Page 23 of Riding the Tide

“One day we simply must introduce you to the joys of television.” Kannon studied Marcus, tapping one finger against his lips. “Hmm, I have to say you do clean up rather well. You’re going to knock his socks off. Now, why don’t you come over this afternoon before your date so you can shower here?”

Marcus grimaced. Yet another thing he didn’t consider.

“Oh, and what are you going to do with your hair?” Kannon continued.

“Excuse me?” He didn’t understand the question. What was Kannon talking about now? It was hair. It was on his head. What more was there? What exactly did Kannon meandowith it?

Kannon waved his hand at Marcus’ head. “How are you going to fix it for tonight?”

Marcus opened his mouth then closed it. “Wash it and dry it?” Hopefully that was the correct answer.

“Good lord.” Kannon rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Have you ever had your hair professionally cut?”

“I don’t know what thatmeans.” Aggravated, Marcus turned to Nisha. Maybe his friend could help him out… like out the back door. “Nisha?”

“What my mate is asking is if you’ve ever gone to somebody on land and paid money to have them cut your hair,” Nisha replied.

Marcus stood in the kitchen staring blankly at Nisha. “You must be kidding me. Why pay somebody to cut my hair when I can use a knife?”

Kannon’s eyes widened, and he blinked. “A knife. And you’re asking ifI’mkidding?”

Suddenly it was all too much. The walls closed in on him. He couldn’t do this. Shaking his head frantically, he backed up. What in the world was he thinking? His home was in the ocean, not the land, and all of this was… was…

“I can’t. I…” He bumped into one of the cabinets and came to a halt, still shaking his head.

Nisha crossed over to where Marcus managed to corner himself. “Easy now.” Nisha laid a hand own Marcus’ arm. “Breathe.”

“I can’t do this.” Marcus dropped his head and stared at the floor, even though Nisha’s gaze drilled into him.

“You most certainly can. And you know why?”

Marcus shook his head, the movement sharp and abrupt.

“You will do this because Blair’s your mate, a mate who happens to be human. You will do this because no matter how uncomfortable you are now, in the end it’ll be worth it. You willdothis because for as long as I’ve known you, I’ve never known you to back down from a challenge. That’s all this is. A challenge.”

Marcus lifted his head and swallowed. He stared back at Nisha, the assurance Marcus needed so badly in that gaze. Nisha thought he could do this. Nisha believed in him.

“Remember this feeling, Marcus, because I promise you if things go as you wish, your mate will soon be experiencing the same thing,” Nisha said.

“You might feel like a fish out of water now—”

Marcus rolled his eyes but chuckled nevertheless. Leave it to Kannon.

“But keep in mind you, as a person, aren’t going to be changed.” Kannon’s light, easy tone dropped away and suddenly he was serious. “You may be uncomfortable on land, but Blair is going to be subjected to something far more stressful once you bite and mate with him. His basic makeup is going to change so he can also become a creature of the water.”

“He’s right,” Nisha added. “Something we, as merfolk, never think of.”

“Youwill still be yourself, but Blair’s going to be transformed into something completely new,” Kannon continued. “Don’t you think a little bit of the uncomfortableness you’re feeling now is worth that, considering what he’ll do for you?”

Marcus stood tall and squared his shoulders. They were both right, and his moment of self-doubt vanished. Kannon, in particular, knew of which he spoke. What was Marcus sacrificing? A couple of uncomfortable hours on land, in a restaurant, surrounded by other humans? Wearing clothes that were borrowed? That even to getreadyfor the date he needed Nisha and Kannon?

In the long run, that was nothing. If Blair accepted him and his way of life, Blair would give up far more. Marcus had stated, quite venomously, he couldn’t live on land. But was he going to ask Blair to live in the ocean with him and give up all he knew? Did he really have that right?

Suddenly he saw how selfish his expectations were. What right did he have asking Blair to make all the adjustments in this relationship? None.

“You’re right. You’re absolutely right.”

Nisha patted him on the arm, then stepped back giving him a little room. “We ask a lot of our humans. They’re strong, our half-human mates, and I firmly believe they’re our mates because of that strength.”

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