near-nudity. Her bikini barely covered the pertinent parts.
“Are you ready to go back?” he asked, but the way he scanned her body and the husky tone of his voice told her he was in no hurry.
She patted the sand beside her. “Sit for a minute.”
He dropped down beside her and grains of sand peppered her skin. His leg brushed against hers as he stretched out with his arms behind his head, and his flesh was cool.
“You really love the water,” she noted.
“It’s always interesting down there, and I love the feeling of weightlessness, like flying but without any fear of falling.”
She smiled. “No, only the fear of drowning.”
Jacob gazed out at the ocean, his eyes nearly matching its intense blue. “There are plenty of things to fear in the world. Death isn’t one of them.”
She propped her head on her hand and watched him. “What is? What do you fear, Jacob?”
“I fear the cruelty and viciousness some men are capable of, the pain they inflict on those weaker than themselves. But for myself, I fear nothing anymore. Everyone I cared about has already been taken away, so I don’t have to fear the loss of them.”
“What about Valarian? You must care for him.”
“Must I?” He stared at her, then shrugged. “Maybe I do. But I don’t worry on his behalf. He’ll always be all right.”
Akila reached out and touched his arm. “It must be strange to live so isolated from the world.”
“We don’t always stay on the island.”
“That’s not what I mean. I think you could live in the middle of the busiest city in the world and be alone, just the two of you.”
“Enough talking about me and Valarian.” He abruptly changed the subject. “Tell me about yourself. What are some things you like to do, hobbies, likes and dislikes?”
“I’d like to be a writer. I studied journalism in college, but it’s a hard field to break into.” She sighed. “Anyway, if money were no object, I think I’d be happier writing fiction. That’s what I’d really like to do.
“As for hobbies,” she continued, “there are so many things I enjoy. Writing and reading. Sports like skateboarding, skating and rock climbing. I’d like to try sky diving someday. Crazy, huh? I’m afraid to be under a little water, but not afraid to jump from an airplane.”
Jacob smiled. “Flying isn’t for me. I’ll do it, but I don’t like it. What is something you hate?”
Akila didn’t pause to think before answering. “Liars.”
Miguel’s face flashed through her mind. She hadn’t thought of him in a long time and the memory of his cheating no longer had the power to devastate her. She’d grown up a lot since that college romance. Still, he’d been her first big heartbreak and one she’d always remember.
Jacob nodded. “I, too, despise liars. I’ve met far too many of them in my life. Although I suppose I must be included among them. I lie all the time on behalf of Valarian.”
“That’s different. Shielding his identity isn’t the same as, for example, scamming old people out of their life savings. What you do is necessary.”
“Is it?” He met her gaze. “What if we were to go public, reveal that vampires exist? Maybe then we could expose Carl Overton for what he is, and stop his movement before it gains too much power.”
Akila frowned. “Maybe there wouldn’t be any need for a savior after all.”
He shrugged. “It’s something I’ve been thinking about, weighing the pros and cons. But it could start a witch-hunt and might put Valarian in danger.”
“Does he know you’re considering it?” she asked.
His gaze returned to the sea and now his eyes were as dark and brooding as the ocean on a stormy day. “I think so. Maybe. He tends to read my mind.”
“We should discuss it with him. It sounds like a real option.” Akila was enthusiastic. Anything that would prevent her from being turned into a baby-making machine sounded good.
“He won’t like it.” Jacob sat up and turned
“Are you ready to go back?” he asked, but the way he scanned her body and the husky tone of his voice told her he was in no hurry.
She patted the sand beside her. “Sit for a minute.”
He dropped down beside her and grains of sand peppered her skin. His leg brushed against hers as he stretched out with his arms behind his head, and his flesh was cool.
“You really love the water,” she noted.
“It’s always interesting down there, and I love the feeling of weightlessness, like flying but without any fear of falling.”
She smiled. “No, only the fear of drowning.”
Jacob gazed out at the ocean, his eyes nearly matching its intense blue. “There are plenty of things to fear in the world. Death isn’t one of them.”
She propped her head on her hand and watched him. “What is? What do you fear, Jacob?”
“I fear the cruelty and viciousness some men are capable of, the pain they inflict on those weaker than themselves. But for myself, I fear nothing anymore. Everyone I cared about has already been taken away, so I don’t have to fear the loss of them.”
“What about Valarian? You must care for him.”
“Must I?” He stared at her, then shrugged. “Maybe I do. But I don’t worry on his behalf. He’ll always be all right.”
Akila reached out and touched his arm. “It must be strange to live so isolated from the world.”
“We don’t always stay on the island.”
“That’s not what I mean. I think you could live in the middle of the busiest city in the world and be alone, just the two of you.”
“Enough talking about me and Valarian.” He abruptly changed the subject. “Tell me about yourself. What are some things you like to do, hobbies, likes and dislikes?”
“I’d like to be a writer. I studied journalism in college, but it’s a hard field to break into.” She sighed. “Anyway, if money were no object, I think I’d be happier writing fiction. That’s what I’d really like to do.
“As for hobbies,” she continued, “there are so many things I enjoy. Writing and reading. Sports like skateboarding, skating and rock climbing. I’d like to try sky diving someday. Crazy, huh? I’m afraid to be under a little water, but not afraid to jump from an airplane.”
Jacob smiled. “Flying isn’t for me. I’ll do it, but I don’t like it. What is something you hate?”
Akila didn’t pause to think before answering. “Liars.”
Miguel’s face flashed through her mind. She hadn’t thought of him in a long time and the memory of his cheating no longer had the power to devastate her. She’d grown up a lot since that college romance. Still, he’d been her first big heartbreak and one she’d always remember.
Jacob nodded. “I, too, despise liars. I’ve met far too many of them in my life. Although I suppose I must be included among them. I lie all the time on behalf of Valarian.”
“That’s different. Shielding his identity isn’t the same as, for example, scamming old people out of their life savings. What you do is necessary.”
“Is it?” He met her gaze. “What if we were to go public, reveal that vampires exist? Maybe then we could expose Carl Overton for what he is, and stop his movement before it gains too much power.”
Akila frowned. “Maybe there wouldn’t be any need for a savior after all.”
He shrugged. “It’s something I’ve been thinking about, weighing the pros and cons. But it could start a witch-hunt and might put Valarian in danger.”
“Does he know you’re considering it?” she asked.
His gaze returned to the sea and now his eyes were as dark and brooding as the ocean on a stormy day. “I think so. Maybe. He tends to read my mind.”
“We should discuss it with him. It sounds like a real option.” Akila was enthusiastic. Anything that would prevent her from being turned into a baby-making machine sounded good.
“He won’t like it.” Jacob sat up and turned
Similar Books
