Page 21 of I Am the Night

"I know," I say. "But we have to expand who we think of as worthy of our protection," I say. "Especially when it comes to children. Those kids need us."

He raises his hand to caress my face, moving closer to me in the process.

My breasts graze his chest under water, and my body responds instantly.

"You're the kindest soul I know," he says, and then his lips are on mine and all I can think about is him. Us. Our watery world where nothing else exists.

He was the first to offer me the job that changed my life.

He defended me when his brothers didn't want me in this world.

He brought me back to life.

And as his arm slips around my waist and I wrap my legs around his, I feel us both coming to life once again.

He tastes of the sea, or sunshine and rain and sunsets on the beach. His lean, muscular body easily supports us both and I feel how urgently he wants me as he presses against my spread legs.

His hands slip down to my ass, his fingers digging into my flesh as he tightens his hold on me, and our magic blends, water splashing against water, as playful as dolphins at sea.

Our kisses deepen, his teeth tugging at my lower lip, then diving down, exploring my throat as I lean back.

I use our joined magic to push us up to the surface of the water, making a kind of waterbed for us that we spread out on, my body pinned beneath his.

Enjoying the access this position gives him to the rest of me, he teases and tastes every part of me, using his magic in thrilling new ways to take me to the edge.

We are cushioned by the element we both love, supported in this lake like a dream come to life, and when pleasure crashes into me in waves of nirvana, he does as well, filling me and driving me to new heights.

As he reaches his own climax, I join him again, and the bed beneath us pulls us under, letting us sink to the bottom of the lake, locked in our embrace. I use air magic to create a buffer around us and light magic to illuminate the underwater world we find ourselves in, as exotic fish swim past us and coral colored plant life sways in the currents.

He holds me tightly and I tuck myself into his arms, enjoying this unusual and magical moment for as long as I can.

Later, when our energy returns, we make our way to shore and dress.

Then we walk back to the castle together, hand in hand, enjoying the quiet moments of the evening, and when we reach my room, he hesitates, but I hold open the door. "Stay?"

He does.

That night I don't dream, but I do feel a deep warmth and safety as I drift on the clouds of my subconscious, and when I wake in the morning, Derek is still there, still holding me, his presence eternal and his love unshakable. He pulls me closer against him, his body wrapped around mine, my back pressed against his chest, and I feel his arousal as he drops kisses onto my neck.

I moan and press into him. "How long have you been awake?"

"Not too long."

I don't believe him, but it doesn't matter. I'm glad he stayed.

I press my ass against him, and he growls under his breath. "Don't you have to go to see Ifi and Elal soon?" he asks, his voice heavy with longing.

"Yes. So, we can't do a three hour marathon, but surely we have time for something?"

In a flash, Derek flips me over and pins me to the bed, pressing the weight of his body between my legs. "I can definitely give you something," he says as he trails kisses down my neck and to my breasts, stopping to give each their share of attention before moving further south. His fingers dig into my hips as he uses his tongue to push me to the edge of the cliff.

And then I'm falling. Pleasure crashes through me as he continues his attentions with his fingers, while positioning himself to plunge into me.

I bite his shoulder to keep from screaming in ecstasy as he fills me, while he uses his hands to tease and torture other parts of me.

Once he climaxes, I'm ready again, and together we drown in each other's arms.

The Weapon