were back to their silver color, as he stared at me before he spoke, "What are you having?"403Please respect copyright.PENANABVG0BwJ4mG
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"Oh, snow crab legs, asperagus, and mashed potatoes. It also comes with a salad, I think I might go with a ceasar." I replied, folding my menu just as our waitress came back to take our orders. Delmare decided within a second that he wanted what I was having even though he had never had anything but the seafood part of the order. "It's good to try something new." I grinned as I handed Anna Beth our menus. "Just don't puke in my truck." I teased, winking at him as I took another sip from my glass.403Please respect copyright.PENANAdaq7qTw5fN
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He shook his head, grinning at me as if I told the funniest joke on the planet, "I'll try not to."403Please respect copyright.PENANAMAj7RYQPSy
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"So, tell me about yourself," I paused as our salads were brought out and placed in front of us, "What does the heir to the Arcadia throne like to do for fun?"403Please respect copyright.PENANALWZXucWnzt
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Well, in the free time that I do have, I enjoy reading, although, I do like that device along your wall in your living room."403Please respect copyright.PENANAr8zVZBEqTA
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"The Television?" I offered, stabbing a forkful of lettuce onto my fork.403Please respect copyright.PENANA8h9zxXCyju
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I watched as his eyes lit up in amazement, "Is that what that's called?"403Please respect copyright.PENANAi3GYGkBXiU
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I nodded, my mouth full of food as I watched Delmare cautiously put a forkful into his mouth before taking another bite and then another. Pleasure written all over his face, "This is amazing!" He practically moaned.403Please respect copyright.PENANAyj3puAOmZt
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"Glad you like it." I smiled over at him, finishing my salad and licking the fork clean so I could use it later.403Please respect copyright.PENANAn4vu6XFzEc
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"So, what do you like to do for fun?" He asked, after he finished his salad, "Also, I never asked you what you do for work. So, what do you do for a living?"403Please respect copyright.PENANA3odTogJiLi
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"If I'm not working I'm usually swimming, I just moved here so I'm still not used to being so close to the ocean. If I'm not outside, I usually will listen to some music or read." I paused, smiling at the waitress who came over with our food, setting the plates in front of us, "And, I am a Marine Biologist at the research and rehabilitation centre here in town. I study marine life, the ocean, and pollution levels to see if we can help protect the creatures that inhabit our waterways."403Please respect copyright.PENANAE6FpVnd6af
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I smiled as I broke open one of the crab legs, pulling the meat off and sticking it in my mouth. The meat seaming to melt in my mouth as I closed my eyes, enjoying the taste of the seafood as I could help but let out a soft moan. I heard Delmare chuckle in front of me, as I immediately opened my eyes, "I'm going to guess it's good?" I only nodded, grabbing another piece and popped it into my mouth.403Please respect copyright.PENANAq84Hx0qnsc
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After we finished our food, I paid the waitress and walked with Delmare to my truck. We were barely inches away from each other, my arm brushing against his as we walked side by side and as we entered the truck and shut our doors I turned to Delmare, grinning ear to ear. Knowing that this date was possibly the best one I have ever had.403Please respect copyright.PENANAHBKahA2x1V
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"I had a good time." I said, as I started up the truck.403Please respect copyright.PENANAmoob6DRq5L
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"I did as well." He replied, as I backed out of my parking spot and turned towards the street that would take us home.403Please respect copyright.PENANAjeP9ymRF35
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"What do you think of our food?" I asked, turning onto the street.403Please respect copyright.PENANA8eaAM7Szv4
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"It was good, I especially liked how you were moaning." He teased as I scoffed, shaking my head as I continued to drive.403Please respect copyright.PENANAbaIWToUsXM
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"I'm sure you did." I laughed in spite of my embarrassment, as I looked away trying to focus on the road as I pulled up onto Ocean Boulevard. "What do you want to do when we get home?"403Please respect copyright.PENANA0iflvZDhIK
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"I'm not sure." He admitted, before continuing, "I wouldn't mind continuing that Siren tv show."403Please respect copyright.PENANAB5lyRjLMyA
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"That sounds good. You can tell me the differences between their version of merpeople and your kind." I said just as I pulled into the driveway.403Please respect copyright.PENANA5aDexMWFtZ
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"From what I can tell I'm sure there will be a lot to tell." He chuckled, exiting the truck before me as the salty sea air blew inside the vehicle, sweeping my hair into my face as I followed close behind him and into my home. As I closed the front door, I immediately kicked off my sandals, my feet beginning to ache as if I had just walked a five mile trek. Following Delmare over to the couch, I plopped down next to him as he reached for the remote. He seemed so mundane in this instance that apart of me completely forgot he wasn't human at all. As I stared, admiring how his eyebrows knit together as he concentrated, I wondered if what I was feeling was the bond already beginning to form between us or if it was how I truly felt. He turned towards me then, his eyes flashing their golden color that I loved as he asked me what was wrong.403Please respect copyright.PENANAeBVGoqQuCT
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"Nothing." I replied, looking away as I tried to figure out what was happening to me. Why was I drawn to him so quickly, why did I want to speed things up rather than slow things down? "I'm going to lay down." I announced, as I found myself maneuvering until my head layed on the arm rest and my feet layed gently on Delmare's lap. "You don't mind do you?"403Please respect copyright.PENANAzCVDQ7npqT
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"No," he said, pushing play on the remote as she show began to start, "you don't mind if I lay with you do you?"403Please respect copyright.PENANA7Dlsw9cchx
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I shook my head, scooting over so that he would have enough room. And as he held me, I felt as comfortable as I had when we were in bed, but this time, I felt entirely safe. As if this was where I was meant to me, here with him, my other half.