Arax lifted his hand and the tidal wave that formed by the motion was over a hundred feet high. Meadow sucked in her breath. The phenomenon stood still, awaiting command. Arax released her and she moved forward to dip her hand into the wall.
She smiled. “It’s warm.”
“Did you expect freezing?”
“I guess, because it’s so dangerous.”
“There is nothing dangerous about this wave. I control the water. Trust me.”
When she gazed at him she saw earnestness. He was his normal self, not in warrior form. Open for scrutiny. He was large and broad and different, but not ugly. He was asking her to trust him. He was water, or at least part of it. She knew his preference must be the water.
Meadow pondered his words. She didn’t hate water. Every day for years she viewed it as the enemy, surrounding her, trapping her. Putrid death. A silly thought. Would she hate air when she breathed it or fire when it kept her warm? Water was a necessity. Without water she would die. But while in water she almost died—this was one area where she would need to learn control of her emotions.
She gazed over the sight before her as Arax settled the tidal wave. Smaller, innocuous waves lapped the sand. It had been an eternity since Meadow heard the beauty of an ocean caressing a shoreline with crystal clear waves. The smell in the air was sunshine. She could see under the water before her; fish in a multitude of color swam in a world filled with life. Everything an open book, and there was no awaiting evil, no stench of the dying world that Earth had become. To breathe easy again was yet another gift Arax had given her by saving her. Another thought to consider while her emotions were in turmoil.
Arax didn’t realize how much he asked of her—or perhaps he did.
“You saved Neola, you saved me. I guess I did hate water. How did you know?”
“I was in similar water you floated on every day, but granted, mine is clean and clear. I don’t have to open a portal to simply see into your world. I think humans would call what I do television, a place to see while not actually stepping into. You may have hated it, the seas, but I mourn for what it has become. There is anger on Earth. The water is angry, as it should be. The oceans aren’t happy they rule the world. How do you rule death?”
His words made her sad. “I didn’t know water could feel.”
“It can. It watched your little boat flounder. It gazed at the only life it could see. The oceans hungered for a glimpse of you, of life, trying to keep your vessel safe, but soon it was too late and too cold. There was nowhere you could be guided to. It watched as every day it was fed death covered in sheets, leaving a foul taste. When you entered the water it felt your fear, it savored your terror, not because it wanted your demise, but because your flavor was emotion. Finally, an emotion. Once it played with humans. The water couldn’t help the coldness seeping into you, it had no control. At one time humans breathed water, you were one with it. Can you imagine how lonely water is now? Yours was the last ship. Yours was the last source of life. Now what will your water do? Who will it look at and watch over? There is empty, and then there is soul-numbing aloneness. That is the legacy of Earth’s water.”
“I didn’t know.”
Arax held out his hand. “Come. Feel what water really is. Remember a time when your ancestors floated safe and warm in water’s embrace.”
With a new understanding Meadow took his hand. Together they walked up to their knees, then waist, then shoulders in the ocean. Meadow closed her eyes. The water lapped at her. She trailed her fingers over the surface. Wet, warm. Healthy. Small fish swam to greet her. When Arax turned her to his chest she gazed up at him. With a smile he pulled her to him and took off so fast she gasped and stifled a scream.
Down they went into a new world of vibrant colors—greens, yellows, reds. The sun shone on so many kinds of different beings it created a light show for the eyes. Dolphins swam to greet them. Meadow pulled in a huge breath then pushed away from Arax to touch the creatures. Whales, her thoughts squealed. Jellyfish and stingrays! Arax pulled her back to him when she exhaled, her bubbles haloing her head, then released her after she took a breath. For the first time in her life Meadow wished she had gills.
Warmth filled her empty chest, expanding her emotions to an exhilarating proportion. There was no death here, only happiness. She would live here if she mated with Arax. This was where Neola would grow up. Never again would Meadow feel sorry for the baby. She was no longer sad for the woman Neola had once been. If she welcomed her as a daughter, Neola’s world would be beauty. How wonderful for a person who suffered so much to be reborn.
Arax again pulled her close and sliced through the water, leaving the creatures far behind. Arax took them to a cave deep underwater. She was suddenly sightless.
“My oceans have treasures within caves,” he whispered.
He jumped up to land them on a ledge. When her feet hit the cave floor she was breathless. Her chest heaved in her excitement.
“So much beauty after so much darkness,” Meadow gasped. “Oh, how I wish I was like you and could swim all day.”
“Be my mate,” Arax said. His tone was almost a command, but she could tell his intensity was that of a warrior who took what he wanted. “I will take you out anytime you want to go.”
She could only nod, her insides a whirlwind of emotion. A baby, a new world, why not a new mate? After years of having no one and nothing why would she refuse to live again? The sights she saw reminded her at one time she did know beauty. Thrust into a sea of life she wanted more. The promise of daily living was a bauble too enticing dangled before her.
Arax gripped her to his chest. He remained in his natural form, but his eyes were demanding. Commanding. A warrior’s eyes.
“Water is my favorite place to be,” he said.
Her eyes widened as he gazed beyond her, there was no mistaking his unspoken question. She understood his meaning. If she were his, she must accept he was a water warrior. Did she still fear the element? Would she change her mind?
His look dared her to resist, to show fear after all she had seen, but Meadow felt curious. He was right, she had no fear. This wasn’t the brackish pollutant she was used to. This wasn’t the dead, miserable sight she’d witnessed day after day. Arax’s gaze was intense, his breathing ragged. His broad shoulders towered over her as she stood before him.
Having a massive warrior as a mate might not be such a bad thing. Arax trailed a finger from under her jaw down the side of her neck. His touch gave her goosebumps.
“I spend half my life in water. You should know all of me, all of what and who I am.”
His tone gentle and his body warm, Arax leaned down and gripped her shoulders as he nuzzled her neck. His erect cock rubbed the side of her hip. He was built big. When he gently bit her throat Meadow was surprised. She’d never had sex in the water, in gorgeous, clear, clean liquid. What could be the big deal?
She screamed when he pulled her roughly to his chest and he flipped their bodies backward. The sound of the splash was earth-shattering. Meadow stopped struggling and lay quietly in his arms as bubbles haloed her face. Her expelled breath bubbles whooshed to the surface.
They sank swiftly with Arax on top of her and settled on the soft bottom of the ocean floor within the cave. Meadow could breathe when she remembered to. For a second she tried to speak, but to her ears the words were garbled. When he said to trust him she had no idea how much. Everything, every action, was controlled by him.
He peeled her shirt from her, trapping her raised hands in the fabric. He buried his face within her breasts, and soon his roaming lips latched to a nipple. It had been so long since a man sucked her flesh. She wiggled, but he held her easily, moving lower to remove her short pants. The females she had seen wore nothing to cover their breasts, but Meadow wasn’t that bold in public. She pulled her hands loose and placed them on his shoulders.
For a moment he floated before her. An array of bubbles settled enough for her to gaze at his engorged c
ock. He waited. They were both naked, her hair haloed her head. The choice was hers. She could see once she gave permission he would take her as he pleased. Choose life. She nodded, there were no words she could say.
He pulled her against him, creating an astounding amount of bubbles. She knew why; she would need more air. When Arax thrust up between her legs Meadow gasped and sucked in a deep breath. She was weightless in the water, which made Arax seem even stronger. It took her a moment to realize that when Arax said he’d take her in the water he meant under the water until finished.
Arax moved so swiftly against her Meadow could hardly breathe. The bubbles he produced to keep her alive swirled around her face and neck, lightly bouncing off her skin. His cock filled her, staying ramrod straight and hard. His pumping, grinding motion slid her ass against the floor. They remained on the bottom of the ocean in the shallow cove deemed safe by Arax. The current flowed through the gills on either side of his face, barely visible. He was powerful and brutal.
His large arms wrapped tightly around her. His actions were wild and uninhibited. The soft sand under her ass and back was a pleasant friction. She lifted her legs to wrap around his waist. He was in his normal form, not his morphed warrior size. They weren’t deep enough to warrant his eyes gray film to appear and cloud his beautiful stare. He was watching her reaction.
Being underwater they were exposed to predators, but Arax seemed oblivious to anything but her. She was in her mate’s other world. I went from death’s door to having a mate and a daughter.
Underwater was a world within a world with exciting beings. Meadow wanted to explore everything, but right now she concentrated on her next breath, on his hands and lips. On land Arax became part of the land, it was the same for him within the ocean. His penetration was deeper, more demanding, animalistic. If she were to remain with him, she needed to understand all parts of him.
Brutality and beauty were breathtaking. The cove was surrounded by high walls of coral. Light permeated the pool, giving her amazing glimpses. There wasn’t a dangerous fish to be seen, though she sensed none would dare approach. But she looked her fill at the smaller fish, brilliant yellows and blues that darted about with abandon. The coral surrounding them held treasures darting within holes. The strange sound of the water filled her ears. Arax continued his wild ride, his stamina ceased to amaze her when wrapped in power.
The slight current rocked them back and forth as gently as Arax thrust brutally. Meadow’s hair bathed their faces. She lifted her hand to cup the back of his neck. Her nipples hardened with the cooler water flowing into the cove on waves. Arax arched her back with his hand wrapped in her hair. He latched onto a nipple and sucked hard. Meadow reached up and braced herself on a rock, her hand trying to grip the smooth surface of the stone. Her mouth opened wide, trying to suck in air bubbles.
Their surroundings were as beautiful as her release when she came. Arax tossed back his head and bellowed. Oddly enough the sound wasn’t distorted by the water. A small school of teeny fish that had gathered scattered.
As Arax slowed he pressed her cheek against his chest in a loving gesture. Meadow released the rock and wrapped her arms around his back. Remaining buried within her, Arax moved them deeper into the cove to lay under a rock shelf. She sighed, wanting to stay where they were forever with the feel of him surrounding her in the warmer pleasant water, but the idea was impossible.
It became apparent after a few moments Arax had fallen asleep. Meadow began to panic; if he stopped breathing air bubbles, she would drown. She couldn’t sleep in water for hours. She tried to pull from his arms, but Arax moved within her again. With his breath Arax created a multitude of air bubbles in the little cubby. The bubbles popped close to her mouth and nose.
“Sleep, little mate.”
Meadow jumped when she heard him, and he chuckled.
“Can you hear me?” she whispered into his chest.
“Yes. Have you forgotten we spoke before when I first found you?”
“I thought I was dreaming.”
“You are the dream. Now sleep. When I take you home you will be presented before the council and I will claim my family. I’ve caused a lot of trouble in the past. The council will be pleased to learn I’ve grown up. My responsibility is clear. Soon I’ll have to release the shark people back into our realm. The fighting needs to stop. We can’t have war among us.”
Meadow didn’t know what to think. Shark people? Were the sharks that killed the people on High Tide, the same as those who came after her, his people?
“Those sharks in the water on Earth, they came from here, didn’t they?” Meadow shuddered and couldn’t stop a small tremor.
“The water senses your fear.”
Meadow stilled again. Tattletale water. Great. She heard Arax chuckle again.
“Can the water sense all of my feelings?”
“Yes. And it’s pleased you are no longer afraid to be submerged. Sleep, little mate.”
The water warmed a small amount. The heat was pleasing. “Arax, does your water control the elements?”
“It does with my help.”
“At the risk of sounding ten years old, that’s pretty cool.”
“At the risk of sounding ten years old, I agree.”
Chapter 6
Meadow soon learned shark people were not Arax’s to control. Crash, a flippant being, appeared in council one day after being summoned. By summoned, meaning Arax had him dragged in snarling and fighting. After meeting the council days earlier Meadow had relaxed. The older males and females welcomed her warmly when Arax took responsibility for her and Neola. In fact, she thought they gave a collective sound of relief when he approached them holding the babe and had an arm wrapped possessively around Meadow. When Arax announced his intention of mending ties with the sharks they sat up taller and whispered among themselves. Meadow thought she sensed an undercurrent of approval.
The council hung back in seats behind Arax and remained quiet as Crash stood scowling. This was obviously Arax’s show. Meadow sat on a soft blanket on the floor playing with Neola as she often came to council meetings. Arax liked having his family close and Meadow liked having Arax closer. True to his word he played the doting father, and though he fumbled at times with the right words to say, he was always around when she needed him. Crash gazed at her with surprise. Meadow was equally surprised. He was as large as Arax, handsome, and may as well have been dipped in attitude.
“I see you found your way out of the portal,” Arax said. “Interesting considering I didn’t release you. Do I have a spy in my midst?”
“Bite me.”
Arax wrinkled his nose. “I don’t like junk food.”
“What the hell do you want?” Crash demanded.
“A truce,” Arax said.
“So you just snap your fingers and we have a truce?”
“No. Anger runs deep. I’ll take blame for most, but not all.”
Crash appeared surprised. “Why now?”
Arax waved his hand toward Meadow and the baby. “I have a family. Yes, I know what you’re thinking...the great Arax has a family so we all have to be lovey-dovey.”
“Well, I wasn’t thinking the ‘great’ part.”
Meadow snickered, placing a quick hand to her mouth. Crash cast her an amused glance. She was, after all, still learning about Arax. At times he was difficult. Prone to arrogance. But he was the most loving father she had ever seen. Meadow lifted Neola into her arms. She walked over to Arax and handed him the baby. Neola was delighted. Crash gaped openly.
“I’m Meadow,” she said, holding out a hand.
“A human custom I will forgo,” Crash said, and she let her hand fall to her side. She remained still when he traced her cheek to jaw with his fingertip. He did the same with Neola. Arax looked pleased.
“You see?” Arax said. “They are mine. Our people on both sides have family. It’s time to stop fighting among ourselves when we know of the Angano. I’ve heard rumors another t
hreat walks among us.”
Crash grimaced. “Dacquel.”
Arax nodded. “We may need each other to disband his army.”
“There are only a few of them.”
“A few is all he needs.”
“I will agree to a temporary truce until Dacquel is taken care of,” Crash said. “After that we will see.”
“That’s all I ask, and for your word.”
“You have my word.” Crash spun and left.
“That’s it?” Meadow said.
“What did you want, a parade?”
“No. I mean that’s all it takes to stop a war here?”
“The war isn’t over. It’s on hold. Sometimes the enemy is better off banding with the devil they know. We fight, we feud, we battle, but we don’t openly kill each other. Dacquel will kill.”
“Sounds like a nasty bastard.”
“Do not use that language near my child.”
“Fine. Your unicorn enemy blows annoying rainbows.”
Arax’s lips twitched. “I’d like to blow a rainbow somewhere on him.”
A female came forward and took Neola for her nap. Arax nodded to the council then led Meadow to their room. They ate, picking from a platter of an array of food and drinks. Meadow was getting used to being waited on. It had flustered her at first when food appeared without asking, towels when she bathed, nannies for Neola when she slept. Her heightened position came with perks she hadn’t imagined, and she didn’t take advantage. Meadow knew hard work. She knew what it was like to be looked down on. Anything done for her was met with a quick thank you. The females of Arax’s planet took note. Many smiled at her instead of showing indifference.
After eating her fill Meadow leaned back and sighed with contentment. She loved gazing at Arax. The patterns on his skin swirled in intricate circles, a fingerprint covering his body. She never tired of tracing the lines. Arax suggested they go for a swim with a wink. He captured her hand to kiss her fingers.
In His Alien Hands Page 6
