Page 7 of Swimming With the Sharks

“I discovered you in the water.I tried toget to you before you got too far from your ship, but the waterkept carrying you away.By the time I caught up to you, you wereunconscious and too far from the ship.So I brought you here andcalled in the healer.”Jabari explained.

Foster could tell the man was keepingsomething from him, and he knew what that something was.“And thefact that I’m your mate had no bearing on where you broughtme?”

Jabari’s eyes widened, and then he smiled.“You were awake longer than I thought.”

Shrugging, Foster replied, “Maybe.But inall fairness, I was trying to understand what was different.Youknow...trying to get my bearings.”

“It’s okay, Foster.I just wasn’t sure if Ishould say anything.Can I ask you something?”Jabariquestioned.

“Of course.”Foster replied.

“Why are you not freaking out?I mean, you’re humanand I’ve just told you that I’ve brought you to my home inAtlantis.You’re hundreds of miles below the sea and are able tobreathe, and if I found you it means I am a paranormal, and to topit all off, I’ve just told you we are mates.From what Iunderstand, you should be a blubbering mess right about now, yet,you’re calm and taking all of this in like none of this ishappening.”

Foster let out a soft laugh, “I don’t know.Maybeit’s because of all the paranormal books I’ve read and lived sovicariously through, that this isn’t as crazy as it would be tosomeone else.It could also be because after everything I’ve beenthrough, things don’t seem to faze me as they should.

Jabari’s eyes widened.“What does thatmean?”

Shrugging, Foster replied, “Let’s just sayI’ve lived a very sheltered life and have learned to be grateful tolive all life has to offer.Life is too damn short to dootherwise.”

“I wouldn’t know about that.I’m immortaland so death is not always something I think about.”Jabarireplied.

Foster couldn’t help but laugh.However, ifJabari was immortal what did that make him.In romance novels heread, normally it was things like vampires, angels and demons thatseemed to live forever.Curious of what Jabari was exactly, heasked, “So what does that make you?Angel, demon or vampire?”

Jabari seemed to be startled for a moment and turnedaway to grab the shell.“I should get you more to drink and maybemake you some food.”

Before Jabari could actually leave his side,Foster grabbed the man’s wrist.Jabari slowly turned back to him,but still wouldn’t look in his direction.Foster then knew what theanswer must be.“You’re a demon.”

It seemed Foster had hit the nail on thehead if the man’s stiffening body was anything to go by.Foster hadto smile as he said, “I would love to know what kind.I can’t baseeverything off of the types of books I read, but I can say that Idid learn not all of any one species is bad.You have good and evilin each one...demons included.”

Slowly Jabari met Foster’s gaze, softlysaying, “I am Charonte and Adanc.”

Foster raised a brow, “I can honestly say I’ve neverheard of those.Can you tell me about yourself?”

“How about I get you some food and we canspeak as you eat?”Jabari suggested.

Foster tried to sit up, but Jabari was thereto keep him where he was.“The doctor said you needed your rest.I’ll get you your food and be right back.Please, stay there andrest.You’ve been through a great deal.Let me help.”

The only reason Foster nodded his head in agreementwas because his body was tired and sore, but not like it normallydid.It was a funny thing, yes, he was sore, but it was how anyonewould feel after fighting the waves and currents like he had done.The constant fatigue he normally felt wasn’t there, nor was theheaviness Foster normally felt in his arms and legs.When he took atentative breath he didn’t cough or feel any discomfort either.Wow, Foster didn’t know what was going on, and he didn’t have a lotof experience with what it felt like to be well, but damn, he feltbetter than he had in a long time.

It was odd, but true, and thinking about it, Fosteractually felt well rested all over.He might hate the thought ofbeing in a bed to “rest so he could get better”, but he wasn’tstupid either.He knew that with the cancer continuing to eat awayat him, this feeling wouldn’t last long, and he would need to do asasked if he didn’t want to end up here for longer than just a fewhours.“Okay, I’ll stay here for now, but I refuse to stay in bedfor days.You said we’re in Atlantis and damned if I’m not going toget the grand tour.”

Jabari looked as if he was going to argue,but stopped himself.“I’ll be back shortly.”

Foster lay there thinking about all that washappening.No matter how calm Jabari might think Foster was, hereally was freaking the fuck out inside.He wanted to understandwhat was happening and how he was going to get home.It wassomething he needed to do no matter what Jabari said about thembeing mates, because that was what Foster was freaking out over...not the paranormal stuff.He didn’t understand it himself, but hehad meant it when he said that he had lived his short life throughthe books he read.If a book took him to the rainforest, then hewas in the rainforest.If it took him to a remote island, thenFoster was on a remote island.Hell, Foster often thought ofhimself as well traveled just from the books he read.It was theknowledge of those very books he needed to fall on, to understandwhat was going on with Jabari, and what he needed to do.

If Foster’s books were anything to go by, aslong as he and Jabari didn’t bond, the man would be okay and notwaste away when Foster died.If the books were correct, onceFoster’s life was no more, a new and healthy mate would be born forJabari, and he could go on to live a happy and fulfilling life ofhis own.

Foster needed to ignore the twinge he feltin his heart just thinking about Jabari with another, but he had toignore it.He had to stay strong.He knew it was just the matingpull, and Foster needed to just keep reminding himself that histime was limited and that wasn’t fair to Jabari.

“Okay, this is just some chicken noodlesoup.I believe it is what someone in your circumstances mightneed.”Jabari stated, coming in with a tray.

At first Foster thought Jabari must knowabout his cancer, but his next words put that thought to rest.“Itcan’t have been easy to be tossed into the churning ocean like youwere?”

Giving Jabari a tentative smile, Foster satup straighter and arranged the covers so Jabari could place thetray across his lap.“Thank you.It smells wonderful.”

“It’s my mother’s recipe.”Jabari said as hesat in the chair next to the bed.

Taking a small taste of the soup, Fostercouldn’t hold back his moan of pleasure.“I have had more bowls ofchicken soup than I can count and this has to be the best I’ve evertasted.”