Chapter 36
Thirty-Six
“It’s a mess at the docks. Complete chaos this morning,” Angie lamented, putting her chin on top of her knees.
She had dragged herself to her and Kaden’s meeting spot that night, too close to the docks for her comfort.
“Nick wanted our workers to construct a seawall, but we can’t afford the materials right now.
To defend against further attacks while moving our operations further inland. ”
Beside her, Kaden shifted.
At eleven at night, the sun was starting to take its leave and make way for the moon.
“I’m not sure a seawall or moving further inland would help.
Give the mer, especially my mother, enough time and energy and they will find a way to create a bigger, stronger wave that will bypass any defense in their way.
Though, the wall may work to stop an initial attack.
” Kaden tapped his tail up and down in the water, creating ripples.
Angie blanched at the sound, the smallest of splashing noises reminding her of yesterday’s two tsunamis and of the funnel.
Kaden seemed to recognize her squirming, and he stopped.
“The queendom is rallying around her. Your people killed our king, and they seek vengeance.”
“I figured, but some defense is better than none, right?” She blew out a raspberry, putting a hand to her forehead. “There’s nowhere safe for us, is there? Is that why we’re so close to the docks? Hiding in plain sight?” She rubbed her face in her hands. “When is this craziness going to stop?”
“It should have been tidesdays ago, before my father was speared through his back and side.” He clasped his fingers together, squeezing them so tight that Angie thought he might crush his own hands.
“I don’t know what will end this now. Until one of us is wiped out or one side surrenders.
My mother will not. Will your father and mayor surrender? ”
Angie shook her head, unhappy. “If I know them, no. Especially not the mayor.” Her mind flickered to Beau and Emily, who were still trying to grieve the loss of their son.
“Nick’s not helping the situation either, my sister’s husband.
He’s the one who ordered the dive team out that murdered your father, though I’m not sure who actually speared him. ”
She couldn’t stop herself from mumbling “stupid jerk” when Nick intruded her mind. Just her luck, he was her boss this week.
“Agree. And you dislike him.” Kaden said it like a fact, not a question.
“I do. I don’t think he’s ever liked me, either,” she grumbled.
“Why is that?”
Angie sighed. “We were never close, even though he was with my sister for so long. He didn’t really bother me when we were younger, but a few years ago, he mocked my choice of graduate school.
Told me I was better off finding some rich guy to marry, that I had the looks, and I might as well not let them go to waste.
” Ire rose at the memory. “He said I’d never make a decent living as a marine biologist. He’s wrong. ”
Kaden shook his head, his expression flat. “Even if that was truly his belief, he was wrong for saying that to you. What a terrible thing to say to your lover’s sister.”
“Oh, that’s not all.” Angie was riled up now, and it felt good to get it out to someone who would take her side on this.
Mia had asked her once what her problem was with Nick, and when Angie relayed the story to her, Mia had defended him, brushing it off as him being young and dumb.
The second snipe he made at her, Mia couldn’t brush off as easily, and had solidified Angie’s intense dislike for the man.
“When I came home after my mom died, I lost a lot of weight. He called me a twig, and asked me if I wanted a burger or something.” She put the “or something” in air quotes, and a surge of emotion rose.
Angie gritted her teeth. “He only apologized because my sister yelled at him that our mom passed.”
Kaden scowled. “I’m sorry he said those things to you. I haven’t met him, but I hate him already.”
Angie took in a long, slow inhale, calming her racing pulse and newly emerged headache. “Yup. Thanks for listening.”
“Whenever you need to talk about something, I will be all ears.” Kaden dropped his shoulders and put one hand on her back.
“Appreciate that.”
“Then since we are here together now, I’d like to take advantage of the time we have.”
“You thinking what I’m thinking?” Angie scooted to him, and he pressed his lips to her nose.
“Follow me. I want some privacy with you. If you want the same, that is.” He quickly added on his last sentence, and she laced her fingers through his and squeezed it.
“Let’s go.”
“But first, let me kiss you.” He trailed a finger along her cheek, and she tilted her chin, parting her lips. His mouth descended onto hers, and he breathed out.
Instead of letting him pull away, she hugged him closer, and he let out a guttural moan.
She missed him, kissing him, touching him, feeling his arms around her.
The graze of his lips on hers to give her breath ignited a blazing fire inside.
His hands rose to her sides, running his tongue over her lips, one hand moving underneath her head, his kisses growing deeper, more zealous.
Then he pulled away, gasping for air, their foreheads pressed together. “Not here. Come with me.” He moved his head back, his hand never leaving hers.
“It’s not my fault I can’t resist you,” she demurred.
With a growl, he turned back, kissing her again.
His skin heated up under her hands, and his grip on her tightened when their tongues found each other.
She moved one of his hands underneath her top, her bra, and then to her breast. Her head throbbed and spun at her breast’s sensitivity under his careful touch.
He muttered something under his breath that she couldn’t fully hear.
Angie stood. “I’m ready. Let’s get out of here.” She pulled him behind her as she dove headfirst into the ocean.
Once they were safely beneath the waves, Kaden’s hand grazed hers. They traveled for what felt like eons.
“Where are we going?”
Kaden flashed her a sideways grin. “You’ll see.”
They passed a shipwrecked boat, and the presence of trash lessened as they moved further out. Wherever they were, the water was pristine and crisp. No signs of human interference.
Fish swam around them. So many fish. A school of arctic char swirled overhead and below her, and flounder and rockfish flit about, dusting up sand in their wake. “Where are we?”
“Humans do not venture out this far, this remote stretch of ocean. I also know of a special little nook.” He pulled her to him and wrapped an arm around her waist and leaned in close, tip of his nose bumping her ear. “Look up, gorgeous.”
A single circle showcasing the night sky sat amidst the dark.
Sprinklings of stars dotted the skies, a thin veil over a bright, silver half-moon.
Angie stared with unblinking eyes as a sliver of a nearly-transparent cloud moved across, and she pressed both hands to her mouth and nose. It was the famed Snell’s Window.
“This is amazing.”
“Isn’t it? Something beautiful on land lies above.” He arched his back and made his ascent, and Angie followed.
She broke the surface to find a stretch of rock shaped like thick fingers reaching high above them, bases interconnected with indentations that passed for undefined stairs, each leading to another ledge.
The rocks stretched for miles on either side of them, glistening from residual seawater clinging to its smooth surface.
Kaden pushed his chest to hers and swam forward, pressing her back to a flat piece of cold rock, and she shivered when her wet back made contact with it.
Angie’s stomach fluttered when he gazed deep into her eyes, and as before, she crossed her ankles around his tail so she wouldn’t have to keep treading water.
His eyes lit up like two sparkling jewels underneath the blades of moonlight, looking at her like a lover reunited with their significant other after ages apart.
“Now that we’re alone.” His voice dropped to a deep, husky timbre. “Did you know it was torture restraining myself from barraging you with kisses and more when I came to see you at your village? I will make up for that now.”
“Please do.”
Kaden gathered her in his arms and pressed kisses to her neck, trailing up toward her lips.
Arduous, sensuous, and fierce. Their tongues entangled.
A wave curled over and crashed on their heads, and she pressed herself closer to him for warmth, their heartbeats strong and echoing in her ears.
He used one hand to cradle behind her head to create a cushion, kissing her deeper and harder.
His contented sigh buzzed along her lips, causing pleasurable vibrations to rush through. “You are breathtaking. Incredible. You’re brilliant beyond words, and I want to call you mine, if you’ll have me.”
Invisible wings beat against her heart, and she put both her hands on either side of his face. “I am yours. As you are mine.”
“I think I can describe what it is I feel for you,” he added, and she tilted her head to the side.
“Angie, I—I love you. From the deepest recesses of my heart and soul. My heart is so entwined with yours that there is no me without you.” He moved his head back an inch, his eyes searching her face, as if edgy at what her response would be.
The reply came easily from her heart to her throat, “I love you too, Kaden.” As soon as she verbalized her thoughts, an intense passion swelled and burst.
He beamed at her, part of his face brightened by the moon, his skin lambent and so soft and smooth.
His beauty made her weak in the knees and her heartbeat quicken.
“Would you care to follow me one more time?” He pointed above her head. “We can get to the top of the rocks and get a sweeping view of the seascape.”