Atlantis Vortex
Page 26
Jessica lost herself in his aquamarine eyes, those eyes that always meant she was safe. Her body had craved his for longer than she had allowed herself to admit and now the touch of him against her own sex was electrifying - making her dizzying. Her arms pulled him closer in her desire for him and the completion of what he had aroused in her. She felt the pressure and heard a voice she knew to be her own groan from discomfort, she pulled him closer and gloried in the tightness of his arms wrapped around her, his lips pressed against her face and throat. Sudden, intense pressure and pain seared through the mist of sexual arousal Xerxes had built inside her. But the time came, and in one sweet moment he took her quickly, holding her tightly almost so he too could share the pain/ecstasy of her lost virginity. Jessica’s cry was that of a lioness who had mated her first lion. She moaned and drew a ragged breath.
“Never again,â€� he promised and kissed her tears away. Slowly, gently, he began to move in a blissful rhythm. Jessica clung to him, the pain gone, and replaced with a pleasure she didn’t know was possible. Xerxes touch was gentle, his manner slow and calculated, propelling his innocent bride into a spinning world of heated ecstasy, encouraging Jessica to match his rhythm. She now knew her unremembered dreams had been of caressing Xerxes; rippling muscles. Minutes of heated ecstasy later, when he was positive Jessica had reached the top her swirling vortex, he followed her in his own momentous climax. Xerxes held Jessica in his arms, reluctant to let her go.
“I never knew.� Jessica said in awe, gazing into his handsome face after she regained her voice.
“I know.â€� Xerxes smiled softly. They slept entwined to awaken hours later cuddled in their lover’s embrace; a veil of euphoria covering them like gossamer.
Jessica woke before Xerxes and showered, blushing at the bold erotic memories that were awakened when she gazed on her sleeping husband’s perfect naked form. He reminded Jessica of the statues of Apollo she had seen in Greece.
She was watching the news when Xerxes joined her, Jessica didn’t see him so he stood silently and observed her. Jessica was engrossed watching a reporter interview her parents about her strange disappearance. She could not still the tears that silently rolled down her cheeks during the interview, and wiped them with the back of her hand but managed to control her sobs until it ended. Jessica drew a deep breath, held it a moment and stirred. She quickly wiped her eyes again and rose from the sofa, poured a cup of strong, black coffee and drank it.
Xerxes knew separation from her parents would be difficult but he had no idea how hard it would be for Jessica to deal with this problem. He waited a moment to make his presence known so as not to embarrass her.
“Good morning my love,� he said, giving her a kiss, ignoring her hidden tears as if he had not caught her.
“As you would have it,� she replied in a quiet voice.
“I thought I would take you to see more of our underwater world, it is quite vast.� Xerxes explained.
“As you will,� she said in a distracted way.
“Jessica, what is wrong with you? Did you leave your temper in bed?� He teased and half-coaxed and drew her into his strong arms.
“No, just…“ She turned away, how could she explain?
“What is wrong, tell me!� He stood before her, but she would not look at him, her head bowed. Xerxes loved her but he did not really know her. He knew she had a hot temper. That he had experienced. He knew she was highly passionate, that too he had experienced. Xerxes hoped her ability to love was as intense and deep and that she would come to feel that way for him but for now he did not understand how to reach the pain she was feeling. Xerxes now knew that anyone, who felt love, passion and anger as intense as she, would feel grief as intense.
“My parents,â€� she looked up at him, unshed tears glistened in her eyes. Tears he knew she didn’t want him to see. “I cannot allow them to believe I am dead, I am their only child, and it is cruel.â€� Jessica said boldly, her voice cracked just a bit at the end.
Xerxes remembered his own parents concern when he had been lost on his first encounter with the outer world. He had known this might be a problem, but he had hoped it would not be a major one. “Jessica, I cannot risk their lives by bringing them here. I cannot allow you to go to them at this time. Even my powers have limits. Would you condemn them to live here?�
“I do not have that right. But you made that choice for me.â€� Jessica’s voice was soft her eyes gazed into his.
“I made the choice of either you living here or having you executed.� His voice fell like a stone. “Those were my choices. I could not endure the thought of your death.� His hands were on her arms pulling her into his embrace as if that thought still haunted him. How could he tell her? How could he explain to her how deeply he felt? Someway he would get word to her parents. He would not let them suffer because he could not let her suffer. This was a problem he had not expected, but would solve. Jessica did not yet remember their first meeting and did not know how long he had cared for her.
“How can you expect me to…� her voice cracked with emotion, “to ah…when my family is in such pain.� She tried to push him away. “No, I cannot. Please!� Jessica turned away, her soul in torment.
Gently Xerxes turned her back to face him. His eyes searched her face, he memorized everything about her until he could not resist any longer and his lips covered hers. “I swear to you my wife, I will find a way,” Xerxes promised.
Jessica’s body screamed for him. He lifted her from the floor, and as in past times when he swept her feet from beneath her, she surrendered herself to him totally. Her head rested on his shoulder, his masculine scent filled her senses and her hand rest in the light blonde curls on his chest. As he carried her, Jessica shyly pressed her lips against those curls, her blood already heating in anticipation of their lovemaking. Her long hair flowed down over his naked shoulder like a curtain to slide down his arm when he laid her on their bed.
Jessica wanted him. Although she had sworn no man would ever control her, this man did. His eyes held some strange power over her, a power she didn’t understand. Jessica didn’t know, could not have known, to Xerxes she held the same power over him. She lay on the bed beneath him and he gazed down into her eyes, trapped. He would have exchanged his soul for her.
Slowly Xerxes eased his lips to kiss her and he gathered her precious body closer. With his embrace, she was again his. Jessica placed a resistant hand against his muscular shoulder, it seemed a mere token resistance and Xerxes removed her hand to kiss the palm. His look was intense and he began to nibble and kiss his way up her arm to her neck, his mouth covered hers. His tongue teased hers to leave her mouth hungry for more of his kisses, then to nibble, and tease his way to her breasts. Xerxes hand caressed over her flat stomach to comb his fingers through the red hairs of her mound. His hands caressed her body as though they applied a healing balm to her and eased her worried and distraught mind.
Jessica’s head grew light with the passion of his kisses. Her blood ignited when Xerxes intimately eased a knee between her legs, her body responding in rivers of desire ready to receive his throbbing rod. His eyes flowed with his love and desire for her.
Jessica’s body, as well as her mind, remembered the pleasure of the night before and she gladly surrendered as he took possession of her lips. Soon the only thing she knew was his touch and her arms pulled him closer, her hands caressed his muscular back. Reverently, she kissed the healing scar on his bicep, she yet marveled at the risk he had taken to save her life from the horrible death she had almost suffered at the hands of the Aztecs. Jessica no longer tried to restrict Xerxes explorations of her body, now she shyly explored his. She had found touching him as arousing as his touch was on her body. She kissed his chest, her hands caressing him and becoming bolder while roaming over his buttocks, and without cons
cious realization, touching his hardened staff. Gently, though her curiosity was great, she caressed Xerxes’ stiff rod and looked into his face, astonished at the flames of desire that burned hot in his cool aquamarine eyes.
Xerxes thrilled at her touch and with a great hunger for his new wife, drew her to him and kissed her, his hands tenderly caressing her newly opened womanhood. Now when he merged with her body, only heat and pleasure guided their joining, just as he had promised. Xerxes held his precious wife close and wondered if he could ever let her go, he had waited so long to have her. They dozed lazily for a while. Finally Xerxes rose to attend a scheduled Council meeting, one to which he was not looking forward.
“Stay in our chambers, Jessica,â€� he said to a dozing Jessica, who gathered his pillow close, “I won’t be long, and then we will take a tour of the outer city.â€�
“As you will, milord husband, I shall await you here.â€� She promised, falling back to sleep. He smiled at the way Jessica couched her words, making him feel like a ruler of old. Xerxes put a guard on his chambers to watch her, should she awaken and change her mind, Marcus’ treachery in the back of his mind.
Xerxes dreaded the meeting only because of Marcus. His other Councilors greeted him warmly, aware of his new wife and teased him good-naturedly about the glow that seemed to radiate from him. Xerxes laughed, a happy man. His Council all agreed they had made the correct choice by listening to their wise High Lord. His father and mother had done a fine job of parenting. Before Marcus arrived, late as expected, they were agreed. The artifacts were safe, all traces of the old entrance gone, and their security assured. Xerxes was finishing his story of Jessica’s journey to their World when Marcus entered the room. Xerxes called the meeting to order.
Xerxes was grateful the Council meeting was brief. He formally reported all artifacts recovered from Jessica’s dig and Atlantis was in no danger of exposure. Though it made him suspicious, Xerxes was grateful Marcus was quiet. He knew Marcus was brewing something, but had no way to know what. His agent’s information was sketchy on Marcus’ movements, and could only report his strange mood swings, and outbursts of laughter.
Ambassador Barrous had taken his leave of Atlantis just after the artifacts’ recovery and returned to Alpha-Centauri to escort Xerxes’ sister, Alena, home for her wedding on Saturday to Pericles. Word had come from Barrous that the wedding would have to be delayed a day due to a small problem on his home world. Alena and the Ambassador would arrive on Saturday evening instead of Friday and the wedding would take place on Sunday. It wasn’t a problem, except for Pericles who, as any bridegroom would be, was anxious to see his bride, Alena.
Pericles, an official member of the Council, though absent while at the dig site, stayed after the meeting was finished. “How is Jessica adjusting to Atlantis, Xerxes?”
“At first it was a little touchy, but after last night I think she will be fine.” Xerxes could not help but be in a good humor. He was in love and it appeared Jessica was with him.
“I have eyes,” Pericles smirked, “so how much has she remembered?”
“Almost everything, only the dive accident hasn’t seemed to have returned to her yet. I think it will soon.” Xerxes’ face grew a little somber. “I have one problem.”
“That is?” Pericles queried.
“Her parents, she wants to let them know she is okay.”
“I told you that might be a problem. Not unsolvable though.” Pericles added.
“I know, I will find a solution too, for now I want to get back, I don’t want her wondering around alone with Marcus loose. She gave me a terrible scare yesterday.”
“Yes, I heard about that, I am sure that was a little…ah nerve-racking,” Pericles laughed, “You best get used to it, she isn’t one who accounts for every move she makes.”
“As you have warned me, Pericles,” Xerxes laughed a short cynical laugh. “See you later.â€� Xerxes and Pericles went to their own duties.
Chapter Eighteen
Xerxes knew he had to find a solution to his wife’s problem. To his astonishment, he found what caused her pain caused him pain. From his office, he called his brother, Ainu, who governed Pacifica, the City in the Pacific Ocean equivalent to his own. He explained his problem to his younger sibling, hoping he might have a solution. Xerxes explained to Ainu that Jessica’s parents were in his sphere of influence on holiday sailing. As always, Ainu with a flare for the inventive and with a laugh came up with a solution in a quick fashion.
“First of all, Xerxes,” Ainu told him in a plain voice, “allow her to call them. I am sure that will help. Wouldn’t you be anxious if it were your daughter missing at sea? Seems like I remember you getting lost in the upper-world once and Mom was frantic…” Ainu laughed. “I’ll arrange an untraceable link, it will need to be a very short conversation but that should ease their fears of her being dead. Warn her not to tell them too much, she can say she is on a government assignment. They will expect that,” Ainu shrugged, “but they will know she is alive and well.â€�
“Those were my thoughts, too.â€� Xerxes agreed, “But it will only be a very temporary solution. She will want to see them, soon, and Jessica is the type to find her own solutions.”
“I will have some of my island operative’s kidnap them, but they won’t know they’ve been kidnapped.â€� Ainu laughed in a sly fashion. “When they go for a sail, I’ll arrange to have them stranded on the island were you and I took our training when we were boys, remember?â€�
“Yes I remember the island well. It’s beautiful, and deserted, a good place to maroon two people for a short period of time.â€�
“After Pericles and Alena’s wedding, bring your wife to visit her parents there. No one will be the wiser. It will not violate any of our laws and it will satisfy your dilemma, an easy solution. Jessica doesn’t need to tell her parents who you are, but if you want to let her, so be it. They could tell the President of the United States himself and no one would believe them, and if they did believe them, they could not prove it or find Atlantis if they wanted to.â€�
“A perfect solution. Thank you, brother, I knew I could count on you. Now will you be at Pericles and Alena’s wedding since it has been delayed?â€�
“Yes, but I didn’t know it had been delayed?â€� Ainu questioned.
“Yeah, it will be on Sunday, instead of Saturday, Barrous had some type of delay in leaving Alpha-Centauri. Really the only problem is for Pericles,â€� they both laughed. “I would like to keep the meeting with Jessica’s parents as a surprise for her, so don’t let on about our plan,â€� Xerxes asked of his younger brother.
“Do you think that is wise? From what you have told me about her, it might be best to tell her,” Ainu questioned.
“It will be my wedding gift to her.� Xerxes smiled and Ainu could not argue with his older and a bit more romantic brother.
Going back to their private apartment, Xerxes found his lovely wife surrounded by several stacks of ancient scrolls. She was sitting on the thick carpeting crossed-legged studying one of the papyruses so intently she didn’t hear him enter. He quietly watched in amazed silence. She was obviously translating between the two different ancient languages of Greek and Egyptian - one of the scrolls written by Cleopatra herself. He hoped she would adjust and come to be happy here. There was so much for her to learn and he could show her archaeological sights that would astound her.
“What have you learned?� he asked by way of announcing his presence, happy to see matters distracting her other than her concern over her parents. “Did Cleopatra really write this?� Jessica asked, intrigued as she reverently touched the ancient papyrus.
“Yes.� Xerxes moved to sit behind her on the couch, a leg on either side of her so that she sat on the floor between his knees.
“Oh, are all theseâ€� She waved her hand around, “Real?â�
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“They are. The ones smudged, my ancestors rescued from the library fire at Alexandria caused by Julius Caesar. Our ancestors developed a process to preserve the scrolls or you would not be able to handle them. I’m glad to see you have found something to interest you.â€�
Her face clouded, she looked away, “Is this the only underworld, ah what…City?�
“City-State would be closest, and No, Atlantis isn’t the only one.â€� Xerxes explained.
“How many others,� Jessica asked, slightly distracted as she looked over another scroll.
Xerxes looked at her. He knew her entire life history. He had run security checks on her and she was trustworthy. Her character was impeccable, and now she was most certainly his wife. He was sure he was in love with her. Nevertheless, he knew they had other problems. Could he trust her?
“Many,� he answered. Then to distract her he began to tell her of the wedding. “There is a social event to which you were invited while you were still in Florida.�
Jessica looked at him curiously, “Captain Curtis’ wedding?â€�
“Captain Curtis as I explained is an Atlantian. He is marrying my sister. The wedding, as you know, was to have been on the day you call Saturday. Because of a delay in Ambassador Barrous’ bringing her home, it will be on Sunday. We, of course, will attend. Several gowns have been selected for you to choose from.â€�