10. Chapter 10
Arlo
“If you let me drown, I’m coming back from the dead and haunting you forever.”
Gunnar scoffs. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Gentle waves lap at the shore, making the wolves playing in the water yelp with excitement.
The ocean stretches on into the horizon, endless and, frankly, scary.
It’s quite cold, so I press a heat rune into my skin once I’ve undressed down to my underwear.
Gunnar undresses nearby as well, and it takes all my self-control not to ogle his impressive figure. Goddess, but he is a stunning man.
I snap my gaze away and clear my throat. “So. Swimming lessons. Where do we start?”
“In the water.”
I roll my eyes to the back of my head. “No, really?”
“Stop stalling.” Gunnar’s big hand slips into mine and tugs, leading me toward the water. I hiss when the cold waves lap over my toes, but by the time we’ve waded out up to our knees, the heat rune has chased away the cold.
“How’s the water feel?” Gunnar asks.
“I feel—” Something touches my leg beneath the water. “Oh my good goddess!” I pounce on Gunnar, locking my arms and legs around him. He stumbles but regains his balance.
“What?” Gunnar snaps.
“Something touched my leg. That’s it. I’m out. I knew this was a bad—”
And then, we’re falling into the water. All my limbs stiffen around Gunnar in pure terror. My instincts scream to thrash for the surface, but if I let go of Gunnar, I might drown. He pushes off from the ground, and fresh air stings my eyes as we break the surface.
“You—” I want to strangle the grin off Gunnar’s face. “You could have killed us!”
He swipes water out of his eyes. With his hair plastered to his face and that boyish grin, he looks years younger.
Damn it, I should not find his amusement so charming when he just tried to drown me.
“Sometimes, to face our fears, we must dive headfirst into them. It’s a lesson my father taught me. ”
“I don’t think he meant literally!”
Gunnar drifts over to a large piece of driftwood. “Hold on to the log.”
What if I slip and fall back into the water? I hold on tighter to him. “Is the water very deep?”
“Not at all. I can touch the bottom with my toes.” He loops an arm over the log, bringing me much closer to it. “I’ve got you.”
His hold on my waist tightens, giving me the courage to rest my arms across the log. “Got it.”
“I’m going to let go. Ready?”
A very undignified whimper escapes me.
“Lo, I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.” Gunnar runs his hand along my back, the gesture soothing and gentle. His silver eyes are solemn as he holds my gaze.
I told myself I’d be daft to trust a wolf shifter again, but he did save me the last time I was in the water. A part of me wants to trust him, tells me quite loudly that I can trust him more than anyone else in this world. Is it the mate bond between us, or perhaps just wishful thinking?
I exhale and say, “Ready.” I hold on tight to the log as he lets go, drifting backward. “Oi! Don’t leave me here!”
He chuckles. “I’m right behind you. Now, I want you to practice kicking. Extend your feet toward me and let yourself float toward the surface.”
I put most of my weight on my arms and raise my legs. The water makes me feel weightless, and it’s easy enough to let it lift me. “Like this?”
“Good. Now kick.”
I start kicking, grinning when Gunnar splutters behind me as I spray him with water.
“Not at me!” Gunnar snaps, but he’s laughing as he wipes water out of his eyes.
His low, rumbling laugh must be contagious because I start laughing too—and lose my grip on the log at the same time.
I’ve only been under for a second before strong hands lift me back to the surface.
Spitting salty water out of my mouth, I grapple for him and hold on tight.
His muscular body is wet and slippery, but his arm holds me close to him.
“I’ve got you, Lo,” Gunnar says, reassuring me.
Against my ear, his heart thumps hard. Was he worried? “I knew you’d catch me,” I say.
Gunnar’s body runs warm, and although I’m nowhere near freezing thanks to the heat rune, I am starting to get a bit chilly. That must be why I hold him tighter, tucking my face into his neck. For warmth. Nothing else.
“Hands on my shoulders,” Gunnar instructs.
Carefully, I loosen my legs from his waist and slide down the length of his body until we’re level.
My stomach flutters when I run my hands over his shoulders, squeezing once.
They’re so broad and strong, dotted with freckles from long hours under the sun.
I suddenly wish I were the water lapping at his skin, clinging to every hard line of his body.
“Cold?” Gunnar asks.
I bob my eyebrows. “The very opposite. You’re like my own personal heated blanket. Besides, I can channel the heat rune for at least fifteen minutes.” Any longer than that, and I risk getting a headache from the strain of focusing.
“You’re sure?”
“I’ll let you know if my head starts to hurt. Then we can stop.”
Gunnar nods, but there are two little lines between his eyebrows.
I reach out and smooth them away before I can stop myself. “The worst that happens is I pass out and sleep for a week. But it won’t get that far. Magic fatigue is hard to miss. Besides, I know you’ll rescue me and bring me safely to shore.” I wink at him, pleased when his cheeks redden.
“Aye, all right.” Gunnar runs his tongue along his slick bottom lip, and I’d love nothing more than to taste the salt on his mouth. “Let’s practice floating on your back now.”
Perhaps that should freak me out, but at some point my fear of the water disappeared. “Let’s do this!” I want to prove myself to him, to please him.
“Hold your breath. You’re going to submerge yourself up to your ears and lean back.”
Apprehension trickles in. “I won’t sink like a stone?”
Gunnar’s mouth ticks up at the corner. “I’ll catch you if you do.”
Just like that, I’m ready. Gunnar’s here, and he has my back.
Quite literally. He keeps a hand on my lower back, encouraging me to arch toward the sky.
Water muffles all sound, and the gray clouds are all I can see.
It’s peaceful, and I don’t panic when Gunnar removes his hand from my back.
I rest my head on Gunnar’s shoulder, smiling up at the sky.
“I like this.”
Gunnar hums softly. “The world disappears; it’s just you and the sea and sky.”
It’s just us for the month we have left. The reminder that he made the decision without me makes the water feel colder against my skin. “I think I’ve had enough. Can we go back to shore now?”
“Aye, of course.”
Gunnar leads me back to the beach.
“What made you decide on a Friday?” I ask.
Gunnar averts his gaze. “Ah. Is that what it’s called nowadays? Here we call it Frigg’s day.”
“That makes sense. Goddess of love and all that…”
Why didn’t he ask me?
It doesn’t matter. It’s not like we don’t have time to prepare.
But I thought we were in this together.
“Just out of curiosity, why didn’t you ask me?”
Gunnar’s lips twist like he tasted something bitter. “I, uh…”
“Were you worried I’d say no? Try to drag this out a little longer?” I try to keep my voice casual but fail miserably as anger seeps in. “Because if so, that’s cowardly of you.”
Gunnar balls his hands into fists. “I’m not a coward. They asked for a date. I gave them one.”
I chew the inside of my lip hard so I don’t snap at him. “You know, this thing between us may be fake, but how is anyone going to be convinced we’re madly in love if we can’t even communicate properly? Goddess, Gunnar! I know it’s been a while since you were with anyone, but come on—”
“You want to get on me about communication, Lo? You didn’t think to tell me your friends and family hated ulfhednar. Why, didn’t you trust me to agree to this foolish plan if I knew?”
I want to say he’s wrong, but he isn’t. I should have been honest with him, should have trusted him, but the last time I trusted a wolf, he almost killed me.
“You’re right. I should have told you. I just…” I blow out a sigh that shivers on the way out.
“Cold?” Gunnar grabs a blanket he left on the beach in preparation for our return. “Here.” He drapes it over me, taking care that it covers me completely then spreads one out and invites me to sit on it with him.
Gunnar’s a good man. He’s got a metric ton of commitment issues, but so do I. He deserves better than what I’ve given him so far.
“I… knew a wolf shifter for many years. He was my best friend.” I take an interest in a loose thread in the blanket. “I trusted him with everything I had. He made me regret it.”
The blanket bunches in Gunnar’s fist. “Did he hurt you?”
I attempt a smile, shrugging my shoulders. “Nothing I can’t hide with a bit of magic.”
His brows furrow. “I… I am sorry to hear that. If it’s any comfort, a berserk wolf cannot harm his fated mate. You’re in no danger from me. I swear it.” One of his hands settles over mine, squeezing gently.
My breath catches at the tender gesture. “I wish I could say I do trust you. I may not be there yet, but… I’m going to try, Gunnar. You deserve it.”
Gunnar’s mouth lifts in a smile. “I appreciate it.” The smile drops from his face when he hangs his head. “I know I’m not the best with words. I used to be. I was a skald for years, you know. I loved telling stories.”
“What changed?” I ask. Then it hits me with a sudden ache. “Oh. When you lost—”
Gunnar sighs. “Suppose so.”
I bump my toes against his, making him look up at me. “That’s all right. I can chat enough for the both of us. Maybe you’ll learn a thing or two from me.”
He huffs, expression softening. “Aye, and mayhap I’ll keep giving you reasons to trust me, if you’ll let me.”
“Sounds good to me.”
For a moment, his hand lingers in mine, and I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be.