CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

In The Eye of The Storm

A short time later, Sonny returned, hands contentedly stroking the fabric of his favorite charcoal grey robe and lounge pants. He was still somewhat bemused at finding them here. Obviously Alexis had gone through some trouble to arrange all of this. That knowledge warmed his heart. No matter what he'd done, Alexis had kept him in her heart. And that knowledge humbled him.

While he was changing, he'd noticed that the storm had intensified outside the cottage, but all that meant was that he and Alexis were cocooned away from the whole world. That idea bothered him not at all.

"Hey Alexis," he called as he re-entered the main room of the cottage. " Have you taken up magic-making along with the rest of your many talents? How else did you manage this…" His words trailed off as he caught sight of her.

Obviously, she'd taken advantage of his absence to work a little magic of her own. Alexis was standing before the fireplace, a slender candle in one hand with which she had been busy lighting a myriad of other ones, adding to the magical already in the room. The entire space was alit from one end to the other with a forest of candles, from big to small, fat tapers to tiny votives.

Alexis turned at the sound of his voice and that was all it took to take Sonny's ability to speak away yet again.

Silhouetted against the dancing flames, outlined by the dancing lights of the candles and framed by the profusion of flowers, Alexis was aglow - a beautiful sight. Sonny had heard of the phrase of 'taking your breath away,' but now he felt what it truly meant. He had to literally force himself to take another breath, because this was an Alexis he hadn't seen. Part innocent, part temptress and all woman, her slender frame was draped in a silk gown of deep golden apricot woven through with a touch of a blush of softest rose blossoming in its ripples and folds. It was overlaid by a gauzy robe of deep gold that seemed to repeat itself against the golden highlights dancing in her hair, reminding Sonny of nothing less than fire and flame.

"Whoa." He said, his eyes taking in all of her in an appreciative look that brought a soft blush to Alexis' cheeks. The smile she gave him was just the littlest bit shy, which did nothing but melt his heart that much more. But as she continue to look back at him, obviously appreciating him as much as he did her, her smile widened and her initial shyness disappeared. Sonny knew the rain had made his hair escape from its usual control, and that he was looking as sensually disheveled as she was…looking as though he'd just gotten out of bed. She was looking the same, and that thought kindled his desire.

Now Sonny noticed what he hadn't taken in before. In front of the fireplace, a great stone piece with jars of gardenias flanking the hearth on either side, a roughly circular space had been left open. A jumble of blankets and floor pillows were at her feet. Sonny drew in a deep breath as his heart leapt at the implications. Then his eyes went back to Alexis as he moved towards her.

"Right back at ya." Alexis said as he came to stand before her. Without his thinking about it, one hand came up to bury itself in her hair, his fingers sliding sensuously through the silky mass of it.

"Mmmm…" She tilted her head into his touch and closed her eyes, obviously enjoying the warmth spreading through her at this simple touch. His eyes roamed over her face, seeing the contentment and satisfaction this small touch brought to her. Entranced by her expression, Sonny reached out and took the candle from her hand,. He slipped his fingers into hers briefly, then allowed his hand to trail slowly upwards along her arm to join the first, tangling itself into her hair and slowly drew her mouth to his.

His mouth moved across hers softly at first, lips re-acquainting themselves with hers. It seemed as though it had been a lifetime since he had held her, centuries since had tasted her sweetness. Sonny's hands slipped downwards through the silky mass of her hair to stroke at the slender column of her neck, thumbs sliding sensuously along her collarbones. Then his fingers lightly caressed her shoulders, enjoying their soft silky curves for a few moments before his arms slipped around her supple body and pulled her close into his embrace.

Alexis' hands were no less busy. From the hard planes of his upper body, she let her palms slide slowly upwards to grasp and hold the strong muscular curves of his shoulders. As his mouth nibbled and began tasting hers with teasing thoroughness, Alexis' hold on him tightened. He always had that effect on her; Sonny's kisses took her out of herself, made her feel like she was effervescent, unembodied like the curl of a wave, swept along by currents stronger than herself.

But it was a sweet enchantment his kisses wrought on her, and Alexis surrendered gladly to its beguiling charm. Unbidden, her fingers crept from his shoulders, caressing his upper back, reveling in the strength she felt beneath her palms and fingertips. Then she let them slide upward into the lightly damp dark curling hairs at base of his neck. As Sonny's lips moved from her mouth to trail a sweet path down one side of her throat, her hands trembled and then tightened unconsciously as a sudden rush of desire poured through her body.

Together they sank down to kneel among the velvet and silken cushions. Sonny slipped the robe from Alexis' body, the gown soon following, his lips softly trailing over the softness of her curves as he uncovered her. Then there were only murmurs of love and desired intermingled as Sonny drew Alexis down with him. Her hands reached for him, traveling over the hard muscled length of his body even as his lips and hands teased and pleasured hers.

The thunder rocked the skies above and echoed the strong beat of their hearts as they joined together in the most ancient of rhythms. Under the rising tides of their passion, they let the storm within them overtake them and lift them to new heights, joining them with the fury swirling in the atmosphere all around them.

Her skin is like spring rain, fresh and cool at first against his lips, slaking his thirst and feeding his soul. Then her flesh was warming rapidly under his touch, a fine sheen of sweat glistening like sweet morning dew. Her body cloud soft against his…

He was like the storm, elemental, unquenchable, a force of nature that could not be tamed or harnessed. The fire and flames blur in her vision, tears of joy blinding her to everything except the face of the man before her.

Then storm within them inundated them in its timeless power, drowning their senses in a flood of sweet sensations. The storm without strengthened, echoing their own upwards spiral and the electricity between them raged as it had from the time of their very first kiss, undeniable, unquenchable, The waves of desire came stronger now, the winds of passion rushing them towards that distant horizon of ultimate pleasure. The tsunami of passion caught them both up in a whirling, spinning wildly loving passion, and then they were crashing against the shores of pleasure to lie exhausted and sated in each other's arms.