Deep desires Part 7 (merman x fem human reader)
Summary: Your relationship with Thalos blooms. You go on an adventure, uncovering legendary pearls and jewels.
Warnings: sfw, fluff, mild sexual tension, historical treasures, cute possessive Thalos.
PART 6
Doodle of Thalos :)
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The scent of jasmine and salt clung to the humid evening air as you balanced on the wooden ladder, threading fairy lights through the hooks above your aunt’s shop porch. You were replacing the old lights and setting up new ones, to make the shot even cuter. The sun bled orange into the horizon and the distant laughter of tourists lingered on the beach.
Below, Thalos stood, clutching the feet of the ladder. His human disguise was flawless —linen shirt rolled to his elbows, blue-black hair tousled by the wind, those blue-green eyes sharp as ever. He was so handsome only, this time there was tension in his jaw and a furrow on his brow. He’d been quietly seething since you’d refused his help half an hour ago.
“You’re still staring,” you said, securing another light with a twist of wire.
Thalos growled. “For the love of Triton, let me do it.”
“I’m fine,” you said, stretching to loop another light. “I want them hung my way.”
"It's dangerous."
"You're overreacting."
“The ladder is rotting,” he replied. “One wrong step and you’ll crack your skull open.”
You rolled your eyes. “Drama queen. I’ve done this every summer since I was twelve.”
“And every summer, the wood grows weaker.”
He was right, of course but you’d be damned if you let your overprotective merman—yours, finally, you could call him yours—dictate what to do.
Aunt Kenna joined you, balancing a tray of iced lemonade. “Thalos, stop distracting her!”
“I am not distracting her,” he said, not taking his eyes off you. “I am guarding her.”
“You’re hovering,” Kenna corrected. “Like a seagull eyeing a fish basket.”
You snorted, nearly losing your grip on the lights. Thalos lunged forward, hands raised as if to catch you midair but you steadied yourself and shot him a look.
“Relax. I’m fine.”
His jaw tightened. “You’re reckless.”
“And you’re a worrywart,” Kenna chimed in, handing him a glass. “Drink this and let the girl work."
You shot your aunt a grateful smile while Thalos took the lemonade with a grumble, his gaze never leaving you.
“You’re leaving tomorrow morning?” Kenna asked him, squinting at the horizon, where his ship, The Pearl’s Vow, lay anchored. Its sails glowed white against the turquoise sky.
Thalos nodded. “At first light.”
You stiffened. The ship. His ship.
It had taken two weeks of dating—two weeks of breath-stealing kisses and making out in coral caves for Thalos to reveal the truth. He was indeed a captain, a salvager of sunken treasures, one who’d built an empire. And, his crew? Merfolk, all of them.
CORAL MARITIME HOLDINGS was how he'd named his empire and it focused on historic wrecks in deep, inaccessible zones. He sold salvaged artifacts through auction houses in Nassau, Singapore, or Dubai. Because he didn't like traveling in his human form, Thalos had a trusted ally travel for him. Thalos usually kept order on the ship and submerged to find treasures.
“Can I join you?" you asked as you climbed down the ladder.
Thalos’s hands settled on your waist before your feet even touched the ground. As always, his touch was warm, electric and made your stomach fill with butterflies. He hugged you close, his thumbs brushing the exposed skin between your tank top and shorts.
“Say please,” he purred, his eyes gazing at you.
“Please?”
"How cute." He kissed the tip of your nose. "Of course, I'm taking you."
Kenna chuckled and headed inside, her sandals slapping against the planks. "Get a room you two!"
You grinned and hugged him tighter. You'd never been on his ship and you were so excited.
“The crew—” you whispered, watching him conspiratorially. "Will they be okay with a human aboard?"
“They will kneel to you if I command it,” he said, nipping your earlobe. “You are my mate, my pearl who walks both worlds.”
“You’ll need better shoes,” he murmured, eyeing your sandals. “The deck’s unforgiving. And when we dive—” His hand slid lower, gripping your thigh through denim. “Hold onto me tightly.”
“Is that an order, Captain?”
“A promise.” He smirked. "Oh, and you'll need lots of kisses to breathe underwater."
"Yes, please. Lots and lots of kisses."
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Early next morning, you leaned against the ship’s railing, the salt-kissed wind tangling your hair as Thalos’s crew moved around you —twenty mermen, their human disguises flawless. They called you “Captain’s Mate”, a title bestowed with utter respect and salutes.
The crew was mostly quiet, scrubbing the deck and charting courses. The diving and exploration happened at night when it was the safest to conceal their forms. Thalos never let you stray far—his hand always on your hip. He was so sweetly possessive and if a crewman dared linger too long in your presence, he snapped.
On your first dive, you could barely believe that you were so deep down, the only human among merfolk. But you felt safe and happy that the mating bond to Thalos made you live such experiences. You'd found a Spanish galleon, swallowed in 1622. Its skeletal remains were half-buried in sand.
Thalos led you through its remains and found a huge treasure chest, its wood petrified, its iron bands crusted with coral. You had opened it and found a trove of jewels, their colors undimmed by centuries—emeralds, rubies, and at the center, a pearl the size of your fist.
It had enough gold to blind Poseidon!
The crew erupted in clicks and trills, the hunt successful. You returned late to the ship and set a course back to the island. His crew would arrange the sale of the treasure chest's contents. Thalos kept these expeditions short so as not to attract attention so you were returning to the land.
A pink dawn streaked across the horizon, the sea sighing beneath The Pearl's Vow as it approached the island. You leaned against the ship's railing, drinking in the view, your body buzzing with tiredness and excitement. You'd just had a few hours of sleep since reemerging. Worse, Thalos’ hadn't joined you, busy arranging his business.
“Enjoying the view, Pearl?” hand slid possessively around your waist, pulling you back against his chest. He cornered you against the mast as the crew pretended not to watch.
You melted back. “The sea’s so nice.”
"Do you want to dive with me? No crew. No distractions,” he said now, lips trailing down your throat. “Just us. Be mine. I want to claim you."
You shivered pleasantly. “Yes but... where?”
“Where it began.”
Author: Did you like the plot twist? Our merman is indeed a captain. I loved the vibes of this chapter, what are your thoughts? I think it is about time I wrote the claiming. Stay tuned. The spice will be fire.
