Azure (Drowning In You) (20 page)

She sat up, covering her mouth with her hand. “Are you all right?”

“I’ll tell you everything,” he said without preamble, lifting a shaky hand toward her, as if not sure she was real. “Give me one more day. Promise you won’t go to that beach again.” He seemed to be tittering on the edge of a chasm, uncertain and afraid and frustrated. “Promise me.”

“I promise.” Because what else could she do?

He nodded, some of the tension leaving his shoulders, and lay down beside her, drawing her close. “I’m beat. Let’s get some sleep.”

She thought she wouldn’t be able to, with all that had happened and the emotions still swirling inside her, but exhaustion drew her under before she knew it.

***

Early morning light slanted through the open window. A bee buzzed on the sill. Outside, a bird trilled.

Olivia raised herself on one elbow.

Kai was stretched on his back, an arm thrown over his eyes, fast asleep. He looked beautiful and peaceful. He also sported a bad case of morning wood.

She leaned over him, fascinated by his body. Stronger than any other she’d seen, tanned golden. Salt crystals caught on the smooth skin of his chest sparkled in the sunlight.

He shifted with a soft groan. Those pants looked constricting, stretched over his crotch. She cupped his arousal and he arched a little, his breath catching. His arm dropped on the pillow, the silken tassels of his hair tumbling on his face.

So hot.
Just looking at him made her want to throw off her clothes and rub herself all over him. Mark her territory.

She frowned. Did female cats do that, too?

He murmured something, his fingers clenching on nothing. His dark brows drew together and he puffed a tiny moan. His eyelids fluttered.

God, he was so beautiful, and with the dawning light, the darkness had dissipated, leaving behind hope.

And desire.

She slid over him, straddling his hips, loving how he felt pressed against her.

“Oh god.” He grunted, opening his eyes and squinting. “Liv?”

“Morning.” She bent over him, kissing his jaw.

“I’m in heaven,” he whispered, sliding his hands up her sides, then forward to cup her breasts in their lacy bra. “I must have done something good.”

“Lots of good,” she agreed, rocking her hips, and was rewarded with a strangled moan and an answering jerk underneath her.

“Do that again,” he ordered quietly and she did, feeling his reaction through her shorts. “Fucking hell.”

“I thought it was heaven?”

“Depends.” He panted. “On the outcome.”

She grinned and sat up, undoing his belt and buttons. “Let’s see what I can do.”

“Liv...” He caught her wrist, his eyes clearing. “You don’t have to do this.”

“Do I look like I’m being forced?” She winked and slipped her hand inside his pants, under his briefs, finding his hardness. “Besides, turnabout is fair play.”

“You make it sound...like a punishment.” He gasped and a tremor started in his legs. “Liv...”

She firmed her grip, loving the feel of him in her hand, and stroked him fast and hard. “As you said, it all depends on the outcome.”

 
The outcome arrived swiftly and with a bitten-off cry he spent himself, shaking hard.

“Damn,” he breathed, his chest heaving. “God. You’re amazing. And I haven’t even seen you naked yet.”

“Is that a request?” She chewed on her lip not to laugh at his wide-eyed expression. She was feeling rather proud of herself for putting it there.

“Yeah. Shit. Not now.” He sat up, wiping himself on a dirty shirt and then grabbing her around the waist. “I have to go to work.”

“It’s still early.”

He shook his head, kissing her throat. “I have to swim first.”

“No, you don’t.” She mock-punched him. “You have to make out with me first.”

“Ow.” He chuckled, sending shivers down her spine. “You’re really not scared of me, are you?”

“Why should I be?”

“The girls here are scared. Their parents tell them I’m dangerous.”

“And are you?” She’d meant it as a tease, but he frowned.

He pulled his legs from under her and turned. “I have to go.”

“Kai, wait.”

He stopped in the process of getting up. He raked his fingers through his hair, mussing it more. “I’m not a very good guy, Liv. I didn’t drop out of college. I was expelled.”

“What? Why?”

“Failed the year, then I showed up drunk and naked at the graduation party. I was trouble. Drank, partied, fucked around and did drugs. I was dangerous then, but this...” He shook his head. “This is different.”

“You think the sea dragged me in because of you, don’t you.”

He rubbed his eyes and nodded. “She wants me.”

“The sea? If it wants you, why is it trying to take me?”

“I don’t know. I don’t understand it. All I know, this isn’t coming from me, and I can’t control it. It’s goddamn magic and I don’t know how to stop it.” He snorted. “I know it sounds crazy.”

She thought of the sea pulling her down and she clasped in her hand the cool stone of her pendant.

He believed it. Hell, she was starting to believe it, too. Which was mad. She didn’t believe in superstitions. Didn’t believe in mermaids. Or magic.

She’d get to the bottom of this. Somehow she’d help him be free.

***

In the bright morning light, the path down to the beach didn’t look so steep. Or maybe it was Kai’s arm around her, shoring her up, steadying her. He led her to the beach of the hotel and stepped back. He’d changed into his swim trunks and tearing her eyes off him required serious physical effort.

“You know where to find me,” he said, stroking his thumb over her cheek, looking much calmer than the night before. “Just be careful.”

She didn’t ask what he meant. No need. The sea whispered below, stretching and curling like a vast blue dragon, snorting in the caves under the rocks and flicking foam all the way up at her feet.
 

She shivered when he drew her close and kissed her, his mouth hard and demanding, then softening until his lips barely touched hers.

“Don’t go,” she said. “Not today. Stay.”

“She’s calling me.” There was blue in his eyes again. How could there be blue in his dark chocolate eyes?

Fear tightened her insides. “You hear her voice?”

He looked away. “I feel her. Like this morning, when I knew she had you.”

Holy shit.
“I thought that guy warned you. Laurence. Now you say you felt it?”

His mouth flattened, as if he was angry at himself for saying too much. “Gotta go.”

She watched him skid down the path to the sea, his soft dark hair flying. He’d said everyone left eventually. That they were scared of him. That he knew it sounded crazy.

Did it?

He stood on the rocks, outlined against the blue, and she thought she saw dark forms swim in the waves, silvery fins flashing.

What was she seeing?

Kai glanced over his shoulder at her — checking if she was still there? Then he dived into the sea and the mysterious forms scattered, vanishing in the depths.

Her mind awhirl, she trudged to the hotel, hands in her pockets, wondering. Had she really seen that?

If you looked hard enough, did you see the truth or an illusion?

The sun was already warm on her arms and legs as she crossed the beach and passed by the bar and pool. Inside the hotel lobby it was shady and cool.

Panos looked up from a book. A Harlequin novel, Olivia thought, and smiled when she saw she was right.

He closed the dog-eared paperback and nodded at her, serious. “Good morning.” He put her key on the desk. “Here.”

Oh crap
. He knew she hadn’t been in her room all night. “Thanks.”

“Something happen yesterday.” He leaned forward, his large hands flat on the desk. “Kai upset. And wet.”

Oh right.
“It was an accident.”

“Accident.” He shook his shaggy head. “So you say.”

“I have good news.”

He gave her a suspicious look. “News?”

“You owe me one.” She didn’t know why she wanted Panos to like her. Probably because he seemed to be the closest to a family and to a friend Kai had. “I made Kai laugh.”

“
Opa
,” Panos said, whatever that meant. “True?”

“Cross my heart.”

“Proof?” He lifted a bushy brow.

“How can I have proof? Come on, pay up.” She grinned. “Where’s my commission?”

“
Raki?
” He wagged his brows.

“Man, it’s still morning time. Can’t get drunk so early.” She tapped her fingers on the desk. “Were you serious when you said he never laughed?” She thought again of Kai’s reaction, how he’d run off in the night.

“Never laugh. Never cry. Not normal. He is like hermit.” Panos shook his head.

“Tell me more about him. That will be my payment.” She batted her lashes. “Please, Panos.”

“Ah.” He sighed and made a face. “Kai interesting, yes?”

“Yes.”

“And beautiful.”

Heat licked her cheeks. “He’s cute.”

“Cute. Bah. Beautiful.” Panos struck a pose. “Good blood. Beautiful family.”