Page 58 of Stealing Mercury
She hung onto the edge as long as she could, then plunged into orgasm.
His moist breath against her cheek became a pant.
His hips jerked in a less steady and more powerful rhythm as he gave into his own needs and filled her with his release.
***
Samantha could have stayed in the warmth of the pool all night, but not long after they’d both recovered from the sex, Mercury started urging her to the edge of the pool where the pack sat.
“There is still one more thing to show you,” he said.
She let him move her about like a rag doll, as she indulged in naughty speculation about what else he might have to show her.
“You’re grinning and golden,” he accused.
“Me?” She tried to sound surprised and playfully offended, but in the end, she couldn’t stop either the grin or the coloring, so she nodded. “You’re right. I totally am.”
He lifted her out of the water and sat her on the stone edge.
“Yikes. That’s cold.” She realized then that the sky had turned the pink and ginger of twilight, but the white of the rocks reflected what light was left and made the area glow in a rainbow of colors.
As Mercury pulled his body out of the water, she made a grab for her tanks and briefs.
“The other pool I want to show you is cooler, but those won’t keep you warm. You don’t need them.
Samantha looked around. “What if Lo or Carn decide to come down for a bath?”
His brows drew together and his flat nose scrunched, but then he shrugged and picked up his own pants.
Samantha stepped into her briefs. “I suppose, living together, you aren’t used to having much privacy.” Or, being a slave, allowed any modesty.
Mercury didn’t answer, and she took that to mean he didn’t want to think about his years of captivity. She tugged on her tunic and started to grab the rest of her clothes.
“That’s enough. More will weigh you down in the water. The other pool is larger and deeper.”
“Okay.” She helped him pack their things, then followed him back the way they’d come. He brought along the flower vines, tickling her curiosity, but she managed to hold back her questions.
“This is it.” Mercury stopped and put down their things. “Wait here.”
She sat on the edge of the pool as he took a strand of flowers and waded into the pool.
Samantha pulled her legs up to her chest and huddled against the cooling night air.
Mercury disappeared below the surface of the water and she leaned forward. He was a dark mass against the lighter rocks and a trail of glowing pink light moved through the water beside him. It swirled in a whimsical pattern and she followed it, fascinated and giddy as a child by the time Mercury surfaced and pulled her into the water with him.
“It’s beautiful,” she breathed. “It has to be some sort of bioluminescent reaction,” she said as he pressed the vine into her hand. “How did you discover it?”
“Last night, Lo and I found some of the flowers that had fallen into one of the pools.” He tugged on her hand. “Go ahead,courra, paint for me.”
She chuckled. “I guess itislike painting.” She made a large circle, trailing the vine through the water and was rewarded with a pink glow following her pattern. A burst of pure joy had her stopping to share the feeling with him. “I love it. Thank you for showing me.” But her voice fluttered like feathers and it wasn’t joy that shook her.
He was beautiful with a smile on his face and delight, a sparkle in his eyes. She pretended it was the cold that started her trembling and she stepped into his arms. It should have been a happy moment, but fear and cynicism and longing had twisted into an achy ball that burrowed into her chest. Her eyes threatened to overflow with barely restrained tears.
She wanted to find some way to keep him from going back to Roma. To keep him from risking his life. But selfishness would do her no good. He wasn’t hers. She could so easily fall in love with him, but too much was uncertain. Even if he survived his rescue attempt, his whole life, everything he’d known was changing. This wasn’t the time to expect him to make any life-altering decisions or new commitments. This was a time to enjoy every moment they could.
“Samantha?” Mercury’s warm breath tickled along her neck, starting another wave of shivers. “You’re cold. We should get back.”
“No.” She ducked under his arm and pressed her chest to his back, wrapping one arm around his shoulder. When she hitched a leg to his hip, his hands were there in an instant. Large, warm hands under her thighs. She twined the fingers of her free hand with his—their two vines of flowers trailing in the water. She pressed a kiss to his shoulder. “Paint with me.”
