Waves of Change (World Above Water, Book 1) (13 page)

“You watched her operate?” Chris sounded surprised, and Daniel could picture him staring with wide eyes.

“They have these viewing rooms where students and other doctors can watch the operation and ask questions. You’ll see when you get here.”

“Hmm, sounds … sounds like work. You’ll have to forgive me if I don’t want to spend my off time looking at people’s organs.”

“It’s not like work, trust me.” Daniel wasn’t thinking of something gory or disturbing. He was proud. He didn’t know how to hide that pride and didn’t think he’d have to.

“I think your lack of sex has warped your perception of reality, my friend. I’m going to blame the
Enaal
bond for this. It’s made you lose it!”

“If a lack of sex caused insanity, then you’d need to be admitted to an asylum.” Daniel chuckled into the phone and turned the chair in half circles.

“That was a low blow. How can I even think about it when I’m running all over with these missions? And now I’m running on
your
missions. You could at least perform the
Ber-yh-ahnaal
so I could pull some decent images through your water. Selfish bastard.”

“Chris, don’t make me hurt you.”

“I’m just saying.”

“Don’t let me catch you trying to steal images of my
Dau-Hael
from my water. I will kick your ass.”

“Pfft, like I’d get caught.” Chris laughed loudly into the phone, and Daniel could hear the sound of him slapping his knee in the background.

Daniel shifted his thoughts to something more pleasant, and a large smile curved his lips. “How would you like to be my best man?”

“I’m already the best man, you know. What a dumb question, seriously.”

“Captain, this concept is cleared for takeoff. Roger that. Gaining altitude. Captain, there seems to be a large head on radar. Copy that. Prepare to take this concept over his head. Roger that.”

“Daniel…”

“Yes?”

“Do you know how much I freaking hate you sometimes?”

“Like a sperm whale hates squid.” Daniel chuckled to himself as he sensed realization wash over Chris. “I think he’s got it!”

“Wait… Did you just…? You mean you… Are you serious? And she…?”

“Welcome to story time with Chris. Today’s lesson is on incomplete sentences!”

“
Enki-ak-si lilu
, Daniel. Shut the hell up and tell me when this happened!”

Daniel paused to laugh at his stunned friend before he continued speaking. “How does one shut the hell up and tell you details at the same time?”

“Bite me!”

Daniel continued to chuckle into the phone. “So is that a yes or a no?”

“Like you’d have to ask. I can’t believe you. So when you told her, what did she say? Was she confused? Excited? Pissed? Ha—”

“Chris, I swear to
Enki
. One question at a time.”

“Show me.”

“No, Chris. It was private.”

“Show me, Daniel. I want to see her face.” He could feel Chris reaching out to his water through the cup, and he pulled his fingers from the liquid. “No.”

“Daniel…”

“Chris…”

“
Tai ikamu
! You have to make everything so difficult.”

“I know.” Daniel laughed while Chris let out a long sigh.

“Congratulations. I am unbelievably happy for you, but I’m not sure what you’re going to do when she has to meet your mom.”

Daniel winced as he realized he would have to tell his mother about their engagement, and then protect Alicia from her constant request for grandchildren. “Maybe Dad will—”

“Be smart and head outside with me and have a beer. We’re not involved. You’re on your own with that one!”

“Wuss.”

“Say what you want, but it won’t be my
Dau-Hael
on the spot. I wonder how long it will take for Mrs. Winters to embarrass her?” Chris sounded like he was enjoying teasing him, and Daniel pictured the smile on his face.

“True.”

“You’re a lucky man, Daniel. Try not to screw things up with the mother of my children, okay?”

* * * *

“Grant, why hasn’t there been any progress?” King Davidus paced his throne room. As he walked across the liquid floor, the surface rippled, creating waves larger than they should be for normal footsteps.

He is angry. I must speak carefully.
“Your Highness, she rejected our offer based on the parameters of the deal.”

“Explain.” Davidus stood still, but the water beneath his feet continued to pulse and undulate.

“As you command, Your Highness. She was averse to the fact that she could not select her own staff or equipment. She also felt the research in question did not conform to standard practices.” Grant kept his head bowed and waited for further instructions.

“How do you plan to remedy this?”

“Your Highness, we sent a revised version of the deal to her for consideration, but I cannot be certain she has read it. I will attempt to meet with her face-to-face to negotiate. She was unavailable on my first visit, but I will return, and I have agents in rotating posts along her routes. Does that meet with your satisfaction, my king?”

“We need to test her to be certain she is the one. All of our data indicates she is, but I need to know for sure. If you cannot get her to accept, bring her to me and we will try other methods.”

“It shall be as you say, Your Highness.”

“Grant.”

“Your Highness?” Grant raised his eyebrows and studied Davidus’ face. When his sovereign pulled the right corner of his mouth into a half smile, he felt a rush of adrenaline.
Something tells me I’m going to like this.

“See if you can appeal to her in other ways. Do whatever it takes to get the sample. Even if she does not accept, you can influence her as you are capable. We may even get more than we need if you take that approach.”

“It will be my pleasure, Your Highness.” Grant felt his lips spread into a smile as he imagined what would happen if he could get Alicia alone so he could manipulate her water. His throat went dry as he imagined how she’d respond to him, and waves of desire moved through his water.

“I’m certain it will be.” Davidus morphed the water below him into a cylinder-like tendril. He stood in the center of it and lifted himself to the second level of his throne room. There were computers and other equipment there, and he peered into a monitor with interest.

“Your Highness, may I make a request?”

“Speak.” His ruler looked down at him and clasped his hands behind his back.

“When you have obtained all you need from her, may I keep her?” The more he’d learned about Alicia in his research, the more fascinated he became. He had never spent time with a genius, and he was as curious about her mind as he was about her body.

“I don’t see why not. It will be a reward for your hard work. Perhaps that will quicken your pace.”

“I live to serve you, Your Highness.”

* * * *

When Alicia let her family and friends know about her engagement, everyone was thrilled. After the news sank in, she had a chance to catch up with her friends. She sat in her kitchen with them, taking bets on who could guess the date Cara would go into labor.

Cara sat with a hand on her large belly and a frown on her face. She looked uncomfortable as she sipped water and huffed and puffed. “Just wait until it’s your turn, you guys!” Cara winced, and Alicia got up to fill her empty glass.

“Well, I guess it’s my turn then.” Bethany covered her mouth with one hand and fanned at her tearful eyes with the other.

Everyone in the room turned wide-eyed stares to Bethany and sat in silence for long moments. The women all screamed in unison and rushed from their seats at the table to hug their friend.

The ladies were still laughing and talking when the front door opened. An eerie silence fell over the room as Daniel walked in, closed the door, and stopped in his tracks. He watched the faces of the ladies staring back at him, his eyes wary. His gaze moved back and forth between the ladies and the door. “Want me to walk out and come back in?”

The ladies erupted into more laughter, and Alicia sensed his confusion about the joke.
“Am I missing something, beautiful?”

“Mm-hmm, a vagina.”

“There are so many places I could go with that.”
Daniel walked into the kitchen and kissed Cara on the cheek. “Hanging in there, mama?”

“I’m trying. Li Li keeps an eye on me.”

Daniel moved to Bethany and kissed her on the cheek as well. He always seemed happy to see her, and he’d smile at her often. After he gave her the small kiss, he stared at her for a moment before looking to Alicia.
“Is she well?”

“Yes, why?”
Alicia looked at Bethany, and then back to Daniel and tilted her head.

“Her water seems different.”

“She’s pregnant.”

“Tell me out loud so I can congratulate her.”
He seemed excited, and he waited for her to make the announcement before he put down the groceries and embraced her. “Congratulations, Bethany! That’s great news!”

“Thank you, Daniel. Doug and I are excited.”

“Hey, where are our hugs and kisses, Daniel?” Paula and Vivica poked out their lips and made kissing noises. Daniel walked over to the two of them and turned their faces toward each other.

“Okay, when I have the dream, you are here and you start to kiss there!”

Olivia rolled her eyes at the scene, even though she looked as if she was barely able to hold in her laughter. Her shoulders shook and her lips twitched. Everyone joined in the levity while Daniel put the groceries away. When he finished, he headed upstairs.

The conversation soon shifted to the plans for the upcoming wedding, and each of them noted their responsibilities.

“Cara, you get a pass; I don’t think you’ll make it to next week.” Olivia looked at her and turned her lips into a frown before reaching across the table to squeeze her wrist.

Alicia held her heavily pregnant friend’s hand in support and offered a small smile.

“Li Li, I want to help, but I also hope Olivia’s right. This is uncomfortable!”

“Beautiful?”

“Hmm?”

“Why does Cara call you Li Li?”

“It’s Mandarin, her native language; it means ‘pretty pretty.’ She called me that because I always had bows or barrettes in my hair when I was a little girl. She liked the accessories.”

“I like it, but I’ll stick with beautiful.”

* * * *

“Mmmm, beautiful.” Daniel’s eyes rolled back as Alicia swirled her tongue around the tip of his swollen head. His reactions emboldened her, and she alternated between teasing flicks and sucking him into her mouth. Without warning, she would take all of him inside before pulling back to lick and suck on the skin of his sac. With varying pressure, she paid close attention to the seam when she made each pass.

He tastes so … so …
There was a quality to the flavor of his skin she couldn’t place. It reminded her of fresh rain with a hint of sweetness. Every time she laved her tongue against him she tasted it, and she found herself wanting to savor this unique aspect of him.

She didn’t let her taste buds distract her from her purpose, and she moved down on him, bobbing her head with a steady pace. She allowed him farther into her throat with each descent, and when his hips bucked up to meet her, she increased her suction.

Daniel’s moans and curses fed her efforts, and she gripped the base of his shaft with one hand and pressed him down onto the mattress with the other.

When she looked up, she could see his tortured expression. The sight of him, his vocalizations, and the feel of his pleasure through his water had an effect on her, and she felt her muscles spasm. When he gripped the sheets, she increased her pace and countered the movement of her head with her hand.
He’s close. Hell, I’m close!

“
Do-ainaa-an
!” Daniel yelled the words as he erupted into her mouth. The feel of his hot seed did nothing to dissuade her, and she continued to pull on him until there was nothing left.

The taste of his skin was one thing, but the flavor of his essence was on another level. The mixture was both sweet and savory all at once. The consistency was thin, almost watery, and it danced on her tongue, stimulating her in a way that made her hypersensitive.

“
Tai ikamu
!” His voice was breathy and a little hoarse as he moved his head from side to side.

She released him and smiled, her face still hovering over him. “
Tai ikamu
?” He didn’t respond out loud; instead, he shared the meaning with her through her water. She rolled her eyes and shook her head, and her smile widened. “Why don’t you just say shit? It’s fewer syllables.”

“I’ll say whatever you want me to say if it means you’ll keep doing that.” He extended a hand to her, and the dreamy look in his eyes gave her a feeling of satisfaction.
Oh yeah, I put it on him.

“How can you take it so deep without gagging?”

“Someone’s watched too much porn.” She chuckled and crawled to her side of the bed. “My gag reflex isn’t that sensitive.”

“I am a lucky, lucky man.”

*

Alicia punched him in the arm and snuggled up next to him. Daniel wasted no time and promptly began to caress her breasts and tug her nipples. Her breaths changed as he aroused her, and he moved closer so the side of her body was pressed against him. A few minutes of watching her wriggle in response to his teasing made him grow hard again, and he began licking her breast while his fingers searched her folds.

Alicia’s juices flowed for him, and he moaned with her nipple in his mouth. After slipping two fingers inside her, he made slow passes in and out, delighting in the sounds she made as a result of his ministrations. He felt the waves of pleasure move through her, and he sensed her nerves firing. Every time they made love, he felt closer to her, and he was addicted to the feeling. He swirled his tongue around the darker skin of her left areola before he moved to her right, and he reveled in the feel of her body as she writhed beneath him.