Unbound (8 page)

“You're not finishing yours?” Zach asked after wiping his mouth with the napkin and tossing it onto his empty plate. “Didn't you like it?”

“I loved it.” Annabelle rubbed her belly and leaned back in the plastic chair. She smirked and let out a short laugh at the way he was staring at her food. “Do you want the rest? I'm stuffed.”

“Are you sure?” Zach shrugged and gave her a sheepish grin. “What can I say, I love to eat.”

“By all means.” Annabelle gestured to her plate and giggled while she watched Zach switch her plate for his. “See? This is why I'm convinced God is a man. You eat like a horse and don't have an ounce of fat on you. If I so much as look at a doughnut, I gain ten pounds.”

“You're not one of
those
girls, are you?” Zach's fork stopped in midair and he gave her a doubtful look. “If you tell me that you think you're fat, I'm gonna throw you in the ocean.”

“No, but I'm not skinny, either.” Annabelle sipped her beer and couldn't help but smile at Zachary. He was finishing off her food in record time and kept glancing at the glittering ocean, as though warning her. “Whatever. I'm somewhere in the middle. Kind of average, I guess.”

“You're beautiful.” Zachary held her gaze, and her stomach fluttered at the unspoken invitation that lingered in the air. He leaned closer and dropped his voice to a gravelly whisper. “And believe me, Annabelle. There is nothing average about you. Aside from the fact that you see visions and are mated to an Amoveo stud.” He winked playfully, which only made her giggle harder. “You are also the most frustrating, fascinating woman I've ever met.”

Looking into his eyes, she knew how frustrated he was, because she was feeling the same way. How could the universe or fate or whatever put the two of them together? It was like some kind of twisted Romeo and Juliet situation—and it hadn't worked out very well for those star-crossed lovers.

The jukebox came suddenly to life, breaking the spell. Silence hung between them while music filled the air, and she replayed the events of the past twenty-four hours.

“It's funny, you know.” Annabelle sighed and tucked her windblown hair behind her ear while looking out over the ocean. “I feel more comfortable with you than I've ever felt with my own family. Most people make me nervous because I know that I might get a glimpse of their memories. I mean, most of the time I can block the visions, but sometimes they slip past me.”

“That must have made waitressing a little rough.” He pressed his lips together and gave her a sympathetic look. “Pick up someone's plate or glass and see part of their past? Talk about a crappy tip.”

“It was hard at first because I really had to work at stopping the visions from slipping inside my head. I usually can keep them at bay unless I'm really tired or not focusing, then I can get blindsided.” She gave him a pointed look. “Which has been happening a lot lately.”

“Are they always about the past?”

“They
were
.” Annabelle stilled and her hand immediately went to the bracelet. “Until this morning.”

“What did you see?” Zach's brow furrowed and he leaned both elbows on the table, his entire demeanor changed. “It was a vision of the future?”

“Yes,” she said quietly. “We were…in the water.”

“And?” He folded his hands and pressed his mouth against them, trying to hide the cheeky smirk. “What were we doing?”

“Nothing.” She giggled. Annabelle held his heated stare as memories of the vision flooded her mind, and her body tingled in all the right places. He might not have been able to read her mind, but based on the look on his face, he knew exactly what they were doing in that vision. “Just swimming.”

“Right.” Zach leaned back in his chair and picked up his beer. “You'll tell me eventually.”

“Well, aren't you sure of yourself.”

“Not really, but there are a few things I am sure of.”

“Like what?”

“One: you are my mate.” Placing both elbows on the table, he leaned closer and the muscles in his stubble-covered jaw flickered. “Two: I'm more attracted to you than any other woman I've ever met, and all I can do is think about being inside of you and burying myself so deep that I don't feel anything but you.” Annabelle's heart skipped a beat and her blood hummed with awareness as she met his predatory stare. Keeping his voice low, he whispered, “And three…your last name isn't Johnson.”

Panic raced through her and she stared at him, not quite sure she'd heard that last part correctly. All of it had her head spinning, but that final statement brought everything else to a screeching halt and she knew her time was running out. There was only one choice left. As soon as the money came through from Grace, Annabelle would get out of Loreto. However, seeing the determined look on Zachary's face, she knew he wouldn't let her go. She was going to have to slip out like a thief in the night while he was sleeping, and that made her feel even shittier.

Before she could respond, the waitress came over and stood between them.

“Finish?” she asked. “I take?”

“
Gracias
.” Zachary nodded and pointed to the empty plate in front of Annabelle, the one that had been his. “She practically licked the plate clean.”

“Hey!” Annabelle tossed her napkin at him and shot him a look, trying to be mad but failing miserably. She was doing her best to ignore what he'd said, but she knew he wasn't going to let it go. “That's mean.”

“Can I help it if you have a hearty appetite?” He tossed money on the table and wiggled his eyebrows at her. “You're my kind of woman.”

“I'll pay you back.” Annabelle looked at the money and then at him. Given everything that was going on, it was probably silly to worry about money. Hell, after all the ways Zach had helped her, the least she could do was pay him back. “I told Grace, the friend I called at the police station, where I am, and she's wiring me some money later today, which will solve part of my problem. It will be there by seven tonight, and then I can pay you back. In the morning, I'll get myself to the consulate so I can get a new passport. I should be able to get back to the States in a few days.”

Zachary looked away, and something that resembled disappointment flickered briefly over his face. Vanishing as quickly as it had come, he stared out at the water for a few minutes and then looked over at the little Jet Ski rental hut on the beach.

“Maybe…but you're here now.” Zachary pushed his chair back and stood up, jutting a thumb toward the beach. “What do you say we rent a Jet Ski and take a ride out to that island?”

“Island?” Annabelle squinted and looked out at the seemingly endless ocean. Scanning the horizon, she looked to the right and finally spotted a small island that she'd never noticed before. “What's on it?”

“Detective Vargas was telling me about it. No one lives there, but tourists and locals head over there for little day trips. He told me that he and his wife have spent some time there.” He trained those gorgeous eyes on her and a smile played at his lips. “What do you say? You up for a little adventure? He said there's a lagoon with a waterfall. Why not make the most of our last day together?”

“Waterfall?” Annabelle swallowed hard.
Just
like
the
vision
. She should say no. She should tell him she wanted to wait for the money to be wired in and then go get her own hotel room. That was what she
should
do—not what she was going to do. “Okay.” Sucking in a deep breath, she rose to her feet. “Let's go.”

Smiling, Zach took her hand in his and led her onto the sandy beach. While he haggled with the shirtless guy renting the Jet Ski, Annabelle had a silent argument with herself, running over the nine million reasons why she shouldn't be with him. And all of them were silenced the instant Zach flashed her that handsome dimpled smile.

One day, she thought. What harm could it do to share one day with him?

Annabelle tightened the life vest and waded into the water, then climbed on the back of the Jet Ski and wrapped her arms around Zachary's waist.

“Hang on,” he shouted above the din of the engine.

“Wait a minute.” Annabelle squeezed him around the waist. “Please don't let me fall off this thing.”

Zachary smirked at her over his shoulder, and without saying a word, he revved the engine. Annabelle yelped as the machine raced out through the waves and bounced over the water. Clinging to Zachary like her life depended on it, a smile bloomed across her face. For the first time in her life, she wasn't fixated on the past or the future.

All either of them had was the here and now.

The ride to the island took longer than Zachary expected and it was worth every single minute. He used Vargas's directions and went around to the back of the island in search of the lagoon and waterfall the detective suggested they explore. He was beginning to think the guy's memory was fuzzy, but as they rounded a rocky outcrop, Zach spotted the tree formation he'd mentioned. The cluster of palm trees, with a boulder directly beneath it that looked like a doughnut, signaled the location.

Zach pulled up to shore and caught Annabelle's arm before she went tumbling into the surf.

“You okay?” He shut off the engine. She didn't answer but shot him a doubtful look and stumbled up to the white, sandy shore. Zach laughed and brought the Jet Ski up to the sand, securing it so it wouldn't float away. “What's the matter? You've never ridden one of these before?”

“No, and I don't ever want to again.” She took off her life vest and tossed it on the sand before sitting down. She put her hands behind her and leaned back, tilting her face to the sun. The cotton sundress she wore was soaking wet and stuck to every gorgeous curve with erotic perfection. The lines of her bikini top and bottom were clearly outlined, along with her full breasts and erect nipples. Zach stifled a groan and tried not to stare at her bare legs while she removed her sandals. Even soaking wet and sitting in the sand, she was the sexiest creature he'd ever seen. “Although it will be difficult to get back to the mainland without taking that buzzing contraption.”

“Maybe,” Zach said playfully. He took off his life vest and tossed it up on the beach right next to hers. Hands on his hips, he looked around, happy to find the island empty. There had been a few people on the other side, but this little corner of paradise was all theirs. He extended his hands to her. “Come on.”

Annabelle squinted against the sun and looked from his hands to his face. A smile played at her lips, and after a few seconds of contemplation, she placed her hands in his. Zachary pulled her to her feet, and his body tightened when her soft, wet form met his. The heat of her skin drifted over him in inviting pulses, and it took considerable restraint not to take her right there on the beach.

Without a word, he tangled her fingers in his and walked with her toward the doughnut-shaped rock. Though the brush was thick, a sandy path caught Zach's eye, making it evident that this secret little spot had been enjoyed by plenty of others before them. Holding her hand tightly, Zach led her along the path and through the lush foliage. Annabelle hadn't said much, and she didn't really need to because her energy signature hummed around him, communicating a heightened sense of anticipation.

After walking for ten minutes, he began to think they might never find the waterfall. Just when he was about to express his frustration, the sound of rushing water captured his attention. Zach stilled and curled his hand tighter around hers as he pressed a finger to his lips. “Hear that?” he whispered. A smile cracked his face as he captured her wide-eyed gaze with his.

“The waterfall.” Annabelle's lips curved and she leaned against him. Her breasts, still damp from their ocean adventure, brushed temptingly along his arm. He'd never seen a woman so beautiful and so totally unaware of it. “It's close.”

“Not close enough,” Zach murmured.

“Keep going.” Annabelle's cheeks pinkened as she rolled her eyes and pushed him ahead. “I'm hot and sweaty, and dunking myself beneath a waterfall is just the cooling off I need…and you too, from the sound of it.”

Zachary laughed and gave in to her demands, but his laughter was cut short when they rounded a curve in the path. A wall of thick foliage blocked their way, but when Zach pushed it aside, the world opened up. He let out a low whistle and wrapped his arm around Annabelle's shoulders, pulling her against him. They looked around in genuine awe at the stunning oasis.

They stood at the edge of a massive lagoon with water so clear that the rocky bottom was completely visible. A few colorful fish swam here and there, and the entire body of water was surrounded on three sides by a rocky wall that had to be thirty feet tall at the highest point. Directly across from where they stood, at the center of the wall, was a rushing waterfall that looked all too inviting.

“It's just like the one in my vision,” Annabelle murmured. She linked her arms around Zach's waist and rested her head on his chest, pulling him close. “This place is, quite literally, a hidden paradise.” She lifted her head and looked back to where they had come from. “The path looks like it's disappeared. It's as though we're totally tucked away from the rest of the world where no one can find us.”

“The path is gone?” Zach's brow furrowed. He glanced behind them, and sure enough, the foliage had settled back into place, completely hiding the path. His hands settled on Annabelle's waist, and he felt her soft body drift closer to his. Pressing his fingers into the curve of her hips, Zach turned his face to hers and murmured, “Looks like we're all alone. What shall I do with you now that I have you all to myself?”

“I suppose you'll just have to use your imagination.” Annabelle sucked in a shuddering breath and the movement pressed her breasts further against him. “I'm sure that conjuring up clothing is only the tip of the iceberg with you Amoveo.”

“There's still so much to show you.” Zachary tightened his grip on her. Annabelle's green eyes looked impossibly bright in the golden sunshine as they skittered over his face; the look of lust and need was unmistakable. She inched closer, pressing her hips against his cock, which was heavy with his desire for her. Zach groaned and palmed her ass, holding her tighter against him and wishing he was already inside, sheathed by the heat of her body. “You feel so fucking good, Annabelle.”

“Zachary?” Annabelle popped up on her toes and flicked her tongue over his lower lip. The erotic sensation sent a shock straight to his dick and his eyes shifted swiftly to those of his clan. A sexy smile played at Annabelle's lips, and she tore her hands from his before linking her thumbs in the waistband of his board shorts. Her fingernails scraped lightly over his flesh and the contact only urged him on. “I'm sure you can think of better things to do with your mouth than talk.”

A growl rumbled in his chest just as his mouth crashed onto hers, his tongue immediately seeking entrance. In a clash of lips, teeth, and tongues, he drank from her greedily as they helped each other remove what little clothing they were wearing. Somewhere in the background he heard fabric tearing, which only heightened the frenzy and drove him harder.

Standing naked in his arms, Annabelle's breasts crushed deliciously against his chest as they kissed. She linked her arms around his neck as his thigh slipped between her legs. Zach almost came apart when the slick heat of her pussy slid over him, and she rode his thigh, clinging to him as though she'd never get enough. His cock was pressed between their bodies and cradled against the soft flesh of her belly, making every movement tease him closer to the edge.

“You're fucking killing me,” Zachary said between kisses down her throat. He swept her up into his arms and kissed her while he waded into the crystal-clear water of the lagoon. Wading in up to his waist, he relished the feel of her body cradled against his and was certain he'd never felt anything better than her. “I want this to last more than five minutes, but if you keep rubbing that hot little body against me like that, I won't last five seconds.”

“There goes that mouth of yours again.” Annabelle slipped out of his embrace, swimming backward away from him. The white globes of her breasts, with their pink nipples in sharp points, broke the surface and tempted him closer. “But you're going to have to catch me first.”

Annabelle giggled and dove under the water. His cock twitched while he watched her bare bottom pop up just before she slid under the glassy surface. He was mesmerized for a moment, watching her gorgeous nude body swim through the clear blue water like some kind of water fairy or mermaid, willing him to follow, and he was only too happy to oblige. She came up for air by the base of the waterfall and laughed as she wiped the water from her eyes.

“I'll make you pay for that,” he shouted.

“Promises, promises.”

Annabelle swam to the edge and sat on a partially submerged rock, with the water up to her waist, her naked torso bared for him to see. He stayed along the edge of the lagoon and strode toward her, feeling much like a lion stalking its prey. A growl rumbled in his throat while he watched her pull her long wet hair over one shoulder and wring out the extra moisture.

“Push and pull,” Zachary murmured. “That's my girl.”

Unwilling to wait any longer, Zachary swam over to Annabelle with long sure strokes and emerged in front of her. He said nothing but held her stare with his glowing gaze as his hands curled around the crooks of her knees. He ran his thumbs over the tops of her thighs before tugging them open and standing between her legs. The rock she sat on was slippery beneath the water, and her bottom scooted right to the edge. Zachary's cock rested along the outside of her sex and he inched closer, teasing her with the heat of his shaft. Annabelle gasped and her nostrils flared as the unmistakable look of desire stamped her face. Her hands grasped the ledge of the rock and she leaned back, looking him in the eye as he pulled her knees up and rocked himself against her.

He leaned close and whispered into her ear, “Do you want me, Annabelle?” Her head dropped back and her breath came in short, thready gasps. “It's been push and pull with you from the first minute I found you in the dream realm, but I have to know if this is what you really want. No more games. No more bullshit.” Zachary tilted his hips so that the full length of his erection slid between her folds and put pressure on her clit, making her whimper with pleasure. With his fingers clamped securely around her knees and holding her open, he rocked in slow, seductive strokes while looking her dead in the eye. “Is this what you really want? Tell me, Annabelle.”

“Yes.” She nodded and hooked her ankles behind his back, holding him against her heat. One hand reached back and clutched the rock while she rubbed her heat against him. “Please, Zachary. I've never wanted anything or anyone the way I want you. I have to have you inside me.”

“That's where I've wanted to be since I first laid eyes on you.” His hands slid along her thighs before running over her hips and curling around her waist. Zachary trailed kisses along her jaw and ran his hands over her breasts. Annabelle moaned with pleasure when he captured one nipple in his mouth and then the other. He grazed the sensitive buds with his teeth before laving them with his tongue and suckling gently. She tangled her hands in his hair and held him there as he continued to rock against her clit with the unrelenting pressure of his shaft. Zachary raised his head and met her gaze once again. “But you have to put me there, baby. There can't be any confusion. No more push and pull. I want you to reach down and put my cock inside you. Let me in, Annabelle. Give yourself to me…and no one else.”

“There's no one but you,” she murmured. Annabelle's fingers tightened in his hair and she tugged his head up, dragging his mouth to hers.

Carnal need fired through him and he rocked his hips faster along her sex, the coil of an orgasm tightening in his gut. The heat of her skin mixed with the cool water heightened every sensation, and he didn't know how much longer he could hold back.

“How could there ever be anyone but you?”

Then, knowing what they both needed, Annabelle pressed one hand on his shoulder while the other reached between their primed, shaking bodies. Looking into her eyes, Zachary let out a groan when her long fingers wrapped around the base of his dick. She ran her hand up and down the length of him from root to tip, which elicited another groan of pleasure from Zachary.

“I'm gonna come all over your belly if you keep that up,” he ground out.

Zachary's body hummed with restraint, and he braced both hands on the rocks behind Annabelle's head, effectively caging her in. She ran her thumb over the swollen head and smiled when his cock jumped in her hand. Then she lifted her legs higher, over his hips, and guided him inside her, inch by wicked inch.

“Not yet,” she purred. Annabelle's hand cupped the back of his neck and she pulled his face to hers. “I want you to fuck me, Zachary. You promised you would make me scream, and there's nobody here but us.” She nipped his lower lip and her nipples scraped along his chest in wicked little strokes. “I can scream your name and no one will hear me. Give me that. Just this once.”

Zachary sank into her in one slow, seductive stroke until he was buried to the hilt. He put one hand behind her head on the rocks and the other grabbed her hip, anchoring her to him as he started to pump. Her body accommodated his and wrapped around him like a glove. She was made for him. That was all he could think as he buried himself in her again and again. This one woman was his, and he was hers. He would lose his Amoveo powers and live out his life as a human, and he didn't give a shit as long as he was with her. Nothing mattered except being with Annabelle. Human? Amoveo? All that mattered was
her
.

Annabelle cried his name as he thrust into her, and she writhed, raising her hips to meet him, rubbing her clit against him with every pass. The delicious, torturous surge of Zachary's orgasm filled him, and with one final stroke, his body shuddered as the orgasm erupted. Without even thinking about it, Zachary touched his mind to hers, whispering the words of the ancient mating rite.

Nos
es
unus. Materia pro totus vicis. Ago intertwined.
Forever.

With their minds and bodies connected in every way possible, he felt Annabelle's pleasure peak in unison with his. She screamed and arched her back while her legs tightened around him like she never wanted to let go. Zachary wrapped his arms around her and held her closer, reveling in the sensation of her pussy tightening around him in wicked little aftershocks.