Turbulent Waves, page 4
“Would I do that? You’re my big bear, but you’re a cream puff when it comes to your kid. That’s why I love you, though.” Galen led her to a chair and sat on her lap. “I do miss Kai, and it’s been a very long month.”
“I know you’re going to tell me not to give her a hard time.”
“No, I’m going to tell you to remember what it was like when we first fell in love. I want her and Vivien to enjoy this time. They’re getting to really know each other and build on the love they found. That’ll cement the bond their shells have already made, by binding their hearts together. She’s also used this time to heal, which I’m grateful for. That blast from Pontos’s weapon almost killed her. With everything we have unanswered, Kai will need to be at full strength.” She kissed Hadley again, taking her time. “If it helps, I remember when you and I were swimming around each other trying to build on what we felt for each other.”
“I remember Mari giving me the evil eye every time I reached for your hand. I got a year of chaperones and our kid gets the girl pregnant inside a month. Times have changed.”
Galen laughed. Her mother Mari was a lot like Hadley—she’d married a queen, was a warrior at heart, and tried her best to keep her family whole. Her mother Yara had retired and passed her crown to Galen because she felt it was time, and so she could enjoy her time in their archives. Both of her parents had been overprotective of her and her sister Clarice, and they’d kept Hadley on a short leash until they were sure of Hadley’s love for their daughter.
“Vivien’s condition will get tongues wagging, but you know how people feel about Kai. They’ll be more excited than mad at the breach of protocol. What we need to be ready for is the fuel this will give those who want me off the throne. I’m excited for Kai, but what she’s done might bring more people like Francesca out of the depths. If they find a leader who can sway the masses, that could start a civil war.”
“There aren’t that many people who think like Francesca, and before you say anything, I’ve already assigned enough troops to quell any uprising.”
“You do love to plan, my love.”
“Is what you have left important?” Hadley kissed her neck.
“Why?”
“I thought I’d talk you into breaking protocol with me.”
* * *
Vivien’s parents decided to join friends for dinner, so Kai took everyone to the Salacia by skiff. They’d sail and be back by sunset, so they could anchor again and have dinner on board. Franklin seemed more comfortable on the water, but she did see him scratching around the tops of his legs. He was still healing, but the new tissue had bonded well.
“What a great boat,” Marsha said. “No wonder Viv fell in love with you.”
“That had more to do with that gorgeous face and all her dive equipment,” Vivien shot back. “And I didn’t notice any of that until she took me sailing, but the boat was hard to miss.”
“You need me to do anything?” Franklin asked.
“You and Marsha take the wheel, and we’ll take care of the sails.”
Kai raised the sails by hand even though she didn’t have to, trying to hide the special features of the sailboat from Marsha. It also felt good to move and use muscles that had ached for weeks after Pontos’s attack. Once they were underway, Vivien told Franklin to head to the bow so they could relax and enjoy the view. No one spoke much as they glided along the calm water. Kai tied off the wheel and put her arms around Vivien. They kissed as dolphins swam alongside them.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am,” Vivien said. She ran her fingers along Kai’s collarbone to her shoulder. “You really won’t mind if my parents plan a wedding?”
“Love, I want to do everything I can to bind our worlds. This baby…” She placed her hands on Vivien’s abdomen and smiled. “This baby has been the subject of a prophecy and proves we have to care about everyone. We’ll never really be open about our existence, but we have to be more involved so the planet we share doesn’t end up like Atlantis. Besides, we’ll have to officially be joined in Atlantis, so by the time we’re done, we should be wedding experts.”
“You turn me on when you talk like that.” Vivien stood on her toes and kissed her. “I’m also impressed with your matchmaking skills.”
“Franklin’s a good man. He deserves the confidence to open his eyes to the woman who loves him.” She turned them about so they could head back and have dinner. “Think we can talk them into skinny-dipping?”
“I’m not sure I’m ready to see Frankie naked, honey.”
That made her laugh. “There would have to be ground rules. They can have the beach side of the boat, and we’ll take the deep end. Think about how that moved us along. Once I saw you naked, you blinded me to the world.”
“He could learn from your seduction techniques.” Vivien slapped her butt and laughed.
Marsha and Franklin glanced back when the sails came down to bleed off speed. Franklin helped Marsha up and held her hand as they made their way back.
“He might not need our help, so I might ask him for pointers later.” Kai tilted her head toward them.
“You get any better and we’ll never leave the bedroom.” Vivien grabbed her hand and bit her finger. “Hey, wasn’t this great?” Vivien asked her brother and Marsha when they made it back.
“It’s a great way to see all the houses along the stretch of beach you can’t spot from the road,” Marsha said, not letting go of Franklin’s hand. “Thanks for inviting me. It’s been a long time since we spent time here, and it seems like everything’s new.”
“Um, about that…” Vivien sounded hesitant and her blush was adorable.
“Viv and I have a ritual when we anchor, and you can either join us, or I’ll put you on the skiff back to shore.”
“Group sex,” Marsha said. “That’s kind of kinky.”
“That’s never going to happen, so stop teasing Viv,” Kai said, smiling as Vivien buried her face in her chest. “We like to skinny-dip, and we’ll stay on this side of the boat if you take the other side.”
“Kai.” Franklin sounded slightly panicked. “Can I talk to you?”
“Let’s go below and get towels.” She’d left a stack on the galley counter and already knew what his problem was.
“I can’t swim.”
Bull’s-eye. “You can. All you need to do is have the courage to jump in.”
“Ah, no, I can’t. I’ve missed out on a lot of time with Viv because I’m terrified of water. I mean, I can learn now, but I don’t think skinny-dipping in the sea is the way to learn. Marsha is going to think I’m some kind of loser.”
“You also couldn’t walk until recently, and when our medical team did what was impossible in your world, they also gave you more than those.” She pointed to his legs then at his head. “The new parts instinctively know what to do in the water, but you also got some rewiring up here.” She reached up and tapped his temple. “Jump in, and you won’t drown, I promise. Concentrate on the pretty girl who’s going to be naked.”
“Are you sure?”
“That’s what I’ll be doing, so trust me. I wouldn’t lie to you about this. You’ll be able to float, hold Marsha, and convince her to date you. Running wasn’t your only fantasy, was it?” She laughed when he quickly shook his head. “Then listen to me and strip.”
“Is this how you hooked my sister?” The tightness seemed to go out of his shoulders.
“After she got over her full-body blush, she got the idea.”
“Thanks, Kai.” He hugged her and left quickly with no towels.
“I’m sure he’s about to find out how long he can hold his breath when Marsha short-circuits his brain,” she said to Viv once she was back on deck. She lowered the ladders at the front and back of the boat before stripping to join Viv in the water. “He’ll be fine,” she said when Viv wrapped her legs around her.
“He might not be when Marsha gets through with him, but the love is already there, for both. Marsha has always been interested in Frankie, but his insecurities kept him from acting on what she wanted. Now there’s nothing holding either of them back.”
Kai moved them deeper and nodded. “All I’m worried about right now is our love. I love you.”
“I’m so lucky.” Viv cocked her head back and stared into the violet sky. It was too early for stars, but the darkness descending on the waves was beautiful.
“Do you feel okay?” There was nothing more she wanted to do than to float here with Viv and enjoy their night, but there was plenty to get back to.
The primary thing was a joining and introducing Viv to her people. She didn’t want it to appear rushed to Viv. Courting—as her parents called it—was supposed to be a drawn-out affair where you showed the girl how important she was to you. The baby was going to change that timeline, and she had to make sure Vivien was not only ready, but knew how much she loved her.
“You know,” Viv said, not moving her head, “I’m naked with my wet sex pressed against you, and you’re thinking about royal wedding protocol that will in no way change how I feel about you.” Viv wrapped her hand around Kai’s shell, resting over her collarbone, as if telling her she’d read her thoughts. “Not the most flattering thing to a hormonal pregnant woman, babe.”
“Sorry, and it’s not royal wedding protocol that’s worrying me. I’m upset over not being able to give you all the steps that were required.”
“Is sex involved at any step of this courting dance?”
“No.” Her smile widened when Viv moved to bite her bottom lip. “That’s definitely not one of the perks of dating royalty with the intention of marriage.”
“Then we’re walking down the aisle or wailing loudly at the moon naked—whatever the wedding ritual is, we’re doing it. As quickly as possible, I might add.” Viv pressed her hips into her and kissed her. “One, I’d like to not be really pregnant when that happens, and two, I’m not giving up sex.”
“Believe me, my mother Galen is pulling out the list of rules, to make it as fast as we can manage. I don’t want to give this up either.”
“How many steps are we talking?” Vivien asked. “I have a clue as to what my mother has in mind, but marriage to Atlantean royalty…not so much.”
“She has to introduce you to the realm, get a blessing from the temple, and a few things you’ll like but I’d like to surprise you with. Trust me, I’m going to keep you informed every step of the way, and if there’s something you don’t like and want changed, I’ll do my best to do that.” They were about to kiss again when they heard Marsha’s voice carrying from the beach side.
“Nothing’s going to literally bite me in the ass in the dark, right?”
“God, you have the worst timing,” Vivien said just as loudly before turning back to Kai. “You have to talk to Frankie. If she’s over there yelling about that, he’s doing something wrong.”
Kai laughed, loving how much Vivien made her do that. Vivien was a shift from what she’d thought her future would be, and she was a bit nervous that everything would go smoothly when she brought Vivien home. She had an obligation to the throne and to her mothers, but she wasn’t giving Vivien up.
They’d discussed a visit to Atlantis, and the weekend would be the perfect time to go. The sooner they arrived and started the process of the joining, the better. There was also the reality Vivien had to face that Atlantis was going to be her new home. Although she wasn’t going to cut Vivien off from her family, Kai couldn’t rule from New Orleans.
It was a lot to process, and what gave her faith it would be fine was how much she knew Vivien loved her. The priority for them both was to be honest with one another and find a way to coexist in both worlds.
Chapter Four
Will you be able to call?” Frankie asked Vivien when he joined her upstairs while their parents and Marsha packed. She was packing too, but her destination was rather different from theirs.
Vivien had to stop and close her eyes to try to keep the contents of her stomach in place. The news of her pregnancy had been a popular subject all weekend, but she was getting nervous. No matter what Kai said, she was sure a baby wasn’t part of the rules Kai was supposed to follow. She couldn’t lose Kai now.
“Stop it,” Frankie said as he put his arms around her. “Her parents are going to love you, and nothing is going to happen that’ll change Kai’s mind.”
“You’re getting good at that,” she said, holding his shells. It was like the new one added to the old had given Frankie the ability to see into her mind when she was upset.
“Is there any way you can talk her into making one of these for Marsha? It’ll be a plus if I can see if she’s thinking sexy thoughts about me.”
“I don’t think you need a shell for that, buddy. All you need to do is study her face. I’ve known her all my life, and it’s safe to say she’s thinking all kinds of things about you.” She mentally went through the list Kai had given her and packed a few more items. The zipper on the bag got stuck, and she turned to the door and smiled when Kai came forward and took care of it for her. “My knight in a wet suit.”
“I’m more of a soldier than a knight,” Kai said, kissing her.
“You have your fantasies, and I have mine, lover.” She let Kai go and pointed to Frankie. “Frankie wants to know if I can call him once we get there.”
“Your cell will work perfectly, so call whenever you like.” Kai glanced at Frankie then at her and cocked her head.
She couldn’t seem to hide her nervousness from Kai, and she tried smiling, but her lips wouldn’t cooperate.
Kai put her arms around her and rocked her gently in place. “My love.”
The compassion in Kai’s voice brought on a bout of tears, and Kai held her tighter. “Sorry, I’m a mess today.” She noticed Frankie tried not to be intrusive as he sat back down on the bed.
“Never apologize for showing me your feelings. I know you’re nervous. You don’t have to be.” Kai placed her hands on her cheeks and looked not only into her eyes but what seemed like her soul. “I’ll give up my title before I give you up.”
“You can’t do that, but I can’t let you go.” The thought of having to walk away from Kai made her cry harder.
“Hey, you won’t have to.” Kai sat next to Frankie and put her arms around her when she sat on her knee. “I have no intention of letting you go, and I can prove it. How about the next chapter of Nessa’s history?”
“I’d love to hear it too, and make sure you don’t get ahead of me while you’re in Atlantis,” Frankie said. “Hopefully I won’t have to wait long for the next chapter.”
“You’re too important to both of us for me to keep Viv away too long. I’ll keep Nessa’s story for our visits,” Kai said.
“Do we have time?” She placed her hand under Kai’s T-shirt, needing to feel her.
“Marsha and your parents ran to grab lunch for everyone, so yes, we do.” Kai settled more comfortably with Viv still on her lap. “It wasn’t long after they got there…”
Two years after arriving on Earth
The birds outside Nessa’s window held her attention after she’d tried her best to concentrate on the mound of paper scattered on her desk. It was hard to work today, and she held the talisman around her neck and thought of Jyri. They’d only had a few minutes together that morning before Jyri had left for the mission she was in charge of. The sound of construction scattered the birds outside, and she sighed.
Their four large ships had been retrofitted to serve as quarters for everyone until the engineers and architects finished with the dwellings they were constructing. They were replicating the prototypes that had survived for the last year, using both materials found on the surface and what they’d brought with them. The site they’d chosen was a large island where the weather, according to Jyri’s findings, stayed mild and warm most of the time. It was close to water and had a good supply of the natural resources they needed to complete their construction. She and Jyri were still in the rooms they’d been assigned for the trip here, and she was comfortable.
Adjusting to their new home had been both easy and challenging, but they’d worked together to deal with the problems as they arose. They had enough food for another five years, but they had to plan ahead to start producing a steady supply to feed everyone. Jyri’s team were almost done compiling the list of what was both edible and harmful to them. Their diet had changed for the better, in her opinion. Tasting all the wonderful new plants was almost as exciting as exploring their new home.
Their new home was different from Atlantis—there was much more land with a bigger array of animals and birds. They had a few species of birds, but Nessa was enjoying studying not only the varieties but the varying sizes. Some of the animals they’d found were very dangerous, and that was a new experience as well. The water was their natural habitat, and while Earth had a great variety of sea life, it was nothing like Atlantis. Jyri and the others had started introducing some of their home planet’s fish and mammals, and from their reports, it was going well.
There were other beings living close to their camp who seemed to study them from a distance, appearing afraid of coming too close. Her guards observed them as well and had reported they were living primitive lives. Some of the scientists with Jyri had ideas about those inhabitants that sounded interesting, but she hadn’t made up her mind about interfering with anything on this planet.
“What are you daydreaming about?” Jyri surprised her.
“You—always you,” she said, looking at her consort. Their joining had been the year before, so of course now their people wanted an heir. “What are you doing back so soon? I thought you were on the shuttle headed east to explore the area for an outpost.”
Jyri knelt next to her and kissed her. “Did you think I’d forget our anniversary? I’m here to kidnap you for the afternoon. I told your staff I didn’t care what you had going on and to clear your schedule.”
