FIONA GLASS

EXCERPT

In which Marcus realises he's not alone...

Even as he sat up to peer into the pool there came a louder splash, followed by a rushing surge, and something appeared. It was hard to make out through the murky water, but looked long and dark and streamlined. Almost like a submarine, but more flexible somehow. Almost like...he swallowed suddenly...a leech. But huge! Surely there were no giant leeches in the world? Surely, if there were, he’d have heard about it by now, on the telly or someone’s conspiracy-themed podcast? Surely his mates would have said something, if they knew there was something weird or threatening lurking in these woods. Either way, he was about to find out, because it was heading this way, and fast.

Caught between wanting to get away and fiery curiosity about whatever the hell it was, he sat open-mouthed, hardly daring to breathe. The shape cleaved the water until it was no more than an arm’s length from the shore, then reared right up in front of him. Still dark, still streamlined, with water pouring from its long, sleek sides. But even as he watched, it changed. A shimmer, some weird optical illusion or light effect, and suddenly it was no leech that parted the waters and rose from their oily depths—it was a man, and a handsome man at that. His skin was a dusky olive and his long hair was black, and wetly plastered to the sides of his head. His chest was flat and strong, his shoulders broad and his stomach rippled with muscular power. There were glimpses of other things, too, as the man swam towards the edge of the pool. Taut buttocks, strong thighs, well-shaped calves... With a sudden gulp, Marcus realised three things—one, the figure was as naked as the day he was born; two, he was impressively endowed, and three, he was heading straight for the ledge.