Chapter 911 – How About Pants?

Her skin felt tight suddenly.

Ariel blinked.

Right.

Water.

Mermaids needed water.

Not constantly like ancient stories claimed, but after intense emotional or physical exhaustion?

Yeah.

Absolutely.

Ariel immediately scrambled upright awkwardly, trying not to step on unconscious women while making her way toward the indoor pool connected to the lounge area.

The marble floor felt cool against her bare feet.

The water shimmered softly beneath dawn light filtering through massive glass windows.

The second Ariel reached the edge...

She jumped.

The relief hit instantly.

Cool water wrapped around her body like home itself.

A soft gasp escaped her lips while she sank deeper beneath the surface.

And then... Her legs transformed smoothly beneath the water.

Scales shimmered into existence. Elegant fins unfurled slowly behind her as her mermaid tail emerged fully beneath the pool’s surface.

Ariel exhaled shakily.

Better.

Immediately better.

The tension in her body eased. The overheating feeling disappeared almost instantly while water flowed over sensitive skin soothingly.

She floated there quietly near the surface while dawn light danced across the pool around her.

This was peace.

Real peace.

Not the forced kind where people told her to relax while expectations still pressed against her chest like chains.

No.

This.

Cool water sliding across her skin. Morning light filtering softly through enormous glass windows. The mansion was quiet for once after the complete degeneracy of last night.

Ariel closed her eyes slowly and let herself drift.

Her tail moved lazily beneath the surface, scales shimmering beneath the water like liquid gemstones whenever sunlight touched them.

She was still naked.

Completely.

But somehow she didn’t feel exposed here.

Not in this mansion.

Because despite all the teasing and s*x and Lux literally being an incubus...

He never pushed.

Never forced.

No meant no with him.

Always.

Ariel knew that now.

And maybe that was why she could breathe easier here than almost anywhere else.

The realization made her smile faintly.

Foolishly.

She really liked him.

That was the terrifying truth underneath everything.

Not just attraction.

Not just lust.

Lux himself.

His confidence. His humor. The way he looked at people like they mattered. The way he carried impossible burdens while still somehow making room for everyone else emotionally.

And unfortunately, he was also unfairly attractive.

Ariel groaned softly and dipped lower into the water.

Bad idea.

Thinking about him right after last night was dangerous.

Because now images kept replaying automatically in her head.

Lux laughing low while women climbed all over him.

Lux’s wings spreading behind him.

Lux moaning someone’s name.

And his body...

No.

Nope.

Ariel immediately swam a lap around the pool trying to calm herself down.

The cool water helped.

A little.

At least until she surfaced again and heard a familiar voice behind her.

"You woke earlier than me."

Ariel nearly drowned.

She whipped around instantly.

And there he was.

Lux.

Still naked.

The incubus stood near the pool entrance with messy dark hair, black horns curving elegantly through it while massive wings stretched lazily behind him. His tail flicked once against the marble floor.

And yes.

Unfortunately.

Still very handsome.

Morning light made him look softer somehow. Eyes sleepy. Scratches and lipstick marks still visible across his chest and neck from last night.

But in his hands?

A floating breakfast tray.

Ariel blinked.

Lux walked toward the pool calmly like this was completely normal behavior.

For him?

Probably was.

He lowered the tray carefully onto the water and nudged it toward her.

Fresh fruit.

Tea.

Small pastries.

And somehow actual seafood too because apparently this man researched mermaid dietary preferences after s*x parties.

Ariel stared at him silently.

Lux sat down at the pool’s edge afterward, wings shifting behind him comfortably while one leg dipped casually into the water.

The movement immediately reminded Ariel...

Oh no.

Right.

Below.

Very below.

Her eyes flicked downward automatically.

Huge mistake.

Because Lux was not subtle.

At all.

Ariel’s face exploded with heat instantly.

"How about pants?" she blurted weakly.

Lux looked genuinely thoughtful for half a second.

Then shrugged.

"You’re also wearing nothing."

Ariel stared at him in disbelief. "THAT’S DIFFERENT."

"How?"

"I’m in water!"

"And I’m respecting aquatic culture."

"That is NOT what this is!"

Lux grinned.

That stupid grin should’ve been banned.

"You seem stressed," he observed lazily.

"Lux!"

The incubus laughed softly.

Low.

Warm.

Sleepy enough that it slid straight down her spine like heat.

Ariel immediately sank slightly deeper into the water out of self-defense.

Unfortunately, Lux noticed that too.

Ariel glared weakly while trying very hard not to look downward again.

Because yes.

Still there.

Still unfair.

The incubus leaned back on his hands slightly, wings flexing behind him while he watched her float in the pool with entirely too much amusement.

And somehow even sitting casually at the edge of a pool completely naked with morning sunlight all over him, Lux still carried himself like a king.

Relaxed confidence.

Not arrogance exactly.

Certainty.

Like he fully believed the world would eventually adapt around him if given enough time.

Ariel hated how attractive that was.

"You’re staring again," Lux murmured.

"I am absolutely not."

"You looked at my d*ck three times during one sentence."

Ariel immediately submerged herself underwater out of sheer humiliation.

Lux’s laughter followed her even beneath the surface.

This man was impossible.

Ariel resurfaced several seconds later looking betrayed by existence itself.

Lux still looked entirely too pleased.

"You’re enjoying this."

"Immensely."

Ariel grabbed one of the floating fruits aggressively just to avoid looking at him directly.

Lux watched her calmly.

Too calmly.

And somehow the quietness became more dangerous than the teasing.

Because now Ariel became hyper aware of everything.

The cool water against her breasts.

The way Lux’s eyes followed her movements lazily.

The faint scent of him still lingering from last night, warm spice and expensive cologne and something darker underneath.

Her pulse quickened embarrassingly fast.

Lux noticed instantly.

The incubus tilted his head slightly.

"You look prettier in water."

Ariel nearly choked on fruit.

"It suits you."

His voice softened slightly now.

Less teasing.

More genuine.

"You look calmer."