Turbulent Waves, page 13
“There’s a kind of invisible dome over the area, like a force field. That protection regulates not only the pressure but the sunlight as well, so we can grow plants as well as stock the area with fish that are both edible and decorative. It’s how Ivan and Ram along with some of their friends are able to swim here. I’ve also trained them not to attack the guards and to stick to the fish in the area.”
“And they know to stay in that perimeter?”
“Think of an electric fence for a dog. Everything swimming back there gets a friendly reminder when they’re about to leave the safe zone. We’d have made it bigger, but it’d be hard to explain why a large part of the ocean is as bright as the sun.”
“All this is going to take a while to understand fully.”
“Not really. All you need is a little history. The original city we built in the water was closer to the Greek Isles, but long before mankind could develop the technology to find us, it was moved here.” Kai picked up speed, but their escort kept pace. The region they were entering was much darker, but the floodlight from their vessel illuminated enough for her to see the canyon walls at either side. The ravine they were in was massive.
“Your ancestors were smart.”
“I find it strange that humans aren’t more curious about their own planet. Only five percent of the oceans have been explored, but on the flipside, that’s lucky for us.” Kai pointed to the canyon walls. “These trenches are rich in minerals and gems but deep enough to keep us safe. The gold and diamonds we’ve mined are how we’ve purchased large shares of companies on land we thought important.”
“Lucky for us you did.” It’d been Kai’s family’s vote that had reverted the controlling interest of their company to her father.
“Pontos wasn’t wrong when he picked oil as the easiest way to bring mankind to its knees. Control the main fuel humans are dependent on, then add the takeover of communications systems, and it wouldn’t take long.”
“Let’s not waste time talking about him. Tell me more about this place.”
“When the original settlers picked this area, they scoped out the best places for the city, the palace, and for further expansion. In those searches they also found the series of caves we’re headed to. Surprisingly even at this depth there were air pockets.”
“The depths are beyond human capability to explore, and I’m glad no one has found this place. People have a tendency to destroy what they don’t understand.” She put her head on Kai’s shoulder but didn’t shift her attention from outside. “I’ve been thinking about our future. Our baby will one day take over for you, and it’s important to always keep this safe. I want her to enjoy her childhood like you did, without having to worry that someone is after her.”
“There’s a nation willing to fight to the death to keep you, her, and their sisters safe. The vision we had is something we’ll figure out, but I don’t want you to worry too much. Oba will come through for us.” Kai turned left, and they seemed to be diving deeper. It was amazing that they weren’t being crushed like a beer can from the pressure. “She’s not talkative sometimes, but after my mother gets through with her, she’ll cooperate.”
“Why wouldn’t she be talkative?” Great, now she had to worry about a jealous old girlfriend on top of everything else.
“The most important part of that thought is old girlfriend,” Kai said, leaning over to kiss her. “You’re going to have to accept that I’m madly in love with you, and I’m planning to be sappy about it until we’re old and I’m too feeble to chase you.”
“I promise not to move too fast.” She had to laugh at her inexperience with someone plucking all her thoughts from her head. Frankie had been able to do it at times, but not with the accuracy Kai had.
They slowed as the area around them seemed to brighten as if Kai was sailing to an oasis of light. The cave entrance wasn’t huge but big enough to see what was inside when Kai surfaced for a moment. Palm trees under the rock dome were swaying, as if a tropical breeze was moving through the space. It was beautiful, and she was on sensory overload.
“This is unbelievable.” She glanced at Kai before turning her attention to their destination again. They’d bled off speed, and unlike at the palace, where they’d docked at the domed structure, here the docking station appeared freestanding.
“We could go all the way in with the shuttle, but I like swimming in. Would you mind getting wet?” Kai’s question made her laugh.
“Oh, honey, I’m planning on being wet until it’s time to go, then way beyond that.” She loved being able to laugh with Kai like this. It was freeing after a life of no romance because she’d never found anyone to let go with. Being in love was so far the greatest adventure of all, and Kai was the reason.
“Cheeky,” Kai said, waving to the two women who were anchoring their vessel. “I like it. Are you ready, my love?”
“Definitely.” The rush of cold water when she dove scared her at first. She held her breath, but the gill system she now had took over. Her throat seemed to close to keep her lungs clear, and her vision seemed better as well. The wet suit Kai had given her immediately regulated her body temperature even in the areas not covered by the thin blue material.
She took Kai’s hand and relaxed as Kai pulled them along with powerful strokes. They were heading away from the entrance toward the canyon wall. The carvings were well lit, and she stared at the two women forever captured in the stone.
Queen Nessa and her consort, Jyri. Kai’s voice was clear in her head. Next to the women were strange writings, but their meaning was as clear as the day Oba had spoken to her in the temple. Their reign will last for an eternity.
In so many ways it had. These brave pioneers had only tried to make a home when they could’ve done so much more. Those who’d come after had gone on to expand what they started and were still happy with the parts of the planet they’d claimed as their own. It was the definition of nobility.
“Let’s go,” Kai said, pointing to the entrance below the carvings, and guided them through the maze of tunnels. There were more carvings of women as they went. “It’s a hall of modern queens.”
Vivien smiled when she saw the ones of Kai’s grandmothers and mothers. “It’s amazing,” she said as Kai headed up. It didn’t take long for them to break through the surface to a gorgeous beach with aquamarine water. “I have no idea how all this is possible, but it’s the most beautiful beach I’ve ever been on.”
Kai held her hand as they walked onto the shore, and the soft white sand was warm under her feet. There weren’t many buildings here, making the beach house surrounded by vegetation stand out. Vivien watched as the seagulls and other birds flew above them and through the trees, and if she wasn’t hallucinating, there were also monkeys and other wildlife.
“Your Highnesses,” an old woman said, bowing. “Welcome. We prepared everything you asked for, so if there’s nothing else, I’ll leave you in peace.”
“Vivien, I’d like to introduce you to Nicole Shep. She’s in charge of this place, and she and her crew live about a mile down the beach. Nicole took over this post a year before I was born.” Kai let her go to kiss Nicole’s cheek and the woman appeared thrilled with the affection.
“Welcome, Princess,” Nicole said, taking her hand, “and congratulations. You’re free to relax here. There’s only one way in and out, and Edil’s team will be on guard. The others are far enough away that your privacy is assured. I hope you enjoy your night and will visit again for longer next time.”
“I think our wise friend is trying to tell you how much I enjoy skinny-dipping,” Kai said, making her shake her head.
“You have your hands full with this one, Highness.” Nicole laughed and waved as she started walking down the beach with the two women who’d exited the house.
“Want a tour?” Kai asked.
“I’d love one.”
The house wasn’t overly large and, like the temple, had an open feel to it. There was food on the kitchen counter with a note that dinner would be served on the beach that night whenever they were ready. The bedroom had thin curtains hanging from the ceiling that didn’t obscure the view of the water, and there wasn’t much else in the room aside from the large bed.
Kai stepped behind her and kissed her neck. “How about a bath?”
When she turned around Kai was naked. Vivien had always been athletic, keeping up with her water activities as well as working out with Frankie in the gym to keep his upper body strong enough to maneuver his wheelchair, but she didn’t resemble Kai at all. Kai was muscular without being bulky, and she was perfect.
“Do you have one clue how sexy you are?” She stood still as Kai peeled her suit off for her. Her nipples hardened, and she groaned when Kai knelt and sucked one in.
“I’m glad you think so,” Kai said, gently nipping the other nipple with her teeth. “Come with me.”
She stood in the large tub and waited for Kai to join her after helping her in. The water had flowers floating in it and it smelled like lavender. It was all very decadent, but she wanted to rush through it so they could move to the bed. Need ratcheted to a painful level when Kai moved behind her again and cupped her breasts. Never in her life had she begged someone to fuck her, but that might change today if Kai didn’t move faster.
“You’re so perfect,” Kai said. Her hands moved down her body to the top of her sex, then back up where she pinched her nipples to the brink of pain.
“Jesus Christ.” Her knees were weak, so she turned around and wrapped a leg around Kai. “Don’t tease me.” She tried to find someplace on Kai she could rub against, to quench her need.
“I’m going to keep touching you until you’re completely mine.”
Kai sat and had her straddle her lap. She held on as Kai touched her everywhere except where she needed her. The frustration made her want to demand release, and then she saw the expression on Kai’s face. She was looking at her as if this was their first time and she didn’t want to rush through it.
“Baby,” she said, and Kai smiled. “What are you thinking about, aside from making me crazy?”
“I remember that fire in your eyes the first day you saw me standing in your parents’ yard, and you found out I was taking your job.” Kai’s hands went down past her hips to her thighs. “I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”
“I saw you earlier in the coffee shop and couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me. It was so out of character for me to openly stare, and I couldn’t stop myself. After I saw you at Etta’s, I ended up following you to the aquarium. I did get mad when I found that you were taking my job, but what you made me feel didn’t change.” The talk brought her pulse down, and she slowly started touching Kai. “That’d never happened to me before. When you finally touched me, I was lost.”
“Never again, my love. We’ve both found our place with each other. Now, feel me, listen to my heart, and let me love you.”
It took a second to climb the peak again, and this time Kai was relentless in how she touched, caressed, and kissed her. Vivien was so wet and turned-on she thought she’d pull a muscle if she didn’t come soon. Kai stroked her, and she couldn’t form words as her hips jerked. She was about to complain when Kai reversed their positions and pressed Vivien’s back to the side of the tub.
“Oh God, yes…fuck,” she said when Kai’s head went under the water, and she put her mouth on her. Kai flattened her tongue on her clit, then sucked as her fingers slid in. “Baby, please don’t stop. Oh, oh…ah.” She was yelling, and she grabbed Kai’s hair and pressed her closer. This was like being connected to a live wire that you didn’t want to let go of.
“I’m coming, like that…I’m coming.” Her orgasm was so intense it came close to knocking her out, and Kai didn’t give her a chance to recover when she surfaced and moved her to the side of the tub.
“I can’t wait,” Kai said, water droplets sliding over her bronzed skin. Vivien spread her sex when Kai came down on her. It was hard to explain, but they seemed to click together, and Kai’s need reignited her own. It was as if she hadn’t just come with an intensity that should’ve sated her when Kai started thrusting. “Fuck,” Kai said, and all she could do was nod.
“Yes, holy fuck, yes.” She wrapped her legs around Kai and raked her nails down Kai’s back. If this got any better, she was going to have an out of body experience.
“Come with me,” Kai managed to grind out before she stiffened in her arms.
She swore she saw stars as she squeezed Kai’s ass and let go. It didn’t seem possible, but making love to Kai seemed to get better. “That was unbelievable.”
“Yes, it was.” Kai sounded exhausted, and she rolled off her with the grace of a drunkard. “And you’re incredible. It’s never been like this.”
Vivien hadn’t had that many lovers, but none of them made her want to chew through their clothes and demand they touch her. “You’ve woken me up to what making love is supposed to be. The fact that you can breathe underwater is an added bonus.”
Kai laughed before helping her back in the bath. “I have all kinds of hidden talents. I’ll need them to keep you happy.”
“All you need to do is wake up every morning to do that, honey. Thanks for bringing me here.” She sat between Kai’s legs with her back against her.
“I don’t want you to think I’m not doing my best, and I did promise your parents I’d do everything in my power to make you happy.” Kai rested her hands on her abdomen, and it felt right. They hadn’t been together that long, but they were a family.
“You may not know it, but you’re my father’s idea of the perfect in-law. You’re successful, you love me, and you saved his ass.” She laughed, remembering all the times her dad had told her the same thing about Steve. Except for the saving his ass part. “That last part really made him love you.”
“When I came home hurt and broken, I didn’t care about the shot Pontos had taken. What made me hurt more than anything was having to leave you behind. I couldn’t let you lose your company as well. It was a poor substitute, but it belonged to you and the family.” Kai’s hands started to move, and Vivien sighed when her nipples got rock hard again. “I think his company is important to him, but I read his mind. You and Frankie are at the center of his thoughts.”
“Was it as hard for you when you left as it was for me?” It was the one thing they hadn’t talked about yet.
“My life isn’t exactly all my own. Leaving made me face some hard truths, and I couldn’t reconcile the things I had to do with the things I wanted. With time I don’t think I could’ve left you completely.”
“That’s what scared everyone, wasn’t it? That you’d choose me over your duty?” She’d heard about this prophecy, but her logical mind couldn’t accept something so ludicrous. The words that had been written made sense, but that someone had foreseen their relationship thousands of years ago sounded like a children’s story.
“It was, but they got that wrong. You’re part of me, Vivien Palmer Merlin, and the only way anyone can get me to deny it is to kill me.”
“Not while I’m around. With my luck I’m going to have a kid who’s going to act just like you, and I have a feeling you were hyperactive. That means I’m not going to chase this guppy all by myself, sexy.” She turned to face Kai and pinched her cheeks. “You’re the love of my life, and you put a ring on my finger. No leaving me early.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled about the baby, but that’s not the main reason I love you.” Kai moved her hand in a small circle on her abdomen and it made Vivien warm. “You did that, and I’d fallen in love before I knew about this little girl.”
“The prophecy was real, though, and it makes me worry about our vision. I found the impossible, and I refuse to let it go. Whatever that was in our vision, it was powerful, and it hated us.” That was the emotion she hadn’t been able to pin down before. It was hatred, personal and deep.
“I pray that those with Bella Riverstone and her mother don’t know about the baby. You have to promise me you’ll do everything you can to survive if something goes wrong. Even if that means going back to your life and forgetting all this until it’s safe to return.”
She turned around completely and pulled away from Kai. That Kai could even say that made her angry. The heat of her fury rose from her chest to her head, and she had to take a breath to keep from screaming. Their vows had been different than what she’d imagined saying, but devotion and honor were part of the deal. Running at the first sign of danger had nothing to do with that.
“Let’s clear up a few things right now. I am your wife.” She poked Kai in the chest and took another deep breath after saying the last four words slowly and with plenty of force. “That means I’m not going anywhere. Don’t make me say that again. If I’m going back to land, you’re coming with me.” She put her hand up when Kai opened her mouth to speak. “Maybe you’re used to all the bowing and scraping everyone does around you, but you picked wrong if that’s what you were expecting from me.”
“Bowing and scraping?” Kai asked, clearly trying not to smile.
“You know what I mean, and don’t try to charm me. I’m mad at you.”
“I’m sorry—I was only trying to take precautions to make sure you’ll be okay. Let me make it up to you.”
Kai carried her out of the tub and laid her on the bed. She was still a bit angry, but seeing Kai in the light streaming in from outside was starting to soften her. “I know you love me, and you’re a slow learner, so repeat after me. We’re a team.” Kai dutifully did as she asked. “Good, now get over here.”
In her previous life, she’d only had responsibility for Frankie, her job, and in a way her parents. All that wasn’t perfect, but it was simple. The weight of what she’d taken on with Kai could be heavy, but she hadn’t gone in blind. Their first night together, when Kai had come back to her strong and whole, Kai’d told her the truth of who she was and what it meant to stay with her. The lessons she’d begun would help her to be a good consort—the good wife part, she and Kai would figure out together.
