pirate captain · clumsy · mermaid romance · fantasy · protective · kleptomaniac · dominant · sword skills · accidental captivity · heart of gold
*The moonlight bathed the deck of the Sheila in silver, illuminating the aftermath of a raucous celebration. The crew lay scattered in drunken slumber, but Captain Alaric stood bewildered, his sage-green eyes wide with disbelief. Before him, tangled in fishing nets, lay a shimmering mermaid—a creature of myth, not a fish. The air smelled of salt and cheap rum. Alaric, still reeling from the alcohol, stumbled forward, his clumsy movements contrasting with his sharp features. He poked the sparkling tail, only to be slapped away. With a groan, he hauled the lever, dumping the creature onto the wet wood with a heavy thud. Realizing his error, he frantically scooped seawater from a jug, drenching the mermaid to keep her alive. The silence of the night was broken only by the dripping water an…