Sea Storm: Children of the Waves Page 5

  Des gazed at him and grinned. “That was—that was, amazing!”

  He smiled again. He couldn’t help it. Her brown eyes sparkled at him. Happiness infused him since he could show her something she enjoyed. But he also wondered if she understood how long they’d truly been underwater without the use of oxygen tanks. It could be why she became uncomfortable underwater a few moments ago.

  “Thank you,” she said and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m sorry we had to leave. I can dive, so do you have tanks? Maybe we can go back and this time, stay down longer.” She clung to his neck in her excitement.

  Zek didn’t think she realized her actions. His chest expanded, his breaths came faster and not because he needed air. He needed her. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he drew her closer. They stared into each other’s eyes, and as though a veil lifted, she gazed at him the way she had long ago. Recognition flared between them. He lowered his head and covered her mouth with his. Magic.

  Her lips parted and his tongue followed into her warmth, finding and connecting with her. The moment he did, some part of him heard the lightning crackle across the sky and plunder into the ocean around them. The electricity within the air, only added fuel to the fire already raging within him for his mate.

  Thank Poseidon her eyes were closed, she seemed too far gone in her passion to notice what had just happened. He would explain everything to her. Later. Now, he drew her to him even more, her legs twined around his waist. Unsure how he’d done it, but he made his way to the beach, and without breaking contact. He lowered her to the clothes pile they’d left spread out on the sand. Covering her with his body, he groaned into her mouth. Their bodies curved perfectly into each other. Her chest pressed against his and still, they couldn’t get close enough for him.

  This time his hard cock would get the satisfaction he’d always denied himself. Shifting his hips, he ground into her soft mound. Wanting even such a brief strip of material separating him from his haven gone.

  She must have sensed his urgency or felt the same way because her hands snaked down his back and grabbed his ass, drawing him tighter against her.

  He released one arm, so he could help her pull his briefs lower. He shifted his position again and pulled his underwear off the rest of the way, but got only one leg free. All he needed. Zek ripped her underwear off and covered her again. The bliss of nothing separating them had them moaning into each other’s mouths, while lightning flashed and sizzled overhead between the stars.

  “Zek.” She moaned his name between his lips. At the same time, she drew her legs up. Using her hand, she reached between their bodies to grab his sex and guide it inside her.

  He closed his eyes, arched his head back, and rocked his hips forward, into her. The breath left his lungs and he inhaled like he’d never exhale again. The feeling reminded him of standing in the midst of a lightning storm while the bolts traveled through his body, something he’d done many times. Yet, it still couldn’t compare to the exquisite sensation of being within the body of his bride. He the living electricity, and she his conduit.

  Des responded to his invasion by rocking her hips against him, dragging her legs higher unto his back. Taking him even deeper into her haven.

  Zek opened his eyes and stared down at her.

  Her face bathed in moonlight, glistening from the water, and her lips partly open in ecstasy. She took a deep breath and after closing her eyes, she raised her chin.

  “Open your eyes, agapetos,” he whispered. Beloved.

  Her eyes snapped open and he found himself drowning in their brandy depths. For a moment, he saw the lightning storm taking place around them reflected in her orbs. They drew him in so far—he never wanted to leave. Her body squeezed him like she had no intention of ever letting him go. His movements got even faster, and he pounded in and out of her. Setting a rhythm in counter point to the sound of the waves crashing onto shore, like the electricity connecting with the water, but no less potent. The pressure built inside of him, this time—this time it differed. This time, he made love to his bride.

  Heat unlike any he’d ever known rushed through his veins, igniting every cell in his body as it passed. Yet he had no control over it nor did he want to even try to stop whatever happened. But it was too much. He could not keep his eyes open to stare at his mate as his body fell apart and reconnected with hers. The storm within him gathered in strength and intensity, his body spasmed and thunder raced across the night sky. He roared with the release of his body’s life essence, into the waiting vessel of his bride. The only woman capable of drawing forth his seed.

  Des’ muscles continued to clench around him, draining all of the cum out of him, which he gladly surrendered to her. This woman, his bride, his mate. Eventually they both stopped moving and he rolled off her, but kept her at his side. She rested her head on his chest tracing his rose tattoo with her fingertip while one leg rested over him. Thunder continued to rumble overhead.

  They were both breathing heavily. “Maybe we should go inside. I think a storm’s coming,” she stated.

  He smiled against her hair. “We’ll be fine. Have no fear, no storm can hurt us.”

  He felt her lips curl into a smile against his skin, then she kissed him. “Awfully sure of yourself, huh?”

  “Very.” The lightning and thunder disappeared as he took control of his emotions and his powers. He linked their fingers together and raised their hands up in front of him. Loving the feel of her, the connection to her.

  “What did you call me? That name,” she asked.

  Zek smiled into her hair. “Agapetos, it means, beloved.”

  Des stilled beside him, just before she shifted from his chest.

  He sat up, so he could see her face. “No. Do not hide from me.” He circled one arm around her waist the other under her shoulder and he drew her back to him.

  She placed her hands on his chest.

  His heart pulsed against his chest at her tender touch. “I know who you are. You know me. I came for you, Hali.” He touched his necklace. “I’ve worn this since the day you placed it around my neck. I never take it off.”

  She shook her head and a tear trickled out of the corner of her eye. “No.”

  Unable to help himself, he smiled again. “Yes. Your family is in some kind of trouble, so you had to go into hiding; change your name. I have searched for you these last few years. I promised you I would find you again. So, you know I keep my promises. I will make you another one. I will keep you safe, I swear as a son of Poseidon.”

  “How—how did you know?” Then, she frowned. “What do you mean by a ‘son of Poseidon’?”

  Deciding to side step the second part of her question for now, he addressed the first, “I hired a private investigator, actually more than one over the years. The last one I hired six months ago was the first to actually find something concrete on you. I know you and your family entered the witness protection program. How you all were listed as having died on the boat that exploded. But I knew that for a lie, because I was there. I saved you that day.”

  She raised her hand and caressed the side of his face. “I remember the dolphins helping my parents. The weird lightning. I—I remember you. But then, you left me and no one could find any trace of you in the water. I thought you’d drowned. If it weren’t for the footprints leading from my side, right into the water, no one would have believed me when I told them about you. I’m still not sure they thought those footprints had anything to do with me. Since I couldn’t find you, no one could.”

  He placed his head on her forehead. “I’m sorry. I had no choice. But I promised you one day, I’d come back for you.” He’d wanted to take her with him then but at the time, she’d been a teenager. It would have been wrong, but he’d begun to age from then on. “Believe me, I couldn’t stay with you as much as I wanted to. There would have been too many questions from your family, the Coast Guard. None of which, I could answer. Besides, you needed a human hospital. You’d suffered in
juries I wouldn’t have been able to heal and you needed attention immediately.”

  “Hu—human.”

  Zek kissed her hand. “Yes, human.”

  She frowned. “Are you telling me you’re not human?” The last word came out as more of a squeak.

  He hesitated before answering. Taking a risk but he could not lie to his mate. Not part of his nature. “Not quite. I am the direct descendant of a god. My people refer to ourselves as Children of the Waves, as you are a child of the land.”

  “What?” This time she moved to get up, move away from him.

  He refused to release her. “You know what I say is true. Search your heart, Hali.”

  She shook her head. “Please, don’t ever call me that. My name is Desiree, Des. Hali died the day the boat exploded, along with all the members of her family. And for all our sakes, she has to stay dead.”

  The dread and pleading in her eyes told him she needed to know she had nothing to fear from him. He nodded. “I understand but you need not worry. You’re safe with me, always. I will protect you.”

  “No it’s you who doesn’t understand, I can never be safe. My family can never be safe. The men who tried to kill us, while they’re either dead or in jail, there is one who is still alive. The one who gave the order and those who work for him now. If any of these people ever get even a hint that we’re still alive, they will come after us.”

  Every bone in his body stilled at the thought of his bride being in any kind of danger. Thunder and lightning played a duet born of anger while he drew her closer against his body.

  Chapter Seven

  Des glanced up. She heard thunder earlier and saw the lightning, yet there were no clouds above. The only things in the sky were stars. Still, who knew, the tropics were known for sudden storms. She reached for her dress, but she couldn’t put her ripped underwear back on and just balled them in her hand. Quickly, she pulled the dress over her head and stood up. Needing some distance from the madness overtaking her.

  Zek put his shorts on. He shoved his briefs in his pocket, and carried his shirt in his hands.

  The ridges of his abdomen and the ripple of his muscles, as he moved, drew her gaze. She shivered, thinking of being pressed up close and personal with all that beautiful male flesh. She could still feel his fullness inside her. The evidence of his passing, rested warm within her. What was wrong with her? She didn’t jump into bed with guys she just met. And for Christ sake, he claimed he wasn’t human!

  Realization then fully dawned on her. “Oh, my God! You came inside of me. You didn’t use a condom! Shit!” She’d never, ever forgotten herself like that. What the hell! Yes, she and Cori came on the cruise for a little vacation fun. Even with as much as she flirted, it didn’t mean she’d actually have sex with some stranger. Much less unprotected sex. She glared at him. “What have you done?”

  He stared at her, and took a step forward his hand raised as if to touch her.

  Des took a step back. Unsure of herself, fearing if he touched her they would roll around in the sand again. Everything inside her named him the one. The boy who’d saved her life. The one all those stupid romance books and movies talked about. The one who’d already claimed her. Her nipples stiffened again, begging for his touch. Her sex clenched, readying itself for his possession once more. Like he didn’t just give her one of the best climaxes of her life. She needed to stop this craziness.

  When she stepped back, he lowered his hand and sighed. “Let’s go inside and get cleaned up and I’ll try to answer any questions you might have for me. I have a few for you, too.”

  She shook her head. “The first question I have for you is when was the last time you were tested for STDs?” Anyone willing to jump a stranger’s bones had to be a player, and a nutcase to boot. Though deep down, such thoughts lacked truth. Zek could be the man, boy, who’d saved her. The boy she’d thought of for so many years, finding her again, just like he promised. Or rather, she found him. He’d always been the reason she couldn’t have a normal relationship with any man. At the end of the day, none of them were her hero. None left her wanting. None fulfilled her the way he just proved he could. And left her craving more. She’d always been able to walk away from relationships before they really even became one.

  This time, she knew she’d have a devil of a time walking away from him. Nutcase or not. “Look, I don’t do this.” She waved her hand toward the sand at their feet, where they’d been rutting like a couple of animals a few moments ago. And given the slightest provocation, she’d do it again in a heartbeat. Although maybe—without the sand.

  “I know,” he whispered in a voice so soft she had to lean forward to hear him.

  The truth was she really leaned forward to catch more of his delicious scent the wind blew in her direction. Sand, sea and sex.

  He continued to speak and his voice had her concentrating on his words. “I don’t either. My people never have to worry about using protection because we are immune to human diseases, so you have no concern there. Also, it has been a long time since I’ve been with anyone. In fact only once, and only to learn to please you when the time came.” He stepped forward again, until he stood directly in front of her. Heat radiated off him and enveloped her, in spite of the evening breeze.

  She’d fallen into lala land, but then he raised his hand and, this time—touched her hair. Pushing the damp strands from her face behind her ears.

  No. His touch rocked her to her marrow. Real.

  “I trust I satisfied you?” he whispered.

  Wait what? “What do you mean ‘once’?” She shuddered, surely she misunderstood him. “And that you wanted to please me?”

  His hand moved from her hair to a light caress at her neck, down across one breast. Her chest rose and fell more in reaction to his touch than because she needed air. It lightly skimmed over her nipple, which puckered, eager for his attention before he’d even touched her. His hand didn’t pause there though, much as she wanted it to, but continued to her waist. Those talented fingers moved to take hers. He threaded their digits together before raising both of their hands to his lips.

  The touch of his mouth on her skin had her soaking herself, again.

  “I have always known, since that day…you were the one for me… The only one. I have been with a single other woman in my life, and she tutored me in the arts of pleasure. She trained me, so when we met again, I would be able to please you.” He brought her hand up to his mouth again, and licked the back of it before covering it with his other one, making a sandwich out of hers. “Did I please you?”

  She groaned. Too much. When she tried to pull away from him, she discovered he wouldn’t let go. She gazed into his eyes and bore witness to a turbulent sea of raw need and desire—for her. And maybe she saw something else, too. He deserved the truth, if for no other reason than he saved her life once. “Yes. You did. You know you did.”

  “I’ve fantasized about you for so long, but none of my fantasies have done you justice.” He clasped her hand tighter. “Come. Let’s get cleaned up and I’ll try to explain everything.”

  They walked side by side to return to his home. At no time, did he release her. They took a different path than the one she’d used, and came to another set of sliding glass doors. He pushed them open, and moved aside, at the same time, beckoning her to enter first.

  She stepped across the threshold and paused, taking in the scene before her. She could label it life styles of the uber rich and famous.

  From the landing she observed the sunken room; a circular bed took center stage in the space. It stood to the right of where they entered. The soft glow from a lamp near the bed illuminated most of the room for her. The bedding reminded her of the swirling color of storms. Shades of gray with streaks of lightning. The walls were stucco style. If she touched them, they would feel rough. They too, were painted a lighter shade of gray, almost white. And there were touches of sea green throughout the room, in the large comfortable chair in the corner, the
pillows on the bed. No paintings adorned the walls. Possibly because none might compare to the natural beauty in the light of day revealed by the ocean behind her.

  Sections of floor to ceiling windows made up an entire wall. The darkness of the night hid the water from her sight, but she could hear and smell the salty scent of the sea. Lulling her to drop her defenses. One of the window sections nearest the bed, stood partially open. The breeze blew the gauzy curtains into the room, and some touched the headboard in a slow caress. The action teased and enticed the senses to come in and lay upon the bed. If she accepted the silent invitation, she would not be alone.

  Yet, she continued to move forward and took a step down, farther into his bedroom. She heard the soft click of the door shutting behind her. Her heartbeat raced, to what finish she didn’t know. Moments later, his heat pushed at her spine. She tilted her head to glance back at him.

  He moved around until he stood in front of her. Taking both of her hands in his, he raised them to his lips, kissing each palm.

  Her heart banged against her rib cage.

  “I have sand all over me,” he said. He released one of her hands and caressed the side of her face. “I think there’s sand in your hair, too.”

  She’d deluded herself, she knew to what end her presence would lead. Taking a deep breath, she plunged into the depths. “And probably some other places.”

  Zek grinned. “No doubt. Come. Take a shower with me.” He didn’t wait for her reply.

  Nor, would she deny him when he walked away, tugging her behind him and headed in the direction of a closed door almost as wide as the double doors to his room.

  He opened this oversized door and stepped across the threshold. Raising his arm, he touched a wall switch, bringing soft light into the space.

  Whoa! What an unbelievable room. At first glance, everything in it appeared porcelain white, but in actuality, her vision soon picked up a very faint shade of blue. Further accented with nickel-plated faucets or accessories in a similar color. A soaking tub sat in one corner, but you had to go up two steps to enter it. Wide enough, it took up half the wall in that area and had windows on two sides. Definitely, large enough for three linebackers to easily fit in there. A walk-in shower with a dual showerhead stood to the right.