Page 32 of Beneath the Surface

“And oh my God!” Kannon thrust his hands into his hair and rubbed his temples. “I told Brett what happened to me. Never once did he act as though he knew what I was fucking talking about.”

“I believe he explained why he couldn’t—”

“It’s been fifteen years, and in all this time he never once told me he knew about your existence. I am going to fuckingkillhim!”

“Um, he couldn’t. He wanted to, but it’s against our ways to share such with humans—”

“And you!” Kannon pointed a finger at Nisha.

Nisha flinched.

“What thehell, man? You bit me. You left a scar. Do you have any fucking idea how that messed with my mind? Everything I knew got tossed out the window after that day. I worried something freaky was going to happen to my body, thanks to you biting me. Shit! Do you have any idea what it’s like tolivewith that kind of stress?”

“I—you’re cussing. You don’t normally cuss. ”

“No?” Kannon paced back and forth in the shallows in front of Nisha. “You’re right. Idon’tnormally cuss, but by God, this is what you’ve reduced me to. You don’t have any idea what it’s like to live with this kind of stress because you just bit methen fucking disappeared!”

“At the time I thought it best for you to stay with your—”

Kannon screeched.

Nisha flinched again.

“Aaaaand there we go. You. Whatyouthought was best for me. Did I get a fucking say in that? Oh hell no!” Kannon yelled. “Then you turned around and bit me again. Do you know what consent is? Ever heard of this little thing called permission? Obviously not, since you just upand bit me again. Fucking hell!”

Kannon spun around and headed toward the beach. “Do whatever you have to do, but damn you, change. I’m not having this conversation hip deep in water.”

CHAPTER TEN

“WAIT!”NISHApanicked.Witha flip of his tail, he darted after Kannon.

“What… dammit, Nisha!”

Nisha grabbed Kannon around the waist and quickly headed back to deeper water. Somehow he knew letting Kannon out of the water would be a mistake. Well, another mistake. He’d assumed Kannon would want an apology for what he’d done concerning Cree. It appeared he was mistaken about what he needed to apologize for.

“Just… just wait a minute.” Nisha grunted as Kannon kicked his tail. “Ow. That hurts, Kannon.”

“Really? Here’s a thought… letgo!”

This was going so horribly, horribly wrong. Now he had Kannon struggling in his arms. It appeared he was wrong about several things. Humans. Would heeverunderstand them? Obviously he should’ve apologized for starting the mating process with Kannon. Unfortunately that was not something he could bring himself to apologize for.

“Please, Kannon.” He gulped. Kannon was really mad. “Please.”

So focused on Kannon fighting, they both almost went under the water when his mate suddenly stilled. Was Kannon okay? Had he somehow inadvertently hurt him?

“Kannon?” They were quite a distance from the beach, so he stopped swimming and treaded water with his tail to keep them afloat.

Kannon turned his head but didn’t make eye contact. “That’s the first time you’ve ever said please to me.”

Hearing the hopelessness and confusion in Kannon’s voice, Nisha turned Kannon to him. “I’m sorry for that. I am… I am sorry for so many things, my mate. The list is long and seems to be growing with every passing minute.”

Kannon stared at him then his lips twitched, and a small smile crossed his face. “But at least you’ve gotten started on it.”

His mate should only know happiness. He couldn’t change what he’d done fifteen years ago. That was in the past. He wasn’t sure he would’ve changed anything now either. With Cree showing up and threatening Kannon, he’d had to do something to protect his mate.

Claiming him would provide that protection. He was also willing to bet Kannon wouldn’t see it that way. If he was honest with himself, he had to admit he wanted this. Wanted to claim Kannon. He wanted his mate.

“Oh, Kannon. I’ve gone about this entirely wrong. Please understand, I regret scaring you to the point you wouldn’t go near the water for so long. I regret that your introduction to my people happened in such a frightful way. And I regret our mating hasn’t gone as smoothly as I could’ve wished.”

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