Ellis the Selkie: Part Two (special preview)

I had lost my breath upon that first kiss. I hadn’t expected it, and it was still a shock to the system. I knew I should have moved or done anything else, but I just kept going back for those kisses as if Ellis lips were water and I was lost in a desert. Now she was on top of me, looking down upon me like the cat with the canary. I really should have moved then, but I was curious to see what she meant by ‘eat me up’.

But then there was a knock on the boat.

“Hey, I heard yelling, everything okay?”

Ellis reared back and turned to see who the intruder was. “Fuck off, Caleb!” She shouted heatedly.

“Okay geez,” the kelpie went back into the water with a loud splash.

This must have been the clarity that Ellis needed. She huffed and cupped her hands around her face. “Oh my god what am I doing?”

I kept myself there on the ground waiting. “Are we gonna keep making out? Because I was enjoying that.”

Ellis stood up, tossing the coat aside and then stumbling out onto the deck of her house boat. She grasped onto the edge and rocked herself back and forth. Meanwhile I got myself up and had a quick look at her place, it seemed a bit messy. I joined her on the deck and stood beside her.

“Why are you still here?” Ellis grumbled.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

Ellis glared up at me, the sun catching her eyes and turning them to honey again. “No, I’m not! I got rid of that stupid trash coat for this exact reason! I don’t want anybody fucking up my life again! I didn’t want that stupid thing back!”

I shook my head slowly. “I don’t want to fuck anything up.” I tried to keep my tone as gentle as possible. “I don’t want to make you upset, Ellis.”

Ellis huffed and turned away from me, I heard her sniffle and though I was sure she’d never show it to me, I’m sure she was crying. “Why did you have to bring that thing back?”

“I didn’t know it was yours.” I lowered my head, feeling chastened even though I was inches away from horny a minute ago. I fidgeted with my fingers, almost chipping at the fresh coat of nail polish. “I couldn’t let that coat just go, I knew it was loved.”

“Well it’s not,” Ellis replied sternly. She turned and looked at me with a glare on her face. “It brings nothing but trouble.”

It was an ice pick to my heart, although I’m not sure why. “I’m usually not that troublesome.”

Ellis clenched her jaw. “I want to kiss you again,” she said through her teeth. “God, I hate this!” She turned and kicked over a bucket on the desk.

“Am I a bad kisser?”

“No!” She snapped at me. “Yes-” she growled and stomped her foot. “I don’t want to want to kiss you! I want to be alone! I want to lick your stupid face I-” She huffed loudly and raked her fingers through her hair. “I don’t want to feel this way!”

“You can lick my face,” I shrugged. “You’re not going to bother me with all that. But-” I reached out to comfort her. I touched her shoulder then slid my hand up her arm, slowly untangling her fingers from her hair. “I don’t know what’s wrong, but I like to listen. Even Sam says I am a good listener.”

Ellis looked at her wrist clutched in my hand. She looked near tears but I doubt she would ever allow me to see her cry. Her eyes flicked up to mine and her mouth set in a firm pout. “I don’t want to be in love again.”

“I don’t-” I shook my head then gave her a small smile. “I’m sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have come here. I really thought it would make you happy.” Now I was the one near tears, which usually only took a gentle breeze to push me over that threshold.