“Really?” I say, tilting my head in surprise and breathing hard. We usually train until well into the early hours when the moonlight rebounds off the blades that clash and clatter together as I fight him or Oscar. Orion hadn’t been kidding when he said he wouldn’t hold back. To put it simply, I no longer wondered how he had survived so many years in The Guardians, fighting alongside The Knights of Atargatis.
“Yes. It’s the full moon tonight.” He says, not cracking a smile; his expression is as it has been for days, impassive, icy and unfeeling.
“Ah, I see.” I comment, waiting for him to crack. I slither forward, moving my hips in a flowing movement, trying to excite and entice. “Got any particular plans for tonight?” I ask, approaching his slab like abs, and looking up. I bite my bottom lip and flutter my lashes suggestively.
“Perhaps, depends if you want to take a night off from playing hero …” I scowl at that comment and I see in his eyes that he immediately regrets it.
“You really think that’s what we’ve been doing? Playing?” I ask feeling hurt.
“I think I wish you would let me look after you.”
“That’s not who I am, Orion.”
“I know.”
“Do you? I’ve been working hard this week to please you.”
“I know you have, but I worry. Just because I’m preparing you to defend yourself against death doesn’t mean I wouldn’t die for you.”
“And I would die for you.”
“Don’t say that.” He mutters looking down at me, eyes terrified.
“Why? You just said it to me.”
“Because you are beautiful and strong. You deserve to be cherished as you are, not hardened into something unrecognizable.”
“What? Are you worried I won’t be me anymore?” I ask, feeling an inch of understanding, only an inch though.
“No … I”
“What? Spit it out.” I demand, crossing my arms and waiting to hear his latest excuse.
“What if you don’t need me anymore?” He asks, looking up at me. I almost laugh, stifling a giggle between tightly pursed lips and choking a little on my own watery breath.
“Are you serious?” I ask, raising my eyebrows, feeling as though I’ve just been thoroughly tickled all over. “Orion, I’ve never needed you more! Can’t you see that?” I question him, putting both of my hands on his shoulders almost wanting to shake some reason into him. I catch a glimpse of our tails, almost touching, royal blue on pale aqua, beautiful both together and apart.
“No.”
“Well, what can I do to show you I need you?” I question him again, unrelenting, wanting him to realize how ridiculous he sounds, willing him to falter on his response so I can show him how little sense he is making.
“I … don’t know.” He sighs, shrugging. Instead of satisfaction, I feel empty, perhaps because I didn’t know if I had the answer to my own question.
“How about …” I inch upward and place my hand on the side of his face, curling my arm around the back of his neck and pull his lips to mine, adrenaline spiking in my veins and making me hungry … must be the full moon. I finish the kiss and we are both out of breath.
“That … helps.” He admits with a wry smile, the first I have seen grace his beautiful, statuesque features in longer than I want to admit. The bright royal blue scales around his eyes crease a little and the ice blue of his eyes are deliciously ignited with passion, making them shine out against the surrounding mask. I hadn’t realised I had missed his smile so much.
“Good.” I smile back at him. “So, what have we got planned for tonight?” I ask, wondering if there are any official events that will postpone the intimate hours that I so covet. He taps his nose with a cunning grin and leads me by the hand.
“It’s a surprise.” He admits. My insides, despite all that has happened in the month since we were last on land together, curl deliciously at the prospect of his hands on me.
SOLUSTUS
“Ready them.” Titus says this to me from across the room, not bothering to grace me with his eye contact. I am glad of it. I feel so utterly energized, wanting to get out there, start the fight and initiate the war.
“Yes, of course.” I respond acutely, sharply, like I do almost everything. I am about to disappear into the shadows to send the signal when I hear his hissing from over my shoulder once again.
“Solustus?” he slurs. I can tell he is high again, drunk of the power of the final hours he has had alone with the vents before he will go for the ultimate hit. The eternal fix: Raising the Necrimad.
“Yes … Sir?” I reply, wondering if he can really expect me to call him that.
“That’s better.” He hisses back after me. I hear the smile on his lips; he thinks he has me whipped. I turn and leave the room, letting him live out his vent-fuelled, delusional, psychopathic fantasy.
CALLIE
The dripping of the water from the cave ceiling onto the floor has a soothing effect on my ears as Orion and I surface into the entrance of the Lunar Sanctum. He holds me close to his chest as we both peer upward into the hole through which the moonlight slips into the dark space. We feel the change long before we see it in each other, a tingling over the body as the moon’s powers take us back to what we had been: human. I step up the stone steps and onto the cool floor. After the last month I am surprised and a little unnerved to see the legs that stem from my naked waist. Oh well, I think, at least my leg hair hasn’t grown back in since last month. I step, feeling a little shaky as unsurprisingly I find walking a little less than natural. Orion, also known in my head at this point as Adonis, steps out of the water behind me, his tanned skin and sculpted ass emitting a beautiful sheen as the water turns to droplets on his skin. Yum. He hands me a white silk robe from a shelf.
“We get robes this time? That’s a step up from towels.” I comment and he laughs.
“We got here earlier; it’s one of the perks.” He smiles, slipping a terry cloth robe over his own shoulders and fastening it. I do the same, the silk kissing my skin. He takes my hand and my pulse quickens, my legs feeling stronger now as he leads me up the narrow and twisted staircase and through the door into the foyer. The black marble floor glistens under the dull moonlight and the bottle green velvet runner that leads to the double sided staircase looks as grand as ever. The banisters glimmer a warm gold and I feel relaxed. The familiarity of this place after everything that has happened makes me feel a bit more like me as I remember Orion carrying me up the staircase in my purple dress before the night when we first made love. We walk together, hand in hand, up the staircase, the jade velvet soft on my naked feet and slowly journey toward our room. The enormity of the Sanctum is starling and I think back to Georgia and the other employees, wondering if they are left with the clean-up. I’m sure whoever it is gets paid to stay quiet about the comings and goings of the Sanctum’s inhabitants.
We open the door into our room and I step inside, the cream and white of the space reminding me of the heavenly light that had engulfed us as we explored one another with relish.
“Are you hungry?” He queries and I look up between my lashes as we stand facing each other at the end of the four-poster.
“Not for food” I lie, despite my growling stomach.
“How about if I order something to the room?” he suggests, sensing my impatience, I rub my thighs together suggestively.
“You mean they do that?” I ask surprised.
“Oh yes, we have plenty of staff here other than personal assistants.” I pull a face at the mention of Georgia but Orion rolls his eyes and continues, “And lots of people don’t want to leave their rooms during the only intimate time they get with their partner if you catch my drift.”
“So this place is a kind of glorified sex palace?”
“Huh?” He looks amused, a wry smile spreading and his eyebrow rising across his face.
“Never mind.” I say, laughing at his lack of understanding.
“Did you just co
mpare this Holy place with a sex palace, Callie?” He crosses his arms with faux disapproval.
“I would never do that. I am shocked at the suggestion!” I feign innocence.
“Well, what can the sex palace serve up Miss to satisfy her hunger?” He asks and I’m not sure if we are talking about food anymore.
“I could murder some chicken wings.” I say seriously. Mischievousness and amusement passes under the whites of his eyes.
“Chicken wings? Coming right up. I love that you love food, by the way.” He saunters over to the phone that hangs on the pristine wall, grinning, and I admire his calves that are coated in a thick spattering of dark mahogany hair. I walk over to him, closing the space between us, wrapping my arms around his waist and pressing my cheek into his terry cloth covered back.
“Yes, I’d like to a get a platter of chicken wings … yes southern fried … room 451. Thank you.” He hangs up the phone and turns to me, cupping my face, swooping down, pulling me into his broad chest. He crushes me against him as his tongue tickles my bottom lip in a playful, yet passionate, kiss. I pull him into me too and he moans a little.
“I missed this.” He admits and I nod in agreement.
“Me too.”
“You know I had an idea …”
“Have a lot of those do you?” I ask, mocking him gently as he stands with me in his arms.
“I do, but I want to run this one by you.”
“Okay …” I feel a little nervous.
“What do you say to us taking a little trip around the world once all this drama with the psirens is over?” His eyes darken and I can tell he is thinking about Starlet. I am surprised he is not more active about trying to find her, but I guess he figures she can look after herself and I need him here. If I ever had a question about who he would choose, I realize I already have my answer.
“The world? Can we do that?” I ask mulling over the word. It’s such a large one.
“Yes, I’d love to show you Europe. Anywhere you want to go.” He smiles a little, his eyes lightening, dancing with the possibilities.
“But we wouldn’t see much … I mean from the sea.” I feel a little confused.
“Well, not during most of the month, but we could choose what you really wanted to do and I will make it happen during the three nights we can go ashore.” He continues, “Plus, there’s more to see in the water than you think. Please Callie, we really deserve this.” I admit that he’s right internally as I nod.
“I’d love that.” I say. It doesn’t really matter I suppose, I’ll be long gone by the point in time that he is referring to.
“Good, we can leave for as long as you want. I want to show you so many places, Callie. You’ll love it, I promise.” I smile again into his chest and I hear a knock on the door.
“Damn, that was quick.” I comment and he nods.
“If this were a hotel it would be five star.” Orion’s face becomes serious as he opens the door and takes the large silver covered platter from whoever is responsible for the knock, I can’t see their face, only a suited pant leg around Orion’s outline. He closes the door quietly behind him and I instantly feel ravenous. The smell of crispy batter escapes from beneath the lid and my nostrils flare.
“Can we eat in bed?” I ask, feeling slightly cheeky, my face heats.
“Of course, princess.” he places the platter down on the white linen of the sheets and I launch myself up onto it. I pull the lid back and a mountain of golden brown chicken wings sit before me, steaming like a cartoon steak imagined by a starving bear. I lick my lips and pick up the first one I can reach as I lean back on the giant fluffy white pillows. I bite into it and moan.
“This is better than sex.” I comment and he looks incredulous.
“I’d like to disprove that theory.” He bites his lip and I melt, his mahogany locks tousled within an inch of perfection.
“Do you want one? Maybe then you can see for yourself.” I ask, pushing the platter towards him.
“No thanks, I can guarantee you I won’t think chicken wings are better than sex.” He walks around the bed and drops his robe to the floor, opening the wardrobe door. I stare a little too long, nearly dropping the wing I was previously devouring.
“I lied … I forgot about …” I can’t get my words out, admiring his naked body.
“Eat your wings, Callie. After all you claim they exceed my sexual skills.” He grins salaciously, like a Cheshire cat, his white straight teeth almost too bright.
“You don’t play fair.”
“I never claimed to.”
“You were a lot sweeter when we first met.” I faux pout, pretending to be upset as I take another bite into the crispy batter surrounding succulent white meat.
“You hadn’t had the opportunity to show off your smart mouth at that point.” He smiles.
“I admit, I was slightly shocked, you know finding out my crush was half fish.”
“Crush? You wound me!” He slips on a pair of silk pyjama bottoms, sliding them over his endowment slowly in order to distract me again.
“Well I didn’t think I was any more than a girl you scoured the beach for to randomly seduce … ah how times change.” I laugh a little.
“Yes, I’m sure you realised your mistake when you found out I had a tail all but three nights a month.” He sits on the bed beside me, pulling me closer; I am still engrossed in a wing, getting the provided barbecue sauce around my face like a small child.
“Yes, have to admit that one did sort of put a kink in my theory.” I retort as I lick my lips and he kisses the top of my head, my hair has dried in the humid heat, the springy curls have returned.
“Nothing wrong with a few kinks.” he says, playing with my hair and I laugh as he swizzles one around his little finger. “I missed these.” He comments, a sweet smile passing his lips.
“Get used to it, I prefer my hair straight.” I comment, munching away. I am now on my fifth wing.
“Good job the night you turned you had straight hair then.” Orion comments.
“Is that why?”
“Yes, you were preserved in that state, it’s how you stay.” He says and I absorb this information. I eat a few more wings and our naked feet play, moving around each other over the sheets.
“Finished?” Orion queries about ten minutes later, the hunger won out, we haven’t spoken, just sat in silence while I fill the gnawing emptiness inside my stomach.
“Yes.” I lick my lips and he removes the platter of bones, balancing them gracefully on the bedside table.
“I can’t believe you ate all that, there must have been at least thirty wings there.” He smirks.
“I thought you said you liked my love of food?” I remind him.
“I do … especially when I get to do this.” He leans in to kiss the side of my face, licking slightly. “Mmm, barbeque …” he laughs huskily and I flush crimson.
“You could have told me I had sauce there.”
“Ah but Callie, where would the fun be in that?” his eyes sparkle, their icy blue depths still stunning despite the lack of scales surrounding them. I shrug and it doesn’t seem to matter anymore. I go to answer and he puts his finger to my lips.
“Shhh. No more talking.” He demands in a dominating tone, I scowl. “Not a word, princess. I’m not wasting any more time talking. You’ve been using your smart mouth far too much lately; so let me introduce you to mine.” I relax into the mattress as he leans over the top of me, the moonlight drips in through the window covered in cream gossamer curtains leading to the balcony. He is on top of me and his mouth is dipping down to meet mine, slipping his tongue inside and with another hand artfully pulling my robe open. He looks at me with a joyous expression, one of longing and love all at once. He starts to kiss my breasts and I surrender to him under the moonlight, forgetting for a moment what is to come, and giving him all my pleasure.
Several blissfully long hours later, I lay in his arms, our naked bodies side by side. The moon is sti
ll high in its orbit so I can’t have been asleep for long.
“You’re awake.” Orion whispers in my ear. I feel his hard body at my back and I smile.
“You weren’t watching me sleep again, were you?”
“How can I not, it’s the most beautiful thing.”
“Sweet talker.” I accuse him, smiling to myself. I can’t wipe the happiness and content off my face.
“You’d think the things we just whispered would have you saying the opposite.” He smirks again, that wry smile gracing me with a private joke. It was true, the love making I had just experienced had not been as it was last time, there was no caution, and it was desperate, causing me to claw at the sheets, struggling to take what he was giving to me over and over. I turn over, wanting to face him, giving a chaste kiss along the line of his jaw, which is, as always, flawlessly smooth.
“I love you.” I say, I feel like it’s been an eternity since I said those words for the first time, so much has happened, especially within me. I have evolved into something unrecognizable from a month ago. I feel as though I have lived a hundred years and so I can only imagine how Orion feels. I am too warm so I rise from the bed, looking back over my shoulder in the silence. I walk forward, pulling the sheets from him, leaving him naked as I wrap them around myself.
“Callie?” He asks into the darkness, my silhouette eclipsing the moon. I step forward, my feet sinking into the plush carpet as I make my way over to the double, white French doors and open them. The air from the sea hits me in a rush of salty refreshment. I don’t reply to him, I just breathe. Standing under the moonlight. I hear the bed creak as I step out onto the white wrought iron balcony and then I feel him, his arms around my waist, and his chin on my shoulder.
“You okay, princess?” He whispers, kissing my ear.
“Don’t you ever wish you were human again?” I wonder aloud, looking out at the sparkling waters.
“I wish I could have you like this every day, but I don’t wish I was human again, no. I have a much more important job to do.” He answers. It’s the honourable response I was expecting.
The Kiss That Killed Me (The Tidal Kiss Trilogy Book 1) Page 43