Page 9 of Riding the Tide

Marcus snorted. Oh good, another smart ass. Someone he could totally relate to. “Tell me, why are you so calm? Why are you not screaming and hollering and trying to run off or beat the hell out of me?”

Blair blew out a breath. “Okay, I’m not going a lie. I am somewhat freaked out. But here’s the thing. I’ve done some traveling. Spent quite a bit of time in Africa with some of the local tribes. Let’s just say I saw and felt things that… defied description.”

“Ahhhh. I see.” How extraordinary. “Would you mind telling me?”

“Sure. Could we maybe sit down? My legs still feel like limp noodles.”

Marcus wanted to slap himself silly. Blair fell off of a boat. How could he have forgotten that? “Fuck, I’m such an ass. Are you okay? Are you hurt? I can’t imagine how scared you must have been. Did you hit anything on the way down? Do you need a doctor?”

“Whoa, whoa!” Blair laughed slightly. “I’m okay. I didn’t hit my head or anything. Actually, some asshole ran into me because he thought I’d been with his guy. I’m not sure if he was trying to push me overboard or not, but that’s what happened. I think it stunned me.”

“I heard screams after you fell. They were looking for you.” Marcus grabbed one of the towels, shook the sand out of it, and spread it on the beach. He arranged it so the moonlight would shine on them. He also brought the lantern closer.

Blair frowned. “Yeah, bet they were.”

What did that mean? Wouldn’t he expect the other humans to look after him? And why did Blair suddenly look sad and annoyed. There was a story there, he just knew it.

“Please, sit down.”

Blair sat. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure.” Marcus sat once Blair did. He meant what he said. Caring for his mate was his pleasure.

“Anyway, I hit the water in an awkward position. I wasn’t exactly unconscious when you grabbed me. I was sort of… out of it. I mean, it wasn’tthatfar of a fall, but I was fuzzy.”

“But it was still a fall.”

“Yeah, it sure was.” Blair sighed. “I don’t need a doctor.”

“I’m glad.”

“Me, too.”

Marcus resisted the urge to play with the corner of the towel they sat on. “Would you like me to take you back topside? I can take you anywhere you want to go. I know this island quite well.”

“Thank you for saying that, especially since, like I said, I have no clue where I am. I’m definitely at a disadvantage here.”

Marcus cringed. “I’m no threat to you, honest. I know that might seem hard to believe.”

Blair tilted his head. “Actually, it really isn’t. I mean, you didn’t have to save my ass.”

Yes, actually, he did. Blair had no clue he was Marcus’ mate, and he wasn’t about to launch intothatdiscussion. “I’m not really sure you needed saving.”

“Maybe, maybe not. Like I said, it’s all a little fuzzy. Would you think me completely strange if I wanted to sit here and maybe talk to you for a little while?”

Think him strange? Marcus was thrilled. He still had trouble believing Blair wasn’t screaming in terror and trying to get away from them, but he certainly wasn’t going to look a gift squid in the beak. “I would like that very much. If you sure you’re comfortable.”

“I’m comfortable. If you were going to hurt me, you would’ve already done it. Besides, I’ve learned to trust my instincts.”

“I’m glad.” Marcus knew better than to snort. Snorting would be bad.Bad.It’d offend Blair, but seriously, instincts? Blair couldn’t be more than mid-twenties. Maybe late twenties. Compared to him, Blair was nothing but a baby. What instincts could he possibly have developed in such a short time?

“You were going to tell me about your travels in Africa?” Marcus prompted. He really wanted to hear about Blair’s time spent there. The continent wasn’t that far from them.

“Okay well, there was this tribe I was staying with and…”

Marcus listened closely as Blair talked. He described how he saw things in the tropical rainforests and animals that were entirely too intelligent for mere animals—animals that were larger than normal with eyes that glowed yellow or red.

He saw shadows which didn’t act as shadows and primitive medicines able to cure things which even modern medicine couldn’t touch. Then Blair started talking about a jaguar who stalked him one night while he was returning to the village.

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