An Elemental Tail (6 page)

With Nik at her side, Greta had gained a
reputation as a pirate not to mess with. Her enemies called her the
Sea Witch. And he reveled in the power he held as he controlled her
success and entertained her in bed. He knew her ship had been
stolen from a previous lover, but that hadn’t been warning enough.
He was a water Elemental. He was untouchable. Or so he’d
believed.

The Sea Witch had bewitched him. As their
bodies had glowed pale beneath the moon, she’d scratched his neck.
Her nails had come away bloodied, a scale in her hand. She’d spoken
before he could react.

Blood and flesh, scale and sea, bind this
Elemental’s powers to me.

Fire had ripped through him, crippling him as
he was stripped of his connection to water. In her hands his powers
coalesced into the book made of his skin and scale.

He’d lost his tail.

While he writhed in agony, unable to change
between forms, Greta had run, her prize clutched in her hands and
the pearl necklace bouncing between her breasts. The calm waters of
the bay had become solid under her feet, obeying her will, while he
had floundered in the shallows, yelling her name. Rejected by his
lover. Rejected by the water.

Human.

“Where did you get this?” Nik choked out the
question. Beneath the calm surface of his words, his stomach
roiled. After centuries, the necklace and his tail were together.
Did she know? Did she have a plan to use him the way Greta had?

“My aunt left it to me with some books.” Isla
smiled down at the pendant in his hand then back up at him. She
knew nothing of its history. Of what it meant to him.

He ran his thumb over the dome of the pearl.
“She must have loved you very much.” He placed the necklace back
against her skin.

The book wasn’t just for her art. The wash of
joy and loss he’d felt as she’d stroked the pages had been because
it was her aunt’s last gift to her. All his justifications were
wet, limp excuses. The book might be rightfully his, but to Isla it
was everything, her past and future. Isla wouldn’t just give him
the book for helping her, and he couldn’t steal from her without
sinking to Greta’s level. The sharp blade of his lover’s betrayal
pressed against his belly. He couldn’t turn that knife on Isla.

She ran her hand down his cheek. “Tell me
something about yourself so you’re not a stranger.”

He was a stranger. He shouldn’t be here, in
her room, He wasn’t even human. The secrets he could tell weren’t
for her ears. His hands dropped to his side; he had to let her go.
Wait until she had forgotten; wait until she died of old age. He
could wait.

She sensed his hesitation. Her hand slid to
his shoulder, and she cocked her head to the side. “When did you
learn to swim?”

Nik frowned. “There was never a time I don’t
remember swimming.” That at least was the truth.

Even now he swam daily. He couldn’t avoid
water; water was a part of him, even if he was no longer a part of
it. Her body swayed against his, a subtle reminder of why he was
here. Isla had nothing to gain and everything to lose by knowing
him.

The cover of the book shimmered in the corner
of his vision. He didn’t have the guts to leave. Leaving now would
achieve nothing. Prove nothing except that he was more human than
Elemental. In staying, he was being true to his element. He seized
her lips, cradling her head with his hand, forcing other thoughts
from his mind like he could convince himself he was here for sex
and nothing more. That he cared nothing for the woman in his
arms.

Between his fingers, the buttons on her shirt
separated. Her clothing floated to the floor, discarded. His body
ached to touch the center of the storm, to feel Isla wild around
him. Then he’d leave. He wouldn’t allow himself to be caught in a
net woven from something finer than moonlight.

She took her cues from him, peeling away his
shirt. Her palm smoothed over his chest and stomach, exploring what
she’d drawn. His muscles contracted; her caress was so light it was
almost a tickle. Nik traced down her spine and unzipped her skirt.
She stepped out of it and her shoes, now naked except for her
underwear.

He smiled, but it was restrained as lust and
conscience warred. Isla wore exactly what he’d thought she’d wear.
White lace. Beautiful. Matching. And for her eyes only. He ran his
finger along the edge of the bra cup. She shivered then pulled him
toward the single bed. He’d never refused an offer before, and he
wasn’t going to start now. No water Elemental would refuse sex—it
went against the flow. Just as Fire would always rise for the
fight. Air the battle of wills, and Earth would protect,
guaranteeing survival.

In her body she held all the elements. Once
he would’ve manipulated her emotions, but now he searched her face
for a clue. Desire glittered like scattered diamonds in her eyes.
He took off his jeans and shoes and socks. Naked, he lay over her,
as there was nowhere else to go. Her eyes widened and she jumped
when their hips connected, even with the protection of her panties.
He rolled his hips against hers. She gasped, her open mouth
inviting a kiss. Her lips were sweet like rainwater, and he was the
acid making it sour.

No, he’d never refused an offer, but it had
been a long time since he’d let himself be close to anyone. He
kissed down her throat, tasting the skin between her breasts. Isla
squirmed as if fighting the urge to arch up and press closer. He
thumbed the peak of her nipple, the fabric grating over his
fingers. He slid his hand beneath her and unhooked her bra. She
slipped her arms free.

With his tongue he traced over the pebbled
tightness of her nipples. When he sucked, she arched, her hips
lifting and grinding against his hardness. Resisting the urge to
tear off her panties and plunge into her was like holding his
breath underwater. He would gasp for air eventually; it was just a
matter of when.

Once he would have breathed water like air.
He wouldn’t have hesitated to seduce a woman who waded too deep.
Now it was him drowning in need. He kissed down her stomach, his
lungs burning, inflaming every nerve. He wanted Isla to be as raw
as he was. With care that scraped at his flesh like coral, he drew
her panties down and kneeled between her legs. He glanced up. Her
gray eyes were dark and wide. No breath moved her body.

Nik dipped his tongue into the shell-like
lips of her sex. Soft and pink. Touches that barely existed had her
fingers twisting in the sheets, but not his hair. The muscles in
her leg tightened, but she held back, resisting his caress. Isla
wouldn’t let go and come. As he eased away, she relaxed and drew
him back up to her. In her eyes was a tangle of thoughts he
couldn’t read.

“Condoms.” Her voice was a whisper, not
wanting to upset the delicate balance between them.

Of course, standard procedure these days. He
found her hasty purchase and when suitably dressed, he rejoined her
on the bed. She welcomed him with open arms. But she didn’t offer
up her hips and open for him. Something wasn’t quite right.

“Are you having second thoughts?”

Isla shook her head. “I want you.”

He traced the contour of her breast, cupped
the flesh in his hand. “But it’s weird because we don’t know each
other?”

She exhaled, her body relaxing beneath him.
“Yeah, that’s all. I don’t usually pick up strange men.”

“I thought I picked you up?” He nuzzled her
neck. She wriggled, her body contacting with his in all the right
places. Steam, not blood, moved through his veins. “I like sunrise,
winter, and the color blue. Now tell me something about yourself,
and we won’t be strangers.”

He’d meant it as a joke, but Isla went still.
Her lip was caught between her teeth, her eyebrows pinched
together.

And Nik knew he wasn’t going to like the
answer.

Beneath her hands, Nik’s muscles hardened as
if he were preparing to take a hit. Isla held on to him, unwilling
to let him go. Hot, her body ached, responding to his touch in a
way it had never done when she was alone. Could he tell? Is that
what he was asking? Should she tell?

In the shadows, his eyes were unreadable. He
waited for an answer. The delay was making her toes curl. She
needed release. All she had to do was speak. She didn’t have to
tell him the truth. She could tell him she liked sunset, autumn,
and red. But those words didn’t form.

“I’ve never done this before.” It was a
half-whispered confession. The truth was out, and it couldn’t be
swallowed back down and unheard.

Nik didn’t pull away like she was some kind
of weirdo for getting to college with her virginity intact. His
weight shifted, his breath cool on her cheek. “Never had sex?”

She shook her head, unable to say it again.
Couldn’t meet his gaze. She’d seen plenty of naked men, since art
books and museums were full of them. She’d done a life drawing
class at summer school. Of course, those models had looked nothing
like Nik. Her fingers moved over his back, tracing the contours of
his spine that she’d drawn that morning.

It wasn’t that she hadn’t had the chance to
have sex. She could’ve—plenty of girls at her school did, and some
had even had babies. Until now, she’d never wanted to. Never wanted
the emotional involvement that went with it and the shifting of
priorities to accommodate the wants of the man. But Nik would
leave. He was safe. He wouldn’t upturn her plans and take over her
life.

He laughed, a low, deep chuckle like the
gurgle of water, and placed a kiss on the end of her nose before
catching her mouth in another strength-sapping, heat-building kiss.
A whirlpool built in her stomach, pulling her deeper and lower.

Then he became too serious for the moment.
“You don’t want to do this with me.” His body didn’t move. He
didn’t pull away, his lack of action at odds with his words.

“Yeah, I do.”

He closed his eyes and took a breath as if
gathering the will to walk away.

Isla jumped in before he could speak and
douse the burn in her blood. “I want you, I knew that when I first
saw you.”

“I can’t stay.” His crimson hair spilled over
his shoulder, tickling her skin.

“I know. I don’t want a boyfriend. I want a
lover.” The admission was not as hard to make as she’d thought. It
was the perfect solution.

“You should wait, Isla.”

“I don’t want to wait.” She shifted her hips
and connected with hot, hard heat of his body as she searched for a
way to take the edge off the need that inflamed her blood.

Nik groaned. His argument was melting like
snow in summer.

Her hand smoothed over his skin. The lurking
doubts raised their head like ugly sea monsters looking for an easy
snack. “But if you don’t want me…” The question hung in the air,
thickening between them.

“Don’t think that. Not ever.” He kissed her
like she was as fragile as an empty shell. “I don’t want you to
regret this.”

“Let me decide that.” She eased her legs open
a little more.

“This isn’t a good idea,” he murmured against
her neck. The length of his shaft slid against her spread sex.

“It’s the best idea I’ve ever had.” Isla
tilted her hips so all he had to do was press forward.

As he sank into her, she exhaled. There was
no resistance, just the forced expansion that rubbed on nerves
she’d never known existed. She couldn’t draw breath. Sensations
overwhelmed her, sweeping away everything she thought she knew
about herself. Her body wanted more but couldn’t keep up.

Nik held still. “Do you hate me yet?”

Awakened. Amazing. Don’t stop.
Fragments of thoughts danced out of reach. She looked into his dark
eyes, totally focused on her.

All she could manage was one word. “No.”

“Good.” He sealed her lips, smothering the
moan that rose as he gently rocked his hips.

And her body was no longer her own. It moved
to an ancient rhythm and needed no guidance. But the heat wouldn’t
break, the rain wouldn’t come and take away the gnawing ache
centered in her belly. She felt his release, his muscles ease. It
was over, and she was sore and unsatisfied…neither of which were
his fault, but she knew what she needed.

Her fingers moved, easing into the space
between their bodies. He caught her hand, and together they circled
her clit. Her eyes closed, but Nik was behind them. He was in her
thoughts as she tried to find the moment when nothing else
mattered. In his arms she let go and let Nik pull her over the
edge, into the swirling tide of sensation. She gasped as she came
back to herself and melted into the bed, content under his weight,
their bodies as one.

She’d expected less. To be unmoved and left
wondering why she’d bothered. Instead of getting the curiosity out
of her blood, she had opened the floodgate. And she couldn’t jam it
closed.

Reluctantly, Nik eased away. Her scent was
all over his skin, clinging like dew on grass. He knew it wouldn’t
evaporate as easily; Isla would sink deep until she became a part
of him. He threw the condom in the bin. Her eyes followed his every
move. From the shelf, the book gleamed like scarlet blood. He
wanted to take it so much he could taste the brine on his
tongue.

How far would he get before the guilt ate
through him like a piranha ate raw flesh?

The room lurched. He dropped onto the edge of
the bed. He’d already stolen from Isla. She didn’t know what she’d
lain with, and she didn’t seem to care. She expected him to leave.
He’d crossed oceans, traveled by air to be here, only to fail,
because taking back what was his would destroy Isla. He scrubbed
his hand over his face. He was so human that he couldn’t do that.
Not even to save himself.

The feelings he’d never been capable of
having for Greta now sucked him under and held him down, crushing
his human heart with a pressure he knew he wouldn’t survive. Isla
kissed his back. He lay down with her on a bed barely big enough
for one and wrapped his arm around her. Nik watched himself as if
from a distance. While she slept curled against him, he lay awake,
Greta’s triumphant laughter echoing in his skull where once the
rhythm of the oceans had pounded.