“I’m sorry, did I scare you?”

She stared at the cotton wool at her feet and nodded. Luckily she was still holding onto the bottle of disinfectant.

“I’m so sorry.” He picked up the cotton wool and placed it on the counter. “I just wanted to tell you that there’s no need for any first aid, as you call it. I’m completely healed.”

Her eyes wandered down to the dry blood along his left side. “No one completely heals from a shark attack so quickly.”  How could it happen so quickly? “What happened to you out there anyway?”

“Sharks like to prey on seals. It’s one of their favorite meals.” Dylan shrugged.

“Oh, right, I’ve heard about that.”

He stared at her, appearing puzzled.

“You know, how they mistake humans for seals when they’re underneath the water? Anyway, let me take a look at your injuries.” She turned the tap on until the water was warm.

“It’s not necessary.”

“Nonsense.” She’d already stuck a wad of cotton wool under the running water and reached for his side.

Dylan awkwardly lifted his left arm out of the way as she dabbed at the blood. She needed to keep her thoughts straight so she didn’t concentrate on how smooth his skin looked this close, or how the smell of the ocean emanated off him. When she’d cleared away the blood, Marisa was stunned. It wasn’t possible.

“Where…where is your wound?”

“It’s already healed.”

Marisa ran her fingers along the smooth, hard expanse over his ribs and sighed. There was no bite. She’d cleared nothing but the dry blood.

She straightened, hand still at his side. Their eyes met and she spotted the flash of desire buried within his. He looked away, but it was too late. Marisa had already noticed.

To conceal her confusion, she glanced at his side again. “I don’t understand.”

“I’m a fast healer,” he whispered.

Marisa ran her palm up and down his skin. She didn’t want to break the connection. It played havoc with her emotions, had her feeling things which weren’t possible with a complete stranger. She could also see it affected him as much as her.

“No one heals this quickly.”

“Some species do.”

“But not humans…”

“I am more than human.” Dylan moved his face a little closer to hers, seemed to be testing the water.

She craned her neck a little, enough to feel his warm breath play along her face. Marisa closed her eyes as she stroked the ribs beneath the luscious skin. He was so perfect, she couldn’t stop touching him.

“Maybe you should have a shower to clear away the rest of the blood,” she whispered.

“Maybe you could join me.”