Authors: Maya DeLeina
“Out there.” Steffan stepped to the sliding glass door and opened it wider, gazing at the sparkling turquoise water that led up to the two islands that sat in the distance.
Anya slipped on her bikini bottom and wrapped a gauzy white sarong around her waist. “There?” asked Anya.
“There,” Steffan replied. He reached for Anya and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Those are the Mokulua Islands. We’re going to kayak out to that one on the left, Moku Nui.”
“Oh my, listen to you with the pronunciations! Brynne has taught you much about this place,” Anya said as she smiled. “And what do you know about this beach town’s name?”
“It means
heavenly water
,” Steffan responded with no hesitation.
Anya turned around and looked at Steffan.
“As I said, I always dreamed of coming to this place.” Steffan looked down at Anya and smiled.
* * * *
They stepped out of the sliding door. The cool grass was spongy under their feet as the coconut palms swayed above them. The air was warm and carried the ocean mist that tickled their skin. They walked across the lawn, down the stone stairway onto the beach.
The sand was fine, a powdered-sugar-like quality that extended for miles.
Anya carried the back end of the kayak, helping Steffan maneuver it down to the water. They paddled toward the island, gliding over the placid water. The crystal-clear water afforded unobstructed views of the coral reefs alive in the ocean, just below the surface.
A green sea turtle popped its head out of the water next to the kayak and startled Anya. “Look, Steffan!”
Steffan looked behind him and smiled.
Anya was full of wonder and excitement.
As they neared the island, Anya could make out the number of people and kayaks that dotted the beach on the tiny island. “There are too many people here, Steffan!”
Steffan turned his head toward her and rolled his eyes.
“Oh yeah. I keep forgetting,”
Steffan smiled and returned to navigating the kayak in the direction of the island.
Anya watched the sunshine beam off of his back and shoulder muscles. Beads of sweat dripped down the defined ridges of his muscles as he paddled. She was rapt in arousal, daydreaming of the waves rolling around them as they made love on the sand.
* * * *
Picking up her images and sensing the urgency building inside Anya, Steffan paddled faster and quickly released his boundary. Like clockwork, the group of kayakers instinctively paddled off the island, curiously passing Steffan and Anya on their way.
Boats in the area seemed to suddenly change course.
They neared the sandy shore of the island. Steffan jumped into the water, guiding the kayak up onto the beach. Anya had barely stepped onto the warm sand when Steffan whisked her off her feet.
“Steffan!” Anya shrieked.
“I can’t wait to feel you wrapped around me,” Steffan said lustfully into Anya’s mouth as he hungrily feasted on her lips and neck.
Steffan kneeled down on the wet sand and gently laid Anya down. The waves rolled in, the cool water tangling around their sweat-laced bodies. Steffan gazed at Anya as she lay in the sand, drenched in sunshine. Her black hair and olive skin were luminous against the white sand. The crystal water shimmered all around her, their ebb and flow wrapping her in pure sensuality, wreaking havoc on his self-control.
“You are so deliciously beautiful, you quench the hunger in my eyes.” Steffan shook his head and slowly moved his hands behind Anya’s neck, untying her bikini top.
“Hmm, so that’s all I do for you? I just quench the hunger in your eyes?” Anya asked teasingly as she slipped off her top, her nipples hardening instantly as the water danced around her skin.
Steffan’s eyes widened as he exhaled. “Woman, you know what you do to my body.”
“I forget. Why don’t you show me,” Anya demanded.
Steffan captured Anya’s mouth and settled into a deep kiss that made her moan in delight. In one strategic move, he stripped off his swim trunks and pushed Anya’s bikini bottom to the side, filing her to the limit.
“My god, you are so wet. I love the way you respond to me,” Steffan groaned into Anya’s ear.
“Baby, your eyes on me, your voice in my ear—that’s really all it takes for me,” Anya said between her ragged breaths. “Didn’t I ever tell you that you made me wet the moment I laid eyes on you in the studio?”
“Oh, Anya!” Steffan moaned in response, sheer elation lacing his words. He stretched Anya’s arms above her head, entwining his fingers through hers as he pumped deep into her. Anya arched her back and tilted her hips to meet every one of his thrusts. She rested her head back, exposing her neck in a request to start their vampire kiss.
A numbing electricity surged through Steffan’s, making his mouth water with need. His teeth elongated, breaking through their membrane as he spoke. “I crave you.”
The sun glistened off the water, sparkling in Steffan’s passionate red eyes.
“Taste me, my husband. Drink,” Anya said as she employed their sharing threads, shaking with anticipation to share in the delectable taste of chocolate and cinnamon.
Steffan slowly sunk his teeth into Anya’s neck, filling his mouth with indescribable pleasure. He moaned against her flesh.
Anya licked her lips and moaned.
A large sea bird flew high above them, casting a brief shadow over their bodies.
Anya opened her eyes and gasped. “What is that?”
Steffan released Anya’s neck, his mouth dripping with blood. “Love, that’s an Iwa bird. My barrier can’t reach that far in the air to make things change their course. Planes, birds, even the gliders up there
will
fly over us, but the boundary will safely camouflage us. Don’t worry, they won’t see us, they’ll only see the beach.”
Anya nodded in response.
Steffan looked deep into Anya’s eyes. “Don’t hold back on me, Anya. Give me everything, let me hear you. I know it’s tough not to feel vulnerable out in the open like this, but please remember my abilities. And remember, you will one day learn how to do this, too. You are a beautiful and strong vampire now.”
“I can do boundary, too?” Anya exclaimed.
“Yes. It’s a learned ability for all vampires.”
Anya’s face lit up in excitement, her eyes burning passionate red.
Anya sat up as her blood continued to flow from Steffan’s vampire kiss mark. She laced her fingers in Steffan’s hair and licked the blood that was about to drip from his teeth. “Mr. Matthews, shall we continue?”
“Mrs. Matthew, where were we? Ah yes…” Steffan slowly sunk his teeth back into his mark and laid Anya back down. He relished his mate’s vibrant and rich taste filling his mouth. He continued to thrust himself deep into her, assuring no part of her was left untouched by his body.
With one hand, Anya splayed her fingers across Steffan’s ass, encouraging him to take her without reserve. With the other, she held his head against her neck, tempting him to take more than he ever did from her body.
Steffan sank deeper into his vampire kiss as Anya writhed in ecstasy underneath him, the waves framing her body with an erotic grace.
Epilogue
He took refuge in the rocking chair next to the stone fireplace. It was a crisp autumn night. The full moon reflected in the lake, dancing as the light wind rippled over the surface.
“Your order, sir?” asked the waitress. He was her only guest sitting outside at the lakeside bar of the five-star resort.
He was dressed in pure opulence—designer clothes, shoes, and polished jewelry, as if he’d sampled every upscale boutique within the shopping quarters of the resort.
“Rusty nail,” he said blankly, keeping his face turned away from the waitress.
He leaned back, placing his feet on the frame of the chair and rocked smoothly, gazing up at the mountain range. A deep-seated rage and wild fury churned inside him, sending his blood to a boil. He gripped the armrest of the rocking chair with one hand as he traced his fingers delicately over the scars on his face.
Panic set in.
Did I get the color correct?
He pulled out a compact from his pocket and examined the detailing of his foundation application before the waitress came back with his drink.
Since he’d left Ambrose Heights that ill-fated night, he’d never returned. He’d left with nothing except the clothes on his back, his Mercedes and deep lacerations to his face that were now set in a purple-reddish state.
He harbored unfathomable hatred inside of him, and he had spent his days planning for retaliation.
He’d retreated here, to the five-star resort, nestling himself deep in the underground tunnels that once served as private passages to brothels for the elite guests. Without a supply of Defender on hand, he was limited to movement only at night. He resorted to nightly enthrallments upon staff and guests to obtain day-to-day necessities. He missed the daylight but could manage his activity limitation without much struggle. It was the lack of any Consumption supply, however, that was growing unbearable with each passing day. The tantalizing aromas of the fine dining options on the resort grounds were nothing less than consuming.
“Your drink, sir.” The waitress stood waiting for a response from her guest.
This was it. He would make his move.
“Come take a seat here, my beautiful girl,” he said as he tapped the rocking chair beside him without turning around.
She took a seat beside him.
“I’ve been watching you almost every night,” he said as he slowly turned around, exposing his unmarred side profile as one eye focused on the waitress. “You are so beautiful.”
“It’s you! Why did you never return any of my calls? I was looking forward to seeing you,” the waitress said with much eagerness.
“What?”
“Ryan, right? Ryan Evans?
“Yes, but…” Ryan trailed off.
“You don’t remember me?” she asked, her voice laced with disappointment. She reached into her pocket and handed him a small piece of paper. “Remember now?”
Those who have love and happiness, have wealth beyond measure.
Ryan looked down at the paper. This, he remembered. But Ryan couldn’t recall her. He looked up and soaked in her beauty.
What does it matter anyway
.
She was drop-dead gorgeous. He was going to make it a point to get to know her.
“Of course I remember.” Ryan smiled, trying to mask his lie. “But I don’t believe I remember your name.”
“That’s because you never asked for my name.”
“I didn’t? That’s a shame. I guess I was so intoxicated with your beauty that it slipped my mind,” Ryan said as he reached for her hand. “Well?”
“Charlene Diana,” she answered. “But from the moment I first laid eyes on you, I was hoping that it would be Mrs. Evans one day.”
He was in utter shock in her blatant reveal.
He squeezed her hand and looked her up and down. She was a perfect specimen as any, quite perfect enough for a queen. His retaliation plan to start his own family and fight for the ultimate supremacy in Manitou unfolded right then and there.