Maris nodded. “So that we can grip better in wet environments.” He pressed one nail deep into the concrete with almost no effort and no effect on his finger, but there was a deep line furrowed in its wake as he dragged it back toward him. “We’re amphibious. But we’re much stronger in the water than on land. It’s what makes my people such lethal assassins. If we can get our target in the water, we own them and nothing can stop us.”
That was terrifying to think about. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Maris looked away. “We’re not supposed to let anyone outside of our own know. Ever. On Phrixus, I’d be killed for this.”
Ture gaped at him. “You’d have let me die?”
He flashed a wicked grin. “On Phrixus...yes.”
Laughing at something he knew Maris wouldn’t really do, Ture shook his head. His gaze fell to Maris’s well-sculpted wet body. While he’d suspected how finely toned it was, he’d never seen it before. Not even a glimpse. For all his flamboyance, Mari always kept himself completely covered from neck to feet and all the way to his wrists.
Now Ture knew why. Maris’s back was a nasty roadmap of scars. Scars that ran down his arms and over his chest. Without thinking, Ture reached down to touch one that had barely missed Maris’s heart. “What happened?”
“I was a soldier with a lot of battle experience.” Maris covered Ture’s hand with his. “That one is a present from my older brother once he found out I was gay and tried to kill me for the dishonor I’d done to my family.”
Ture winced at words that cut through his own heart and reminded him how badly his own parents had reacted. Though to be honest, none had tried to kill him for it. “I’m sorry.”
Maris shrugged as he released Ture’s hand. “It is what it is. If everyone was decent, how could we legitimately fight each other? Assholes keep us sharp.”
A sad smile curved his lips as he watched the ease with which Maris treaded water. “You seem to be enjoying that pool.”
“I told you, we’re amphibious, and are born underwater. It’s our most natural environment. We don’t really walk land until we’re almost in school.”
“Really? And here I thought you avoided the water because you couldn’t swim.”
Maris laughed. “Hardly. I didn’t venture onto land until I was five.”
“Do you remember it?”
A dark shadow fell across his eyes, letting Ture know it was a painful memory. “I do.” Shaking it off, Maris held his hand out to Ture. “Want to join me?”
Ture’s gaze dropped to the dark pants Maris was still wearing. “You’re going to swim half dressed?”
“We don’t swim naked at home. It tends to be frowned upon. Phrixians are lethal, yet civilized. Of course, our clothes are water resistant, but I’m used to this, too. It doesn’t bother me in the least.”
Ture returned to the pool.
Amazed, he studied Maris as he headed straight to the bottom to swim for several minutes. He was fascinating to watch. Mari twisted and turned in ways Ture wouldn’t have thought anyone with a spine could manage. But what was really shocking was how much speed he had. He could shoot from one end of the enormous pool to the other so fast that Ture could barely follow it with his eyes.
Maris was truly a thing of beauty. And full of pleasant surprises that intrigued him a lot more than they should.
Don’t go there.
He knew better than to get involved with the friend of a friend. It never worked out. Ever. And still he couldn’t keep from seeing Maris as the most desirable thing on two legs. Something helped by the fact that Maris seemed to feel the same way about him. Yet Maris kept his distance.
Another thing that was sexy as hell. He had integrity where most people didn’t.
Maris shot up in the water, a few feet from him with a smile on his face that made Ture really glad he was in the water. Otherwise, Maris would know exactly how lickable he found him.
“It feels so good,” Maris breathed. “You’ve no idea how hard it’s been watching over your therapy while dying to jump in. Water is like the air we breathe.” He sank down so that all Ture could see was that incredible set of eyes.
“I can tell. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this animated.”
Maris sobered instantly.
Ture frowned at his reaction. “Did I hit a nerve?”
Maris raked his hands through his wet hair. Damn...he had the most perfect features of any man Ture had ever seen.
“Ghosts. Sorry. I try to keep them hidden, but sometimes they pop out at the worst times.”
Ture swam closer to him. “Yeah, I know all about those.”
Maris swallowed as Ture touched his shoulder in sympathy. The heat of his hand combined with the look on Ture’s face held him immobile. He knew he should pull back. Yet he couldn’t get his body to cooperate.
Not when all he really wanted to do was swim closer.