by Ali Vali
“Can I speak to you two privately for a moment?” Kai asked, as if reading her mind.
The room cleared instantly, and Hadley sighed as she tightened her grip on her hand. If anyone in the realm had worshipped Kai from her first breath, it was Hadley. “Kai, don’t take this as a criticism, considering I would’ve done the same thing, but think before you act from now on,” Hadley said softly. “I’m your mother’s consort, so if something happens to me she’ll still be queen and the realm will survive, as will she, but you are our future. Our people need you to survive this or anything else that’s found.”
“I promise to let Edil’s team handle the underwater missions, but I don’t want to be locked in my room at home either.”
“Is it about your purpose there, or is this about Vivien Palmer?” she asked, Oba’s warnings on her mind.
“Both,” Kai said, crossing her arms over her chest. “I won’t abandon her or the goals I’ve set. If I leave now, Vivien will be more lost than before, and I won’t do that to her. Not again.”
“Kai, we’d never presume to arrange a union for you, but…” Galen said.
“I know the rules better than anyone in the realm, Mom, but you can’t order me not to care about her and what happens to her.”
Galen knew in that moment that Kai wouldn’t come back the same. Vivien Palmer had somehow woven a spell that she’d cast years before, and Kai was happy to be mesmerized. She’d had her suspicions back then, since Kai had risked leaving the water for her out of all the mortals she had swum by in her life. Something about Vivien had called to her, and Kai had listened like a sailor following a siren’s song.
“All right,” she said as a coldness settled in her chest that made her place her hand over her heart. “Remember well what Oba told you. We will love you no matter what path you choose, but our choices are so much more catastrophic than most when they are different than what’s expected.”
“I know my place, and more importantly, I know my fate. Trust me enough to not betray you and everyone else on a whim,” Kai said with a smile that made her appear more sad than pleased. “I love you both, and I’ll be back when I’m done.”
“Take care, tadpole, and we love you too,” Hadley said, and the screen went blank.
“She’ll remember everything, right?” Galen needed reassurance.
“Kai will no more betray you than I will,” Hadley said as she helped her to her feet so she could hug her. “She’ll need us when she returns, though, to help her heal the crack in her heart that will happen when she leaves the woman she loves.”
“Do you think it will heal?”
Hadley pulled back so she could see her face. “Do you want me to lie?”
She shook her head, in no mood to be coddled.
“If she loves as fiercely as I love you, then no. Time will dull anything, but it will not make you forget.” Hadley pressed her hand to her cheek. “That’s my answer, but yours might be different when it comes to love.”
“If I lost you, an eternity wouldn’t dull the pain. That would shatter my will to go on, so I pray to the goddess she doesn’t fall that deep into Vivien’s abyss.”
Chapter Twenty-three
“We’re evacuating everyone and clearing the area,” the coast-guard representative said. The guy was new and had plenty of colorful ribbons and bits of medal on his chest and collar, so Kai figured he wasn’t used to being questioned. “And before you complain, I’m clearing everything within a ten-mile radius.”
“Did you figure out the boxes were dangerous?” Kai asked.
“This isn’t a Palmer problem anymore, so pack up and go. If you decide to get cute I’ll hog-tie you and carry you off myself.”
“I don’t think you’d like the results of trying that, so quit with the threats. I’m asking since some of my team was exposed to whatever the hell those are.”
“Someone will contact you about that, but for now, Mr. Palmer’s sending a helicopter for everyone left and someone to collect those fancy boats down there. Be ready in thirty.”
“I’ll be happy to make those arrangements,” Isla said, making Kai smile since she wasn’t about to let anyone aboard the Salacia. “We’ll be in New Orleans by tomorrow.”
“Thanks. I’ll call you to get all the information,” she said, and Isla nodded, not needing things spelled out.
When they were left alone on the deck Vivien reached for her hand. “Do you have a place to stay?”
“That’s why I brought the boat.”
“Come home with me, and when I get Daddy settled I’ll be happy to join you.”
“Sure,” she said, not ready to let Vivien go yet.
The helicopter flight was smooth, so Kai closed her eyes and tried to organize her thoughts. They needed to find one clue as to where all this hardware was coming from and what purpose someone had for placing it. Once she was alone she wanted to talk to her mothers again so they could hash out all the points.
Vivien’s truck was at the heliport, so she climbed into the passenger side after dumping their bags in the back. “Are you hungry?” Vivien asked.
“A little, but let’s stop and get something to go. Those clouds have held off, but not for much longer, so let’s get inside before the deluge starts.”
The pizza place was close to Vivien’s house, so in less than an hour she walked around the den while Vivien talked to her father and brother on the phone. It was a big space with a lot of antique framed maps on the walls, as well as relics Vivien had obviously found on some of her dives. The room seemed inviting and comfortable with the pictures of Vivien and Franklin at various ages scattered throughout the built-in shelves.
She stared at the one that had to have been taken the summer they’d met, since she recognized the bathing suits they were wearing. Their smiles were so genuine she couldn’t look away, at least not until she felt Vivien’s arms around her waist. She laughed when she saw the pile of clothes by the kitchen counter Vivien had been leaning against.
“If I crank up the air conditioner, can I interest you in a fire?”
“I’m getting warm already, but a fire would be nice.” She kissed Vivien before she let her go light the gas fire. The way Vivien didn’t look away as she got out of her clothes made her feel wanted, so she didn’t waste time worrying about the consequences of her actions. Right now she wanted Vivien as much as she’d ever wanted any woman, and from the way Vivien’s eyes followed her every step, the desire was mutual.
“Do you want a slice of pizza?” Vivien asked with a smile.
“I find cold pizza is better, but if you’re hungry,” she said, picking Vivien up so she could wrap her legs around her.
She dropped to her knees with Vivien and laid her down on the blanket Vivien had taken off the sofa. Through Vivien’s shell she sensed her nervousness, but also her need to be with her, so she took the lead. “Tell me to stop if anything makes you uncomfortable, okay?”
“Unless you tie me up and steal my jewelry, I don’t see me stopping you from doing whatever you want.”
Kai lay next to Vivien and positioned herself so she could kiss Vivien and place her hand on her abdomen. “I won’t tie you up unless you want me to, but right now I only want to touch you.”
Vivien’s body was creamy white with pronounced tan lines that made her arms and legs appear like they’d been kissed by the sun. She liked that Vivien enjoyed the water as much as everyone she knew. It seemed almost unfair that Vivien hadn’t found the secrets she’d searched for.
She must’ve been moving too slowly since Vivien pushed her onto her back and straddled her hips. “You’ve been winding me up for days, so touch me before I have to resort to begging,” Vivien said, her breasts swaying right in front of her face.
Kai didn’t want this to be rushed or about lust, so she sat up slowly, moving her hands from Vivien’s hips to the undersides of her breasts. Vivien pushed her hips forward when she cupped them, and it was all the invitation she needed. She kiss
ed Vivien, her tongue gliding into Vivien’s mouth, causing her to moan and her nipples to harden against her palms. The response made her wet, but right now all she wanted was to please Vivien and build her to an orgasm that’d leave an imprint of her on her heart.
“Kai, please,” Vivien said as her hips pumped forward as if chasing some sort of contact. “I need you—” Vivien’s plea ended in a long, almost torturous moan when she placed a hand between her legs. Vivien was so wet she took her time to run her fingers up and down, enjoying how easily her fingers slid over Vivien’s clitoris that was as hard as the steel her people’s tritons were made of.
The grip Vivien had on her shoulders tightened as she turned her hand palm up and gently put two fingers in. She wanted to prolong the act, but Vivien seemed so ready she didn’t want to deny her. Vivien moved with her, but her eyes were shut tight and her mouth was puckered as if she was about to say a prolonged oh. When the walls of her sex clamped down on Kai’s fingers, Vivien finally made some sort of sound. She moaned loud enough to make Kai smile, especially when it started low and ended in a high keen that stopped only when Vivien slumped against her.
“Jesus,” Vivien said, extremely out of breath. “Don’t move yet,” she said when Kai began to take her fingers out. “What the hell did you do to me?” Kai peered into Vivien’s blue eyes and smiled again. Vivien looked incredibly relaxed but still—she thought for a moment, trying to find the right word. “What?” Vivien asked almost shyly.
“You look…” She kissed Vivien’s slightly swollen lips and felt a twitch in Vivien’s vaginal walls. “The best word I can think of is lush.”
“Like a plant?”
“Like a beautiful, sexy woman,” she said as the doorbell rang.
“Don’t make any noise.” Vivien glanced back toward her phone. “Whoever it is can wait until tomorrow.” The phone started next, like Vivien seemed to expect, and Vivien groaned when she heard the distinctive ring Kai recognized as Franklin’s.
“How about you point me toward the shower and then get the door?”
Vivien gazed at her with an expression that made her appear as if she’d asked her to walk across hot coals. “What about me?”
“The hot-water supply depends on how quickly you get rid of guests,” she said as she took her fingers out, enjoying the way Vivien squeezed them as if getting the last bit of pleasure she could before they parted.
“You’re seriously leaving me to face them alone? One look at me and they’re going to know what we were doing.” Vivien hadn’t moved away from her, and really all she was in the mood for was touching Vivien until she begged her to stop.
“Don’t go anywhere,” she said, kissing Vivien’s cheek before getting up. She answered the phone when it rang again, hoping it was Franklin. “Hello, Franklin,” she said when she recognized his voice. “Vivien’s in the restroom, so I hope you don’t mind me answering her phone.”
“Could you open the door then? It’s starting to rain.”
“Sorry, we’re at Tulane meeting with Professor Olivier. Vivien was a little restless so we walked. We can head back if it’s important.” She smiled when Vivien nodded as if approving of her performance. “Or we can come by your parents’ house later and talk over everything that’s been happening.”
“Sounds good,” he said and laughed for some reason. “Tell my sister to call me if eight tonight isn’t acceptable.”
She put the phone down and stared at the way Vivien was lying back with her legs spread open, inviting her. The sight made her clitoris pound with want, so she covered Vivien’s body with her own and pressed her clit to Vivien’s. The move made Vivien wrap her legs around her hips as if to increase the pressure, and the intense pleasure made her completely open to Vivien.
Kai placed her hands on the floor close to Vivien’s head, and as she lost control the shell at her throat warmed and seemed to almost reach out for Vivien’s. She knew the consequences if they did connect, but right now all that mattered was Vivien and the need to make her want her as much as Kai needed her. As they slid against each other, the shell opened that part of herself not even Oba had reached, and Vivien’s responded with no resistance. The orgasm unlocked the very essence of who Kai was, and glimpsing every one of Vivien’s most private thoughts made her lose complete control.
“Oh, my God,” Vivien said as she raked her nails across Kai’s back, and the way she tightened her legs made Kai speed her hips.
It was as if they’d clicked together like two pieces made for each other, and as Kai’s body reached the peak the shell did its job. The process now couldn’t be stopped unless she left Vivien wanting on the floor and walked out the door.
“Kai, don’t…unh.” Vivien finished her demand with a groan that in turn started her tears. It was almost too much for Kai as well, as she jerked against Vivien wanting to wring the last bit of pleasure out of both of them.
When they were done, Kai’s arms shook from the effort it took to hold herself up, so she began to roll off, but Vivien held her in place with her legs. “I’m about to collapse.”
“I don’t care,” Vivien said, her tears still falling into her hair. “What the hell did you do to me?” The question did make her move, but Vivien followed and ended up on top. “It wasn’t a bad thing—quite the opposite, actually.”
“You’re an inspiration in this department,” she said, wiping Vivien’s cheeks with her fingers.
“All my lushness, huh?” Vivien laughed as she put her head on her shoulder. “It’s like you possessed me completely, and it was everything I ever wanted.”
“Thank you for sharing this part of yourself with me.” She lifted her head and kissed Vivien’s lips. “In hindsight I should’ve told Franklin we’d all meet tomorrow.”
“I’ll make it up to you tonight.”
“It can’t come fast enough.”
Vivien’s hips slammed into her when she squeezed her butt, and it made her smile. “Jesus.” Vivien lifted her hips again and Kai put her hand between her legs. “Maybe you should’ve said I can’t come enough.”
*
They took their time in the shower, and a few hours later they were seated at one end of the Palmers’ dinner table. Winston had reported over drinks that he didn’t know anything new and was as frustrated as everyone else with assets in the Gulf. After that fact was established and talked about, Cornelia took over the conversation and steered it away from business.
“So how in the world did you end up here?” Cornelia asked Kai after she’d answered questions about her past. “You’re an environmentalist in a world of wolves.”
“I’m more a realist than an environmentalist, ma’am. We’ve got problems, so I decided to do something about them instead of picketing. The world needs oil and gas until something else comes along, but it also needs fish and clean water.”
“Why can’t the rest of the wackos out there understand that,” Winston said as he refilled everyone’s wineglass.
“Maybe because they don’t like being called wackos,” Vivien said, making everyone laugh. “And, Dad, why didn’t you tell us about all these projects you and Kai are working on?”
Kai sat back and enjoyed the banter. The gentle teasing seemed to be new to this family, and perhaps it was the first step in getting them to see each other in a new way. So far tonight had gone very differently than when they’d all first met.
“Are you accusing me of being one of those wackos we’ve been talking about?” Winston said but smiled at Vivien. “Kai was persuasive on the phone and in her emails, so I’m glad I got to her first.”
“Wait, you approved all those projects before meeting her?” Vivien glanced between her and her father as if waiting for someone to tell her this was a joke. “Raccoon Island alone must’ve cost a fortune.”
“I used a little of Kai’s rationale combined with my own for one outcome, and that’s why I made the decision to spend the money, so to me it was a good investment.” Winston spoke softly,
in an almost gentle tone, and from what she could determine from the shells Franklin and Vivien wore, this tone was something new and welcome.
“What’s your reason?” Franklin asked as he raked his nail up and down the linen tablecloth, making a slight scraping noise.
“One day whenever it’s right for you and your sister, my grandchildren will play on that island, and no matter what other opinions they form of their grandparents—hopefully they’ll be proud we did that.” Winston’s voice became gruff as he spoke, but she figured it was from the building emotion he wasn’t used to expressing. “A company isn’t the only legacy I want to leave you two.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Vivien asked, staring only at her.
“Because it was your father’s story to tell, so I didn’t want to ruin his surprise.” Kai glanced at Franklin for a moment to include him in what she was saying.
“Thanks, Daddy,” Vivien said before she stood and kissed Winston on the cheek and then her mother.
“You’re welcome,” Winston said, wiping his face of tears after moving to Franklin so he could kiss his son’s forehead. Kai figured he hadn’t done that since Franklin was six. “Good Lord, let’s change the subject before we get any more morose.”
When she got a moment alone she wanted to call her mothers. The time spent with the Palmers had made her miss her conversations with them, and if she did a good enough job here, perhaps Franklin and Vivien would someday feel the same if they were away from their parents. The rest of the night was pleasant as they talked in the less formal den, but that ended when the doorbell rang.
If the Palmers had physical defenses like armor or protective shields, they would’ve come up when the maid walked Steve into the room. “Vivien, you’re back,” Steve said, and Kai picked up on the accusatory tone. “I expected to hear from you when you returned. You still owe me that dinner we talked about.”
“Did something happen at the office we need to know about?” Franklin said, rolling his chair in front of Vivien.