Once Bitten - C.M. Steele Page 0,10
two weeks focused on work, finding work, and reading murder mysteries. I went to Barnes and Noble after work one day and picked up every single Agatha Christie book I could get my hands on. Nothing romantic or happy for me because my heart was breaking.
Hell, I couldn’t even watch my favorite Marvel movies because they reminded me of him. Damn him and his sharing the same interests with me.
Three days into my moping, I caved and called. I had to leave him a message of course. Figures. Maybe that was a sign that I should stay my course.
“Girl, are you ready?” Mia said, taking my hand and leading me to the Miami shores.
“Not really, but I’m trying.” Ian and Mia were trying to get me over the smell of the ocean. If twenty-two years hadn’t done it, I didn’t know if I’d ever get over the odor. I loved Devin and if I managed this feat, maybe I could handle the last few weeks apart. By the end of the day, I ached for Devin’s arms around me while showering the sea off of me.
Chapter Five
Devin
“Hey, she’s fine,” Ian said. I called him to get the scoop on my woman. She was one stubborn little thing. I loved her so damn much, but I wondered if she understood what she meant to me and how much I truly needed her. Even though she was driving me insane, I had to smile at her determination. She missed me as much as I missed her.
“Thanks. It’s fucking killing me not to hear her voice.” I lived for it. Every night, I played the two voicemails she left for me when I first started this journey.
Ian sighed, “Yeah, she’s being a little irrational, but I think Mia’s moods might be rubbing off on her. Being pregnant makes my wife emotional.”
A thought hit me like a damn rocket. Wait, could that be her reason? I hoped I’d knocked her up before I left, but it wasn’t a guarantee. “Pregnant? Fuck, do you think Jamie’s pregnant?” Either way, I would try hard when I got back home.
“Wow, I didn’t think of that.” He was just as surprised as me.
“Damn, that could explain everything.” I took a drink of my beer. “I miss her so much.”
“Of all people, you know I understand. I love Mia so much that I couldn’t even imagine spending a night without her, but you had your obligations and a big fucking opportunity.”
“I know. It’s not often that I get to take the lead on an expedition. Tomorrow, we’re doing our full day of tagging whites.”
“Freaking awesome. I’m not jealous, but I am. That is going to be one adrenaline-filled day.” I know he only missed it for a moment because he had his woman at home with him.
I knew that I’d forgo tagging if it meant I got to spend every single day with Jamie. “Thanks. I’ll see you after I claim my bride in a week.”
“Best of luck. I’ll have the jet ready should you need it, and I think you might.”
“Whoa that’s a big momma!” Danny shouted.
“It looks like we have a pregnant female great white, roughly sixteen feet in length,” I said into the camera. “She doesn’t have a tag, so she’s the one we’re going to get. Everyone get ready.” We moved into position. I led the bait while Chris would tag her. Pregnant, like my Jamie.
“Devin,” they shouted. I’d barely moved my hand out of the way of the bait, blood gushing everywhere. The shark’s sharp teeth had scraped my skin.
“Son of a bitch,” I roared. Danny, the medic on board, went straight to working on my hand.
“We need to get in,” she hollered to Mikey.
“Can you hear me, Devin?” I answered with a simple nod. My fucking hand hurt like a motherfucker, but I tried to stay calm. “We got you. Let’s get him in. You’re fucking lucky she didn’t pull you in. What were you thinking?”
“Fuck. Chris, did you get the tag? I hope I didn’t get taste-tested for nothing.”
“Yeah, we got her. Since she took a nibble off you, you get to name her.”
“Jamie. For my wife.”
“Sounds good, brother. Man, let’s get you in so they can save your hand.”
After a two-hour surgery to repair my hand, I lay there thinking about calling Jamie. I decided to give it a shot. When I did, her father answered. “Hello, Mr. Marshall, is Jamie there?”
“No, she forgot her phone. She’ll be home later.” The