Page 11 of Swimming With the Sharks
“Bullshit!You’ve done nothing to deservethe way these people treat you, and it’s not only disgusting, butcompletely uncalled for.I bet if they were attacked, these peoplewouldn’t be walking away from you and warning their children theboogeyman is coming, so much as running towards you begging you tosave their children.”Foster snapped loud enough bring attention tothem.
Jabari took Foster’s face in his hands,softly saying, “Let it go, my mate.Do not allow them to disruptour glorious day.I don’t care what any of them think of me.I onlycare about whatyouthink of me.”
Foster wanted to argue, but seeing theimploring look from his mate, his anger deflated.“It’s just notfair, Jabari.You’re a good man.You’re sweet, kind and caring.You’re funny, loving, honest, loyal, and so many more adjectivesthan I can come up with.You and your family have done so much forthese people and it just isn’t right.”Sighing heavily, Fosterwhispered, “But for you I’ll let it go.”
Jabari lightly kissed Foster, softly saying,“Thank you.Now are you tired and ready to go home, or would youlike to see what the walls beyond Atlantis have to show you?”
Foster thought a moment and was surprisedthat he wasn’t tired.If anything he was energized.“I would loveto see whatever you wish to show me.But how can we do that?It’snot like I can breathe underwater.”
Smiling, Jabari replied, “Not true.You areunder the magic of Atlantis, my mate.Trust me, you will breathejust fine.”
Knowing that he could trust Jabari, Foster smiledand nodded.“Then let’s go explore your world.”
* * * *
“What’s that?”Foster asked as he looked at alarge archway that kind of reminded him of something you might seein Greek architecture.
“That is the entry both in and out of Atlantis.It is the magic of my home, I guess you could say, and as you cansee it is guarded well here as well on the other side.It is theonly way in and out of Atlantis.”Jabari explained.
Foster’s eyes widened, “Are you serious?”
Nodding, Jabari stated, “I am very serious.Poseidon wanted his lady love and her people as protected as hecould make them, and a single entrance was the way to go.It gaveus one location to focus on and it also made it extremely difficultfor outsiders to discover us, even by accident.”
Watching the ten men standing on either side ofthe arch as well as one directly in front of it was a bitintimidating.They were all huge and—minus the red uniform—kind ofreminded Foster of the Queen’s Guards of England.“Are these yourmen?”
“Yes.Many of the men that guard Atlantis havebeen doing so for a millennium or more.”Jabari stated withpride.
“A thousand years?That’s insane!Wow.”Fostergasped, then looked at Jabari.“Should I even ask how old youare?”
Jabari laughed.“Let’s just say I hope you’reinto older men.”
Foster smiled, “Since I never had any experiencewith men, young or old, I can’t say, but as old as you are, I havea feeling you will be a great teacher in the art oflovemaking.”
The heat in Jabari’s gaze left no doubt as towhat Jabari was thinking about.He gently ran his thumb downFoster’s right cheek, asking, “Will I be your first, my mate?Isthat what you’re saying?Because I have to tell you, knowing I willbe the only man to ever know the sounds you make in the thrall ofpleasure, and the look on your beautiful face when you come in myarms, is making me yearn for that time even more now than before...and trust me, I have wanted nothing more than to have you in everyway since the moment I found you.”
A whimpering sound almost startled Foster untilhe realized the sound was coming from him.How the hell was Fostersupposed to ignore that look and deep gravelly tone of his mate?They were supposed to be getting to know each other.That was whatFoster had insisted on.Now he was questioning that decision.Allhe wanted to do was grab a hold of this man and beg him to take himnow.
Before Foster could say anything, Jabari tuggedat Foster’s hand, “Come my mate.Let me show you beauties of whichyou have never seen.”
Foster did as Jabari said and walked towards thearches.He just hoped that none of the guards could see his raginghard-on right now.It would have been really embarrassing.However,if they did they had given no indication to him, and for thatFoster was grateful.
“Like I already told you, the arch is greatmagic.Anyone that steps from this side to the other will be giventhe ability to breathe under water just as when we return, the archwill transform you so that you can once again breathe withinAtlantis.”Jabari explained.
“What about the water temperature?Won’t it becold?”Foster asked.
Shaking his head, Jabari replied, “The arch willtake care of all of that, my mate.Are you ready?”
Foster was nervous.What if the arch only workedfor the Atlanteans?Foster wasn’t one of them, he was human.Thenhe shook off his reservations.Jabari wouldn’t lead him to hisdoom.If anything, Jabari would never have even suggested this ifhe felt harm would come to Foster.He didn’t know why he had suchfaith in Jabari, but he did, and that was why he stepped up to thearch and nodded.“I’m ready.”
The guard in front of the arch didn’t evenacknowledge that they stood there.Jabari gave the man a sharp nod,and without blinking or speaking, the man stepped to the side.
Jabari stood Foster in front of him with hishands on his mate’s shoulders.“Just walk through and all will bewell.”
Foster’s eyes widened when he looked at thedarkness in front of him.Tentatively, Foster lifted his hand, thenpushed it through to the other side, gasping as a wetnessencompassed his hand.He pulled back and was shocked to see it wascompletely dry.“This is amazing.”Foster whispered in awe.
Jabari leaned in and kissed behind Foster’sneck, whispering, “If you think this is amazing wait until you seewhat is behind the gates.
Taking in a deep breath, Foster let it outslowly, then without anymore hesitation, closed his eyes andstepped through the arch.