Under the jellyfish gaze.
Summary : You and Cameron don't get along. During a detour to the jellyfish tank, an argument breaks out. Between the heat and the unspoken words, the truth eventually comes to light.
Warning : female reader, Y/N, unprotected sex, emotional intimacy, fluff. Not pathetic Cameron.
English is not my mothertongue so my dearest apologize for the mistakes.
After his tumultuous breakup with Kathy, Cameron had decided to give up on relationships. He had never fallen in love, and given his past, he was sure it would never happen. It’s hard to believe in love when you’ve never experienced it.
So when his heart started pounding in his chest as he watched you walk by. He felt like an idiot. He tried to convince himself it was purely physical. The first pretty woman he’d seen since the breakup. Then he got to know you. You were kind, intelligent, dedicated to your work, well-liked by many colleagues, always a good listener and ready to help, and—a rare thing—you didn’t seem to judge.
As for you, after a stormy breakup, you’d also decided that love was over—or at least for a long while. What a sense of frustration had washed over you when you met Cameron, whose gentle eyes, as blue as the ocean you love so much, had looked at you. “He’s just a handsome man—not worth wasting time on,” you’d tried to convince yourself. But you’d heard about him. A troubled past, but not the type to wallow in self-pity. Hardworking, always ready to help, good at any task. Intelligent.
Perfect for each other, some might have said, but a meeting at the wrong time. Others might have said that everything happens in its own time.
No one could say who had started the war between you. In reality, you had both declared it at the same time. By an unspoken agreement, just an intuition, to reject the other for fear of suffering again. Fear of ruining everything for Cameron, who seemed to see his life as a string of failures with no chance of success. Fear of giving too much of yourself, of being used again.
Your interactions were rare, each of you trying to avoid the other even though, in such a small town, it was a lost cause. When your paths crossed, your gazes were dark, muscles tense, words sharp, and breathing ragged.
Only Tova seemed to glimpse another truth hidden beneath your facades of anger.
And Marcellus, from his aquarium, wondered what the point of this idiotic battle was. Humans were definitely too complicated, despite their stupidity....
Under normal circumstances, he would have cared as much as his first clam, but Tova seemed worried about her two friends’ behavior. Besides, he liked Cameron, who, despite a rough start, had shown rare kindness. As for you, he’d liked you from the moment you arrived; you’d always spoken to him intelligently and given him good food. Maybe he could lend a little hand—or tentacles, in this case? He went to his treasure stash to see if any of his items could help.
Perfect, he said, grabbing one of them.
If the gods exist, they don’t like you, you thought to yourself on your way to work. The last week of June had been foggy, rainy, and so cold that many had lit their fireplaces again. Ethan was delighted, convinced he’d returned to his native Scotland for a week, but he was the only one.
And this week had been so hot that ice cream sales and boat rentals had skyrocketed, as if people were afraid they’d never get to see the sun again after the gloomy weather.
This Friday was hellish; there weren’t many people at the aquarium. The locals were staying cool at home or had left to spend the weekend somewhere more bearable. The heat made your clothes and hair stick to you; you felt like you weighed fifty extra pounds. Even though you kept cooling off with wipes, you felt like you were constantly sweating.
The whole week had been awful, unbearable. It had made you miserable; you held back as much as possible, except around Cameron, who seemed to be suffering from the same thing. You might as well take it out on each other rather than lash out at the wrong person and risk losing your job.
Nine o’clock p.m had just struck, but the air wasn’t any cooler; on the contrary, it was heavy, as if gravity were weighing down on you, the heat seemed to emanate from the air, from the ground. A scent of petrichor appeared, a sign that rain was coming, likely accompanied by a storm. Hopefully that would cool the atmosphere.
You had stayed longer to feed Marcellus one last time. Terry had agreed to let you feed him more to prevent his nighttime escapades.
It’s me again you said. I managed to find you some crab.
You immediately tipped over the bucket containing crabs, shellfish, and small fish. Marcellus quickly pounced on the food; you took the time to watch him, a smile on your lips.
Just as you were about to close the hatch to the tank, Marcellus gently grabbed your wrist with his tentacle. You waited for for a few moments. The octopus swam to the bottom of the tank before returning and handing you an object that had probably once been red, but had faded from its time in the water.
Marcellus went off to digest while you closed the hatch. You took a moment to examine the object; one part was rounded and the other zigzagged. Where on earth had he found that, and what was it? You put it in your bag. You kept everything Marcellus gave you.
Before leaving, you decided to go see the jellyfish. The sight of them swimming at night, lit only by the lights of the tank, filled you with a deep sense of well-being. Their graceful movements made you feel as though you were watching dreamlike dancers from a fantastical dream. Aquatic fairies as beautiful as they were deadly.
You arrived in the hallway leading to the tank, and of course, since you can never get what you want—namely, a quiet moment alone with the jellyfish—Cameron was there, cleaning a feather duster that had surely just been used to remove cobwebs.
His hair is plastered to his forehead; his white tank top and denim shorts also seem to want to meld with his body.
You can go polish your duster somewhere else.
He glares at you. Oh! That look—it’s promising. Over the past five days, the weather hadn’t been the only thing unbearable. The two of you had been so hostile that people expected you to kill each other. Cameron was about to explode; you could tell by his gaze, his tense body, and his ragged breathing. You weren’t in much better shape.
Cameron would have liked to hate you as much as he claimed. The weather was affecting his mood, and so were the consequences of this heat. Namely, you, in light clothing, strolling barefoot through the aquarium. But today was the straw that broke the camel’s back. He’d come by in the afternoon to see Terry, who needed a favor. He’d spotted you from a distance—hard to miss. Amid the black and blue tones of the place, your red dress caught the eye like a lighthouse in the night. He would have liked to say that the feeling rising within him was anger. Like a bull facing a red flag waved in front of him. But that wasn’t the case; the ball of heat he’d felt spreading through his body wasn’t due to the scorching sun. The dress clung to your skin and was slit up to your thigh on one side. Had he ever seen anything sexier? Not sure. You were trotting along behind Terry, with whom you were having a heated discussion.
For God’s sake! But at least listen to me.
We’ve already talked about this.
You said it yourself, Marcellus is at the end of his life; let him eat as he pleases.
We can’t afford to let him devour the others’ rations, or even our other residents.
- Are you sure sea cucumbers are animals?
Terry shot you a exasperated look; you both knew the answer to the question.
Come on, really. Have you ever seen anyone keep a sea cucumber as a pet? I’ve never seen anyone walk their cucumber on a leash.
Terry couldn’t help but laugh, and Cameron, sitting in the corner, did the same. The chef sighed, deep in thought.
I’ll pay for the food and volunteer to feed it.
- Y/n said Terry wearily.
You can’t say no. I won’t bother anyone, it won’t affect the budget, and besides, he won’t eat the others anymore.
Terry sighed; he never won a battle against you.
All right, he finally conceded.
He headed to his office, a smile on his lips despite himself. You’d done a little happy dance under Cameron’s gaze; hidden in his corner, he felt his heart racing. Your kindness toward the octopus was equal to the kindness you showed humans, and that touched Cameron, even if he’d deny it until his dying day.
The heat, the feelings overwhelming him, and that tension in his lower abdomen had put the young man in a sour mood. He could have released the tension, masturbated, but he refused. If he touched himself while thinking of you, he would start again—he was certain of it—and he would want more.
Now he was staring at you, trying to regain control of his body, which was screaming at him to give in to his desires at the risk of going mad.
The heat has melted what little brain cells you had left, I swear, you said in a sharp tone.
Your eyes couldn’t help but follow a drop of sweat running down his neck. As your counterpart tried not to look at your chest, up close he could see that you weren’t wearing a bra. He swallowed hard, his mouth even drier.
Don’t you have anything better to do on a Friday night? It’s like you don’t have a friends he spat, unconsciously taking a step toward you.
About as many as you, Cassmore. From what I’ve heard, you’re not exactly a model of sociability, you replied, taking a step back.
I’ve only been here a month, unlike you, who’s always lived here he adds, moving closer, his voice dropping a notch.
With every word, he moved closer while you took a step back.
That doesn’t change what I said you murmur, watching his lips before returning your gaze to his eyes.
Your heart races a little faster with every movement Cameron makes. Is this what a cornered prey feels as it lives out its final moments? The conversation had started off loud, but as you drew closer, you’d lowered your voices without realizing it.
You always want to have the last word, even when you’re wrong, he whispers, almost against you.
You find yourself pressed against the glass of the aquarium; the sudden coolness of the contact makes you let out a moan.
Cameron suddenly froze at the sound. As intelligent and rational as he was, all common sense left him suddenly, and he pounced on you like a cat on its prey. His mouth found yours in an instant.
A wave of stress washed over him, just like every time he did something impulsive.
He was going to lose his job, again. He’d soon be in the record books for the number of jobs lost in a single month. Hoping you won’t press charges. The idea that he’d come all this way, made all these sacrifices, only to ruin everything in an instant should have made him angry at himself; his aunt wouldn’t hesitate to lecture him. But deep down, he would have risked far more for a simple kiss.
And all that stress, all that worry, vanished, giving way to the first pure feeling of happiness in his entire life when your hands found the nape of his neck before he returned the kiss. Parting his lips to slip in a teasing tongue that easily found its twin to begin a wild tango. Cameron’s body, pressed against yours, was burning hot; he radiated such heat that you wondered if he had a fever. Lost in that passionate kiss, it took you a few moments to realize that the pressure against your crotch was Cameron’s hard cock. He must clearly have been uncomfortable. One of your hands slid down to his crotch, caressing the prominent bulge.
He moaned in surprise, trembling with excitement. He didn’t need to ask your permission. Your dark, desire-filled gaze said it all. In a few moments your dress was pulled up over your hips, his hands pressing against your skin as you undid the button on his shorts, lowering them just enough to free his taut member. His hands gripped your buttocks firmly, making you moan. Cameron lifted you with ease, pressing you more firmly against the wall as his member slid into you. Your legs wrapped around his waist.
A sigh of relief escaped from both of you, as if this simple act put an end to all your worries; your eyes met at the sound, and a smile spread across your faces.
Both of you realized the other felt the same way. As he looked up at you, Cameron felt his heart stop. The light from the tank behind you bathed you in a blue glow, making the scene seem unreal. Like a mermaid in the water luring an unfortunate sailor into her grasp, dragging him into the depths of the ocean to drown him. And the gods knew that Cameron was more than overwhelmed by what he felt for you.
His eyes plunged into yours, and your loving gaze made him slow his movements.
His hips met yours slowly, and the change in rhythm affected you more than the abrupt thrusts with which your dance had begun. Your hands rested on his cheeks, and once again your lips found his. Trapping his lower lip between yours. Cameron groaned. You pulled apart a few millimeters to catch your breath. Your mouths were so close that you could feel each other’s breath.
He slid his arms under your thighs while you clung to his neck; the position allowed you to move more easily, sliding up and down his shaft. Cameron was well-endowed; feeling his cock stretch your insides was intoxicating. An electric current ran through your body, a tingling sensation spreading to your extremities. Your sex contracted at the sensation; he thrust harder by reflex, making you scream with pleasure. He bit your shoulder so he wouldn’t make too much noise himself. Between the sweat from the heat, the fatigue of the day, and all his emotions, he was starting to have trouble holding on.
Cameron, you whispered in his ear.
It was the first time you’d called him his first name, and a shiver ran down his spine.
Pull out, you said softly.
No, he moaned, “it feels too good.
Reluctantly, he pulled out of you, making you moan. You gently urged him to lie down on the floor. You softly stroked his hair as you sat on top of him. When had anyone ever been so tender with him? Treated him with such gentleness, as if he were important. Barely settled, you began slow thrusts, resuming the previous rhythm. His hands found your hips and he lifted your dress, silently asking for permission to take it off; you nodded. The garment was tossed aside as you pulled up his tank top, caressing his skin as you did so. His muscles tensed, and you realized that his hours of manual labor had helped him build a dream body.
Cameron sat up, remaining in a seated position, his legs spread apart. You let out a cry of surprise, which made him smile. The tank top joined the dress. Your legs wrapped around your lover’s waist once more. Forehead to forehead, each of you letting pleasure wash over you. Pressed against one another, the atmosphere was intoxicating, your skin sliding against each other. Cameron held you tight as if he feared you might slip away, one hand against your neck, the other on your lower back, guiding your movements. You could feel sweat running down your back, and the way your bodies slid against each other heated you up even more. Your heart was beating too fast; you could feel your lower abdomen throbbing. Cameron was kissing you as if his life depended on it, your pleasure echoing off the walls of the aquarium. He had tried to be discreet, to contain the sensations overwhelming him. But now he was unable to, moaning openly, repeating your name over and over. His sounds echoed inside you; knowing he was enjoying it as much as you were turned you on to the highest degree. You quickened the pace. He tried to stop you.
I’m not going to last, he said with difficulty.
Between the heat and the sensations, you were close to fainting, and even though you wanted it to last longer, the tension in your lower abdomen was becoming painful; you needed to finish. Cameron understood and flipped you onto your back, pounding you intensely, his thrusts hitting the mark every time. His gaze never left yours. His eyes shone with passion, the reflection of the aquarium glinting in them, making them look even bluer. You held onto his biceps; his hand slid down your body, sending more shivers through you. His index finger found your clitoris, and you arched your back reflexively, closing your eyes.
Look at me, he asked tenderly.
You managed to open your eyes, tears streaming down your face from the pleasure; the ball of heat that had been steadily rising burst, a tingling sensation spreading through your body. Your sex contracted, and Cameron, in turn, released himself under the sensation. He continued for a few moments, releasing your clitoris before stopping. Catching your breath, still in the same position, Cameron kissed you gently and you embraced him; his heart was beating so fast you could feel it against your chest. His head rested on your neck, leaving butterfly kisses while you stroked his hair. You stayed like that until his now-softened member slipped out of your body, making you both groan.
It’s okay, you replied, placing your hand on his cheek.
He kissed the palm of your hand and lay down beside you, a sigh of relief escaping him as he felt the coolness of the floor. You smiled at the sight. He smiled back at you. A comfortable silence settled in as you stroked his chest and looked at his tattoos; you tucked a strand of his hair behind his ear. He stroked your back, lost in thought. He was trying to figure out what to say, what to do. He had just experienced the most intense moment of his life; there was no way he was going to ruin it, but how? Your gaze fell on the bank of jellyfish, the atmosphere gently calming you both.
A shower? You suggested after a moment.
Oh my God, I’d love to, he said, sitting up.
He held out his hand to help you up.
Are you okay? he asked, seeing you wince.
Yes, thank you, just a little stiff—it’s been a while...
Sorry, he said immediately, worried he’d gone too hard, I should have..
Cameron, you cut him off, placing your hand on his neck. It was perfect, don’t worry.”
A smile spread across his face, and for the first time in a long while, his ego swelled.
I hope so, he said, looking at the jellyfish. Since we had an audience, we might as well put on a good show.
You laughed heartily. He picked up your dress, helping you put it on before pulling on his shorts. No need to put his T-shirt back on. The walk to the staff locker room happened in silence. Just as he was about to step into the shower, he wondered whether he should go in with you or use the one next door. You took his hand when you sensed his hesitation, and he gave you a grateful smile. The cool spray made you both sigh with relief.
Damn, we don't have any soap or shower gel, said Cameron.
We can finish up at my place.
I have to finish cleaning first.
I’ll help you, you said as you stepped out of the shower, feeling refreshed.
What? No, out of the question. You’ve already had a long day, it’s late, and...
You silenced him with a kiss.
We’ll finish the job together, go back to my place, eat, take a real shower, and tomorrow, when things have calmed down, we’ll talk, okay?
He grabbed your waist with both hands, nodding his head.
You smiled. Luckily, there were always extra sets of clothes for the workers in the locker room; each of you found a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. The cleaning was done properly despite the fatigue and the heat.
Later, Cameron shyly got into your car. It all felt a bit surreal; he wasn’t quite sure what to think, but he hoped you were on the same page as him. That you wanted more than just a one-night stand. If you were inviting him to your place, that was a pretty good sign, right?
When you pulled up in front of a small house, Cameron felt his heart race; it was always hard for him to see people his age having what he didn’t, even though things were slowly getting better. Once at the door, you rummaged through your bag for the keys. You grabbed a handful of trinkets.
Can you hold this for me, please?
Cameron cupped his hands, and you placed the odds and ends in them. A pack of tissues, a broken bracelet, a phone charger, the object Marcellus had given you earlier, and in the mix, your keys tangled up with the rest. You managed to untangle them and open the door.
Come in, I’ll make us some sandwiches.
Cameron looked at the oddly shaped object and set it down on the counter.
Where did you find that? he asked.
Marcellus gave it to me, you said, opening the fridge to take out the ingredients.
Cameron rummaged through his bag and pulled out the same object. You looked at it, intrigued.
He gave me the same one, Cameron explained, placing it next to yours.
Strange,” you said, stepping closer.
As you looked at the two objects side by side, you understood immediately. Each of you pushed your half toward the other to form a heart. You started laughing while Cameron looked dumbfounded.
Know what?” you asked teasingly.
Cameron smiled at you, but as usual, he had his doubts. For two months you’d been at war with each other—him being as distant and then as hurtful as possible—and in one evening everything had turned around: you’d slept together, and now your words and gestures were nothing but tenderness. Was it that simple?
If you want to wait until tomorrow, when things have calmed down, to talk about it, I don’t mind.
Cameron watched you for a few moments; he was grateful for your offer, and it wasn’t a bad idea. But he didn’t want to seem indecisive or nonchalant—this time, it was too important. He finally confessed that before you, he had never believed in love and that his last relationship had left him with a bitter taste. You had also shared your story. Each of you understood the other’s behavior.
Marcellus understood that we were two broken hearts made for each other said Cameron.
You seem surprised that he admits it so easily. He speaks again.
I know how I feel; I don’t know about you, but I want a real relationship. I want to be better for you; I want to fall asleep and wake up with you. I want to argue over silly things that will be forgotten after we make love. You make me want to be better; I want you to be proud to be with me.
He’d said all that in one breath, twisting his fingers, suddenly aware that it was a lot to take in. He felt the color rising to his cheeks, the stress making his heart race. In response, you’d kissed him tenderly.
I promise I’ll do everything I can to deserve you.
You already do; you don’t have to prove anything, you said, smiling at him.
He pressed his forehead against yours, his heart beating faster than ever, his hands on either side of your face. Your own heart beating in rhythm.
Before the shower, do you want me to show you my room? you asked, biting your lip.
Cameron laughed, letting himself be led away with pleasure. He was still buzzing from the evening’s events. But this time he was sure of it—he was on the right track. With you by his side, things could only get better.
Twenty years later, your son, who was about to blow out twenty candles... a long story that had caused Cameron his worst panic attack but also his happiest moments, asked him as he passed by the jellyfish tank:
By the way, Dad, why did you propose to Mom in front of the jellyfish tank?
That’s true, said her sixteen-year-old sister. If it was because of Marcellus that you confessed your feelings, the octopus tank would have made more sense.
You smile at Cameron; the Marcellus story was by far their favorite, even if certain details had been left out. Your husband watches you with amusement, a glimmer of lust in his eyes.
Marcellus wasn’t there anymore; it didn’t make any sense, and besides, the jellyfish tank at night has always had a romantic side.
That’s true, you say, amused; it was perfect.
They smile. You shoot Cameron a sidelong glance.
What? he whispers, laughing. I wasn’t going to tell Erik that I asked you to marry me at the place where he was conceived.
You laugh, and Cameron wraps his arms around you, resting his forehead against yours.
And I love you even more.
Do you think the new chief would let us take a night tour in memory of the good old days?
You laugh before kissing him deeply.
You know, says Tova in the wheelchair pushed by her great-grandson, a lot has happened here. One day I even cleaned butt prints off this window.
You and Cameron burst out laughing under the astonished gaze of the others.
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