Rory’s eyes dropped instantly to Fionn’s lips. His adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed.
The bond rippled between them, ebbing and flowing in Fionn’s chest. The moment stretched, long enough to register Rory’s breath skimming over his lips, the heat of a mouth just inches away. A confusing tingle of anticipation ran up Fionn’s spine.
‘Fuck,’ Rory muttered, breaking the spell. ‘Why are you so hot?’
His own words seemed to startle him. Rory backed away from the rail, tripping over his own feet. Fionn took the opportunity to follow and clambered onto the deck. He shuddered reflexively as his skin changed colour.
‘I am not hot,’ he replied, striving to level his tone to something neutral. ‘My body is the optimum temperature for the environment.’
‘That’s not what I— Forget it,’ Rory said hoarsely. ‘Go away. Get off my boat.’
Fionn crossed his arms. ‘If you will not teach me, fine. But Iwilllearn. I shall watch you, Rory Douglas. And I shall do the work for both of us.’
It amused Fionn to think that Rory rather resembled one of his captive lobsters: his arms spread wide, gesturing in a helpless fashion while his mouth opened and closed very much like a fish.
‘Why?’ Rory finally asked.
Here Fionn hesitated.Because you are my soul matedid not seem to fit the bill. Surely, things ought to beeasierbetween them for having such a fated connection. Yet here Fionn was, having to work for Rory’s approval.Wantingthat approval. Needing to erase the way Rory had looked at him yesterday, as though he were a thoughtless sea urchin with no awareness of the world it moved in.
Fionn answered, ‘I wish to give you another gift. A better one.’
‘I don’t need a—’
‘A gift of labour. For I appreciate the toll of my destruction on your work. I have recognised the flaws in my knowledge and strive to improve on it. I shall not rest until I have corrected my mistakes.’
Rory’s shoulders shifted like he was trying to shrink deeper into the large overcoat he wore. ‘That almost sounded like an apology.’
‘I would be happy for you to take it as one.’
Rory shot him a suspicious look. ‘Right.’
Perhaps he could tell that Fionn had rehearsed it.
Fionn tipped up his chin, refusing to be unnerved by Rory’s glare, playing the role of immovable rock. He felt a strange push-and-pull movement in the current flowing through his chest. Perhaps as though Rory was arguing with himself.
Rory stared at Fionn for a second more, then grabbed the long pole from the cabin. ‘Just stay out of my way, then.’
Overjoyed, Fionn felt the bond settle between them like a stormy sea that had calmed. He’d taken a leap, dared to look weak by admitting his faults. Against all odds, Rory had received it well.
Fionn stepped aside as Rory hooked the floating buoy from the water and dragged a length of dripping rope onto the deck. He flicked furtive glances in Fionn’s direction, perhaps distrustful, or possibly self-conscious. Fionn watched him intently, determined to decipher his human’s body language along with everything else.
Rory braced a foot against the rail and began hauling the rope up. He’d removed his outer coat and wore a long-sleeved jumper underneath. Despite the thick material, his biceps bulged with the heaving motion of his arms.
When the first creel surfaced Rory leant over to grab it. Then, once safely on deck, he reached inside the cage and pulled each creature out one by one. He turned them over, checking their bodies for who knew what from every angle, before placing them carefully in a large open container. The examination was far gentler than Fionn had expected. Rory seemed to work with quiet focus, something that Fionn could relate to.
At one point, Rory dropped a crab back into the sea.
‘What was wrong with that one?’ Fionn asked.
‘Too young.’
‘Ah. You want the bigger catch for more meat.’
‘To give them chance to breed,’ Rory replied distractedly.
Fionn thought that was a strange thing to be concerned with. Were humans particularly interested in the mating rituals of spider crabs? Before he could ask, Rory was back to hauling on the rope. This time, Fionn stepped in to pull the creel from the water.
‘Get off that,’ Rory snapped at him.
