Page 38 of Beneath the Surface

“In the ocean?”

“Yes, mate. In the ocean. It’s time to replace those scary memories with something much more appropriate. Will you come with me?”

Kannon took a deep breath and slowly released it. He squeezed Nisha’s hand as he stared into his eyes. Time to face his fears. “I can go for a swim, yeah.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

SHOCKHELDNishaimmobile,but not for long. Did he hear Kannon right? He sprang to his feet, dragging Kannon up with him. “We’ll catch you later, Brett,” Nisha said. “Give Brooke our love, wherever she’s gotten off to. See you later.”

Behind him he heard Brett chuckling, but he didn’t dare slow down or loosen his grip on his mate. Finally,finally, he could show Kannon all the wonders of his world.

“What’s the rush?” Kannon gasped as Nisha dragged him into the elevator.

Nisha just grunted. When the doors opened, he pulled Kannon from the elevator. Curious eyes followed them as he hurried his mate from the resort and onto the sandy beaches that spread out in front of them.

“Dude, slow down. Loosen up on the grip a little bit too, will you?”

The amusement in Kannon’s voice finally penetrated the fog of excitement around Nisha. Guess he did look pretty ridiculous dragging Kannon behind him. He glanced at Kannon.

“Sorry.” Nisha ran a hand through his hair, slightly bemused. “I guess I was a little excited.”

“A little?” Kannon sorted.

Their joined hands swayed gently as they walked, and Nisha forced his body to relax. “It’s just… I can’t wait to show you everything. I want to see how you react. I remember how you were before I ruined—”

“Hey, hey. None of that. Let’s not start digging up the past and all that happened in it.”

“I’m not, I’m really not. But you had such a childlike joy. Everything you saw beneath the surface fascinated you but because of me that changed.”

Kannon stopped which also halted Nisha. “Okay, see that’s what I’m talking about. So let’s settle this once and for all. Do you regret starting the mating process fifteen years ago?”

“No.” Was Kannon kidding? Mating him was the best thing he’d ever done. But… “What I regret is…”

“Is what?”

“How it was done.” Nisha glanced out over the ocean and signed. “I regret I scared you. I truly regret fear drove you from the water. I took your enjoyment of the ocean from you.”

“Okay, that’s a good point. But that’s over and done with. It wasn’t the water that scared me—it was what wasinthe water. Meaning you… and just hold up.” Kannon stopped Nisha before he spoke. “Fear can distort memories, which is what happened with me. You’re not nearly as scary as I remember.” Kannon winked.

“Um…” Nisha quirked an eyebrow at Kannon. “Thanks?”

Kannon laughed. “You’re welcome.”

They fell silent as they made their way to the cove Nisha used before. Was Kannon nervous? Unbelievably, Nisha was. What if Kannon freaked out on him? What then? They fell silent as they descended into the cavern.

He released Kannon’s hand, lit one of the torches so Kannon could see, and walked over to the dry bags hidden behind an outcrop of rocks. He opened one and fished out a couple of beach blankets then returned to where he left Kannon standing. He spread the blanket out on the sand.

“I’m going to leave my clothes here. This way they won’t be covered in sand when we return.” Nisha took his shirt off.

“Oh. Um, why are you…?”

“I have a tail, remember? It doesn’t work well with shorts.”

“Ahhh, gotcha.” Kannon shuffled his feet. “Do I need to strip too? I see why you do, but I’d be more comfortable in my trunks. Is that okay?”

Nisha paused in undressing, his hands on his waistband. “You do whatever makes you feel best. I hate the feeling of clothes, but then, I don’t normally wear them.”

“Okay, good. These aren’t my swim trunks, but going naked…” Kannon shrugged as he dragged his shirt over his head. “Maybe I’ll go skinny-dipping later after I’m used to this whole deal.”

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