not beaten down just yet

Haleth's hesitation regarding the suggested hand holds was understandable. She was essentially putting her hands around his neck, which was virtually indistinguishable from just outright strangling Lelei. But she need not worry, and she would come to realize that quickly. Lelei had a thick, powerful neck that easily stood up to holding her weight while moving through the water.

Having her on his back did throw off his balance for a few moments after he took off. A body stacked on top of his certainly messed with his hydrodynamics and ability to move properly. Not to mention that her soft, ample chest on his back was distracting. But after a few good swipes of his tail, he learned the adjustments he needed to make and they were soon flying through the water smoothly and elegantly.

He took her all around the lake intricate, ribbon-like pathways that looped and turned on themselves. Lelei twisted and corkscrewed through the blue, trying to give Haleth the best ride that he could. Her cheering spurred him onto do more.

"Hold on tight! It's time for the finale!"

Lelei took a nose dive toward the bottom, building up speed before turned abruptly for the surface. The sun grew brighter and brighter until Lelei broke the surface with Haleth and they were both in the open, warm air. But unlike when he landed on Haleth, Lelei was prepared an landed with a firm splash in the shallows. Now in knee-deep water, they were almost back on land and Lelei was panting heavily, but happily.

"Woo! How was that?!

It had been awhile since he had felt so exhilarated by swimming, and it showed. He was smiling brightly and he stood proud until he knelt down to help Haleth down from his back. As he turned to face her, she would find that the excitement of swimming combined with the girl on his back had certainly gotten his blood flowing. He was definitely standing proud.

"It would be my honor to go swimming with you agaaaiiiinnn~"

Lelei was just as surprised as Haleth was at the accidental touch, but perhaps not in the same way. When her hand brushed him, his words were cut short by a rolling, guttural groan that sounded like a monster version of a purr. His fins turned a deep crimson and his eyes fluttered for a moment. Then he realized what had happened, and he looked down his body to confirm it.

His version of modesty might not have been on the same wavelength as Haleth's, or most humans, as his continued nudity attested to. But even Lelei found it quite the embarrassment to be sporting such excitement in full view of a young lady he had essentially just met. He immediately spun around in place and hunched over slightly as if it made any difference.

"Haleth. I am so, so sorry. I-I..."

She had touched it too! Unintentionally, yes, but it was enough to set back most progress of trying to... make it go away. And the way she peeked. If Haleth was hoping Lelei would settle down, she was not making it easy with her gaze and choice of tiny, transparent swim wear.

"Well, eh heh, well at least you know I like you..."

There were surely men out there, elsewhere, that would have been as smug or arrogant as to say that Lelei should not be trying to cover up his shark-hood, especially with the kind of heat he was packing. But those same men probably thought having notches on their bedpost was a thing of pride and they unironically liked being called Pickup Artists. To Lelei, it was just unseemly to think that any woman would just be okay with, much less attracted by, a man just showing his goods off like a common flasher.

Haleth's words were kind and welcome. He appreciated that she was not running off to call the police on him or slapping him across the face repeatedly while screaming. But there was still the matter of his guy standing tall, and refusing to stand down in spite of Lelei's orders.

Her suggested to dry off in the sun was nice, but he still refused to face her.

"That would be... welcome and relaxing."

Their towels were not too far away, and Lelei trundled off toward them, using the familiar gait of a man hindered by his natural excitement. Sitting down was an awkward task because he continued to hide himself from Haleth's view, and he nearly tumbled over in the process. Actually sitting required some adjustments. The most comfortable position he eventually found was just sitting on his behind with his legs slightly spread and his knees up. Unfortunately, the comfort sacrificed modesty and he was in full view. Fortunately, he kept his back mostly turned towards Haleth.

"Again, I'm SO sorry you had to see me like that. It was super inappropriate of me. I know it's a natural response I have, but... Only your boyfriend should have the opportunity to show himself like that in your presence..."

"You... don't?"

Though his back was turned toward the young woman, Lelei could still turn his head to look at her with a curious eye. The surprise in his voice was quite apparent, and it was just enough to draw his attention away from his embarrassment and let his excitement finally begin to settle.

"Surely a lovely and curvy young woman like yourself would have a suitor on her at all times."

Lelei was nothing if not honest about his opinions.

It was well and good that Haleth was perfectly fine with some full frontal shark man nudity. Outwardly anyway. She made a good point in saying that Lelei was not the first nude man she had ever seen, and that certainly dulled the shyness somewhat. But... Lelei would have preferred not to have flashed her out of nowhere sporting that. It was just impolite. Granted, it was relatively the same level of polite as just being nude in the first place, but it had already been established that Lelei worked on a different level.

When his excitement had calmed down and he was no longer so prominently displayed, Lelei turned around to sit in a more comfortable position parallel to Haleth.

"Oh, sure. I've seen nude women. Human and my own kind. In fact, my own kind don't wear clothing as you Humans do. I only wear clothing to fit in up here on land. Back where I come from, cloth clothing as you know it make swimming much harder. So we usually go nude with only small bits of jewelry and accessories on."