This Is My Design.

Part 7: In Which Will Is Scared

The boat shuddered under the onslaught of the ravenous shark. Again and again it rammed them. Will staggered.

'I'm afraid,' Will admitted with grim humour . 'I'm not ready, not yet, to be a shark's dessert.'

Hannibal gripped him firmly.

'We're still in the harbour,' Jack stated. 'This is one bad-ass shark.'

'It has a taste for human flesh,' murmured Hannibal.

'You and it are two if a kind.' Will braced himself as the shark rammed; they heard splintering. 'What would it take to catch you?'

'It takes a very special type of bait. As I think you know already, Will Graham.'

Will fell backwards onto a locker. The lid popped open; Will gasped at the contents. He expected to see ropes on a boat, but handcuffs? And leather restraints?

'Hannibal, did you know the victim?' Will was breathless, but not with fear. It was... Excitement.

'He was a patient of mine.'

'Your patients aren't very lucky, are they?' Jack enquired.

From upper deck, Special Agent Brian Zeller yelled, 'Jack, get up here!'

'Do you think the boat is going down?'

The shark's rhythmic thrusts quickened, urgently.

'Something is,' Hannibal grinned.

Will stumbled and fell, his face pressed directly on the crotch of Hannibal's trousers. Quickly, Hannibal bound his hands.

'What the....?'

Hannibal buried his fingers in Will's thick curls. 'Feel your heart beat, Will Graham. Taste the terror.'

Slowly, sensuously, he licked up the column of Will's throat. He tasted sweat, felt his pulse with his tongue.

Will gasped.

A deafening crash, then cold water streamed across Will's face, soaking him in salty residue.

'Beautiful,' Hannibal growled.

'Hannibal,' Will gurgled. 'You have to let me go. We need to get out of here, or we could drown or be eaten by a shark.'

'Wouldn't that be beautiful, Will?' Hannibal's hold was vice-like. 'You and me, eaten alive, a perfect moment of clarity.'

Will struggled, but it only made his bonds tighter, and forced his desperate body to rub against Hannibal's strong one.

'No, Hannibal no! I want to live! I want to live with... you!'

Something cleared in Hannibal's eyes. 'Let's get out of here.'