Nils found a somewhat secluded spot a few hundred yards down the beach where he could enjoy the sun and sand and sea without all the cacophony of the tourist beach-goers, not that he didn’t find the people interesting and amusing and at times sexy, but it was nice to be part of the natural setting. He was taking photographs of the swallowing waves and the gliding sea birds when a young woman in a brief white bikini strolled in front of him apparently unaware of his presence. She stopped and stared out at the sea for a minute or more. At the click of Nils’ camera, she turned to him, a slightly startled look upon her face. “Oh,” she said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get in the way of your picture.”

“That’s okay,” Nils said. “You’re much more beautiful than the prettiest wave, to say nothing of these seagulls, graceful though they are.”

The girl blushed.

“I’ve never seen such beautiful red hair,” Nils added, and the girl’s blush deepened and she glanced for a moment at the front of her bikini bottoms, where a few curls of deep red pubic thicket edged over the top.

“I’m Nils, by the way,” Nils offered, attempting to put the girl at her ease.

“I’m Kia,” she said. “I’m supposed to meet my boyfriend here. Kerek. He’s swimming out there somewhere.” She glanced to the sea.

“Do you see him?” Nils asked.

“He goes way out,” Kia said. “He’s an excellent swimmer.”

Nils nodded. “I hope he doesn’t get eaten by sharks.”

Kia’s eyes went wide. “Are there sharks here?”

“I was just teasing,” Nils said. “More likely he met a mermaid he couldn’t resist.”

The girl looked again out to the sea. “You’re silly,” she concluded. “You’re teasing me.”

“Of course I am. No mermaid could compare with you. Do you mind if I take some photographs of you while we wait? You truly are beautiful.”

After a few moments of consideration, Kia said, “I guess it would be all right.”

Nils took a number of pictures. Snap after snap. “You must have modeled before. You have the prettiest eyes,” he said. “And what a sweet smile. Lovely, lovely, lovely. And an adorable belly button.” He took several close-ups. “And those pubic curls look so cute curling over the top of your bikini bottom. Very cute. Very sexy.”

“Do you think so?” Kia asked. “I think I should get a trim, probably, but Kerek says he likes me natural.”

“I agree with Kerek,” Nils said. “No mermaid’s bush could compare with yours. At least as far as I can tell.”

Kia bit her bottom lip. Her head dropped, but she looked up at Nils. Her eyes innocent but impish. “You want me to take my suit off, don’t you?” Kia said.

“If you and your boyfriend wouldn’t mind.”

She looked out over the waves.

“No sign of him?” Nils asked.

“Not yet,” Kia said.

“Any fins? Any mermaid’s tail?”

“Just waves,” Kia said. With a shy smile, she unfastened her bikini top. She stepped out of her bikini bottoms.