Against All Odds

Chapter 54

STELLA

There were two whale sharks.

And even though one was considerably smaller than the other, they were massive.

Far more overwhelmingly larger than I could have ever expected.

And being up close and personal with creatures that were so huge instilled an errant tremor of unease through me that I fervently prevented from revealing to Killian.

Because the man was all but clinging to me throughout our swim.

We spent no longer than twenty minutes in the water with the whale sharks as they swam through the currents, their mouths gaping wide as they filtered the plankton they were feeding on in the water around us, and not once did Killian let go of my hand. I could tell that, after being in the water and sharing the same space with the massive, docile creatures for several minutes, soon he began to relax and actually enjoy the experience.

That is, of course, until one of them swam a bit too close for comfort. The water churned and pulled at us as the behemoth swam languidly by, and Killian broke away to frantically swim back to our catamaran.

I had to break the surface because I was laughing too hard, spitting out the mouthpiece of the snorkel to splutter in Killian's wake. He was already hauling his ass up the step ladder at the back of the catamaran.

"Seriously?" I called after him, paddling in the waves to keep myself afloat. "Your bravery astounds me."

He yanked off his mask and snorkel, dark locks of hair scattering every which way and sending a spray of water over him. "That was incredible while it lasted," he returned, "but I'd rather the experience remain a good one than be ingrained in my memory as something that terrorised me for the rest of my life."

I snorted and ducked my head under the waves, quickly ascertaining that the pair of fish were disappearing and continuing on their gigantic way. "They are literally the most gentle animals on the planet," I said as I began to push through the water, back to the catamaran a few feet away.

"And I'd like them to remain that way," Killian told me. He bent down when I latched onto the same ladder he had used, grasping my hand and assisting me climb onto the boat. "I could have very easily fit inside one of their mouths."

"They eat plankton, not scared political analysts." The dryness of my tone awarded me a stern look from Killian.

"Again," he said pointedly, "I wouldn't wish to change that."

Dripping water everywhere, I couldn't help but laugh. Killian often surprised me with moments of sheer irrationality. His nature was a curious dichotomy of reason and logic combined with a stray vein of fantastical that always caught me off guard. The man could justify any analysis in political discourse as well as argue with a seriousness that broached no room for correction on why Star Trek: The Next Generation was the best show.

I kinda adored that about him.

Feeling overwhelmed with all sorts of emotions that warmed me and scared the living shit out of me, I moved into Killian's cool, wet body and slid my arms around his waist. Perhaps everything that was happening between us, unspoken yet tangible, combined with the experience of swimming with the whale sharks and Killian's surprise this morning because he took into account that I had to fulfil contractual obligations by taking part in everything the resort had to offer, contributed to the feelings sweeping through my limbs like thick honey.

Again, it was so easy to fall into an easy flirtation with him, as if nothing had happened in our past that put a rift between us. Killian's arms swept around me, drawing me closer to him and holding me tight, as if he could absorb me into him.