S.A. Price (33 page)

"And not just my mouth." He chuckled nuzzling his way inside her blouse to kiss the edge of her lace bra.

“You have never been anything but criminal Merrick. Myra was right, you are the original bad boy Druis.”

"Maybe." He smiled up at her his hands now lovingly stroking the flesh at the small of her back.

"I'm thinking it’s time to be something else now. Retiring. There are plenty of criminals out there to pass on my torch to."

~134~

"You mean like Aiden?" she giggled and sighed melting into his hands. "I like you how you are though my love, don’t change on account of me..."

"Yet I seem to remember you liking me here, where I am now, with you. I get the impression that if I were called away for any three week stints you might be a little upset."

"Only if you didn’t take me with you... Ummm that’s so nice, keep doing that."

"Not going to stop." Trailing more heated kisses over her his hands moved to grasp her hips pulling her closer. "And the taking you with me is the problem. I wouldn’t take you into a war zone Love. Hell I'm too old to be going here and there myself. And with us going here and there for weeks at a time who would stay to look after our children? What kind of father would that make me?"

She beamed at him, her smile wide. "Children? Really? Oh John..."

He grinned up at her, her reaction filling him with joy. "Damn right, and its about time too don’t you think?"

"Past time I think... John, gods that’s amazing." she wiggled on his lap again, grinding into his groin. "How long is this trip, I don’t think I’m going to be able to make it the full way for your special getaway without a little attention..."

Torn between grinding himself deeply into her and lifting her off him an inch or two he groaned, trying to relieve himself of the wonderful pressure she was creating. "Not long at all, in fact we should be landing in five or so minutes. I think we should be able to hold off till then..."

She giggled. "I don’t think I realized how long we were just making out John. Time flies when you’re having fun."

"It does, and even faster when we're necking in each others arms. That’s still to come Love." The pilot announced their decent and estimated their up coming arrival. The landing was smooth, barely a few bumps as they hit the runway pulling calmly to a halt. With a cocky grin Mer sat forward still supporting her firmly. "Not long now my love. You ready?"

She shuddered and licked her lips, a slow deliberate movement. "Umm Hmmm. So what’s the plan?"

"We go and do something special, just like I promised."

****

Elise was stunned once more. Merrick had truly gone all out, and she was going to reap the benefits. They had exited the plane to a tropical vision in the afternoon light, a large seaside villa just away from the runway, and apparently the only dwelling for miles from the looks of it. They walked together the hundred or so yards to the flagstone path that led up to the house. The foliage, how the house looked in its surroundings, the way the sun glinted off everything, the sound of the surf just feet from them was magnificent, and added to the effect this trip was having on her senses.

She was strung tight, her body screaming for full contact with his, begging her to just let it happen. She knew though, that he was the one in charge now, and things would progress, as he wanted them to.

Approaching from the east side of the house, the elevation climbed till she could see from the plateau the ocean just below them. It glinted blue and green as it licked and kissed the shore, the foam staying long after the waters receded.

She turned to the house again and smiled. It was all windows, and an unfinished pine color, the wood no doubt sun bleached, and she loved it. As an interior decorator, she would have chosen something like this and it just proved to her that Merrick did know her tastes.

What really got her were the large pillars of wax placed here and there. Just from the scent as they walked past she knew they were laced with pure neroli, something that reminded her of the better times in the past when she was with him. They would look beautiful when lit at night, especially with the pretty tin hats they all had.

~135~

The best feature though was the lagoon style pool that looked like it was an indoor-outdoor style.

The slates and the plants made it look so natural; it was as if the house was built around it, not the other way around. The estate was massive, she knew as Merrick knew the need for privacy, and there was the very real chance that they were alone on the island. If that were so, well they would have the best of both worlds then, a successful mating and a coil. She turned to him and grinned. “It’s so beautiful John, you still have fantastic taste. How many bedrooms does it have?” she asked as she looked about once more. She spied a stone set of steps that lead through what looked like a garden towards the sounds of the waiting ocean.

Merrick laughed never taking his eyes from her. "Enough to house a small army but don't worry yourself with them my love, I'm sure we’ll be in them all before we're through here."

Elise looked at him, a blush heating her skin. His eyes were fairly glowing with lust as he assessed her. “You talk big, though you do have years of inactivity to make up for. It’s really beautiful; it’s like a fantasy here. So do I get the grand tour or what?”

Taking her shoulders in his hands he pulled her closer to him. "It should be like a fantasy, it’s been mine for a long time. We could do the tour but I have something else in mind. Something I think we'll both enjoy much more.”

She leaned into him, breathing in his scent once again. Her body responded, shook even, and she gave a little moan from the back of her throat. If nothing else, Merrick knew how to turn her body into knots, but he was also the only one in her entire history to ever be able to relive the fire he stoked in her. “Umm? Well, I’m all ears, Druis… It’s been too long, and I need you so much.”

"Far too long, but not much longer I promise." He took her hand him his. "Come on, it’s down by the pool."

Elise giggled, following him down toward the pool, the sunlight glinting off the crystalline perfection. The scent of neroli was still strong, but was joined by a thick floral bouquet, one that was making her feel relaxed and lush. She felt his hand in hers, rough in contrast to hers and she reveled in it. "You really are a surprise you know that?"

"I'm glad you still think so." He smiled wryly back at her. They walked by the pool to the cliff edge taking a small staircase built into the rock, which led them down the side into a beautiful little beach cove. On the sand just next to the edge of the water sat a big blanket complete with a picnic basket with champagne cooling in a silver ice bucket.

She smiled and blushed, instantly reminded of their last night in Scotland, and realized what he was doing. "Well the setting is off, but you’re picking up where we left off aren’t you?"

"The setting is warmer and you know me so well." He smiled pulling her close to him. "I thought about just being me, you and the horizon and the more I thought about it the harder it was to pass up."

She grinned and touched his face. "You still are everything fantastic in my life, always have been."

He caught her lips in his kissing her hard enough to make her body melt. "Come on," he said breaking the kiss breathlessly. "Let's at least make it to the blanket."

"Lead the way love."

He did taking her and leading her to the water’s edge where the blanket lay and helping her sit down. Without a word he poured them both a glass and handed her one. Then he wrapped an arm around her pulling her close to him as they looked out toward the sea.

They were quiet for a while, the breeze cooling, coming off the water. Elise took a sip and then sighed. "This place is so beautiful."

"I did promise you perfection. This is as close to it as you'll find on earth."

"In this day and age that’s for damn sure." she turned her head and kissed him. "So how does this go again? You ask me to mate with you in order to keep me around?"

"And here I thought that I'd won you fair and square in the maze." He smiled, "But I do want to keep you in my life."

"You did win, though I never thought you would ever be that fast."

~136~

"I couldn't lose you, not now. I had to be fast. You have to admit your heart wasn’t into running though."

She chuckled. "No, no it wasn’t. Can you blame me? You not catching me was not an option. You had to work for it, and you did."

"Work fast," he agreed setting his untouched glass aside as he turned to her. "But now its time to slow down. It's just the two of us here and now's the time to enjoy ourselves before we have to go back."

"Um, and how should we enjoy ourselves?" she grinned and turned stretching.

"Oh I can think of a few things," he grinned. "We could go for a swim?"

Elise shook her head. "Try again."

"Ah see the swim was just an excuse to get you naked, my love."

She stood and grinned taking her outfit off quickly and cocked her hip. "Better?"

"Oh very much so."

"She sank to her knees on the blanket and grabbed her glass again, taking another sip, her body softly reacting to the light breeze. Her nipples puckered slightly as she ran her free hand down the swell of her breast.

He took his shirt off loosening the first few buttons then pulling it over his head. "This time we won’t be interrupted." He promised once again kissing her.

"Not unless a hurricane sweeps through."

"Shhh... Don’t say that, but I've checked the weather"

She giggled and kissed him sweetly. "Good boy. So this is where we imitate From Here to Eternity? Cuz I have to tell you love, getting sand in high places isn’t my idea of a swinging time."

He laughed. "Then tell me what is?"

"A proper mating, a soft bed or plush carpet, somewhere that is going to ensure sand isn’t going to irritate all my girly parts." she grinned.

"Ah," he nodded in understanding, "You'll have to forgive me as I don’t have girly parts to worry about getting irritated. We can go anywhere you like. There are plenty of plush carpets and soft beds inside."

"Then I'll race you..." she said and jumped up, darting up the beach to the stone steps and towards the house.

He followed quickly at her heel. "What does the winner get?"

"Choice..." she winked and sprinted off again.

"Choice of what?"

"Anything they want..." she whooped laughter and made it to the pool.

He tackled her from the side bringing them both crashing into the warm water. "And where exactly is this race to?" He asked laughing as they both broke the surface.

She kissed him then, wrapping her body around him. "You win,” she panted breaking away from his mouth. "And if you don’t get down to it I’m going to scream. You’re a tease you know that?"

"I was slowing down. I don’t want to be accused of being too fast in the sex department. Or get you sandy." He kissed her, his hands cupping her ass lifting her against him.

"Ummm you wanted romance and perfection. I can’t think of anything more romantic than you marking me John... Please... don’t make me wait any longer."

"Just long enough to get us out of this pool." He promised kissing her as he carried her out of the pool and into the house.

She giggled and ran her fingers through his wet hair and nuzzled his throat. The decor went by in a blur, and she saw very little of the house until they came to a stop in a large airy room, dominated with a bed that could also be considered a playground. Larger then a king-sized, and draped in lavender silk sheets and dark blue pillows, it was the perfect mating bed.

He set her down on the bed quickly ridding himself of his wet suit pants. "Beautiful." he murmured crawling onto the bed next to her.

~137~

"I’m glad you approve, I knew I was keeping this body in shape for a reason."

"I'm glad that reason turned out to be me." He grinned wolfishly flicking his tongue out to catch her nipple.

She giggled and blushed, closing her eyes. "It wouldn’t be for anyone else. Gods I missed that wicked tongue."

"As I've missed yours." Beads of moisture from the pool still clung to them as he pulled her against him. He kissed her again, hard and fast, as his hands on her hips rolled her on top of him. Her thighs rested on either side of his. "Accept me, Elise.” he whispered into her mouth.

"It’s my choice isn’t it?" she teased, her body already on edge. In the Ophidian race, as in all shifter societies, the ones in charge chose mates that were strong and would give them strong children. In the snake society, no one was stronger then Merrick. He had returned from then dead, come back to her on a long hard road, but they were here, together and their destinies finally entwined. She closed her eyes and then opened them, feeling the shift in her gaze. This would be an acceptance of both sides of her, one that he would know with every fiber of his being because she wasn’t going to hold anything back. "John..." she moaned and nodded. "Prove to me you deserve it."

she smirked, a playful smile and licked her lips.

"And how would one do that, pray tell? Would you like me to quote some poetry to suit the mood?" his smile matched hers perfectly as his fingers glided up her thighs resting inches from her.

"Or do you have a more physical challenge in mind?"

"Poetry is not my cup of tea my love."

"I didn’t think we had time for tea," cool fingers ghosted over her soft flesh, "I thought you were the one aching to have me inside of you. Working us both into a frenzy, and finally satisfying one of our deepest desires. Take me Elise." The last he said more firmly his fingers matching his voice.