“We’re evacuating everyone and clearing the area,” the coast-guard representative said. The guy was new and had plenty of colorful ribbons and bits of medal on his chest and collar, so Kai figured he wasn’t used to being questioned. “And before you complain, I’m clearing everything within a ten-mile radius.”
“Did you figure out the boxes were dangerous?” Kai asked.
“This isn’t a Palmer problem anymore, so pack up and go. If you decide to get cute I’ll hog-tie you and carry you off myself.”
“I don’t think you’d like the results of trying that, so quit with the threats. I’m asking since some of my team was exposed to whatever the hell those are.”
“Someone will contact you about that, but for now, Mr. Palmer’s sending a helicopter for everyone left and someone to collect those fancy boats down there. Be ready in thirty.”
“I’ll be happy to make those arrangements,” Isla said, making Kai smile since she wasn’t about to let anyone aboard the Salacia. “We’ll be in New Orleans by tomorrow.”
“Thanks. I’ll call you to get all the information,” she said, and Isla nodded, not needing things spelled out.
When they were left alone on the deck Vivien reached for her hand. “Do you have a place to stay?”
“That’s why I brought the boat.”
“Come home with me, and when I get Daddy settled I’ll be happy to join you.”
“Sure,” she said, not ready to let Vivien go yet.
The helicopter flight was smooth, so Kai closed her eyes and tried to organize her thoughts. They needed to find one clue as to where all this hardware was coming from and what purpose someone had for placing it. Once she was alone she wanted to talk to her mothers again so they could hash out all the points.
Vivien’s truck was at the heliport, so she climbed into the passenger side after dumping their bags in the back. “Are you hungry?” Vivien asked.
“A little, but let’s stop and get something to go. Those clouds have held off, but not for much longer, so let’s get inside before the deluge starts.”
The pizza place was close to Vivien’s house, so in less than an hour she walked around the den while Vivien talked to her father and brother on the phone. It was a big space with a lot of antique framed maps on the walls, as well as relics Vivien had obviously found on some of her dives. The room seemed inviting and comfortable with the pictures of Vivien and Franklin at various ages scattered throughout the built-in shelves.
She stared at the one that had to have been taken the summer they’d met, since she recognized the bathing suits they were wearing. Their smiles were so genuine she couldn’t look away, at least not until she felt Vivien’s arms around her waist. She laughed when she saw the pile of clothes by the kitchen counter Vivien had been leaning against.
“If I crank up the air conditioner, can I interest you in a fire?”
“I’m getting warm already, but a fire would be nice.” She kissed Vivien before she let her go light the gas fire. The way Vivien didn’t look away as she got out of her clothes made her feel wanted, so she didn’t waste time worrying about the consequences of her actions. Right now she wanted Vivien as much as she’d ever wanted any woman, and from the way Vivien’s eyes followed her every step, the desire was mutual.
“Do you want a slice of pizza?” Vivien asked with a smile.
“I find cold pizza is better, but if you’re hungry,” she said, picking Vivien up so she could wrap her legs around her.
She dropped to her knees with Vivien and laid her down on the blanket Vivien had taken off the sofa. Through Vivien’s shell she sensed her nervousness, but also her need to be with her, so she took the lead. “Tell me to stop if anything makes you uncomfortable, okay?”
“Unless you tie me up and steal my jewelry, I don’t see me stopping you from doing whatever you want.”
Kai lay next to Vivien and positioned herself so she could kiss Vivien and place her hand on her abdomen. “I won’t tie you up unless you want me to, but right now I only want to touch you.”
Vivien’s body was creamy white with pronounced tan lines that made her arms and legs appear like they’d been kissed by the sun. She liked that Vivien enjoyed the water as much as everyone she knew. It seemed almost unfair that Vivien hadn’t found the secrets she’d searched for.
She must’ve been moving too slowly since Vivien pushed her onto her back and straddled her hips. “You’ve been winding me up for days, so touch me before I have to resort to begging,” Vivien said, her breasts swaying right in front of her face.
Kai didn’t want this to be rushed or about lust, so she sat up slowly, moving her hands from Vivien’s hips to the undersides of her breasts. Vivien pushed her hips forward when she cupped them, and it was all the invitation she needed. She kissed Vivien, her tongue gliding into Vivien’s mouth, causing her to moan and her nipples to harden against her palms. The response made her wet, but right now all she wanted was to please Vivien and build her to an orgasm that’d leave an imprint of her on her heart.
“Kai, please,” Vivien said as her hips pumped forward as if chasing some sort of contact. “I need you—” Vivien’s plea ended in a long, almost torturous moan when she placed a hand between her legs. Vivien was so wet she took her time to run her fingers up and down, enjoying how easily her fingers slid over Vivien’s clitoris that was as hard as the steel her people’s tritons were made of.
The grip Vivien had on her shoulders tightened as she turned her hand palm up and gently put two fingers in. She wanted to prolong the act, but Vivien seemed so ready she didn’t want to deny her. Vivien moved with her, but her eyes were shut tight and her mouth was puckered as if she was about to say a prolonged oh. When the walls of her sex clamped down on Kai’s fingers, Vivien finally made some sort of sound. She moaned loud enough to make Kai smile, especially when it started low and ended in a high keen that stopped only when Vivien slumped against her.
“Jesus,” Vivien said, extremely out of breath. “Don’t move yet,” she said when Kai began to take her fingers out. “What the hell did you do to me?” Kai peered into Vivien’s blue eyes and smiled again. Vivien looked incredibly relaxed but still—she thought for a moment, trying to find the right word. “What?” Vivien asked almost shyly.
“You look…” She kissed Vivien’s slightly swollen lips and felt a twitch in Vivien’s vaginal walls. “The best word I can think of is lush.”
“Like a plant?”
“Like a beautiful, sexy woman,” she said as the doorbell rang.
“Don’t make any noise.” Vivien glanced back toward her phone. “Whoever it is can wait until tomorrow.” The phone started next, like Vivien seemed to expect, and Vivien groaned when she heard the distinctive ring Kai recognized as Franklin’s.
“How about you point me toward the shower and then get the door?”
Vivien gazed at her with an expression that made her appear as if she’d asked her to walk across hot coals. “What about me?”
“The hot-water supply depends on how quickly you get rid of guests,” she said as she took her fingers out, enjoying the way Vivien squeezed them as if getting the last bit of pleasure she could before they parted.
“You’re seriously leaving me to face them alone? One look at me and they’re going to know what we were doing.” Vivien hadn’t moved away from her, and really all she was in the mood for was touching Vivien until she begged her to stop.
“Don’t go anywhere,” she said, kissing Vivien’s cheek before getting up. She answered the phone when it rang again, hoping it was Franklin. “Hello, Franklin,” she said when she recognized his voice. “Vivien’s in the restroom, so I hope you don’t mind me answering her phone.”
“Could you open the door then? It’s starting to rain.”
“Sorry, we’re at Tulane meeting with Professor Olivier. Vivien was a little restless so we walked. We can head back if it’s important.” She smiled when Vivien nodded as if approving of her performance. “Or we can come by your parents’ house later and talk over everything that’s been happening.”
“Sounds good,” he said and laughed for some reason. “Tell my sister to call me if eight tonight isn’t acceptable.”
She put the phone down and stared at the way Vivien was lying back with her legs spread open, inviting her. The sight made her clitoris pound with want, so she covered Vivien’s body with her own and pressed her clit to Vivien’s. The move made Vivien wrap her legs around her hips as if to increase the pressure, and the intense pleasure made her completely open to Vivien.
Kai placed her hands on the floor close to Vivien’s head, and as she lost control the shell at her throat warmed and seemed to almost reach out for Vivien’s. She knew the consequences if they did connect, but right now all that mattered was Vivien and the need to make her want her as much as Kai needed her. As they slid against each other, the shell opened that part of herself not even Oba had reached, and Vivien’s responded with no resistance. The orgasm unlocked the very essence of who Kai was, and glimpsing every one of Vivien’s most private thoughts made her lose complete control.
“Oh, my God,” Vivien said as she raked her nails across Kai’s back, and the way she tightened her legs made Kai speed her hips.
It was as if they’d clicked together like two pieces made for each other, and as Kai’s body reached the peak the shell did its job. The process now couldn’t be stopped unless she left Vivien wanting on the floor and walked out the door.
“Kai, don’t…unh.” Vivien finished her demand with a groan that in turn started her tears. It was almost too much for Kai as well, as she jerked against Vivien wanting to wring the last bit of pleasure out of both of them.
When they were done, Kai’s arms shook from the effort it took to hold herself up, so she began to roll off, but Vivien held her in place with her legs. “I’m about to collapse.”
“I don’t care,” Vivien said, her tears still falling into her hair. “What the hell did you do to me?” The question did make her move, but Vivien followed and ended up on top. “It wasn’t a bad thing—quite the opposite, actually.”
“You’re an inspiration in this department,” she said, wiping Vivien’s cheeks with her fingers.
“All my lushness, huh?” Vivien laughed as she put her head on her shoulder. “It’s like you possessed me completely, and it was everything I ever wanted.”
“Thank you for sharing this part of yourself with me.” She lifted her head and kissed Vivien’s lips. “In hindsight I should’ve told Franklin we’d all meet tomorrow.”
“I’ll make it up to you tonight.”
“It can’t come fast enough.”
Vivien’s hips slammed into her when she squeezed her butt, and it made her smile. “Jesus.” Vivien lifted her hips again and Kai put her hand between her legs. “Maybe you should’ve said I can’t come enough.”
*
They took their time in the shower, and a few hours later they were seated at one end of the Palmers’ dinner table. Winston had reported over drinks that he didn’t know anything new and was as frustrated as everyone else with assets in the Gulf. After that fact was established and talked about, Cornelia took over the conversation and steered it away from business.
“So how in the world did you end up here?” Cornelia asked Kai after she’d answered questions about her past. “You’re an environmentalist in a world of wolves.”
“I’m more a realist than an environmentalist, ma’am. We’ve got problems, so I decided to do something about them instead of picketing. The world needs oil and gas until something else comes along, but it also needs fish and clean water.”
“Why can’t the rest of the wackos out there understand that,” Winston said as he refilled everyone’s wineglass.
“Maybe because they don’t like being called wackos,” Vivien said, making everyone laugh. “And, Dad, why didn’t you tell us about all these projects you and Kai are working on?”
Kai sat back and enjoyed the banter. The gentle teasing seemed to be new to this family, and perhaps it was the first step in getting them to see each other in a new way. So far tonight had gone very differently than when they’d all first met.
“Are you accusing me of being one of those wackos we’ve been talking about?” Winston said but smiled at Vivien. “Kai was persuasive on the phone and in her emails, so I’m glad I got to her first.”
“Wait, you approved all those projects before meeting her?” Vivien glanced between her and her father as if waiting for someone to tell her this was a joke. “Raccoon Island alone must’ve cost a fortune.”
“I used a little of Kai’s rationale combined with my own for one outcome, and that’s why I made the decision to spend the money, so to me it was a good investment.” Winston spoke softly, in an almost gentle tone, and from what she could determine from the shells Franklin and Vivien wore, this tone was something new and welcome.
“What’s your reason?” Franklin asked as he raked his nail up and down the linen tablecloth, making a slight scraping noise.
“One day whenever it’s right for you and your sister, my grandchildren will play on that island, and no matter what other opinions they form of their grandparents—hopefully they’ll be proud we did that.” Winston’s voice became gruff as he spoke, but she figured it was from the building emotion he wasn’t used to expressing. “A company isn’t the only legacy I want to leave you two.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Vivien asked, staring only at her.
“Because it was your father’s story to tell, so I didn’t want to ruin his surprise.” Kai glanced at Franklin for a moment to include him in what she was saying.
“Thanks, Daddy,” Vivien said before she stood and kissed Winston on the cheek and then her mother.
“You’re welcome,” Winston said, wiping his face of tears after moving to Franklin so he could kiss his son’s forehead. Kai figured he hadn’t done that since Franklin was six. “Good Lord, let’s change the subject before we get any more morose.”
When she got a moment alone she wanted to call her mothers. The time spent with the Palmers had made her miss her conversations with them, and if she did a good enough job here, perhaps Franklin and Vivien would someday feel the same if they were away from their parents. The rest of the night was pleasant as they talked in the less formal den, but that ended when the doorbell rang.
If the Palmers had physical defenses like armor or protective shields, they would’ve come up when the maid walked Steve into the room. “Vivien, you’re back,” Steve said, and Kai picked up on the accusatory tone. “I expected to hear from you when you returned. You still owe me that dinner we talked about.”
“Did something happen at the office we need to know about?” Franklin said, rolling his chair in front of Vivien.
“No,” Steve said, as if adding anything else required too much effort.
“If there’s nothing new, then we’ll all talk tomorrow,” Winston said as he stood pointing to the door. “If you don’t mind, it’s a night for family, not business.”
It was interesting to watch how Steve’s anger changed his appearance, and Kai got ready to intervene if he did something with his clenched fists. “What about…never mind,” Steve said, as if figuring out how whiny he sounded. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said to Vivien.
“Not if I see you first,” Vivien said, and Kai laughed, making Steve’s shoulders hitch up.
“Are you planning to be in the office tomorrow?” Winston asked Vivien. “Business goes on no matter what, but I doubt we’ll make any progress on the new leases.”
“I might be late, but I’ll be there, and with any luck I’ll get Kai to join us to see if you two are hiding any other secret projects from us.” Vivien seemed to stop herself as she reached for her. “Thanks for having us over tonight. I really enjoyed it.”
“Could I borrow Kai for a moment before you go?” Winston asked.
Winston held up a glass from the bar and she shook her head. Hard liquor straight up had never been her thing, but she did share a drink occasionally with her mother Hadley, who enjoyed a cognac every so often. Winston seemed to have that in common with her, as he sat with his snifter and closed his eyes while taking his first sip.
“What can I do for you, sir?”
“With everything going on, I thought we should talk about what comes next and how you fit in.” He took another sip but she stayed quiet. “Your job is on hiatus for the moment, but I didn’t want you to think your position is in jeopardy. Why don’t you come in tomorrow and work with Vivien and Franklin. It might be good to have perspective from the field for once.”
“Are you sure? Usually corner-office folks think the rabble belongs in the field for a reason,” she said and smiled.
“My daughter has rabble running through her veins, so she comes by it naturally. I’m sure you’ve figured out by now that she doesn’t see me in the best light, as they say, but I understand her more than she thinks. I really enjoyed my days on the water with responsibility for only the metal under my feet, so I can see why Vivien loves it so much.”
“From the few days I was on Triton I could tell she’s very good at her job. Everyone on the rig made a point of telling me that much and more. They like her, and more importantly, they respect her.”
He nodded, and his smile she assumed was from pride. “We’ve battled for years, so I’m not asking you to take sides, but I think Vivien needs someone to lean on and confide in who’s not Franklin.”
“You’re not asking me to report back to you, are you?” she asked, raising her right eyebrow. “I’ll gladly help you and Vivien, but I’m no Steve.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
She stood and poured him a little more cognac. “That you already have a kiss-ass in your life—you don’t need two.”
“You barely know Steve, and that’s the picture you see?”
She laughed and nodded. “How many other employees stop by to see how you are? And how many other people who work for you talk to your children as if they were either simpleminded or pieces of property?” She pointed at him before holding up her index finger. “I imagine that’s a short list of one.”
“You’re here, aren’t you?”
“At Vivien’s invitation, Mr. Palmer, and that’s the only reason. When she does the same with Steve, I’ll buy your argument.”
“I doubt that’ll ever happen.”
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow, but not to kiss your ass.”