[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
shifting but in truth, if she hadn't been so damn comfortable with him seeing her
own skin, she surely would have reached for her shirt sooner.
One whiff and she scrunched up her nose. The shirt smelled. She picked up her
clothes and carried them down to the water and tossed them into the sea. After
swirling them around for a few minutes, she wrung them out and carried them back up
the beach and laid them out in the sand to dry.
"Clothes are a problem for shape-shifters," Ari told her with a smile. "We're forever
leaving them behind and arriving naked."
"How do you cope?" she asked, curious about his lifestyle, but oddly not the least bit
uncomfortable walking around naked in broad daylight. And it was more than that
he'd already seen every inch of her flesh. She simply didn't feel the least bit self-
conscious around him, no doubt due to his attitude. He wasn't indifferent to her body
but she could tell that the way her body parts went together wasn't his primary
concern.
"Sometimes we carry clothing in our mouths. Or have someone tie them to our animal
shape. Or we hide them in a place where we can shape-shift. On New Atlantis shape-
shifters contribute more to the force field than many of our people with other powers.
Perhaps that has gained us a measure of respect. If we're caught nude in public, people
don't make a big deal out of it although nudity isn't our practice. Many public places
keep robes on hand to offer us."
He'd sounded so happy when he spoke of his world. She lifted her chin and locked
gazes with him. "I'd like to visit New Atlantis."
Warm approval shined in his eyes and he gestured across the sea. "I'll take you there.
We can swim there in a day."
She recalled swimming with fondness except for the shrimp-eating incident. "How
long would it take to fly?"
"A few hours, but mastering the bird form is more difficult."
Soaring through the sky under her own power excited her. She couldn't imagine the
freedom. Heights had never bothered her. And if she ate, she could eat seeds, although
she'd seen none here. But she also wondered if what he'd told her was true that if she
kept shape-shifting she'd never again be satisfied to stay in human form. However,
she had to get off this island so she didn't have much choice. She'd have to change
shape to leave of course which animal form she chose was up to her. "I'd like to try,
but I'm not sure I'm ready to greet strangers without any clothes."
"Even dry clothing is too heavy to fly with us. But my home is isolated on a beach.
There are no neighbors nearby and I have clothing you can borrow." He took her
hand. "I understand you have not yet decided whether you want to remain with me,
but I'm glad you're considering it."
His words startled her not because of what he'd said, but because she hadn't
previously considered that once she shape-shifted into a bird, she could fly anywhere.
She would be free to leave him.
She hadn't even thought about escaping from him not since they'd made love. What
was happening to her? It was one thing to choose to go with him, but it was unlike her
not to consider what spending more time would cost her. She could lose the Miami
deal. The theater renovation would come to a complete standstill.
And yet, if she didn't spend more time with Ari, if she didn't take this opportunity to
visit New Atlantis, she might never have another. If she didn't go with him, she
suspected she'd regret it for the rest of her life.
His warmth and sincerity had gotten to her on levels she hadn't suspected. And unlike
other men who admired her for her wealth and her business acumen and her looks, Ari
looked deeper to her core. And that's what he wanted. Her wealth didn't matter to him,
at least not that she could ascertain. Neither did her looks. Sheesh once she became
accustomed to shape-shifting, she could change to any shape she wished.
Ari looked beyond the usual trappings. No man had ever looked so deep into her
character and wanted what was pure Samantha. And it scared her because that kind of
love was for life. That kind of love could change her entire world, and thinking it
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]