Authors' Notes: This story was started by one author as a challenge and eventually became a cooperative effort. Please read and review if you want more!
Smith sat staring at the horizon, trying to figure out exactly where the light cerulean of the sky kissed the rich azure of the crystal seas. He drew a deep breath and held it, savoring the slightly salty smell of the ocean, mixed with fragrant potted plants and infused by Ellen's heady perfume. As his mind tried to sort out the point where flowery fragrance ended and his companion's delightful scent began, he sipped on his drink, something strongly reminiscent of a piña colada. The white froth dripped over the edge and his tongue darted out between thin lips to lap it up.
Beside him, Ellen had stretched out in a lounger, looking at him in that way that told him she thought his capture of the foam looked silly but sexy at the same time. One arched brow quirked toward the thatched roof of the bungalow. He thanked the powers that be for their momentary kindness in allowing him a respite from his arduous ordeal. While this world wasn't Earth, it was certainly as close to it as any planet he'd ever seen. From what he'd observed, the locals of this world were decidedly humanoid if one ignored the grasshopper-like faces and oddly articulated fingers. Additionally, they displayed earth-like thought processes, including an appreciation for peaceful coexistence, beautiful surroundings and a fondness for relaxation. It was this latter similarity to Terrans that made him quite grateful they'd discovered this proverbial oasis in the desert.
That was what brought him, the Robinson family, their surly pilot, and one of the star-faring humans to this world. The beings of this planet welcomed anyone and everyone as long as they abandoned warlike tendencies at the door...uh, stratosphere, he amended. So much the better. He certainly didn't have war on his mind, just the opposite in fact. And the object of his attention was daintily sipping something smelling like Amaretto and a local fruit juice. The concoction was fairly inebriating. And this was her third, he noted. He also didn't miss the sweet little smile pulling at the corner of her mouth.
"Yes, indeed," he thought to himself, "she is definitely enjoying this...and my company. How lovely. For me!" A true smile appeared on his lips. "And for her," he amended as his blue gaze settled on her features for the hundredth time. He found himself finding her more and more attractive each time he looked at her. At that moment, more serious thoughts entered his head. This was a woman he wanted to keep around. True there was nothing to be gained by her companionship, outside of the obvious things of course. But 'using' her wasn't a part of his agenda. At least not any longer. The more time he spent with her in this town of Cabana style cabins set on stilts, hovering over glasslike seas, the more he yearned to have those green eyes look on him with 'interest'. It hadn't happened yet, but at least she was here...with him...for the third day in a row.
Ellen arose, lithely, taking in the beauty of their surroundings as she stretched muscles stiff from too much sitting. Glass still in hand, she looked over the open edge on the deck, where a 'pool ladder' descended out of sight. A creature that looked exactly like a greyhound sized, opalescent-scaled dragon flitted overhead and she craned her neck, straining to keep it in sight. It burbled like a pigeon rather than the hiss both of them expected.
Smith snagged a crunchy snack out of the garnet colored bowl on the small table beside his chaise. "Ellen," he called very softly, little more than a whisper, so as not to startle the object of her attention.
The woman turned and bestowed a radiant smile at him as he brandished the treat. Her hand stretched toward him, beckoning with a curled forefinger. Lightly, he tossed it to her. It landed in her palm then bounced slightly. She tried to snag it again, flipping it up twice, like a football player trying to pull in a fumbled ball. Just as she was about to regain control of the morsel, the 'dragon' swooped down on her, dazzling wings flaring as they reflected the brilliant sunshine. It pulled the treat into its razor sharp claws without leaving behind a single scratch, clearly a skill it had perfected after being fed this way by many visitors in this tropical locale.
As it swooped around her, the tip of its spiked tail tapped her side. Scared that it might cut her, she took a step back. Clearly she forgot where she was standing. Her next step wasn't onto the smooth wood decking but onto open air. With a startled shriek, she tipped over backward, arms pin-wheeling wildly.
Muscled legs instantly propelled him from his chair, no easy feat since it was a lounger. He lunged to grab her hand, felt satin skin slide through his fingers. Seconds later he heard a loud splash as her body impacted the smooth surface of the water.
Instinctively, he held his breath. His body, taut with rising fear and tension, arched over the ledge. He bent down, dropped to his knees, waiting for her to surface. At best, he would reach down and help her back up. At worst...he was prepared to go in after her. After which, she would be very grateful...he hoped.
In the distance, he heard feet pounding on well-tended boardwalks. But he tuned it out. Torso angling farther out, he found himself praying to any god who would listen and his right hand instinctively stretched down. The inert body still hadn't moved. Just as he was about to dive in, there was a sudden burst of activity. Water arced up and out in a dazzling display of rainbow colored liquid gems. The dragon winging in circles overhead in hopes of receiving further treats squawked like a startled chicken as the female body below rocketed upward. One well manicured hand snagged Smith's fingers, clamping it in a vise-like grip. Using that as leverage, her other hand curled around the back of his neck.
His lower back screamed momentarily as he held her weight partially above water level. And then he surrendered to gravity, letting himself be pulled into the undulating azure sea. "How lucky can I get?" he thought. His open eyes saw red hair swirl around her face as a smile glowed brilliantly in his direction.
"My Ariel has lured me to a most pleasant rendezvous." He totally ignored the legends of what Mermaids actually did to sailors, and reached for her, pulling her to him.
Their bodies pressed together, sliding like silk against one another. Her fingers combed through the hair on his chest, then settled back around his neck. Slowly, his eyes closed as his mouth sought hers in a pulse pounding, all consuming caress. His head began to pound although he was having a hard time figuring out if it was from the kiss or a need to draw breath. Oxygen be damned, he thought harshly. The kiss had won. He ignored the urge to surface but couldn't ignore the way his body was spurring him onward.
Finally, the all-consuming need for breath pushed them both skyward. Smith hadn't done more than gasp in the first lungful of air when he heard a voice bellow, "Smith, what the hell are you doing?"
The Doctor looked at his flushed companion and rolled his eyes. "That man really irks me!" he growled as his eyes focused on the angry gaze belonging to Major West. As he swam toward the ladder, he promised himself that he wasn't going to let the Major distract him from this particular...and pleasurable...mission for long.