9.
~ It was a wonderful day. She and Arthur had spent it swimming all over the lake and he even convinced her to dive off the falls. She had breathed a sigh of relief to see that her wore underwear and wasn't totally naked as he nimbly climbed the rocks and gracefully swan dove into the dark pool below.
"You could have broken your neck!" She shouted.
He only laughed.
"Not as easy as you might think." He said swimming to her. She frightened trying to escape but he quickly grabbed her foot. She shirked in delighted horror as he pulled her too him. His other hand pulling her other leg.
Too quickly she realized her legs were straddling his waist. The water making their bodies buoyant and easy to wrap around each other. Arthur's hands were on her lower back, keeping her body close to his. His eyes meeting hers as she was certain he was about to kiss her. The feel of his strong lean body around her legs felt comfortable.
"Lay back." He whispered as his hands relaxed on her, easing her backwards into the water. She did as he told her. Her hair and body suspended artfully in the water as Arthur held her up. She closed her eyes to the bright sun and let him hold her like that. Her legs still around his waist. Their bodies in such an intimate position if it were not for the concealment of the water.
She felt his lips on her neck then. Tracing an invisible line over to her jaw. She tried not to smile as she knew he would kiss her lips next. She wasn't disappointed.
He gently pulled her up and onto his lap. The water helping her wrap her legs around him more tightly as she met his kiss. His arms pulling her body closer to his. Their kissing perfect and slow. Never breaking or pulling apart.
~ "I think someone tried to get into my room last night." She said as they dried themselves on one of the big black rocks away from the falls. The sun felt good and warmed them after the chilly cold of the lake.
"Maybe you just dreamed it." Arthur offered not looking at her.
"I don't think so." She said. "I thought maybe Phillipa had come to check on me."
"Maybe." Arthur agreed. "The castle, the lights plays tricks on you. Especially during a storm."
"Is that why you don't like storms?" She asked.
"One of the reasons." He said. He looked over at the very top of the falls. "Let's climb up there, alright?" He asked standing up. His tall body much more nimble then hers.
"Up there?" She asked in shock.
"Yes, we can see the castle from it." He promised as on bare feet, he expertly climbed the black rocks.
Ariadne followed him. Arthur was patient and told her where to put her feet and hands. The top of the falls was only slippery black pieces of rock and she felt ready to fall off of at any moment.
"Don't let me fall." She said worriedly as she looked down. Her body hugging the rock.
"Your not going to fall." He said pulling her upward.
The view was worth it. Like the cliff side only the day before, she could see the black castle and the ocean.
"Why don't you like the ocean?" She asked as the privet cove that formed a beach looked inviting.
"I just never did." Arthur said sadly. They finally reached a more comfortable, and stable rock that was covered in moss.
Ariadne breathed a sigh of relief as she laid down. Arthur flopping beside her.
"It will be easier going down." He told her.
"It better be." She snorted a laugh. "Otherwise, I'll have to live up here."
"We can build a little place over there." He agreed nodding to a charming little clearing. "Our own privet getaway."
She was giggling as his hand roamed over her belly. She hadn't realized her shirt had rode up and exposed her skin. She did nothing to stop him. Like before in the lake, this place seemed magical and timeless.
His eyes were focused only on hers as his hands brushed a ticklish thread over her belly and up to her bra. She made no protests as he shifted the restraining garment over her breasts, exposing them to the sun.
"I'll stop before we go too far." He promised in a rough whispered. She only nodded and felt her body surge with delight as his mouth made contact with her breasts.
~ They were perched on top of the falls as the sun warmed them. Arthur mentioning that they should be going back soon.
"Thank you for taking me here." She said feeling happy and worn out from all the swimming and other activities. Her top and bra were safely repositioned again. She gave Arthur a knowing look and he couldn't stop smiling at her.
"Your welcome." He said as the sun had dried their hair and bodies. He rolled over and kissed her lips sweetly.
He looked so much younger somehow. Not at all a grown man with the problems of a grand estate to worry over. He looked like a carefree youth. Who only cared about swimming all day with her.
"You bring girls here a lot?" She asked.
"Oh no. Never." He said with a laugh. "This is my privet place. Not even Dom and Eames come here. I'm sure they forgot about it."
"So, you never bring anyone here?" She asked in disbelief.
"No." He said simply.
"How long have you lived here? At the castle I mean?" She asked. Biting her lip.
"All my life. I was born here." He said carelessly. His skin soaking up the warm sun beside her.
"So you were here when I was here?" She reasoned.
Arthur turned and looked at her.
"We should be getting back." He said sitting up.
"Arthur, please." She begged as he started to climb down to the horses. The trek down considerably easier then the grueling climb up.
"I really need to know why Archibald Blunt didn't keep me. Why is it such a secret?" She called after him.
"It's not a secret." Arthur snapped. That angry scowl back on his face. "He felt you deserved a mother and father."
"Was I a bad kid?" Ariadne asked as she claimed down after him. "Why won't you tell me?"
"I told you." He said finally reaching his clothes and pulling them on with startling efficiency.
"Arthur, I found my mother's accounts after she died. Archibald Blunt had been sending her money for almost twenty years. Ever since I was six. Why would he do that? Why would he do that if I wasn't related to him?" Ariadne asked.
Arthur was buttoning up his shirt and turned a cold look on her.
She stepped back and caught her breath. Arthur looked dangerous at that moment.
"If your worried I'm here for money, I'm not. I just want to know. I'm I related to him? Is he my family?" She asked humbly. Her heart hammering in her chest.
"Your not apart of our family." Arthur said in an angry whisper. "You don't want to be."