The Lion’s Mate

“No. The next best thing is just jumping in, not trying to drown your new friend,” Leah told him haughtily.

“Is that right?” He swam close to her, and Leah looked at him sideways, trying to figure out what he was planning. However, he only tread water about three feet from her. Occasionally, her foot would brush his.

Leah didn’t know where to look. He watched her closely, as if she were fascinating, and she had trouble maintaining eye contact when they weren’t bantering back and forth. “Why do you stare?” she finally asked when they’d been silent for the better part of a minute.

“My apologies,” Mark answered. “Why are you uncomfortable with the attention?”

“I didn’t say I was,” Leah claimed. He waited in silence. Leah rolled her eyes. “Ok, fine. I’m not used to people watching me so intently. I don’t like people much and prefer solitude. You’re only the third person I’ve had here besides Annie.”

Mark was astonished. “Really? I would never have guessed that. You seem amiable, you aren’t shy. Do you just choose to be secluded?”

“Yep.” Leah swam to the dock, and Mark followed close behind her. They each grabbed a side of the ladder so they could talk without exerting themselves.

“Is it because you’re a writer?” he asked.

Leah tilted her head to the side. “Huh. I never really thought about it, honestly. But I do like the worlds I create to the world I actually live in, so that could be it.”

“I’ve never read your books,” he admitted sheepishly. 

Leah smiled and shook her head. “You’re not really the demographic I’m trying to reach.”

He brow creased. “Aren’t your books about shifters? Maybe one specific shifter? Who’s your audience if not a shifter?”

“Yes, it’s about shifters, and many shifters do like my books. But they’re mostly female and fifteen.”

“Ah, I see. Young adult books, then,” he mused. “I should still read them. I heard a rumor there were talks of making them into movies.”

“Big stretch,” she said. “I’ve had a couple of producers approach me, and one talked to my publisher about buying the rights. But I own the rights, and only I can make the decision.”

“And you don’t want the books made into movies?”

“Kind of. But maybe not. They might ruin my characters by choosing the wrong actors,” she whispered conspiratorially, a sly grin on her face. “I’m actually starting the screenplay tomorrow for the first book, just to see.”

Mark watched her face and the way it lit up when she talked about her books. He couldn’t help himself; he leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers gently. He didn’t force it, just let his lips linger on hers, hoping she’d respond the way he wanted her to.

Again she shuddered.