Air Bound (Sea Haven/Sisters of the Heart 3)

Thirty-five.

You're just guessing. I'm going to faint from lack of air.

He nearly lost what air was left in his lungs. Trying not to laugh, he surfaced a second time. The yacht was much farther away. He stayed still, treading water, calling in the fog. They needed cover. With that many men searching the yacht, they would figure out fast they were gone and come after them--and they had boats and gear.

Tendrils of grayish white drifted in, great fingers reaching toward the yacht. The wind kicked up, pushing playfully at the fog and the water. Waves slapped over, spilling white foam. The yacht rocked. The fog enveloped the vessel in a thick blanket.

Take a breath.

She did so, drawing air deep into her lungs. Her fingers clutched at his shoulders as he went under again and kicked strongly toward shore.

Just so you know, I've made up my mind, Airiana. I think it's your complete inability to swim that's done it.

Are you purposely trying to make me lose count?

This is important and you need to hear it.

She sighed overly loud. Seriously? Now? You're going to tell me something important while we're swimming in a dark ocean, killers coming after us and sharks circling us.

I don't see any sharks. You're making that part up.

How would you know? You aren't paying attention. You're too busy trying to distract me from the forty-second count, which you've once again managed to do. You're going longer than forty seconds, aren't you?

Well . . . yes. But that isn't the point.

Airiana's fingers dug into his shoulders, gripping tightly. Maxim really was trying to distract her and swimming for closer to a minute--he could have stayed longer underwater--but she was too frightened. Talking to her definitely helped.

You have a point? I don't believe you.

He surfaced again, turning his head to look at her over his shoulder. Her swollen eye was black against the stark white of her face. She looked so scared he wanted to comfort her, but didn't dare. Right now he had to keep her distracted and his strange revelations could easily do the trick.

He had no idea how to talk to a woman he cared about. He had never been the most charming of agents, but at least he could talk when necessary. She pulled things out of him he didn't altogether understand, but he knew he had to be honest with her.

Just for the record, you look awful. A little like a drowned rat.

She kicked him hard enough in the ribs to make him feel it. Don't tempt me to shoot you with this dart gun.

You won't. He was completely complacent. You need me to swim you out of here. And don't forget those circling sharks. You need me for protection against them as well.

Don't think you're safe.

She leaned forward and bit down hard on his shoulder--not his injured side. He noticed she was careful of his wound.

Take a breath, honey. He'd let her rest for a moment and recover from the ever present near panic. Each time they came up and were that much closer to shore, he hoped it would be easier on her.

Is the count up to one hundred?

Sarcasm mixed with something close to a hysterical giggle. Fortunately, she had the presence of mind to keep even that between them. He took them under, swimming strongly, hoping she hadn't caught the sound of a boat sliding through the water toward them.

What were you going to tell me that was so important?

The truth. The absolute truth about us.

Is there an "us"? she asked.

It was much more difficult than he thought to reveal his feelings to her, but they were in the dark, and talking mind to mind rather than aloud. That helped. The water was warm. The dark night sky still held a million stars shining brightly over the band of mist he'd called in. The gray fog, dense and comforting, had enfolded them close, hiding them from prying eyes.

I've watched you, Airiana, with your wild hair flying and your large eyes filled with the sky, taking turns being clear and stormy. A man could get lost in your eyes. They're never the same, all that beautiful blue.

She lost count but she didn't protest. Her arms tightened around him. He felt her face press closer against his back.

You've got courage. Unexpected courage. I've never met a woman like you. I didn't know a woman like you existed, and I doubt there's more than one. You're absolutely unique.

There was a small silence. He kept swimming, hoping to move away from the pursuit.

Are you giving me a compliment? Because if you are, I take back what I said about the dart gun. You can't really say I look like a drowned rat and then say something poetic like that.

Well, just because you look disheveled right now doesn't mean you aren't beautiful. I certainly didn't say the drowned rat wasn't beautiful. He could feel the vibrations in the water, the gasses carrying to him the information of a boat coming closer.

Baby, we're going up, taking a breath and sinking fast. Do you understand? We can't chance taking our time.

She couldn't swim. He couldn't let go of her to fight mercenaries already adept in the water. They had to hide, and that meant staying underwater as long as possible.

She didn't answer him, but her fingers dug deep into his shoulders, the only thing that let him know she was as aware of the boat as he was.

He broke the surface noiselessly, got his bearings as he took a deep breath, and he sank again. The boat was gaining on them fast, although it was making a sweep of the water. Back and forth, quartering an area.

There's another one. It's a good distance away, but I can feel that one too. They're searching for me. He's not going to let it go, is he? If I go home, I'll put everyone I love in danger. That's what you were trying to say to me and I couldn't understand.

Forget what I said. What I'm saying now is that you're mine. I belong to you. It's that simple and we're going to damn well make it work. Somehow.

I thought you were all worried about choices, she reminded him.

He gave the mental equivalent of a groan. This is my choice. And it's going to be yours. You're going to fall in love with me.

I am? How?

It was her amusement that caught at him--that won his heart completely. Even in the midst of this terrible situation when she was in caught in her worst nightmare, she found her sense of humor.

I have no idea, he conceded. But it's going to happen. I made my mind up about this. Maybe choices aren't all they're cracked up to be. You and I were meant to be together. I just thought it was important to tell you. I'm taking my chances with you.

You mean warn me? As a declaration of love, Maxim, it falls a little short.

Again there was amusement in her voice. He was going to have to take them deep, making certain the boat, as it slipped through the water, was far above them. He wasn't certain what her reaction would be.

Sadly, Airiana, you're never going to get pretty words from me. You deserve them, but I don't have them in my vocabulary. I feel them, but they don't come out of my mouth, not out loud. There's something wrong with me, so you're not getting a great bargain.

You need to do better at selling yourself, Maxim.

He surfaced in the middle of thick, dense fog. The fog muffled all sound and prevented him from seeing the shore, but he could feel where they were by the patterns in the air.

Take a good breath this time, Airiana, he cautioned.

I can feel the boat approaching. They're not low in the water at all, but they're nearly on top of us, she warned.

You'll have to trust me, honey. I'm going to take us down. If you run out of air, tap my neck. I'll breathe for both of us. He knew what he was asking of her. Most people couldn't do it, let alone a woman petrified of the water. Still, he believed in her and he tried to convey the faith he had in her with his matter-of-fact tone.

Maxim? If I drown, I'm going to be really angry with you. I'll come back and haunt you. Her body shivered continuously, but her mind was determined.