The Magic in her Gift (11 page)

Sara could feel the warmth of the sand
through the soles of her shoes as she walked along the beach with
Mel. She glanced up at him through her lowered lashes. His dark
brown hair hung slightly over the collar of his shirt. Her fingers
practically itched to run through the silky strands.

“
Did I remember to tell you
how good breakfast was this morning?” he asked.

“
No.” Sara giggled. “But I
kind of took it for granted when you ate that fourth
biscuit.”

Mel cleared his throat as a red hue
crawled up his neck. “Yeah, um, sorry about that.” He gave her a
sheepish grin. “It’s been a really long time since I had a home
cooked meal.”

“
Hey, don’t apologize to me.
I’m always happy to see someone appreciate my cooking.” She
shrugged. “I don’t get much of a chance to cook for
anyone.”

“
What about your fiancé?
Don’t you cook little intimate dinners for him?”

Sara gave an unladylike snort. “Hardly!
He’s more the four-star restaurant type.” She turned her gaze to
the ocean. “Besides, he wouldn’t be caught dead eating anything as
fattening as a biscuit.”

He looked at her and frowned. “Is that
why you barely ate anything this morning? You’re afraid of gaining
weight?”

“
I’m not afraid.” Sara
rubbed her neck and looked down at her shoes. “I just know I need
to lose a few pounds so I watch what I eat.”

Mel grabbed Sara’s arm and pulled her
to a stop. His hand came up and clasped her chin. Gently, he
brought her face around where she couldn’t avoid his gaze. He
smiled, the warmth in his eyes warming her soul. “Trust me, Sara.
You don’t need to lose a few pounds. You’re perfect just the way
you are.”

Sara felt her cheeks getting warm and
decided she needed to change the subject. “Didn’t you promise me a
walking tour of the island today?”

He studied her for a moment and then
smiled. “You bet! I’ve got something special I want to show
you.”

Sara started when his hand reached for
hers. Before she could think to pull away, he’d twined their
fingers together and begun pulling her toward the path that led
away from the house.

They’d been walking for about twenty
minutes when Sara heard a roaring sound. She stopped and looked
around carefully, trying to find the source.

Mel grinned and nodded toward the
trail. “Come on, it’s not much farther.”

Sara followed close on his heels,
noticing the path curved to the right and seemed to drop up ahead.
The roaring sound escalated and the air became saturated with
water. The smell of sweet flowers and rich earth filled her
nostrils.

Mel stopped right before they reached
the end of the path. “Close your eyes, Sara.”

“
What?” she asked,
startled.

He frowned and then sighed. “I want you
to close your eyes. I’m going to lead you around the bend up ahead
and then when I tell you, you’ll open your eyes and get the full
effect.” He cocked his head to the side. “Do you trust
me?”

Sara blinked twice.
I don’t know why, but I do trust you.
She nodded and gave him a small smile. Taking a
deep breath, she closed her eyes and waited for him to take her
hand.

She followed him slowly, carefully
feeling her way with her feet, until he stopped and stepped
away.

“
Okay, Sara, open your
eyes.”

Her breath caught in her throat at the
array of beauty laid out below her. A white, frothy cascade of
water plunged from a height of at least fifty feet over rock
outcroppings into a pool of tranquil, blue water. It was the most
breathtaking thing she’d ever seen.

A fine mist filled the air, helping to
feed the lichen and moss growing on the slippery rocks. The trees,
clinging to the cliffs overhanging the pool, housed loud, colorful
birds. Their squawks echoed through the falling mist.

Soft beds of dark green grass lined the
nearest bank while pebbled rock combined with weeds, ferns and
shiny leaves made up the opposite shoreline. Strange, exotic
blossoms in vibrant shades of red and yellow peppered the area.
Mossy boulders visible above the waterline had gentle waves lapping
at their sides. The dense foliage allowed only a modicum of
sunlight to glitter across the water. It was truly a
paradise.

“
What do you think, Sara?”
Mel asked in a quiet, almost reverent tone.

Sara shook her head slowly. “It’s the
most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

Mel moved closer and gently clasped
Sara’s hand. “I think you’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever
seen, Sara.” He leaned closer, his gaze fixed on her
lips.

Sara closed her eyes for a moment and
then groaned. She pulled her hand free and pushed against his
shoulders. “No, don’t, please.” She raised her gaze to his blue
eyes. “I can’t do this. It’s not right. I’m engaged to be married.”
She looked away from the disappointment she could see in his eyes
and took a shaky breath. “I think it would be best if you left.
Elias will be back in a couple of days and I’ll be fine until he
returns.”

Mel stared down at his hands and then
raised his eyes to stare at her face. He opened his mouth as if to
say something and then pursed his lips together. His shoulders
slumped as he took a step back. “If you’re sure it’s what you
want.”

Sara hesitated and then nodded. “I’m
sure. It’s for the best.”

He gave her a weak smile and reached
for her hand. “You’re a lovely woman, Sara. I hope you find your
happiness before it’s too late.” He raised her hand to his lips and
kissed her knuckles. “Elias knows how to reach me if you need
anything.” He nodded toward the path. “Just follow that trail when
you’re ready to leave and it’ll take you right back to the beach.”
He released her hand, turned and disappeared into the
trees.

Sara stood for a moment,
watching the spot where Mel vanished. Her fists clenched at her
sides as she fought the desire to run after him.
Why does everything have to be so
hard?

Trust in your heart,
Sarafina. Don’t be afraid to go after your dreams.

Sara whirled around and raked her eyes
over the landscape, searching for the source of the disembodied
voice echoing in her mind. “Grandmother, is that you?” The only
sounds she heard were the harsh cawing of the birds and the water
drops pattering against the rocks. “What do you want from me?” she
cried.

Reach for your dreams with
your gift. The magic is in your gift.

“
I don’t have any gifts of
magic,” she screamed. “Why are you doing this to me?” Sara dropped
to her knees in the plush grass and sobbed. “Grandmother, I need
you. Please come back to me,” she begged. Her tears flowed in a
torrent as she thought about never seeing Mel again.
I need to leave this place. I’m engaged to be
married and I can’t stop thinking about a dream lover and a man
I’ve known only a couple of days.
She wiped
the tears from her cheeks and lay down in the grass to watch the
branches swaying seductively in the breeze.
Sometimes, I could almost believe they’re one in the
same.

A feeling of helplessness lay heavy on
her shoulders as her sobs quieted to gentle hiccups. Overcome with
exhaustion, she let herself be lulled to sleep by the comforting
sounds of the rushing water.

Sara’s eyelids popped open
when she felt lean hands frame her face. She wasn’t surprised when
she looked up into Meloir’s mesmerizing blue eyes. He slowly bent
toward her parting lips and touched her mouth almost hesitantly.
His hard lips brushed hers once, twice and then settled, moving
gently until her passion flared. She parted her lips, allowing him
to slip inside and explore her mouth. Meloir sucked on her tongue
and threaded his fingers through the long hair at the back of her
neck.

“
I’m so glad you came,” she
breathed raggedly into his open mouth.

Deepening the kiss, Meloir
ran his other hand down her side to her bottom and hauled her
closer to him. Her hands tentatively settled on his shoulders and
then moved down to his abdomen. She let her fingers slide under the
hem of his shirt and then guided them over the bunched muscles that
criss crossed his back. Groaning, she let her nails drag across his
warm skin.

Meloir glanced down at her
cleavage pressed against his chest and licked his lips. She knew he
could see the outline of her taut nipples through the thin cotton.
His big, warm, gentle hands eased up the length of her ribcage and
hovered at the base of her breasts.

“
Touch me,” she whispered,
letting her breath mingle with his.

Meloir reached down and
grabbed the hem of her top. With one quick jerk, he’d whipped it
over her head and tossed it into the grass. Her bra and pants soon
followed. His clothes quickly disappeared until they stood side by
side beside the pool, the breeze caressing their bare skin. He
raised his hands and cupped her generous breasts, letting his
thumbs slide over the rigid nipples. Leaning close, he took her
breast in his mouth, capturing her nipple in the moist, warm
suction of his lips. He used his teeth, abrading the soft flesh,
nipping and then laving the small bites with the caress of his
tongue.

Sara groaned and then moved
closer and pressed her lips to his chest.

Meloir’s head fell back,
exposing his throat as he cried out her name harshly.
“Sarafina!”

She placed small, nipping
love bites along the bulging muscles of his upper chest and then
sucked his small, brown nub between her teeth. She brought her hand
to his cock, placing her palm against the veined shaft.

“
Stroke me,” he whispered,
guiding her hand up and down his rod.

He buried his face into the
crook of her neck as she fisted his erection in her hand. Needing
his taste, she bent over Meloir’s groin, guiding his cock to her
mouth. Her tongue delicately brushed the slit, lapping up the tiny
drop of pre-cum. Tingles ran up her spine at the sound of his
harsh, guttural groan. When she took more and more of him into her
mouth and sucked harder and harder, he grasped her head in both
hands and moved her away.

“
No, not this way. I want
to be inside you when I come.”

Meloir ran his hands down
her back to rest them on her butt. He pulled her close and ground
his aroused shaft against her belly. He caressed the rounded curve
of her ass as he dropped a brief kiss on her mouth before turning
her around to face away from him. Meloir moved in behind her and
began to squeeze her ass cheeks with one hand while he explored her
crack with the other.

Sara stiffened in his arms.
“What are you doing?” she asked breathlessly.

“
Shhh, relax, little one.
I’m only going to get you accustomed to my touch today.” He bent
closer and licked the rim of her ear. “But some day I’m going to
take you here and give you pleasure like you’ve never known.”
Sara’s entire body shivered when his thumb traced the lower crease
of her ass.

Her legs trembled and her
muscles went weak as she shuddered with desire when his finger ran
down the cleft of her buttocks. No one had ever touched her there
and it both excited and frightened her at the same time. His lips
caressed her shoulder while his hands separated the cheeks of her
ass. One hand held her open while the other slipped into the
crevice between the rounded globes.

Meloir pressed an
exploratory finger against her anus and she tensed. “Relax your
bottom,” he whispered.

Sara took a calming breath
and tried to relax her muscles. She knew he wouldn’t hurt her.
Thoughts fluttered through her mind and the anticipation of what he
might do took her breath away. He ran a finger around the tight,
puckered opening and then brushed lightly over the delicate
sphincter, causing her to gasp and clench the muscles in her pussy.
Her knees buckled and she began to sink to the ground when he
pressed lightly against the one place no one had ever
entered.

Moving quickly, Meloir
lifted her off her feet, lowered her to the damp, soft ground and
then lay down beside her. He placed his hands on her bare thighs
and pulled them apart to move closer to her heat. His fingers
brushed the skin near her center and she felt her pussy flood with
cream.

“
I can smell your desire,
Sarafina. You’re so wet for me,” Meloir growled.

His tongue dipped briefly
into her navel right before she felt his hot breath against her
pussy. She opened her legs wider as she felt him comb his fingers
through the damp, curly pelt of dark curls covering her sex. His
finger traced up and down her slit before slipping inside and
searching for the bundle of nerves responsible for her pleasure. He
gently pulled back its protective hood right before he lowered his
mouth to her mound.

A whimper of pleasure
escaped her when he plunged his tongue inside her sheath, his
fingers pumping in and out of her channel. She could feel her cream
sliding down toward her ass. Meloir explored her silky folds with
his tongue and fingers, teasing and pinching her sensitive clit. He
extended his tongue and lapped slowly, drilling it as deep inside
as he could get to feast on her juices.