9. Chapter 9

Chapter nine

Blue

S ammy is terrible at swimming. I've never seen anything like it. It is as if he has no natural buoyancy. I swear stones sink slower. It's a very good thing we are in the shallow end of my pool.

He thrashes and churns the water for a bit longer and then stands up. Water streams over him as he heaves in a lungful of air. He pushes his wet hair out of his eyes and grins at me.

"Better?"

"No," I reply honestly.

Sammy laughs. A genuine peel of amusement. It thickens the air around me and for one ridiculous moment, I want to breathe it in.

"So what should I try next?" he asks brightly.

I shake my head. I think I can share my magic with him and give him the ability to breathe underwater. Like Lello did with his human mate. It's either that, or keep Sammy away from all water. Forever. Otherwise, he is going to drown someday. No maybe or possibly. It's simply a matter of time.

He sticks his tongue out at me. "Maybe you just suck as a teacher."

His tongue is very pink. It's very distracting. Now I'm staring at his lips, trying to get another glimpse of it.

"Um…maybe Pink can teach you. He is a human. Presumably he had to learn," I ramble.

But it is a good point. Trying to teach someone to swim is like trying to teach someone to breathe. I simply cannot fathom how it can be complicated. Sammy has all the same limbs as me. He should just be able to move them in the water.

Maybe somebody who had to learn would be better at explaining it.

Sammy looks a little crestfallen. "I'd rather spend time with you."

My heart quickens. It is beating fast and strong now. If Sammy was a paranormal, he'd hear it.

"Okay," I say, because I'd rather spend time with him too. Even if it is pointless.

And anyway, the stupid mate bond would just make me want to eat Pink if I had to watch him help Sammy in the water. So all in all, this is a much better plan.

Sammy's grin is dazzling. His blue eyes are brighter than the late summer sky. "Shall I try again?"

I wave my hand. Whatever. I don't think it matters. I've given him all the advice I can. I'll just stand here and watch him flop about like a panicked fish and make sure he doesn't thrash himself into the deep end. There is not much else I can do.

He takes a deep breath and dives back in. His arms and legs flail about as if he is having a seizure. The water turns white and waves crash over the edge of the pool.

Maybe he is being this terrible so he has an excuse to spend more time with me? That might make more sense than genuinely being this bad at it.

But no, that's a crazy idea. He can't be that desperate to be in my company. Unless the mate bond is messing with his mind.

A frown pulls at my lips. What if the mate bond is actually affecting him that badly? It is already messing with him enough that he can't have sex with anyone else.

Guilt twists my gut. I need to get rid of this bond. But I haven't gotten anywhere by asking discreet questions of my friends. Maybe I should come clean. Tell everyone. A problem shared is a problem halved, or whatever the saying is .

And it's not like this is something I can Google. As for asking a siren elder, that's completely out of the question, since I can't step foot in an ocean.

For fuck's sake, this is a mess. Sammy can't be denied sex. Especially when it is how he earns money and money is so very important to him.

I have to free him. Or help him find another way to make money.

My teeth grind. I need to do both. I'm pretty sure Sammy likes sex for pleasure as well as for work. I can't force him to be celibate for the rest of his life. Even if he has another way to earn an income.

Water sprays all over me as Sammy surfaces. It's like a mini tsunami. He gasps again and shoves his hair out of his eyes once more. Water streams down his face and beads in his long dark lashes.

"How was that?" he asks.

"Terrible."

He chuckles. And then pants like a steam train as he catches his breath. My gaze fixes on the rise and fall of his wet and naked chest. His nipples are as pink as his tongue.

"All right, I need a break," he says.

I nod. Anything he wants. Anything at all.

"Let's go raid the kitchen for snacks!" he says, with all the exuberance of a small child.

I nod dumbly again and follow him out of the pool. We walk side by side towards the house. His expression looks strained. Is he okay? His gaze flicks towards me and down and then sharply up again.

Oh. He is trying very hard not to look at my naked body. Bless him. That is the sweetest thing ever. I know how difficult it can be for humans.

"Do you want me to put some clothes on?" I offer.

His cheeks turn a beautiful shade of pink. "No! No, not at all. It's fine. This is your home. "

We make it to the kitchen. Ned is sitting at the table reading a newspaper. The blinds are down and the gloom feels strange after the bright sunshine.

"Hi Ned!" says Sammy cheerfully, as he heads for a cupboard.

A proud smile stretches across my face. My Sammy isn't at all scared of the grumpy vampire.

Ned looks up from his paper with a scowl. Then his dark eyes widen and ping-pong between Sammy and me.

"What the hell!" he exclaims gruffly and very forcefully.

Sammy whirls around in alarm. My heart is pounding so loudly it's practically the only thing I can hear.

Fuck. Ned can sense the mate bond.

"What?" Sammy asks. His blue eyes are wide with concern.

I stare at Ned imploringly. My eyes are probably bugging out. If only Ned and I could talk telepathically.

"Blue, are you okay? You've gone as white as a sheet," says Sammy as his focus snaps entirely to me.

Ned lifts one dark eyebrow.

"I'm fine," I squeak.

"He's fine. I just made him jump," says Ned and he shakes his paper aggressively. "Stupid young people get stupider every day!"

Sammy's shoulders relax, and he turns back to the cupboard with a soft giggle. Ned looks nineteen, so I understand how him muttering about young people can be amusing.

"Thank you," I mouth silently to him.

The vampire rolls his eyes, gives me a look that says I owe him, and goes back to reading his paper.

I do owe him, and I'm so thankful I could kiss him right now. That was a very close call. And it has made it very clear that I do need to tell all the boys. So they can help me solve this and so they know not to tell Sammy.

Sammy can never know he is my mate. I'm adamant about that. I'm not messing up and disrupting his life anymore than I already have .

The boys will help me fix this and then Sammy will be free and none the wiser.

It is the way it has to be.