Chapter eighteen
“It’s like a rainbow under water!”
Elanor watched the water like a delighted child. Each shift of movement made her sight gravitate towards a different direction.
“Oh! Oh look at that!” She leaned over further; her face inches from the water. Black and white striped fish shimmered in the sun light, flickering glints of light off their scales every time they switched directions. Yellows, blues, reds, any and all colors flit beneath the surface.
Derek pointed. “There’s another one.” He said before submerging under water. When he reappeared, a giant shell emerged with him. She waded through the water to him, looking over the pink and white shell.
“This one is much bigger than the last one!” She accepted it from him so she could take a better look. Its lip spiked with small pointed pieces though the inside of it felt smooth. Her fingers slid along it towards the inside, liking it‘s texture.
She gave a startled cry of surprise when a suction sound and water spit out at her. Throwing it away from her the splash sent droplets on them both.
“Ah, that one was occupied.” He laughed.
“Yes, by a slimy wet thing!”
“They tend to be wet in the water.” He flashed a teasing grin, his firm lips forming into a boyish expression that she knew well. She rolled her eyes at him, laughing. “Yes but this was slimy and wet. Two things combined that make even the bravest person squirm.”
“They don’t make me squirm, Miss.” He said in an exaggerated deep voice flexing his arm muscles.
“Nothing makes you squirm, Sir.” She giggled without realizing. Despite herself, Elanor found herself having fun.
“Some things do make me squirm.” It had been just a hint to his tone but it was enough to make the butterflies flutter in her belly. His arresting smile and charm could captivate her so easily. She teetered a little with the shifting sand under the water not giving much support to her now jelly legs.
“So he doesn’t use the rat for dark magic?” Purposely she changed the subject back to Zo. At the moment dark magic was the lesser of the dangerous topics.
“No. He was on a ship from Aprica and from what he told me- a lot of sadness, fear, anger attracted it. Zo used his magic to trap the Enity in a rat that had been nearby. I guess it amuses him to keep it around.” Derek shrugged look at the crystal clear water looking for more animals. “Look how bright yellow that one is.” He pointed to a flash of yellow in the water. “There’s usually a large school of those up there.”
Elanor looked towards the large rock he pointed at in the water down the shore line. “They seem to like whatever grows around it. Come on, I’ll show you.” He started wading through the waist deep water heading towards the rock. She followed, the sand shifting under their feet making progress a bit slow.
Elanor watched him navigate the water with grace and dexterity. His muscles flexed in his smooth bronzed back as strong arms shifted with the motions. The sun had bleached his hair in the short time they’d been on the Island. His light brown cropped hair now held hints and streaks of blonde. When her mind wandered to when her fingers weaved through the short strands, a new disruptive sensation developed. He wasn’t looking so she was safe from him knowing the sudden spark of arousal he’d managed to invoke inside her. She’d just got caught up into the moment is all. She couldn’t be blamed for animal attraction but she needed to restrain it.
Diving into the water, she began swimming at a leisure pace towards the rock jutting out of the water. He took example of her idea and soon he was keeping pace beside her. The water warm like silk as they cut even strokes through it.
She noticed his speed increased slightly, doing the same to keep in time with him. Elanor saw the grin on his face as each time he increased his speed, realizing he was challenging her. She grinned too. They raced towards the rock, keeping even now and then, though one would take the lead over the other.
When they reach the rock, it ended with a tie.
“I could have beat you, but I figured it was gentlemanly to let you tie me.” He boasted trying to catch his breath.
“I didn’t know we were racing, if I had, I’d have swept past you.”
“Alright Ela, let’s see you try. We swim from here to shore.” A boyish grin on his handsome face as he laid out the terms. “First one standing on the beach wins.”
“Sounds fair to me.” She crouched her upper body, readying for it.
“Hold on. What’s the stakes?” He asked.
“Stakes?” She stood up right again.
“Yes, what shall we bet on?”
They’d always placed bets on their challenges. Sometimes they would be silly bets where they just wanted to see who would win at the challenge. Sometimes, they were high staked bets where each thought they could honestly out do the other and get something they normally wouldn’t out of each other. She could see it would be a high stake bet. And she knew without him saying it, he had a high stake already in mind.
“Two full days of no ball and chain if I win.” She said.
May as well bet big, she thought, he’s going to.
“If I win, when you kiss me, it has to be a real kiss. No holding back. Like- we used to kiss.”
Her heart lurched at the idea of kissing him willingly. There had been a time when the awkwardness of being inexperienced had passed and familiarity had made their kissing almost primal. His bet meant it be like that if he won.
She eyed the distance to the shore.
Taking a deep breath, she gambled. “Deal.” Elanor knew she could beat him. He maybe a strong swimmer, but so was she. And she had magic on her side. She just had to focus her intent. This of all things should be easy for a water elemental witch, right? They prepared themselves, crouching to dive.
Excitement and anticipation jolted through her. “This is going to be like the pasture.” She said bringing up a past race she’d won.
“No my darling, this is going to be nothing like the pasture. I’m going to cannon right past you.”
Taunting was part of the thrill. They both enjoyed the challenge and the prospect of making the other admit the victor. One of the things she had always liked about Derek had been that he’d challenged her. Never holding back. Of course if he won, he didn’t hold back then either. But neither did she.
“Ready?” He asked after they’d had a moment to prepare.
“Ready.” She answered.
They launched into the water when he said go. She pumped her arms and legs, cutting through the water. Her strokes short. Her kicks rapid. They began close, neck and neck.
Elanor focused her energy into the swimming.
She told herself to think of swimming like a fish and for a moment she gained on him. Thrilling energy surged through her as magic aided her movements. She was doing it! Even her cotton dress lighter then her usual apparel felt like a second skin. But he dug harder into his strokes; gaining back the distance to be even with her. Elanor’s confidence began to fade and the energy began to burn faster than she could focus. Panic overcame the positive energy and the feeling of wane began to take hold.
He broke out of the water just before her, beating her by seconds. After securing his victory by standing, he dropped to his knees breathing hard.
“That was close.” He said after gulping in air. Water dripped down his face and chest, streaming in wet paths over his tanned muscles. His hand rose to push through his hair sending droplets everywhere.
“Not close enough.” She replied when enough air supplied her own lungs. Disappointment heavy in her heavy breaths. For a moment she though she’d figured out another way to harness her magic.
“It was an honest try. Had me worried I may lose!” He said, offering his hand to help her up after he’d done so. Elanor took it, getting to her feet and conceding. “You are the better swimmer.” Her competitive side rearing its head. She had to get stronger in both her magic and physical strength to match him. She’d square off with him again, of that, he could be sure. Taking in bigger gulps of air, she noticed a glint to his eye, which moved entirely too slowly down her body. She expected him to taunt her now that he’d been a good sport.
“Have I complimented your dress today?” He drawled instead.
The comment baffled her. She tilted her head sending her wet locks to shift over her shoulder and back. As she spoke her eyes drifted down.
“It’s just a -oh!” The dress heavy with water actually did act like a second skin. The light color of the fabric see through now. The perch of her breasts were highly visible.
“Stop that!” She squeaked ripping her hand from his helping her up to cross her arms over her chest.
“Kissing. I agreed to kissing.” She warned.
“Looking is not against the rules.” He said swaggering away.
“Come on, there’s some rocks we can lay on to dry off. Won’t take long. You can pretend to be a siren luring ships to their doom!”
She scowled at his back, following him down the white sandy beach. The flat rocks were warm when they climbed up them. She noticed random shells and also clusters that reminded her of the Fae. Did Sprites or Fairies live on the Island as well? A Dragon, magic casters and a dark Entity. She’d seen more magic dwellers here than she ever did growing up in NewLlyn or Sweetlace! What an extraordinary place!
She lay back once he did bending his arm over his eyes. The sun blanketing its beams down on them; the breeze light, it all made for a cozy feeling. The air had returned to normal in her lungs, even content breaths came now.
“Better?” He murmured.
She closed her eyes, enjoying the sun’s warmth. “Much.”
Neither talked as they lay on the rock. The silence almost too much for her knowing that soon she’d have to fill her debt to him. Her heart increased in beat when feeling a brush to her arm. It hadn’t been him though. A small crab crawled beside her, touching her with its claw as it explored.
“This is our rock friend.” She said pushing it off. Elanor watched it plunk into the water, scattering dozens of the yellow fish to shoot off in different directions. She leaned towards the water to watch them.
“Yes, I do believe that is my new favorite dress.” She glanced over her shoulder. Derek had propped up on his elbows, regarding her back with a lazy grin. Her gaze dropped to the curve of her bottom. Though the rock held warmth, it didn’t have the power of the breeze to dry quickly.
“Stop staring at all my lady parts!” She slapped his leg, turning towards him to hide her back side now. Her front dry enough that it didn’t feel as scandalizing for him to stare. His gray eyes roamed freely still though, making her feel as though she were naked before him.
“Why not? You have lovely lady parts.” His smile as intimate as a kiss. Elanor’s breath caught, sure this would be when he’d take his payment for the shackle being off and the stake attached to it. But he only gave her another lazy smile then lay back against the rock.
She frowned. “Are you trying to drag out your victory?” Elanor didn’t like it when he did that, her tone indicating if he were he’d better resolve it soon.
“The agreement was… you would kiss me.” He said. Now she understood. He was waiting for her. But now that she knew that, Elanor felt shy and fought nerves. She tried to work up the courage to do so, but every time she prepared to lean over him, her heart started to race. She couldn’t do it.
Lifting up onto her feet, she got off the rock walking on the sand while trying to sooth herself. A gentle brushing to her fingers slowed her pace. He’d followed her off the rock which she already knew would happen. She’d just needed some time to put it all in perspective. His fingers traced a line up her arm to touch the curve of her face. Lowering to his knees, his gray eyes never left hers as he drew her down to join him. They knelt together in the sand, her inner courage being brought out by his gentle touching. Her chin tilted to brush her lips softly over his. The warmth of his arms encased Elanor in strength and encouragement. She allowed herself to melt against him. He purposely didn’t respond, making her take the lead in the kissing.
She couldn’t take his inactivity though. It prompted her to move her hands from his jaw, smoothing around to the back of his head to lace fingers in his golden brown hair. Finger nails dragged gently as her lips worked a little more daringly over his. Furthering the kiss by parting her lips slightly. Her tongue teased the line of his lower lip, tasting, prompting, encouraging.
“Ela.” He breathed against her mouth. His lips became now urgent against hers, fierce in their possessive claim. She felt his fingers on her back, demanding for her to be nearer. Her soft curves melted perfectly to his unyielding muscles. His hands moved over her shoulders, pushing her back onto the sand. She lay beneath him, adjusting so that he fit comfortable for them both. In her head, Elanor knew they were fast approaching the line of no return.
“Kiss, the deal was a kiss.” She managed to say against his mouth. He turned his head to nuzzle her neck, brushing his lips against the tender skin there causing spirals of pleasure.
“Does it matter?” His voice like pure silk.
“Yes.” She forced out.
“Give me a moment longer, my darling, it won‘t.”
Elanor groaned in protest, though her efforts to push him off were weak. Her body betrayed what her mind told her would be hard to come back from. But her body tempted by the setting and his all too familiar passion. She couldn’t get enough of his touch. It was maddening.
Derek moved from her neck, to the valley of her breasts, taking care to nuzzle each. When she didn’t speak, he lifted his head to grasp a hard nipple with his lips through the material of her dress. Gasping, she instinctively arched against his mouth. “Derek…” She moaned. His hand hooked beneath her dress, drawing up her thigh as his lips came back to meet hers.
His touch grew more intense, rougher, more demanding. The dormant desire had been awaken. The part of her that remembered how it felt to be in his arms. To long and ache for him. It shocked and thrilled her how easily the barrier of keeping her head about this had been broken through. Goddess help her, she dangerously was falling into the spell he’d weaved on her. All she had to do was shift, to lay back and he would put out the flame smoldering deep inside her body. But if she relented now, if she gave into that need- she’d never convince him that she had to go north. No matter what she wanted, it wouldn’t be right for her to stay here. She would be betraying her family and everything they’d gone through.
How could she do that to them again and live with herself?
“Wait.” She managed to croak. He lifted his head, gray eyes sharp in color and intensity.
“Elanor.” He brushed her hair from her face. “There isn’t any reason at all that we shouldn’t. We’re meant for each other. I know you still feel that way too. You’re fighting the wrong battle.”
She choked up. Hot tears surprisingly stung her eyes. “I can’t. Why can’t you understand I can’t?”
A flash of wild disappointment dominated his features as he pulled away from her.
She sat up, hugging her legs to her and rubbing her moonstone pendant with the chain dangling.
“Whatever is holding you back, you need to stop letting it hold you back from being happy.” He said with obvious restraint. “Because I was there with you. Constance and your Grandmother were there with you too. None of us knew and we’re not to blame for not being there to help-”
“I asked them! I asked them to do those things. I asked you as well! I shouldn’t have been so impulsive and rushed our union. I could have waited for the marriage under the King’s law. I could have! Five of us together might-”
“Five inexperienced magic casters? You were just starting to learn spells that normal casters know. And they were silly candle lighting and kitchen magic spells because everyone was afraid the five of you would be discovered as witches. Do you even see what fear has done to you?” His earnest and reason started to chip at her blame for herself but he didn’t account for what they were truly. The five fold generation. Five sisters with elemental power. But not like the generations before them.
“You know we are different. And all together, with my Mother’s help…”
Derek’s frustration felt physical. He threw down his hand at nothing and turned his back towards her. “Just because past elemental casters did worldly things doesn’t mean your generation will or could. Just look what happened with the dragon. You didn’t abandon you family or throw them to the hunter. Why can’t you see that? Why must you take it all onto yourself?”
He didn’t understand that she’d been the sole reason all of them hadn’t been there that night. She’d caused the chain reaction. There would have been two carriages and five of them to face this man who had stopped her family on the road. Elanor had played in her head so many times what she would have done. What she would have said. How different the outcome would have been, if she’d only been there. When she didn’t answer him, Derek left her on the beach resting her head to her knees. She couldn’t afford for it to come to this again. Her heart wouldn’t be able to take it the constant battle between it and her mind for much longer.