Page 22 of Guarded By Death

As I glance farther to my left, bright colored fish swim underneath us about a foot down from what I assume is a dock. I sense his eyes on me, taking in my expression as I take in the site around me with a dropped jaw. Beautiful clear waters. We're standing on a narrow dock that's stretching far out into the water. We are not anywhere near North Carolina.

I want to be mad at him for tricking me, but I’m in shock. I blush from the way he looks at me when I take his hand. I’m facing the beach, with the tide rolling in against the sand. Palm trees dot the area, and I see no people around. We’re about twenty feet from the start of the dock and I desperately want to turn around to see the wide ocean.

Curiosity takes hold and when I turn, Pierce grabs me from behind and props his head on mine. Breathlessly, I take in the gorgeous site of sparkling, clear waters and monstrous green mountains that are in the distance. We must be on an island or something, somewhere very tropical.

"What... where are we?" I question and he holds me tighter.

"Do you like it?" he asks in a curious tone.

As I turn back to face him, I'm sure he can see in my expression of just how much I like it.

A perfect smile spreads up his face, "We're on a small island off the coast of Brazil." An unusual sound comes from me as I jump, suddenly worried that I don't have a passport, but what does that matter? I giggle at myself.

"I’ve never seen anything like this!” I have to pick my jaw up from the dock. “I’ve never even been outside of North Carolina,” I admit. “Pierce, this is insane! It is so beautiful!" I squeal as I lean down to slip out of my flip flops. I hold onto him for support as my toes dip into the warm water.

He laughs as I quickly pull away from him and head towards the end of the dock. I wrap my fingers around the bottom of the dress and pull it over my head.

When I glance back at him, he’s casually leaned up against one of the wooden posts. Defined muscles bulge through his white shirt, and the sun casts a glimmering golden against his tan skin.

I gesture for him to come to me. He drops his pants and it startles me for a second until I realize he's wearing a black swimsuit underneath; He slips his shirt over his head and throws it on the dock as he makes his way to me.

The warm sun feels so good against my skin, and Pierce's body is glistening from the sweat that's trickling down his chest. I reach out to touch a tattoo he has on his stomach. It's different from the one on his arm, old-style letters spell words from a language I can't decipher. I trace my fingers over the foreign words, but he jerks back slightly, and I put my hand down in an instant.

He sighs as he grabs my hand and guides it back over the tattoo slowly. "I'm sorry. I'm just not used to any of this. I know you're adjusting too, but you have to be patient with me," his smooth tone matches the rhythm of the calm waves.

I haven't thought about that before. He always seems so collected, so sure of himself but I don't know how close he is to any... humans.

As I graze my hand over the ink on his skin his fingers curl under my chin to direct my attention to his face.

"I feel like this is a dream.” I admit.

He caresses my face gently. "Me too, but I can assure you, it's all real. You aren't going crazy, okay?" He assures me, knowing what I'm thinking.

It's too hot, from the blazing heat and his touch. I know this will be a wasted effort because of his size but I latch on to him and push with all my might towards the edge of the dock.

With a loud chuckle and one swift movement, my feet are no longer on the dock but dangling in the air as he slings me over his shoulder and jumps off the weathered wood.

A crisp splash is followed by the clear waters cascading around our bodies as we fall in together, a tangled confusing mess. Which describes our relationship, or whatever this is. Normally this would be too fast for my liking but with Pierce, it can't go fast enough.

How long will he be in my life? Will his interest in me go away when he disconnects? I give the thoughts to the water and let them roll away with the waves as he lifts me high above the water with his strong arms. A deep laugh escaping his perfect lips.

I shake my head, getting the water out of my face.

"Did you seriously try and push me in?" He laughs, setting me back down into the warm tropical waters.

I tread the surface, we’re way too far out for me to stand. "Come here," he tells me, opening his arms.

I close the small distance between us and wrap my legs around his waist. His hands rest on the backs of my thighs, holding me up.

He nudges his head to the right. “See that mountain?” he asks. I look to the colossal green mountain that’s set in the distance; waves violently crash against the jagged rocks at the bottom. I wonder what it would be like to sit at the top of something so beautiful. “It’s one of my favorite places.” He tells me, nuzzling his face into my neck.

“I’d like to go one day.” I tell him and he nods, promising me. As we stare into each other’s eyes, endless questions that I want, no need to ask this man, roam through my mind. His smoldering gaze makes my cheeks flush, and I look past him to the open sea. He lets go of my left thigh but keeps a firm grip on the right to hold me steady. With his free hand, he lifts my chin to pull me back into his magnetic gaze.

"Look at me, Scar," he gently orders. "You’re the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. I adore it when you blush, you never have to look away from me." he says sweetly, almost in a whisper. Like he didn't want anyone to hear his words. Like they were only for me and the calm waters around us. Even though there is no one around, as far as I can see.

I can’t muster the words to express my feelings, so unlike the peaceful waves that lap upon the shore I crash into him desperately. His hands grip me tighter as the water cascades around our tangled bodies.

His full lips gently cover mine as his tongue searches my mouth. Electricity shoots through me as I get lost in him. His hands grip me as he molds my body to his. It's riveting.

---