Backstroking With a Tiger Shark

by Charlie Richards

  Gaping for an instant, Kane felt his eyes widen, too. “Wow. You’re straightforward,” he commented. “I don’t... I mean, uh—” He snapped his mouth shut until Tort stopped outside the open door of a bathroom. “Are you looking for a romp because you think I’m not from around here? Do you proposition a lot of guests?”

  Tort brought their twined fingers to his chest, his expression growing serious. “I’ve never blatantly come on to a guest, Kane.” His eyes darkened to a stormy gray as he lifted his free hand to cup Kane’s jaw. Lowering his head until their faces were only about six inches or so apart, he rumbled, “And while I certainly wouldn’t be averse to a romp with you, I’m looking for more. Will you let me take you on a date... to prove it to you?”

  Kane’s brain stalled. His focus was instead snagged by the intensity in the huge male’s expression. He opened and closed his mouth once, then again.

  Finally, Kane managed to whisper, “A date would be good, but, uh—” He paused and swallowed hard, actually a little disappointed to have to share his next words. “I’m only in town for a few days. I live over five hundred miles south in San Diego.”

  Tort sucked in a harsh breath, his eyes widening. An instant later, he cleared his expression. His lips curved into a wry smile.

  “Nothing good is ever easy,” Tort whispered roughly.

  Lowering his head, Tort settled his lips over Kane’s. He pressed lightly at first, a soft, gentle licking along Kane’s bottom lip. When Tort suckled his lower lip, Kane gasped in surprise at the tingling sensation it caused.

  Tort slid his hand around from Kane’s jaw to the back of his head, burying his hand in his hair and gripping it lightly. He used the hold to tilt Kane’s head as he thrust his tongue into his mouth.

  Kane found himself with a mouthful of warm, wet, probing appendage. Tort took complete control, massaging gently and mapping out his teeth and gums. The other man was soon plundering Kane’s mouth, teasing and probing, stealing his breath away.

  On instinct, Kane lifted his hands to Tort’s shoulders. He went with the movement, opening wider when the other man pressed his thumb into the corner of his mouth. Kane even found himself moaning softly as he clutched at Tort.

  With his body responding faster than Kane had ever experienced, a shudder rocked him. He hips bucked a little, his suddenly aching erection searching for friction. Even his balls began to roll and tighten.

  When Tort settled his free hand on Kane’s waist, the cold fabric of his shirt registered. He flinched, breaking the kiss. Panting harshly, he grimaced even as he felt his cheeks heat in a blush.

  Tort didn’t appear to mind the feel of the damp fabric. Instead, his eyes twinkled, and he licked his lips. “Damn, babe. You sure can kiss.” He gently massaged Kane’s scalp. “Wow.” Lowering his head again, Tort pressed a soft, lingering kiss to his lips. “Your lips are damn addictive, babe. Love feeling them against my own.”

  Kane stared up at Tort’s feral, heated smile, and his heart thudded in his chest. Never before had he felt as if he would vibrate right out of his body if he didn’t get closer to a man. The sensation threw Kane, and he wasn’t certain if he wanted to give in to the desire or run in the other direction.

  Evidently, Tort must have read his confusion, his indecision, on his face. The huge male smiled and took a step backward as he released his grip on Kane. Gently, he traced the forefingers of his right hand across his jaw as he released him.

  “You head into the bathroom and strip down.” Tort’s voice came out a soft, soothing rumble. “The towel hanging on the rack is clean, plus there’s another one under the sink.” He pointed. “You might want to consider getting into the shower for a few minutes to get warm. I know it’s eighty-plus degrees outside, but the water in the shark tank was much colder, and you lost blood, which will cool your body temperature even more.”

  Tort’s expression turned earnest. “Go warm up, babe.”

  Taking the opening to split, Kane nodded, turned, and headed into the bathroom. He closed the door behind him, then sagged against the piece of wood. Closing his eyes, he tipped his head back and struggled to catch his breath.

  Kane swallowed hard, willing his pounding heart to slow. It took several minutes, but he finally managed to get his breathing under control. He couldn’t say the same for his throbbing shaft.

  What the hell is wrong with me? Why am I reacting like this?

  Never had Kane felt such a visceral, immediate, undeniable attraction to a man.

  Shaking his head at himself, Kane knew he didn’t understand it. He’d had a number of boyfriends—or significant others, as he preferred—so had experienced attraction often enough. The overwhelming desire he felt toward Tort, however, that was something totally new.

  What is it about Tort?

  Kane had no idea. In truth, it scared him enough to think about running the other way. Still, then he’d always wonder what if.

  What ifs suck.

  The problem was, he didn’t really know how anything between himself and Tort could be more than a vacation fling.

  * * * *

  Tort knew when to back off.

  Realizing Kane was overwhelmed, even though it was damn tough, Tort gave him space. He jogged next door to Cuzco’s and let himself into his buddy’s apartment. After typing off a text message to the coconut octopus shifter letting him know he was borrowing a pair of jeans and a shirt, Tort grabbed the needed items and returned to his house.

  While Tort would have loved to have dressed Kane in his own clothes, he couldn’t think of a damn thing he owned that would fit. Other than sweatpants, anyway, and his mate didn’t strike Tort as a guy who’d be willing to spend the day wandering around a public park in a pair of sweats and a t-shirt.

  Maybe I can get him in my clothes after our date... after seeing him in nothing at all.

  Tort smiled at his thoughts. Pausing outside the bathroom door, he listened. He didn’t hear water running, so he knocked gently.

  “Kane?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I have the clothes for you.” Tort hesitated an instant, then realized something. “I forgot to ask your shoe size.”

  The lock on the bathroom door clicked, then it opened a little.

  Tort nearly swallowed his tongue at the sight of Kane wearing only a towel around his naked waist. His hair was damp, and he smelled of the body wash Tort kept in that bathroom. He swallowed hard, his hands clenching around the clothes he held so he wouldn’t reach for his sexy mate.

  Kane’s body was lean and lightly toned. His skin appeared pale, as if he didn’t spend enough hours in the sun. He also sported what could be the start of a mild sunburn on his face and neck.

  I bet rubbing aloe on Kane’s body would be a great way to start a massage.

  Banishing those thoughts, Tort held out the clothes. “Here’s jeans and a shirt. They should fit you well enough.” He glanced at Kane’s bare feet and couldn’t resist licking his lips. Even his mate’s slender feet were sexy. Clearing his throat, he yanked his gaze back to Kane’s face. “Shoes?”

  Kane reached out and took the clothes. “Thanks for these,” he muttered, appearing almost shy. “These aren’t yours, are they?” His lips curved into an amused smile, easing some of the tension lines around his eyes. “No way I’d fit in your clothes.”

  “These are my buddy, Cuzco’s,” Tort revealed. Then unable to resist, he added, “And I think you’ll fit against me just fine while I’m fitting in you.”

  His cheeks darkening even further, Kane lowered his gaze to the clothes he held. He sucked in a quick gasp, then peered at Tort through his lashes. “What makes you think I’m going to be on the bottom?”

  Tort growled softly as arousal thrummed through his body. “Because you’ll be begging for my cock,” he told him roughly. Reaching out, he grabbed the back of Kane’s head, took a step forward, and sealed his mouth over his mate’s in a swift, hard kiss. Tort knew he cou
ldn’t get carried away, so released him just as quickly and stepped backward. “Not today though.” His voice came out gruff, betraying his desire, but he couldn’t do a damn thing about it. “Get dressed, and we’ll catch up with your family.”

  Kane licked his lips, his expression a little dazed. Still, he nodded. “Don’t worry about the shoes,” he murmured. “I can wear the wet ones. It’ll be fine.”

  Tort wanted to counter, but he resisted. He nodded instead as he grabbed the doorknob. After offering Kane another heated smile, he closed the door between them.

  Blowing out a breath between pursed lips, Tort headed down the short hall to the dining room. He adjusted his prick in his borrowed shorts before settling on a chair. Dialing a number, he called Kaiser.

  While the shifters that made up the staff at World of Aquatica only loosely considered themselves a pod—or group—Kaiser and William would undoubtedly be considered their leaders, or alpha and beta respectively. The pair were actively involved in every aspect of the business, which impacted every shifter working and living there. If a human learned of their kind through one of their actions, then the brothers needed to know.

  Tort also needed permission to take Kane to their private beach. It was a sensitive area, since at low tide, the top of the cave leading into their underwater tunnel system could be seen. Plus, the area was blanketed with some kind of magnetic cloaking technical shit that Tort didn’t understand, but he knew it was safe for shifters to swim in the area and not run the risk of being picked up on sonar.

  Some of the shifters working at the park shared their body with a marine animal humans thought to be extinct—like Rawlins, who shifted into a nearly five-foot ammonite with a vibrant blue, green, and yellow shell. Another who had to be damn careful was Tyrone, since his animal was a massive, thirty-five-foot Steller’s sea cow. Both animals were thought to be extinct by humans, and the Roush brothers intended to keep it that way.

  On top of that, if Tort didn’t have permission to share shifters with Kane, it’d be a little hard to explain why sea lions, giant turtles, and sharks were playing together.

  “Tortelion, how is it going?”

  Glancing toward the hall, Tort lowered his voice and told Kaiser, “Fine. Kane is dressing. I’d like to know if you have time this evening to discuss certain things.”

  “Of course,” Kaiser replied, warmth in his voice. “William and I will see you at eight-thirty this evening.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “And, Tort, congratulations.”

  Watching Kane join him in the dining room, Tort couldn’t help but grin. “Thank you, again, sir. I’ll see you this evening.”

  Kaiser disconnected without bothering to say good-bye, so Tort rose from the table and clipped his phone back to his belt. “You look good.” The words tumbled out of his mouth before he could stop them. Seeing the light blush fill Kane’s cheeks, Tort wondered just how often his human received praise.

  Gonna fix that.

  “You ready?”

  Kane nodded. “Yeah. Thanks for this,” he said, glancing down at his clothes. “Walking around in wet clothes would have sucked, and no way could we leave early on Kent’s birthday.”

  Chuckling, Tort rested his hand on Kane’s lower back and guided him toward the apartment’s front. “Well, let’s make it even more memorable for him.”

  For the rest of the day, Tort did his best to do just that, sharing interesting tidbits about the exhibit’s unique marine animals. He made it his mission to make not only Kent laugh, but also Marie. The near constant grin on his mate’s face was an added benefit as well.

  At closing time, watching Kane drive away with his family was damn tough. Only the knowledge that he would see him the following day kept him from coercing the man into spending the evening with him.

  I’ll see Kane tomorrow.

  Chapter Four

  “Tort sure seems nice,” Clarice commented, leaning on the bathroom door frame as she watched Kane get ready for his date with Tort. “Likes you an awful lot, too.”

  Kane stared into the bathroom mirror as he carefully gelled his short blond hair into a slightly spiky do. “Yeah,” he responded absently. “Guy as hot as him, makes me wonder.”

  Clarice blew a raspberry, which got Kane to look her way. “Whatever. You’re a catch,” she claimed, scowling at him. “You shouldn’t listen to that asshole Ryan. He’s an asshole.”

  Snickering, Kane leaned his hip against the counter as he grabbed a towel and wiped his hands on it. “You called him an asshole twice.”

  “Well, duh,” Clarice responded, rolling her eyes. “He totally was. What you saw in Ryan is completely beyond me.”

  Remembering Ryan’s big dick and exceptional ability to use it, Kane felt his cheeks heat. “Yeah, well.” He cleared his throat, pushing the thought away. “I don’t see where this is going to work, either. I live in San Diego, remember? And Tort works and lives at World of Aquatica.”

  “You could always move up here,” Clarice pointed out, smiling sweetly. “The kids would love to see you more often.”

  In truth, Kane would love to live closer to his sister. Clarice had moved north of Sacramento with her husband two years before. When she’d left his sorry, lying, cheating ass, Clarice hadn’t had the money to move.

  Kane had offered to pay, but as it had turned out, Clarice had a great support system for her and the kids where they were at. She’d had several friends willing to rotate watching the kids. Clarice had also been offered a job by an acquaintance of a friend. Within a year, Clarice had been given a raise and had affordable health insurance.

  It was Kane’s own job that had become tiresome.

  Well, not the job. Just the people.

  Pushing that thought from his mind, Kane glanced toward the clock on the nightstand. He wondered if Tort was a punctual guy. After dabbing on a bit of cologne, he headed past his sister to the closet to find his shoes.

  “So, where is Tort taking you?” Clarice asked, settling on the bed to watch him. “Is he a traditional dinner and a movie kind of guy? Or is he more imaginative than that?”

  “A picnic on a private beach,” Kane told her. Even thinking about being alone in such a romantic setting had nerves skittering through his body. “Back near his work.”

  “Oooo, nice,” Clarice crooned, waggling her brows at him. She sobered suddenly. “Did you know the stretch of beach that runs from Aquatica north for twenty plus miles is all privately owned? No public access.”

  Kane shoved his hands into his pockets. “Isn’t it all cliffs along most of there anyway?”

  “Yeah, but still.” Clarice shrugged. “Someone has a crapton of money.”

  “Probably that huge guy who owns the park. Kaiser,” Kane guessed. He winked, adding, “I saw the way you were eyeing him.”

  “Ha,” Clarice responded, snorting. “Sure I was eyeing him. Kaiser was intense. Like, kinda scary intense.”

  Kane opened his mouth to agree, but the sound of the doorbell ringing caught his attention. Sucking in a deep breath, he let it out slowly, hoping to calm his nerves. Clarice patted him on the shoulder as she bounced from the room, heading toward the front door.

  Shoving his wallet into his back pocket, Kane shook his head. His sister was way too excited about him going on this date. He figured it was probably because she thought Tort might give him added incentive to move.

  While Kane hadn’t told his sister, he had been toying with the idea. Only the opening of a possible promotion had kept him from saying anything. He didn’t want her to get her hopes up or hear her false encouragement about the job. Plus, if he didn’t get the position, Kane knew she’d feel guilty for being happy about it.

  Maybe I should just pull my name and move here. Surely there’s good technology positions here. I could even start my own company. Not like I need a lot of money.

  Kane dismissed those thoughts in favor of heading toward the front d
oor. He heard Tort greeting his sister as well as Kent. Most likely, Marie was still in her room, not interested in the goings-on of the adults.

  Pre-teens.

  Kane gave a mental shudder.

  Hearing Tort offer something to Kent banished any thought Kane had of Marie’s age. He rounded the corner and paused, taking in the scene. Sweeping his gaze over Tort’s huge, kneeling figure, seeing him show Kent how to use the remote control shark he’d brought, Kane had to smile.

  Kent immediately made the shark trundle toward Kane. The mechanical toy’s jaw opened and closed as it moved, the tail swishing back and forth. When it reached Kane’s foot, it gnawed impotently at his shoe.

  Laughing, Kane grinned at Kent as he moved his foot, stepping over the toy. “Cool, Kent.” He just resisted the urge to ask the youngster if he’d thanked Tort. Instead, Kane focused on the big man who was smiling up at him. “That was nice of you.”

  Tort slowly rose, a wide grin spreading across his lips. “Well, gotta impress the family of my date, right? Especially with our chemistry.” He winked at Kane then glanced at Clarice. “That way us being together will be supported by them.”

  Clarice’s expression turned sly. “Well, no amount of toys can buy our loyalty, so you better be good to Kane.”

  Tort chuckled softly, his focus returning to Kane. “Oh, I intend to be very good to him.” While Kane felt his neck flush, Tort turned his attention back to Clarice and held out something wrapped in tissue paper. “I noticed Marie admiring this yesterday. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “The blown glass fish?” Clarice asked, obviously knowing exactly what Marie had wanted but hadn’t asked for.

  “Yeah.”

  Clarice smiled and took the item even as she shook her head. “Wow. You are observant. I’m impressed.”

  So was Kane.

  When was the last time he’d dated a guy who actually paid attention to what he said, let alone to what his family was only looking at?