Rive (14 page)

“It’s beautiful,” he said. He stood in front of her, inching closer until she was pushed back against the bed. “Why don’t you lay down?” He breathed into her ear.

He pushed her gently. She let herself fall onto the soft bed. Rylan laid on top of her, pressing his hardness into her body.

“Are you feeling better?” He ran his thumb from her temple to her chin.

“Yes,” she whispered. She pulled him down until their lips collided.

He pushed into her, grinding his hips against her. Waves of warmth moved through her pelvis.

“Did you want something from me?” he asked.

She pushed into him, feeling very much that he wanted her. “You know I want you,” she said.

He lifted himself off of her, cruelly moving his hips away from hers. “We should get something to eat.” His eyes flashed with his evil smile. He stood, backing away from the bed.

“Tease,” she grunted. She rolled up from the bed, trying to calm the heat pulsing through her core.

“I just wanted to hear you say it. I like the way it sounds when you ask for me in that way,” he said. He skimmed his hand down her ribcage, resting it on her hip. He leaned in close, pushing his lips against her ear. “I want you to want me so bad, you’ll be screaming for me.”

She pulled away, gently nipping at his shoulder. “And then?”

He put his hands on her face, forcing her to look at him. “And then I’m going to make love to you.” His eyes were so honest, any trace of tease long gone.

Her heart raced so fast she was sure it’d split from her chest. “Oh,” she stammered.

He smiled, one side of his mouth just a tad bit higher than the other. It was his trademark, and it made her insides melt.

They rifled through the kitchen, finding some non-perishables, but nothing fresh of course. They set out on foot, walking hand-in-hand on the bright white sand of the beach.

“This is perfect,” she said. She tilted her face up, letting the sun wash her. Luckily she’d found some sunscreen in the master bathroom. “I still feel a little weird using someone else’s stuff.”

“Don’t,” he said. “They won’t notice, and if they do, they’ll have a hell of a time figuring out who got on their island, and how.” He walked to a palm tree, gazing up at the coconuts. “This would give us some fresh fruit.”

She joined him, staring up into the palm fronds gently waiving in the breeze. The coconuts looked at least fifteen feet up. “I’m sure if we keep walking, we’ll find one that’s fallen.”

“Nah, it’s more fun to get it ourselves.” He rolled up his jeans, wrapped his arms around the trunk, and scooted up the tree. She watched his well-muscled arms grip the tree, but about halfway up, he grunted, turned, red, and then slid down. “Okay. That looked a lot cooler and easier in the movies.”

“Would you like me to try?” she said.

“Sure. Go for it. I’d like to see it.” He bowed, holding his hand open, palm facing the tree. “Madam.”

She closed her eyes, calling her powers to her. The ever present flames in her hand burst into life, consuming her body with fire. She held up her palm to the coconuts, choosing the roundest one. It detached and floated down to her, landing gently in her arms.
Wow. I did that.

“How the hell did you do that?” Rylan asked.

“I don’t know. I just kind of wanted it so it happened,” she said.

Shock turned his eyes bold, flashy green. “What else can you do?” he asked. He looked back at the tree, then to the coconut in her hand.

“I don’t know,” she whispered. “Please don’t make me feel any weirder than I already do.”

He pulled her close, took the coconut out of her hand and threw it to the side. “You are not weird. You are a beautiful. And amazing.” He kissed her, lips softly demanding hers. “I don’t want you to feel weird, but I do think you should get an idea of how powerful you are.”

“Okay,” she said. “How?”

They looked around them, white sandy beach, tall palm trees on the beech, and short brushy ones in the middle.

He pointed at the palm tree they’d taken the coconut from. “See if you can move that.”

She put her hands on her hips, facing the tree. “What do you mean, move it? The whole freaking tree?”

“Yep.”

“Fine. Move back,” she said.

His eyebrows rolled up, but he complied, stepping back until he was about ten feet away.

“Okay, um.” She called her fire to her, noting some of her blackbirds showed up too, circling around them. Soon her body burned with the heatless flame. She held her hands up, palms facing the tree. She willed it to move, pictured it coming out of the earth.

It shook, like a mini earthquake was centered right below it. Rylan took a few steps forward, always ready to protect her.

“Move, damn it!” It popped out of the ground, floating into the air, roots brushing the sand.

“Yes!” Rylan shouted. He jumped up and down. “Now see if you can move it.”

She did, making it float toward the ocean. She couldn’t believe she was doing it. She’d never seen a flying tree in her life. She pushed with her power, sending it toward the ocean. It landed with a distant splash she could barely see, at least a few hundred yards out.

“Holy shit!” Rylan ran to the edge of the water, not seeming to notice the ocean lapping his feet and legs, leaving his jeans wet to the knee. He covered his face with his hands, scanning the rolling waves for the tree. On occasion, when the sea parted just right, they could see it floating off in the distance.

She stepped next to him, rolling her jeans a bit so she could stand in the water. Her heart clenched while she waited for him to realize she was next to him. Would he be afraid of her now?

He finally draped his arm over her. “I have a very serious question for you. I want you to answer me honestly.” His eyes still scanned the endless ocean horizon in front of them.

She steeled her shoulders, ready for the rejection. “I will.”

“Have you ever considered softball? Cause you have a wicked arm.”

She laughed, a free hearty laugh, and he did too. He dipped his hand into the water and flung it out, sending an arc of salty water all over her. She flung herself at him, pushing him into the aqua water.

Then she ran. He chased her down the beach, shedding his wet jeans and t-shirt as he ran. She was fast, but he was faster.

He caught her, tackling her. She landed in the soft sand, unhurt. He unbuttoned her jeans, pulling them roughly down to her knees. “Surely, these wet jeans are bothering you.”

She smiled, lifting her legs so he could pull them off.

“And this t-shirt?” he said, pulling it over her head. “Why, it’s soaked. Allow me to remove it.”

“Thank you, kind sir. How thoughtful.” She giggled.

Then they were together, him in his polka-dotted boxers, her in her underwear and bra, non-matching of course.

He laid down next to her, wrapping himself around her, skin to skin, resting his lips on her temple. Electricity ran down her skin, along with warmth and safety. “This is nice,” he whispered. He kissed her jaw line, one peck at a time until his soft lips were on hers.

She pushed into him, wanting every piece of him so badly, until a sharp pain brought her out of her little piece of heaven.

“Ow, what the—” She sat up, slapping at the little black dots that spread across her lower leg. Rylan was covered, too.

“Sand fleas.” They jumped up, frantically brushing their legs. “Let’s go!”

They ran back to the house, picking up their clothes on the way.

She chased him into the master bedroom, still in their underwear. Sand followed them in, leaving a prickly trail behind them.

She jumped into the bed, tousled hair, sandy skin and all. He landed next to her, pulling the sheet up over both of them. She smiled at him under the soft white cocoon of the linens.

His eyes were blazing, uneven smile drawing her in. She pulled him against her, feeling his strong body against hers. His salty lips were on hers, hands cradling her face.

She kissed him, wrapped her legs around him.

He groaned and her heart beat in jagged thumps because she knew it was for her. Everything was for her. He pushed against her with his hips, kissing her neck, hooking her underwear with his finger. “Are you sure?” He paused, eyes on hers.

She helped him pull them off. “Yes,” she breathed.

He leaned away, digging in a drawer on the nightstand until he found the small round package.

He came back, gently lowering himself on top of her. They pressed together, from their lips down to their toes. Her hands traveled across the hard planes of his body, eagerly exploring what she’d not touched before. He was hungry against her, too. Beautiful, hot tension built in her body.

She was lost. Lost in his warmth, lost in his scent, lost in the pale tangle of sheets. They moved together, slowly, at first, but her body knew what to do. She let herself fall into him, moving with him, faster and faster.

She cried out, exploding on the inside, bursting with color and light on the outside. He did too, saying her name as he stilled inside her. She felt herself ripping apart at the seams when she heard her name from his lips.

They were still and quiet and together.

Chapter 16

She awoke in a dream, a dream filled with the sound of rolling ocean waves trying to pull her back into sleep, a dream of balmy beaches, salty air, and warmth of the sexiest man alive pressed into her back.

She opened her eyes, and her dream was real.

Pale morning light surrounded them. Sometime during the night, he’d pushed the massive sliding glass doors open so they could sleep half in and half outdoors. She’d woken briefly to look at the giant, bright stars above them, then had fallen back asleep.

But now, she was awake. Her night with Rylan came rushing back to her; the tangle of limbs, the intimacy, the...
Whoa
. Her cheeks heated up.

“Good morning.” Rylan’s voice came from behind her in the bed. He ran his finger down her face, as gentle as a dewdrop. “Your cheeks are flushed. I hope you’re thinking about me.”

“Us.” She rolled so they were nose to nose. “What we did.”

“Mmm,” he murmured, his breath warm on her face. “Are you happy?”

She pulled back slightly, so she could see his face. He was serious. “I’m beyond happy.” She burst into light, wrapping it around them both.

He smiled. “Then breakfast can wait.”

Much later, she finally slid out of bed, pulling on one of Rylan’s t-shirts. It was long on her, almost down to her knees. It smelled like him, too.

Downstairs, she rummaged through the food stores. She found some unopened cereal that actually wasn’t expired and some condensed milk. Good enough for breakfast.

By the time Rylan came down, glistening wet from his shower, she was sitting at the table, well into her second bowl of cereal. He sat too, immediately digging into his bowl.

“This isn’t half bad,” he said. “Evaporated milk?”

“It is.” Palm trees scraped against the window in the breeze. Outside, the clear blue sky and white sand promised another beautiful day. “How long can we stay here?” she asked.

“Not long.” His expression darkened. “We should probably go today. I’m sure they’re busy trying to track us.”

She rested her hand on her chin. “I knew it wouldn’t last. Being here is like living inside a dream.” She wondered what their life would be like from now on. Jumping every few days? Always on the run? How long could that really last?

“Hey.” He rested his hand on hers. “We’ll build our own dream. And it will be even better than just walking into somebody else’s.”

She smiled. “Okay.” Inside, she was tingling from her toes to her head. He wanted a future with her. She wanted a future with him. They would do it together.

He removed his hand, digging back into his cereal. “What do you say we pack up, do one last walk around the island, then leave?”

“All right.” She finished her bowl and pushed it to the middle of the table. “Should we clean up after ourselves?”

“Nah, let them wonder.” He poured more cereal into his bowl.

“Where to next?” She stood, stretching her arms over her head, feeling his eyes on her.

He smiled her favorite crooked smile. “I hear Montreal is nice this time of year.”

“All right. I’m game,” Upstairs, she rinsed off in the shower, but left her hair alone. The salty air had done her hair good. It rolled in soft waves to her waist, looking more red than brown. She packed a few clothes into her bag, including a sweater and undershirt she’d found in the dresser. Too big, but Montreal would probably be cooler in the evenings.

She packed his bag for him too. She left them at the base of the stairs, and then joined him. He was leaning against the open front door, gazing out in front of the perfection in front of them.

They were back on the beach soon, hand in hand. Rylan was wearing both of their backpacks. She relished the soft sand under her feet. She closed her eyes, listening to the call of the seagulls. She wanted to memorize this moment and hold this beautiful place in her mind forever.

“Do you want to try something before we go?” he said.

She looked at him, eyes glinting mischievously. “What?”

“I think you can move something bigger than a palm tree,” he said.

She glanced around them. She saw more palm trees, the house in the distant, but nothing bigger. “Like what?”

“Like that.” He pointed into the ocean.

She used her hand to shield the sun from her eyes. She squinted into the blue and sun. Finally, she saw what he was pointing too. The green hills of a small island off in the ocean. “You want me to move an island?”

He shrugged. “See if you can do something to it.” He rested his chin on her shoulder. “You’re one of the gods, remember?” he whispered.

She pushed him off. “You’re crazy.”

“Just try.”

“Fine.” She stepped a little closer to the water, letting the warm water lap at her toes. She closed her eyes, feeling the ground beneath her. She relaxed, letting energy flow into her body. When she stopped and listened, she could feel energy thrumming in the ground below her, reaching out to her from the ocean, shining down from the sun, and from the moon and stars, not even visible on this side of the planet.