He released the breath he’d been holding. She was lethal and he adored every inch of her. He rose and made quick work of emptying the pack. He laid out a blanket and a bottle of wine swaddled in a thick layer of insulated material. Next was an assortment of cheeses and meat with crisp crackers. A snack for her later as he knew he wouldn’t need one.
All he needed was her.
She was splashing around the pool as he pulled off his clothing, laying out his garments as she had on the heated rocks. Stepping to the ledge, his gaze locked with hers before he dove into the water to claim her.
Chapter 6
Despite the heated water, Elaine shivered as she watched his nude body cut through the pool. Already she could feel her nether regions filling with desire, her breasts aching and there was a strange tightness in her chest that threatened to steal her breath.
Alexei came to the surface without a sound. His head rose from the water, inches from her. They’d removed their masks last night and yet, each time she saw him, she was astounded by his masculine beauty all over again.
Wet black hair was slicked back on his head and streamed over his broad shoulders. His dark chocolate brown eyes were flecked with gold and framed with sooty lashes. His nose was straight and smooth, his nostrils flaring slightly as he filled his lungs with air depleted from his underwater journey. His skin was olive-toned, unusual for a Russian unless he had Romany in his background.
Her gaze drifted over the exposed expanse of his chest. Yes, she could certainly see him as a gypsy. Under the lightly furred skin, his chest muscles were sharply defined. His mouth was firm and set in a straight line as he regarded her with a serious expression, his chin jutting out.
“Give me a kiss,” he demanded.
He wanted to be in charge, did he? She hid a grin. “Okay, I’ll give you a kiss, but first you have to close your eyes.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so.”
His eyes narrowed as he considered her words.
“I’ll make it worth your while…” she teased.
His eyes widened, the spark of desire deep in their chocolate depths. He closed them, a faint smile of anticipation smile curving his handsome mouth.
Elaine moved closer to her lover. Raising her hand, she dripped water on his shoulder yet didn’t touch him, her eyes greedily taking their fill of Alexei. She moved behind him and placed her hand on his shoulder, guiding him down until the ends of his hair floated on the surface of the water.
On the top of his left shoulder, she saw a small hook-shaped scar. She pressed her lips to the old wound and caught the shudder that ran through his big body. A sense of power invaded her at the thought of bringing this man to his knees.
She leaned in to whisper, her lips brushing his ear. “Regardless of what I’m about to do to you, you cannot touch me, do you understand?”
He opened his mouth as if to object and she silenced him by nipping on his lobe. His breath sounded loud as he sucked in air, her movement taking him by surprise. He nodded.
“Good.”
She took his hand and led him to the edge of the pool nearest a small waterfall. A cool mist filled the air from the falling water, a sharp contrast to the heat of the water below. She settled him on a low rock, the water rising to just below his nipples.
“Close your eyes,” she whispered.
After he obeyed, she moved behind, trailing her fingers over the expanse of his shoulders. The heat radiating off him was astounding. Never had she met a man who was so consistently hot. With trembling fingers, she removed her bra and tossed it to the side.
Elaine curled her arms around his shoulders, pressing her erect nipples into his back. Relaxing her knees, she sank, her breasts never losing contact with his back. He groaned as she rose, repeating the motion in reverse.
She looked over his shoulder and into the clear water. His hands were clenched on his thighs and from the thick thatch of hair stood his cock.
Alexei is ready to come out and play.
Dropping a kiss on his shoulder, she moved to stand in front of him. His eyes flickered open, his pupils dilated with lust. She spread her thighs and sat in his lap, his cock tight against her silk-covered crotch. His hands came to rest on her legs, his thumbs digging into her sensitive flesh. Sliding her fingers around his wrists, she pulled his hands away and curled his fingers around his staff. At his perplexed look, she brushed her lips over his.
“I want to watch,” she whispered.
He cleared his throat. “You want me…to pleasure myself?”
She licked her lips and nodded, her throat suddenly dry.
A devilish smile curved his mouth. “Your wish is my command.”
Alexei released his turgid flesh and snaked his arms around her waist. Rising, she shrieked as he carried her to a rocky ledge and set her down. Her nipple grazed his chin and he couldn’t resist taking it into his mouth. She moaned as he suckled her flesh, her thighs tightening on his waist. He released one and moved to her other, lavishing it with the same attention.
“This isn’t what I had in mind,” she panted.
He licked the water from her skin between her breasts. “You told me to pleasure myself and I am.” He ran his tongue along the fold below her breast and she arched against his mouth.
Trailing kisses down her stomach, he wrapped his fingers in the narrow elastic band of her panties. Urging her hips up, he stripped off the material to feast his eyes on the mound of soft dark hair between her thighs. He dipped his head to tease her belly button before blazing a path of kisses farther south.
As he sank, her thighs opened to reveal her moist entrance. He draped her thighs over his shoulders as he parted her lips and supped on her hot, pink flesh. Closing his eyes, he lost himself in the heat and scent of her arousal as he stroked, teased, and cajoled her into release.
He lost count of her cries of completion when he finally rose. His blood ran thick in his veins, his cock hard and straining for release. Elaine lay on her back, eyes closed. If he didn’t know better, he’d think she was asleep.
As his fingers closed around her wrist, her eyes opened. He stepped close and pulled her upright into his arms. Without asking, her legs twined around his waist and he picked her up to carry her to the rock where it had all began.
He groaned as she sank onto his cock, her aroused tissues surrounding him like a glove. Rooted to the hilt, he stared deep into her emerald eyes.
“Do you believe in love at first sight?” His voice was low, husky.
Her eyes widened and he was caught by the pain in their depths. She looked away, her neat white teeth digging into her lower lip.
“Elaine—”
She rolled her hips, breaking off his words. She turned to gaze deep into his eyes. “I believe in this.” She rolled her hips again. “I believe in this as well.” Her fingers curled in his damp hair as she pulled him into a kiss that was sensual, earthy.
His arms slid beneath the water and around her waist. Their joined movements were slow, sensual.
“I think,” she panted. “At this moment, we have more than most people ever have in their entire lives. That’s what I believe in.”
I love you.
In his mind, he said the words over and over as they moved together. Each moment a shining drop of brilliance in his mind as they teased each other into completion. Their cries mingled with the mist from the pool to swirl into the heavens above.
* * * * *
“What did Dirk say when he found out about the altered wine?” Alexei drew his fingertip in a lazy trail down her arm, marveling in the silken feel of her. They lay on the warm rocks, long limbs entwined. The torches burned low and the heat from the rocks kept them comfortable in each other’s arms.
She gave a soft laugh. “He said he’d rather we cut his heart out than tamper with his wine.”
Alexei grinned, reveling in the changes wrought by their time in the pool. Soft and warm, Elaine lay beside him unconcerned about her
nudity. The shifting moonlight painted her skin silver and, with her tangled dark hair, she resembled a temptress of old. His beautiful gypsy.
“I want to paint you,” he said.
She blinked, a soft flush moving across her cheeks. “Me?”
“Yes, you. Do you not know how beautiful you are?”
She shrugged. “I am what I am.”
“So modest.” He lifted her hand and raised it to his lips. “Will you sit for me?”
She hesitated.
“Please?” He kissed her palm.
“Someday.”
He nodded. “Fair enough. Now I have another question for you.” He slid his fingers around her slim wrist, marveling in the delicacy of the bones beneath her skin.
“I might have an answer for you.” She purred as he pressed a kiss to the inside of her wrist, her pulse fluttered beneath his mouth.
“What do you think of vampires?”
“Do you mean theatrical vampires or literature vampires?”
“Neither. I mean the real thing.”
“Vampires don’t exist.”
“Says who?”
She shook her head. “It’s physiologically impossible to survive on blood alone. It can’t be done.”
“If you’re human, it can’t be done. But what if a human was changed on a molecular level? Their metabolism is frozen in time with their digestive system. All they need is a dose of fresh blood, say once a week, to keep their other systems functioning normally.”
“I think you should become a writer as you have quite an imagination.” Her tone was dry.
“I’m serious here.”
“So am I.”
“Would it be so bad, being a vampire?”
Her eyes narrowed, her hand tensing beneath his. “Do you believe you’re a vampire?”
He saw the doubt in her eyes. She wasn’t ready for the truth yet and, if he uttered the one word that would set him free, he would lose her.
“I’m open to the possibility of vampires is all I’m trying to say,” he said. “There is a lot in this world that we can’t even begin to explain.”
“You’re right about that.” The suspicion faded from her eyes.
He pressed another kiss to her wrist and she sighed. “Do you believe in destiny?” he asked.
“Hmm, destiny as in people being destined to be something or a predetermined course of events?”
“Yes, to both.”
“Well, I guess so. But I also believe that people can alter their own destiny by their actions, or non-action.”
He nodded and twined his fingers through hers, his gaze lifting to meet hers. “What about reincarnation?”
She frowned, small wrinkles distorted her brow and he wanted to kiss them away. “I like the idea of it. I mean, we live our mortal lives and, when we die, we can do it all over again. That next time around, hopefully, we don’t make the same mistakes though.”
“Can you imagine us doing this over and over again?”
“I think we already did.” She wiggled her brows.
“That’s not quite what I meant,” he chuckled.
Her expression turned surprised, then thoughtful. “Do you think we’ve been here before?”
“Can’t you feel it?’ He untwined their fingers to lay her hand over his heart, his hand covering hers. With his free hand, he covered her heart, the beat familiar against his palm. “Your heart knows mine as well as mine knows yours.”
She covered his hand with her free one and her eyes widened. “Oh my,” she breathed. “They beat in rhythm. How is that possible?”
“We’ve been here before. On a physical level, you don’t remember, but your heart does, as does your soul.”
Her expression was doubtful. “Do you really think we’ve been here before?”
“I have no doubt in my mind that we have been here many times before.”
For a few seconds she was silent and he could almost hear the wheels turning in her head. “Do you think…?” Her expression turned sad. “Did we ever get it right?”
He pressed a kiss to her palm. “I think we got it right every time. How could this be wrong?” He watched her eyes fill with tears. Alarmed, he pulled her into his arms. “Why are you crying?”
“If only it were true,” she sniffed. “It’s a beautiful thought.”
He hugged her. “Who said it wasn’t true?”
“Imagine an eternity of this.” She slid her arms around him and squeezed.
He smiled into her hair. He didn’t have to imagine it, he’d lived brief episodes of it several times, but she didn’t remember. He felt a pierce of sadness that she didn’t remember all the times they’d had together. When the time was right, he would tell her what she didn’t remember. But first, he needed to retrieve something.
“The party is over tomorrow,” he said.
Silent, she nodded, her tightening grip telling him exactly what he needed to know.
“I need to leave here and get something for you, something I forgot.”
She pulled away, puzzlement written across her features. “How could you forget something for me when you didn’t even know me?”
“Let’s just say that I knew I would meet you here.” He smoothed away the frown from her forehead with a fingertip. “Will you wait for me? I’ll be but a day, two at the most.”
“You want me to wait here?”
He nodded.
“What if you don’t return?”
“I’ll return for you.”
“Yeah, you say that now, but what if you don’t? How long do you expect me to wait?”
“I promise you this, I will return for you. It will be two days at the most.”
Her gaze searched his face as if she could find evidence of his promise stamped there. Finally, she nodded and he tugged her back into his embrace, tucking her head beneath his chin.
Soon she would learn that not even time could keep them apart.
Chapter 7
He was gone, both from her dreams and her bed.
Elaine lay still in her bed, the faint throbbing in her head causing a twisting pain in her stomach.
No, not now…
She raised her hand to massage the base of her skull, her mind willing her body to relax and release the pain. She rolled to her side, groaning as her thighs, overworked from a night of lovemaking, protested the movement. Her eyes flew open to have the liquid sunshine sear the backs of her eyes.
That’s exactly what it was… lovemaking.
Everything she didn’t want to happen had occurred in the past forty-eight hours. Their relationship had progressed to the next level, no, beyond that, beyond lust and into happily ever after.
Except there would be no such thing for her.
She stretched out her arm, her fingers rubbing the indentation in the pillow where Alexei had laid his head. Even her dream lover had abandoned her. A constant companion, he’d failed to make an appearance since Alexei had entered her life. She missed him. She didn’t realize how much she’d depended upon his nocturnal presence in her life. He’d been with her every night, no matter how complex her life had become and, now, he was gone too.
Unutterably sad, she closed her eyes, her fingers continuing the slow massage on her neck. Here, four days from her forty-second birthday, she’d met the real, flesh and blood man of her dreams only to realize that she would lose him.
Her disease was progressing. For the past few weeks, she’d awakened with the headache that marked the passage of time for her. It wasn’t a simple hangover nor due to a lack of sleep, it was her cancer coming back to claim her for the last time.
Elaine opened her eyes, fixing her gaze on the sun-drenched outdoors. Had she ever seen anything more glorious than a golden Colorado morning? The sky was a brilliant blue without a cloud to be seen and the flowers in the garden were blooming profusely thanks to the recent rains. Only the sight of love reflected in Alexei’s eyes could stir her more than the Colorado landscape.
Al
exei.
Her heart gave a painful twist at the thought of her absent lover. It was entirely possible that she would never see him again, never touch him, never be touched by him.
But you have been touched by him, and with that you have to be content.
She sat up. Why? Why did she have to be content with only a small slice when she could have had the entire pie?
Because that’s all you can have…
Her shoulders slumped. A few days weren’t nearly enough, nor were a few years. With the way she was feeling now, eternity wouldn’t satisfy her.
But you don’t have eternity, do you?
If only Alexei were right and they had an eternity together. If she knew that in her next life she’d have a chance at the same type of ecstasy she’d known in the past few days, she would face her death with greater bravery knowing that somewhere in the future, he awaited her.
What a beautiful dream that was.
But reality was that she was dying, slowly, day by day as her life slipped through her fingers. She only had today, that she knew. For her, the future was no more than five minutes ahead. More than that, she couldn’t count on.
* * * * *
Clouds obscured the sun as Elaine stood with Dirk on the deck, a glass of chardonnay in her hand.
“It’s beautiful here.” She sipped from the drink.
“It is, but I never appreciated it when I was younger. I saw only the ostentation of the place, never the beauty and the quiet it offered.”
“Youth is wasted on the young.” She shook her head. “We spend our childhood racing to grow up. We spend our twenties trying to make our mark in the world, our thirties looking for the perfect mate only to find that no one is perfect and it’s all a matter of what we can put up with.”
He laughed. “You’re right. But what happens when we hit our forties?”
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