Taniwha Boyfriend: Part Two (special preview)

I take out the bone sample that Professor Patrick had sent me. “A friend of mine has been searching for a species similar to how the Taniwha are presented.” I begin. “They’ve been believed to be extinct, but he thinks that they are still alive and thriving. If at all possible, we want to protect such a species. If we can study them and learn about them, perhaps we can help them.”

He takes the sealed bone sample and looks it over. “And what would you do if you came face to face with one of these creatures?”

I have, I think to myself, twice now. Once under the water, and again at the cave. I gasp softly then. The cave! Would that be the same one that the story was talking about? The one where the Taniwha was slain by the man on the ship?

“If you want to protect these creatures,” Tane says softly. “Wouldn’t it be better then to simply leave them alone?”

“I uh-” I hesitate. 

“Perhaps it is best if you return from this empty handed.” He places the sealed bone sample in my hand and closes my fingers around it. “Perhaps the best you can do is return with a story, and a knowledge of what you’ve encountered.”

I look into his eyes then and feel myself utterly drawn to him. Tane kisses me and I put my hands into his hair. The kiss grows longer and deeper and I am soon crushed by the weight of his heavy body. I cling to him, wrapping my arms around his back. His tongue tastes like the ocean and his skin tastes like it’s salt. 

“I have to stop,” Tane suddenly pulls himself away.

I am left bleary and confused on the bed. Sitting up, he rises and stands there, slicking back his hair away from his face. 

I adjust my glasses and clear my throat. “I didn’t think I was that bad.”

He scoffs and turns to look at me. “It wasn’t you that-” he sighs and shakes his head. “In a way, it is you.” He sits back down beside me. “I want to hate you so badly.”

“Oh,” I scoff. “Well then. Fuck you?”

He kisses me again, pushing me back down onto the bed. “You don’t understand,” he snarls. “You’re supposed to be my enemy.”

I moan as he bites my neck. His thick hands move under my clothes and dance across my skin. “What are you talking about?” I tangle my fists in his hair and pull it.

Tane snarls, kissing me hungrily and then pressing his forehead to mine. “Do you know how frustrating this is?”

“Kind of,” I pant. “Your dick is digging into my hip.”

Tane laughs and gazes into my eyes. “I’m supposed to kill you,” he whispers to me. My insides go cold and I seize up. I am trapped under him and I have no hopes of fighting against such a huge man.

“And if I don’t, I am supposed to follow you for the tenacity that you killed me all those ages ago.” He then lays his head on my shoulder.

“Uh-” I blink a few times. “Excuse me?” I slap my hand against his back. “I haven’t killed anybody! What the hell are you going on about?”

Tane lifts up again. “Your ancestor was the man on the boat. You share his blood.” He smooths his fingers down my cheek and throat. “I’m the Taniwha.”

I stare at him in utter disbelief. I sputter then snort and start laughing until my ribs ache. Tane lifts away from me as I grasp my sides from laughing.

“You must be joking!” I cackle. “You, the Taniwha!”

Tane glares and grabs my wrists, holding my arms above my head. “I thought I would scare you and that would be enough. But no. You were tougher than I thought. And then on the beach-”