Sanctuary's Aggression (Book 4): The Trial

by Dawn, Maira

  Above her, the water still swirled, and pieces of wood and debris floated on its surface. Sonora looked to her left and saw the ocean, and then to her right and saw him. She jerked back and tried to swim away. He tightened his grasp on her arm, and Sonora realized he was the reason she hadn’t floated to the top.

  This was the person following her for days now. It had to be him. What do you say to the creeper who saved your life?

  He pointed to Sonora and made an okay sign, then nodded his head yes.

  Sonora looked at him for a moment. Well, she'd almost drowned, thought she died and woke up with the strange man who has probably been stalking her for who knows how long. But yes, she guessed she was okay. Sonora returned his nod.

  The man just looked at her, as if waiting for something. If he’d thought she would throw herself into his arms, he had another thing coming.

  Sonora glanced down. Wait a minute! She reached up and touched her mask, then slowly raised her eyes to his face. She put a hand to her head as comprehension burst through her. This man wore no regulator. No, that couldn't be, she must be delirious from the lack of oxygen.

  Sonora's eyes drifted from his handsome face to his bare muscular chest. It was still, so very still. Was he breathing at all? How could he be breathing underwater and yet how could he not be?

  Sonora tapped her regulator again. Perhaps the scene was wrong. Maybe she was not underwater at all but instead laying on the sunny beach in some kind of unsettled mental state. But the regulator was solid to the touch, and she could hear the rush of air as her breath quickened.

  Sonora stared at him, examining him from head to toe. He was huge, at least six and a half feet, if not more. His black hair would have been shoulder length but for the currents that lifted it. His darkly tanned skin looked so healthy, it was almost luminescent. A shimmering tattoo ran up over his powerful bicep and turned to disappear over the back of his shoulder, emphasizing his muscular physique. The symbols were of some kind of lettering Sonora had never seen before. The swimwear on his lower half skimmed his body, and a thin, though Sonora suspected heavy, copper-colored belt circled his waist.

  Sonora slowly brought her eyes back up to his. His grey eyes captured and held hers. One corner of his mouth raised in a little smirk, as if he was used to the appreciation he'd seen in her gaze.

  And he probably was. He was the most amazing specimen of a man she had ever seen. But Sonora had other things on her mind. During her entire inspection, his chest still had not moved even once. Her eyes grew rounder, and she tensed. What was happening? She couldn't wrap her head around any of it.

  The man's grin turned to wariness as if he sensed her unease. Tentatively, Sonora reached toward him. When the man gave her a slight nod, Sonora laid a trembling hand on his chest. He was solid.

  Sonora slowly pulled the arm he still held through his callused hand until she could grasp his thick wrist. There was no denying he floated here in front of her.

  Rather than soothe Sonora, the knowledge alarmed her. Because how could this incredible, not-breathing man be real?

  Seabound: The Beginning Chapter 7

  You Are Okay

  Sonora's mind flew through the options. Extreme watersports of some kind? But wouldn't she have heard of that? A scientist studying… studying something? Not a merman, she didn't even want to go there. Besides, mermen would have tails, and he had legs. But that was it. It was all she had. This was just too weird. Well, thank you very much, whoever he was. She must be getting home now.

  Sonora tried to tug her arm out of his grip, but the man didn't let go. She started to swim away. He still hung onto her, and she just boomeranged right back to him. A hard pit started in Sonora's stomach. The more he held onto her, the more she wanted away.

  She pointed at the hand wrapped around her arm and waved her other hand. Maybe he would understand that. The man stared at her for a minute, and slowly, it seemed almost regretfully shook his head.

  Sonora set her jaw, pointed again at her arm, and pushed the middle of his chest. He shook his head again. Sonora's heart sped up. What did he think was happening here? She needed away from him now.

  Thinking nothing through, Sonora raised her feet and pushed against his body as hard as she could, twisting and turning. Maybe now he would understand she was serious. Bubbles flew from her regulator. Her hair swirled around her face. The man's eyebrows snapped together, and he once again denied her freedom.

  Anger and panic flooded Sonora, and she struggled harder. This time kicking at him and striking at him the best she could, but the water made her efforts no stronger than that of a small child.

  The man’s scowl deepened. He made one small tug on her arm. Sonora's legs fell, and her body turned. Her back was to him now. He used one arm to bring her close to him. With the other, he repeatedly made the "You" and "Okay" signs.

  SoSo, he wasn't asking, he was telling her. Well, she wasn't OKokay. She was alone underwater with a non-breathing creeper. That is what he was, a creeper! And she didn't even know how long he'd been spying on her.

  Sonora continued to pummel the man in whatever way she could. She tried to gouge at his eyes, but his height made that problematic. The most she accomplished was raking her nails down his face. Sonora kicked at him, trying to stun him with a strike to the groin.

  Against Sonora's back, the man's chest expanded. "Stop," he roared.

  Sonora froze, the hair on her neck lifting. Had she heard that or felt it? Her body had vibrated with his voice. The sound had seemed all around and through her at the same time.

  Air bubbles rushed out of Sonora's regulator, reflecting her fast and uneven breathing. The man signed "You OK" one more time. After whatever that was, she would not argue. Sonora nodded. But she didn't believe it, not for a minute.

  The man held her still for a moment, testing her. Then released her enough to move them, not toward Sonora's beloved cove, but to the dark part of the ocean. She couldn't just meekly go along with him! Again, Sonora started to battle, but the man wrapped his iron arms around her until she gave up.

  Every drop of energy spent; Sonora had no choice but to allow him to drag her through the water. At least the man was not rough with her despite what she’d been trying to do to him. Even now, he held her limp body with enough force to move her along, but not hard enough to hurt.

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