Page 8 of Swimming With the Sharks
Smiling, Jabari replied, “I’ll let my motherknow you approve.”
“Your mother?Does she live here too?”Foster asked as he ate his soup.
Shaking his head, Jabari replied, “No.Sheand my father still visit, but they prefer to live with the surfacedwellers.I also do what I can to visit from time to time, but thesurface and my demons don’t exactly mix well.”
“You were going to tell me about that.Whatdid you call yourself again?”Foster asked, dabbing at the dribbleof broth that didn’t quite make it into his mouth.
Jabari watched Foster’s movements, and bythe look in the man’s eyes and the way he licked his lips, Fosterfelt as if the man was imagining his tongue as the napkin Fosterwas using.The thought of that had Foster’s own cock taking aninterest.
Thankful that he had the tray to block hisown arousal, Foster cleared his throat, asking, “Your demons?”
Shaking his head as if he needed to clear it, Jabarifinally answered.“I am a Charonte and Adanc demon.A Charontedemon is a high-power ancient land demon that the gods brought toAtlantis to guard the people that live here.The Adanc demon isalso a high-power water demon.They were used to protect the waterssurrounding Atlantis from not only those that wish to harm theAtlanteans, but also from the surface dwellers that seek to findAtlantis itself.My father was one of the first Charonte broughthere and my mother was one of the first Adanc demons.They met whenAtlantis first sank, and the two demons hadn’t known who or whatthe Atlanteans were, or what they were doing below the surface.Father was sent, by Poseidon, to be the emissary of their kind, andfrom what he said, the moment his eyes met hers, the ocean currentstopped all around them.”
“That is so romantic.”Foster said with awide wistful smile.
Jabari tossed his head back and laughed, saying,“Don’t let my father hear you say that.He would never live itdown.The badass leader of the Charonte...romantic?”
Foster laughed and smacked at Jabari, “Stop.It isromantic.To look across a room and see the person meant for you...love at first sight?What the hell is not to love about that?That’s something that all of us mere humans just read about andwish for, if you believe in that type of thing.”
“Do you believe in that kind of thing?”Jabari asked.
He didn’t even have to think about theanswer, Foster replied, “I don’t really know.I mean I can’t denythat when I first set eyes on you I felt something, but I put itdown to lust.”
Jabari’s shoulders seemed to slump, and Foster hatedthat he had put that dejected look on the man’s face unnecessarily.“The thing is, if it was just lust, then why do I feel the need tobe close to you?Why is it that your needs are important to me, andif it’s only lust, why do I feel the need to kiss that sad look offyour face?”
Jabari seemed to brighten with each word Fosterspoke, and although he hated that he knew he was about to take thatlook off the man’s face, there was no other choice, but to let himknow upfront how things needed to be.“I know it’s the mating pullbut it doesn’t matter.”
The deep hurt in Jabari’s eyes had Foster’sheart clenching once again in his chest.He stood and took the trayof empty dishes from Foster’s lap, “I should take these to wash.You need your rest.”
“Jabari?”Foster called out before he couldleave the room.
Shaking his head, Jabari refused to turnaround as he softly said, “It’s okay, Foster.I do understand.Myentire life I have been shunned by all except my parents.Whyshould my mate be any different?I am an abomination, I know.Onceyou are rested I’ll take you back to the surface to my parents’home.From there you should be able to contact someone to come foryou.”
CHAPTER 4
Jabari couldn’t remember a time when he had feltso defeated.How could the fates be so cruel as to show him he hada fated mate, only to show him that the man wouldn’t want him?Whathad he done in his long life to be hated so much by so many?Itwasn’t his fault that he was the spawn of demons.Hell, what did itmatter that his parents were demons anyway?Andrea’s words cameback to him and damn it she was right.Jabari had never doneanything to harm anyone on Atlantis.If anything, it was Jabari whoswam the waters to keep them all safe from harm, just as his fatherhad taught him to do, and for what?No one appreciated what he wasdoing for them, and just when he thought the fates at least weregoing to reward him for all he has done in his life, he discoveredit was nothing more than a cruel joke.
“Jabari?”
Lowering his head at the soft pleading voice,Jabari could do no more than listen to the voice, then replied,“You should be in bed, Foster.You need to rest.”
“I couldn’t stay in bed when you’re hurting likeyou are.Please let me explain why...”
“There’s no reason to explain anything.Like Isaid, I get it.I’m a demon...a half breed...an abomination.Charante feared by all because we have such power that can belinked to the gods.If I chose to, I could attach to anyone here oreven on the surface, and kill the life force with just a thought.As Adanc, I have the ability to use all marine life to fight by myside, even if I didn’t need to.I mean, after all, Adanc are fiercefighters of the waters, so much so that few can harm us with even ascratch.No spear, dagger, or even the trident of Poseidon himself,can penetrate my hide.Shit, if a god can’t stop me, how couldanyone...right?It doesn’t matter that I’ve never harmed anothersoul before that didn’t mean my people harm.It doesn’t matter thatI have saved the lives of almost everyone on these lands and evensome not from Atlantis.I am meant to walk my days alone.”Jabarirasped.
“Jabari...”
Shaking his head and just needing to be alone,Jabari drew in a shaky breath and let it our slowly, “I dreamed ofthe day I wouldn’t feel so lonely.I dreamed of the day I wouldmeet the man meant just for me.In my mind we would go for longwalks along the stone roads of Atlantis, sharing the sights, mealsand laughter our togetherness would bring.We would build memoriesas we did those things and so much more.We would swim hand in handas I introduced him to the only friends I have ever known andshowed my mate some of the most beautiful things I have found deepwithin the vast ocean surrounding us, and even take him to specialspots I know, and make love as the jellyfish provide a romanticatmosphere for us to relish while we enjoy each other’s bodies.Ishould have known better.I mean, who am I to even think that mymate would want me when no one else seems to?”Shaking his headonce more, Jabari swiped at the tears he just realized were fallingfrom his eyes.“Go back to bed, Foster.”
“No, damn it!”Foster snapped.
Startled by the fierceness in Foster’s tone,Jabari couldn’t help but turn and face the man.Foster’s fists wereclenching and unclenching as if he wanted to punch someone.
“I’m not saying no to our mating because of youat all, Jabari.I don’t know what the fuck the Atlanteans’ problemis, that’s just fucked up.I’m not disgusted by you being a demon.I don’t care that you’re a demon.It wouldn’t matter if you were ashifter, vampire, or human.Hell, I don’t think I would give a shitif you were a ghoul or anything else in the world.”Foster hissedout.
Confused, Jabari asked, “Then why...”
“Why won’t I bond with you?”Foster asked,practically growling, “Because I’m dying!”