by Dawn, Autumn
At the appointed time, he seated her at the obsidian table etched with platinum. The glossy surface reflected the crystal chandelier, leaving her as awed and slightly uncomfortable with the opulence as the first time she’d seen it. The table was set with malachite plates, a beautiful stone made up of bands of green. The matching silverware was platinum with malachite handles.
“Coffee? Tea?” Raze inquired, indicating the steaming lapis lazuli teapot with tiny matching teacups. Both were inlaid with shining gold, and the cups had a sparkling clear lining. Matching cups flanked a platinum coffee carafe with golden accents.
She laughed in delighted disbelief. “You planned this.”
“You were bound to be disappointed in the human meal,” he said, pouring her tea and setting a tray of tea things within easy reach. “Honey has curious properties, and even elementals are able to enjoy it,” he explained as she examined the crystal honey pot. “The cream is not from bovines, of course, but you may enjoy it.”
The tea was better than Kira remembered. When she tried the coffee, she was surprised she now liked it black and deeply roasted.
She watched with interest as Raze brought out serving dishes of deep red garnet, simply carved. The main course consisted of orange and red crunchy bits with soft brown morsels in a savory sauce that smelled and tasted divine. Transparent wrappers filled with crunchy green, purple and orange vegetables went with a tasty purple dip. “I don’t know what this is,” Kira said, munching happily, “but I love it.”
Raze smiled. “I’m pleased.”
Dessert was a warm, caramel-like swirl of creamy goodness reminiscent of dulce de leche and a little plate of cinnamon “spun sugar” roses. She actually teared up, she was so happy to be eating something almost familiar. “Did you cook all this?”
“I have many talents,” he said, sipping his coffee with a smile, “but while I prepared the main meal, the candy, coffee and tea came from the market.”
“You bought this in the supermarket?” she asked in disbelief.
“The elemental market,” he clarified. “I’ll take you one day soon, but I thought you’d like a slow introduction to your new world. I realize it’s often difficult for you.”
“That’s very thoughtful,” she said, fishing.
He inclined his head. “I’ll admit I’ve little interest in sharing you yet. We have unfinished business and I’m...possessive.”
She shook her finger. “Jealously isn’t good for you.” Still, she was flattered.
He pulled her chair back for her. “Would you like to view the gardens where these things grow? I think you’ll enjoy them.”
Kira didn’t expect the gardens to be underground, but Raze took her through the lava under the house to a pool that opened outside a mammoth cavern.
“This garden doesn’t belong to me, but I contribute to the upkeep,” he explained, leading her into the soothing, pale green light.
“Where does the glow come from?”
“The rock has properties that make it glow,” he explained, “with proper encouragement.”
Moss edged the stone paths and filled the spaces between beds of purple crystal spikes, orange and pink coral formations, neon blue fronds and rose quartz “cabbages”. Kira trailed her fingers over lacy green, crispy bushes and exclaimed over trees hung with glossy red, yellow and orange “peppers”. She was captivated by bottle green glass trees with globes of fruit, marveling at a world she never dreamed existed.
“It’s amazing,” she whispered, awed by the unique flora. She turned to him, tears like sparks glittering in her lashes. “I never imagined…” She looked down, overcome.
Raze stroked her cheek. “Small steps, little one. Enjoy the wonder.” He brushed a kiss over her lips, keeping it light, teasing. He’d made progress, but aggression now could overwhelm her. He ran a soothing hand through her hair, easing her against his chest. “Shall we go home? We can explore more whenever you like.”
She nodded.
Raze nuzzled her hair and sighed with contentment as they dissolved. Just a little longer and she would be his.
Feeling that he’d earned her goodwill, he suggested they enjoy a swim in the lava pool under the house. “It will be relaxing,” he said innocently.
Kira studied him for a long moment. “I suppose I owe you for charring my steak.”
He smiled and led the way in anticipation. Reaching the pool, he shed his clothes with leisurely unconcern, grinning as she looked away at the last. He liked her shyness.
To his surprise, she slipped out of her dress and into the pool, making no attempt to cover herself. He loved the way her pale skin set off the perfect, glittery ruby tips of her breasts. Her long red hair dampened in the lava, flickered between flame and silk, and he thought hungrily of the red patch concealed by the liquid stone. He wanted his hands and mouth on her…and anything else he could slip by her.
She was quick to put the width of the pool between them, but Raze wasn’t having that. Playfully stalking her, he caught her up and drew her back to his front. His hands stroked her thighs and belly as he nuzzled her. Conscious of her wriggling protest, he murmured, “Still shy?”
“I’m not committing to you,” she said huskily. She arched involuntarily as he raked gentle nails over her hips.
She might not be a virgin, but it had been a while and he knew she wanted him. He flicked a finger against her, eliciting a gasp. “Maybe you just want me for this?” He drew a finger down her wet lips, holding her firmly as she squirmed. “I’m happy to help.” He was very willing, in fact. Eager.
He pressed against the small of her back as he rubbed her belly. Mm, look what you could have. “Why don’t you meet me halfway? We can play without going all the way. What harm can a few caresses do?”
He knew he had her when she turned and kissed him fiercely. Swallowing his smile, he cupped her behind, enjoying the sweet curves. Wrapping her legs around his waist, he set her on the rim and bent her back, licking her ruby nipples, suckling the white slopes, leaving little love marks. When her nipples were nice and wet, he kissed his way down her belly, enjoying the way she tugged his hair. Eager but conflicted, that was his bride.
She cried out when he took her intimately with his mouth, working his tongue over her sweet little bud. She went wild when his tongue thrust deep, alternating with his fingers. When he’d driven her crazy, made her scream, he replaced them with the long edge of his shaft.
“No.” She had no problem denying him. Well, it was worth a try.
“As you wish.” He didn’t stop, but made no move to enter her, kissing her breasts the way she liked.
“I said…” she broke off with a gasp, arching as she climaxed. He ensured she was too busy, too high on orgasms to say anything else to disrupt their pleasure. She’d learn to trust him.
Finally, when he was aching for his own release, he sank into the lava and wrapped her fist around him. “Help me with this,” he rasped.
She managed a shaky laugh, and did.
Raze took her to his bed that night, waking her often to play. He was confident that he’d have her complete surrender soon. No woman who romped as she did could resist for long.
At one point, drugged with pleasure, she murmured, “I suppose you’d burn right through a condom.”
He grinned and snuggled her close. Funny, he’d never been in the habit of cuddling before. “We could try,” he said, knowing the contraceptive would dissolve the moment he entered her. He’d make sure of it. He’d already decided he was ready for children and looked forward to seeing Kira big with his child.
Unaware of his thoughts, she snorted and drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 4
The morning after could have been awkward, except that Raze wouldn’t allow it. He treated her waking in his bed as utterly normal, presenting her with coffee as he woke her. “I thought it would be safer than a kiss, considering the time. Your mother is due to arrive soon.”
Kira sighed and took a b
racing sip of coffee. “This should be interesting.”
Raze hung around as she had her morning wash, his eyes boldly interested in her every move, making her blush, but he kept his hands to himself. They really were short on time, but it was clear he had plans.
Kira found smoke rising from her body and sternly controlled it. She was going to have to be careful, both of her mother and of her developing relationship with Raze.
They met her mother at the airport. Louise arrived on time, complaining of the long flight. She met Raze with a glower and watched critically as he collected her luggage. “He’s awfully big, isn’t he? I suppose that’s how they bred them.”
“Mother!” Kira hissed, mortified. That was horrible, even for her mom.
Her mother grunted and glared at the people handing out vacation flyers, though she did accept a lei.
It didn’t soften her much. When Louise saw the jeep they’d rented for her, she sniffed, “A jeep? I thought your husband had money?”
Already fed up, Kira remarked, “We thought you’d prefer it to walking.”
Her mother punished her with silence. When she realized Kira didn’t mind, she changed tactics. “I thought you didn’t like to drive? Before the divorce, your father always drove me.”
“That’s nice. Have you thought about what you’d like to do while you’re here?” It was becoming obvious that Louise’s first priority wasn’t vacation. She’d come with both guns blazing, and Raze was clearly the target. She really hated that her daughter married a black man.
Kira wondered what her reaction would be if her mom knew the truth. Somehow, she doubted it would be good. “I thought you might like to go to a luau; there’s a buffet,” she coaxed, using the magic words, “Our treat.” Her mother never turned down a buffet, and she’d see spending Raze’s money as a good way to punish him. “You’ll be happy to know you’ll have your own apartment, too. The old caretaker’s place has been renovated into a guest house, and I stocked the fridge.”
“That’s not necessary; I’ll cook in your kitchen. It’s been a long time since I cooked for you.”
Kira shot Raze a look. He didn’t seem concerned. She assumed he had ways of making anything her mother made edible. “That’s great, mom.”
“So what is it you do?” Louise finally addressed Raze, her tone querulous.
“I own several business concerns, including a copper mine,” Raze said carelessly. “It keeps me busy.”
Louise wrinkled her nose. “Copper? That’s profitable?”
“Increasingly so. I also have investments in gold and precious metals. I understand you’re anxious about my ability to provide for your daughter; I’d be happy to provide you with a financial statement to ease your mind.”
“That would be best,” Louise said eagerly, at the same time Kira exclaimed, “No! Mother.”
Raze and Louise exchanged speaking glances. It was clear they’d talk more when Kira wasn’t present.
By the time they pulled into the drive, Kira alternated between fuming and shooting Raze anxious looks.
Raze deposited Louise’s luggage in the guest apartment and suggested she meet them at the house for the tour as soon as she’d gotten settled. Before Louise could object, he escorted Kira to the house.
Kira barely waited until they were out of earshot to complain, “You don’t need to let her see how much money you have! I don’t even know that.”
“True. I will have to remedy that.” He opened the door and followed her inside.
“That’s not the point,” she ranted as she paced the great room. “She’s on a mission. You know what she’s trying to do. She wants to ‘break us up’ and she won’t be happy until I’m miserable.”
Raze poured red wine into two glasses of clear, tangerine garnet. He handed her one, suggesting, “Try to keep your sense of humor. She won’t be here long.”
Kira frowned. “When is her departure date?”
Raze paused. “She requested a one way ticket. We agreed I would purchase the return ticket at her request.”
“You paid for her ticket?” Kira asked, horrified. Her mother was already mooching off him.
“She is your mother, and I’m well able to afford both of you.”
“But you don’t owe her anything!”
“Your mother is alone and I am responsible for her. This is the way it was done through history, and I intend to continue with tradition. I can afford it.”
That was incredibly chivalrous, but ignored several important points, like her mother’s greed and disrespect. A knock on the door cancelled further debate.
Kira groaned and let her mother in, trying to be gracious. “Would you like something to drink?” She fixed her mom Kona coffee and her favorite creamer and gave her the tour while Raze retreated to the garden.
At least he assured her that the tapestry to the lava room could only be opened by one of them or Losee. That was good, because her mom had plenty to say about the rest of the house. A Globe made of lapis lazuli with semi-precious inlay was pronounced, “Tasteless new money extravagance,” and the tapestry hiding the lava room door was a “cheap reproduction.” She thought the original Roman mosaic in the bathroom was tacky, too.
“Really, who’s he trying to impress?” Louise demanded.
“Aren’t you being rather hard on a man who’s been nothing but kind to you?” Kira suggested evenly. It was hard not to snarl at her mother, but she was determined to be pleasant.
Louise sniffed, but made no further comments on the décor.
They managed a civil circuit of rest of the house and grounds.
Lunch could have been tricky, but Raze had thought of a good way to deal with it. While Kira made her mother a Reuben sandwich, he made a show of pouring two tall glasses of red liquid. He even garnished them with star fruit wedges and set them on the kitchen breakfast island.
“What is that?” Louise said with a frown.
“Raze is being supportive. I’m a liquid diet; shakes for breakfast and lunch, normal dinner. I figured we’d eat out a lot while you were here and I need to watch my weight.”
“You’ve beautiful as you are,” Raze said gallantly, sipping his drink.
Louise scowled. “Yes, but what’s in it?”
Kira had no idea, but it was actually quite delicious; fruity with a hint of sulfur. Of course, she couldn’t tell her mother that. “Raw beets, wheat grass, kale, flax seed, horseradish, hot sauce, lemon juice…”
Her mother shuddered. “Never mind.”
Kira and Raze exchanged glances and enjoyed their meal.
The luau was scheduled for six, but they arrived at the host hotel early for a walk on the beach. Kira marveled at the slow arc of the sun toward the sea as they made their way up the beach, carefully avoiding the fallen nuts littering the path.
The hotel was a newer one with a strategically lit courtyard full of flamingos, swans, penguins and other exotic birds. Even her mother smiled and took pictures.
The luau was fragrant with the scent of sea, flowers and roast pork. Kira was feeling peckish and couldn’t help nipping at the tiki torches lining their path and the perimeter.
“Hungry?” Raze murmured in amusement, feeding her energy as they strolled, arm in arm.
Kira sighed in satisfaction as he took the edge off. “Thanks,” she murmured as the puzzled wait staff relit the torches, gently sloshing them to check the fuel.
They had a table close to the front, but not so close they had to crane their necks to see the stage. Mai Tais flowed in an endless river of rum and citrus, and the buffet showcased roast pork, pineapple upside down cake, coconut pudding and pale purple dinner rolls.
“What is this?” Louise wondered aloud as she tore the roll apart to examine it.
“I believe it’s poi, a paste made from taro root. It’s said to be quite bland in paste form,” Raze explained. He was quietly modifying his and Kira’s food so they could safely eat. Like the steak dinner, it wasn’t great, but it was di
gestible.
Kira thought wistfully of Raze’s cooking as she watched the Hawaiian announcer give his speech about “Ha-vii-ee”. She listened attentively and smiled at the sarong fashion show. “I want one of those,” she murmured to Raze. “They look comfortable.”
“I’ll take you shopping,” he promised. “There’s an elemental dressmaker who would do you justice.”
She was dying to ask more, but this wasn’t the place. Reluctantly, she turned her attention back to the stage.
The native dancers were awesome…and buff. They’d have to be to manage gyrations like that. She was so engrossed; it was a shock when she saw Raze enter the stage. Stripped down and wearing a wooden mask, he was still unmistakable. Dressed in a Polynesian kilt and feathered calf bands, he looked exotic, dangerous. Even his ruby necklace somehow fit, and when he raised his double bladed staff over his head with a full-throated roar, she shivered. The long blades ignited, and the other dancers gave him plenty of space as he whirled it in dizzying display that was as much martial art as dance. Kira had no doubt he was deadly with a spear; he was certainly devastating to her peace of mind. She watched in a lustful haze, fully appreciative of his peacock display. If she were a peahen, she’d be cooing.
He whirled, his spear moving so fast he appeared as a tornado of fire, and stopped on a dime. Raze drew back his arm and threw the spear powerfully at her.
Shocked, she screamed and ducked, thinking he was trying to kill her (or maybe her mother) but the spear hit the table and burst into a shower of sparks that coalesced into a flaming firebird. As the audience cheered and clapped in amazed appreciation, the bird landed on the table and dissolved into a ruby necklace that winked in the torchlight.
Delighted, she examined the necklace and found it was a daintier version of his. She met his eyes behind the mask, communicating her raging admiration.
That man was so getting laid. She was hot enough to ignite, hot enough that she forgot why she was resisting him…if last night could be called resistance. Her last husband was carefully chosen with her head; maybe she should go with her gut this time.