by Milly Taiden
He gestured with his head to the saber-toothed exhibit behind them. “The two species coexisted for millennia, side by side. Separate but equal.”
Becca watched his face and smiled at the kid-like delight in his eyes as he explained the different animals and their prehistoric eras.
“I never would have taken you for a history nerd,” she teased.
“Brains and brawn aren’t mutually exclusive, Bec.” He slid his arm from her shoulder and took her hand, lifting her fingers to his lips.
“I love it here,” Jay continued. “Being surrounded by all this history and science gives me a foundation, and time to think about who I am.” He shrugged. “You can’t know where you’re going unless you know where you’ve come from.”
He gave a chin pop toward the smaller animals surrounding the two apex predators exhibited. “Everything here explains our past. Canines and felines competing for prey to survive, for territory to live and breed. For us, things may have gotten more civilized, but it all boils down to the same thing. Shifter wolves and shifter cats—mountain lions, leopards—it doesn’t matter. We’re still in competition.”
“Are we?” Becca asked, looking at him with new eyes.
“Sure. Can you deny that your Leap will be overjoyed that the male you chose for your mate is a wolf?”
She shook her head. “No, I suppose not. Not everyone, but some.”
“Exactly, but if you look at where we came from,” he spread his arm out, “like what they’ve displayed here, we’ve actually come a long way, and with us now, maybe we can take it to the next level.”
She looked into his bright eyes. “I bet you were one of those kids who watched travelogues on TV growing up.”
Jay laughed. “Guilty as charged. I still am. I live for NatGeo and the Discovery Channel.”
Grinning, she hooked her arm with his. “What? No Animal Planet?”
He faux shivered. “Ooh, baby. Talk animal to me.”
They moved through the hall of primitive mammals into an adjoining corridor. “So, lady, where to next? Dinosaurs? Birds?”
Becca shrugged. “I like those, sure, but they’re not my favorite.”
“Not into T-Rex and his pals.” He chuckled. “Okay, then. What are you into, besides me, that is?”
She smiled at him. “Ocean life.”
Jaylon nodded, impressed. “I would never have guessed. You’re a Shark Week kind of gal, huh?”
Now it was her turn to shrug. “When your people come from the forests and mountains, you don’t get much time near the ocean. The mystery ends up holding your imagination hostage. At least for me.”
“And I live my life surrounded by ocean.” He slipped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. “At least I know you’ll love living with me for that alone. My house is right on the beach.”
“Right on the beach? Like walk out the back onto the sand, beach?”
He nodded again. “You can even see dolphins in the water from time to time.”
She grinned, realizing Jay had steered them into the hall with everything ocean. “Oh, Jay,” she murmured. “This is amazing.” She didn’t know where to look first.
“What’s your favorite? Sharks? Seals?”
Becca shook her head. “Nope.” Looking up, she pointed toward the large exhibit hanging from the ceiling. “Right there. That is my all-time favorite.”
“Whales?”
She nodded. “I’ve never seen one in real life.” Walking toward the informational plaque, she exhaled. “Even this is a fiberglass model. I’d love to see one out in the ocean. It’s fluke breaking the surface like a giant sea fan. Free and majestic, not held in some tank at an amusement park.”
Jaylon took her hand in his again. “Stick with me, kid. I got connections when it comes to all things ocean.”
She laughed at his 1940’s gangster imitation. “What, you going to make the whales an offer they can’t refuse?”
He laughed out loud. “Sharks, seals, whales, and the Godfather. What a mix you are, love.”
16
“Rise and shine, valentine.” Jay nibbled on Becca’s ear, whispering.
Her eyes opened and she rolled over with a stretch. “Jay? What time is it? It looks dark out.”
“Six a.m.”
Both eyes blinked open and she turned to stare at the clock on the night table. “Six a.m.! Jaylon, are you a sadist?”
He pulled the covers from her and she shivered, rolling into a ball. “Oh my god! What did you turn the A/C to? Arctic?”
“And it’s going to get a lot colder once we get moving. I’ve arranged for hot coffee and a continental breakfast to be packed for us. The concierge has everything waiting downstairs.”
She scrubbed her face. “Downstairs? Now? I thought we were sleeping in this morning and then having a picnic in the park this afternoon?”
He laughed. “Nope.”
“No picnic?”
With a smirk, he tugged her up from her pillow. “We are still picnicking, but I’ve changed the venue. Get up and get that sweet ass of yours in the bathroom or you’ll make me ruin the surprise.”
She slipped her hands from his, putting them up in defense. “Okay, okay, boss. I’m up.”
Getting out of bed, she shivered again. “Why did you say it was going to be cold? Has mother nature gone postal and decided to drop snow in mid-June?”
He laughed. “Nope, but it’s always chillier the closer you get to the water.”
“Manhattan is an island, Jaylon. If we were any closer to the water we’d be swimming.”
He scooped her up over his shoulder fireman style and carried her into the bathroom. “THAT can be arranged.”
“JAY!”
Laughing, he flicked on the shower and dumped her in before stepping into the spray with her. “What do you say to a little mouth-to-mouth? I wouldn’t want you to drown.”
She slid her arms over his shoulders and giggled. “Well, better safe than sorry.”
“East River Heliport, please.” Jay gave the cabbie the address and they pulled into the early morning rush.
“Heliport? As in helicopter?” Becca looked at Jay as he leaned back from the driver.
He nodded. “I thought a half hour flight would be better than sitting in traffic for two hours.”
“Where are we headed? Montauk? That’s two hours from the city.”
He smiled, closing her hand in his. “Someone’s been googling my hometown.”
She gave him a sheepish grin. “Sorry. I couldn’t help it. Besides, it made for very interesting reading. Deep Water is also the name on a ton of businesses. Is that you, too?”
“Yep.” He nodded. “I told you we’re pretty mainstreamed. Our businesses are mostly tourist trade. Hikes, water sports, hotels, beachy summer stuff, but we also own vineyards and hotels. It was my great-grandfather’s vision to make Deep Water self-sufficient and solvent financially.”
“Looks like he succeeded.” Becca glanced out the cab’s window, quiet.
“You okay?” Jaylon asked.
Nodding, she turned to look at him. “I can’t help but feel like this is a dream.”
He laughed. “Except, it’s not.”
“I know, but still.” She laughed a little to herself. “It’s funny, really. I never thought I’d want this sort of thing. But now—”
“What thing?”
She shrugged again. “You. This. Oh, I don’t know. Everything.”
The taxi turned into the heliport and pulled around to a private deck. The helicopter sat on its pad across the tarmac and Jay lifted a hand in its direction.
“Well, love. It’s all there for the taking.” He opened the door and slipped from the backseat, holding his hand out for her. “All you have to do is grab hold.”
The cabbie took their one bag from the back along with the hotel’s packed breakfast and handed it to Jaylon. With a nod, he paid the man and then stood with Becca as one of the ground crew walked to take the item
s to stow them in the back of the helicopter.
“Ready?” Jay asked.
Becca looked across the dark polluted water of the East River and the sun peaking over the top of the buildings. “I guess. I wish I knew where we were headed, though.”
The helicopter’s engine roared and its blades whirred, stirring the air around them into a whirlwind. He slipped his arm around her waist and steered her toward the open passenger door.
The ground crew helped them in and then shut the doors, giving the pilot a thumbs up.
The pilot handed Jay two sets of headphones and shouted for them to put them on. Jay slipped his over his ears and Becca did the same.
“Welcome aboard.” The pilot’s voice crackled through their headsets.
“Thanks. Looks like yesterday’s rain finally passed.” Jay indicated toward the sky.
The man nodded. “It’s clear as a bell. Forecast shows a high ceiling and perfect visibility. We should make New London in about a half hour so sit back and relax.”
The helicopter rose and Becca squealed as her stomach dropped at the unusual sensation. “I hope you know what you’re doing.” She laughed, poking the pilot on his shoulder.
He turned for a moment and winked. “Piece of cake.” The blades whipped at the water as it rose, and before they knew it, they were above the buildings and heading toward the northeast.
“The pilot said we were heading to New London. Isn’t that Connecticut?”
Jaylon nodded. “Yup.”
“Why?”
He grinned, sitting back and closing his eyes. “You’ll see.”
They landed about thirty minutes later and a car service was waiting next to the terminal building. Jaylon nodded to the driver, handing him their bag. “How we doing on time?”
He took the duffel from Jay’s hand and stuck it in the front seat. “Fine. The captain is waiting for you at the dock.”
Becca got in the town car and stared at Jay. “I think I figured out where we’re going and why.”
He smirked. “I was wondering what took you so long. You’re usually a thousand and one questions and have the answer figured out before you even ask.”
She laughed. “You make me sound like a know-it-all.”
He shrugged. “No. Just a very smart lady.”
“So are you going to tell me or not?” she pressed.
“Don’t be a spoil sport.” He chuckled. “I have everything planned to make this a day you’ll never forget. Save the twenty questions and just enjoy it. Today is all about you, Becca.”
The cab pulled up to the dock and the two got out. Becca inhaled, and the scent of the ocean made her smile.
“This way, Bec. Follow me,” Jaylon said and pointed toward a gorgeous fishing boat.
17
Becca couldn’t contain her shock. “We’re going fishing?”
He gave her a sly shrug. “Could be. You said you loved all things ocean.”
She picked up her pace to keep up with him as he walked double time toward the gang plank. “I did, but I never said anything about fishing.”
Glancing at a few white tubs along the dock filled with fish guts and blood, she swallowed back on her breakfast. “Oh my God, I think I’m going to be sick.”
He laughed, taking her by the hand to pull her up the ramp onto the boat. “That’s chum, but it’s not for us. We are just spectators on this jaunt.”
“Your idea of fun is to watch people fish?”
“No, silly. Not to watch people fish, but to watch the largest fish in these waters.” Jay smiled, watching the surprise bloom on her face.
“Well, mammals, actually,” he continued. “Whales aren’t fish. They’re warm-blooded and nurse their young.”
A large grin took her mouth and she laughed out loud. “Whale watching? For real?”
He nodded. “Why else would I wake you at such an ungodly hour? It takes two hours from here to get to Block Island. We can whale watch on our way there and then spend the rest of the day enjoying one of the most beautiful places in New England.”
Becca stepped onto the deck of the boat and looked out into the harbor. The water was so dark and blue.
“What?”
She turned as he moved beside her to look out at the water as well. “This is perfect, Jaylon. Really.”
“Just wait.” He kissed the side of her head, moving his arm around her waist.
The boat pulled out of New London harbor and started the two-hour journey to the island. The water was calm, with barely any chop and they made good time. About halfway, the captain called from the upper deck, pointing toward the port side.
Three dolphins jumped in a perfect arc almost synchronized in time with the boat.
“It’s an old wives’ tale that dolphins are a sign of luck and that three in a row like that is an omen the universe is watching and approves,” Jay stated with a nod.
“Approves of what?” Becca asked with a small grin.
He pulled her in for a kiss. “Of whatever it is you’re doing at the time.”
She tucked herself under Jay’s arm and smirked. “You made that up.”
He kissed her hair with a chuckle. “Yup. But it sounded good.”
With a sigh, she watched the horizon and the expansive water as the dolphins played. “They look so free and happy. I wish we could swim with them.”
“We can. All we need to do is dive off the boat. The captain will stop for us if we want. It’s our charter.”
She shook her head. “Isn’t the water too cold yet? I know it’s June, but it’s notoriously nippy even in the dog days of summer.”
He smirked. “Dog days, cat days. We’re shifters, Bec. It won’t affect us like it does humans. One of the perks of being dual-natured. Plus, dolphins are super intelligent. They recognize us as one of their own from the animal kingdom. They won’t shy away and they don’t see you as a threat or as prey. We use that particular perk back home. It has made our tours the best in the business. The sea life always shows up to play.”
A gray shadow passed beside the boat, its curved fin breaking the surface. “Uhm, Jay—is that what I think it is?”
He nodded. “Yup.” He nudged her toward the boat’s railing. “Still want to swim free and happy?”
She elbowed him in the ribs. “Not funny. I thought you said sea life didn’t see us as prey?”
He laughed. “I didn’t mean sharks. They have their own rules, kind of like vampires.”
“Yeah, well. Let’s just say I never want to be face to face with either of those species.”
“Who does? But what about that species?” Jaylon pointed ahead about fifty yards to a bumpy shadow in the distance.
“Oh my God! It’s a humpback!”
As if on cue, the whale’s fluke broke the surface and then slipped beneath the waves again. All was still and Becca held her breath, waiting. Then with a massive wave, the mammoth breached the water, its dark body twisting in midair giving them full view of its white-lined belly before diving into the depths again.
Tears pricked Becca’s eyes along with the salt spray from the enormous animal’s display.
“Pretty good, huh?” Jaylon asked, pulling her close to his side.
“Best day ever.”
“It only gets better from here, babe.”
She exhaled, tightening her arm on his waist. “I don’t know how you’ll top that.”
He smiled against her hair, giving her temple a kiss. “Give me a chance and I promise you won’t regret it.”
The boat docked a short while later and as they maneuvered into its slip, Becca smiled taking in the picturesque view.
“Welcome to Block Island,” Jay said.
Becca took in the boats in the marina and the one moored off the shore and the sweep of beach and country road ahead. “It’s beautiful.”
“This is called Old Harbor.” He gestured toward the dock. “C’mon. I want to show you everything.”
He slung their overnight duffel
onto his shoulder and helped Becca off the boat. A porter directed them street side and Jay flagged down a taxi. The cab took them down the rocky coast, finally letting them out at a little cottage off the beaten path, on a deserted stretch of beach.
“I thought we could make this base camp and take things from here, maybe a bike ride to the village or we could spend the day alone on our own little piece of beach.” He gestured to her. “Lady’s choice.”
Becca looked at the entire serene scene and inhaled. “I’d vote beach and maybe even get a chance to see a few more dolphins, but I don’t have a swimsuit.”
“Why do you think I picked this particular cottage? It’s secluded, Bec. Bathing suits are optional.” He winked.
She shook her head. “Oh, no. That water is freezing!”
Dropping their bag on the porch, Jay kicked off his sneakers and picked her up in his arms. “Not with me to keep you warm.”
She squealed, kicking and squirming. “Don’t you dare! Jay! I mean it! No!”
Ignoring her, he walked straight into the water until they were waist deep and completely soaked.
“I’ve been imagining you in a wet t-shirt since this morning in the shower. How the wet fabric molds every curve and puts each hard nipple on display, just waiting for my hands and my mouth.”
He cupped her breasts and squeezed. “I can’t get enough of you, Becca. No sooner do I come inside you than I’m like rock again.”
A wave crashed against Becca’s back, knocking her off balance and she stumbled against Jay’s chest.
“Between you, your words and the waves, I can’t keep my balance,” she murmured.
“I want you off balance, Bec. I want you on your back or on your knees. Any way I can have you.”
With a gasp, she jumped and wrapped her legs around his waist and Jaylon took her mouth, holding her close as he pushed through the water toward the beach.
“Does that cottage have a bed or am I going to be digging sand out of my ass for the rest of the day?” she asked with a breathless laugh, breaking their kiss.
“Bed, sand, I don’t care. All I know is we’d better find it fast or I’m going to fuck you here in the surf.”