Chapter Seven

Nina sighed as Kimo roamed his hands over her. She hummed and turned into his touch.

“Nerina, I need to be inside you.”

He stroked his fingers between her thighs, and she responded as if he had been teasing her for half an hour. When he eased two fingers into her, she felt the hot, wet rush of her body’s authorization.

She was feeling warm, and sex sounded like a good idea, so she murmured, “Okay.”

He rolled her to her belly and covered her back with licks and kisses. When he worked into her, he turned her head and kissed her as he made his way into her. As he got to the edge of his knot, he groaned and shuddered hard.

He panted and kissed her. Pressing his forehead to hers, he squared up behind her and started to move.

She groaned, sighed, and grunted when an impact was particularly heavy. Her arousal built and then held steady as his movements kept her at a frustrating level.

Kimo came down on his elbows and reached to slide a hand under her. The contact with her clit sent her into a bucking orgasm that authorized his.

His knot pinned her, and he was breathing against the back of her head. She panted and pressed her head to the sheet.

“Oh, nymph, that was just what I needed.”

She smiled. She focused on stilling her body’s slow caress of him, and eventually, his knot let her loose. The torrent wasn’t nearly as intense as the day before.

She felt a coolness inside her and remembered what she had heard. “Uh, Kimo, can you do me a favour?”

“Anything.”

“Can you mark me?” It was humiliating to ask for a mark. The alpha normally offered it. “I mean, just a light graze will do, but you aren’t using protection, and whatever it is that put the mark on me isn’t happy.”

He paused. “I wanted to wait until after we meet with our families.”

She smiled. “Then, no more sex. It is really giving me an emotional depression that is coming from the outside in.”

Kimo sat back, and she pushed to sitting. He looked at her and stared at her. “You aren’t kidding.”

“No. It’s kind of like an omega-rejection reaction. A few of the girls had run into it when their alphas were holding out for proper matches. Usually in more affluent situations.” She gestured with her left hand. “It’s not too late. I can pay you back for the clothes, and you can probably return the swim gear.” She shrugged. “I do work for a living.”

He frowned.

“Do you need to phone a friend?” She got up, and it was a lot easier than the day before. “We have the storm today, and I probably can’t get Drake to take me back to the ferry until his next day off.”

He looked at her, and there was confusion in his face.

“You were probably told not to mark a lady until you ran it past your family, but I can’t keep sleeping with you if you don’t want to keep me. That just turns me into an opportunist. I just want to keep the clothes because they are pretty.”

He frowned. “When did this feeling overtake you?”

“It started last night. I just felt... sad. Not normal PMS stuff, either. I am not due for another week. It feels like you aren’t even here.”

“What about a few minutes ago?”

“Can I be honest?”

“Sure.”

“It was pleasant, but when you were gone, it was like turning off a tap.” She smiled. “I understand you want to wait for your family to meet me, but I think I might hate you by then, so it’s best if I go back to the base once the storm is over.”

“You want to leave?”

She ran her hands through her hair and screamed. “I don’t know! I feel wrong! I feel hollow and sad, and you don’t want to keep me, and I can just go and take the...” She paused and froze. “Oh. Damn.”

Kimo’s eyes went wide.

“Nothing. It’s nothing. It’s not for sure. It’s too soon.” She whispered, “It isn’t supposed to be like that.” She started to cry and sniffle against his chest. Despite her losing her shit, when she wavered, he held her.

He held her close and stroked her back. “Whatever it is, we can deal with it.”

“How fast is the delivery system?”

“We can put a rush on something. Why? What do you need?”

“Pregnancy test.”

He sat back and then smiled, delighted. “I thought you had to be in heat.”

“I am a beta, and I was in a window in the last few days. So, right now, there is a little Nina-Kimo making its way to my uterus. I am not going to pop positive for a week or two at the earliest. I just did a count, and it would explain the panic.”

“Why are you panicking?”

She shook her head.

“Why?”

“I am reaching for you, and you aren’t there.” She swallowed. She opened her hands then got up and headed for the bathroom.

There was a trail down her inner thigh, and she turned on the shower and stood under it to get his scent off her. Maybe that would help.

He entered the shower and frowned down at her. “What are you trying to do?”

“Get your scent off. It might help to reduce what I am feeling.”

He sighed.

He spun her and moved her hair to one side. She slammed her elbow back, whirled, and hit him with two water jets out of her hands.

He was on the floor and staring at her in surprise. “What was that?”

“You tried to force a bite.” She curled her hands into fists. She turned off the spray and left him on the floor. “Marking and water don’t mix for me.”

He got up and followed her after she dried off and was shaking violently. Ice was beginning in her belly and spreading rapidly.

“That was more than just a no.”

“Uh, yeah. It’s related to my reaction to the attack.”

He murmured, “He marked you?”

“It was like he tried to tear my spine out. They scrubbed it in hospital, but it took weeks. They had to force a blood sample to create an antivenin, and now, he’s the only alpha in the world that can’t take me over.”

“May I look?”

She held up a hand. “Give me a minute.”

She went to the vanity and got a brush. She carefully brushed her hair to the side, and then she brushed the hair up and away from the base of her skull.

“Okay. Now.”

She focused on breathing slowly as his fingers touched the surgical scars and repairs.

“Holy shit. He was trying to paralyze you.”

“I was fighting. He shook me like a dog with a rabbit.” Her voice was flat.

“This was brutal.” He stopped touching her neck and wrapped his arms around her. “But you still asked me to mark you.”

“Yeah, well, don’t worry. I won’t ask again.” She sighed. “You have a schedule for this.”

He bent and nuzzled the side of her neck, and before she could say anything, he bit. She inhaled sharply and whined softly. A link formed, and it was silver and blue. Waves roared through her mind and touched all of the scared little shadows, holding and comforting.

“Oh.”

He continued the hold, and when the silver link that was him and the ocean waves had touched every part of her psyche, she whispered, “I’m sorry.”

He released her shoulder and lapped at the deep wound. “Why are you sorry?”

“You didn’t want to.”

He sighed against her skin. “The weight of the other in my mind is not something I wanted to inflict on you unless I was certain and you were certain.”

“But I had a breakdown,” she mumbled and welcomed the arousal that was increasing with every slow caress of his tongue. The ocean waves in her link were swirling through all of her. It was like having a second consciousness working its way to her sex.

“Your need was greater than mine. How does it feel?”

“Hot and cool at the same time. I will try not to abuse your generosity.”

He chuckled. “That will be awkward as I want to spoil you, but we are all right now?”

“It is doing something within me, but it doesn’t hurt, so I think things are fine.”

His arms tightened. “Mate.”

“Yeah, not just fuck buddy.”

He laughed. “It’s still early. Do you want to try out mating sex?”

“Well, I can feel that you do, so yes, mate. Let’s try it.”

He picked her up and walked back to the bedroom with her.

He turned her in his arms, and their kiss began and didn’t stop until hours later when the bed was destroyed, the room reeked of sex, and Nina was on Kimo’s chest. She murmured, “When are the guys going to be here?”

“Just after we get the bedding taken care of. Oh, and back into the shower with us.”

She giggled, and he sat up carefully and got to his feet. He walked into the bathroom, and when he was slowly rubbing her back, his knot relaxed, and the clear-out hit the drain.

She pressed her forehead to his shoulder. “That is so embarrassing.”

He laughed. “That is my efforts and yours.”

“Yeah, I just never figured hard work would be so gloopy.”

He snickered and helped her ease her legs into a more normal position. It was far easier now. Her aches and pains were being whisked away as soon as they arose. It made for much longer sessions.

She laughed, and they soon cleaned up. He gathered the bedding and headed to the laundry room. Nina dressed, went to make some coffee, and got to work on omelettes. He loaded the dishwasher, and they had breakfast together.

He kept looking at her and grinning. She finally asked, “What?”

“You have water jets.”

“In my hands only. Don’t make it weird.”

“That is how you blasted your attacker off.”

“Yeah. The rush hit when the water got into my lungs. I just wanted him away from me, so... kaboom. Then I puked the water out of my stomach and lungs until I was in hospital. Freshwater. He got hit with saltwater.”

“Can we practice with the jets?” He looked cheerfully excited.

“Sure, just not around my brother. He might be jealous.”

Kimo smirked. “Ah, we should get dinner into the slow cookers. I will start the meat if you chop the veg.”

“What are we having?”

“Pulled pork and a vegetable stew with fresh bread.”

“Wait. You don’t have to chop the meat.”

He grinned. “You caught that, huh?”

“Yeah. I am guessing you put a rub on the pork already?”

He laughed. “Yes. After I tucked you in but before I came to bed.”

She snorted. “Fine. Let’s make dinner happen.”

He held up his palm, and she high-fived him. Together, they got to work.

When Drake walked in, the rain was starting. The guys carried in their equipment that they didn’t want to get wet, and when they were in, Kimo hit the controls that threw the storm shutters down; inside and out, the doors and windows were protected.

Lights were bright the moment that the shutters went down. The storm set in about half an hour after the chips and dip were set out.

It was rather like hosting a sporting event.

When her mark began to throb, she shifted her shoulder under the wrap she had put on. Drake had already commented on her new clothing with a compliment, but she had no idea if he knew she had a mark.

The mark itched again, and she looked at Kimo. “Can I borrow you for a moment?”

He said to Reg, “I will be right back.”

She got up, and when they were in the kitchen, she pulled her wrap aside and looked at him. He nodded and leaned in, scraping his tongue across the marks and soothing them. Nina exhaled in relief. “How long does that go on?”

“A day or so.”

She wrinkled her nose. “It itches and throbs a bit.”

He nuzzled it and licked it again. “How about now?”

“Better.”

Drake came in. “Don’t mind me. I am just grabbing another beer.”

Nina froze, and Kimo carefully covered the marks under the dark blue cotton gauze.

Nina kissed her mate and kept it up until her brother was out of the room. She exhaled slowly.

Kimo smirked. “Are you going to kiss me every time Drake comes by?”

“I have no idea how he will react.”

“He will be enthusiastic about it, Nina. Congratulations.” Drake poked his head around the corner and gave her a thumbs-up. Her knees buckled in relief.

Kimo caught her. “Aw, there, the worst is over.”

Nina shuddered. “Yeah. Good. Wait. You knew he knew.”

“My dearest Nerina, we both reek of each other. Alphas know, and they have just been pretending not to, to save your feelings.”

“How polite.”

“Yes, it is very nice of them.”

She exhaled in relief. “So, you can take care of the mark without us leaving the room?”

“Oh, I would really prefer to leave the room.”

“Why?”

“Because then, I can do this.” He lifted her to the countertop and stepped between her thighs. He gripped her hips and held her tight to him.

Her breath escaped on a soft, “Oh.”

He smiled. “My reason for wanting to wait was so that I wasn’t on you the entire time. Since we are now in a fresh link, I would rather be wrapped around you than socializing.”

She blushed. “Ah. That is an interesting visual.”

He leaned in, and a soft rumble came from his chest. “I think so, too. Shall we head upstairs and leave the researchers to their own devices?”

“Weren’t you talking to Reg?”

“We had covered most of what we need to know about the area they want to go out to tomorrow.” He rocked his hips against her. “I know where I want to be right now.”

She whined softly and clung to him.

His eyes went stormy, and he took her upstairs. Their clothing was still on when he pressed her against the wall and got inside her a few minutes later.

They moved together until they had both found satisfaction. Kimo pressed his head to hers, and she sighed softly. They cleaned up, tidied their clothes, kissed softly, and headed downstairs.

It set the pattern for the day.

During dinner, with the vat of pulled pork on the table and all the fresh and cooked side dishes arranged, Drake murmured to her, “So, you and Kimo are getting along.”

She glanced at him as she shook hot sauce onto the pork taco she had created. “Yeah.”

“I am surprised you can walk.”

“So am I. How is life as a whale porn photographer?”

Drake paused. “Fair point.”

“Yeah, if we keep this up and you remain stationed there, you might be an uncle one day.”

Drake paused again. “Really?”

“That is the reason for the drive, after all.” She took her plate to the living room, where Reg and Tono were already sitting.

The storm howled outside, but the eye had passed earlier.

Reg smiled. “So, you are staying.”

“Um. Once the paperwork gets worked out, yes.”

“Paperwork?”

“Yeah. I am still a tourist.”

Tono lifted his head and said, “What I did on my summer vacation.”

Drake came in. “More like who I did on my summer vacation.”

Nina put her food down. “Just say it.”

“Say what? That you have attached yourself to the wealthiest man in the islands?” Drake threw the words out casually, but they hurt.

Kimo came in and cuddled next to Nina. “What did you say to her?”

Drake cleared his throat. “I congratulated her on finding a good match.”

“No, you didn’t. You sounded just like Dad.”

He winced and paled. “I... he talked to you like that?”

“I was lying in hospital with masks and tubes running everything for me, and he said that if I hadn’t been whoring around your alpha friends, I wouldn’t be in that situation. I did it to myself.”

“You did it for me. You welcomed us into your home so that it looked like I had family. There was no way of knowing that he had gotten twisted.”

“Oh, I sought it out. That is the line that Mother and Father hold to until today. Nice to know you inherited something from them.” She looked at Kimo. “I am going to get a new plate. My food is cold.”

She got up, headed back to the kitchen, and put her food in the microwave.

She took a deep breath when the food came out and focused on eating slowly. Her stomach was an icy knot.

Kimo walked up behind her and rubbed her arms. “He’s upset at himself.”

“I am so glad he felt good enough to tell you that.”

“You are a sibling, so he is aware of the scent, but he’s near his own rut, and it is making it difficult for him.”

She nodded. “I think I can fix things for him.”

Nina went through the cupboards and got a tray together. She carried it out to her brother. “I hear it is close to your time. Here you go.”

He looked at the pile of chocolate, potato chips, dip, and a jar of jam. He laughed. “Thank you, Nina. I am sorry I snapped at you.”

“What? And called me a gold digger? He can spend his money where he wants. I am not asking for anything. You know I can make my own money.”

“Right. I am sorry. That was low. The air in here is a little pheromone-thick.”

“Uh-huh. Out-of-control hormones. That is what got me drowned in public view. I saw an alpha at its most brutal worst, and I still didn’t tar my brother with that brush.”

“I think I am shrinking.”

“Good. What you said really hurt. I would crawl all over Kimo if he were broke. Money doesn’t matter. The giant ocean mark on my back that moves with my mood or his is the link that drew us together. He did everything else.”

Kimo rubbed her back. “I really did. Your sister is exhausting.”

She snorted.

As they sat there, the world outside went silent. Drake ate his dessert tray, and a timer on Kimo’s watch went off.

He got up and walked around to rescue one of his foodstuffs from the oven. He returned to the living room with a plate piled high with steaming sweet rolls. He settled on a corner of the couch, and Nina got up and came to cuddle with him.

He tore off tiny pieces and blew on them before putting them in her mouth, one by one.

Tono said, “Hey, where are ours?”

“In the kitchen. Help yourself.”

He got up, and Reg followed him to the kitchen. Drake set his tray down. “I think I am getting it now. You two look... right.”

Nina felt her cheeks pink a little.

Kimo smiled. “Yes, it is a strange thing to go through life looking for your mate, and then, one day, some local researchers just bring her into your territory, and you have to make a move. And she agrees. Then, you are a thousand feet tall and can take over the world to protect the most precious thing to you.”

Drake said, “Uh, you aren’t going to do that, are you?”

“As long as no one tries to take her from me, I won’t have to.”

She kept eating until she couldn’t have anymore and buried her head against his chest. Sleep came quickly. It had been a tiring day.

Nina shifted against Kimo and looked around. The room was dark, but the windows were open. “Aw, I missed the unveiling.”

“There will be other storms. I would like to sit with you curled against me and watch the world return to us. It was already dark when this storm ended.” His voice was soft, like he was trying to keep from waking her all the way.

She sighed and crawled on top of him, getting comfy. He chuckled, wrapped his arms around her, and sighed deeply. A few slow licks to her mark, and they were out.

Breakfast was early, and she sat with him and looked at the pile of clothes he had put next to her. “This feels like a lot.”

He laughed. “Put on the swimsuit, throw on my shirt, and carry the wetsuit and flippers. I will bring the food.”

She snorted and pawed through the pile. She held up the string bikini. “Really?”

He smiled. “Really. It will help me focus on you to know what is under your suit.”

“That seems like a personal fetish.”

He laughed. “You are my personal fetish. Come on. The guys are waiting.”

She pulled the swimsuit on, made sure that the ties were fastened, and grabbed the fins and her suit. He grabbed everything else, including some very fancy masks.

“Hey, can we talk in those?”

He grinned. “Of course. Tono is going to wire them up so we can chat while we swim. Drake gets to drive the boat, and Reg is going to dangle himself over the side like a puppy.”

“Why such excitement over a boat?”

“You’ll see.” They gathered everything and headed to the garage. He had gotten up early and cleared the path.

They drove to the sheltered cove where the boat was waiting. She grabbed her suit and fins and headed to the boat where the guys were waiting and stowing equipment. Drake reached down and took her suit and fins so that she could climb up the ladder. She scampered up the ladder and tucked herself out of the way with her suit and fins. Their equipment started to rise over the edge of the boat, deposited by columns of water.

Drake got it and set it aside. Kimo came up the ladder, and Drake asked, “Can I really drive it?”

“Yes. Since you are now going to be my little brother, you may as well realize that you can share my toys.”

Drake blinked. “Little brother? Oh, right.”

Nina snickered and laid out her suit. They cast off, engines started up, and the large boat moved out of its sheltered harbour. Drake grinned for the entire hour as the engines purred, and they approached the coordinates for the researchers. They slowed and glided to a halt as the ocean ahead of them was alive with whales.

Nina watched the giant ballet ahead of her and breathed deeply and slowly. Kimo stood behind her. “I will be with you, and they won’t come near you. I promise.”

She nodded and exhaled slowly. He helped her into her suit, got her onto the drop platform, and helped her get her scuba gear into place. He got into the water ahead of her and waited for her to step out and into the water next to him.

The silent world closed around them, and Kimo spoke with a slightly nasal tone. “Can you hear me?”

She focused on her breathing. “Yes. Loud and clear.”

“Excellent. Come with me.”

She settled her ballast belt around her, followed him past the ship, along the sandy ocean floor, and smiled at the fish darting past. Kimo continued ahead, and she propelled herself with a short burst of water. He paused and glanced at her. “Did you just... ”

“Yeah. You are faster than I am, and I am seeing this stuff for the first time. I would like to take my time.”

He took her hand and pulled her with him. They slowly made their way to a reef, and he waved his hand at her. “What do you think?”

“Whoa.” There were no other words. Colour, life, and fronds of things that were probably toxic. In the distance, the whales were doing their thing near a drop-off.

Kimo pulled her hand, and they slowly cruised over the reef, occasionally pausing to take in the rays and sharks moving over and around the bright reef occupants.

When a larger shark cruised overhead, she had to remember to breathe.

“And I think that freaked you out a little. Let’s get back to the ship.”

She nodded, and he tucked her against him, moving slowly and letting her see everything that they had seen on the way in. She focused on her breathing and tried to take in the wonder. “Why is everything under the water so freaking big?”

He chuckled. “I can’t answer that without freaking out the crew.”

Drake’s voice came through their masks. “Thanks for that.”

“Anything for you, bro.” Nina chuckled.

Kimo started doing barrel rolls with her as they got closer to the boat. She was laughing when he helped boost her onto the platform.

He was up beside her a moment later, and she removed her fins and got the gear off. Kimo boosted her up the ladder and got the equipment squared away. He was examining each piece and testing it before rinsing it off.

She grabbed the T-shirt and hauled it to the freshwater shower at the edge of the deck. The suit peeled off reluctantly, and she got the salt off her skin, turning the hose water off. The sun was drying her quickly, and she just hoped—

Drake came out. “Hey, Nin, did you see—good god!”

She snorted. “Sorry. I can’t pull the shirt on over wet skin, and Kimo was sitting on the towels.”

Kimo was laughing. “Get used to it, Drake. She’s going to live out here, and I would like her wearing the same amount of fabric as we are.”

Drake muttered, “Well, fuck.”

Nina snorted. “If I have to deal with budgie smugglers, you have to deal with this.”

Drake paused. “Budgie?”

“Fine. Cockatiel. Maybe a dove.”

“You are cruel.” He laughed. “But it shows you aren’t looking. How would you rate Kimo?”

Kimo snorted.

“Hmm. Macaw, but I have personal experience with him.”

Drake paused and then laughed. “Fine. Fair enough. I think you just inflated his ego to monumental proportions.”

She slipped the shirt on. “I am just going to leave that there. Now, what did you come out to ask me?”

“Did you see the whales?”

“Oh, yeah. But it was the great white that made me hyperventilate a little. That’s why we came up early. The ray was cool, though, and so was the reef.”

Drake blinked. “You took her to the reef?”

Kimo chuckled. “Whales are your passion. She is introducing herself to the ocean a little at a time. She will find what interests her.”

“I was interested in the sunken ship that we swam over. That looked interesting.”

Kimo grinned and walked past her, showering off the salt. She cocked her head when he turned off the shower and reached for her. She squeaked in surprise.

He smiled. “I forgot my towel.”

“I am not a towel.”

“And yet, you are absorbent and just soak it all up.”

Drake groaned. “I am out of here.”

Kimo laughed. “Taunting Keanu was never such fun.”

“Be kind to Drake. Our parents were cruel to him.”

“Fine, but I am still having a lot of fun with our new relationship.”

“Having a new little brother?”

“Exactly.”

He leaned in, and she leaned up for a kiss.

“Oh, man. Kimo, can you take the helm? I need to get underwater so I don’t have to see you making out with my sister.”

Kimo laughed. “Sure. Go ahead. Take the rover.”

“Cool.”

They walked to the bridge, and Kimo showed her the blips on the sonar and the live views from the different cameras.

They kept an eye on what the guys were seeing, and when they turned back to the boat, Nina headed belowdecks to have a nap. She was engaging in a lot of unfamiliar activities, and it was exhausting.