Sea Storm: Children of the Waves Read online

  “I can help,” Des offered getting up, too. She saw the glasses in a glass-covered cabinet.

  “Oh no, you’re a guest.” Ezekiel stood up, beating her to it.

  She sat back down and smiled. “Thank you, Ezekiel, you’re too kind.”

  Cyrus snorted. “Hardly.”

  Ezekiel frowned at his brother, then turned his attention back to her. “Zek please, Ezekiel is a mouthful.”

  “Zek, then.” She glanced at the containers of food on the table and served herself. It all looked delicious; the pasta salad with shrimp, a green salad, thin slices of beef marinated in a sauce that smelled divine. Accompanied by two different types of salad dressings as well as beignet-type rolls. “This looks fantastic,” she said. “Did you make all of this?” She hadn’t seen any restaurants on the island. When they’d flown in she only saw a handful of buildings, but most looked like residences and a storage place. So, they must take care of meals themselves, or have it flown in.

  Aaron laughed, as did Cyrus.

  “No. I have a housekeeper-slash-cook. Marta. Since her son is home from school visiting, I gave her the rest of the evening off. But she always makes plenty and stores it in the fridge for me,” Zek explained.

  She tasted the shrimp salad and moaned. Momentarily closing her eyes. When she opened them again, all three men had their forks partway to their mouths, frozen, watching her. Des felt her face flush and bent her head. She always enjoyed her food vocally, as well as other things.

  Someone coughed.

  Thank you God!

  Then someone’s cell phone rang. “Excuse me,” Zek said. He got up from the table and moved into the room behind her.

  The other two men kept up a steady flow of conversation.

  She figured out Cyrus worked for Zek on the cruise line, yet he’d just told her he’d never taken a cruise. “You’re kidding,” Des said.

  He shook his head. “Never had the time, too busy making sure those things run properly before they leave my port.”

  Zek came back to the table and clapped his brother on the back. “And does a damn good job, too. We’ve never had any major trouble with our line, like some others.”

  “Well, except for my friend falling over board,” Des reminded him.

  “There is that. Surprisingly, it’s never happened to us before. By the way, that was Xav. He’ll be here with his bride tomorrow morning.”

  For some reason when Zek spoke he watched only her and when he said the word bride it sent a thrill through her body. Like he tried to tell her something. She shook her head. “Fiancée,” she corrected him and stood up, taking her plate with her over to the sink.

  A tanned hand came down over hers just as she touched the faucet and the electric shock from the contact had her dropping the plate.

  Zek moved fast. He caught the plate with his other hand, never removing his fingers from on top of hers.

  Tingles continued to zing up her arm from where they touched. Quickly, she turned her head to stare at him. Her breath had been coming hard before, but she made a mistake by looking at him. She opened her mouth to get air. She couldn’t breathe.

  Slowly, he took the plate out of her hand and placed it in the sink. “I got this,” he urged, never taking his eyes off her. Instantly, she pulled her hand out from under his because clearly he wasn’t going to let go. One of them needed to. Des inhaled deeply and took a step back. Only then, did she feel she could control the pounding of her heart again to a more normal rhythm. She took another step back. “I—I—is it okay if I go walk along the beach for a minute? It’s not too dark yet.”

  “Yes. It’s fine and the paths are all lit,” Zek stated.

  Aaron stood up and brought his plate over to the sink. “I think I’d like to take one of the boats and run over to the big island for a bit.” He turned to Cyrus. “You coming?”

  “Yeah.” He too stood and placed his plate in the sink.

  “Not so fast,” Zek barked. “You can bus your own dishes.”

  Aaron laughed and moved out of the kitchen.

  Des grinned and moved passed them to make her way out through the great room. The French doors led to a direct path down to the beach. She walked in the direction of the water and took off her sandals. Standing only far enough so the surf reached her ankles, she let the gentle waves of the receding tide surround her. The warm water and sand felt soft against the soles of her feet. She walked along the shore a few steps, then returned back to the dry part of the beach.

  Without a thought to her dress, she sat down on the sand, and stretched her legs out in front of her. Well out of reach of the lapping water. Her thoughts drifted to her friend, Cori. Did she discover love at first sight? Des found it difficult to believe, knowing how logical and organized her friend’s mind worked. Still, she grinned. Engaged. If her friend had found her ‘one’ then Des would be happy for her. But first, she’d talk to her and make damn sure of it. True love, why not?

  Then again, her mind wandered back to the past. She shied away from the explosion on the boat and thoughts of dying in the water. She sometimes wondered why she didn’t fear the ocean. Frankly, she barely remembered being in the water. Most of it seemed like a dream, perhaps her brain’s way of protecting her.

  Her strongest memories of that time were of lying partially on warm sand but the rest of her body rested cradled in the lap of someone. Someone whom her senses told her meant safety, comfort. Her memory of it surfaced…Des opened her eyes to stare into the azure orbs of a teenage boy. The most beautiful boy she’d ever seen, maybe only a few years older than she. Her heart had been pumping hard from pain, exhaustion and fear, but just then it seemed to pump in excitement and anticipation.

  “You’re going to be fine now.”

  His voice came out deep and she wanted to hear it again. She coughed. “My—my family.”

  “They’re safe. They were just taken a little farther down the beach, help will be here soon.”

  “You saved me.”

  His hand rose to caress the side of her face. “Yes. I would never allow any harm to come to you.”

  She smiled and touched his face, too. Somehow, it all seemed right. “Who are you?”

  “My name is Ezekiel.”

  “Ezekiel.” She smiled.

  “What’s your name?”

  There were shouts in the distance. They both turned their heads in the direction of the noise but a curve in the beach hid them from anyone on the other side. “Help will be here soon,” he said again.

  “Will you stay with me until they come?”

  He smiled. He had the warmest smile. “I’m sorry I can’t. I can’t be here when they find you. But don’t worry, I will come to you again.”

  “Hali. My name is Hali.” She sat up and took off the necklace from around her neck. Her favorite piece of jewelry. “Here take this, so you don’t forget me.” She took his hand and opened his palm, dropping it there.

  He closed his hand around it. “I will never forget you.”

  “Thank you for saving my life.”

  He grinned. “No, thank you. You saved mine.” He opened his hand and held the necklace out to her. “Help me put it on.”

  She took it from him and placed it around his neck, attaching the hook. Their faces were so close.

  He narrowed the gap even more and kissed her, just a press of his cool lips against her own.

  She’d been kissed once before during a party. They’d played spin the bottle, but it didn’t feel like this. Her entire body shook from the impact of this kiss.

  “I will find you again. This I swear. I am yours now. When it is time, I will come for you and claim that which belongs to me.”

  She didn’t really understand his words, but the emotion behind them reassured her, he would find her again, and he somehow belonged to her now.

  He held the necklace around his neck, raised it to his lips and kissed it, then stood up. Twisting away from her, he ran into the sea and dove under the wa
ves.

  When she didn’t see him resurface, she stood up. By then, she saw people coming toward her on the beach. She’d taken one step toward help but she must have been weaker than she thought. She fell to the sand.

  Then her father’s hands and others were there helping her up. Although they looked for the boy she’d claimed saved her, they never found him.

  Yet, she knew she hadn’t imagined him, because there were two sets of footprints where she’d been sitting before they’d found her.

  Chapter Six

  “Mind if I join you?” He didn’t give Des a chance to answer, Zek merely sat down beside her. He felt her gaze on him and turned to look at her.

  Des stared straight ahead, watching as Aaron and Cyrus along with Jimmy steered the boat in the direction of the main island. She sat with her knees drawn up against her chest with arms wrapped around her ankles.

  He stretched his legs out. He’d left his sandals inside and dug his heels into the sand.

  “You have a beautiful place here,” Des observed, but continued to gaze at the water.

  “Thank you, and yes it is.” He paused listening to the sound of the ocean moving to and from land. Its music never failed to soothe him. His gaze drifted in the direction of the boat until it moved out of sight. He also gave silent thanks to the gods for returning Des to him. Zek tilted his head back to stare at the night sky, clear but for the speckling of lights. Usually, he loved the sight, but tonight its beauty didn’t hold as much appeal.

  He returned his gaze to the woman at his left, who out shone the views. He recognized her profile from his memory. Only now, it appeared less rounded more defined. The pretty child had become a lovely woman. “It is you. I know it is and I think I know why you won’t admit it.”

  She glanced at him and narrowed her eyes, then returned to looking at the water. “There’s nothing for me to admit. I think you’ve just confused me with someone else.”

  He pulled the necklace out of his shirt and stared at it. “I saved a girl from drowning one day, after the boat she was on exploded. She gave me this. I promised her I’d find her again.”

  She gazed at the medallion and inhaled sharply. “Cute story.” She swiftly turned her head away. Her reaction belied the calmness of her claim.

  “Here, take a closer look at this. Tell me if you recognize it.” He offered the necklace for her scrutiny. He’d promised or told her he’d find her again and wondered if she remembered what else he’d pledged to her when they’d first met. He sure as Hades did.

  She glanced at the jewelry again. “Pretty. Just looks like a regular necklace with someone’s name on it.”

  He noticed she didn’t touch it and wouldn’t meet his gaze. “Yes, Hali.”

  She shook her head. “Sorry, I don’t recognize the necklace.”

  “What about the name?” he pressed.

  “I don’t know anyone who goes by that name.” She couldn’t look at him when she spoke, but returned to staring at the water.

  Zek’s reaction to her told him who she was, but still doubt crept into his thoughts. He’d waited for so long to find his bride again. From the first, he immediately recognized her. He’d never been so attracted to another woman since.

  His brother and unmated friends thought him a fool when he’d told them of the girl. At least until they began to find their brides. Only then, did they understand.

  He’d found his bride and he wanted no other. His instantaneous attraction to Des should be enough. He wanted her, and he could wait for the detective to find the missing pieces or…another way that existed to find out for certain. Zek smiled thinking of the other way. The more pleasurable and satisfying of the two. “You know the water is awfully warm. It’s great for night swimming. I think I’ll go in.”

  She frowned. “Really, don’t you have to worry about, well sharks, and being able to see them?”

  He laughed. Sharks wouldn’t dare attack one of the Children. While he couldn’t communicate with sea creatures the way his elder brother could, nothing of the ocean would harm him. Well…nothing but the creatures from the dark depths, but his brother sat on Poseidon’s throne and held dominion over them now, too. The king and the white witch controlled those creatures. Things the white witch used to try and destroy their world. Zek knew Xav being king would not stop the woman from continuing to plot or attempting to overthrow his brother and wreak chaos beneath the waves.

  Still, they were safe in the water. The dolphins protected the island. “They stay farther out, we’ve never spotted them this close to shore,” he replied in answer to her question. Standing up, he stripped down to the tight black briefs he wore. He paused when he hooked his thumbs inside the waistband to take them off. “Join me.”

  Her gaze raked him from head to toe. The dark amber in her eyes glowing at him.

  His dick jerked at the attention. Her gaze rested there, causing him to thicken and lengthen even more. His erection pushed against the material of the tight briefs, leaving nothing to the imagination. Zek would not conceal his desire for her. Thunder rumbled in the distance, reflecting his emotions. Each child of Poseidon had a gift, stronger in some…weaker in others. He commanded the power of thunder and lightning. He wanted to hide nothing of himself from her. Revealing what he really was though would have to wait. For now, he wanted, needed, her to know how much he desired her. Ached to have her accept him.

  “I’m—I’m not wearing a s-uit,” she stuttered, and not looking down at his body.

  “Neither am I.” He stood before her in only his briefs, and would have taken that off too but sensed her hesitancy. All the Children were comfortable in the form nature intended. She had a beautiful body, and shouldn’t be shy about showing it. He always found it odd the way landwalkers liked to shield themselves, their bodies, along with their minds. The way they fooled themselves. They weren’t alone on this world. Many sentient beings other than humans walked on land, and existed beneath the sea.

  Des turned to glance back at the well-lit house. It partially illuminated the area where they sat. “I guess I can go and change into my bathing suit.”

  “There’s no need.”

  “I’m not wearing a bra,” she admitted brushing her hair away from her face.

  Zek raised an eyebrow at her, striving not to move his gaze down to her ample chest. Her nipples pressed against the sheer material, pointing at attention, affirming her statement.

  “I know. Are you afraid? You don’t strike me as someone who lets fear rule her.” She’d been so brave the day of the explosion. His heartbeat continued to drum, vibrating into his skull. His bride.

  She blinked and met his gaze. “You know nothing about me.”

  “Ah, but I want to.” He smiled a small smile and continued to stare at her, letting her see his admiration for her, his raw desire. The fact his blood rushed to his dick, making it pulse, seemed such an obvious indicator of his need for her.

  Slowly, she stood up and pulled her dress over her head, facing him proudly in nothing but her bikini-cut panty.

  He made it a point no matter how much he wanted to do otherwise, to keep his eyes on hers. He decided not to push her, yet, and left his underwear on. He raised his palm, holding it out to her. She placed her dainty hand in his and he felt like a king at having her trust. Electricity surging back and forth between them fueled the fire already racing within his blood. Mine! Resounded through every cell. The energy and excitement coursing through him for a moment caused his powers to flare and thunder rumbled again, this time directly overhead.

  Des glanced up at the sky, devoid of clouds and frowned but didn’t pull away.

  He reined in his powers and together, they walked across the sand into the warm sea. Zek tugged her in until the water reached her waist. The liquid surrounding him further calmed him. Releasing her hand, he swam farther out. He heard her smooth slices through the water behind him, slowing his pace, so she could catch up to him. Once they were far enough out, he turned to her and
treaded water. “How well can you hold your breath underwater?”

  She tilted her head to the side. “I don’t know, average I guess.”

  He nodded. “Trust me. Take a deep breath, and follow me. I want to show you something.”

  Des hesitated, but then nodded.

  Zek opened his mouth and inhaled, so did she, he bowed his body and dove. Des swam beside him. He took her hand; the contact would also help her breathe and stay down as long as they touched. One of many gifts Poseidon’s heirs possessed. He wondered briefly, if his younger brother had it. They didn’t have to dive very deep, but he wanted to see really how well she took to the water. Pleased to discover she could swim, the Hali he knew couldn’t.

  While he no longer made his home in the depths, the sea made up a very large part of his life’s blood. He enjoyed spending time in it almost every day. Des didn’t have to live in the sea, but as his bride she did need to be comfortable there. Like his brothers, he too had a medallion he would gift to her. It would allow her to survive in the depths when he took her to visit his birthplace. Besides, she’d want to visit Cori. Her friend as his brother’s bride would live in King’s City most of the time. He wondered if Des would want to marry in her traditional way, too? He’d do whatever she wanted.

  Des held his hand and let him lead her.

  Now, he truly felt pleased she trusted him. A dozen feet from the surface, what he wanted to show her soon became evident. The water beneath them glowed with jellyfish. They lit up the area below, so it appeared as though stars floated in the water, but stars with tentacles.

  She jerked on his hand, pulling him to a stop, her expression showed fear but also wonder.

  He grinned and pointed at the jellyfish.

  Des turned then squeezed his hand as they treaded water.

  Zek took it to mean she understood he’d wanted her to see them. He knew immediately when Des realized perhaps they’d been down a little too long.

  A look of panic flashed across her features and she gazed up.

  Taking the hint and still holding her hand, he propelled them both upward. When they broke the surface, the full moon sat directly above them in the sky, illuminating the water around them, giving it a false appearance of day.