Fight the Tide by Keira Andrews Page A

bite you in the ass if I’m not around one day.”
    All the wonderful easiness sucked out of the air and a stone sank in Adam’s gut. “That’s not funny.”
    Exhaling with exasperation, Parker spread out on the deck. “I was joking. Chill.”
    Adam didn’t answer, turning back to his fishing. Parker’s pencil scratched over paper where he was sprawled on his stomach in the rosy sunset, examining charts.
    The breeze was cool, but despite Parker’s sweatshirt and jeans, his feet were still bare. He scratched at the back of his neck, and Adam focused on the drag of Parker’s blunt nails over his growing hair, the scuffing sound making him itch to touch. Then, despite his best efforts, Adam’s gaze was drawn to the purple bruise on Parker’s temple, the angry red edges starting to fade to yellow.
    He thought of Parker crumpled on the deck, shivering violently, exposed and alone. Forcing an inhalation, Adam’s teeth ached, and he clamped his jaw shut to keep his fangs in check.
    “Oh my God, would you stop?”
    Blinking, he focused on the thin line of Parker’s lips pressed together. Trying to think of what he’d done wrong and coming up blank, Adam raised an eyebrow.
    “Stop looking at me,” Parker hissed, pushing to his knees and rolling up the charts with jerky movements.
    “Stop looking at you?” he echoed. Something tugged at his line, and he reeled it in too quickly, coming up with just the hook and lure. He tried a joke, lowering his voice to a leering tone. “I thought you liked it when I look at you.”
    Parker stood there staring at him. “You seriously don’t get it?” Clenching his jaw, he stalked toward the stern, his feet slapping on the wood.
    After dropping the rod into the storage area under one of the benches at the bow, Adam followed, catching him by the hatch with his long strides. He reached for his arm, but let his hand hover. “Parker, what—”
    Whirling, Parker stared at Adam’s outstretched hand accusingly, then met his eyes. “Stop looking at me like I’m broken !”
    As Parker’s shout rang out over the water, Adam registered the cessation in talking on the other boat. Parker barreled down the steps, and Adam called out, “Everything’s fine!” and gave the others a wave before following Parker, who paced up and down the saloon, the faint green light of the radar screen chasing away some of the shadows.
    “I’m not…” Adam tried to think of the right words.
    “You are!” A few feet away, Parker skidded to a stop, gesturing with his hands. “I’m fine, Adam. I’m fine. It was nothing.”
    “It was not.”
    He tapped the side of his head. “I barely feel it anymore, so just stop acting like it’s a big deal.”
    Adam kept his tone even. “You were hurt. They hurt you and I…”
    “You what?” He raised his hands.
    “I wasn’t here! I wasn’t here to stop them.” His words hung in the damp air.
    Green light flickered over Parker’s face as he stepped closer. “This is the world we live in now. Creepers and pirates and who the fuck knows what else. It sucked, but it’s done, and I’m fine.”
    “You know what it was like finding you like that?” Adam blurted.
    Parker’s eyebrows flew up. “Yeah, I do. Because I had to watch you unconscious and helpless in that lab where they cut you up for their experiments. And I fucking hated it, but I know you’re strong, and I don’t think less of you now.”
    “What? I don’t think less of you either!”
    Hurt creased Parker’s face, making Adam’s heart stutter. “Then why do you barely touch me?”
    “What? No. I touch you.” Adam reached out as if to prove his point, but Parker dodged.
    “Not the same way. It’s different now. Like you think I’ll fucking shatter. And you haven’t tried to fuck me.”
    “We’ve barely been alone! Things have been a little busy.” He gestured in the general direction of the other boat.
    “Or is that just an excuse because now I’m…” Parker swallowed