“Um, that’s probably not a good idea, but thanks. You’ve avoided my question very well, telling me something while still saying nothing. Where am I, and how soon can I call my family to let them know I’m okay?”
“My lady,” he started with a pained expression on his face.
“My name is Natasha. Please call me that or some variety that suits you. ‘My lady’ just makes me feel old,” I said with exasperation.
“As you wish, Natasha.” My name was like heaven on his lips. “As I mentioned, you are in my bed, in my bedchamber, in my home on Sumner, which is located in Atlantis, which is approximately eight miles beneath the ocean’s surface. We are not detectable by any of your people’s modern equipment. We are able to view the surface life, but unable to communicate with any of its inhabitants. Regrettably, you are not able to contact your family, and you cannot go home.” The cadence of his words melted me; making me feel safe. It took a moment for the meaning behind his words to fully strike me.
“What do you mean I can’t go home? I don’t belong here! What have you done to me?” I felt as though he were bewitching me. I clutched the shirt he’d given me close, as if it were a lifeline. The shirt held his smell: a crisp ocean spray during a hurricane, fresh, wild, and untamed. It was very heady and comforting. I realized what I was doing and quickly pulled the shirt over my head.
“Natasha, my lady, forgive me for I do not know how to answer you without offense. I have had minimal dealings with the Surface Dwellers. Certainly none as beautiful as you. Even the ones I’ve met, I only did so after they’d been to see the Council. The Council will know how to guide you, and they will help you with your answers. We will be going there just as soon as Michael returns with your clothing. I did not wish to take you there in your previous state. Please forgive me.” He was kneeling so close to me on the side of the bed that I felt every pore on my body react to his nearness. He leaned in close and reached out, but let his arm drop before he touched me.
I blushed, my abdomen tightened, liquid heated my core, my nipples hardened into little pebbles. He hadn’t even been this close to me when he woke me. I felt like I was falling into his teal eyes that shimmered with a heat that mirrored mine. After he’d said I was beautiful, all his words blurred together. He was so close, and we were both tormented by restraint. I couldn’t have held back if my life depended on it. Not with him so close and looking so tortured.
I kissed him. Just a slight brush of lips on lips, but I felt it to the very core of my soul. I felt as if I had just come home and for the very first time was whole. Everything changed, yet everything was the same when my lips parted from his.
A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts and he leapt away from me. He looked relived, or confused. I couldn’t tell which. “Who calls?”
“It is I, Michael. I have the woman’s dress, is she awake? I’d very much like to see her. The whole island is talking about the gift Poseidon sent us. The Council is demanding you bring her to them, conscious or not.”
Raif clenched his hands into fists, and closed his eyes for a moment to collect himself. The man really needed to learn how to mask his feelings. I stood up and walked over to him. Timidly, I put my hand on the middle of his back, and as he turned, I hugged him close to me. His chest was solid under my cheek and I could hear his heart beating very fast. He waited a moment, and then I felt his arms engulf my upper body. I felt tiny, and I’d never felt tiny before.
“Are you okay?” I whispered so Michael wouldn’t hear us from the other side.
“Why did you…? Yes, I am well. We should let Michael in so you can change.”
He released me from his embrace and slowly brought his hand down my arm to entwine his fingers into mine. I could not suppress the shiver that ran down my spine. His other hand opened his bedroom door to reveal a small, skinny man holding fabric of deep teal, darker than Raif’s eyes. The man’s eyes bulged at the sight of me in Raif’s tunic, holding his hand.
He was beautiful in his own way, but didn’t have the presence Raif had. He was my height, with ice blond hair, blue eyes, and shiny blue-tan skin. If it weren’t iridescent, I’d have thought he had the pallor of a dead surfer. He too wore nothing but pants, but as Raif’s were teal, Michael’s were the same blue of his eyes. His smaller stature was incredibly muscular as well, but only a third the size of Raif’s. He was actually more my type than Raif was; yet I felt nothing compelling about him at all. Next to Raif, Michael was insignificant.
“Hello! I’m Michael. You recovered rather quickly; I was in a coma for about a week before I was introduced. I’m
