Chapter Twelve
Denny sat in silence after I finished my very convoluted tale, "Do you believe me?" I asked hesitantly and he shook his head.
"You know, as impossible as that story was, I believe you." he said quietly and I squealed and jumped up to hug him.
"Thank you! You're the first person to believe me!" I gushed happily while squeezing him tightly.
He coughed slightly and feigned struggling for a breath, "Um, Chelsea, I can't breath." he wheezed and I smacked him on the arm.
"Yeah, a manly man like you is getting squished by a girl who isn't even a hair over five feet." I teased and he pushed out his chest.
"I'll show you manly man." he growled and then tackled me to the floor.
I screeched only a little, "Denny! Let me go!"
He laughed at me, "What, can't take a manly man like me?" he teased lightly while fisting a hand in my hair.
"Denny..." I said, a little breathless at the look that came into his eyes at his action.
"Tell me to stop of you don't want me to..." his breathing picked up speed as he leaned forward, closing his eyes.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes as well. Then, his lips were on mine, so warm and soft. The electric tingle that ran through my body at the slight touch made me gasp and throw myself into the kiss. He crushed his body to mine and I melted into his touch, a shot of desire running through my body. I never wanted the kiss to stop, but he pulled back quickly and leaned his forehead to mine, his breathing slightly abnormal.
"If I don't stop now, I'm not going to be able to stop. I've been wanting you to do that since the moment I laid my eyes on you." he whispered, his voice husky.
I took a quick intake of breath, "Denny... I want you. I can't deny that, but I'm ready to do anything like that..." I trailed off and he shook his head in recognition.
"I'm okay with that. We don't have to do anything that you don't want to do. This, for instance, seems to be okay." he replied, leaning down to kiss me again.
I grinned around his mouth and he pulled back, "That, is defiantly okay." and he grinned at me and kissed me again.
**/**
"You know, I've come to really enjoy fishing. Mostly because I only fish when you're with me." I said as I leaned back in the boat and closed my eyes.
He cast the reel again and the boat shook with the action, "I've come to enjoy fishing more because you always come with me." he replied, making another boat jostling move.
I cracked open an eye and looked over at him, "I had a feeling you would say that, because I'm just such damn good company." I teased and he grinned sideways at me.
There was a tug at the fishing line and he gasped, "Finally!" he exclaimed, tugging at the offending catch.
"C'mon! You can do it!" I rooted with fake enthusiasm, and he glared over at me.
"Fine, you do it then." he thrust the pole into my limp hands and I gasped.
"No! I don't want it! Take it back." I ordered, and he put his hands up like the pole was poisonous.
I glared at the water ahead of us and tried to reel in the stupid fish. Of course, the moment I give the line some tension, it snaps right in half and the force reels me back. As I glided backwards into the ocean, I didn't think about anything other then the fact that Denny was going to be upset at the fact the we lost the fish. I didn't think anything about the fact that it was a seemingly really big fish, one whom had caused me to topple over backwards out of the boat. Something entered the water and I gasped as something grasped me around the waist.
I sputtered as I came to the surface, "What was that?" I screeched and Denny placed a hand tightly over my mouth.
"Don't make another sound." he whispered harshly and I quietened just by the tense sound in his voice.
Denny shoved me towards the boat, "Stay in the boat." he ordered in a tense voice and I complied, more confused then ever, but I didn't argue.
He disappeared under the water and I hung around the edge of the boat to watch. A hand shot up to grab the knife he kept with his fishing hear before disappearing again. There was nothing for a moment, then there was an explosion under the surface. I didn't see the fin until it came to the surface with Denny's strong arms wrapped around the shark's glistening neck. I screeched and Denny shushed me as he struggled with the shark. I covered my mouth with my hand, my heart thundering in my chest at the show in front of me.
The shark flipped over, taking the upper hand and Denny yelled. He plunged his knife into the shark's soft neck and the fighting eventually stopped. Denny gasped as he reached the surface, his hand wrapped around the neck of the shark. He pulled himself into the boat and reached for the rope under the seat. He knotted it around the tail and motioned for me to row to shore. We didn't speak, it was complete silence other then the lapping of the rows on the waves. I pulled the boat up onto the sand and helped Denny tug the shark onto shore.
He collapsed in a heap of exhaustion, "Goddess, that was fucking awesome!" he exclaimed tiredly and I sat down next to him and looked him over.
My eyes stopped on a heavily bleeding gash on his arm, "Denny! You're bleeding!" I screeched and he looked at the cut with disinterest.
"Looks like I am. Oh well." he shrugged it off, mean while, I was having a freaking heart attack.
"Let me take care of you! I'm so sorry Denny! This is all my fault. I feel so bad!" I exclaimed hastily, pulling him to his feet with difficulty.
He sighed, but did as I wanted. We dragged the shark over to his home and put it beside his house. I ushered him to sit in a chair and he nodded and relaxed into the material. I removed my over shirt and ran cold water over it, before placing it over the gash on his upper arm. He flinched slightly, and I shot him an apologetic look. He shook his head and I finished wiping off his arm. I threw down my over shirt and took off my tank top, trying to ignore the glazed look in his eyes at the sight of my bra. I tied the shirt around the cut and secured it tightly, hoping to stop the bleeding.
"There." I said quietly, breaking the silence first.
"Thanks. You didn't have to do all this though." he said, motioning to my shirts now soiled with his blood.
I shook my head, "You really scared me just now. I thought I was going to be a witness to your watery death." I whispered and he wrapped me in a hug.
"You could have a little more faith in me then that." he whispered back and I smacked him on the arm lightly.
"I'm serious. I was really scared." I said in a watery voice, tears forming in my eyes and a single one flowing over my cheek.
He brushed it with his thumb, "Don't cry. Here, c'mon." he said gently, taking my hand in his while pulling me towards the door.
"Um, Denny, I'm not wearing a shirt." I stated and he looked at me and laughed.
"Oh, yeah. Here." he said as he removed his tank top and handed it to me.
I blushed and pulled the shirt over my head. He took my hand again and pulled me outside and squatted beside the shark. He retched open the mouth and pulled out a pair of pliers from his pocket. He wrapped it around a tooth and twisted. The tooth came free and he wiped it off on the sleeve of his flannel shirt. He then pulled out a string, wrapping the tooth in it tightly. He knotted the string and he then stood up. He moved my hair and wrapped it around my neck. Tears welled up again as I realized what he was doing.
"Now, whether I'm near or far, I'll always be with you." he whispered in my ear and I smiled at him and leaned over to hug him, not conscious that we had an audience.