Just Breathe Part 28

G.o.d, was he back to being distant again? Last night, he'd practically devoured her in front of Jack. Now his hesitant body language screamed, 'Approach at your own risk.'

Time to close the gap with a little honesty, painful as it might be. "I got a promotion. I'm the new Vice President at Cetacean Research Network."

The hard, flat set of his lips curled upward into a muted grin. "That's great, love. Congratulations."

"I've been waiting for an opportunity like this for my entire career."

He palmed her cheek and kissed her with guarded softness. "You deserve it, Dr. Morgan. What does the new gig entail?"

She'd hoped he wouldn't ask that. "I'll manage research projects around the world, head up fundraising efforts, and oversee training for researchers. I'm sure there will be other stuff, but that's the bulk of it."

"So, you'll manage the projects directly? In the field, right?"

"Well...maybe some of them." She hadn't considered the possibility of not being out with the whales.

"That's where you belong. On the ocean. Not behind a desk."

"I won't be behind a desk." Randy wouldn't do that to her. Would he? No way. She was his best researcher. He'd told her so. He couldn't afford not to have her in the field.

Gavin bit his lip and looked away for a moment. When he focused on her again, the mixture of exhaustion and hope in his face almost broke her heart. "Any chance you'll be able to work from Australia?"

Flapping b.u.t.terfly wings tickled her gut, like her stomach was laughing inside. He wanted her to stay?

Then reality killed the elation. More good news/bad news.

"I doubt it. I'm sure I'll be back every year to continue the Hervey Bay project. My boss knows I'm best suited for this type of work, and being here makes me happy. If he wants to keep me that way, he'll send me again next season." She almost said, 'It feels like home,' but stopped herself.

He rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling. "Your boss has a thing for you, Zed."

She let go of her breath in a rush. So didn't want to talk about Randy with Gavin. "He used to." A lie, yes.

"You dated him, didn't you?" A hint of accusation framed his tight voice.

She propped her head in her upraised palm and leaned close to his face. "Okay, we dated. But it was a while ago, and I'm not the least bit interested in him anymore. We have a professional relationship, and that's it." She laid a hand on his chest. "Did you notice who I'm lying beside? I'm beyond content with you." And she actually loved Gavin, a feat she'd never pulled off with Randy.

He gazed at her for a long moment. Touched her hair. The tender but torn expression sliced her through the stomach. By the look in his eyes, he was thinking the same thing she was: in two months, she'd be gone.

Worse, it was the only way things could be for them.

"I've made so many bad choices since I met you, I'm not sure why you're still around." He looked away. "You'd probably be better off with a bloke like him instead of a total f.u.c.k-up."

f.u.c.k-up or not, she wouldn't trade him for a thousand Randies. Or anyone else. "I'm with you no matter how many times you screw up. I don't know what the future holds, but together or apart, I won't regret a single moment we've shared. Only the now matters, remember? Let's enjoy what we have, while we have it. The world might end in a couple days." She meant it as a joke, but the truth of it rang clear.

Some hidden battle warred behind the front lines of his gaze. She laid a hand over his, hoping to rea.s.sure him. He stared at it for several heartbeats, his face twisting subtly as he wrestled whatever inner demons plagued him. She wasn't sure which side won, but he lunged for her lips in the aftermath.

Zoe guessed that meant she won.

The heat of his breath and mouth set her belly alight, but not with the Fire she often felt around him. This was more of a glow. The usual pa.s.sion for him had cooled to something equally as powerful, but with a different kind of edge.

Her deep feelings for him grew in density and volume the longer they were together. Every day they strengthened, like a slowly building tidal wave with no crest in sight, only a steady rise.

She slid her fingers across his stubbly cheek. He needed Water to fight Fyres. She'd give it to him in spades, but not because of the Elemental threat. Because Zoe loved him.

She'd let that love keep growing until it was time to go home. Consequences could be faced later. The ensuing heartache of losing him would be worth every second they shared now. Like the old saying went, it was better to have lived and loved than never to have loved at all.

Man, that couldn't be truer.

"I'm ready for another of those kisses." She stroked his chin with a thumb.

Behind his tired smile, he wiggled the lip ring with his tongue.

"You know that drives me wild." She latched on, sucked, pulled, tongued the loop.

His eyes shut and hands encircled her waist. The kiss deepened. The tenseness in his frame loosened, but only a tad. She smiled against his lips.

"And these..." She traced the patterns of his Water tattoos. They were cool under her fingertips. "I love these, too. When they're around me, I'm safe."

He dragged her body on top of his. Her hair curtained their faces, and she kissed him again. Beautiful arms of blue, yellow, green, and red enclosed her. Ancient power coursed through them, into her.

He hardened, his erection pressing at her core. "I love that, too," she whispered into his ear.

Desire sparked in his eyes, and a thrill shot through her. He ran his hands up the inside of her shirt to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and kneaded them through her bra. Her tight nipple ached as he rolled it between his thumb and forefinger. She moaned softly. G.o.d, she needed this. Him.

He pitched forward to a sitting position and pushed her up. Antic.i.p.ation shivered through her as he whipped off her shirt and fumbled with the hook on her bra. After a moment's struggle, he tossed them both to the floor. Locking his lips and tongue around a nipple, he worked her nerve endings into a frenzy. Her breath rushed at the graze of teeth, the warm wetness of his tongue, his quick exhale against her breast.

He shifted to the other one-thank G.o.d. His free hand climbed over the lip of her shorts and dove into her damp panties. So ready for him. His fingers slipped inside her, and she dropped her head back with a long sigh. Heart racing, she opened her legs wider to give him better access.

The combination of his flicking tongue on her breast and his fingers sliding in and out was maddening. She laid a hand on his crotch and rubbed him through his jeans. He seemed as eager as she was.

He let go of her nipple and gazed up at her through the tangles of her hair, priming her with two fingers. Some of the anxiety in his face had smoothed, but the intensity lurked under the surface. "How does it feel, Zed?"

"Amazing." The word came out long and breathy. She clawed open the b.u.t.ton at his waist, unzipped the pants, and popped his erection free.

"I need this-" she squeezed his c.o.c.k and gently guided it to where his hand was going to town- "inside me."

He quickly lost his pants and shirt. Eagerness replaced the exhaustion from earlier. He tugged her shorts and underwear down to her knees. She kicked them off.

The warmth pulsing between her legs was enough to send her over the edge. G.o.d, if he didn't hurry, she'd explode. The beautiful young face, the need in his eyes, the hunger. He eased her to her back and stalked up her body to her mouth where he feasted like a starving man. Their fused lips became a conduit for the Water roaring between them. He gave. She took. Back and forth it flowed.

Mouths locked in a delicious tug-of-war, she parted her legs and devoured him. The shock of the first thrust flared cool fire deep within her core. Her gasp severed the kiss. He gave her a moment to adjust to his length, and she lifted her hips to greet thrust number two. She smiled at the depth and fullness of the sensations her nerve endings greedily feasted on.

"I could come just looking at you." She pressed her smile to his and welcomed another push from that amazing c.o.c.k. G.o.d.

"Ditto." As if to make a point, he pulled out, clenched his teeth, and choked his length in his palm for a moment. Concentration stilled his features.

She licked her lips. "I want a taste." She wrestled his shaft from his hands and slid it slowly into her mouth, staring up at him all the way down. He curled his fingers under her chin as she spun her tongue around his veined flesh. Fluid pooled from the head, mixing with her own flavor, and she went down for another dive, as deep as her throat would allow.

Gavin's knees wobbled as she sucked him, teasing with subtle swipes of teeth every few seconds. Then she stroked his erection while her attention fixed on the weighted b.a.l.l.s calling to her. Pressing her face into them, she took each one into her mouth, tongued them. Her gentle nibbles brought hisses from Gavin's lips. When she was pretty sure he was about to lose it, she backed off and squeezed his shaft as he'd done earlier.

His face flushed, and he shook his head with admiration. "f.u.c.king h.e.l.l, you know how to suck a c.o.c.k, Zed."

She settled on her back on top of the covers, raised an arm over her head, and rested it on the pillow. She tipped open her legs. "More, please."

Gavin charged face-first into her core, coaxed her juices to the surface with soft flicks of the tongue. Not what she had in mind, but she certainly wasn't complaining. After a few moments of that, he crawled the length of her torso, kissed her, and entered her again. His heavy weight drowned her. But this felt nothing like the panic she imagined came with drowning. More like the easy slip from lucidity into a drug high.

Her legs bracketed his pumping hips and hauled him hard against her. Warmth zigzagged between them, crossing boundaries of flesh and driving deeper into dangerous territory-her heart.

The bridges of their noses pressed together. He drew back and stared into her eyes, casting his Watery fishing line into her soul. She gobbled the bait. The tug within her chest, the intimate connection between them was palpable. She threw her arms around his shoulders and held on tight. As long as she could feel him, she'd be okay. Another kiss, and she had everything she wanted: his body, his soul, his heart.

Her perfect Mr. Perfect.

"This is where I get off." The o.r.g.a.s.mic tumblers deep in her brain rolled into the unlocked position. A smile took the place of her breath, and she surrendered to her body's whims. The climax kicked her back into a twist, prolonging the intensity of her million-dollar prize. It went on and on, and her hips rallied to savor every last drop of the wave.

His eyes sparked blue-the first sign of life she'd seen there in a while. He dipped his lips to hers and slowed his surges and retreats. She matched his rhythm, eager to receive the results of his pa.s.sion. His breath rushed through his nose against her cheek.

"I want you to fill me up, Gavin." She fiddled with his lip ring with a quick flick of her tongue, then bit it.

The thickness of his length rubbed hot against her walls. The tempo increased. A low growl rolled out of him, and he held her gaze in a firm stare.

"Christ... Zed..." His lids swept shut in a slow motion blink. His already tighter-than-a-high-wire abs clenched against the soft skin of her belly, and breath flowed out in a long exhale as his release jetted into her. Thrust. Groan. Thrust. She smiled as she counted five...six...seven trembling lunges.

He was so beautiful when he came. Staring into her eyes, big hands gripping her, his ink surrounding her, protecting. Coveting.

No one had ever coveted her before. It felt pretty d.a.m.n good to be held in such high esteem by a guy who lived a fairy tale on the covers of magazines.

Man, if only life were that simple.

Running the tips of her fingers down his arms, she pressed her hard nipples into his chest. The damp skin on his left forearm was cooler than the rest of him. She tilted her head to the side and peered down the slope of his shoulder. The Water tattoos. They glowed. Not the usual blaring that signaled the presence of an Elemental. Just soft, multi-hues of blue beaming from under the flesh. Almost like stained gla.s.s.

She took his arm and brought it to her lips. Gavin tipped over to his right, and she rolled with him, not willing to lose her grip on him down there. He was still hard, and it still felt amazing, even after the o.r.g.a.s.m. The intense connection between them consumed her. She craved it like a drug.

"Your tattoos are gorgeous. I've never seen them glow like that." She rubbed his arm. The magic trapped inside hypnotized her.

"It's Water." He smiled. "See what you do to me?"

She flipped up her lashes. "You and I did this. Together." She laid her palm over his pecs. "We can beat Scarlet with the Water we share."

Gavin flinched. He pulled out of Zoe and rubbed the spot above his stomach, worry evident in his tight brows and the frown on his perfect lips.

And there he went again. The warmth evaporated.

She sat up. "What's wrong?"

He paused as if gathering his thoughts. "I didn't want to scare you, but last night, Scarlet attacked Trevor in the Dreaming."

Oh, s.h.i.t. With shaking hands, Zoe drew the covers to her neck. "Is he okay?"

He shook his head. "No. He and about twenty other Wyldlings are unresponsive, in critical condition at the hospital. All suffering from the same unexplainable symptoms: extreme agitation, fever, hallucinations, and increased heart rate."

"Loss of Fire can do that to a person?" She swallowed hard.

"If you lose enough, yes." He picked at a hanging string on the blanket. "She took almost all of his Fire before Jack stopped her. Trevor may not make it."

"Oh my G.o.d."

No wonder Gavin seemed distant and upset. Setting the research house afire wasn't enough for Scarlet. Now she was after Gavin's friends, too? When would this end?

"What can I do? I want to help."

He centered his gaze on hers. A hint of vulnerability snuck through the windows of his eyes. He quickly bricked it up with his serious, bada.s.s Sentinel facade. "Keep giving me Water like you just did. When you're with me, I'm a thousand times stronger. I need that Water, Zed. I need you."

"You've got me." Zoe curled into him in a full-body kiss.

Gavin released a long breath and wound his thick arms around her.

This was love. Pure. Intimate. Perfect.

Laying an ear against his chest, she listened to his heartbeat. Brave enough face a legion of Fyres alone. She dotted kisses over his muscled contours. Strong enough to defend a nation. He squeezed her, the blue ink on his arm pulsing brighter than before.

"I love you." A trace of regret lay buried deep under the sincerity of his words. "So f.u.c.king much."

She had a few regrets of her own. Despite her growing unease, she knew one thing was true. In this moment, the love they shared-their Water-was everything.

Zoe kissed him and pressed her forehead to his. "Ditto. I'm right here with you."

Chapter Thirty-two.

September 21 When she woke alone beneath the cold sheets the next morning, Zoe lifted her head and squinted through the pre-dawn darkness. Where was Gavin? She rolled onto her back. He must have slept on the couch. Again.

Sigh.

Much as she loved him, this sleeping apart thing sucked a.s.s.

The curtains winced as a breeze from the open window tiptoed inside. Catching Gavin's cedar scent on the pillow beside her, she rubbed a hand across the linens. Then a sound from the living room stole her attention.

Music. Beautiful, haunting notes floated from guitar strings through the air. The song started and stopped a couple of times, and then the flow picked up and played steadily for several measures. The melody brought shivers to her skin. Hard to believe a guitar could sound so lonely.

She kicked off the covers and sat up. Gavin played a few more notes. Stopped again. Repeating the pattern for several minutes, he added a little more to the song with each new run. Just like the whales. The same song, but woven with strands of improvisation, development, evolution.

Enthralled, Zoe crawled from bed. She threw on her shorts and tee shirt, padded barefoot to the door, and headed down the hall. Pausing, she leaned against the wall and watched from the shadows.