“Thane.” From the exasperation in her tone, she’s said my name more than once.
“Yes?”
She worries her bottom lip but finally says, “I think I’m afraid of the water.”
“Youthinkyou’re afraid of the water?”
“That’s what I just said.” She shoves back a length of her long dark hair. “I’m trying to be honest with you. There’s no reason to mock me.”
“I’m not mocking you.” I simply do not understand how someone canfearthe water. A healthy dose of caution is smart, but water is life. It still defies belief to think Catalina has spent her life without swimming.
She draws in a long breath, and it’s my only warning before her shoulders drop and her lips curve into that wild smile. Catalina still, but more. “Really, I would think you’d be enticed by this whole experience. Helpless damsel in distress, here for you to sweep up and carry around.”
“I am not enticed by incompetence.” It’s not what I mean to say. What Imeanto say is that I’m not enticed by anyone but my husband, long gone and released into the depths. I’ve felt desire, but that’s not the same thing. But once the words are out, there’s no taking them back.
She’s completely undaunted. “Guess you’re just unlucky, then. Let’s get this over with.” She lifts her arms and makes a motion with her hands. “Uppies.”
“Uppies.”
“Thane, really.” She’s still grinning. “How are we to communicate at all if you’re just going to repeat every outrageous thing I say back to me? It makes for dull conversation.”
“If I gag you, you won’t be able to say anything outrageous.” Once again, as soon as the words hit the air between us, I’m appalled. I never talk toanyonethis way. Certainly not some human who’s smaller and weaker than me.
But Catalina just laughs. “Always with the kinky good times. Keep making promises, and I might start to actually like you.” She makes that motion with her hands again, her hazel eyes sly. “Come on, Thane. Give me uppies.”
The sudden desire to have her in my arms is nearly equal to the need to put as much distance between us as possible. I have to get us to the tower, and then I can do the latter. Carrying her is just expedient. That’s all.
I sweep her into my arms, slightly gratified when she squeaks a little. I start for the pool but pause before slipping into it. “Do you know the parameters to avoid... the bends?”
“Um.” She stares at my mouth for a long moment and gives herself a shake. “Like I said, I was reading the book for the fucky scenes, but pretty sure we’re not supposed to ascend faster than thirty feet per minute. And there’s a safety stop about fifteen feet below the surface where we’re supposed to hang out for roughly five minutes.”
I consider the information. It might not be accurate, but it’s easy enough to ascend slowly and ensure she doesn’t collapse again. It means more time with her in my arms, but it’s a small enough price to pay. “We won’t be able to communicate below the surface, but I will keep you safe.”
Her smile dims. “I can’t promise I won’t panic.” She rushes on before I can figure out something even remotely comforting to say. “But you know the old adage about panic?”
Even knowing I’m going to regret asking, I can’t resist the invitation in her voice. “What old adage?”
“It’s nothing a good fucking can’t fix.”
Her laugh cuts off as I slide into the pool and descend below the surface. It’s just as well. The last thing I need to think about isfuckingCatalina. It’s bad enough that I can still feel her tightness against the tentacle I pressed into her. The arch of her spine as she came. Her breasts, plump and inviting and topped with rosy nipples. Her lips parted with desire and too overcome for that wild smile that feels like a lie.
It takes two minutes to realize the lovely flowing fabric of her dress is a hindrance. I pause and rip the bottom half of it off, leaving the fabric to float above us as we continue our descent. Someone will collect it later. The tunnels branch like hallways, though they are not confined by gravity, so I move laterally and then at an angle to reach the outer part of the keep.
From here, the sea opens around us. We’re close enough to the surface that sunbeams penetrate the water, lighting the coral reef that makes up the west side of the keep, the coral extending for leagues to the north and south. Schools of fish dart about, their scales flashing pleasantly. The sight of so much open space always settles a part of me that never quite finds peace when I’m in the keep itself. Without the walls to close me in, I can breathe properly again.
Maybe that’s why it takes me so long to realize Catalina isn’t enjoying the view. She’s made herself even smaller in my arms, tucking her knees close to her chest. She’s also shaking.
She’s... terrified.
8
CATALINA
Iwouldn’t call myself a particularly brave person, but I also wouldn’t think the sight of so much water would fill me with the kind of fear that has me fighting to claw away from Thane and get back into the tunnels. They were claustrophobic, but at least I knew their parameters, lit as they were by strange glowing in the rock formations.
But this... ocean? Sea? I don’t even know the proper term for it. It stretches out as far as the eye can see, the deep blue playing with my perception. Can I actually see for miles, or is it really much closer? Could there be a monster out there, all scales and teeth, just waiting for a foolish human to swim too close?
A hand under my chin gently draws my face away from the open water to look up at Thane. His hair tentacles float around his head, which might make me freak out more, but his expression is comforting in its coldness. Everything else may be different below the surface, but not this man.