Chapter Seventeen

Wheeler caught the beach ball and threw it back to Kwame, but his mind was on the night a few weeks back, when they got back from the cattle drive….

They'd all checked in with Gaia and then gone immediately to their rooms and it hadn't been long before Linka had slipped in to the Fire Planeteer's cabin.

"I thought we would need to take care of our tattoos..." she suggested, not that they really needed an excuse to be together but after their trip she felt compelled to say something to explain her presence.

She needn't have bothered, almost before she'd finished speaking he had crossed the room to her side and pulled her into a tight embrace. The American let out a breath like he'd been holding it the entire time they were away, which indeed was how he felt, and then he breathed her back in like her scent was pure oxygen.

Linka giggled. She'd snuggled herself into his embrace and was feeling pretty much the same way but she couldn't help but comment, "I do not think I smell very nice right now Yankee, I really need a shower, and so do you."

He grinned against her neck, "You smell great, you always do, I don't know how you manage it. I know I smell like a stable."

"Da, you do," She teased, "But it smells good on you."

Wheeler tickled her half-heartedly, not willing to let her get away with it completely but not wanting her to pull away either. He thought he might never let go of her again.

The lovely Russian then surprised, and pleased, him by saying, "There are too many layers between us. You have been just out of reach for days and I need feel your skin against mine."

He immediately released her so that they could pull their tops up over their heads but as neither moved away they actually managed to stay in contact. Then they were back in each other's arms, laughing at their own silliness but still not ready to let go.

Linka looked radiant as she smiled up into his eyes and he returned her gaze just as openly. It was times like that that they both knew without a doubt how the other was feeling and words were unnecessary… it was always later that one or the other would wish that they hadn't left it unsaid, when it no longer seemed quite so certain and they began to wonder how much was wishful thinking.

That was precisely what Wheeler was thinking when the beach ball bounced off his head and his two companions nearly bent double laughing at his look of surprise. "Haha, very funny guys, you'll get yours."

He bent over to retrieve the brightly coloured ball, stretching to the side as it began to move away in the shallow water they were playing in.

"What's that?" Ma-Ti asked, concern colouring his voice, "Did you cut yourself?"

"Huh?" Wheeler threw the ball to Kwame and then looked down to see what his friend was talking about.

His shorts were as usual hanging low but his movement must have made them drop a little further and the red tail of his new artwork was peeking above them, the bright contrast to his skin attracting attention.

"Oh it's nothing," He pulled his shorts up, "Forget it."

Ever safety conscious however, Kwame said, "If it is an open wound you should really cover it with a plaster before you go in the water my friend."

Wheeler sighed, "It's healed, I've been careful. In case you haven't noticed I haven't been swimming in weeks."

"Is it bad, how did it happen?" Ma-Ti wanted to know.

Giving in, the American shook his head, "It's not a wound, ok? It's a tattoo, no big deal." He groaned then as both friends frowned in unison.

"I did not know you were considering getting something like that done." Kwame was the first to comment.

"I didn't know I had to tell you." Wheeler replied sarcastically, still hoping they would let it drop.

Ma-Ti stepped forward, "Can we see it?"

The Fire Planeteer's eyes opened wide, "It's not exactly somewhere I show off to other guys."

"You are suddenly shy?" Kwame asked, beginning to see the amusement in the situation.

"Geez… you guys are clueless, you know that?" He shook his head and pulled the waist band of his shorts down just far enough on one side so that they could see the design, "I'm telling you if we were back home you'd get the shit kicked out of you for a request like that."

His friends laughed and bent closer to inspect the tattoo, making Wheeler roll his eyes and fervently hope that the girls wouldn't come along just then.

The boys straightened and he breathed a little easier as they backed off.

"You had the wind symbol inked permanently onto your body?" Kwame didn't sound very impressed, "That is almost as bad as having her name inside a big heart."

Wheeler retrieved the inflatable ball and hurled it hard at the African, "Fuck you. I didn't ask for your opinion!"

Ma-Ti winced, "There is no need for such language my friend, I am sure Kwame did not mean to sound quite so judgemental."

The American snorted, half in disbelief of his statement and half in amusement at their youngest member's gentle chastisement of both of them.

"Look, I don't care what you think, I've got my reasons and I'm not going to explain them." Wheeler told them bluntly, "Just do me a favour, whatever your opinion, keep this between us please. I don't need Gi breathing down my neck or teasing Linka until she won't speak to me."

The other Planeteers had grown up very differently to Wheeler and they didn't always get the things he took for granted in a friendship. Normally he shrugged it off but he was going to make an issue of it this time. "I wouldn't have told you at all if I thought I couldn't trust you."

Ma-Ti looked pained, and Kwame solemn and it was the latter that spoke. "You can trust us Wheeler, we are not going to betray you, but it seems to me that you are just a little too defensive about it."

"Yeah well it seems to me that there's no privacy around here! I don't expect to have to explain myself to a committee for every little thing I do." He stormed off, heading away from their encampment.

"What was that about?" Gi asked as she and Linka joined them from the other direction, having been just close enough to hear the American's raised voice.

Kwame shook his head and threw her the beach ball, "Wheeler being Wheeler. He is very independent, I think sometimes he finds being part of a group a trial."

"We all need time to ourselves sometimes." The Water Planeteer agreed, happy to let it drop.

Linka on the other hand was concerned, "I think I will check on him anyway."

"It might be better to let him calm down, Linka." Ma-Ti warned, but she smiled and shook her head at him.

"When has his temper ever bothered me?" She ran off after their friend before they could come up with any more objections.

Wheeler must have been moving faster than Linka had anticipated because she didn't catch up with him until she reached the rocky lagoon situated just out of sight of the area they usually frequented. He was lounging back, over one of the large flat stones on the far side, but he sat upright as he saw her.

The Russian walked around the beach and up the small grassy incline to stand between his knees, and then knelt, resting her arms on his thighs. "Want to talk about it?"

"Not really." he replied, but his body was already instinctively relaxing in her presence and he tenderly stroked a stray hair back from her face.

Linka smiled up at him and said softly. "Tell me anyway."

He gave a quiet laugh, "They spotted my tat and decided to give me a hard time over it, no big deal, I overreacted… I just couldn't explain."

"I am sorry."

"Don't be!" he cupped her face in his hands, "I'm not, about anything. I was just frustrated because they don't know how much it means… and they act like everything has to be a group decision but this is private, between us. I dunno…" he released her and rubbed his face, running his fingers back roughly through his red hair.

Rubbing the tops of his legs encouragingly, "Da, you are right, it is none of their business as long as we know what it means."

"Yeah well," he grinned ruefully, "They don't know about yours, I think Kwame thought it was some lovesick gesture on my part. You know, tacky?"

"Well I think it is sexy!" She laughed, and to prove it, pulled the waistband of his shorts down far enough to uncover the artwork before leaning forward to place a kiss there.

Wheeler laughed with her for a moment and then moaned softly as she brought her lips back in contact with his firm flesh.

"Don't start something you can't finish," he warned.

Linka sat back on her heels and pulled her top free, revealing a bikini underneath. "You wanted to skinny dip, da?"

Raising his eyebrows slightly he nodded. "You know the others aren't that far away, they could come after us at any moment…"

"That is what you wanted is it not?" she stood up, still between his legs, and dropped her shorts to the ground, stepping out of them. Her swimsuit wasn't particularly revealing because she'd wanted to keep her tattoo hidden but it looked good on her and it had the inevitable effect on him. "The chance of being caught?"

"Well yeah… but I was thinking about strangers. You know, people we'll never see again?" He wanted the others to know about them but somehow, not like that.

Linka unclasped her top and let it fall off, catching it in one hand and offering it to him, apparently unselfconscious though her cheeks were rosy.

"Make your mind up Jason Wheeler." She teased, "Are you going to get naked with me or shall I put this back on and walk away?"

The American was on his feet in a moment, taking her in his arms and kissing her thoroughly, engendering a throaty chuckle from the object of his desire. He pushed her remaining item of clothing over her hips and she wiggled so that they slid down her legs while his hands slid upwards.

"Uh uh," She pushed him away and stepped back, her body heating as his eyes suddenly focused on it. "Bozhe moy Jason, at least wait until we are in the water!"

"It's your fault," He countered, forcing himself to look away as he quickly stripped down to nothing. "I've got one thing on my mind right now Babe, and it's not swimming. Better get wet quick."

She'd moved back to the edge of the incline where there was a short drop into the deeper end of the lagoon. Her eyes danced with mischief, "Believe me Yankee, that will not be a problem."

His jaw dropped open but before he could respond she jumped backwards into the water, tucking up her knees and making a splash that showered the bemused Planeteer. He stood on the bank staring down at her as she re-emerged, water dripping down her face and neck and trailing over her bosom.

"You look like a Greek statue." She teased, though her eyes held admiration as they took his well-defined torso. Her gaze drifted downwards, "Although they are not usually quite so… protuberant."

The Fire Planeteer laughed loudly and jumped in beside her.

Linka swam backwards out of his way but was still covered in the spray of his landing. She laughed and splashed him as best she could as if trying to ward off his advance, though she didn't put up any sort of struggle when he caught her in his arms and brought them together for a kiss.

It felt amazingly daring to be pressed against his wet naked body with the sun full in the sky and the laughter of their friends carrying on the breeze. The Wind Planeteer let her hand trail downwards from his neck to his chest, admiring the well-defined muscles as her fingers traced their lines beneath the line of water which was too clear to hide anything. "Well, this is on your list, what happens next?"

Wheeler met the challenge in her eyes with burning desire in his own. "You know."

His lover laughed, "Da, I should have said, how do you want to do this?"

He thought for a moment and then moved them a little closer to the shore so that he could plant his feet firmly on the sea bed, only their bottom halves covered by the gently lapping ocean. Though Linka's weight was nothing to him the water made lifting her even easier and she co-operated by wrapping her legs around his waist and bringing them together.

"I love hearing that." Wheeler told her causing her to open the eyes she'd closed.

"What?"

He grinned, "That little noise you make."

"I do not make any noise."

"Yeah, you do, and it's adorable." He teased, his voice a little taught for all his humour, "It's kind of a sigh but there's some surprise and like, contentment or something too."

Despite her earlier denial Linka looked pleased and answered him honestly, "I am never quite prepared for how right it feels to be with you."

Their mouths found each other again as if pulled by a magnet but then Wheeler moved his lips to her neck, "Make love to me Beautiful."

She did, dancing for him and trusting him to support her.

Linka leant back slightly to take in the scenery, letting herself focus on the moment in a, 'I'm really here and this is really happening' sort of way. The birds were singing, and gulls cried out as they circled the skies over head. Wheeler was as solid as a rock, standing with his back to the trees, watching her with an expression of pure pleasure crossing his features.

Finally the American flopped back into the water. They had both cried out, though fortunately for them, not loud enough to draw attention. He didn't say anything but cradled her to him, taking responsibility for keeping them afloat. Careful to keep Linka's head comfortably in the air as it rested against his shoulder, Wheeler floated on his back, kicking a little further out to sea where they would be held comfortably aloft.

Linka was content to be in his arms in the sun warmed ocean. The birds were still calling to each other, the water still splashed against the shore and she realised that she could still hear the voices of their friends playing their innocent games not so very far away.

After a while Wheeler looked down into her eyes, a tender smile on his lips, "Hold your breath."

Not knowing what he intended, Linka nonetheless complied, and then let him pull her under the water. Fully submerged Wheeler began to lovingly explore her body with his lips and hands… it wasn't an attempt to arouse her, instead it was taking advantage of the intimacy they'd already created.

There was something deeply intense and personal about sharing themselves beneath the waves that way, and they continued for some time without the need for words, only returning to the surface now and then for air.

To be continued…