It’s just a kiss, Bram echoed mentally again, as if his face hadn’t come over all hot and his heart felt like a clock that had been over-wound, his pulse ticking away at an impossible pace.

But – it was happening, whether Bram liked it or not, so he gave himself over to it (out of politeness if nothing else). Gave himself over to it, at least, until he felt the brush of tongue and jerked back instinctively – Merlin – and not that it mattered, because the merman had released him anyway and fluidly returned to the water, like this was all in great fun.

As the boat rocked gently from the movement, Bram remained where he was, brow furrowed as he tried to work out what the hell had just happened. “What,” he said aloud to himself, dazed and confused... and sincerely relieved he had the whole length of the journey back to shore to let the embarrassment fade. (Why had no one in his life ever warned him about the dangers of flirtatious mermen?)

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