Dalir's Salvation (15 page)

“I’m done talking.” He pulled the tip of her breast into his mouth. The tight bud pressed to his tongue sent a sharp spike of lust through is gut.

“Oh.” Ari bowed off the mattress. “Wait. One more question. Please.”

He’d promised to tell her everything. Hadn’t he. Dalir eased his lips from her nipple. “What?”

“How old are you exactly?”

In Alandia, age meant nothing, but in the Earthly dimension youth was an obsession. He could give her the comparable number of years for her his age. Or he could stick with the new plan. Telling Ari the absolute truth. “I’m three hundred years old, give or take a few decades. Does that bother you?”

Her gaze reflected a mix of passion and bemusement. “No, but for someone so old, you—”

Dalir lifted her hips and entered her with one deep stroke. Her heat gripped him. Pleasure radiated down his spine. He pulled out to the tip of his cock. Her moans urged him to plunge back in. “You were saying?”

“Nothing.” Ari, sufficiently distracted, wrapped her legs high around his waist, “Absolutely nothing.”

* * * *

As Ari crept out of bed, the frame creaked.

Dalir remained asleep, lying on his back. The moonlight highlighted a softness in his face that only came with peaceful dreams.

She snagged his plaid button-down shirt from the floor and put it on. As she walked down the hall, little by little, the faint soreness in her thigh muscles eased. Three hundred years old. She suppressed a giggle. If he was this insatiable now what was he like in his twenties?

Ari found a glass in the kitchen and filled it with tap water. Clean, cool and crisp it soothed her dry throat. They’d had to address the issue about not using a condom in the tub. Her history was clean and her Depo shot was up-to-date. And well, he hadn’t been with anyone in decades. In her past relationships, using a condom wasn’t just about protection. It also signified the status of her relationship and meant a higher level of trust. Not using one was a huge step, and it had only happened once before Dalir. The guy who’d left after she’d told him about her gift. She’d regretted it then, but not with Dalir. Being with him didn’t feel frivolous. Something was developing, they just didn’t know how to define it yet.

She filled her glass again. Sipping slowly, she wandered into the living room. Ari flipped on the light switch.

A brass ceiling lamp with a fan lit up the room. Wide open. Uncluttered. Functional. It suited him. Light colored walls complemented the dark wood floors. A square navy couch, matching loveseat, and a natural wood coffee table dominated the room along with a brass based lamp on the side table. Except for the killer bathroom, what she’d seen of the two-bedroom cottage mirrored the same no frills decor. It did have a nice lived-in feel. She could easily imagine them enjoying breakfast in the intimate kitchen nook. Or see them cuddled up in front of the fireplace. And the hammock, what a perfect place to relax and sleep the day away.

If only they could have those things. No. She wouldn’t let herself get sad. What was that saying? Don’t worry about tomorrow. She’d enjoy the present with Dalir.

Ari strolled through the living room. The fragrance of freshly cut wood from the small pile near the fireplace hung appealingly in the air. She ran her palm over the smooth surface of the side table. Lemon oil. He must have used it to polish the furniture. She flopped down on the couch. No television or computer. He had to do something other than just sit. Maybe he brought books from the house to read. Overwhelmed with curiosity, she opened the drawer in the side table. Candles, matches. She brushed her fingers over the hilt of a sheathed knife. An infinity symbol was inlaid in the dark grip in what looked like mother of pearl. As Ari traced over the symbol, tingles crept up her finger. Strange. Enticing. Her intuition sensed a coming revelation in the same way it did when she touched someone.

The bed sheets rustled. “Ari?”

She took her hand from the dagger and eased the drawer shut. “In here.”

Dalir walked in. He leaned against the wall of the entryway to the living room. The waistband of his sweat pants rested on his hips, highlighting the light, downy hairs in the middle of his abdomen. Whiskers shadowed his jawline. His hair was mussed as if he’d raked it back several times with his fingers. Her heart flip-flopped in her chest. He was mouthwateringly gorgeous and all hers.

As Dalir gazed at her, he gave Ari a lopsided smile.

“What?” She smoothed her bangs. “Is my hair standing up? This is as good as it gets until I get back to my salon products and a curling iron.”

He ambled to the couch. “I was thinking how good you look sitting there.” He leaned down and brushed a kiss near her ear. “And how you look even better in my bed.”

The husky tone in his voice and the desire in his eyes bumped up her heart rate.

She took his hand and rose from the couch.

Dalir turned off the light. He led her back down the hall. His confident swagger indicated what was to come.

Giddiness sent flutters through her middle. Yep. Absolutely insatiable.

Ari spooned with Dalir on the bed. She could get used to this, every morning, forever, especially without the sheet now bunched up between them.

He wrapped an arm around her waist.

Ari caressed his forearm. A light sprinkling of hair tickled her fingers. Continuing upwards, she traced over the curve of his elbow, his bicep, the hem of his sleeve. Disappointment squashed desire. “You’re dressed.”

“And good afternoon to you, too.” He nuzzled her neck.

She tilted her head, giving him better access. “You know, we could have a fantastic afternoon if you took off your clothes and got back into bed.”

“So the truth comes out.” He placed feather-light kisses on her shoulder. “You’d like to tie me up and keep me in bed all day.”

“That’s not what I said, but thanks for the heads-up about your fantasies.”

He chuckled. Puffs of warm air, scented with coffee and mint, blew across her neck. “I’m only suggesting there are other parts of me that might be of interest.”

She pushed back. The long, firm shape of his arousal pressed against her butt. “I think you could be onto something. Keep going. I’m listening. Tell me more.”

“I have a good sense of humor.”

“Ha! Not quite, but I’m working on it.”

He nipped her earlobe. “Okay, if you don’t agree with that one, how about this?” He stroked down her arm, skipped to her waist, and teased low on her belly. “I’m good with my hands.”

“Oh, I’m definitely interested in knowing more about that.”

He cupped her breast. “I’ll show you later. We need to go outside while there’s a break in the rain.”

“Do we have to?” Ari faced him. She traced over his hard on underneath the zipper of his jeans. “I appreciate the great outdoors, but you naked is a much better view.”

“Nice try, but fresh air is good for you.” He pressed a quick kiss to her mouth and got up. “Get dressed. I want to show you something.”

“All right.” She whipped off the sheet and got up.

Dalir’s gaze trekked from her breasts to in between her thighs.

Encouraged to play the temptress, Ari stretched. She slowly stroked down her neck, over her breasts and hips. “You’re right. There isn’t one good reason for us to stay in this room. Looking at the trees is way more interesting than anything we could—”

He grabbed her hand and tugged her off balance.

She fell into him. His lips closed over hers in a demanding kiss. Shivers of pleasure made her gasp as the peaks of her sensitive breasts pressed against his T-shirt. She grazed her nails along the ripples in his abdomen. He took in a sharp breath, and she smiled against his lips. Continuing her exploration, she stroked the back of his waist, grabbed his butt and held on.

He cupped her face.

She ended the kiss with a nip at his lower lip.

Lust and a warning sparked in his gaze. “Playing games with me will get you into a lot of trouble.”

As she stepped away, she mocked him with a challenging smile. “Promises, promises.”

He went to pull her back into his arms.

She kept out of reach and strolled into the bathroom. “No way. Your loss. You told me to get dressed.”

Dalir shook his head and grinned. “You are pure trouble.”

She gave him her best saccharine sweet smile. “But you love me anyway.”

His expression sobered slightly.

Ari froze. “I mean love as in like, not, you know.”

An intensity filled his gaze, and his mouth curved upwards into a bone melting smile. “Yes. I do know. I’ll be in the kitchen. Don’t take too long.”

Ari closed the bathroom door. She leaned against it, waiting for her heart to slow down. She’d thrown out the L word. What was she thinking? It was way too soon to mention it less alone joke about it. They hadn’t been back together an entire week, and he’d just finished talking about his dead fiancée. Her timing sucked. But he hadn’t freaked out. Instead he’d shot her that sexy grin of his as if he was okay with it. They were laughing and having fun. Of course, he’d understood what she’d meant.

She turned on the shower. In the parking lot of The Song, she’d told him she wasn’t interested in a promise for the future. That hadn’t changed overnight, but one night had changed the course of Lauren and Celine’s lives with Reid and Thane. So it was possible, but did she want to travel down the path of something more permanent with Dalir? Was he even interested?

Ari hurried through her morning routine. She put on her, now, clean jeans and one of his long sleeved shirts. Then, she joined him in the kitchen.

“Ready?” He handed her a cup of coffee.

She took a sip. “Are you going to give me a hint about what’s going on?”

“No.” He plucked the cup from her fingers and planted a kiss on the tip of her nose. “You’ll see soon enough.”

He pulled her by the hand, and she followed him out the back French doors. Excitement, curiosity, and a touch of apprehension mounted with every step from the deck up to the small incline near the side of the house.

“The rocks are too slippery for tennis shoes.” He lifted his hand, stalling her objection. “I know you don’t want me to phase. I’ll carry you.” He turned and flexed his knees.

She climbed on his back. He caught her under her legs with his arms, while she embraced his neck.

He stood and adjusted her into a more comfortable position. “Relax. I won’t drop you.”

“There’s jagged rocks all over the place. Are you sure?”

“I got you.” Dalir pried her hand away from his neck. He kissed her palm. “I can do this in my sleep. All you have to do is hold on and don’t let go.”

He navigated the hill, carrying her as if she weighed nothing.

They reached the bottom.

She could have walked then, but she savored holding onto him. A skittish feeling moved through her. “I hate surprises.” She’d had more than her share over the past few days. Ari buried her face in the hair at his nape. She breathed in a spicy scent reminiscent of cinnamon and cedar.

He bounced her higher up. “You’ll like it.”

“Come on. Just tell me.” She nipped his ear.

He faked a stumble.

She screamed and punched his arm. “Not funny.”

His deep chuckle vibrated through his back. He walked through the tree line.

Shock took the breath right out of her. “What is this?” She unlocked her arms from his neck and slid down.

Trees with bright red pomegranates, golden pears, fat green apples, and bunches of yellow bananas lined the way. The smell of ripe strawberries drew her over to a healthy shrub laden with fruit. Ahead, she recognized tomato plants, carrot tops sprouting out of the dark soil and a winding cucumber vine. More plants, high and low, covered the land around them. All thrived side-by-side, in and out of season, heedless of the climate.

Ari brushed her fingers over the leaves of an orange tree. “All of this in the same place, how is it possible?”

“A bit of magic.” He embraced Ari from behind.

“Magic, seriously? Stop teasing.” Ari tried to twist around to look at him but his arms tightened. “Really, this is amazing. How did you do this? Special plant food or are you putting some type of fertilizer in the soil? I heard if you used—”

“I didn’t bring you here to discuss horticulture techniques.” He kissed the side of her neck. “The sun is out. It’s a beautiful day. I just thought you’d like the garden and enjoy the scenery.”

“I do. I am.” She spotted something past the trees. “What’s over there?”

Dalir released her. He gave her a lazy smile. “Why don’t you take a look?”

“Just tell me.”

“It’s a surprise.” He tugged her along.

A strange hot and cold breeze rushed over her. “Like I said—I don’t like surprises.”

He nudged her forward through the trees. “You’ll like this one.”

Limbs brushed her shoulders. Prickles of apprehension danced over her skin. But Dalir wouldn’t take her anywhere dangerous.

The trees parted revealing a grassy ridge. Tree covered mountains sat in the far distance. A crystal blue lake at the bottom of the ridge filled the space. Foreboding washed over her.

Dalir kissed behind her ear. “You’re shaking. Why?”

She melted back against him. “I don’t know.”

“You’re close, but you still haven’t found my surprise.”

“There’s more?”

He chuckled. “I’m going to start developing a complex if you keep up the paranoia.”

Sweeping aside the doom-and-gloom scenario coloring her thoughts, she latched onto the moment. “All right, lay it on me.”

He turned her to the left and pointed.

Giddiness prompted a laugh. “Pineapple.”

A blanket was spread in front of a tree stump. On top of it sat two of the golden fruit.

Dalir led her over.

She sat down on the blanket. Tears threatened, but she blinked them back. He’d remembered.

He knelt near the stump. “I harvested them this morning.” He pulled a knife out of the stump, then cut open one of the pineapples. As he sectioned the fruit, its fresh, ripe scent filled the air. Dalir gave her some.