Page 16 of Beneath the Surface

Kannon well understood what Nisha was asking. “Yeah, grab an overnight bag to bring back with you.”

“I will. Thank you.” With a wave, Nisha drove off.

Kannon stood by his bungalow, watching him drive away. He couldn’t shake the feeling something big was bearing down on him—that he was racing toward something he could no longer avoid. He was attracted to Nisha. Very much so. But there was something about the other man that made his nerves jangle.

“I am so overthinking this. It’s sex, nothing more.”

He planned to spend the next few days screwing, seeing his best friend get married… and then he’d go back to his life, where he intended to start living a little. He was cutting up a tomato for their sandwiches when he heard the golf car return. Nisha walked in the door.I could get used to this.The thought stunned Kannon, and he struggled to keep his face blank.Where did that come from?

“Hey. Hope I didn’t take too long.” Nisha held a small duffel and a plastic bag.

Kannon’s face heated. He had a pretty good idea what was in the bag. “No. Perfect timing, actually. I was just cutting up a tomato for the sandwiches.”

“Oh, good. I’m hungry. What should I do with my duffel?”

Kannon laid the knife on the counter, picked up a dishtowel, and wiped his hands. “Come on, I’ll show you where the bedroom is.”

Kannon was aware of Nisha following him. “Just set it over there on the floor by mine.”

Nisha looked around the room and whistled softly. “Nice. I particularly like the bed.”

Heat crawled up Kannon’s face, and he knew he was blushing. Again. “I said the same thing when I first saw it.” He also said he wished he had someone to share it with, and it looked like he’d got his wish. “So, you said you were hungry, right? Ready to eat?”

Nisha’s lips twitched. “I am, but I’m guessing you’re talking about real food and not what I’m thinking about.”

Kannon went up in flames.

Chuckling, Nisha walked over to Kannon and placed both his hands on Kannon’s cheeks. “Do you have any idea how much it turns me on when you blush?”

Kannon weakly smiled. “Good thing, considering you seem to make me do it quite often.”

“I intend to make you do it even more.” Nisha stole a quick kiss, grabbed Kannon by the hand, and led him from the bedroom. “Let’s eat.”

CHAPTER SIX

NISHASTRUGGLEDtokeephis aggression under wraps. The very act of leading his unclaimed mate away from a perfectly comfortable bed irked him. Every instinct he had demanded he toss Kannon on the bed and take what was his.

If his mate had been any other species besides human, that’s exactly what Nisha would have done. Others like him knew what to expect. But these humans… Nisha sighed silently. Kannon being human changed everything. He let his instincts get the best of him once, and look what happened.

“So, sandwiches?” Nisha stopped once he pulled Kannon to the kitchen.

“Coming up.” Kannon fixed the sandwiches. “Here you go. Dig in.”

They settled on the couch in the living area with the food and drinks. Kannon left his plate on the coffee table and opened the sliding doors that overlooked the ocean.

He picked up his plate and sat back down next to Nisha. “Beautiful view, isn’t it?”

“It is. I don’t think I could stand to live anywhere else.”

Kannon bit into his sandwich and swallowed. “I never asked, but do you live here on the island?”

“I do, actually, but I live on the other side.”

“It must be nice living near your sister. Brett and I aren’t related, but I do wish we could see each other more.”

“I can imagine. He said you two are close.” Nisha ate some of his sandwich. Kannon would be seeing a lot more of Brett, but Nisha couldn’t very well tell him that. “I’m close to Brooke, without being too close to her, you know what I mean?”

“I do, even though I don’t have siblings.”

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