Kari didn't mind, one again unable to resist his charm. Caught in his ever entangling seductive web, the allure, the enchantment was slowly encasing the vulnerable young woman. Soon she would be a prisoner of his love forever, regardless of his feelings for her. She smoothed her dress and ran her fingers through the tangled mass of her hair, trying to compose herself.
"Of course not, Austin. I'd rather be with you, anytime. Besides, if you hadn't been here I would have had to fight off a drunk and I would have fallen on my face and probably have broken my nose."
Austin looked relieved "Good. Then I have a surprise for you. There is a luau in a small native village up the coast that is supposed to be the real thing. I hear the native Hawaiians perform some of their ancient rituals at this particular one. Do you want to go?"
"Oh Austin, it sounds wonderful. I'd love to go. Should I change first?"
"We'll have to get going or we're going to miss it. It'll take us an hour to get there, so we need to leave right away. That's why I came right here." Especially when he couldn't get her on the phone.
Kari glanced at his apparel. He was dressed in jeans, a tee shirt and Nikes. The guy must have been in a hurry.
"Okay. I guess I'm ready. Let's go. This is going to be so much fun."
Austin took her by the hand, leading her out the door, into a waiting, sleek, jet black corvette convertible. Having never ridden in anything so exotic before, Kari knew it was going to be the beginning of a fantastic night. Casting her fate to the wind, she slipped into complete luxury,
The drive along the coast was wonderful, especially the sunset. The sky was like an oil painting. The pallet of exquisite colors were blended together in a breath-taking array of strokes as they melted into the white, wispy clouds. Kari imagined all sorts of things, captured by the horizon's beauty. The mysterious mountains in the distance shrouded by these same clouds reminded her of the mystical valley in the old novel, “Lost Horizon”. She sensed mystery and adventure lay ahead for them. She felt it very intensely. The islands had a way of doing that to a person.
****
By the time they reached the small village, the sun was beginning to set. The two of them were greeted by young children gathering around the vet as they pulled in. Austin came around to help her out of the car. They could see an immense fire ablaze in the center of the village. People had gathered around it already. Austin and Kari were inexorably enticed towards it, being pulled along by the laughing children.
Drawing nearer to the seemingly imperishable flames, Kari could see a few tourists like themselves, but most of the people were from the village. Shortly, they found themselves standing in a circle around the mesmerizing, kaleidoscopic flames. Austin pulled Kari close to him. The warmth of his body excited her. She'd never been so content in her life or at such peace. It was like a dream.
"Happy?" Austin tightened his arms around her. She laid her head against his chest, the softness of his tee shirt caressing her cheek. The musky scent of his body was driving her crazy.
"Blissfully." Kari sighed contentedly, snuggling closer.
Drums began beating slowly as the crowd began to sway. The fire danced in their eyes. A wooden jar was being passed around the swaying crowd. Austin and Kari took a drink as it was handed to them. It was very sweet and had a flavor she couldn't quite place.
The jar made its way around the circle several times. She noticed Austin taking large draughts as he lifted it to those desirable lips of his. Whatever it was, Kari was feeling very good and very sexy. Noticing three or four young native couples dressed in primitive costumes, Kari guessed it was a special indigenous custom they were celebrating.
Whatever was in that dark liquid was having the same effect on everyone. The young girls dressed in the colorful native costumes, moved out of the circle and began to step lightly around the fire, swaying to the beating of the drums and native music that had now begun.
A passing native girl held out her hand and Kari grabbed it. Swaying gently around the fire, all the faces became a blur except for Austin's. His face remained perfectly clear, and she fixed her gaze on him as she moved around the fire. She stopped in front of him, swaying back and forth, her head thrown back, watching the stars growing brighter and more brilliant than Kari had ever thought possible.
Austin stepped forward, catching her in his arms, swaying with her. The music and drums became a sound in the distance as they moved closer and closer together. Feeling drowsy, Kari laid her head against Austin's broad chest. They teetered slowly back and forth against the fire that somehow seemed as if it's flames were hands, trying to reach up to those same stars above.
If she'd been in any shape to look, Kari would have seen the other girls were also each dancing with a young man. She would have also seen an old man enter the circle slowly, making incantations over each couple, including them, as he passed them by. The second time around he put a lei of island flowers around each couple. As they undulated back and forth, her body flush against his, Kari felt Austin's arms around her like a warm blanket that she never wanted to leave. It was the last thing she remembered until morning.
****
Kari woke up the next morning in her bed in the hotel. She sat up, but fell back down quickly when her head began to spin. Trying to recall what had happened the night before, all she could remember was Austin's face, his dark eyes reflecting the dancing, erotic flames, as they held each other while they were dancing. No, not dancing....
What had they been doing? She tried but couldn't remember. Kari couldn't even recall returning to the hotel. She was in her nightshirt. Her clothes were laid neatly at the end of her bed. What else was there? She raised herself up on a wobbly elbow. It was huge lei. Kari tried to shake the cobwebs from her head. Whatever they'd drank had surely left it effects on her. She wondered how Austin was feeling, recollecting the large draughts he'd been taking.
Kari looked at her clothes again. He must have put her to bed. She grew crimson at the thought. He obviously had seen her unadorned in all her glory-ok naked as a jaybird. He hadn't touched her. Instinctively, the indisposed young woman felt that was certain.
Falling back against the pillow, she closed her eyes, definitely not ready to get up. Trying desperately to recall the night before, she fell asleep again.
****
She was dreaming the phone was ringing. It kept on ringing and ringing. She wanted it to stop. As the ringing continued, she struggled to emerge from a deep sleep. Suddenly, realizing that it was the telephone, Kari groped around, finally grasping it and putting it to her ear.
"Hello, sleepyhead. Are you going to get up today?" Kari was slowly regaining some semblance of consciousness as she realized it was Austin. She glanced at the clock, and gasped.
"Are you all right, darlin'?" Austin's concerned voice broke through her jumbled thoughts.
"Austin, it's three o'clock! I can't believe I slept this long. It was that drink last night. And how did I get home? And who put me to bed?" Kari was fully awake now.
"I put you to bed. I hope you don't mind. I didn't see a thing, honest, darlin'.
"Right! And I'm the Easter bunny!"
"You do have a cute little tail!"
"Austin DuQuaine!. That is not funny! I want to know what happened last night. I don't remember a thing. What is this enormous lei doing on my bed?"
"I'll tell you all about it when I get back. I had to leave to finish the paperwork I left last night. I'll be back tomorrow. Would you do something for me, sweetheart?"
"It depends on what it is. I feel like I missed something I should know about. Did I?" Kari waited for his answer. There was a moment of silence.
"If you mean did anything happen between us last night, no." Kari's sigh of relief was evident. The truth was she didn't want to be unconscious when it happened.
"You don't have to sound so relieved, Kari." Austin sounded irritated.
"Oh Austin, I didn't mean it that way. It's just that I.....that I....well yo
u know what I mean."
Austin chuckled then. "You would like to be there in mind as well as body."
"That's what I mean."
"Kari darlin'. It's only been a few hours and I've missed you so."
"Austin. I've...I've missed being with you, too."
"That's why I've called. I'll be back tomorrow in the late afternoon. I'll have the limo pick you up around five. Wear that red dress you had on the other night and bring your swim suit. We'll have a quiet dinner and I want to show you the, uh, hot tub."
"Oh....I'll be here." Hot tub. Hot me. Hot him. Hot us. Hot predicament.
"Me too, sweet baby. See you then." There was a pause. "By the way, that lei. Uh....Well....it...well....I mean....you see, it's a Hawaiian marriage lei. Uh.....I love you, Kari. See ya soon."
Austin hung up the phone quickly. He knew he shouldn't have left her hanging, but everything would be taken care of when he returned to the woman he had inexorably fallen in love with.
Austin had gotten her ready for bed that night as she'd suspected. Her clothes had come off, and the nightgown had gone on. That definitely had to go! Her face was so angelic in sleep that he felt guilty even glimpsing the incredible body Austin knew was his for the taking, when the sleeping beauty before him was ready.
He wasn't a bad sort, despite his past relationships. Austin DuQuaine had always been a gentleman, even with one night of passion with a woman. The young man gazing at the sleeping angel had changed. When he'd finally got her shirt on and settled her into the bed, he'd sat on the edge watching her sleep. She'd moaned and turned on her side, decidedly lost in a dream. Austin had hoped it was about him.
A dream. A voice that wouldn't leave him alone. It had driven him on. Towards Kari. It was the voice that had told him to get back to her that night. It was the voice that had urged him to go to that native village. Of course he'd seen it in a brochure. But he'd been drawn to it. And Kari McKinnon had been drawn with him. And they'd been married. Funny. It seemed so right at the time.
****
Austin surveyed the papers on the desk in front of him. He would work nonstop so he could get back to his lovely, mysterious woman. He would make her his tomorrow night. Besides, she was his now. Maybe it hadn't be fair, but he felt it would be what she'd want too.
At least he hoped so. Austin prayed that she would be understanding about everything. He wasn't so sure he would be. Well, he would take care of everything tomorrow night. If Kari had any doubts about the two of them as a couple, Austin would erase them all. If Austin DuQuaine was sure about anything, it was his self-confidence. All he seemed to be able to think about was entangling his hands in that luxurious amber hair. And those stormy green eyes filled with an unquenchable passion! Those lips, full and eager, her generous, delectable breasts with perky amber buds waiting....He groaned out loud, grasping his swelling penis, closing his eyes in anticipation of their next meeting. It would be a night both of them would never forget. He would take her where she'd never been before. A place called erotica.
Austin sucked in a breath of air, released himself reluctantly, beginning again on the papers in front of him. It was going to be a tough, all-nighter.
****
Kari held the phone in her hand, stunned as she heard the click at the other end. What had he meant, a marriage lei? She peered at the flowers at the end of her bed. How could he leave her with that? What could it mean? Were they married? Is that what he was saying? He wouldn't do that without her knowing, would he? Or, did she agree and just didn't remember? Had he just told her he loved her? Was that what he'd wanted to talk to her about? Well, if they talked about whatever it was last night, she didn't remember a thing.
Kari began to get agitated at that moment. He couldn't do this to her, leave her speculating without a clue. He would hear about this tomorrow! Kari would bet the farm in Minnesota on that!
She threw the covers back and stumbled to the shower. That handsome scoundrel would get a piece of her mind tomorrow night. As the water rolled over her face, Kari pondered her feelings about this whole business. Touching herself intimately as she slowly lathered her body, Kari shivered under her own touch. If she felt like this when she touched herself, how much better would it be with Austin? Her own pleasure would be something Kari Mckinnon ( or was it DuQuaine?) was sure would be explosive. She was most definitely in love with him and that would make it all the sweeter. Sighing, the green eyed girl shut the water off. Kari wanted Austin to give her the pleasure she so desired. And he would, she was sure of that. Still, Austin DuQuaine had plenty of explaining to do.
Seven
The limo picked Kari up around five the next day. She'd spent a luxurious day on the beach, in the salon shopping, and taking two leisurely hours getting ready. Kari was wearing the red skirt and blouse he'd requested. Grabbing her suit and stuffing it in her bag, she rushed down to the lobby.
Walking with feigned dignity, she approached the waiting limo. Kari didn't want the driver to know how nervous she was. It is probably written all over me, she conceded, sliding, less than gracefully through the door held open by the driver. She didn't notice the amused, but admiring look he gave her as she entered the car.
Austin opened the front door as she stepped out on to the driveway. He came down the stairs, caught her up and spun her around, kissing her soundly.
"I missed you so, Kari," he murmured in her ear as her put her down. He slipped his arm around her waist and led her into the house. "I thought of nothing but you, my wife, for the last twenty-four hours.
"How did you ever manage to get any work done, or any sleep? Kari stopped. "What do you mean, wife? I've been meaning to ask you about that comment concerning the marriage lei. You don't have to pretend we're married, Austin. I think I'm ready for this."
"I mean, we got married the other night in the village. I, uh, kind of knew ahead of time about it, but I was afraid you would be reluctant, with us not knowing each other for very long. I felt it was important for us to be married before we, uh, fulfill our love."
"Let me get this straight now, Austin. You say we were married that night in the village and I don't remember a thing, but you do."
He glanced at her with a sheepish look. "Well, actually, sweetheart, I don't remember too much either, but I do know we were married by a native holy man."
"Austin, if you don't remember much either, how can you be sure this...this marriage took place?" Kari was eyeing him suspiciously.
"Because early the next morning when I woke up with the marriage lei around us, I talked with some of the village people. They told me we were most certainly married. You were out like a light, so I put you in the car and drove you back to the hotel. I figured you'd be out much longer than I was, knowing you don't drink much. What we were drinking was a strong wine and primitive love potion mixed by the local natives. "
"Is this a legal marriage, Austin?" Kari was in shock by now. She wasn't sure how to proceed with this. If this was true, she'd been married without her consent.
"It's as legal as any other marriage, Kari. It's recognized by the authorities here. Are you angry with me, honey?" He gazed at her with those big, brown eyes that always made her knees feel like putty. She managed to give him an incredulous look. She didn't know where to start.
"Austin, do you really love me?"
"More than anything, darlin'. I did this for us."
"For us? For us? You mean for you don't you? Obviously I had no say in this matter. Do you always make the decisions for everyone?
She stood there, coolly observing him as he nervously started pacing the floor. He turned suddenly, taking her by the arms, gazing in her emerald eyes. She tried to look away, but couldn't. Darn it! How could he do this to her every time he looked at her.
"I...I’m so much in love with you, Kari. I can't believe I did this to you either. I guess I was afraid you would say no. Kari, you are the only person I have ever felt this way about, and I didn't want to lose you. It was a stupid thi
ng to do and if you want to, we can go right now and have it annulled. We haven't consummated the marriage."
His eyes were dark with desire. They spoke of love for her. She decided at that moment, to take a chance. Why not? What else had she done with her life except shut every man out since Dylan. So what if he was somewhat mysterious. So what if she hardly knew anything about him. It didn't seem to make a difference to him, so why should she care?
"All right, Austin. But. Have you considered what people will say about this expeditious marriage. We've only known each other a few days."
He picked her up and swung her around, kissing her at the same time. "Darlin', you won't be sorry, I promise. I need you so, Kari." He stopped suddenly and set her down. "Do you really mind being married to me, Kari? Do you want me?"
He looked at her hard, seeking the truth.
"I love you, Austin. And, no. I don’t mind being married to you. Please don’t make me regret this decision.” She gave him a momentous look.
Austin gazed lovingly back at her. He stared steadily into her emerald eyes that were deepening with passion. She was nearly drowning in a sea of desire.
"I don't care what anyone else thinks, Kari. I want you and that's all that matters." And, I've got what I want, he added to himself.
Austin swept her into his arms, taking her up the stairs to their room. He kicked the door shut with his foot, maneuvering them over to the hot tub. Placing her down gently, Austin began to kiss her, a fire raging in his body, while his arms encircled her tightly. Slipping her arms around his neck, she clung to him in a way that let him know she was all his. Barely able to quell the raging fire within, he released her and stepped back to look at her.
Austin's Pleasure Page 5