Sea Haven 01 - Water Bound

I liked that was high enough in calories to sustain my work underwater.”
    “So you can eat other foods.”
    “I used to, before I lived by myself.”
    “Think of it as a great adventure. You can try new things and tell me what you like and don’t like. Once we have a list, we’ll stick to it. And I’ll keep the dishes clean.”
    She took a breath to try to still the pounding of her heart. Blythe was always telling her that she needed to stretch her limits, to keep expanding—
    not just in her thirst for knowledge, but in her social abilities. Living with someone would certainly come under that heading, wouldn’t it? “I can’t lie to my family.”
    “I haven’t asked you to lie. If they ask questions, then answer them.”
    “Swear to me you won’t hurt them.”
    “Honey, it makes no sense that you’d believe me.”
    “Do it anyway.”
    She stared into his eyes, seeking the truth. He didn’t look away from her and she saw what she’d seen before in him—vulnerability. He looked tough as nails, a big, muscular man well versed in survival, but like Rikki, he wasn’t at ease in the world of family and friends. He was an outsider—
    just as she was. In spite of all the problems having him there caused, she identified with him.
    “We can try it, Lev, but living with me isn’t going to be all that much fun.”
    He reached out and pushed strands of her hair from her face. “As long as I don’t make you cry, I think we’ll be all right.”
    “I want you to know it could be dangerous. Four homes have burned down around me. I escaped, but others didn’t. People I loved. People who lived with me. You’re taking a chance.”
    “You told me.”
    “I want you to believe me. The fires were arson.”
    He nodded. “I heard you. I’m not worried. I think you’ll be a lot safer with me here.”
    “I’m not so worried about me, Lev. I don’t want any more deaths on my hands.”
    He closed his eyes briefly and then looked into hers. “Neither do I, lyubiamaya, but you aren’t responsible. No matter what others led you to 119

    believe, you didn’t start those fires. A water element could never do such a thing.”
    “You said that before. What does that mean?” Because she was fairly certain he knew what her special gift was. He’d been there, in her mind, when she’d directed the pond to respond.
    “Some people are born with gifts, Rikki. You’re one of them. You’re bound to water. It answers your call. You play with it, dance with it, call it with song. You’re at home in the sea for a reason.”
    “I’m at home in the sea because I’m a sea urchin diver. I love what I do and it gives me independence. I can’t work with other people.”
    “More likely you’re a sea urchin diver because the water called to you.
    You’re gifted with a rare trait. I imagine that your family—your sisters—are gifted as well.”
    “We chose one another. We aren’t of the same blood.”
    “Elements are usually drawn to one another,” he said. “More than likely each of them or at least some of them are bound to an element.”
    “Are you?” She tilted her chin at him and drew her left hand under the blanket to hold her palm close against her heart. She dared him to lie to her.
    “Not in the same way, but yes, I have a few gifts of my own.”
    “I knew it!” She scowled at him. “I’m not telepathic but I heard your voice. You connected us in some way.”
    He shook his head. “You did. Under the water. When you saved me.”
    She opened her mouth and closed it again. She had no idea about elements, gifts or anything else—but she was going to do research. And maybe one of her sisters knew what he was talking about. He was in her home, and in spite of every instinct demanding she throw him out—she couldn’t. It wasn’t sane or reasonable, yet she couldn’t.
    Lev smiled at her and drew the pad of his thumb over her lips. “It isn’t going to be so bad, Rikki. You’ll hardly notice I’m here.”
    She made a derisive noise in the back of her throat. He was enormous and very male. How could she not notice him? His shoulders took up more space than her furniture. “I’m going to stay in here while you cook breakfast.” She didn’t want to see her precious dishes or pots and pans get dirty.
    “I’ll cook everything separately so you can try it.”
    She wrinkled her nose. “Looking forward to it.”
    He laughed and ruffled her hair as he got up before taking her coffee cup. She