Tiger's Beginning

Chapter 22: Concentration

I winced as yet another pebble made its way into my delicate shoes.

By now Anik was 10 steps ahead of me. We had been walking for what seemed like an hour, but when I had checked with Anik a few minutes ago he had said only 20 minutes had passed.

I can't let him see me vulnerable. He thinks I'm some flouncy girl who can't handle herself in the wilderness. Well, I'll show him!

I was so busy concentrating on the ground and avoiding the stones I didn't realize Anik had stopped.

Not that I minded running into Anik's broad back, his muscled tensed quite nicely an-, well it seemed he had noticed something.

"Do you feel that?"

Frowning, I tried to 'feel' whatever he was talking about.

The air seemed a bit more humid, but other than that the only thing I could feel was the blister forming around my foot where the sand from the beach was rubbing against my heels.

I looked over to Anik to see him concentrating on the horizon.

I touched his arm lightly, and his head snapped in my direction. His eyes held a look of absolute concentration given only to those who knew that they held absolute authority. It was invigorating.

After a few seconds of my speechlessness, he moved walked towards me. For some reason I felt paralyzed by his gaze feral.

He picked me up so swiftly that I didn't have time to react.

His face now inches from mine, he said with a smile beginning to form on his face,

"I think you forget that my tiger hearing allows me to overhear even the slightest mutters. All you had to do was ask if your feet were ailing you; I am your humble servant."

I just narrowed my eyes and set my jaw, knowing I wouldn't win this fight. It was also nice to not have to walk any longer.

I had fixed my eyes on the distance and was trying to spot whatever had Anik so transfixed. I flinched when I felt hot breath on my neck.

Anik nuzzled into me, and seemed to kiss my hairline. He started murmuring me in a type of English mixed with Hindi.

"Grace, I need to keep in your scent. The song of the jalapari is enticing. Only the embrace of pyara can keep me from surrendering to their mauta ke gita."

I gathered that he was in some sort of battle of the mind, so I allowed him to continue his soft caress of my neck.

I could feel myself starting to sweat due to the close contact and because of my nerves. Anik seemed oblivious, and started walking towards the water.

I turned, much to Anik's protests, and saw heads bobbing up in the water. They looked like beautiful woman, with long hair in every color. Their mouths seemed to be open, but I couldn't hear anything. Only Anik was affected.

I turned back towards him and try as he might to resist, his eyes held panic as his body turned against him.

Not thinking too long about my decision, I took his face into my hands and looked him in the eyes before closing mine before bringing my lips to his.

I then heard their song, the song of the mermaids. Though with each passing second, the song became fainter, and Anik seemed to realize what was happening.

He started to move his mouth against mine and slipped his tongue into my mouth, and I let him take control. His hand slipped securely around my waist, and ran this fingers through my hair as he began purring.