Shark Bite

by K L Montgomery

  “So take a shower,” I rasp out, my voice barely more than a whisper.

  He looks down at me, those stormy blue eyes swirling with ambivalence. I don’t mean to have such a plea on my face, but I want him to stay. Suddenly everything feels like it hinges on him staying right here with me tonight. I’ve wanted him all this time, and it’s come to a head and…and I don’t want to wait another day or week or month or year to have him again. Even though he’s Shark. And he’ll probably take a bite out of me. Hell, he’ll probably swallow me whole.

  It’s a risk I’m willing to take.

  His lips curl almost imperceptibly up into a smile. “Okay.”

  A gush sluices through me, a form of elation that feels like an adrenaline rush and sugar high all at the same time. “Here, I’ll get you a towel.” I step past him into the hallway and open the bathroom door for him. “Take your time.” I grab a towel and washcloth from the linen closet and set them on the counter.

  “No.” He reaches down and encircles my wrist with his broad fingers. “You’re coming with me.”

  With that, he sweeps me into his arms, his lips crashing into mine, growing ever more voracious as his fingers thread through my hair. He pulls me close to his body, his tongue delving inside my mouth to explore as clothes begin to fly off in all directions.

  Next thing I know, the spray of hot water instigates a tangle of limbs, tongues, and lips, while a swelling symphony of pants, moans, and sighs echoes in our steamy confines. His masterpiece of a body, with its firm mounds of muscles forged from years of rugby, glistens under the water droplets, and I want to lick and kiss every inch of him. Before I can act on my desires, he slides down my soft curves, hitting all the highlights on his way to his knees, where he worships me like a queen.

  He has an excellent memory for what gets me going, let’s just say that much. By the time we dry off and make it to my bed, I’m ready to return the favor. Not only do I bring enthusiasm to the table, but some pretty crafty skills of my own. And I haven’t forgotten the buttons I discovered during our previous encounter.

  Afterwards, I’m lying in his arms, my cheek resting on his massive pec. He didn’t let me cuddle with him last time. This time is different, isn’t it?

  As though he’d read my mind, his raspy voice shatters the silence, “This time is different, isn’t it?”

  “I believe so,” I confirm, pressing a kiss to the tribal tattoo that decorates his chest. “I believe it is. Third time’s the charm.”

  “Third time’s the charm,” he parrots back. He brushes his lips against the top of my head, then strokes his fingers down my back. “I shouldn’t have been so stubborn last time…”

  “You mean we’ve been missing out this whole time?”

  “I’ll make up for it,” he tells me. “I promise…”

  17

  I’m late for work.

  That’s my first thought when I wake up in Megan’s bed. I have no choice but to throw my dirty rugby clothes back on, plant a fast kiss on her cheek as she stretches and shifts in the bed, and hightail it out of there. Then I race back to my place, grab a quick shower and change into my uniform before heading to work.

  I make it just in time to deal with other people’s emergencies. A bike crash on the boardwalk sends two pedestrians to the ER with cuts, scrapes, and possible broken bones. An elderly woman faints outside a restaurant on Route 1. And there’s an overdose out on Route 24, not too far from Megan’s house. Just another Sunday as an EMT.

  As I make my way through the day, I cannot stop thinking of her. And that’s why I head to Walt’s place after my shift, still in uniform.

  “Hey, just got home from the grocery store. You okay, man?” He greets me with a smile when I show up unannounced on his doorstep. He lives in a nice neighborhood. I hadn’t been inside his house, but I knew where he lived because I picked him up once to carpool to an away game.

  “Yeah, I’m good, bro, wanted to talk to you for a sec.”

  He’s got quite the bachelor pad with the biggest TV screen I’ve ever seen and sleek stainless steel appliances and a granite countertop in his kitchen. Every surface is sparkling clean, and it’s all gray and white, with maybe two or three accents of mustard yellow. It looks like it was designed by some interior design school dropout competing on some stupid HGTV reality show. Not my taste, but whatever floats his boat.

  I texted Megan earlier today and told her I’d go talk to Walt. She said she was going to call him and let him down easy. I don’t know if she got a chance because he doesn’t look about ready to punch me right now.

  “Can I get you something to drink? Beer? Water? Soda?” Walt steps into his kitchen and swings the door of his stainless steel fridge open to reveal the neatest, most well-organized fridge I’ve ever seen in my entire life. It’s like Marie Kondo’s had her way with it.

  “Oh, I’m good, man. Really, I don’t plan to take up much of your time.”

  “Here, have a seat.” He gestures toward one of the two leather sofas in his living room. His floorplan is completely open. There’s nothing but two columns separating the kitchen from the living room. I take a seat on the smaller one with no pillows.

  He sits in the leather chair across from me and crosses his legs, folding his hands in his lap. I’ve never understood how guys can sit that way. Maybe my legs are just too big, but there’s no way in hell that could be comfortable.

  “I can only assume you’re here about Megan,” he tells me.

  “Oh.” His face still looks relaxed, so I’m having trouble believing he really understands what’s going on here. That Megan has chosen, and it’s not him. I shouldn’t feel victorious about that, but for once in my life, I’ve been chosen. For once in my life, I’m not the last picked or the one no one wants. “So she called you?” I venture, still trying to understand his calm expression.

  “Shannon, my dear chap,” he tells me, sounding more British than he’s ever sounded before, if that’s even possible, “it’s quite clear to me that you two are completely smitten with each other.”

  “Smitten?” My eyes narrow as the word flies off my tongue.

  “Yes, smitten. She talks about you all the time, and watching you two together yesterday with those kids…well, it’s obvious you’ll be having your own litter in no time.”

  The “litter” statement from the veterinarian forces a smirk to erupt on my mouth. “I don’t know about that—”

  “It’s fine. No hard feelings, okay?” I half-expect him to say, “Stiff upper lip, and all that,” but he doesn’t; he just stares at me with a knowing smile.

  “Well, we only spent one night together, so I don’t really know—”

  “Just treat her well,” he says, “that’s all I ask. And I hear you’re going to be starting a new business venture?”

  “Um, what?” I lean forward, not sure how to interpret that question.

  “The family business?” he clarifies.

  “Oh…” Megan must have told him. “Well, I’m thinking of trying to get a loan so I can buy out my father before he sells the property and horses and puts the carriages in a museum.”

  “I want to be your first investor,” Walt says, lacing his fingers together. “Seriously. I’ll give you a check right now if you want.”

  I struggle to keep my jaw from dropping. I really thought I was coming over here to break Walt’s heart. I didn’t expect him to offer me money. This is crazy.

  “How much does he want?” Walt asks, pulling a checkbook out of a drawer of the desk next to the chair.

  “Uh…” My stepmom sent me an email a few days ago with the figures. I needed two hundred fifty thousand dollars. I had fifty in the bank from when I sold my bicycle shop—I had to use the rest for something else. So I needed two hundred. I swallow hard before saying, “I was hoping to get a loan—”

  He clicks the pen and presses it to the pad of checks. “Seriously, Shark, just tell me.”

  I finally gather up my wits. “Let me
see if I can get a loan first.” I swallow hard, trying to weather the whirlwind of changes that has swept me up in its twisting currents in the past twenty-four hours. “I’m headed over to see my friend Meric tonight, and he’s going to help me with the loan application.”

  “Okay, sure.” Walt nods and smiles. “I do want to help, though. I believe your business needs to stay in the family.”

  “Thanks, bro. That means a lot to me.” I stand, my legs feeling a little like jelly, and it’s hard to know if it’s from eighty minutes of rugby yesterday, working all day today, the completely unexpected epiphany I’ve had about Megan, or the sheer craziness that has ensued since I set foot in Walt’s home.

  He steps toward me and slings his arm around my shoulder, pulling me in for a man hug. I’m still reeling as I pace toward the door, then down the steps to my truck. The whole drive to Meric’s, my mind is crisscrossed with images of Walt smiling and pulling out his checkbook and flashes of Megan from the night before, her silky brown hair falling like a curtain in front of her face and the way the moonlight streaming in the bedroom window highlighted her sensuous curves. I thought things were falling apart as recently as a few days ago, from our team losing its sponsors to my family’s business being sold right out from under me, but now, for the first time in a long time, things could actually work out in my favor. That would be a first for Shark Kelly.

  I might finally be reaping my reward for pulling myself up by my bootstraps, finishing school, getting a good job and keeping my nose clean—to the best of my ability—for the past couple of years. Yes, having to sell my bicycle shop business knocked me off course a bit, but maybe now my past was finally done haunting me. I was poised on the threshold of all the good things I never thought I deserved: a family, a career, great friends…and the love of my life.

  Maybe that promise Megan and I made on the beach all those years ago could be kept after all?

  “Hey, man,” Meric says as he opens the door to reveal me standing on his welcome mat. “Did you want to grab something to eat before we look at the paperwork? Lindy and Megan went out to dinner.”

  I laugh. “Of course they did. They’re talking about us, you know.”

  “I know, man. My ears are burning already.” Meric chuckles as he opens the door wide so I can come in and so Lucius can jump on me and try to lick my face. The normal routine.

  “Let’s order pizza or something, yeah?” I suggest. “My treat. Least I can do to repay you for helping me with the loan stuff.”

  “Yeah, of course. Sounds great!”

  He makes the call to whatever pizza joint is closest to their place, and I explore their living room, noticing photos I’d never paid attention to before. There’s one of their wedding party on the beach last summer. And there’s one of the two of them, Lindy swept up in Meric’s embrace as her hair blows in the breeze coming off the ocean. They got married right on Rehoboth Beach—it started off as a fake wedding with a very long story behind it, but by the end of the night, they’d actually tied the knot. Their faces are radiant, glowing with love and adoration. They couldn’t look happier than they do in that moment.

  Could I have that?

  Could I have it with Megan?

  An hour later, we have most of the paperwork filled out, and I’m only missing a few pieces of documentation I’ll need to gather up to submit when I take it to the bank. Meric says I’ll probably hear something in a week or so. All I can do is pray the house doesn’t sell before then.

  “So…you and Megan?” Meric questions as he pops open the lid of the pizza box and lets the aroma of sausage, pepperoni, onions and green pepper fill his kitchen. As soon as it works its way inside my nose, my stomach growls in anticipation.

  “Maybe I’m a relationship guy, after all,” I admit as I slide a steaming hot slice onto one of the plates Meric set out on the counter.

  “Wow, man, that’s incredible.” He’s beaming. I’ve never seen Meric this animated except for when he was on stage two years ago in Yo Ho Rehoboth—and he played a pirate, so of course he was animated. Right now he’s playing the role of accountant slash father-to-be, yet he looks like he’s about to go on his favorite ride at his favorite theme park.

  “Well, we’re still feeling our way, but…you never know. If I can get this loan and keep this business… I mean, I love being an EMT, but it’s not a legacy, you know?”

  “You can pass the carriage company down to Shark Jr. someday,” Meric says, his mouth still spread wide in a grin.

  “Probably getting a little ahead of ourselves.” I chuckle, but it could happen.

  Those two kids on Rehoboth Beach all those summers ago, the ones who promised they’d get married and love each other forever…

  That crazy promise they made might actually be kept.

  I only see my therapist once a month now. When I first got into trouble two years ago, I went to group sessions weekly, and then individual sessions weekly. My therapist was pleased with the progress I made in the first six months, so then we went to every other week. And now, I feel like I’m in maintenance mode. She says I’ve graduated, but I’ve told her she’s stuck with me now. That just made her laugh.

  “Well, hello, Shannon, long time no see! How are things going for you?” She adjusts herself in her leather swivel chair and fluffs her natural curls as she pins her brown gaze on me.

  “I’m doing well,” I answer as flashes of my night with Megan blink inside my head like a strobe light.

  She looks down to review some notes before easing out in her rich, creamy voice, “Last time we talked, you were looking for ideas to help your rugby club. Some of your teammates had gotten into trouble, and I suggested a new public relations strategy. What came of that?”

  “Well…” Tess knows I never hold anything back, well, not anymore—I had to learn to trust her first. She once told me I used sex for validation. She told me the only person who could validate me was me. She’s a smart lady, what can I say? “I found a PR person, and now we’re…dating? I guess?”

  Her eyebrows arch as she looks me over, the tiniest smile turning up the corners of her berry-colored lips. She sits back in her chair, folding her arms in her lap. It’s her signal for me to have at it, to spill my guts.

  “It turns out she’s someone I know from when I was young.” I go on to tell her the whole story about my early years in Delaware. She knows the rest about what happened when I left. “But I haven’t told her what happened in Pennsylvania yet…or at my bike shop.”

  “Are you going to tell her?” Tess’s brow is arched again.

  “I want to.” I know that much is true, but I don’t know where to start. How to start. “I don’t want her to think any less of me. Right now she thinks I’m a good person, that I’m a leader of my team. She thinks I have a noble profession.”

  “None of that is untrue,” Tess interjects.

  “Right, but—” I shake my head as I work to get to the bottom of what’s holding me back. “I’m afraid of hurting her. Like my dad hurt my mom. Like she hurt him. Like my dad has hurt Kathy, and my mom has hurt me. Like my brother has hurt me. My family only knows how to hurt. We don’t know how to love.”

  “Shannon, you’ve changed. You’ve grown. You’ve been very deliberate in learning to identify your feelings and purposefully choose responses and actions to follow. You’ve put in the work. They haven’t. Now you have to trust yourself. Trust yourself to make good choices and balance your needs with other people’s.”

  I nod. I had a feeling she would say that.

  “The world is your oyster, Shannon. Don’t let your past hold you back.”

  18

  “So how did it go with the permits office?” I ask, peeking my head into my boss’s office. She just got out of a meeting with a couple of the account representatives, so I know she’s not in the middle of anything at the moment. And I came bearing coffee.

  “Oh, hi, Megan!” Her face lights up when she sees me. “Come on in.”

>   I enter gingerly and set the piping hot coffee, made the way she likes it with extra cream and a little stevia, on her desk. “Just wondering if you were able to secure the permit.”

  “Yes, ma’am. They should be sending you an email confirmation shortly. I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate your doing the charity dinner for me on Friday night. There’s a really lovely photo of you and your date on their Facebook page.”

  “There is?” My heart kicks up its beat as she moves the mouse to click on Facebook, a tab that’s already pulled up on her computer. She reveals a photo of myself and Walt standing near the bar. I look a little bored, and my girls are probably showing too much cleavage, but otherwise it’s not a bad pic. Walt looks amazing, of course.

  “You’re dating Dr. Byrd?” she questions, giving me a knowing grin. “He’s our veterinarian.”

  Andrea has two pugs, and she’s wild about them. There are approximately a hundred photos of them spread throughout her office. Pugsly and Princess. They’re brother and sister.

  “Oh, not really dating. We’re just good friends,” I assure her.

  “Oh, that’s too bad. I’ve been teasing him that he needs to find a good American woman and start his own family. He’ll make such a great dad…” Her voice is dreamy as her eyes glaze over. It sounds like she’s the one who wants to date him.

  I can’t help but change the subject back to the permits thing. “So, they’ll email me? The carnival is next weekend. I’m finalizing all the plans right now, and our committee meets later this week, so I want to be able to tell them everything’s a go.”

  “Yeah, of course,” she waves her hand dismissively at me, “don’t worry about a thing.”

  “Thanks, Andrea!” I give her a little salute, instantly realizing how idiotic I look, and back away from her desk at the moment my phone starts to ring in my pocket. I’m an idiot who forgot to put it on vibrate this morning. I reach down and turn it off, issuing my sincerest apologies to my boss as I leave her office. I will call whoever it was back later.