Chapter 14
The beach is empty at this time of day, when most people are in class. It’s still warm, the last dregs of summer hanging on as we move into fall, but it’s chillier than it has been. Caspian doesn’t seem to mind. He pulls off his shirt, then drops his pants.
“Join me, starfish.” He kicks away his shorts, stirring up sand in the process.
“I’m not getting naked right out here in the open!”
“Why not?”
“Because… because… it would be inappropriate.” I glance up and down the beach. There’s no one in sight, but there’s still no way I’m skinny dipping in the middle of the day.
“Your natural state is inappropriate?” Caspian tilts his head, studying me.
“Societally? Yes.” I cross my arms over my chest.
“Well, to show you what I want to show you, we need to swim.” His shrug is relaxed, but the way his gaze travels over my body is anything but casual.
It’s not unlikely that he’s just trying to get me naked.
But what I sense from his side of the bond isn’t just the obvious arousal.
There’s a nervousness there, too. Almost fearful. What’s he afraid of?
“Okay, I’ll do it. But I’m not going naked.” I pull my shirt over my head, then wiggle out of my shorts, leaving my bra and underwear on.
The water’s gonna be freezing, but this feels important. I have the sense I’m standing on the edge of something big, something that will flip my world upside down. Like the feeling you get on a rollercoaster just before the drop.
“Come.” Caspian takes my hand, and soon we’re running down the beach toward the waves, laughing as we kick up sun-warmed sand.
His delight as we hit the water pummels into my chest through the bond as strong as any of the waves we wade through. It feels like nostalgia and homecoming, like comfort and peace.
Caspian rushes past the breakpoint as if he’s trying to get to something, and he’s worried he won’t make it in time. His hand slips out of mine as he dives over a wave.
And doesn’t come up.
Another wave nearly knocks me over, but then I’m past it, treading water, searching for my mate. My pulse hammers with each second he doesn’t surface.
“Caspian?”
No answer.
“Caspian!”
Something brushes against my leg, and I jerk away with a scream. Still, Caspian doesn’t surface. Is he down there? Was that him I felt? Is he stuck? Passed out? Shit. I need to find him.
Dunking under the water, I keep my eyes open to search, despite the way the salt water stings. This far out, it's clear enough to see coral and schools of fish, but no Caspian.
I’m about to spin around to look the other way, when a hand grasps my ankle, and I’m pulled deeper, spun until I’m in Caspian’s arms. He’s smiling. A beautiful smile. Not drowning. Not hurt.
He’s happy.
I point up, kicking to reach the surface. My foot brushes something smoother and harder than skin, and I look down.
What the fuck?!
Caspian’s legs are gone, replaced by a stunning tail of shimmering rainbow scales. I gasp, and water floods my airways.
The saltwater burns my nose and throat as I inhale, the sensation of suffocation instant and terrifying.
Caspian’s panic spikes through the bond as he pulls me to the surface, faster than I could ever swim myself. When we break the waterline, I sputter and cough, dragging in big lungfuls of fresh air, spitting out water until I’ve recovered.
His arms stay around my waist, lifting me as his tail works in smooth strokes to keep us high above the water. So much strength.
“I’m so sorry, starfish. I thought… I didn’t…” He studies me, distraught with worry.
“It’s okay,” I soothe, kissing his cheek. “I was just surprised.”
“I didn’t realize humans need air so quickly. I thought…” He shakes his head. “I don’t know what I thought.”
“Yeah, we can’t go long without breathing.
” There’s a touch of humor in my words that has him smiling again, a small one this time.
I’m actually surprised I was able to look for him so long without coming up for air or my lungs burning.
I’ve always been a strong swimmer, but have never had the lung capacity for free diving.
Today, I didn’t feel desperate for air until I foolishly tried to scream underwater.
“Will you forgive me?” Caspian asks, serious now. “Next time, I will be more prepared. More careful to give you what you need.”
“Next time.” I glance down at where his firm abs turn to smooth scales. “Right. Because… I’m bonded to a merman.”