Oh, Bite Me (Guardians of the Deep 1)

“I think so,” she said. “It’s beautiful from up here, but it’s kind of scary too, don’t you think?”

“Scary how?”

“It’s all a mystery down there,” she said. “Kind of like outer space in a way. You can’t breathe, the pressure can kill you if you go too deep, and there are so many dangerous creatures…”

“…like all those dangerous creatures in space?” he interrupted her, making fun of her.

He’d said it before realizing it might offend her. He wasn’t calling her stupid; he only thought it was an interesting comparison. He’d never heard anyone compare his home with far away galaxies.

“Okay,” she said. “Maybe not the creature part, but you know what I mean.”

“I do,” he said.

She had no idea how much he could relate. She was right. The ocean was a dangerous place, but, it was her kind he feared most. They were the ones making his life so much more difficult. He could handle sharks and squids and sea snakes. He could dodge whales and kick the shit out of some dolphins, but humans had ships, submarines, and other underwater machinery that could obliterate his kind if they felt the need to.

“My name’s Thane,” he said.

A smile grew on her lips and she lifted her hands to bury her face in them.

“What?” he asked.

“Gerri wasn’t kidding,” she said.

“Nope, she definitely wasn’t,” he said. “Seems you know my name already, but she never told me yours. She said I would just know.”

“You would know?” she asked. “Guess that’s a umm…”

She leaned in close to him, not like the breeze would allow others to hear their conversation anyway, but it was sweet that she wanted to protect his secret.

“…paranormal dating thing?” she said with a wink.

“I’m sorry, I’m not following,” he said.

Of course, he was only fucking with her. She’d come right out and made reference to his “abilities.” Brave move. Most women would fear it or at least be hesitant to mention it.

“Seriously?” she said, pulling back from him. “Are you going to act like you’re not…”

He laughed.

“I am. You got me. I’m…paranormal,” he said with another chuckle. “So, what’s your name?”

Laughter came so easy with her. He didn’t even know her, but he felt comfortable with her.

“Can’t you sense that too?” she teased this time.

“I’m not a mind reader,” he said.

He kind of was, but only with his own kind. Only with shark shifters.

“Penny,” she said. “My name’s Penelope. Penny for short.”

“Penny,” he said, turning the word over in his head. “So, if I were to throw you overboard and make a wish…”

“That’s not funny,” she said, slapping his arm.

“That’s not funny,” came a voice Thane dreaded, this one only in his mind.

He whipped his head to the right, trying to find its source. She had to be somewhere on the ship.