CHAPTER 21 – FINDING HIMSELF
It was like coming home. The island, the flowers, the scent of the tropics and the waves... he had had to borrow Jennifer's boat as both General Mitchell and Gina had left separately and he had no other way of getting back to the island. He pulled the boat hard up on the shore, mindful of the battering storm that had hit last night, and aware that the humidity was building up again. A few ominous clouds skuddered across the horizon and he smelt the scent of a storm in the air – fragrant and strong.
"Gina...Gina – where are you?" Trudging across the sand he pulled off his tshirt, already needing the fresh air on his hot skin. The air felt static, there was electricity brewing and he seemed unsure as to whether it was the storm or the emotional turmoil that shot fingers of pure energy in the wake of his path. "Gina? Sweetheart?"
No answer, in fact the island itself seemed to be holding it's breath. He moved cautiously up to the cottage and found the door slightly ajar. Feeling just a hint of trepidation he stepped through the doorway, feeling the creak of the polished floors under his now bare feet. The house was too quiet, there was no presence here. He did not think she had spent more than the required minutes to toss down her bag which sat atop the kitchen bench and he found her shoes scattered haphazardly across the lounge floor. The bedroom was empty, some clothes discarded negligently and he began to feel the first stirrings of concern.
Out to the back now, to check to see whether both of the boards were still there. Perhaps she was out surfing on another part of the island. Both boards stood tall against the back of the shed and he pulled the door shut in frustration.
Damn. She's hurting, she thinks I've let her down, already left for the future she thinks I want over her. Where would she go?
He walked. There was nothing else for him to do. He took to the trails that wound through the jungle like foliage that covered much of the island between her cottage and the shore and stopped frequently to call her name. Nothing, just the empty silence. Even the birds, who more than made their presence known at all times on this island, were silent. As if in mourning.
No longer moving slowly, speed pushed him along, an anxiety that was building in him, building in the air. Something was wrong. He broke through the last of the thick green leaves and came upon a rocky cliff like area, where the wind had begun to build and buffet and looking out to sea from this point, the day no longer seemed tranquil and calm. He saw her then, standing out on the furtherest edge of the cliff that knew that there was a long drop down to the sea below, where likely there would be rocks, sharp and unforgiving.
"Gina? Gina! Get away from the edge. Damn it Gina!" The wind blew his words and he pushed closer to her, but not wanting to startle her into slipping and falling. He had her back to him and her hair flew out behind her, then when the wind changed direction abruptly, it blew across her face so that she had to turn slightly to move it. He cautiously came up on her side vision and when she saw him, she startled a little and took a step closer to the edge.
"Stay back John. Leave me alone. I need to be alone, to think. Don't come any closer." She turned again so that he back was to him, and effectively took another step closer to the edge.
Panic began to set in. He hadn't liked the look on her face. She looked like a wild animal, cornered and out of control and wondered at the turmoil that roiled through her mind right now. Likely it would rival the storm that was beginning to build in the skies above the island.
"Gina – please, we need to talk. Come away from the edge and we'll go home and talk."
"Home? I am home... you need to go home. Leave me here and go home. You chose already – I thought you had already gone. Why are you still here?" The wind was starting to throw her voice away and he cautiously moved closer so that he could hear her.
"I couldn't leave until I had seen you again... I need you. I can't leave yet. There's something else I need to do here – Callandra did not tell me what, but she let me know in no uncertain terms that I wasn't fulfilling my bargain if I left now. I don't know the rules anymore... and I'm sick of the game... can we go home now Gina. Please..."
She slipped a little then and caught herself and his breath caught in his chest. "You're going to fall. Get away from the edge."
"What does it matter John? I can chose my own fate, end it now – better to take my own fate in my hands than wait for the date that has already been set out for me. I can't go back with you, I won't sit here and wait for it to end... D day...that's cruel. You can't expect me to do that to myself or my family."
"Dont't do it Gina – it's not meant to happen. There'll be repercussions..." He took a breath and held out his hand. "And I'll miss out on another night with you..."
She turned then, her foot slipping again, and he moved quickly this time, at her side and gathering her into his arms, safe and moving quickly away from the edge. He lifted her easily and she clung to him, burying her face into his neck, wanting to shut out the storm, the waning light and smell the man who carried her now in his arms.
The storm waited until they were back at her cottage before it broke and when it did it was as if the heavens had opened and were voicing their disapproval that he had broken the rules. He didn't care anymore. He would flout them if he chose. It was his life – and this was her life, and their choices they made would be theirs alone.
He put her down in the kitchen and looked down at her face, calmer now and her eyes looked up into his with a brilliant glow of blue, azure gems that captured his attention. She brought her hands up to frame his face and he couldn't help turning his cheek slightly so that he could rub it against her soft hands.
"One more night Gina... you and me. No ancients, no rules... just us. Ok?"
She didn't reply, just pulled his tshirt out of his jeans and moved against him again, sighing at the scent as she buried her nose against his chest, rubbing softly. She closed her eyes briefly and when she opened them again her clothes were gone, scattered into an untidy pile several feet away. She smiled. She had not even been aware that he had removed them, so caught up in the sense of his smell and the feel of his skin as she rubbed against it.
His hands were everywhere now as though he couldn't touch her in enough places. As though he had one more night to imprint his touch on her body so that she would remember it forever. As if there was ever a chance that I could forget this man she thought, and the thought came hard and sharp causing her breath to hitch and an empty yawning hole to open up inside. But she pushed it away for now, the feel of his hands on her body making her feel more alive than she had ever felt.
He picked her up and laid her carefully on the bed and just stood looking down at her. The expression in his eyes was hard to read. It held a hint of seriousness as though he was trying to reason something with himself and could come to no logical conclusion. Sighing then, he dipped his head, moving to kiss her smooth stomach and smiled against her skin as the rasp of his beard caused her to shiver.
"That unshaven look gives you a dangerous edge John, but plays havoc with the skin..." Her hands had reached down to run over the growth and she felt his mouth move into a smile beneath her hands.
"No men's shavers hidden in your bathroom sweetheart, so I guess you'll have to put up with the burn for just one more night..."
She shut out his words after that, did not want to hear any more about his leaving. Her hands moved to his jeans and gently cupped him through the denim. He was still partly clothed and lifted his head now to look down at her again before standing and removing his jeans. She sat up on the bed, bringing her at eye level with his erect penis and without hesitation she moved forward and took his length into her mouth, hearing his harsh intake of breath as she did this. He was salty, both from his own juices and the ocean and she enjoyed his taste and the texture of his soft skin that pulsed towards climax. His hands had fisted in her hair, but gently and began a light massage of her scalp, before moving down her spine, outlining each joint and back up again. He closed in on her shoulders and rubbed, all the while feeling the warmth and heat from her mouth begin to take him on a ride where there was no ending.
Near climax he gently pushed her away, back onto the bed where he could move the length of his body over her, insert one of his legs between hers and rub gently against her warm centre that felt damp. He watched her arch back slightly off the bed and his hand joined his leg and dipped into the juices that had begun to pool, sliding in and out with excrucaiting slowness that had her gasping his name.
"You want more?... or less...hmmmm?" His voice was a sexy murmur against her ear and his tongue swirled deliciously around her earlobe while his finger continued it's assault.
"Bastard. I want it all!" Growling now, he was on top of her in seconds and gave her just that. One thrust and he was in, hot pulsing and in damn need of release. There was no soft anymore, it was hungry and powerful and he thrust stroke after stroke, long after she had cried out, and long after he was able to formulate any rational thought.
And when he came, so did clarity. He had another visit to make tomorrow.