Oh, Bite Me (Guardians of the Deep 1)

For fuck’s sake. You were almost taken from me. If I’d been only a few seconds later, Evelyn would have killed you.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“I’ll live,” she said. “Well…for now.”

She looked up at him and smiled through her tears. Her ability to make light of a situation even when it wasn’t funny at all, was something he truly admired. She had so much strength in her.

“I’m so sorry for not telling you,” she said. “I was afraid you wouldn’t want me anymore.”

“I want you even more,” he told her. “But we need to talk.”

The others caught on quickly that it was a moment the two needed to spend alone, so they retreated to their cabins. Alone, standing on the beach, Thane had never felt so at home. He had his woman in his arms, her warmth against his chest, and the sound of the waves breaking behind him.

“Do you think the others will hate me?” Penny asked.

“No,” he said. “Never.”

“I swear I didn’t come here for a cure,” she said. “I didn’t seek out Gerri Wilder. She found me. But…I guess there’s a small part of me that likes the idea that you might be able to help me too.”

“I might be able to,” he said. “But it’s not something simple. It’s complicated…and it hurts.”

“I’ve heard the horror stories,” she said. “Bones cracked like glass.”

“Yeah,” he replied.

He inhaled, taking in the scent of her hair and closed his eyes to keep it in his thoughts forever.

“Don’t do that again, please,” he said as he took her face in both of his hands and forced her to look him in the eyes.

“Do what?” she asked, smiling back at him.

“Provoke her,” he said. “You have no idea how vindictive she is. She’s incredibly strong too. The shark is in our blood, even when we’re in human form. She’s ferocious.”

“I’m pretty ferocious myself,” she said. “Once you get to know me.”

He leaned down and softly bit her shoulder. She didn’t bear the mark, but he wanted her to. If he’d changed her, he knew that setting his teeth against her mark would have her coming right there in his arms. He wanted Penny to come again.

“I’m counting on that,” he finally replied.

“Take me into the water,” she said. “Show me your world.”

“I can’t do that,” he said. “It’s too dangerous.”

“We can stay close to the shore,” she said.

“Not out there,” he said, pointing toward the ocean. “Evelyn could be out there watching us, waiting for the right time to attack.”

She leaned her forehead down and touched it to his chest.

“Wait a minute,” he said. “I think I know a place.”

Twenty minutes later, he pushed through a wall of trees that led to a beautiful salt-water lagoon. It was a scene straight out of a romance movie. The moon shone down from above and a small waterfall provided a gentle, soothing roar. Trees and foliage surrounded the water, all except the small beach area that led into the water.

The lagoon seemed to

glow in the moonlight. Green and blue fluorescents from something beneath the water. Thane had always loved the majestic quality of this place. He’d stopped coming here when he discovered the freedom of the ocean. But this was perfect for his time with Penny.

“This is amazing,” she said.