by Marcy Lynn
“Have I complimented your dress today?” He drawled instead.
The comment baffled her. She tilted her head sending her wet locks to shift over her shoulder and back. As she spoke her eyes drifted down.
“It’s just a -oh!” The dress heavy with water actually did act like a second skin. The light color of the fabric see through now. The perch of her breasts were highly visible.
“Stop that!” She squeaked ripping her hand from his helping her up to cross her arms over her chest.
“Kissing. I agreed to kissing.” She warned.
“Looking is not against the rules.” He said swaggering away.
“Come on, there’s some rocks we can lay on to dry off. Won’t take long. You can pretend to be a siren luring ships to their doom!”
She scowled at his back, following him down the white sandy beach. The flat rocks were warm when they climbed up them. She noticed random shells and also clusters that reminded her of the Fae. Did Sprites or Fairies live on the Island as well? A Dragon, magic casters and a dark Entity. She’d seen more magic dwellers here than she ever did growing up in NewLlyn or Sweetlace! What an extraordinary place!
She lay back once he did bending his arm over his eyes. The sun blanketing its beams down on them; the breeze light, it all made for a cozy feeling. The air had returned to normal in her lungs, even content breaths came now.
“Better?” He murmured.
She closed her eyes, enjoying the sun’s warmth. “Much.”
Neither talked as they lay on the rock. The silence almost too much for her knowing that soon she’d have to fill her debt to him. Her heart increased in beat when feeling a brush to her arm. It hadn’t been him though. A small crab crawled beside her, touching her with its claw as it explored.
“This is our rock friend.” She said pushing it off. Elanor watched it plunk into the water, scattering dozens of the yellow fish to shoot off in different directions. She leaned towards the water to watch them.
“Yes, I do believe that is my new favorite dress.” She glanced over her shoulder. Derek had propped up on his elbows, regarding her back with a lazy grin. Her gaze dropped to the curve of her bottom. Though the rock held warmth, it didn’t have the power of the breeze to dry quickly.
“Stop staring at all my lady parts!” She slapped his leg, turning towards him to hide her back side now. Her front dry enough that it didn’t feel as scandalizing for him to stare. His gray eyes roamed freely still though, making her feel as though she were naked before him.
“Why not? You have lovely lady parts.” His smile as intimate as a kiss. Elanor’s breath caught, sure this would be when he’d take his payment for the shackle being off and the stake attached to it. But he only gave her another lazy smile then lay back against the rock.
She frowned. “Are you trying to drag out your victory?” Elanor didn’t like it when he did that, her tone indicating if he were he’d better resolve it soon.
“The agreement was… you would kiss me.” He said. Now she understood. He was waiting for her. But now that she knew that, Elanor felt shy and fought nerves. She tried to work up the courage to do so, but every time she prepared to lean over him, her heart started to race. She couldn’t do it.
Lifting up onto her feet, she got off the rock walking on the sand while trying to sooth herself. A gentle brushing to her fingers slowed her pace. He’d followed her off the rock which she already knew would happen. She’d just needed some time to put it all in perspective. His fingers traced a line up her arm to touch the curve of her face. Lowering to his knees, his gray eyes never left hers as he drew her down to join him. They knelt together in the sand, her inner courage being brought out by his gentle touching. Her chin tilted to brush her lips softly over his. The warmth of his arms encased Elanor in strength and encouragement. She allowed herself to melt against him. He purposely didn’t respond, making her take the lead in the kissing.
She couldn’t take his inactivity though. It prompted her to move her hands from his jaw, smoothing around to the back of his head to lace fingers in his golden brown hair. Finger nails dragged gently as her lips worked a little more daringly over his. Furthering the kiss by parting her lips slightly. Her tongue teased the line of his lower lip, tasting, prompting, encouraging.
“Ela.” He breathed against her mouth. His lips became now urgent against hers, fierce in their possessive claim. She felt his fingers on her back, demanding for her to be nearer. Her soft curves melted perfectly to his unyielding muscles. His hands moved over her shoulders, pushing her back onto the sand. She lay beneath him, adjusting so that he fit comfortable for them both. In her head, Elanor knew they were fast approaching the line of no return.
“Kiss, the deal was a kiss.” She managed to say against his mouth. He turned his head to nuzzle her neck, brushing his lips against the tender skin there causing spirals of pleasure.
“Does it matter?” His voice like pure silk.
“Yes.” She forced out.
“Give me a moment longer, my darling, it won‘t.”
Elanor groaned in protest, though her efforts to push him off were weak. Her body betrayed what her mind told her would be hard to come back from. But her body tempted by the setting and his all too familiar passion. She couldn’t get enough of his touch. It was maddening.
Derek moved from her neck, to the valley of her breasts, taking care to nuzzle each. When she didn’t speak, he lifted his head to grasp a hard nipple with his lips through the material of her dress. Gasping, she instinctively arched against his mouth. “Derek…” She moaned. His hand hooked beneath her dress, drawing up her thigh as his lips came back to meet hers.
His touch grew more intense, rougher, more demanding. The dormant desire had been awaken. The part of her that remembered how it felt to be in his arms. To long and ache for him. It shocked and thrilled her how easily the barrier of keeping her head about this had been broken through. Goddess help her, she dangerously was falling into the spell he’d weaved on her. All she had to do was shift, to lay back and he would put out the flame smoldering deep inside her body. But if she relented now, if she gave into that need- she’d never convince him that she had to go north. No matter what she wanted, it wouldn’t be right for her to stay here. She would be betraying her family and everything they’d gone through.
How could she do that to them again and live with herself?
“Wait.” She managed to croak. He lifted his head, gray eyes sharp in color and intensity.
“Elanor.” He brushed her hair from her face. “There isn’t any reason at all that we shouldn’t. We’re meant for each other. I know you still feel that way too. You’re fighting the wrong battle.”
She choked up. Hot tears surprisingly stung her eyes. “I can’t. Why can’t you understand I can’t?”
A flash of wild disappointment dominated his features as he pulled away from her.
She sat up, hugging her legs to her and rubbing her moonstone pendant with the chain dangling.
“Whatever is holding you back, you need to stop letting it hold you back from being happy.” He said with obvious restraint. “Because I was there with you. Constance and your Grandmother were there with you too. None of us knew and we’re not to blame for not being there to help-”
“I asked them! I asked them to do those things. I asked you as well! I shouldn’t have been so impulsive and rushed our union. I could have waited for the marriage under the King’s law. I could have! Five of us together might-”
“Five inexperienced magic casters? You were just starting to learn spells that normal casters know. And they were silly candle lighting and kitchen magic spells because everyone was afraid the five of you would be discovered as witches. Do you even see what fear has done to you?” His earnest and reason started to chip at her blame for herself but he didn’t account for what they were truly. The five fold generation. Five sisters with elemental power. But not like the generations before them.
“You know we are di
fferent. And all together, with my Mother’s help…”
Derek’s frustration felt physical. He threw down his hand at nothing and turned his back towards her. “Just because past elemental casters did worldly things doesn’t mean your generation will or could. Just look what happened with the dragon. You didn’t abandon you family or throw them to the hunter. Why can’t you see that? Why must you take it all onto yourself?”
He didn’t understand that she’d been the sole reason all of them hadn’t been there that night. She’d caused the chain reaction. There would have been two carriages and five of them to face this man who had stopped her family on the road. Elanor had played in her head so many times what she would have done. What she would have said. How different the outcome would have been, if she’d only been there. When she didn’t answer him, Derek left her on the beach resting her head to her knees. She couldn’t afford for it to come to this again. Her heart wouldn’t be able to take it the constant battle between it and her mind for much longer.
Chapter nineteen
“I don’t care who is around. We will talk about this.”
When they’d returned from their ruined tryst on the beach; Elanor and Derek had stumbled onto an argument between Caspin and Leelah. Bad feelings seemed to be in the air.
“What was said exactly?” Caspin demanded from Leelah.
“He said he was sent to find a black whore with a white child,” Leelah ground out. She gave a darting glance to Elanor clearly not happy to speak about this in front of her. “That the child had been stolen from him.”
“He wants Breeze now? After all this time, he’s claiming her?” Caspin asked.
“Do you think a blaggard like him would be claiming her?” Leelah asked but clearly knew the men knew the answer already.
Elanor’s gaze shifted from the arguing couple to the children playing with the dogs nearby. She didn’t know who ’he’ was but she’d never seen Caspin raise his voice before and it told her something about this conversation. She didn’t want to be lingering near herself with such a private exchange. The emotional carnage of the exchange she’d just had with Derek fresh in her own mind. The ball and chain not attached yet her; tactful steps away from them went unnoticed.
“When did you see him?”
“Two days ago.”
“That’s why you haven’t gone to market in two days.” Caspin said. That caught her attention making her stop mid-step. There was a market on this island? Derek saw her now after she’d made the sudden stop.
“If you don’t mind?” He said to Caspin.
“Stuff it. This is my wife’s safety.”
“Breeze and I are legally free. He can’t-” Leelah glanced to Elanor embarrassed. Elanor gave a polite smile to the other woman, then to Caspin as she passed. She felt comfortable now around Caspin and would love to call him friend but she wasn’t sure he’d felt the same. It wasn’t a conversation for her to be around unless invited to. Her mind did venture to the possibility of Derek being caught up in the conversation and what that could mean with her foot free.
“Where are you going?” He asked her as though reading her mind.
“To play with the children and dogs.” She replied indicating he was insensitive with her tone.
King had spotted her, lumbering over to greet. He looked hot to her and without thinking she turned to the children.
“Want to take the dogs down to the beach? They look like they could use a cool down.” They agreed cheerfully, excited, dancing around her with child enthusiasm. One of the strongest beliefs of casters was that everyone raised the children. Helping out parents like this wouldn’t have been thought twice of. However, two things came to her at once. With the children she’d never leave them on the beach alone to run. And she’d just assumed she could take them to the beach. Sheepishly Elanor glanced at both Leelah and Caspin.
“That’s an excellent idea.” Leelah said.
“I don’t think so.”
She turned to give Derek a dirty look, speaking low. “Honestly, Derek. They don’t need to listen to this.”
Caspin spoke up instead. “Thank you, Elanor.” She nodded to him, heading for the pathway.
“I said no.” Clearly he was still upset with her.
“I’ll go with them, Captain.” Elanor turned in surprise to the new voice. Steppe was coming from the direction of the village. She realized then she hadn’t seen him since they’d gotten on the island. A genuine smile to him.
“Greetings, Steppe! I haven’t seen you forever. Where have you been hiding?”
Derek gave him a warning glance and Steppe rethought his answer. “I’ve been around, Miss.”
“Well I’m glad to see you. You don’t mind coming along with me and the children to the beach?” She made it clear that it was a choice this time, he would not to be her babysitter.
He glanced between her and Derek, rubbing his forearm.
“Sure Miss, I don’t mind.”
“Good, come along then. The dogs look like they are ready to drop from the heat.” She saw from the corner of her eye Derek making to protest again, but this time Caspin spoke up.
“Remember what I said, Mate.”
Elanor passed him with a curious spark from that. It seemed to do the trick because he didn’t say anything else.
Breeze and Rowin ran ahead with the dogs, Steppe not far behind them. “I promise I won’t ask Steppe about you know what that isn’t over you know where.” She said cupping her hand with a loud whisper, pointing beyond the village. Elanor couldn’t resist the barb. Derek gave a gruff noise before winding his arm back to give her bottom a good smack. She hopped a little from it, letting out a protest squeak.
“Don’t go in the water.” He said. She started to tell him not to tell her what to do then felt the blush creep up. She wouldn’t have fancied her dress acting like a second skin again in front of Steppe.
He won that verbal spar.
“Now, talk.” Caspin said to his wife.
“Don’t take that tone with me.” Leelah said.
“Woman, don’t test me.”
“Hypocrite.” Elanor heard Derek mutter at Caspin as she disappeared down the path after the rest of them.
***
The fire crackled in the night. Each form shadowed and highlighted by its dancing flames. Elanor sat listening to Zo tell a story in a language she didn’t understand but had everyone around her engrossed by his words. She couldn’t help but feel the same way even though the words were foreign to her. His tone and body language haunting and beautiful.
Derek had explained to her why Zo didn’t speak English, where everyone else did on the island. Zo had felt strongly in keeping his spiritual freedom, he refused to learn to speak the English language. His many so called owners had all considered Zo slow and old; never making the effort to force him.
Even though she didn’t understand what the elder man said, she too found herself watching his motions, anticipated changes in his tone and feeling as though she were caught up in the story. When he finished, he made a motion as though tossing something into the fire and it spiked into the sky in a burst of light. Embers of flame floated down after the burst of light.
Everyone cheered. Elanor sat forward stunned. Zo had never hid that he knew magic. And what he’d just done wasn’t a trick. The energy directed within the fire had been easily detected. She’d felt the energy pulse before the fire had been fueled to grow. No one seemed to be afraid or entirely too bothered by it. Perplexed Elanor looked around at the happy and exited crowd.
“What did you think of that?” Derek’s voice buzzed in her ear.
“What kind of magic does he practice?” She asked.
“Voodoo. Bunch of magic dust and evil spirits.” Derek grinned. Elanor watched the fire play over his face; he seemed so proud and excited to finally let the secret out. He’d never really been surprised by much. She shared the excitement of all the people sitting by the fire unafraid with magic being used. Differ
ent types of casters all living among seekers on the Island. She’d never really stopped to consider they weren’t trying to hurt one another until tonight when she witness magic used openly.
She did take pause at the mention of dark sources. Elanor wasn’t exactly against the use of dark magic but never would use it herself. There were many reasons for the balance of light and dark.
“Evil spirits? Is that what his story was about?” She could believe that Zo knew much about evil spirits; since the man had trapped an Ent in a rat. She hadn’t felt it’s presence since seeing it before but kept a look out for it. They were often used to hex or fight against enemies of the conjurer.
“No, he was telling about a god and his three wives. Lucky fellow, that.” A flicker of a teasing grin played at the corners of Derek’s mouth. She stopped herself from jabbing his side and telling him not to get any ideas. It would have been the reaction he’d gained years ago. What did it matter if he took many wives to her?
“I wish I could understand his words. It seemed like a good story.”
“The old bloke does know how to spin a good tale.”
“How did you meet him?”
“He came from Caspin’s family plantation, he threaten to set evil spirits on the foreman all the time through other slaves. Caspin’s Father got tired of the trouble and sold him to Caspin.”
Elanor glanced to the man they spoke about; she had been drawn to him naturally when first arriving here and found herself doing daily chores with him whenever she could.
She looked back to Derek.
“He’s talked about the magic and evil spirits to you? Do all the casters speak so… openly here?” She’d never known any type of magic users to not be secretive about their abilities and beliefs. Too many had been murdered for it. Once the leaders of seekers had discovered that they could possibly reach the stars; the Earth didn’t seem big enough to them. They wanted more than moon beams and star light. They wanted whole planets to take for their own. Thus began the division of the world. You either looked to the ‘heavens’ or you perished.