West of Want (Hearts of the Anemoi) (25 page)

She gave him a small smile. “I know just what you mean.”

Her stomach growled. Then again. Zeph’s eyebrows flew up and he grinned. Ducking his face against her bare belly, he blew a loud kiss against her skin. Ella screamed and writhed, trying to get away as he did it again.

“Stop,” she said, laughing and squirming, her heart and mind alight with the wonder that was playful Zeph. He dove for her stomach again. “Uncle, uncle!”

He cocked his head at her, one eyebrow raised. “Uncle?”

“Yeah, you know, uncle. Stop.”

“You humans say the weirdest things.”

“Oh, it’s ‘us humans’ now, is it? At least we don’t poof.”

She didn’t even see him move. His whole length covered her and his mouth devoured her. “I told you,” he said in a breathy voice.

“Yeah, yeah,” Ella said rolling her eyes while parting her legs. “I know. You don’t poof.”

“I don’t poof. But I
do
do this.” He pushed into her. His hands found hers and pressed them to the bed by her shoulders, fingers entangled and holding tight.

It was sweetness and love. Face to face, trading soft kisses and affectionate encouragement, it was the most intimate moment of Ella’s life.

Afterward, they lay holding one another for a long time. Quiet and still, as if they were the only ones in the universe.

Head resting on her chest, Zeph said, “I have an idea. Will you give me a minute?”

“Sure,” Ella said, going into a full-body stretch as Zeph lifted off her. “Do you need some help?”

He pushed off the bed, the sunlight playing across the taut planes and cut muscles of his big body. Jesus, he was so fucking gorgeous. “No, and I won’t be long. Get dressed?”

She swung her legs off the bed. “Do I have time for a shower?”

His eyes narrowed. “Yes, just be quick, or I’ll be tempted to join you and then we’ll never get to my surprise.”

“And”—she rose and sauntered across to the door, putting an extra swing in her hips—“that would be bad because…?”

Dark blue light flared behind Zeph’s eyes. “You better go now.” Between his legs, the thick length of his cock twitched and grew.

Ella grinned and left. Curious and excited, she rushed through the shower and threw on the first clothes her hands could find—a pair of worn jeans and a Georgetown Sailing sweatshirt.

She flew downstairs and nearly crashed into him coming out of the kitchen.

“Whoa. That was fast,” he said, catching her. “Which is good, because I’m ready for you.”

“Mmm, that sounds nice.” On tiptoes, she pushed up and kissed him. She almost regretted that he’d materialized clothes from somewhere, but then again, she really did want to know what he had up his sleeve for her.

Smiling, Zeph broke the kiss first. He grabbed her shoulders and pointed her whole body toward the kitchen. Now that she wasn’t totally distracted by him, she felt a cool breeze blowing through the archway separating the rooms. His big hands covered her eyes.

“Er, whatcha doing?”

“Surprise, remember?”

Grinning, she nodded, well, as much as she could with his hands around her face. “Okay.”

They laughed and stumbled as he led her forward. The drop in temperature and outdoor sounds indicated they’d stepped onto the back porch. She was nearly giddy with excitement and anticipation.

“Step down twice,” he said, and she did, familiar enough with the house now that she could picture where they were in her mind. He walked her a few steps further then stopped. “Ready?”

“Yes!”

“Surprise.” He released his hands and stepped to her side. On the ground, spread under a just-budding cherry tree, was a blanket laden with colorful fruits, crusty breads, a half-dozen types of cheese, and a platter of carved ham and turkey. In the center of it all was a bowl of green M&Ms.

She sucked in a breath. “How in the world did you do all this?”

Cheeks adorably pink, he shrugged one big shoulder. “I can poof stuff, remember?”

Free, joyous laughter bubbled up out of her chest. “It’s very handy.” She pulled him into her arms, careful to avoid where she knew the bandage lay on his back. “Thank you. This is lovely. And I’m starved.”

He returned her hug and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Me too. Come on.”

Ella’s eyes didn’t know where to go first, it was all so beautiful. She picked up the bowl of M&Ms. “How did you know?” she asked, popping two candies in her mouth.

“You only ever ate the green ones.” He set out a plate and linen napkin in front of each of them.

“I can’t believe you noticed that.”

“I notice everything about you, love. You mean the world to me.”

Her cheeks warmed at the intensity of his words, his gaze. “I love you, Zephyros. Thank you for all this.”

“It’s my pleasure. Now, let’s eat.”

They made small talk as they filled their plates to heaping. Ella suddenly couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten and somehow one of everything appeared on her plate. Red, ripe strawberries, succulent pineapple, sweet mango, and juicy nectarines were among her favorite fruits. She spread creamy brie on fresh-baked French bread and added a slice of roasted turkey.

Zeph swallowed a bite and pointed at her shirt. “Did you go to school there?”

Ella had to glance down to remember what she was even wearing. “Oh, yeah. I went to Georgetown for college. Marcus and I both did. Typical twins, we stuck together even when we went away for school. Plus, they have a nationally ranked sailing team, so we could still pursue the sport, and in waters we generally knew. My parents lived here in Annapolis then, so Georgetown was just far enough away to feel independent, but close enough to come home for some of my mom’s famous French toast or to do some free laundry.” She smiled. God, those days seemed so far away.

Zeph listened attentively while he ate, like he was memorizing every detail of her history. “And, your parents, they died?”

“Yeah, but how did you—”

“Oh. Right. Uh, I was with you in the hospital. I heard the nurses say you had no known family. Apparently, someone at the marina told the paramedics your immediate family was gone.”

“I thought I’d dreamed you,” Ella said, remembering her first hazy images of him. She met his gaze, his eyes a brighter blue in the late-day sun. “I’m so glad you weren’t a dream.”

“I’m not, Ella. I’m real. And this is real, what we have.”

She smiled and her stomach flip-flopped. “I know.” Sighing, she added, “My parents died in a car accident toward the end of our sophomore year. The anniversary is actually in a couple weeks. Anyway, a tractor-trailer ran them off a highway just before an overpass. They didn’t have anywhere to go but into the concrete supports. At least that’s what Marcus managed to learn from the police reports. I couldn’t read them.”

“That’s horrible. And you were so damn young. I’m sorry.”

“I wouldn’t have gotten through it without Marcus. Legally, we were adults when it happened. But we’d just turned twenty, and in that moment, I sure didn’t feel like a grown-up. As if we hadn’t already been close, their deaths really brought us together. Marcus bought the
True Blue
with money we’d inherited. It was our twenty-first birthday present, and we spent a lot of time on that boat together. Out on the water, fighting the wind”—she gave him a small smile—“it was easier not to think about it.”

“I would’ve liked to meet Marcus,” Zeph said.

The idea of it was bittersweet. “I would’ve loved for you to meet him. He was a great person, strong and generous and kind.”

“You had a lot in common, then.”

Ella smiled and glanced around the yard. Every green thing seemed so much brighter and fuller than she remembered from the other day. She sighed. “I don’t know. He was much stronger than me.”

“I don’t know how that could be. You’re one of the strongest, most courageous people I’ve ever met.”

Ella rolled her eyes but smiled despite herself. She pushed her plate away. “I’m stuffed.”

Together, they moved the plates and platters and baskets of leftover picnic food to the edge of the blanket. They’d be eating well for the next few days.

Zeph stretched out on his side and it took him a minute to get settled.

“You still hurting?”

“It’s getting better.”

“M&Ms will help. Here.” She handed him the bowl and stretched out on her side facing him.

He smiled and threw a few candies in his mouth. “Mmm, I think you might be right. Better have a few more to be sure.” He grabbed a handful and picked at them. Ella adored the way his eyebrows went up each time he ate one. It was possible he rivaled her in his enjoyment of the candies. They might want to take stock in the company.

“So, when is your birthday, anyway?”

“Oh.” Ella couldn’t hold in a small groan. With everything else going on, she’d pretty much forgotten. It wasn’t like she’d been expecting to celebrate it anyway. “If I tell you, you have to promise not to do anything.”

“I don’t want to promise that.”

“Come on, Zeph.” She rubbed his arm. “Just having you, I already have everything I want. And you just arranged this beautiful picnic for us.”

“When is your birthday, Ella?”

“Can I distract you with a kiss?”

He grinned. “You can always distract me with a kiss, but I’m still going to want to know when your birthday is.”

She sighed and grabbed more M&Ms. Her stomach was going to burst soon, but the sensation of satiation was so gratifying for once. “Fine. It’s tomorrow.” She picked at her candies.

He leaned into her line of sight. “Your birthday is tomorrow?”

“Mmm-hmm. March 31
st
.”

His eyes were alive with wonder. “That’s extraordinary.”

“Why?”

“Not only were you born in the month for which I was named, but by the old calendar, you’d be a new year’s baby. March 31
st
was the last day of the new year’s celebration back when March 25
th
was the start of the year.”

“Really? That’s kinda cool.” She shrugged. “Well, I’ve always liked March because it was my birthday. And because I like the rain. And now I guess I have another reason.” She grinned at him and held up an M&M. “Open.”

Obeying, the light in his eyes went molten. He accepted the candy and pulled her in against him. Ella savored the combination of Zeph’s natural masculinity with the chocolate. It was divine. She smiled at the thought as they kissed, but then his tongue stole her ability to think.

She reclined against the blanket and he followed. The kiss was sweet with a whole lot of promise of more to come. But, for just that moment, neither rushed, neither pushed. She was entirely content to lay there outside on a blanket enjoying Zeph and the late afternoon spring air. And she could tell from the satisfied sounds he made, he felt the same way.

Something tickled her hand where it held the back of Zeph’s head. She was so deep into him, she didn’t think anything of it until it happened again. And then something brushed her cheek.

She pulled away. “I felt something.”

“What?”

“I don’t kn—” The words died in her throat. She gasped and pushed out from underneath Zeph. “Oh, my god.” Perfectly formed cherry blossoms fluttered from the tree.

The rose bush that had bloomed out of turn a few days before now had a whole lot of company. The entire garden was in full bloom.

The huge canopy of the cherry tree above them was cotton-candy pink. All along the rear fence, the hyacinths stood like sentinels in a row, their white, pink, and purple buds releasing the most fragrant perfume. Ancient azalea bushes dotted the yard in reds and whites. Lilies and crocuses and bluebells and tulips and larkspurs and pansies, not to mention all the other flowers she couldn’t name, filled every corner of the garden with color.

“How…?” was all she could manage. She rose to her feet and turned in a three-sixty, right there standing on the blanket. Not only had the whole garden bloomed, apparently spontaneously, it seemed more vibrant and full of life than ever before.

And then she knew.

Zeph sat reclined on the blanket, braced against his arms, watching her. His eyes were as bright as she’d ever seen them, so alive with that magical light. “You overwhelm me.” He shrugged and looked up at the brilliant pink above them. “It’s hard to restrain myself when I’m with you. This time, I didn’t bother to try.”

“You did this?” He nodded. “Don’t you dare get me a birthday present, Zephyros. Nothing could top this.”

She walked around the garden, inhaling the heady floral scents down deep and brushing her hand over the full, heavy blossoms, each one more beautiful than the next. As she took it all in, she felt his gaze on her and didn’t mind in the least. She wanted him to know how much she appreciated the incredible gift of his magic.

After she made a circuit around the garden, she stretched back out on the blanket. They laid on their sides, hands joined and his knee tucked between her thighs. “Thank you. You’ve given me the most wonderful day.”

“It pleases me to make you happy.”

Ella shivered.

“Are you getting too cold?”

The sun had dropped in the sky, drawing down the temperature and leaving more shadows than light across the verdant gardens. But Ella’s body had more been reacting to the miraculous turn her life had taken these past few days. “I’m fine. And I don’t want to give this up yet.”

“You don’t have to, we’re in no rush.”

She dozed off for a while, so comfortable in his arms, and only awoke as he lifted her off the blanket. “Your back,” she whispered, groggy.

“I’m being careful.”

“‘kay.” Her eyes were so heavy. She pressed her face against his chest. “Love the flowers.”

He chuckled. “I’m glad.”

Upstairs, she forced herself to wake up enough to use the bathroom, brush her teeth, and change clothes. She was almost asleep again when she fell into bed. Zeph opened his arm to her and pulled her back against his chest. As she drifted, she swore she could smell the perfume of the garden. “Did you open the window?” she mumbled.

“Yeah. I thought you might like it. Is it okay?”

“Love it. Love you,” she managed, and she fell into the most peaceful sleep and hopeful dreams she’d had in years.