Author's Note: This story really picks up after this chapter. I suggest not skipping because there are many hidden clues and details along the way. **EVERY CHAPTER HAS SOME LEMON**

There was something about her penetrating blue eyes that lit a flame deep within him; her eyes and that tune, that for days, he could not get out of his head. She rested peacefully on the beach, her soft skin glowing and thick red hair sprawled across the warm sand and over her slender shoulders. He had found her not too far from there just a couple of days prior.

"Ariel," Eric said almost a whisper, lying on his side next to her with his head propped up in his hand while he stared at her beautiful body. She turned her head and looked at him with wide eyes and smiled. She didn't speak, not one word. He was dead set on finding the lovely angel that saved him with the heavenly voice, but hadn't thought much about the mystery woman since finding Ariel on the beach, wrapped up in an old ship sail. She was, by far, the most beautiful thing he had ever laid eyes on. And there she was beside him, on the sand in her undergarments. In the blazing heat she had removed her dress, revealing her petite frame covered by long pant-like undergarments that went to her knees and a thin cotton fabric wrapped around her chest. Now, the sun was shining directly on her perfect little stomach and exposed arms.

"I- I want to-," Eric stammered, "Do you-" Ariel took his hand and placed it flat on her chest. He felt suddenly nervous having his hand in such close proximity to her breast. "It's your heartbeat," he told her uncomfortably, after a hard long swallow. She nodded and placed her hand on his chest, his heartbeat was out of control and now they both knew. Eric felt his face warm with embarrassment. She placed her hand down by her side again and closed her eyes, leaving his hand resting on her chest. He thought of moving it away, but her skin was so soft and warm he wouldn't dare do away with the sensation of touching her. He traced small patterns lightly across her collarbone and down the top of her chest. She inhaled deeply, the touch of his hands on her body sent chills through every inch of her skin. She could feel his forearm lightly brushing the cotton fabric over her breast as he continued to caresses her skin. He moved his hand down past the center of her breasts, not daring to touch them, and soon found the soft exposed skin of her stomach. She inhaled again, feeling a warm, tingling sensation building inside her.

She wanted him, she wanted him just as badly as he wanted her. It was her third day, her last day to break the spell and the sun would soon set. She was anxious to kiss him, to be his forever, and finally be able to tell him everything. But all she could think about was Eric's hand on her body, his dark features, blue eyes, and radiant smile; he was everything she could have dreamed of. He spread his fingers down her side to her hip and in a bold move, pulled her small frame closer in to his body.

His head and body cast a shadow over her face. At that very moment Eric knew she was all his. He wasn't sure why he had waited so long to touch her, to kiss her when she had only been a few doors away from him every evening for the last couple of days. How could I have been so stupid? he thought.

He brushed his hand against her cheek, before tucking a few strands of her red hair that were blowing in the wind behind her ear. He leaned his face forward, watching her lips pursing and eyes closing before placing a soft kiss on her forehead. He smiled to himself, Oh, I'll kiss you alright. He brushed his cheek against hers and nibbled softly on her earlobe with his lips, smelling the sweet scent of the ocean with his nose buried in her hair. Ariel let out short, quick sighs. His lips on her ear caused her body to tremble, toes to curl and hips move involuntarily from side to side. He slowly kissed his way from her jawline to her cheek, stopping right before her lips. He pressed his body on top of hers, his chest adding pressure to her right breast.

Eric stared a moment and studied her face, her eyes were still closed and a tiny anxious grin appeared across her face. She knew it was coming, the kiss she had been waiting for. He only stared, at the pink of her cheeks and lips, the tip of her nose, her furrowed eyebrows and nervous expression. Why hasn't he kissed me? she thought. She opened her eyes again to see what was causing the delay and their eyes met again, in the same way they met the first time when she had rescued him from the shipwreck. Except now, she was on the sand and he had his hand placed on her cheek from above.

"You are so beautiful," he smiled, feeling a strong intensity he never had before. Now it was her heart's turn to beat uncontrollably. She parted her lips as if she were to speak, but then remembered she couldn't. He leaned in closer, without losing the gaze they had shared, and brushed the tip of his nose on hers. He was now so close his breath tickled her lip, but she didn't want him to pull away. The sun began to dip below the ocean in the distance. He softly touched his lips to hers, feeling a rush throughout his body. Too caught up in the moment, neither one of them realized the skies had begun to turn gray and suddenly, the sun was covered by thick and dark purple clouds.

Ariel opened her eyes and let out a gasp and he felt her move in a jerking motion beneath him.

"Ariel?" he asked, puzzled. She slid out of his hold and down the sand toward the ocean waters. Eric realized that something had a hold of her ankle and was pulling her in. He rushed to it before she could move any further and noticed a slimy, black tentacle wrapped around her leg that extended from the ocean. He tried to undo its grip of Ariel's leg, but the suction was too strong and Ariel was quickly slipping away toward the water. Eric stomped on the tentacle violently in an attempt to free her and another tentacle whipped out of the water and struck his chest, pinning him down to the sand. He watched in horror as Ariel slid over the wet, pebbled sand, frantically trying to cling to anything she could.

"Ariel!" he shouted with his arm extended to her. Eric bit the tentacle that was now wrapped around his shoulders and it quickly released him and snapped back into the ocean. He ran toward Ariel who now had her feet wet in the water and stomach down in the sand, reaching for him. He lunged himself toward her and grabbed a tight hold of her thin wrists. "Ariel, hold on to me! Don't let go!" Waist-deep in water, Ariel shook her head. She wanted him to go back, he couldn't breathe beneath the water, he'd never survive.

Eric would never dream of releasing her, and the tentacle quickly pulled them both underneath the waters. Ariel knew that it had to have been Ursula, but the sun hadn't set, the spell wasn't yet over. A tentacle took a hold of Eric and wrapped itself around his body, squeezing him tightly. He struggled to make his way out of its hold, but he was quickly running out of air. Ariel felt her lungs become tight and her will to fight grew weaker. She watched as Eric's eyes closed before her and she became frantic. She looked down into the deep ocean waters and saw Ursula's maniacal grin as she held the golden glowing seashell that contained Ariel's voice.

A burst of bright light flashed in the water, bliding Ariel temporarily and creating a wave of bubbles all around them. Ariel and Eric were both released not too soon afterward, his lifeless body beginning to sink deeper into the ocean floor. She swam to him as best as her human body could, wishing that just for a moment she could be a mermaid again to save his life one last time. She'd give anything for it. When she reached him, he was heavy, much too heavy for her small body, but she pulled anyway as she swam to shore with one hand and kicking her feet with all her might.

King Triton watched from below as his youngest daughter struggled to save the man she loved. It broke his heart that he had not been able to see how strong Ariel's love for Eric was. Ariel hadn't seen Triton beneath the ocean; her human eyes weren't as sharp as her mermaid eyes. Triton sighed deeply, knowing that it may have been the last time he'd ever see his youngest daughter and sent a small current toward the couple, aiding them to shore.

Once out of the water, cold, wet and nearly out of breath, Ariel pulled Eric across the pebbled wet sand and to the softer more finer grains. It was raining fiercely and thunder roared in the skies. She tried to shake his head, his face, his shoulders, anything she could to get him to wake up, but it was to no avail. She noticed his chest wasn't moving like it was that time she saved him with Scuttle and slapped his chest hard, but it didn't budge. She pressed on it firmly with her fists and then used her full body strength to push his chest in over and over. She felt tears come down her eyes as she struggled, not able to stand the thought of Eric dying, dying trying to save her. She couldn't lose him now, he meant everything to her. Eric! She tried to scream, but the sound didn't leave her mouth.

Eric's throat twitched suddenly, before he spat out some water and coughed a few times. She could feel his body convulsing under her. She hovered over him and stroked his face with a deep, hopeful expression in her big blue eyes. Ariel hadn't noticed, but the rain had stopped, the skies had began clearing up, and the sun had not yet completely set. Eric opened his eyes and saw the image he had replayed over and over again in his mind: A beautiful woman with big sparkling eyes and the sun shining behind her.

"It's you," he made out, squinting between small coughs. He was almost in a trance by the mystery woman before him. "Ariel!" he shouted suddenly and sat up, pushing the woman off him, "Where is she? I have to get her back!" He had searched for the mystery woman for so long, but now he could only think of Ariel, of possibly losing Ariel. He felt a tug on his arm as he tried to stand. He turned back and was completely shocked at the sight in front of him. "Ariel!" he cried, embracing her tightly. "Oh, I thought I'd lost you." His arms wrapped around her head as he pressed her face close to his chest. He kissed the top of her head, feeling her damp hair against his lips.

He cupped her face in his both of his hands and gazed deeply into her eyes.

"I love you, Ariel. I never want to leave your side again." He placed his mouth to hers and Ariel quickly parted her lips, meeting her tongue to his boldly in a deep and passionate kiss. It was her first kiss, her first kiss with the man of her dreams, the love of her life. She couldn't had asked for a more perfect kiss. Both of their bodies shivered and they could barely breathe properly, but for a moment they had forgotten all of the pain and struggle they had endured and only felt each other in that kiss. Ariel's body began to glow purple as it trembled, "Are you cold? What's happening?" Eric wondered aloud, A bright golden orb shined in Ariel's throat, and her mouth sang the beautiful melody he couldn't get out of his head. "Ariel! It was you all along!" Eric he shouted, stunned.

"Oh, Eric, I tried to tell you," Ariel spoke softly.

"Your voice! It's beautiful! You're beautiful!" he cried joyously, "You've saved me again. Thank you."

"I had to save you," she said, looking down at the sand.

"Why, Ariel? Why did you have to save me?" he asked, lifting her chin with his finger to meet his eyes with hers.

"Because, I love you. I've loved you before you ever met me. I loved you from the first time I saw you," she cried, the tears rolled down her cheeks as she watched the sun completely disappear into the ocean. He kissed her again, tenderly, feeling his aching desire for her matched by her quivering lips.

"I love you, Ariel. All this time, I think I've known. I felt something strong within me that told me, even if you couldn't speak, you were the one I needed. I will do my best to protect you. I never want to lose you again," Eric said before embracing her once more. She was finally safe and in his arms, permanently. "Come on," he nudged, "Let's get inside the castle."

They walked side by side, her head resting on his shoulder.

"Ariel?" he asked, "Where did you come from?"

After dinner that evening, Ariel, Eric and Grimsby headed to the study where a warm, cozy fire crackled against a wall adorned with books. The couple sat on the rug by the fire and Ariel continued her story about Atlantica, merpeople, her great friends, the moment she saw him and the barter she made with an evil witch to get there. Grimsby hadn't quite believed the tale during dinner. He believed Ariel was merely a disturbed girl who faked being a mute to seduce a rich prince. He wondered how Eric had fallen for her outlandish tale. There was no denying that she was, in fact, quite lovely, but Grimsby had many growing suspicions about her story.

"My apologies, but I must excuse myself for the evening," Grimsby said with a long, drawn-out yawn. "It's getting late, don't you think, Eric?" Grimsby added, hinting at something.

"Goodnight, Grim. See you tomorrow," Eric said with eyes fixed on Ariel who was resting on her back with her upper body propped up against her elbows as she watched her feet flex back and forth.

"What is it, Ariel?" Eric asked curiously, once Grimsby was out the door.

"Shoes," she she told him, "My feet! It's so amazing I just can't get used to it." Eric smiled to himself as he placed her feet on his lap and slid her shoes off.

"You know what I can get used to? That beautiful voice of yours. And from what I remember, you have very pretty feet" he said, placing his hands over her right foot and grabbing it at the base. His touch made her body jolt, which sent her into a fit of laughter and she reflexively retracted her foot.

"That really tickles! Do feet always tickle? They don't tickle when I touch them," she questioned curiously.

"I'll touch a little more firmly," Eric laughed, he reached for her foot again and began kneading his fingers into her soft soles. He adored her curiosity and the puzzled faces she made when something was new or exciting.

"Ahh," she moaned, "That feels so good. It's Almost as if my body is melting." She rested her body down flat on the rug facing the fire while he continued to rub her tiny feet. She felt the warmth of the fire on her toes. "Eric?" she raised her head again after several moments.

"Yes, Ariel?" he responded with a grin, something about her made him smile constantly.

"Fire burns, right?"

"Yes, you're right," he replied.

"Oh, alright," she rested her head back down for a few seconds and then lifted it again, "What is burn?"

"Well," he started, moving on to her other foot, "It destroys things. Do you remember the shipwreck and the flames?" She nodded her head. "That was a fire," he continued, "It burned the wood. See those logs? Those are what keep the fire going. The more logs we add, the more fire it will create."

"Can I touch it?" she asked.

"No! Be careful never to touch it. It will harm you- burn you," he explained. Ariel still did not understand, but she did not keep on asking. Instead she thought of how lucky she was for Eric to be so patient and understanding of her inquiries. Being with Eric felt unreal. Just a few days ago she was under the water clinging to a statue of him wishing she could run away with him.

He gently placed her feet back on the rug and laid himself beside her on his side, like had earlier on the beach. He loved looking at her; it was all he had been able to do for the last couple days because she couldn't speak.

"Ariel?" Eric asked, "What happened at the bottom of the sea today? How did you escape and manage to save me?"

Ariel was confused about what had happened herself.

"I'm not sure. She just…released me and I swam to you. You were really heavy and I felt faint, as if I couldn't hold my breath any longer," Ariel recalled. "I swam with one arm and pulled you with the other. I didn't think we'd make it, but somehow I managed to get us to shore again."

Eric held her hand and rested it on her body at her waist

"I was so scared I had lost you. I didn't say it when Grim was here but I was ready to jump right back into that ocean for you." He leaned forward and kissed her lips softly. "I've been waiting to do that since we came back," he whispered, and then the couple laughed, gazing at each other.

Ariel boldly grabbed the back of his neck with two hands and pressed his lips firmly on hers and opened her mouth, letting him explore inside with his tongue. He did not pull away this time, he continued to kiss her, to taste her. They had much growing tension over the last few days. He recalled wanting to kiss her on a few occasions but never being daring enough to make the move. He felt silly for spending all that wasted energy on the mystery woman. If he had known it was Ariel all along, he would have kissed her immediately when he found her on that rock wrapped in the old sail.

"Mmmhh," Ariel moaned as Eric stroked her shoulder and neck as they kissed. Something inside Ariel's body felt differently. She started to notice the feeling that day on the beach lying in the sun. Whenever Eric would touch her, it would make her feel warm and tingly and she'd feel a strong sensation forming between her legs. Kissing him so tenderly that way made the feeling much, much stronger than before. She wasn't sure what it was, but she liked it- it felt as if something were supposed to happen. Eric ran his hand down her arm to her small waist, cupping her hip. He could feel her squirming in excitement, which aroused him.

"Ariel," he said huskily between long laps of his tongue on hers. Ariel continued to kiss him, not wanting to stop. He pulled back slightly and kissed her lips with his, then hurriedly down her cheek to the back of her ear. "We should stop," he said while nibbling on her earlobe. The feel of his lips on her ear made her so tense with anticipation, she exhaled a deep moan. He pulled away slowly and just stared at her, clasping her hand to his and interlacing fingers. She looked at him with longing eyes and furrowed eyebrows, her hips and legs still pushing against his.

"What?" she asked, "What were we doing? Kissing?"

Eric had forgotten how naive she was, she had no idea what was happening or what it could lead to.

"Ariel, what we did was something people who really care about each other do." He watched her as expression became concerned. "Well, not that we don't care about each other. I just don't want to take advantage of you," he explained, "There are a lot of things you don't know."

"Just because I am not from here, doesn't mean I'm helpless," she exclaimed with a bit of hurt in her voice.

"No, no. It's not that! I don't think you're helpless at all. It's just something people who are married do. I want to be respectful of you and your body. I want you to know what you're doing before you actually do it." Ariel was more confused than ever. She didn't understand what he was saying, not in the slightest bit.

"Do what? But my body wants you, it wants to be constantly touching you. It feels differently around you," she nearly pleaded.

"Trust me," he grabbed a hold of both her shoulders and set his face inches away from hers, "There is no one I want more than I want you. I want things between us to be special and there are a few things you should know before we can get started on all of that stuff." He placed a small soft kiss on her forehead and then got up on his feet. "Come on, I'll walk you to your room," he extended his hand.

Ariel's heart sank, she was disappointed and hurt, but she followed him. Have I done something wrong? she wondered. They went up the long staircase and through the dimly lit castle arm in arm, as Eric went on about their plans for the following day. Once at her bedroom door, the prince took a hold of Ariel by her waist, pulled her tightly to him, and kissed her lovingly as he caressed her cheek.

"I promise, Ariel," he said, "It will all make better sense tomorrow."

Ariel nodded quietly and feigned a small grin. Eric took a hold of her hand and leaned forward to kiss it. "Goodnight, my little mermaid."

Once in her bed Ariel could not help but worry. She had not seen or spoken to Sebastian since that morning and was beginning to wonder where he was. She suddenly felt lonely in the big bedroom all alone. Her tiny body barely took up any space in the large bed, and she felt oddly overwhelmed by the thick cover and fancy pillows. She thought of her father and sisters and how she would never see them again. She didn't think she'd miss them so soon. She felt so happy now, but it was bittersweet. She thought of Eric, her gorgeous, caring, brave prince.

The thought of him with his body pressed against hers, while kissing her lips and touching her hips made her feel warm. She wondered what he looked like without a shirt and pictured his chiseled, bare chest, kissing her neck and undressing her slowly. She wondered what would've happened if Eric hadn't stop earlier. Would he continue to kiss her, undress her and kiss her chest? The thought drove her wild. She touched her own breasts and wondered if Eric would be willing to touch them and kiss them as well and then down her stomach. Her hips had started moving again slightly and she felt herself become a little damp. She reached down her body, raised her nightgown above her hips, and slowly felt the wetness forming between her legs. Afraid she had had an accident, she jumped out of bed and found a handkerchief to clean herself with.

As she wiped the wetness dry, she felt the touch of the handkerchief feel good against her new female part. She touched a little more gently with her fingers and found the sensation she was feeling with Eric earlier was even more heightened. She decided not to continue touching it, although it felt incredible, a big part of it scared her. She noticed a lit candlestick on her nightstand; she had forgotten to blow it out. Before she puckered her lips to put out the flame, she remembered what Eric had told her, Fire burns. She extended her hand over the flame slowly, feeling the heat increase against her palm.

"Ouch!" she shrieked in pain. Her heart raced for a second as she fiercely rubbed the burn at the base of her middle finger. She soon felt her pulse throbbing at the burn, which was a light pink color. She should have listened to Eric, she decided. She would never doubt his word again. It made her feel better about what was to come the next day. It had only been a couple hours, but she missed Eric terribly already. She carefully, but quickly blew out the fire, jumped into bed and curled up to sleep.

The next morning Ariel was awoken by a bright light shining in her bedroom.

"Rise and shine, dear," it was Carlotta drawing the curtains, "You have a busy day today." Ariel yawned and rubbed her eyes. Busy day? Ariel thought to herself. "Yes, a very busy day indeed," Carlotta continued, as if reading Ariel's mind.

"Good morning, Carlotta," Ariel yawned with a stretch. "Where's Eric?"

"Oh, he's around here somewhere," Carlotta smiled, "You don't really want him to see you in the condition you're in now, do you?" Ariel looked down at her body puzzled. "You haven't even bathed or done your hair properly. You're not even dressed! I have a nice warm bath going for you. Greta will be there to help you bathe and prepare. I am working on lunch."

"It's so late in the day! How could I have slept so long?" Ariel lamented, putting her palm to her forehead before hurrying out of bed.

"Well, I hear you were up late," Carlotta said with a smirk, "Eric requested that you be left to rest."

Ariel smiled at the thought of Eric. When she'd hear his name something inside her would flutter. She made her way to the bathroom where a porcelain seashell garden tub awaited with warm bubbles. Ariel placed a foot in the water. It was very warm, much warmer than she was used to at the bottom of the ocean, but this temperature felt soothing on her human body. She was in the middle of placing her right foot in when she heard a voice at the door.

"Hello," said the soft voice. Ariel immediately covered her breasts with one arm across her chest and froze, backside exposed.

"Oh, hi," she responded, and quickly sunk her body into the warm bubbles. It was a woman, she noticed, a brunette.

"Hmm," the woman replied as she moved closer toward the tub, "Don't worry about it. If you should feel comfortable being naked around anyone, it's me."

"Oh, uh, thank you," Ariel mumbled uncertainly.

"I am Greta," the woman stated calmly, carrying a basket of fresh, white, towels. Greta's skin had a dark olive complexion and her hair was done up neatly in a large bun at the top of her head. She wore a sleeveless, white maid uniform with light blue trim around the edges and pockets. She laid out a towel on the marble floor near the tub and then placed several different items neatly in a row. Ariel couldn't quite see what the items were, but Greta's movements were careful and methodical.

"I'm Ariel," Ariel spoke softly. Greta grinned, taking a large sea sponge and kneeling down beside the tub before soaking it several times in the water.

"Let's see your hand, Princess," Greta reached out for Ariel. Ariel slowly raised her hand out of the water, covering her breasts with the other arm. Although Greta couldn't see her body underneath all the bubbles, Ariel didn't want to take any chances. Greta took a hold of her wrist and rubbed up and down Ariel's arm with the sponge. Ariel had never been bathed before. Under the sea you didn't have to bathe, only brush your hair. But she realized then how being above water would oil your skin and hair. "Now your other arm," Greta requested patiently. Ariel switched one arm that covered her breast for the other. "Don't be shy," Greta added, with a smile.

Ariel felt a bit uncomfortable as she watched Greta run the sponge over her shoulders and neck. Greta smelled clean and fresh, like the bed sheets Ariel had slept on. Her features were that of a young woman; Ariel would have guessed she was in her early twenties. Her eyes were more of an almond shape and slate gray. Her nose was slim and pointed at the end. She was indeed an attractive woman.

"Now, give me your leg," Greta reached into the water and placed Ariel's ankle on the edge of the tub. "You have tiny feet," she remarked. She moved the sponge slowly up from Ariel's ankles, past her knees, to her hip and down again. Ariel felt a little uncomfortable being so exposed in front of a stranger. Her face got warm from her embarrassment and she wished her skin weren't so fair. A short stocky woman suddenly appeared at the door carrying a bucket of hot water. She hobbled over and slowly poured it into the bath and added more soap.

"What's that for?" Ariel asked.

"So that the water doesn't get cold," Greta responded, reaching for her other leg. When Greta would get too close to Ariel's intimate area with the sponge, Ariel would giggle or sometimes wince. After sponging Ariel's body and filing down her finger and toenails, she added a soft, creamy mixture to Ariel's wet hair. "This will make your hair soft and shiny," Greta explained as she detangled her long, thick, red locks with a comb.

Once done in the tub, Greta helped Ariel dry off with a large white towel and then had her lay flat on her back on a long upholstered board and covered her with another towel. She opened a container of pink cream and slowly spread it on Ariel's right arm.

"This will keep your skin from drying," Greta explained as she worked the lotion onto Ariel's skin. She tried her hardest not to make eye contact, when their eyes would meet, Greta would be the first to quickly look away.

"That's a pretty color!" Ariel said, looking at the cream being spread over her skin and watched as it disappeared. Greta massaged her way from Ariel's arms to her neck and shoulders and then down her collar bones and tops of Ariel's chest. Greta pulled back the towel, revealing Ariel's soft, perky breasts. Ariel's eyes grew wide having her breasts exposed in that manner to the open air. Greta, with both hands, rubbed the cream onto the tops of Ariel's breasts gently, causing her nipples to slightly harden and her body to tense.

"Relax," Greta purred in a soothing voice, then brushed her palm over Ariel's now hard nipples.

"Oh!" Ariel gasped, a little surprised. She couldn't relax as she felt her entire body awaken and become warm at the touch of the delicate woman.

"When our bodies become stimulated it make us feel certain feelings that may lead to other actions," Greta spoke as she massaged each one of Ariel's breasts individually and then together. "You will start to experience changes as your body continues to grow and mature." Ariel's hips and legs squirmed the more Greta caressed her breasts and applied pressure to her nipples.

"Are you stimulated right now?" Ariel asked nervously, trying to shift the focus from herself. Greta only smiled to herself.

"Eric told me you had a lot to learn."

"Eric?" Ariel's face expressed concern, "When did you speak to him?"

"This morning during his bath," Greta said as she kneaded Ariel's abdomen and hips firmly.

Ariel was amazed at how quickly she went from feeling pleasure to hurt. She couldn't bear the thought of Greta seeing her prince intimately, of having her hands on his body while he bathed and then rubbing him down with pink cream. Greta was, in fact, a very attractive woman. If anyone were to see her prince naked, it should as well be her- and her only.

"There is an opening between your legs," Greta continued, gently pressing her fingers several inches below Ariel's belly button. "When you are stimulated by a man, he will insert himself into you and release his fluid."

"Really? Does it hurt?" Ariel asked, being suddenly snapped back from her jealousy and insecurity.

"It will at first, but you will learn to get used to the feelings and eventually it should bring you great pleasure. But, you must do this only with someone who is special to you."

"Why?"

"Because the fluid a man releases can cause you to become with child," Greta said seriously as she moved to work on Ariel's legs. Ariel didn't continue to ask questions, her only thought was to see Eric, to have him touch her, kiss her. She wondered if Eric would ever massage her the way Greta was and if she could ever massage him that way.

Greta moved her hands down one leg and up the other, then stopped at Ariel's new womanhood, covering it completely with her hand. "If you'd like, you may provide yourself pleasure." Ariel felt her entire body tense and her nipples pulsing. She had never been touched there before, she had barely touched herself there, now, a person she didn't even know was moving their fingers around her most intimate parts- and a woman at that! She lifted her head slightly to see exactly what Greta was doing. "It's alright, princess. Just relax and clear your mind." Greta began to slowly and rhythmically move her entire palm in a vertical motion, pressing down firmly against Ariel's warm skin. Ariel's hips began to move in conjunction with Greta's short strokes and her airy breathing grew deeper and shorter.

Greta turned her head toward Ariel and the two locked eyes, Ariel's big blue eyes, were suddenly sleepy and tight. With lips slightly parted, a tiny moan escaped her mouth and seemed to echo around the room. Some footsteps were heard across the floor, frightening both young women and causing them to freeze in place. It was the short stocky woman with another bucket of water for the tub. The two waited for her to pour the water and walk out again before making any movements.

"Are we done?" Ariel asked tersely as she began to rise from the tall table and wobbled to her feet, holding her towel around her. Greta quickly reached for a soft, silk, light pink robe and held it open for Ariel. Ariel hesitated a moment and then decisively let her towel fall to the floor, comfortably exposing her completely nude body for the first time. She twirled around and Greta helped her slip each sleeve onto her thin arms. Once in the robe, and with her back to Greta, Ariel tied the tie around her tightly and paused a moment.

"Have a good day, princess," Greta said sweetly. Without looking behind her and without another word Ariel quickly exited the room, hoping she'd never have to see or hear of Greta again.