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The cool sea closed over Kai’s head, and he opened his gills to the soothing flow of water. At last he could relax. He stripped off his swim trunks, stuffed them in the pouch he wore around his waist, and kicked out, reveling in the rush of water before he allowed the complete shape-shift to flood over him. Then he gave a quick flick of his tail fin and moved twice as far as he had with his feet.
Bliss. He hadn’t changed his form when he’d taken a quick swim after arriving in Cromer the day before yesterday. He couldn’t remember when he’d last done it. Yes, he could. A month ago, at the compulsory change when the moon was at its height, and then only in the bath for a minute or two. He’d been too busy. How could he have allowed life to control him to that extent?
That quick shape-shift didn’t compare to the freedom of the sea that he’d indulged himself with this month. The water’s coolness should be a relief against the heat of the day just passed, but now that he’d shape-shifted, he was cold-blooded, so his temperature adjusted to his environment. But the sensation of water passing through his mouth and out through his gills felt natural and real. Occasionally he had to remember to breathe through his nose in his human form.
He dived deeper, seeking what the archaeologists a mile or so away were also looking for, but in his case, idle curiosity drove him rather than the controlled search for information. The underwater village. The divers usually gave up work at sundown, but sometimes a few remained, working under spotlights. If any of them saw him now, he’d fuzz so they’d see a man with scuba gear. But unless that happened, he’d flow free.
A few rocks indicated where there’d once been a house. The coast of Norfolk had changed over the centuries. For that matter, the whole of the British coastline had underwater villages. But this one was special. For some reason it had brought Geoff Wilkinson, metamorph extraordinaire, out of hiding. He was here, somewhere. And when Esti, Sorcerer extraordinaire, arrived, they’d have the bastard.
This time they had to. Wilkinson had nearly killed Crystal, now Bryn Murchison’s wife. Kai had enjoyed the time when he’d provided the couple with a third. But these days he preferred to keep his distance. It wasn’t enough. When he saw Bryn and Crystal so happy together, playing with them from time to time wasn’t enough for Kai anymore.
Kai closed his eyes for an instant. He’d always used swimming time to think, and perhaps that explained why he’d been so tired recently. No time to think. Idiot. He should have done this weeks ago.
He squinted at the tracks in the sand at the bottom of the sea. A cottage but he couldn’t see any evidence of a road or any straight lines leading away. There were no straight lines in nature. Scattered stones showed where there had been a wall, centuries ago. What could be here that would draw Geoffrey Wilkinson out of hiding? But something had, and this site was the clue. Kai had several more nights like this ahead of him, searching the scattered remnants of Shipden, which had disappeared under the sea six hundred years before.
He forced himself to concentrate on his task -- finding something, an artifact, man-made, something of value. Or finding a clue. Team Crystal was around, some members in London, some local, researching the long-lost village of Shipden; there had to be something here. Other members were in New York, following a stronger lead.
Nothing remained in this building, a one-room cottage, perhaps ten feet by ten, where people would have shared living space with their animals. Or maybe a fisherman lived here and spent his afternoons mending the nets he’d take out in the early morning to catch fish to feed his family and trade or sell.
Kai spread his senses wider instead of concentrating on the little dwelling. Small fish swam past him, and one brushed across his chest, sending a frisson of pleasure through his body. They weren’t afraid of him, and they knew what he was. What were mermen to them except larger fish with a rather odd upper half?
Smiling, he widened his psi sense even farther, lazily stretching it out. And met another sentient being.
He lifted his head, and his hair tie came loose and floated away. Strands of pale hair obscured his vision, drifting around his head before he caught it and pushed it back, holding it with one hand so he could see better.
In the distance, blurred by the obscuring debris floating between them, he saw a body, and by its position, floating easily in the water, a merperson. He couldn’t see from this distance what sex, but he’d bet a male, just from the sheer bulk of the figure.
Kai curled his tail and flipped; the motion sent him toward the mystery man. While not all his people were on the side of good, he could look after himself, and in any case, he felt no animosity emanating from the person.
Definitely a man. This one had beautifully defined back muscles, the dark line down the center delineating his backbone, one Kai would definitely like to taste. He could imagine himself running his tongue all the way down to the area where skin turned into scale, the change of color from flesh to blue-green. Kai’s lower body was more blue than green; the stranger’s tail was a shimmering greenish turquoise. He’d like to taste that too, touch his tongue to the scales, rough in one direction, deliciously smooth in the other. He wore his hair jaw length, the dark strands floating around his head.
Kai prayed this person was receptive, as most merpeople were, to people of both sexes. His people had never assumed that possession of breasts or a cock denoted one’s sexual preferences.
Ten feet away, he sent a message. “Hello.”
Water eddied around them as the man spun around. Kai forgot to breathe. Pure beauty faced him. Muscles rippled under skin as smooth as satin, undulating with the natural strength of the male. Tiny, peaked brown nipples tempted him to touch and taste. The lips, slightly parted to take in water, could take his tongue as easily, and under the fold of scaly skin at the front, a telltale bulge made Kai long to see -- proudly displayed -- what lay underneath. In the past, a man would pull down the skin and show him, a cultural habit now mostly gone, but one he’d enjoyed. His own cock twitched in response, swelled, and grew. Kai wanted to play.
This man was a civilian. The way he’d spun around at Kai’s gentle greeting told him that he’d been concentrating his senses elsewhere. After so long working as an agent for Department 57, Kai was almost instantly on the alert, and he spread his senses farther until he sensed someone else, about half a mile away, right over the archaeological dig. “Looking for something?”
The man glanced up, right at him, and Kai’s head spun. Soft, dark brown eyes met his own in a deeply sensuous exchange that sent his cock hard and his nipples peaking. He wanted, oh he wanted, this man to take them into his mouth and tug.
But he couldn’t lose it now. Wouldn’t, however badly he wanted the man staring at him. He didn’t smile but circled to face the same way, forcing the other man to turn his head if he wanted to look at him. “I’m Kai.” He wouldn’t give his full name. Kai Murdoch was well-known in certain quarters, though if certain quarters had caught up with him, it was probably too late anyway. There weren’t many mermen with ass-length silver-blond hair around. But no alarm reached him, no sense of danger. Still, he wouldn’t let his intention slip.
“Tyler,” the other man said. His dark, sinful, American-accented voice almost felled Kai there and then. The other presence was far enough away for him to take action before he or she got here. She. He sensed female, but not a Talent. His psi sense didn’t have to be at Sorcerer strength for him to know that these two were connected, and not in a business way. He sucked in a mouthful of water and let it flow over his gills, but it did nothing to cool his urgent need.
He circled Tyler, letting his tail flick against the man’s upper body as he swirled around him in the ancient dance of courtship. In the old days, such a dance would inevitably lead to acceptance or refusal, done in an equally elaborate way, but Tyler entranced Kai when he remained stoically immobile, watching the swirls as Kai drew circles in the water around him. It gave Kai a chance to examine Tyler properly. A small nick at the base of his ribs at the front showed where an accident had marked him. Unusual for Talents to bear a scar. Even tattoos healed so fast it was hardly worth the pain of having them done. A couple of shape-shifts and they’d faded to almost nothing. It intrigued him, that scar, made him want to examine it closer.
He circled Tyler at a distance first, only that one flick of his tail fin against the other man’s chest, a touch that sent tingles through Kai. Up and down, diving and lifting, forming figure eights around him, crossing in front, behind, each circuit driving him closer. Soon he’d be close enough to touch, then to kiss.
He could hardly wait.
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we finally get to know the very sexy, silver hair to his buttocks, muscles to make you drool, exquisite lover, but sadly remote Kai. He’s always been a man of honor, kind to the victims he protects and I’ve always loved reading his sex scenes.
There is m/f/m, m/m and m/m/f sex. Every book in the series can be read as a stand-alone book, but I wouldn’t miss a single one. I highly recommend Crystal Tides.
Karen Haas for Just Erotic Romance Reviews
Once introduced to Lynne Connolly’s assortment of characters you will never forget them. She has a way of making her males strong and confident in their masculinity without being arrogant. Tyler and Kai are willing to follow Zoe’s lead in some moments, but will take charge if necessary the next. With a strong supporting cast this story quickly pulls you into their unique supernatural world.
With unique ideas and exquisite characters Lynne Connolly definitely has a place in the paranormal erotica story world.
Peppermint for Whipped Cream Reviews
I have waited for Kai to find his happy ending since he left his last relationship, and was extremely happy as I read about Tyler and Zoe. While they bonded quickly, it totally worked for them and didn’t seem rushed. I could see Kai falling for both Tyler and Zoe, while Tyler dealt with his mixed feelings. Zoe was the perfect person to bring all three people together. Crystal Tides is a sensual and erotic story with that touch of Dept. 57 danger to add some additional spice.
Jo for Joyfully Reviewed
Crystal Tides is more than what I expected, and I really enjoyed reading about the continuing Department 57 series...It was nice to see Kai have to learn patience to form the relationship he wants from Tyler and Zoe, and it takes a near tragedy for them to realize what they have together.
Ms. Connolly has done it again for me, by her storytelling of murder plots, archeological underwater digs, and of finding love. I don’t dive, but after reading this story, I am encouraged to try my hand at going down in the beautiful ocean.
Goddess Minx for Literary Nymphs
Liquid Tides is part of the Department 57 series, but also works as a stand-alone title. The exotic setting—along with the exotic and sexy mermen—makes a great erotic romp as well as adventure story under Connolly’s deft writing.
Preturnatura for Night Owl Romance
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