The Shark Who Rode a Seahorse (6 page)

Most of the staff of the agency had already gone by now, and Skylar experienced a moment of guilt for forcing his secretary to stay.

That thought vanished as Byron led him out and toward his large vehicle.

Byron’s car would have stood out in any parking lot, since it seemed custom-made for its owner. Massive, but at the same time managing to be elegant, it had drawn Skylar’s admiration. He had a little passion for cars, and he recognized a good one when he saw it.

Byron opened the door for him, and Skylar slid into the vehicle, taking shotgun. It had somehow been decided that he would go wherever Byron took him. As the shark occupied the driver’s seat, Skylar couldn’t help but ask, “Where are we going?”

“I’m taking you out to dinner,” Byron said with a brief smile. “We need to talk.”

Those famous words were the ones any person in a relationship dreaded to hear. However, Skylar and Byron didn’t have a relationship per se. They’d only had sex once, and that time only amounted to a blow job. Skylar had relived those moments many times, wondering if he’d misjudged Byron’s attraction and if it had been a pity blow job after all. Perhaps today, he would find out.

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Byron drove them to an elegant downtown restaurant. “They cook excellent seafood meals here,” Byron explained. “I went ahead and made reservations.”

“I’m familiar with it,” Skylar replied, somewhat surprised at the choice and at the empty parking lot. There were always many people around, since its quality services made it a very popular restaurant.

Byron was right about one thing. The seafood here tasted delicious.

Curious, Skylar followed behind Byron as the shark led him out of the car and toward the restaurant. The lights were dim, but Skylar was, after all, a shape-shifter. He realized then that the place was, indeed, empty, and began to understand.

“Just what kind of reservations did you make?” he asked Byron.

Byron grinned at him. “The whole place, of course. What did you think?”

The maître d’ appeared and greeted both of them by name. He directed them to an already set table with a beautiful centerpiece of flowers and romantic candles. Skylar was touched by the detail, even if he didn’t know whether Byron had chosen it to be so or not. More than anything, he understood the reason of why Byron had chosen to come here.

It was a space Skylar felt familiar with, but at the same time, by reserving the whole restaurant, Byron had granted them absolute privacy. Once again, Skylar wondered just how well Byron knew him.

After they were seated, they received menus, and Skylar glanced over the list, even if he knew it by heart. He chose his favorite, coconut fried shrimp—he was, after all, a seahorse—while Byron went with the boiled crab.

While they waited for their dinner, they were served appetizer mussels and Chardonnay to complement the dish. After that, the waiters disappeared, at last leaving Skylar and Byron alone.

In the beginning, Byron didn’t speak and just stared at him with those unfathomable black eyes. Skylar fidgeted, remembering Byron’s words from the car. It unsettled him, as did Byron’s silence.

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“Why did you bring me here?” Skylar finally forced himself to ask. “What did you want to talk about?”

To distract himself, Skylar took a mussel from the appetizer plate and worked it open. As he slid the meat into his mouth, Byron finally spoke. “To ask you a question. Do you want me or not?”

Skylar choked on the smooth mussel meat. Hastily, Byron shot to his feet and offered him the glass of wine. Skylar gratefully took it and washed down the errant meal with the liquid. It must have been sacrilege to waste such good vintage when Skylar couldn’t really enjoy it, but truly, wine was the last thing on his mind.

He put the glass back down, and Byron took his cue to seat himself opposite Skylar once more. Embarrassed at his own gaffe, Skylar wiped his lips with the napkin. He tried to focus on providing an answer for Byron’s previous question. It was actually very easy, but for whatever reason, Skylar hesitated.

“Yes or no, Skylar,” Byron prodded. Those black eyes seemed to be hot coals burning into Skylar’s skin. “It’s not an ultimatum, only a choice, and I will be by your side whether you choose to pursue a relationship between us or not.” Byron reached for his hand and squeezed it. “Now tell me, Skylar. Yes or no.”

Skylar remembered the few kisses they’d shared and the way Byron had touched him. He didn’t know why he was so afraid. Cancel that. He did know. As soon as he’d left Byron’s side to return to live in his own home, his demons had returned. He’d relived the moments of his near-rape over and over, and at this point, he no longer even knew which way was up.

The worst thing was that when they’d originally come to LA, Byron had insisted on them staying together as much as possible.

Skylar had been the one to demand space. It had seemed to him that Byron had been faced for far too long with Skylar’s drama, and sometimes, he just wanted to fall apart when alone.

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He was torn, so torn. The shame of being touched by Rick still loomed over him, but he didn’t want to give up Byron. He gulped.

“Teach me how to say yes,” he murmured. “I want to.”

Byron nodded, apparently satisfied with the response. He gestured toward the mussels. “Eat. You haven’t been feeding yourself enough lately.”

Skylar felt both pleased and somewhat dismayed at the change of topic, but went with it. He allowed himself to fall into the pleasant atmosphere and Byron’s comforting company. For the moment, he would enjoy the dinner. He’d see what followed after that.

* * * *

Seeing Skylar eat mussels was a lesson in sensuality, something Byron should have expected, but oddly, had not. The way Skylar worked the shell open then gently scraped the meat from inside and slid it in his mouth shouldn’t have been so sexy, but Byron couldn’t help imagining having Skylar wrap those pretty pink lips around him and swallow his load down like he did with the appetizer treat.

Even with the sexual tension between them, they fell into easy conversation. Byron inquired about Skylar’s week, and Skylar explained he’d been quite swamped at work. “Especially when my parents aren’t in town, the brunt of the responsibility falls on me.

They helped when I took a couple of days off to deal with Elder Wade’s celebration, but it still kind of piled up.” He paused and released a little laugh. “Now it sounds like I’m whining.”

Byron frowned, hating the self-berating tone. “It might, if you were saying it to someone else,” he answered. He didn’t say anything else, but he didn’t have to.

Skylar’s eyes shone with emotion and understanding. “I suppose you’re right. Everyone needs a special person to share his or her own problems with.” A bit hesitantly, Skylar reached for Byron’s hand.

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“And what about you? You never told me anything about what you actually do.”

Byron’s enthusiasm about being “a special person” for Skylar dwindled a bit at the inquiry. He didn’t know if he wanted Skylar involved with Byron’s work. The filth he dealt with shouldn’t touch someone as pure as Skylar. He sighed to himself, deciding that at this point, he couldn’t keep absolute secrecy, not if he expected Skylar to open up to him.

At the same time, during the past week, it had become increasingly obvious that Byron could no longer function without Skylar. Noble intentions and all, Byron could not give up the seahorse now.

“You’re familiar with what I do, Skylar,” he said evasively.

“Well, yes, but I don’t know the details.” Skylar retracted his hand, obviously a bit disappointed. “Of course, if you can’t tell me…”

Skylar was retreating behind his façade again, and Byron knew he could not allow it. “I can tell you bits and pieces,” he said. “I just don’t want you in danger because of what I do.”

Skylar’s expression turned serious. “I’m aware of the peril, Byron, and I realize it won’t be easy.” He seemed to consider something for a few moments. “I imagine my parents won’t be very pleased with my choice, and many people might be against it. But if you can make compromises for me, I can do the same thing. I’m not afraid.”

The way Skylar spoke, so certain, made Byron feel more reassured than throughout the entire dinner. He hid a smile and decided the evening was going better than expected. “We’ll talk.”

With the corner of his eye, he noticed a server hovering just out of earshot. He gestured the man to come over, and indeed, moments later, they were brought their steaming dinners and more wine to accompany their specific meals, Vinho Verde for Skylar and Marsanne for Byron. The remaining appetizers were removed, and Skylar and Byron dug in.

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The deliciously cooked seafood was as tasty as Byron remembered. Of course, Skylar’s presence certainly helped, and Byron noticed with satisfaction that Skylar silently enjoyed the meal, with only the occasional comment.

It was, for lack of a better word, nice. Byron hadn’t really known what he was doing when he’d made these reservations, since he’d never taken lovers out to dinner. He felt awkward, big, and freakish when in public, even if he’d learned to get over the stares. But he hadn’t expected to be so comfortable here, with Skylar, over a shared meal of wine and seafood.

As he finished his dinner, he was reminded about the potency of seafood and its aphrodisiac properties. It had especially interesting effects on shape-shifters like Byron and Skylar. Byron was not surprised at the heavy-lidded look, but it did stir the beast within him.

“Care for desert?” he asked the seahorse.

“Maybe, to go.” Skylar’s eyes widened as if he’d just realized what he’d said. “I mean…”

“I know what you mean.” He got up and gestured Skylar to his feet. “Come on. Time for the next part of the evening.”

He hadn’t been certain whether or not they would, indeed, get to this part, but now, he knew there was no stopping it. He needed to have Skylar in his arms, to show the seahorse how right it could be between them, and at the same time, teach him what being by Byron’s side would imply.

They left the restaurant without looking back since Byron had already left a more than generous pay for the entire evening. He directed Skylar to the car, the sexual tension between them so thick it could have been cut with a knife. Byron found himself unable to resist touching Skylar, however briefly. As Skylar slid into his seat, Byron brushed against him ever so slightly. Even through the material of their clothing, Skylar’s body felt amazing against his own. Byron couldn’t wait to have the seahorse naked and at his mercy once again.

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He closed the door on Skylar’s side and then slipped into the driver’s seat. He drove off, all the while stealing the occasional peek at Skylar. The seahorse seemed nervous, but never once did he question Byron.

It was only when they were approaching their destination that Skylar finally spoke. “Where are we going?” he inquired, sounding a bit unsettled.

Byron hid a smile as he realized the reason of Skylar’s anxiety.

Byron’s house was very close to Skylar’s, by design, not coincidence, of course, but Byron had always paid attention to keep it a secret. For this reason, Skylar most likely thought Byron had deemed the evening over and was taking him home.

“To my place,” he replied, finding no reason why Skylar should worry. “You did say you wanted to know more about me, did you not?”

“Yes.” Skylar’s reply was only a whisper. “I do.”

Nothing else was said, at least not until they reached Byron’s home. When the car rolled into the big gates that guarded Byron’s property, Skylar added, “I didn’t know you lived so close to my parents’ mansion.”

“It’s a recent development.” Byron parked the car and helped Skylar out. “Come. Let me show you around a bit.”

Like in all of his homes in the various places of the world, Byron had made significant modifications to the original state of the structure. The first concern had been security, and after that had been dealt with, Byron had arranged for an office adjoining his bedroom to be changed into a dungeon. He’d also made improvements to the sleeping quarters, anticipating a possible time when he would bring Skylar here. It had been wishful thinking on his part, since he’d never actually intended to pursue the seahorse until the events at the elder werewolf’s party. Nevertheless, Byron was now glad for the extra preparations.

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However, the largest change that had been made was Byron’s addition to the property, a large, covered swimming pool. He’d pumped a great deal of funds to make sure the landscapers dealt with it swiftly and efficiently. The result might not allow him to shift into his animal form, but it was better than nothing.

Since he knew they would not be coming out of the house once they reached the bedroom, Byron took Skylar to the pool first.

“Oh my God, this is amazing,” Skylar breathed out as he took in the swimming area. “I have one at the mansion, but nothing like this.”

Byron chuckled and wrapped his arms around Skylar’s waist.

“I’m glad you like it, sweetheart. You’re going to be spending a lot of time here, with me.”

Skylar shuddered in his arms, and Byron became very interested in getting rid of his lover’s clothes. His dungeon was screaming to be broken into, but they were here now, and there was nothing quite like sex in the water for shape-shifters like Byron and Skylar. After all, they were sea creatures, and they thrived when surrounded by their element.

Skylar didn’t protest as Byron began working on the buttons of his jacket and his shirt. With each discarded item of clothing, Skylar seemed to grow more and more aroused. His legs trembled and Byron helped him into a deck chair next to the pool. The move provided him with easy access to Skylar’s pants and shoes.

With no effort at all, Byron had Skylar naked. Of course, now the real problem appeared, the moment when he himself had to take his clothes off. He didn’t know how Skylar would react to finally seeing him naked.