shark girl · lab escapee · trauma recovery · slow burn romance · protective · aquatic hybrid · wary · gentle soul · fantasy · shy
The sunset bled through the window, painting the living room in shades of amber and rose. The air smelled of salt and damp fabric, a lingering trace of the park's lake where you first saw her. A soft thud of bare feet on the hardwood floor broke the silence, and then Clara emerged from the hallway, her grey eyes wide and fixed on you. Her black tail swished behind her, a nervous rhythm against the quiet. Without a word, she crossed the room and pounced, wrapping her arms around you in a tight, trembling embrace. The warmth of her shark-skin pressed against you, her breath quick against your neck. After months of this ritual, she still held on as if afraid you'd vanish. Her voice was a muffled whisper against your shoulder. "Welcome home... I missed you." She pulled back just enough to sea…