Charmed by the Werewolf (13 page)

“Sophia, you must come into the water.
” Xavier flung a glob of bracken onto the decking to secure her attention.

“I can’t.
” She dragged herself to the railing and gazed into the rippling water, meeting Xavier’s concerned gaze. A shiver wracked her body and she looked away. In some annoyance, she spied an abbreviated version of a tank top of glittering iridescent sequins and beads which had replaced her conservative button down shirt and blazer.

“Sophia!
” Exasperation tinged with panic rang loud in his voice. “Woman, haul your ass down here, now!”

“No. I don’t know how to swim.
” She gasped and choked, freaked out at the feeling of the flapping gills in her neck. “Xavier, help me.”

“You’re a freaking mermaid, dammit, now jump!
”

There was no other choice. Clutching her glasses in one hand and her purse in the other, Sophia closed her eyes and maneuvered her body off the deck.

Shockingly cold water greeted her. She shivered as it closed around her. Sophia floundered in the murky liquid until Xavier snaked an arm around her waist, lifting her up, and sanity returned. “I can’t swim.” Her teeth chattered and gooseflesh covered her arms. She attempted to clear the water from her eyes before popping her glasses in place. “I never learned how, didn’t think it was necessary since Indiana is a virtually landlocked state.”

“There
’s no need to worry, my dear, since we’re now part of the aquatic community.”

He dipped beneath the water line. Sophia panicked when something yanked her below. Her heart pounded as she clawed frantically toward the surface in an effort not to drown. As she sank, Xavier appeared beside her, grinning.

His tail moved back and forth in gentle ebbs. With the gills, she breathed normally. The water filtering through the breathing apparatus tickled her neck.

“This is different.
” All sounds from the busy golf course vanished in the underwater world. Vague echoes pulsed through the wetness, muted and distorted as sunlight danced and bent all around her. “This is very different.”

“I agree. When I woke up this morning I didn’t think I
’d become a merman,” Xavier joked. “I’m not sure if it’s better or worse than being a werewolf.”

She hear
d him as well as if they’d been chatting above the water. Xavier pushed through the shadowy blue green haze with ease while Sophia struggled to come to grips with her new tail. “I don’t understand how to move!” As strange as it felt to carry on a conversation underwater, it was twice as bizarre to lose the ability to function without legs.

“
Relax and follow my lead.”

“Okay.
” She told herself that having a panic attack underwater was not a desirable scenario, then fastened the strap of her purse across her chest, prayed her glasses would remain on her nose and experimentally wriggled her tail. As the powerful appendage undulated up and down, her body listed and leaned.

Instead of gliding gracefully forward, she spiraled in circles. “I just don’t understand.
”

Xavier’s chuckle bounced and echoed in the sparkling water. “You’re over
thinking the issue.” He demonstrated the mechanics of swimming with an elegant flip of his tail. “Now, try again.”

Swatting at a slow moving bass, she concentrated. It wasn’t as much swimming in the traditional sense as it was flipping the tail and guiding her body in the direction she wanted to go. Occasionally, Sophia use
d her arms and hands, but they weren’t necessary to propulsion. Soon she followed Xavier through the water as if she’d been doing it all her life. Bubbles tickled her nose. When she ran full tilt into a large school of bluegill, panic coated her stomach as the fish swirled and darted around her. A flip of her tail cleared the group.

“You make a presentable mermaid.
” Xavier’s eyes twinkled as he and Sophia sliced through the sun-dappled water, dodging schools of pike and trout, and skimming over aquatic plants. “I especially like the lavender shade of your skin.”

She glanced at her arm, surprised to see her skin had become a faint mottled purple
, but the crown shaped birthmark still glowed red. “You used the word presentable to describe me.” Sophia slowed in order to study Xavier. His suit had vanished. In its place was nothing but the slightly tanned expanse of his chest, sprinkled with just a bit of blond hair. A necklace of small shells hung around his neck, floating slightly with the current. Just as her insides turned to mush at the sight of all that manly skin, he spoke, destroying her Neptune-ish fantasy.

“My choice of words was intentional. If I described you as beautiful, not only is it a generic term for women but it
’s also vastly untrue of you.”

“Untrue?
” Her softer emotions fizzled in the face of the anger surging inside. “You really shouldn’t have stated the obvious. I have feelings, you know. As your supposed mate, shouldn’t you think I’m the most beautiful woman you’ve ever seen?” His words hurt, but she’d rather die than let him see how they affected her.

Xavier swam in a circle around her. “My earlier statement
wasn’t meant to be obvious. It was merely an observation.”

The outline of an old school bus loomed in the distance, the yellow paint seeming to glow as a beckon. “
So what exactly is it you’ve observed about me?” She yanked off her now useless glasses and jammed them into her purse. Whatever the reason, her vision was clear under the water. “I’m aware of my flaws.”

“Indeed.
” He tickled the belly of a passing snapping turtle. “As I told the marriage counselor, your best feature is your smile. You can bring me to my knees with it. Even that will pale in comparison to the ever-changing depths of your eyes. I lose myself in them every time I look at you.” He tugged her to a stop and lifted her chin so she had no choice but to peer into his face. “Confidence is the greatest aphrodisiac a woman owns, and when you use yours, nothing can stop you.”

“Oh.
” Sophia blinked then pulled away in confusion as butterflies played havoc with her stomach. Even in the underwater world, he had the power to reduce her to jelly with something as mundane as a glance or a few soft words. She licked her lips, tasted silt, and tried hard not to think about
what else
was in the water. “It’s a good thing I don’t exude confidence, huh? Otherwise I’d have men falling at my feet, or tail as the case may be.”

She darted through the water, determined to put plenty of distance between her and Xavier before something drastic happened. What if he kissed her in the water? Would she still be able to breathe? His persistence could be a hindrance to the mission.

It would be too dangerous to become involved with anyone, let alone Xavier, for a host of reasons, namely because Sterling wouldn’t be pleased. Still, the promise of a lifetime with such a man shone bright as a beacon she desperately wanted to catch.

“
Why must you persist in running away or changing the subject when the conversation becomes of a personal nature?” His long elegant hand closed around her wrist, preventing her from going further. The rusted school bus sat ten feet away.

She whirled to face him but not before lacy curtains twitched in one of the windows. “The less we know about each other the more likely you
’ll remain intact.” His shell necklace floating on the gentle current distracted her. She shook her head as her fingers itched to touch that glorious golden chest hair. “Don’t you understand? I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you because of me.”

“Is it me you’re trying to protect, or you? Are you so terrified of what Sterling will do you’d throw away a chance at happiness?
” He stroked her cheek. “I’ll never let him hurt you, sweetness, surely you can feel that.”

“Do you call being a fish-person happiness?
” She focused her gaze on Xavier’s gills as they opened and closed in languid movement. She couldn’t look into his eyes because she’d be lost. Now wasn’t the time, so she retreated behind sarcasm. “Perhaps I should turn myself into a statue and sink to the bottom of the lake. Maybe you can call that unadulterated joy.” Yanking her arm from his grip, she bumped into a common map turtle on her way to the door of the bus. “Or are you so full of yourself you think a kiss would send me over the top in elation?” Knowing that statement wasn’t far from the truth, Sophia banged on the door with a fist and glared at the werewolf. “So we’re mates. Big deal. It’s better for both of us if you forget about me once we’re done with this quest.”

“Don’t be so sure. I have four days to change your mind.
” Xavier grinned and stroked his goatee as they waited. “Once I set my mind to something, I’ll work at the task until it’s finished. I’m very persistent.”

“The matter is finished now,
” she muttered between clenched teeth. Xavier rested a hand on the small of her back as the door to the bus wrenched open, and Sophia stared down the muzzle of a harpoon gun.

“I never thought I’d see you again, but I promised myself that if I did, I’d kill you.” Green eyes glared over the weapon. “I guess it’s my lucky day.” The mermaid’s mossy hair floated about her head and shoulders, red starfish stuck within the mass.

The business end of the harpoon lance bobbed six inches from Sophia’s nose. She cocked an eyebrow at Xavier. “Annie Oakley must be talking to you.
”

“Seems so.
” Xavier shrugged and flashed his trademark, charming smile. “Renn, I admit when I dropped you unceremoniously on the lawn of that burning house I didn’t anticipate you would harbor a grudge against me for saving your life.”

“Oh please, Xavier, the Universe
doesn’t revolve around you.” She gestured to Sophia with the weapon. “I’m talking about your girlfriend here.”

“I’m not his girlfriend.
” Sophia eased off the doorstep until she was slightly behind Xavier. Women’s lib had its advantages but being shot first was not one of them.

“She
’s my mate, actually.”

“I don’t care. Hannah called and warned me you were on your way. She jogged my memory to exactly who Sophia is.
”

“Oh, goody. Hannah makes yet another intrusion in our lives
,” Sophia whispered into the werewolf’s ear. “Retribution for throwing her out?”

Renn lowered her weapon and stepped aside. “Get inside. The least I can do is offer tea before I take my revenge.
”

From her position behind him, she felt Xavier stiffen. The muscles of his naked back played under her fingers. “Any violence enacted this day will be at my hand.
Don’t threaten Sophia.”

As her heart lurched, they moved into the living area of Renn’s home. Sometimes annoyingly superior men were useful to have around. “You must be out of your mind to think we’re going to take anything from you.
” The seats had been removed from the bus; and in their place, the vehicle was divided into a mobile home-like setting.

Standing—or floating as the act actually was— in the living area, Sophia looked directly into the tiny dining area with equally abbreviated appliances. The concept of how electric kitchen machines worked under water escaped her, but she didn’t question the issue. She’d learned long ago the truth wasn’t disguised with simple explanations. Beyond the kitchen were a small bedroom and a bathroom. Sophia gnawed a thumbnail. How
did
mermaids use the facilities?

“Sophia?
”

Reality came rushing back as if she’d been slapped. Her cheeks flamed while Renn and Xavier stared. “I can’t trust her.
”

“Big surprise there.
” As Renn shrugged, her tangled mass of hair floated away from her body to reveal two perfectly formed breasts.

She
opened her mouth to object, but Xavier interrupted. “What Sophia means is since she is a vegetarian she’s concerned about what you’ll offer in the way of a repast.” He dropped onto a chintz-covered sofa.

“If I
’d meant to say that I would have.” Sophia glared at him. Even as a merman, he managed to loll about with elegance and understated masculinity. At least               he’d averted his eyes from Renn’s chest, which went a long way in endearing him to her.

“Don’t put words in my mouth, Xavier, it’s a bad habit.
” She planted her hands on her hips. “We can’t trust her. What are you going to do when she attempts to murder me?”

“First, I
won’t let harm come to you. I’ll die protecting you. Second, if your death occurs, I’ll kill her in revenge. Drop the subject.” Xavier inserted a warning in the silky soft words. “Why don’t you hear her out? After that, you have my permission to get your hackles up.” He chuckled at his own joke. “This is humorous since I
am
the werewolf in the group.”

“Funny.
” Sophia met Renn’s gaze. They rolled their eyes and for one brief moment, the women were on the same page. The moment was broken when the mermaid dumped her harpoon gun on the coffee table with a muffled clatter. “So, what made you decide to take up residence in an old school bus?” She glanced around the length of the bus and shuddered at the decorator’s nightmare of a chintz explosion, complete with white ruffled eyelet curtains at each window. “It’s quite, uh, something.”

Floral patterns in all shapes, sizes, and colors adorned every available fabric surface, blurring slightly in the gentle current.

“It’s amazing what you can get on Ebay.” Renn busied herself with a teapot and poured out three cups then distributed them. “What? You thought mermaids just floated through bodies of water, eternally playing with the fish, perhaps flipping around in circles while singing stupid children’s songs?” She paused. “You’ve got a lot to learn about the world, Sophia. Naiveté can be deadly.”

“You bought the bus online? How did you get it delivered?
” That one fact wouldn’t leave her alone.

“Of course not. I found the bus at the bottom of the lake the last time I happened to shift.
” She shrugged as if the details bored her. “I come here when I’m in mermaid form. No one bothers me in the water.” She glared. “Until you two showed up.”

“Sorry. Given the chance, I would have steered clear, trust me. Besides, it’s Hannah fault. If I had the choice, I’m sure I could have found a mermaid elsewhere.
” She experimentally swished her hand through the water in front of her and frowned.

“What are you doing?
”

“Explain to me why hair and fabric moves in the lake current, but other objects remain stationary.
” Sophia clicked her tongue against the back of her teeth. “Shouldn’t everything float?” She picked up a teaspoon then dropped it, frowning when it clattered to the floor just beyond her tail fin. “I don’t understand.”

A growl from Xavier signaled his annoyance. “
Is this pertinent to our cause?”

“Yes. If something doesn’t make sense to me I want to know why.
”

“Perhaps we could determine the exact reasoning at a later time?
” He lightly tapped his teaspoon against the side of his cup then laid it carefully on the saucer, his eyes hooded.

“Why is it that when I want questions answered they have to wait, but when you have a need it’s suddenly the most important issue on the planet?
” She swatted a curious trout away and glared at the werewolf.

“Because I
’m the dominant one in this relationship.” His voice was soft and faintly teasing. “I keep trying to tell you this.”

“You
’re a chauvinist.”

A strangled sound issued from Renn’s throat. She threw a cucumber sandwich across the room where it was pounced on by a hovering school of eager bluegill. “Would you two stop bickering?
” Green eyes flashed and she glanced with longing at her harpoon gun. “It all has to do with the electromagnetic properties already in the Earth, the chemical properties of the object in question, and the tilt of the Earth itself. I don’t have time to teach science to you.”

“Whatever.
” Sophia wasn’t satisfied with the explanation but then again, she dealt heavily in the magical world. Maybe that didn’t require in-depth reasoning. She slouched against the chair, squeaking in surprise when she disturbed a box turtle.

Xavier turned a laugh into a cough as he regarded Renn. “Explain why you wish to kill my mate.
”

“Yes, perhaps you could jog my memory regarding how you and I know each other.
” Sophia shot him a warning glance, but the werewolf merely grinned.

“You can’t recall that all-important detail?
” As she angrily tossed her head, her green hair fell over her chest. “I know it was the single biggest event in my life to date.”

Xavier leaned forward and placed his teacup on the table. “Perhaps you should tell us the story. Sophia meets quite a number of people her line of work.
”

“It happened shortly after I had been freed from Andre’s museum of horrors. I met Sophia at a bus stop on my way to a job interview. We struck up a conversation, and I might have told her I had some paranormal powers. The next thing I knew, she dragged me home on the pretense of offering me coffee.
”

Oh no
. Sophia narrowed her eyes and studied Renn’s face. Yes, she did seem vaguely familiar, but she couldn’t identify why. “You couldn’t possibly be the same person.” Her birthmark burned. “Surely not.”

“Couldn’t I?
” Renn turned to Xavier, a hand on his thigh. “You’re a shape shifter so you know what I’m talking about. When we’re in human form, we appear much different from our alternative persona. The only way our paranormal properties could be revealed is if we told another person or we happened to shift.”

“True, but you chose to share your abilities with Sophia. You cannot fault her.
” The corners of his mouth lifted in a small grin as he removed the mermaid’s hand.

Sophia lost a piece of her heart to him in that moment.

“No, it was my own fault I blabbed my secret. Once inside Sophia’s apartment, I had no sooner started to cover up my story when she shoved me through the Portal and turned me over to Sterling.”

“Oh sure, when you tell the story like that it makes me sound heartless.
” Sophia met Xavier’s shocked gaze and shook her head. “She’s got it wrong.”

A sly grin stole across Renn’s face, stretching the skin over already high cheekbones. “I don’t think so. You didn’t allow me to explain my situation or plead my case. You were ruthless.
” She turned the full effect of her smile on Xavier, flipping her heavy hair over a shoulder. “That wasn’t the worst of the experience. The Portal Master detained me in a windowless room until I could transform for him. I can’t just bring on the hiccups randomly!”

“Of course not.
”

“Hiccups?
” Sophia glanced at the werewolf. He shrugged. “Don’t you understand? It’s my job. I have no choice, and it seems to me your life didn’t turn out that badly.”

“Sterling reassigned me as the Activities Director at this country club.
” She left the sofa to swim about the close confines of the bus. Her tail swished in small, aggravated strokes. “Do you think I enjoy this sort of thing? My mind and intelligence are being wasted by these menial tasks.” She drifted to a stop near Xavier, her eyes stormy and flashing. “My future could have been so much more until you put an end to it all.”

“If you want to be angry over your current circumstances then please direct it at Sterling.
” Sophia stared at Renn, and resisted the urge to giggle at the unaccustomed feeling of the gills in her neck. “I was only doing my job.”

“I concede you may have a point.
” Renn drifted to a sitting position next to Xavier once more, a thoughtful expression on her face.

“Thanks.
” Sophia glanced at Xavier, startled to find his intense gaze on her, watching, waiting. Her stomach flipped as excitement rushed in to replace her annoyance. “Let me be honest with you, Renn. As much as you hate your job, I hate mine twenty times more. I report directly to the Portal Master and carry out the jobs he’s too cowardly to execute. I’m the face of the company that people see and despise. Mostly despise.”

Renn raked her fingers through her long hair. “I apologize. My outburst was misplaced.
”

The corners of Xavier’s mouth twitched. “Now that you girls have come to a tentative peace perhaps we should get down to business.
”

Sophia smiled then said to Renn, “He really is the most insufferable man and will stop at nothing until he’s proven right.
”

For the first time since they arrived, the mermaid wore a genuine smile. “He has always been so. The last time I saw him he swaggered through a crowded reception hall in a white tuxedo, mingling with the wealthy middle class.
” She allowed her grin to encompass the werewolf. “He likes fine and unusual things in life.”

Xavier shrugged, the gesture as elegant under the water as it was on land. “I refuse to apologize for my taste in material trappings.
”

“Unusual must be the order of the day, otherwise we
wouldn’t have come in search of you.” She toyed with her teacup before finally letting it rest back on the coffee table. Would she always be doomed to meet Xavier’s friends, only to find out she’d betrayed them to Sterling? Would he resent that fact after a while?

“What do you require of me, Xavier? A wish granted. A night of carnal pleasure?
” She arched a green eyebrow and draped herself over his chest like a living blanket. “Aren’t you the least bit curious as to how mermaids engage in sexual activity?”

“Get your hands off my werewolf.
” The anger behind the words surprised Sophia. While she admitted she harbored a certain curiosity about mer-people reproduction methods she wasn’t about to inquire. She had a feeling it would be more ick than ooh-la-la. “If anyone gets a night of pleasure with the wannabe Adonis, it’s me.”

Xavier’s eyes glowed deep amber. He shifted the wanton bundle of flesh and fin from his lap. “I
’ll pass on the offer. My mate is the only woman I need.”