Taboo (4 page)

But gathering tree sap during a storm proved much more difficult then she’d imagined. The small bowl she’d found had more rain in it than the sweet, sticky substance. Frustration brought a hot sting of tears to her eyes. But she could not wait any longer. This would have to be enough.

The fire had nearly gone out when Ariana returned to the dripping hut. She slipped off her wings and stoked it back to life, then mixed the sap and berries together over the heat.

This would work for him. It must.

Once the brew was warm, she knelt beside him again. “Andreus?”

He moaned, tossed his head to the side.

“Please.” The ache in her voice surprised her. “Come back to me.”

Ariana lowered her lips to his. She slipped her tongue along his lower lip, warmth curling in her belly. She would bring him pleasure a thousand times over once he got well.

His hand pressed against the back of her head, eliciting a grin from her. So he had not grown entirely weak.

“Make me well,” he whispered against her mouth. “So I may ravage you again.”

She shifted so that his head was cradled in her lap then lifted the bowl to his lips. He took a long swallow then lifted his gaze up to hers.

“This is not from the sea.”

“No, it is the medicine I use.”

Andreus licked his lips. “It is sweet, but I am not sure it will work.” He lifted his hurt leg and pain wrinkled his face. “I-I need the poultice still.”

Ariana encouraged him to take another sip. “It may work yet. You must drink it all.”

Obedient, he gulped the remainder of the concoction. She went to move the bowl away but his hand grabbed her arm. “Stay with me.”

Ariana tossed the bowl to the sand and slid down next to him. “Of course.” She curled onto his shoulder, stretching her leg over his and her arm across his chest. His damaged ankle still rested upon its bowl.

Andreus soon fell asleep again, his chest rising in even breaths, his hand resting on her hip.

She stared at the approaching darkness to the horizon, where the clouds kissed the angry sea. She could not fathom going across that water, not even in flight. Even if a grand adventure lay just beyond the curve of the planet, fear trembled deep within her bones.

This planet, the Dwelling, was safe. Known. There was no reason to leave. The concept had never once taken root in her mind. It was not until she met Andreus that she even realized so much else existed.

Ariana closed her eyes, exhausted from the flight, the storm, and the concern over Andreus. Once tomorrow came, and he was better, she could begin her journey home.

The fog lifted, if only slightly.

Andreus turned his head and his lips brushed against silky strands of hair. Ah, his little bird had returned.

Dull pain still assaulted his ankle, his head still ached, but he felt better than yesterday. Especially since Ariana had come back.

He kissed her forehead, waking more than just her. His cock rose with a flourish at the touch of her skin.

Blackness surrounded them. The rain had ceased, but clouds lingered, blocking the light from any stars. But what did he need of light? He could feel instead.

Andreus smoothed his palm up the softness of her arm. She whimpered and burrowed deeper into his chest. But he was not deterred. He felt alive, as if she brought him back from the brink of death.

He leaned over and kissed her forehead, her cheeks, her nose. His mouth watered to taste her tongue, to sample the essence of her cream. In an instant, he was rock hard, ready for her mouth. Or, better yet, her tight sheath. “Ariana.”

She didn’t answer but moved her fingers over his chest. His breath lodged in his throat as she circled over his nipples then flicked them with her nail.

Torture. Sweet, blessed torture.

Andreus covered her hand with his own and slid it down to his cock, groaning when she gripped it firmly in her palm.

There was no wind tonight, no breeze to stir the tree branches or leaves of the hut. There was no sound other than the constant crashing of waves on the shore. Soon he would have their moans echoing in the forest.

He shifted her on top of him, then pulled her tunic over her head. Her bare breasts pressed against his skin. The curve of her hip cradled his erection.

Capturing her face in his hands, Andreus pulled her lips down to his. She’d come back to him. She’d saved him. Gratitude and contentment surged to his mouth, where he thanked her with a greedy kiss. He nipped at her lip, suckled her tongue, made her one with him.

His ankle throbbed, but the fire blazing through his bloodstream overpowered it. He had to have her.

Andreus skimmed his hands down her back and cupped her bottom. Oh, so round, so firm. His cock pulsed, pleading for her heat. Grinding her hips over his erection, he arched his back, pushing himself against her.

Harder and tighter he moved her. Her breasts bounced on his chest, the pert nipples grazing his damp skin. He slipped the clothing from her waist and she kicked it the rest of the way off.

Bare flesh greeted his hands now. Andreus groaned, squeezed her, felt himself spiraling out of control.

She was so soft, so wonderfully smooth. He lifted his head but saw nothing save for flickering of lightening far off in the distance. He so wanted to see her naked body. Tomorrow. Tomorrow he would take them back to the lagoon and take her amongst the flowering shade trees.

Ariana cried out and reached for his cock. Her strokes stretched him taut. Another minute of this and he would empty himself in her hand.

He pushed her hand away and clenched his jaw, searching for the escaping measure of self control. His erection shuddered and a few drops of semen trickled out.

Once the raging urge had passed, Andreus scooped her bottom in his hands again. But this time he slid a finger between her legs and probed for that waiting warmth.

Ariana clenched his biceps and whimpered as he slid one finger in and out of her wetness. “More,” she sobbed, the plea echoing her pleasure.

Andreus plunged another finger in, thrusting them deep inside, between the cheeks of her ass. He flicked her sweet pearl, raising her to the highest mountain. She squirmed, rocked her hips, rubbed his arousal to the edge of insanity.

Hell, he was insane. His hard cock should be inside of her, pumping its way to an exploding release.

He pulled his fingers out, shoved the cloth out of his way, and freed his erection for her willing body. Ariana rose up on her knees, feeling for him, positioning herself.

Andreus lifted his hips to meet her halfway.

Then his leg came crashing down onto the pallet. He roared as blinding pain pierced his ankle then ricocheted up his leg.

Ariana immediately scrambled off of him. “Oh, Andreus, what happened?”

He couldn’t speak, couldn’t unclench his jaw. Shooting stars burst in his head. Fool! He should have wrapped it in the seaweed the first moment he injured it.

Now he gasped for air, struggled to find a calming breath.

Her fingertips brushed his leg and he growled. The burn returned to his face, flaming his ears. Sweat beaded along his forehead, dripped down the sides of his face.

Waves upon waves of agony scoured through his body.

Andreus dropped his head to the side, blinked in the darkness, and prayed for oblivion.

Ariana bit her lip, but the tears still fell. It was her fault. Had she listened and braved the ocean, he wouldn’t have been in such agony. But she was convinced her remedy would work, certain her people knew better.

Now, in the inky blackness of night, she could not seek the seaweed he needed.

She wiped the sweat from his face, cringing each time he moaned. Andreus had finally passed out or fallen asleep, but the pain still wracked his body.

Worried she was causing him more distress, Ariana scooted away and wrapped her arms about her knees. A tight band gripped her heart. She could not leave him now, not until he was completely well. Yet her journey was to last only four days. Her family and Hanken would be expecting her.

Ariana put her chin on her knees and waited for the dawn.

Chapter Five

With the first orange fingers of daylight, Ariana rose to her feet. She’d not done much more than nod off a time or two during the night.

A glance at Andreus confirmed her fears. He had not improved. His entire body glistened with sweat. His ankle, a mottled color of purple and blue, had inflamed like large gnarled bumps on a tree.

Her throat constricted with the salty taste of tears. Then she faced the ocean. A knot wound tightly in her gut but she stepped from the hut and into the misty air.

The damp sand greeted her bare feet. Though the storm had moved on, clouds remained, chilling the air, coloring everything in a dingy gray cast.

Ariana straightened her back and stepped forward to the surf. She tried to remember what Andreus had done the day before, how he’d moved directly into the waves. He’d not even bothered to look beneath his feet, to check for danger. He never even seemed to notice any change in temperature.

She could do this. She had to do this. Andreus suffered due to her snobbery and anxiety. And that shamed her completely.

Ariana stood at the water’s edge, debating whether to remove her clothing. She had nothing else to change into once she was wet, yet being naked in the water made her feel more vulnerable.

A cry rang through the air.

Ariana hurried back to the hut, where Andreus was up on his elbows. Eyes glassy, cheeks blazing red, he lifted his chin. “Water…”

She blinked back tears and fetched the small jug. Only a mouthful remained. He swallowed it in a single gulp and collapsed again to the pallet.

Fighting the suffocating weight of her guilt, Ariana slipped her wings on, grabbed the jug and lifted into the air. First, she’d get more drinking water and then she would go into that seawater. She would find what he needed before he suffered any longer.

She landed beside the lagoon, cool mist swirling over the surface, enveloping her legs. This place was the most beautiful sight she’d ever seen on this planet. Even with the early morning light, the flowers sparkled, the waterfall sang, the fish danced at her feet.

Peace reigned.

Ariana scooped up the water, filling the jug to the top. She turned to lift off when the wooden boat caught her gaze.

A boat.

She had never seen one before yesterday. Though she had heard the stories of The Landing and how the large ship carried the crew and astro-archeologists from the spaceship dock to this island. There were even old drawings of that sea-faring vessel.

But since that time no one had built a boat. It was against the law.

Could there be more to it than just conservation of resources? Were they truly, all these years later, still trying to hide their mistakes?

Ariana took a step toward it. Still partially hidden beneath the brush, Andreus’s boat looked small and almost useless.

But as she swept the branches and leaves off with her free hand, she saw its amazing size and depth. He must have been working on it for months, years maybe. It could seat about twenty people, plus room for gear and supplies.

His craftsmanship was truly amazing. What tools did he use? Did he have any help? One thing was for certain, he would never be able to move this boat to the ocean by himself.

Ariana quickly covered it up again as best she could and flew back to the hut.

Setting down the jug of water, she noticed that Andreus was just as she left him. Asleep. His entire body, from the firm shape of his chest to the sinews of his legs, was covered in a sheen of sweat.

Ariana swallowed a few nuts and berries, then stripped out of her clothing. The air swirled over her skin, raising goose bumps.

A sour taste filled her mouth as fear threatened to impede her efforts again. She forced one foot in front of the other, her feet rolling in the damp sand. She did not stop at the water’s edge, but compelled herself to continue on, just as Andreus had done.

The cold water snapped at her toes, but Ariana moved forward. She would not look down. To see the shadowed movements would only paralyze her. Instead, she focused on the cropping of rocks Andreus had indicated.

A chill spread through her bloodstream, but she clenched her teeth, willing herself onward. At last, as the water touched her belly button, Ariana reached the large clumps of seaweed.

She could see it under the water, down at her knees. Her stomach clenched as she realized she’d have to sink down to grab a hold of it. Or worse, go under completely to get it by the root.

A splash snared her attention. Pulse thundering, she looked behind her. A silver tail flipped the water again then disappeared out of sight.

Terror seized her heart.

Immobile, Ariana waited for the creature to reappear but nothing happened. The sun had now risen high enough to burn the mist away. Its brilliant orange reflection shimmered across the smooth ocean surface.

Quickly, she squatted and yanked at the seaweed. The water rushed up to her chin, splashed on her nose and ears. The taste of salt invaded her mouth, trickled into her stomach.

Ariana pulled until she could hold no more. Arms full, she hurried from the water and stopped only when she heard the splash again.

This time the creature leaped out of the water completely then dove down again, flipping its tail as it went under. Relief broke across her lips, forming a grin. She had seen these animals before as she flew overhead. They often leapt out of the water in pairs, seemingly playing with one another. She would have to ask Andreus what they were called.

Andreus. She rushed over to the hut and dropped her bundle at the entrance. Wet, she did not want to sit in the sand and have it cling to her body. So, she stood at his feet and stripped the leaves from the pods, creating two piles.

She had gone into the water and emerged unharmed. But triumph eluded her. Instead, her throat sparked with pain. Hopefully, it was not too late to save him.

A noise startled him. Andreus forced the weight of his eyelids up. He blinked at the morning light but could not focus. A blurry outline of the hut told him he still rested out on the beach, not back in his rooms at the Dwelling.