Free Porpoiseful Intent [Placida Pod 2] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) by Tymber Dalton Page A

concerned, it hadn’t.
    Finding no flooding and no damage other than a few downed tree limbs, Sean crossed the bridge back to the mainland and drove home. Physically as well as emotionally exhausted, Sean didn’t bother surveying the outside of the house for damage or turning on the lights inside when he walked through his front door. He could tell from the outside that their house hadn’t flooded, and that’s all he cared about. He left his suitcase in the utility room and started for their bedroom before changing his mind.
    Pool. A float in the pool.
    He knew Emery wouldn’t be too far behind him anyway. They could shower together.
    Mmm. And maybe a lot more than that before he has to leave again for the search. He was coming to love Louise and even Joseph, but he wasn’t comfortable doing more than fooling around in the shower under their roof with a houseful of others, including his own parents.
    Especially after the family smackdown and revelations that happened.
    At least I know I can let go of my jealousy over Denby.
    He opened the sliders, groaning at the sight of three of the pool cage’s screen roof panels hanging down. “Dammit.” They’d have to call a company to repair those. He could reach and replace the four side ones the storm had also damaged.
    He didn’t bother turning on the pool lights. It was nearly dark, and all he wanted to do was chill out for a little while. He stripped, dropping his clothes to the concrete deck. Then he dove into the deep end and swam underwater halfway down the pool before surfacing. He flipped onto his back and lazily backstroked the rest of the way to the shallow end. There he stood and pushed his hair out of his face. He had the creepy feeling he was being watched, but he didn’t see anyone inside their fenced backyard.
    He took another slow lap down and back, noticing a large accumulation of dark gunk in the bottom of the deep end. Weird how it’s all clumped together like that. Storm must have blown it in. I’ll have to clean it in the morning. He was too tired to do it then. He swam back to the shallow end where he stopped again to rest.
    He closed his eyes and lounged against the wall at the shallow end when he heard an odd sound, like water being disturbed.
    Accompanied by a strange, chuffing noise.
    He opened his eyes, swallowing back his scream.
    At the deep end of the pool, an alligator’s head had breached the surface.
    Fuck! Fuckfuckfuckfuck!
    His bladder let loose, which, fortunately, happened in the pool. As the alligator stared at him with large, preternaturally amber eyes and a snaggletoothed grin, Sean understood what the phrase “frozen in terror” truly meant.
    When he could finally suck a breath into his lungs, he turned, boosted himself out of the pool, and ran for the house. He didn’t realize he was shaking until he slammed the sliders shut behind him. They weren’t the world’s best protection against a huge alligator if it decided it wanted in, but it was a start.
    Phone. Phone. Phone! Where’s my fucking phone?
    He grabbed his cell and, before dialing 911, realized he wasn’t sure that was a good idea. Technically, he wasn’t in immediate danger now that he was safely inside the house. And no doubt 911 had its hands full with the aftermath of the storm.
    He returned to the sliders and reached over to the wall switch to flip on the pool lights.
    “Fuck!” The gator had to be nearly seven feet long. Its dark bulk, silhouetted by the pool lights, slowly turned toward the sliders, blinking as it stared at him from the pool. He’d seen plenty of gators in the wild while fishing in the mangroves around Placida.
    He just didn’t want one in his pool. And he damn sure didn’t want to be in his pool with one in there. As he stared at the gator, he noticed rhythmic ripples in the water.
    He’d swear the damn thing was laughing at him
    “Fuck you, Wally Gator,” he muttered at the reptile. “Your ass is out of here.” He dialed