“Who are you,” she whispered.
“My name is Meloir, and you are my Heart Mate.”
“Your name is Meloir? Wait, what’s a Heart Mate?”
He stepped closer and cupped the back of her head, threading his fingers through her hair. “Destined soul mates,” he groaned against her lips as he lightly pressed his mouth to hers.
Leaning back, he released her hair and grabbed her waist, pulling her closer. As her hands rested on the soft hairs of his chest, his hands moved around to her back, skimming up her spine and then curling around her neck. Sara whimpered in her throat when his thumb glided along her bottom lip. She couldn’t resist letting her tongue lightly touch his salty skin.
Growling softly, he cupped Sara’s face in his hands and brought his lips down to hers. Temptingly, he ran his tongue over her flesh, coaxing her to open. Her gasp of surprise gave him the opening he needed, allowing him to lick his way inside. Devouring her mouth, his hands slowly swept down the length of her body.
Sara pressed closer, rubbing her taut nipples against his chest. Ending the kiss, Meloir moved his mouth to her shoulders, pressing feathery light kisses against her skin and then trailed his lips back up her throat to her mouth.
“Your skin is like silk, so soft and warm. I want to feel it all,” his words whispered into her open mouth.
Lowering his hands, he cupped her breasts, squeezing gently, her head falling forward to lie against his chest. She could feel his moan vibrate against her ear. He traced her softness through the gown, teasing the tips of her breasts until her body trembled with the need to feel his fingers on her flesh.
Moving his hands up her arms, Meloir slid the straps of her gown over her shoulders and allowed the silky garment to fall. For a moment it caught on her distended nipples and then he gave it a tug and let it pool around her ankles.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered as he softly thumbed her nipples, teasing them into even harder points.
She moaned softly when Meloir covered one of the tips with his mouth, sucking and flicking the nipple with his tongue. Her nerves screamed with pleasure as she arched her back to push further into his mouth while his fingers molded and squeezed her other breast.
“No man will ever love you the way I will, Sarafina. You must call for me. Join our hearts together for all time.”
Sara heard his words, but before she could question their meaning, he pinched her nipple hard, sending little tremors of excitement coursing through her. Her hands closed around his neck, sifting through the hair at his nape, and pulled his lips to hers for a kiss. Plunging her tongue into his mouth, she barely registered when he lowered her to lie on the sand. Pulling back, he let his eyes rake over her body from head to toe and then centered his gaze on the apex of her thighs. She gasped when he ran his thumb over the silky fabric covering her feminine secrets.
“Shhh, it’s all right, love.” Meloir caressed her stomach and then allowed his fingers to dive under the waistband of her panties to rake through her curls and spread her lips apart. Reaching up, he dragged his mouth along the skin of her shoulder and neck and then ravaged her mouth in a kiss, his tongue raking over every surface in her mouth. Abandoning her lips, he let his tongue trace a line down the middle of her body, stopping when he reached the elastic of her panties. Slowly, inch by inch, he slid the silk down her legs until they slipped past her feet.
“Meloir, I—”
“Let me love you, Sarafina.” Meloir took one of her feet in his hands and began to suck each of her toes in turn. His hands moved slowly over her shins, her knees and up her thighs, stroking the sensitive skin with his fingertips making tiny circles. When he reached her feminine curls, he smiled. “You’re already wet for me.”
Meloir’s hands roamed over her stomach and then slid around over the swells of her hips and buttocks as he moved up her body. His hands massaged her cheeks as he nipped each breast with his teeth, her arms coming up to wrap around him. He hugged her tightly, pressing his hardness against her mound. “I want to taste you, Sarafina. I want to bury myself inside you.”
“Yes, please. I want you to touch me. I want to feel you inside me.” Sara could barely form sentences, her mind racing to memorize the touch of his hand, the feel of his mouth.
Sara groaned as Meloir moved his hand to her core. She closed her eyes and opened her legs a little wider. She knew the area between her thighs was wet. He kissed her savagely as he traced the cleft of her sex, parting the flesh. Gently, he inserted two fingers into her slick folds, slowly pumping them in and out. Letting his thumb slip over her mound, he caressed her swollen, aching clit.
“Meloir,” she screamed, bucking her hips toward his invading fingers.
Scooting down, Meloir pushed his shoulders between her thighs and lowered his face to her pussy. Carefully, he pushed back the protective hood and lapped at her clit, holding her hips steady for his sensual assault. “God, you taste even better than you smell.”
Sara cried out, her fingernails digging into his scalp, as Meloir continued to lave the throbbing bundle of nerves between her legs. She couldn’t stop her scream when he clamped his lips over her clit and sucked.
As Meloir continued to lick and suck, he pushed two fingers inside her core, setting up a rhythm of in and out. He closed his fingers over her clit and pinched, then tugged. “Come for me, Sarafina. Come over my tongue. Give me what I want. Let me taste your passion.”
Sara breathed raggedly, her body straining toward release. When Meloir returned his lips to her clit, her body stiffened and then shuddered. Arching upward, she let out a cry as she came. Meloir continued to lick and suck, throwing her body from one peak into another. As she began to wind down, he continued to lick her through the aftershocks of her orgasm. Finally, her body went limp from the force of her climax.
Rising up, Meloir slid quickly up her torso, his erection teasing the entrance to her body. “Sarafina, you must send for me. Your heart must yearn for mine. Trust your heart, love, and let the magic bring us together for all time.”
“Make love to me, Meloir. Please, I want to feel you inside me.”
“I want to be inside you, love.” Meloir pushed up on his hands, looked down and lined up his cock with her pussy. “Now, I make you mine.” Roughly, he pushed his hips forward and Sara screamed.
Sara’s eyelids flew open as she sat straight up in the bed. She tried to catch her breath as she looked around the darkened room. Trembling, she pulled a pillow across her stomach and held on tightly. “Just a dream,” she groaned. “Just a stupid dream.” Getting up, she went to the window and looked out at the ocean. She could see the sandy beach from where she stood. “It was so real,” she whispered. “Why can’t I have passion like that in my real life?”
You must send for me, Sarafina. Send for your Heart Mate.
Sara froze at the sound of the voice in her head. “Oh my, God, am I going crazy?” Frightened, she curled up in the bed and pulled the covers to her chin.
Stifling a groan, Sara took in the scene before her, wishing she’d stayed in the bed a little longer. Her hopes for a quick cup of coffee banished with the presence of her mother and Bart in the kitchen.
“Good morning, dear. You’re not looking at all rested. Didn’t you sleep well?”
“Morning, Mother. No, I didn’t sleep well at all.” Sara walked over to the coffeepot and had to mentally count to ten when she found it empty. Methodically, she began making a fresh pot. “How did the two of you sleep?”
“Dreadfully, dear. It’s just so stressful being back in this house. I’m not going to be able to relax until all this is over and we’re back on the plane on our way home.”
“You should try to get some rest, Gwendolyn. All this fresh air and sunshine is good for you. Besides, tomorrow we’ll be on our way home, if not sooner. After that, I can find you a buyer for the island and you’ll never have to see this house again.” Bart walked over and put his empty coffee cup in the sink, stopping to kiss
Sara on the cheek. “I’m going to sequester myself in the bedroom for a few hours to make some business calls. Just knock on the door when the attorney arrives for the reading of the will.” Not waiting for a response, he turned and strode from the room.
“And a good morning to you too, asshole,” Sara mumbled.
“What was that, Sara?”
“Nothing, Mother, I’m just going over today’s schedule in my head.” She glanced at her mother. “When do you wanna head down to the beach?”
“What on earth are you talking about? I’ve no desire to go to the beach.”
“The memorial, remember? I explained at dinner last night. Grandmother wanted us to just go to the beach and spend some quiet time remembering her instead of a formal memorial service. When do you want to go?”
“Oh, for goodness sakes. I’m perfectly happy to do my remembering here. I certainly don’t have to get my shoes full of sand and have windblown hair to remember my mother. I’m sure she’ll be just as happy with me thinking about her in the comfort of the study.”
Opening her mouth to argue, Sara suddenly changed her mind. “That’s fine, I’m sure you’re right.” Her spirits began to lift at the thought of spending her time on the beach alone. “Have you had breakfast?”
“Yes, I ate with Bart a couple of hours ago. There are sweet rolls here on the table, but you shouldn’t eat any of them. I noticed some fruit and milk in the refrigerator when I fixed my coffee. Eating the fruit should be plenty to hold you until lunch and it’s not bad for you.” Gwendolyn stood and walked to the kitchen door. “What time are we expecting Mother’s attorney?”
“I don’t really know for sure. Elias just said he’d be back some time this morning with Mr. Aames.”
“Then I’m going to lie back down for a while. Just wake me if they arrive before I get back up.”
Sara watched her mother disappear down the hall and childishly stuck out her tongue. “Yes, Mother. Right away, Mother. Sure thing, Mother. Whatever you say, Mother.” Snorting, she set the coffeemaker on Keep Warm and looked around the room. Sighing, she walked over and opened the refrigerator. Glancing inside, she stared for a moment and then turned and looked at the table. With a wicked grin, she reached inside the fridge and pulled out a can of Pepsi. Crossing to the table, she first glanced down the hall and then grabbed up a large cinnamon roll covered in frosting. Without wasting any time, she left through the back door, hurried down the steps and began walking down the path toward the beach.
Laughing to herself, Sara popped the top on her drink and took a long swallow right before taking a huge bite of the pastry. “Hmmm, this might not be the Breakfast of Champions, but I bet it’ll get me through until lunch.”
Reaching the end of the path, Sara stopped to admire the scene before her. Snow-white sand carpeted the beach as far as she could see with the rolling white tipped waves washing in and out. The bright sunshine warmed her face, while the gentle breeze stirred the hairs in her braid. She stopped to pull off her sandals, leaving them lying on the trail, and then stepped out onto the clean, soft sand. Grinning, she held her arms out and turned in a slow circle, basking in the warm, salty breeze. With the feel of sand squishing between her toes, Sara took off walking down the beach.
“Oh, my God, it’s warm,” Sara, cried, laughing as the seawater washed up over her feet. How could anybody not want to live here? If Bart helps Mother find a buyer, I’ll never get to visit here again. Her thoughts sobering, Sara trekked her way down the beach. As she made her way around a large pile of driftwood, a cold chill crept up her back. Stopping to gaze back the way she came, Sara felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. It felt as if someone watched her every move and yet she could see nothing to cause concern. Frowning, she walked a little further and then stopped, staring down at the sand in shock.
Her disbelieving eyes cut to the ocean, then up and down the beach, before she turned and stared up at her bedroom window. She knew this place, knew it intimately. In her dreams, she’d made passionate love on this spot just last night. “How could I picture this so accurately? I’ve never even seen pictures of the island.” Confused, Sara stared down at the sand, focusing on a dug out area just big enough to have been made by two bodies thrashing around in passion.
“Good morning to you, Miss Sara.”
Startled, Sara turned quickly, lost her footing and landed on her ass in the sand. “Jeez, Elias, you scared the daylights out of me.”
“I’m so sorry.” Elias rushed over to help her to her feet. “Are you hurt?”
Sara laughed, brushing the sand off her butt. “Only my pride.” She gave him a wry look. “You’re kind of sneaky. I didn’t hear anything at all before you spoke.”
“Been called a lot of things in my life, but never sneaky.” Elias laughed. “You seemed to be studying the sand here pretty closely. What were you looking at?”
Feeling her cheeks getting hot, Sara looked away. She couldn’t very well tell him she was reliving an erotic dream. “I, um, I was thinking about Grandmother. You know, like she wanted for her memorial.”
“Uh-huh. Where’s the rest of your family?”
“Mother decided she would rather remember in her own way and that didn’t include a walk on the beach.”
“What about your fiancé?”
“He’s conducting business via the telephone. I’m supposed to call both of them when you get here. Shall we head back?”
“There’s no hurry. I left Mr. Aames enjoying a cup of coffee and going over his files. He needs a little time to recover.” He grinned and leaned in close. “He’s not a seasoned sailor. Truth is, he’s a little green right now.”
Sara laughed and then clamped her hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry, that’s not funny. Is he gonna be all right?”
“He’ll be fine. He just needs a little time to pull himself together.” He gazed out at the ocean. “How do you like Elizabeth’s little island?”
A wide smile took over Sara’s face. “It’s beautiful here, Elias. I can’t imagine her ever wanting to live anywhere else.”
He sighed. “That describes her problems in a nutshell. She never wanted to leave here.”
“I don’t understand. You sound like that’s a bad thing.”
“Did you get a chance to talk to Karl before he left?”
“Ah!” Understanding flooded Sara. “Karl wanted her to visit his home. What did he call it? Oh yeah, he’s from someplace called Rysm. He never got around to telling me where it is. Do you know?”
Elias cleared his throat. “It’s a really long way away from here. The point I’m trying to make is Elizabeth had some misguided sense of loyalty to an absentee daughter. She never considered living anywhere else.” He gave her an apologetic look. “I don’t mean to speak badly of your mother, Sara. I just think it sad your grandmother never put her own happiness first.”
Feeling uncomfortable, Sara gazed out over the ocean. “It’s easy to speculate about what might have been, but none of us can really know what would’ve happened if she’d made different choices. I’d rather just remember her for the love she felt for her family.”
“You’re absolutely right. Please accept my apologies, Miss Sara. I never meant to bring any unhappy thoughts to this day. Your grandmother was a beautiful person, inside and out, and that’s the way she’ll be remembered.”
Blinking back her tears, Sara impulsively hugged the rugged boat captain. “No apologies necessary, Elias. It’s obvious you loved her, too.”
Awkwardly patting her back, Elias sighed. “Yes, I did at that.” After a moment, he took her shoulders in his hands and held her away from his body. “Shall we go get everyone ready to hear what your grandmother’s last wishes are?”
“You bet.” She glanced down the beach. “I need to pick up my shoes. I left them at the end of the trail up to the house.”
“Okay then, let’s go.” Smiling, he offered her his arm and together they made their way back to the house.
&
nbsp; “Mr. Aames, this is Elizabeth’s daughter, Gwendolyn Weller, her granddaughter, Sara Danner, and Ms. Danner’s fiancé, Bart Everett. Everyone, this is Elizabeth’s attorney, Clinton Aames.” Elias finished his introductions and sat in one of the armchairs near the fireplace.
Sara studied the short, heavy-set man and couldn’t help but notice the pallor on his face. “Mr. Aames, are you all right? Can I get you something? Maybe some tea?”
“No thank you, Miss.” Clinton Aames gave her a shy smile. “Please, call me Clinton. Actually, I’m feeling much better since I drank the coffee Captain Jacobs provided when we first arrived.” A slow flush crept up his cheeks. “I’m afraid I’m not a boat lover and the trip over was rather shaky.”
“Shaky,” Elias snorted. “If that’s what you call shaky, then I sure don’t want you on board during a real storm.”
“Wonderful,” Clinton exclaimed, a beaming smile on his face.
“What the hell does that mean?” Elias growled.
“It’s wonderful we finally have something in common.” The wicked glint of mischief in the attorney’s eyes had Sara stifling her own laughter.
“Do you suppose we could dispense with all this drivel and get to the purpose of your trip here?” Bart’s angry tone successfully wiped the smiles off everyone’s face. “Some of us are anxious to get back to the real world.” He led Gwendolyn over to the couch and then took a seat next to her. “I’m an attorney, and unlike some, I have serious legal cases which need attention.” His demeanor made it abundantly clear he considered Clinton Aames unworthy of the profession.
“Bart, what’s the matter with you? You’re both attorneys. Aren’t you supposed to show some kind of professional courtesy?”
“That’s quite all right, Ms. Danner. Your fiancé is quite right. We’re here to discuss Elizabeth Weller’s last wishes and the disposition of her estate.” He indicated the couch where Bart and her mother were sitting. “Why don’t you have a seat and we’ll get started.”
The Magic in her Gift Page 4