Page 47 of His Hawaiian Heart
The hidden questions in her statement didn’t escape me. While she might be informing mewithoutactually informing me that she had no issue with the switching of partners from scene to scene or perhaps from partner to partner in the same scene, she was letting me know doing so wasn’t her preference. And despite my reassurances that Katrina had no claim on me and I had no interest in her, other than why she was making Samantha’s life difficult, the doubt was still niggling at her subconscious.
“I’m definitely speaking of commitment between a single Dominant and his submissive in a mutually exclusive monogamous relationship.” I was very pleased to see her nose uncrinkle. “So, can we expect to win the Nobel Prize for our incredible scientific discovery and advancement in understanding the beauty of BDSM to all the vanillas out there?”
Her eyes shone, now a beautiful light violet color as her red curls swayed. Unfortunately, she wasn’t nodding enthusiastically, but shaking her head.
“I’m afraid not.”
“Why not? Does whoever hands them out have a bias against kink?”
“I have no clue, but even if they held the ceremony in the middle of the kinkiest club on the planet, it wouldn’t be given to us. Not if you push forward that scenario at least.”
I made a gimmee gesture. “More data required.”
“It’s not the male who leads the pride. It’s the female.”
That totally took me by surprise. “You mean that massive shaggy hair, baring of huge fangs, swiping of razor-sharp claws, and ferocious roar is all fake?”
Laughter rang through the forest, adding another touch of perfection to our surroundings. “I’m not saying it’s fake, simply saying there are different definitions of camouflage.”
I sighed dramatically, allowing my shoulders to droop.
“Don’t pout. Look at it as an opportunity to do a whole lot more research. It’s never the destination that’s the best part. It’s all the journeys taken to get there that provide all the fun.”
“When you put it that way, I don’t really care if we don’t reach that destination until we are both old and gray. I’m happy to spend all that time doing a great deal moreresearchwith my dedicated subbie scientist. I was thinking more of you. Don’t they drape a gold medal around your neck, give you a certificate to hang on your wall, and a million dollars as thanks for contributing something to benefit all humankind.”
Samantha waved her hand in the air as if dismissing even the very thought. “The only accessories I need to wear are those glasses and flip-flops you love so much. Hanging some plaque on my tent wall is only going to have rain dripping on me when I try to sleep, and as for the money? While I truly hope my work will be a benefit to all humankind, I’d far rather they give that money to people who truly need it to simply get through another day. And if they find someone who makes them feel as complete asyou make me feel, well, that’s worth way more than any amount of money.”
I’d accepted that I had fallen for Samantha but hadn’t admitted there was still a small part of me holding back. Until this moment. I suddenly felt lighter, like I was floating. Before I could process the discovery further, Samantha gasped and pointed.
“Please tell me this is the spot.”
I turned around and discovered that McNut had proven to be a most effective leader of our little pack. There was no need to look back as Samantha had led Sugar up beside us as the horses stepped into the clearing filled with the rumble of water tumbling over rocks to splash into the pool that dominated the area. Grinning, I leaned sideways and slipped my hand around Samantha’s neck, pulling her slightly toward me. I kissed her cheek and said, “Welcome to Eden.”
She turned her head and kissed me fully on the lips before pulling back. “What are you waiting for, Adam? Let’s swim!”
Before I could speak, she’d slipped beneath my arm and out of the saddle. My mouth opened to tell her to hold up, but I didn’t need to. She didn’t just drop the reins and run toward the pool. She took the time to pat Sugar’s side and thank her for the ride before pulling the bag of carrots out of her pocket again.
“Can they drink from the pool?”
“They can,” I said as I dismounted. Looping the reins over McNut’s head, I headed toward the water, Sam and Sugar at my side. This was how life was meant to be lived. With the beauty of nature surrounding us, animals who offered more than just transportation, but also companionship, and a woman who made the world a far more glorious place by simply being in it.
Chapter Nineteen
Samantha
The true Garden of Eden might exist halfway across the world, but there was a reason Kauai was called The Garden Isle and I was blessed to be smack dab in the middle of it. After watering the horses, Sam had unsaddled Sugar, and led both horses to an area they could graze and rest. The man had the ability to make me shiver and my core tighten with the look in his eyes, the tone of his voice, and the touch of his hand. But he was also one of the gentlest, more caring human beings I knew. When he turned and caught me watching him, his smile added its light to the day.
“As the male approaches, he begins his display in an attempt to capture the female’s favor.”
I could hear the voice that never failed to warm me, but it took me a moment to decipher his words. Of course, the moment he reached over his head to grab his t-shirt and pull it off, made the meaning crystal clear.
“The male often uses his legs and feet to perform a dance.” He did a hop step in order to remove his boots one at a time and toss them over his shoulder and then altered his approach to doa bit of zigzagging until I was fighting to hold back my laughter, but the moment I watched him unbuckle his belt, laughter was the last thing on my mind.
“His instinct tells him he is but one of many seeking the female’s attention, often making subtle changes to his very physique to rise above his competitors.” The sound of his zipper lowering accompanied the narration and had my pulse begin to race.
Granted, this wasn’t the first time I’d seen him shirtless or even totally naked, but it was the first time I’d seen him shedding all his camouflage out in the sunlight.
“Catching her eyes, gives the male encouragement, urging him to hold nothing back.”
