Bite Me Harder (Guardians of the Deep 2)

have been more feared on dry land, but in the ocean, nothing terrified people like seeing the triangular fin of a shark coming at them.

The music picked up as the band did their beach-chill version of ZZ Top’s ‘Legs.’ All men liked legs.

Can a man like a woman whose legs disappear and, in their place, grow fins?

“I’m glad you brought me here,” she said. “It’s almost like being at a carnival but without any rides.”

“Oh, we have rides,” he said. “In fact, that’s the main part of this date. You told me at the bonfire that you’d expected to have a wild night, so…I’ve got something in mind. You might have done this before and maybe it’s no big deal, but if not…it should make this night a lot…wilder.”

“Why am I suddenly worried?” she asked.

“Because you know I’m totally awesome and I wouldn’t let you down with anything dull,” he said. “Are you afraid of heights?”

“What?” she asked.

“Like up there,” he said, yelling over the increased volume of the music.

He pointed toward a giant steel structure in the darkness. She’d seen it before but hadn’t thought much about it. Now, lit up in the night sky, she saw what it was. She’d never thought of having a fear of heights because she’d never been in a situation where she’d been confronted with it. The highest she’d ever been was to the top of one of the mountains on the island, and even then, she’d never stood on the edge and looked down.

“I don’t know about that,” she said.

“Come on,” he urged her on. “I want you to meet my friends. This is kind of their part time hangout spot. It just so happens they’re here this weekend and one of my buddies runs the bungee jump when he’s here. He’s a good friend of the owner so it helps him earn some extra cash.”

“Raaaafe,” she said, letting his name drag on in an almost whiny tone.

“Kalinaaaaa,” he replied.

She liked the sound of her name on his lips. The look on his face was adorable, his eyes opened wide and his eyebrows up high, so much hope in that expression. He really wanted her to give this a try. Closing her eyes, she inhaled, filling her chest with the fresh breeze before finally popping her eyes open to look into his and nod her head “yes.”

“Really?” he said.

“Yes,” she said.

“You’re gonna love it. I promise.”

“Rafey?” a nasally voice yelled.

Kalina looked over Rafe’s shoulder and saw a young guy approaching wearing a knitted beanie cap with a small bill turned to the side.

“Beanie!” Rafe said.

Of course, that’s his name. I suppose the next guy will be wearing a sweater vest and we’ll call him Vesty.

Beanie passed Rafe, purposely giving him the cold shoulder, and wrapped Kalina up in a big bear hug.

“My God,” Beanie said. “She’s way too pretty for you, bro.”

Kalina felt herself blush. This was the first of Rafe’s friends she’d met, other than Kane, but she already liked this one. He might have been a sweet talker who knew how to turn on the charm for the ladies, but she liked that charm pointed in her direction right now.

A girl needs to be complimented every once in a while.

“Hands off,” Rafe said as she grabbed the top of his friend’s head and pulled off the beanie.

Beanie was bald beneath the cap and fought furiously to snatch the beanie back and pull it tight over his head.

“Dude!” he yelled. “Come on! You don’t fuck with the beanie. You know that. I have hat hair under this thing.”

“You have no hair under that thing,” Rafe said.