I was semi-conscious enough to feel the rough sand as I was dragged from the water.
“What happened out there, Raror? What’s wrong with Abby?” Talina’s cool hands, though warmer than her brother’s, help to position me on the beach.
“So I’m guessing you’re going to be a little low on energy for a while again, Abbs,” Lucy said as she moved to cradle my head on her lap.
I could sense her worry as she stroked my hair, which felt like it weighed a thousand tons. My lashes flickered, but my lids wouldn’t obey my command to open.
“Urghhh.” I managed a slight moan.
A shadow fell over me. The weak light behind my eyelids disappeared.
“Did he make it back to shore?”
The voice sounded like Lucas’. But it was hard to tell since it was minus his usual flirty arrogance. Maybe getting attacked by a huge sea-monster had given his over-confidence a much needed deflating. He had to be asking about Brace, and just hearing his worry gave me a shot of panic and adrenalin. I had no problem forcing my eyes open then.
“Brace?” I said out loud, not caring what Lucas might think.
From my current position I could only see Lucy. She wasn’t even looking at me, but was staring over her shoulder toward the water. I began to struggle, like a turtle that was on its back and couldn’t get the right way up again. Another shadow fell across my face.
“Sorry, Red, you’re going to have to find another way to get rid of me.” The sound of his beautiful accent sent a wave of relief through me.
He moved around me to stand with a leg on either side of my hips. It was hard to tell against the sun-glare behind him, but I was pretty sure he was scowling.
Big surprise.
Able to finally move my head, I drank in the sight before me. In that moment I was consumed by a single thought, one I’d never tell him: Brace was the closest thing to perfection I’d ever seen. Soaking wet, his dark hair slicked back off the perfect planes of his face, black fitted shirt plastered to muscles. Muscles which I guessed were honed from hard work, not enhancing drugs. He was like a god rising from the sea. I forced my right arm to move, lifting my hand to check if I’d started to drool. It was hard to tell with the sea water still dripping from me.
“So, I’m pretty sure that someone has a little problem with obeying a direct command.” Brace’s eyes flashed; they almost looked black.
I narrowed my own eyes.
Oh, no, the hell he didn’t. Direct command?
Someone was about to learn I wasn’t one of his soldiers.
Without thought, my leg flew through the air in an attempt to crack Brace right in his jewels. But as usual the smug ass anticipated my move and now had a hold of my calf muscle, keeping my leg suspended in the air. Luckily he didn’t lift it too high. I was pretty sure my ribs would pop right out of my chest if they received more abuse.
“You’re going to have to move quicker than that, Abigail.” His eyes promised me to-be-determined punishment.
Bring it on.
My entire body tightened at the thought of our battle.
I couldn’t help the images that flooded my mind. I might have only had one kiss in my life, but my imagination needed no help.
Brace let me go before bending from his lofty heights to haul me over his shoulder. I groaned as my ribs protested. But I was surprised that they didn’t feel quite as bruised as before.
“Thanks for the assistance out there, Red. But it would save my nerves and sanity if you could stop risking yourself. I had it under control.” He patted me lightly on the butt.
I kicked out at him again.
Groaning, he wrapped an arm around me, limiting my movements.
I twisted until my face was close to his. “Why do you care, Brace? What have you dreamed about us? And why did you kiss me?”
The questions spilled from me. They’d been burning a hole in my mind for days.
He looked sideways at me. “Because you are mine.” The statement was short and it just about stopped my heart.
I shook my head, dispelling some of the water in my heavy hair. Had I heard that correctly? I twisted around, attempting to see more of his expression.
“You’re mine to protect, Abigail, and I will not let anyone or anything hurt you again.”
I ignored my surge of disappointment; I should have realized this was just a duty to him.
“I’m no one’s to protect. I look after myself,” I said.
I felt, more than heard, his second deep groan.
“That’s where you’re wrong, Red.” Now I could barely hear him. He’d turned away to speak into the breeze. “You are mine.”
He ignored any further attempts at conversation. I turned my attention back to Lucy and Talina, who were following behind us.
“Did I kill it?” I asked.
Talina shook her head. “There was a lot of blood in the water. You definitely hurt it, but it took off, faster than any of us could follow.”
Her worried tone said much more than her statement.
Sighing, I closed my eyes, and pretty soon the rhythmic movement of walking, and that intoxicating scent that was all Brace, had me drifting in a half-sleep state.