Once Bitten - C.M. Steele Page 0,8
bail on. Reluctantly, I made it to the dock on time. My parents were there to wish me well. “Mom, Dad. Thanks for coming.”
They were looking around for someone, my mother answered the question on my face. “We expected to see that beautiful woman you were dancing with last night.”
“She didn’t want to say goodbye.”
“I can’t blame her. I would be devastated to have your father leave me for a long time.”
“I know. We’re getting married when I get back. Whether it’s a full wedding she puts together or if it’s in Vegas, it’s happening.”
“Good boy. You get her ass tied to you before she tries to get away,” my dad said. He’d made my mother his before she had a chance to object. All these years and he made it clear to all those around that she belonged to him. My mother ate up every little bit of my father’s love and possessiveness.
She kissed his cheek and said, “Your daddy is right.”
“That’s right baby girl.” He grabbed her and crushed her lips to his in a deep kiss. I’d gotten so used to it that I just waited for them to finish their moment. Once they pulled their mouths apart, he added, “Don’t let her get away.”
“I will. Have no doubt about that. She’s mine and she knows it.”
“We’re shipping off, Devin. We need your ass on board,” Matthew hollered.
“I’m coming.” I hugged my parents and waved them off before hopping onto the ship for our long journey. Damn, Jamie might have been right because I couldn’t get on ship if she stood here in tears.
I tried calling but she didn’t answer. I sent her a text as I entered my cabin. We’ve just left the port. I already miss you, baby. Message me whenever. I’ll try to call as much as I can.
Two hours later, she texted me back. I miss you too. Call me when you can. I hope you’re being safe.
I was working my ass off for the next six hours, so I had to wait to contact my love. Finally, I stepped into my cabin and in my bed and called her. “Hey, Kitten. I’m sorry it’s taken so long to call back. How are you?”
“I’m fine,” she stated, her voice clipped, tense, and full of emotion.
“Jamie. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Here we go again.
“Kitten, we don’t have a lot of time to talk, so please don’t do this. I miss you like crazy.”
“I do too.” A low whimper escaped on her last syllable. The wall came down. Fucking hell, I feel even worse, leaving her at home.
“Please don’t cry, Jamie. I’ll be home before you know it. When I get home you’ll be ready to get rid of me because I’m going to be all over you.”
“You have a good point.” She sighed and then asked, “So how is it going so far?”
“Well, we’re in Bimini right now, but we’ll be moving toward Guadalupe Island and then the Galapagos to study the habits of White Sharks.”
“Are you going to be safe?” Everyone thought Jaws or Air Jaws when anyone mentioned Great Whites, but I had no intention of becoming Quint.
“Of course.”
“It’s just you know…I think about what happened with Mia—” She trailed off, but I knew where she was coming from.
“I’m not getting in the water without a cage. I never free dive with whites or any of the major six. It’s not the smartest move anyone could make. So talking about smart moves. Are you starting the wedding planning process?”
“You’ve only been gone half a day.”
“I know, but your pretty little ass only has two months to get ready for me,” I growled into the phone. Next time I had to get her on Skype or some shit. I had to see her face.
“I don’t want to be planning something that you’re going to change your mind about.” Damn this woman could be stubborn as hell, but she hadn’t realized that I had that trait down to an art especially when it came to having something I wanted—and I wanted her for life.
“I’m not going to change my mind. I’ll flip your ass over my shoulder and carry you to the altar if I have to.”
“We’ll see.” The sass in her voice was back and it turned me the fuck on. This was going to be a brutal two months.
I loved a good challenge. “Trust me when I say we most definitely will.”
“I’m starting to lose you.”
“I’ll call you in the morning. Be a good