“Oh my God,” Vivien said when she opened her eyes. It was ludicrous that a kiss would put her life into perspective, but something deep inside her seemed to have come alive.
“That was inappropriate—I’m sorry,” Kai said but didn’t move away.
“Don’t say that. It’s not like you forced yourself on me.” She’d never begged for anything in her life, but she’d be willing to now. This had been like someone opening a door and saying “this is the promised land,” then slamming the door in your face. “I wanted you to do that.”
“Don’t think I didn’t want to—I did, but maybe this isn’t the best time.”
“I’m sorry, but the company and whatever all these things are don’t take precedence over this,” she said, placing her hand against Kai’s cheek. “Maybe we don’t have a definition for it yet, but I’d like to find one.”
“Answer something for me first. Have you ever looked at a woman twice, much less kissed one?”
“Is that the route you’re taking to blow me off? Seriously?” She pushed Kai away and got up. “When you decide to stop acting like a jerk, come find me.”
“Wait,” Kai said, jumping to her feet so quickly and gracefully it made her stop. “I’m not acting like a jerk. Just the opposite. I don’t want you to do something you might think differently about when the sun comes up tomorrow.”
“That’s mighty chivalrous of you, but let me ask you something. Why butter up a girl with stars in a secluded spot, skinny-dipping, and dinners if you weren’t interested?” She put her fists on her hips to have something to do with her hands, but that wasn’t helping her get rid of her anger. “You’ve led me to an inevitable conclusion, then backed off. Deny it if you want to, but that’s what this is, and because that’s what this is, you’re a jerk.”
Vivien took the steps two at a time, needing to get away before she did something as juvenile as cry. She shut the door to the room next to Kai’s and sat on her bunk breathing hard. When the phone rang, it startled her enough to break through the irrational despair of Kai’s rejection. “Hello.”
“What’s wrong?” Frankie said.
“What are you talking about?” She loved him, but now wasn’t the time to get into this, even if it was Frankie. “I’m fine but tired. It’s been a long, strange day. One of many, actually.”
“That’s all? It doesn’t feel like that’s all.”
The knock on her door made her want to blow him off, but when they were young she’d vowed never to do that. When they were growing up, a lot of who Frankie was or thought of himself was tied to that cursed wheelchair, but she’d refused to let him buy into that. Not that she believed she missed out on a lot—it’d been important to her to be the one person in Frankie’s life who not only loved him, but also pushed him way beyond the limits of his legs and chair.
“That’s all. I promise.” She opened the door and put her finger up to Kai. “Did Dad make it back okay?”
“Did you slip something into his drink? He’s back and acting like a caring human being for a change.”
She stayed on her feet and kept her eyes on Kai as she sat on a bunk. It didn’t really matter to her libido that she was angry—the sight of Kai on her bed was turning her on. She shook her head when Kai smiled as if she’d read her thoughts. “He might’ve come to the conclusion on this trip that he needs us more than the board and Steve. Granted, someone might’ve pushed him in that direction, and we might owe a little something for it, but I don’t mind.”
“You mean you didn’t win him over with your bulldozer personality?”
“Actually, Kai Merlin did with her charm and logic. I’ll be happy to tell you about it later.”
“Have a good night and I’ll call you tomorrow. Love you.”
“I love you too,” she said, her eyes on Kai as she put the phone down. “If you’re here to apologize or to protect me from myself, good night. I’m old enough to understand the consequences of my actions.”
“I’m not that much of a slow learner.” Kai leaned back and stretched her legs out.
To Vivien she looked like the definition of power, if the word had to have a human face. “You might be too late if you changed your mind.”
“I thought we could go for a ride and talk. That’s it. Whatever you think, I’m not a tease, jerk, or asshole who’s yanking your emotional chain for laughs.” Kai stood up and got close enough to her that she could sense the energy Kai possessed. Strangely, it accumulated as much in her shell as in her groin. “Maybe Triton isn’t the best place for the conversation we need to have.”
“Your boat or mine?”
“Yours is moored downstairs and will save us a dinghy ride,” Kai said as she stepped behind her and placed her hand on her abdomen. “I’m sorry for upsetting you.”
“Let’s go see how good you are at making it up to me.”
*
The orb under Oba’s hand glowed with the white light she always attributed to the purity of the goddess. The vision she’d been given, though, made her cry just like the first time she’d seen it. It was as if seeing a prophecy that had been written about and part of their scriptures for generations before her time with the orb come to life like a stage play.
When the high priestess who’d been gifted with the vision first wrote of it for her successors to learn from, the orb had provided a specific time frame. Kai’s actions could start the domino effect that could lead to the fulfillment of the priestesses’ writings.
“Can you share what you see?” Galen asked as she sat at the edge of the throne in the main-temple altar area. The space had been cleared for this meeting, and even Hadley had left them to speak freely.
“Why ask when you can demand that I share?” she said, lifting her hands to her face after giving thanks to the goddess. “I’m sorry, Galen. These images are unbalancing me. I didn’t mean to be rude.”
“I’m a little unbalanced myself, if you’re telling me I might have given birth to the ruler who might bring about our destruction. Kai might not pick up after herself at times, but world annihilation is hard to believe.” Galen stood and faced the statues of the gods that stood watch over the orb when it sat on its grand perch made of pearls and other precious stones.
“It’s not a total world annihilation.”
“To be exposed to the human world and causing worldwide panic might just be the end of our world,” Galen said, and sat again. “The sharks among us believe it our right to rule humans and stop their assault on the environment we must share. At times it’s hard to be heard over their objections.”
“They’re loud, true, but in no way the majority,” she said as she poured them both tea.
“I realize that, but they do exist and will continue to exist since they raise children with their beliefs. They don’t understand how ambitious those who dwell on land are to get their way, and some are just power-hungry to rule over everything. It’s in the nature of every species to destroy what they don’t understand.” Galen accepted the cup, her smile, though, not as relaxed. “We are something they will definitely not understand.”
“But like in all prophecies, this one can be changed, Highness.”
“By calling Kai home to a quest of my choosing? Something the orb, you, Hadley, and I deem safe? I could, but my child would never have faith or trust in any of us, and I wouldn’t blame her for that.” Galen stared at her in a way that she never had, and she wanted to look away in shame. “Could what you see be tainted by what you feel for Kai and what she wants from you?”
“My Queen,” she said but couldn’t say anything else because she could think of no words to excuse her behavior.
“Oba, I do remember what it was like to be young and attracted to someone, especially someone who looks like Kai,” Galen said, and winked. “But you have to have known what you shared with my daughter wouldn’t last, and not because of whether I approve.”
“What I did was wrong, so I wouldn’t blame you if you choose to punish me for my lack of judgment. I’ll accept it willingly.” She dropped to her knees and pressed her forehead to the floor.
“Oba, please rise. That’s not what I meant.” Galen placed her hands on her shoulders and encouraged her back to her seat. “When I first saw Hadley and then got to know her in my heart, I was certain of the truth of my future with her. There would never be anyone else who owned so much of, not only myself, but my dreams and future. You might think that’s too much to give, but Hadley gave back of herself more than what she’s received. Too much of you belongs to the goddess, and too much of Kai belongs to the throne for either of you to sacrifice what you must to prove you are soul mates. So it doesn’t matter if Hadley and I approve—what you and Kai share isn’t built on a foundation to last a lifetime.”
“Perhaps though, Highness, she is about to find exactly that, and it will result in the same shaky ground.”
“This girl Vivien, you mean?”
She nodded and stayed on her knees. “The prophecy can be interpreted in a number of ways since it reads—‘She will turn from the path set by the first and that will bring about the end of our world as we know it.’” As she spoke, the orb shone again but with a dimmer light. “Kai emerged from the water for a reason that day years ago, and when she did, she didn’t fight the first chapter of her fate.”
“Vivien Palmer is Kai’s fate?”
“If she is and Kai turns from the path decided for her at birth, then it could bring about the end of our world as we know it. She could choose Vivien over the throne.”
Galen fell back in the throne and closed her eyes. “Is that what you saw?”
“Yes.” She saw no reason to lie. “I told her as well before she left. Love may draw her away from us and our people, but eventually that choice will bring nothing but pain.”
“Some will think it insane to consider making that choice, but I believe I understand your concern.”
“If she loves as deeply as you do, the choice will be easy, even if it does end badly.”
Galen’s eyes grew glassy with tears. “Of course, because no one wants to believe it’ll end like that if they love enough. What of the rest of what Kai found? Did the orb show you anything else?”
“It only shows me the prophecy, so perhaps they’re connected.”
“Let’s hope not,” Galen said as she closed her eyes again. “It might bring new meaning to the end of the world as we know it.”
*
Kai set a course west of Triton and tried to clear her head as the Sea Dreamer cut through the choppy water. The night was cloudy, hiding the moon, so Vivien’s profile was visible in the glow of the instrument panel. She sailed until they were relatively alone, at least by the display of the radar. It was too deep to drop anchor here, so she left the engines above idle, so with the slow speed they’d stay almost in place when she turned them into the current.
“Why don’t you want me?” Vivien asked softly, but she still heard her over the hum of the engines.
“You’re way off if that’s your first question.” She stood and motioned Vivien down to the deck and slid down the ladder to join her. Vivien stood and watched her but didn’t move as she knocked all the cushions off the bench seat to the deck and sat with her back against the stern.
Vivien followed her and stumbled on the last step, as if from nerves. “More stargazing?”
“Not in this cloud cover.” She held her hand up, but that’s all the encouragement she’d give Vivien. “If you want me to answer all your questions, I will.”
“What do you want from me?”
“My list includes nothing someone like Steve’s does. All I want from you is your time and you.” Vivien took her hand, so she tugged gently so Vivien would straddle her legs. “I have to admit it wasn’t what I had in mind when we first met, but I’m glad our first impressions don’t get in the way of all this.”
“Could you please explain before I screw up again?”
She hadn’t thought of Vivien as a vulnerable person, but the question did have hints of uncertainty that made any other words unnecessary. When she placed her hand on the side of Vivien’s neck, Vivien closed her eyes and stopped breathing. This time she took her time as she pressed her lips to Vivien’s. Every woman she’d ever been with fell from her thoughts when Vivien opened her mouth slightly, as if inviting her in.
She tried not to make the kiss too demanding, but it was hard when her mind filled with all the things Vivien wanted and was thinking. “You weren’t wrong, and I really didn’t want you to get the wrong impression. I’m sure enough people in the past have wanted what you could give more than they wanted you.”
“Could we stop talking for a little while?”
“We can do whatever you like.”
The invitation made Vivien laugh and stand, so she had to cock her head back to see what Vivien had in mind. When the button of Vivien’s shorts was undone, she had a clue, and any shyness Vivien had displayed before disappeared along with her clothes. The splash a few moments later made her think she wasn’t as irresistible as her history had proved, but this was a refreshing change. Like Vivien, it was a relief to be wanted and pursued for herself and not for the power that would come from landing the title a union with her would bring.
She stripped and jumped in without making much of a ripple in the water and swam until she was behind Vivien. “Be careful in this chop,” she said as she put her arm around Vivien, bringing her close.
“That’s why you’re here—to keep me safe and afloat,” Vivien said as she turned and put her arms around her neck. “You have to since I’m beginning to understand the wonders of skinny-dipping more and more.”
They kissed again, Vivien’s nipples hard against her chest. The constant breeze chilled her wet skin, but she didn’t think that was the reason for Vivien’s reaction. Some of her hesitancy melted away at the thought that Vivien wanted her, so she put more need into the kiss and pushed her leg between Vivien’s, which caused both of them to moan.
“Let’s get out of the water,” Vivien whispered in her ear, and she nodded.
Back on the deck Vivien spread a towel over the cushions and lay down as if issuing another invitation. The radio came to life just as she covered Vivien’s body with her own.
“Ms. Palmer.” Kai recognize Barney Hickman’s voice.
She enjoyed Vivien’s walk to the control panel even in the low light. Vivien wasn’t tall, but her curves and the shape of her ass were impossible to look away from. “What can I do for you, Barney?” Vivien asked with a shake of her head when she glanced back at her.
“The coast-guard guy wants to talk to whoever’s in charge right away.”
“Of course he does,” Vivien said, pinching her eyebrow as if in frustration. “Give us twenty minutes and we’ll see him in the mess hall.”
“Will do.”
Kai stood and collected Vivien’s clothes and handed them over. Maybe this distraction had saved her from something she couldn’t undo, but she refused to think of it as a mistake. What she felt for Vivien wasn’t wrong, but it wasn’t fair to either of them since it had no future. Since she couldn’t control herself around Vivien, maybe getting back to the job site was for the best.
“Once this is over, I want a few more days out here with you to hunt for more than stones,” Vivien said as she kissed the spot over her heart.
“That sounds like the best offer I’ve had in forever.”
“Just don’t forget it,” Vivien said. “I’ve finally found something I consider real treasure.”