Page 1 of Riding the Tide

CHAPTER ONE

“I’MNEVERgettingmated.”Marcus leaned back in the patio chair, shaking his head. Across from him was his friend, Brett, and Brett’s mate, Brooke.

“Uh-huh. You say that now.” Brett glanced back toward the bungalow where Kannon and Nisha stood whispering intensely.

“Nope. I’m going to be a bachelor until the end of my days.” He winced in sympathy as he watched Nisha’s mate, Kannon, drill his finger into Nisha’s shoulder.

The two were trying to keep their voices down, but it was a lost cause. Kannon was furious, if the tongue-lashing Nisha was getting was any indication. He wondered what Nisha did this time. He’d feel sorry for him if it wasn’t so damn funny.

A year had passed since Nisha claimed Kannon—and what an entertaining time it’d been. Marcus snorted in amusement when Nisha threw his hands up in frustration over whatever Kannon said to him. Leave it to them to get into a fight on their one-year anniversary. Kannon and Nisha loved fiercely, but they also disagreed just as fiercely.

“Swear to God, do we need to have yet another conversation on the concept of consent?” Kannon yelled.

“At the time I only thought—”

“Thought? What were you thinking with—no, no, let me guess. You were thinking with your dick. Yet again,” Kannon interrupted, glaring at Nisha.

“That wasnotwhat I was going to say.”

“But it fits, doesn’t it?” Kannon crossed his arms over his chest.

“I am sorry!” Nisha growled. “I told you we don’t think like humans. You keep trying to apply human values to my kind, and it doesn’t work. I understand I was wrongnow, butthenwas another matter.”

Poor Nisha. This was an argument he wasn’t going to win. They were sitting around the pool Kannon added to his and Nisha’s aboveground dwelling—which, admittedly, Marcus didn’t understand since the ocean was rightthere, but whatever. It was more proof humans were odd… even those humans mers had converted, as Nisha did with Kannon.

Anyway, they were having a late dinner by the pool and enjoying the warm tropical evening when something was said about the powder their kind made from certain fish toxins. It was used for many things, including pain relief. It also was used to induce a dream-like state where the one who inhaled the powder was able to feel, but unable to move.

One thing led to another and then—bam pow. Fireworks. Kannon figured out Nisha had used the powder on him after he had arrived and was significantly unhappy with the knowledge, if the glaring and raised voices were any indication.

Brett sighed, taking a sip of his water. “I did warn Nisha. Granted, it was after the fact, but still. Even went on to tell him how badly I reacted when Brooke did the same thing to me.”

Brooke patted Brett’s hand. “Nisha should’ve told him before now.”

Marcus picked up one of the chilled shrimp appetizers and bit into it. Personally he thought they were better uncooked, but that was just him. “Why? He didn’t harm him.”

Brett sighed even louder. He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and typed something into it. A few seconds later he turned the screen around so Marcus could see it.

“Oh, funny,” Marcus snapped as he stared at the definition of “consent” on the cell phone’s screen.

“Here’s a thought. Try reading the damn definition.” Brett glanced back over his shoulder at Nisha and Kannon.

Marcus shrugged as he watched Nisha grabbed Kannon and try to kiss him senseless. Well, that was one way of ending an argument.

“You know, maybe if you guys would, a bunch of shit could be avoided later,” Brett said.

“Hmm? Would what?” Marcus asked, distracted by Kannon and Nisha. Kannon struggled for a minute then gave in, but Marcus wasn’t fooled. He’d gotten to know Kannon well enough to know Kannon didn’t give up easily when he wanted something—which was probably an apology and an acknowledgment that Nisha was wrong.

“Good grief, what’s up with you lately?” Brett asked. “I said if you guys tried reading the definition of consent then a bunch of shit could be avoided later.”

“Oh.” Marcus nodded. “I suppose so, but I’m not planning on mating a human—or anyone else—so it’s irrelevant.”

“Famous last words.” Brooke snickered.

Marcus picked up his drink and stared into it. He didn’t have anything against humans—he certainly fucked his fair share of them—but they were more trouble than they were worth.

“Wasn’t it you who told me you knew your ABCs and 123s?” Kannon asked as he and Nisha returned to the table. “Reading the definition should be no problem, then.”

Marcus chuckled softly. Kannon was such a multitasker. He could fight with Nisha and listen to the conversation going on around him. “I’m surprised you remember that. You were, ah… I believe the words Nisha used were ‘freaked out.’”

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