Do You Trust Me?  

I had no idea how long I had been swimming in the hot springs under the castle, trying to get my mind off the conversation in the kitchen.

Diving down to the very bottom of the rocky pool, I stayed there, letting my hair flow around me as it wanted. Giving myself over to the pleasure and the pressure from the water around me, I didn't move an inch until my lungs started to burn, reminding me that I wasn't actually a mermaid.

With great reluctance, I swam to the surface, swinging my hair back as it threatened to blind me in a curtain of red.

"For a minute there," grunted He'dtaalh, crouching down on the rocks beside the hot spring. "I didn't think you would ever come up."

I smiled up at him, ignoring the fact that he was able to see my naked body under the water. It was crystal clear and just the perfect temperature to swim in as far as I was concerned.