Page 26 of Wolf Fated
"Not just that." He shook his head with a smirk. "Winner gets to give the other a full body massage."
My entire body melted at his words, but I strode to my fishing pole on legs full of jelly and cast my line.
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My arms shook as I held the pole, the only thing keeping it from sailing out into the ocean with the swordfish I'd snared was the metal clamp attached to the ship. Sweat coated my body as I yanked and wound the reel as hard and fast as I could.
"Come on, Brook," Axel encouraged me. "You can't let your fish get away."
Was he speaking of the actual fish or Stephen or something else? I didn't know, but I had to concentrate on the actual one I was reeling in. My hands were shaking, and the tip of the rod was bending down like it was going to break.
"I need some help," I said, my body skidding forward across the deck.
Axel didn't even reprimand me or question, he merely got behind me, his muscled arms reaching around me. My back pressed into his chest as he gripped the fishing pole with me.
I spun the reel faster, bringing the fish in closer, but it seemed like the fishing wire was a thousand feet long.
Finally, we dragged the swordfish up to the boat. One of the boat workers grabbed a net and hauled it up. Its tail thrashed back and forth.
"Let me get a picture." I patted my pockets for my cell. "Before we cut her loose."
"What?" the boat worker shook his head. "This is a thirty-footer... no you want this baby on your wall."
I crinkled my nose and dug my cell out of my pocket. "No, I don't kill animals unnecessarily. A photo is fine and then we cut her free."
He rolled his eyes and I expected Axel to mock me too, like Stephen would have. I bit my lip, my stomach doing a flip like I was going to get sick again. I shouldn't be thinking of my fiancé that way. No doubt Stephen would have insisted on keeping the fish and having it mounted. And then later claim that he caught it.
"I'll take the picture," Axel said. "This is your catch."
"No, no, you helped." I blushed, remembering his arms around me and the feel of his muscled chest against my back.
"I'll take the photo," the man grumbled. "You two get into the picture."
Axel took the swordfish out of the net and held it steady. "Which part do you want to hold for the picture?"
"Um... the head?"
He nodded. "Hold it right here and watch out for its sword tip."
Patiently, Axel waited while he showed me where to place my hands on the fish so that I wouldn't drop it or injure myself while he rushed over beside me and held the end.
"Smile," the boat worker said and pushed the camera button on my phone before handing it back to me.
"Thank you." I pocketed my cell. "Ready to go back home?" I asked the swordfish who thrashed against me. "Whoa, whoa, okay."
Axel helped me throw my prize back into the water. It landed with a splash and darted away from the boat. I turned, expecting to see reservation in Axel's amber eyes, instead, there was wonder and something else I couldn't decipher.
"Did you have fun?" Axel asked.
"A blast. Thank you."
He tilted his hat, his chestnut hair poked out beneath the brim. "My pleasure. How's your seasickness?"
"Good, practically gone."
"Ready for more fishing? I still have to catch something that's been eluding me."
"Sure." I pushed aside the nagging feeling that he was talking about something other than a fish and set another bait on my hook. "Though I'm one point ahead of you already."
