Diamonds in the Sand

The Aquans 2

Diamonds in the Sand Oceanographer Maura Ryan travels to the tropics to meet with her mentor, who claims to have made an amazing new discovery. By the time she gets there, he has vanished…and in his place are five mysterious men who have a strange connection to the sea. As they help her search for the missing scientist, Daq, Janko, Ivar, Ejan and Tagin introduce Maura to the uninhibited life they enjoy on the island. Before long, they ask her to join them in their balmy paradise, and she is tempted to accept. However, Maura can’t help wondering about her new friends’ role in Dr. Miller’s disappearance. She has also begun to suspect that they aren’t exactly like other men. Can she respond to their desire for her, wondering if they might not be what they seem? Should she give into what she feels for them, knowing that they might not be human? Genre: Contemporary, Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Paranormal Length: 27,398 words

DIAMONDS IN THE SAND The Aquans 2

Cassandra Pierce

LOVEXTREME

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: LoveXtreme

DIAMONDS IN THE SAND Copyright © 2011 by Cassandra Pierce E-book ISBN: 1-61034-839-7 First E-book Publication: September 2011 Cover design by Les Byerley All art and logo copyright © 2011 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers Dear Readers, If you have purchased this copy of Diamonds in the Sand by Cassandra Pierce from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

Regarding E-book Piracy This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book. The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment. This is Cassandra Pierce’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Pierce’s right to earn a living from her work. Amanda Hilton, Publisher www.SirenPublishing.com www.BookStrand.com

DEDICATION As always, thanks to my fellow Siren author, Rachel Clark, for some fantastic beta reading. Since you have already apparently worn out the first two Aquans I sent you, I will be netting some more for you soon!

DIAMONDS IN THE SAND The Aquans 2 CASSANDRA PIERCE Copyright © 2011

Chapter 1 The blazing Caribbean heat pressed against Maura’s face like a pillow the moment she stepped off the small plane. Walking down the ramp felt like walking into the heart of a volcano. By the time she had crossed the tarmac and entered the airport to have her passport and return ticket checked, sweat soaked her light cotton skirt and buttondown shirt. To her relief, she emerged from the immigration line and spotted a man holding up a hand-printed sign that read “Dr. Maura Ryan” in large red letters. Maura waved and pushed through the throng of islanders welcoming tourists and visiting relatives. “I’m Maura Ryan,” she said when she reached the man’s side. He didn’t smile, simply gave her a businesslike nod and lowered the sign. She’d assumed Septimus would send a driver rather than picking her up himself, since her former mentor was no longer young, and she’d suspected his urgent letter to her had been inspired by the onset of illness. Still, she hadn’t expected a chauffeur like this. Broad shouldered, with strong, aquiline features and tousled black locks that trailed over his shoulders, he looked vaguely Mediterranean. The heat didn’t seem to bother him at all, perhaps because he was barely

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dressed in sandals, cargo shorts, and a tank top that showed off his tan body and muscles to perfection. “I am Daq,” he said without a trace of an accent. Was he a displaced American like Septimus? “Professor Miller has charged me with delivering you to his home. Let me take your bags.” “Thanks.” Maura hitched her carry-on duffel higher on her aching shoulder and indicated two much larger suitcases resting at her feet. Without a murmur of protest, Daq hoisted one bag in each hand and strode toward the exit. Maura had to hurry to catch up, but Daq didn’t glance back at her. She couldn’t suppress a twinge of guilt at letting him carry her bulging cases by himself. Dragging both of them around all day had taught her how uncomfortably heavy they were. “The surcharge was ridiculous, and I probably packed way too much,” she prattled to the back of his head. “Still, I needed some of my reference books and notes, and considering I’ll be here a while, I thought I should bring extra clothes, too. I wasn’t sure I could find anything in the shops here.” “Bequia offers many fine boutiques,” he said in a clipped tone, still without looking around. “Most tourists find them perfectly sufficient.” “No doubt that’s true.” She was glad he missed her blush. “I didn’t mean to imply otherwise. It’s just that I might not have much time to explore. I’m here for work more than pleasure.” “I am aware of the scientific purpose for your visit. Still, I hope you’ll find a few hours to enjoy yourself.” “I’ll try my best.” They exited the airport and stepped out into a parking lot. The heat grew fierce again, and Maura feared that every crevice of her body dripped with sweat. Daq led the way past a row of tourist buses and taxis, still carrying the suitcases as if they weighed nothing. Conversation wasn’t his forte, she mused, but she couldn’t fault his physical strength. Apparently, the tropical sun had the same nurturing effect on the island’s men as it did on the vegetation. She had no

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complaints about the skimpy attire they favored, either. The air sure wasn’t the only hot thing around here. They approached a battered black Jeep parked under a palm tree, and Maura spotted another man waiting in the car. He lounged behind the wheel with his back to them, tapping his fingers on the dashboard to calypso music blaring from the speakers. “That’s Janko,” Daq said as they drew closer. “He works for Septimus, too.” When he spotted them, Janko jumped out of the driver’s seat and reached out to help with the bags. Daq shook his head, and for the first time, Maura noticed an unusual tattoo just under his jawline on both sides—three small slashes, subtly outlined against his skin but too regular to be scars. “I’ve got the cases,” he grumbled. “You open the hatch so I can put them in.” Janko did as his friend asked, but his eyes never left Maura. She stared back, drinking in his casual good looks. He was a little more dressed than Daq, though his tight red T-shirt and even tighter white jeans showed off his muscular body in plenty of detail. His hair also hung long enough to cover his ears and the tops of his shoulders, but it shone reddish brown in the bright afternoon light. “This Dr. Ryan,” Daq informed him as he slid her luggage into the Jeep. Janko grinned and grasped her hand. His skin, like his easy smile, seemed warm and somehow comforting. She was startled to notice the same odd lines running under his jaw. Clearly there was some significance to the marks—some sort of bonding ritual between them, maybe? Or just a peculiar island fashion? “Please, call me Maura,” she said as Janko guided her into the passenger seat. After slamming the hatch, Daq climbed into the backseat. He remained taciturn as they pulled out of the lot. The tiny island airport soon vanished behind a lush veil of palm trees. Maura had no idea how far they were from Septimus Miller’s property, so she settled back to enjoy the view of clear blue sky and water, exotic

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vegetation, and the occasional house painted in cheerful pastel colors. Though she’d just spent the better part of a day flying from her home in Connecticut to the Grenadines, she found this final leg delightful and even relaxing. Finally, Janko turned between two boulders and slid into a narrow driveway she hadn’t seen as they came up the dirt road. Ahead of them lay a lovely two-story house, cushioned in swaying palms and surrounded with white sand and neatly trimmed bushes. A verandah jutted from almost every window. A striped towel hung from one, flapping in the salty breeze. When Maura stepped out of the Jeep, she inhaled the fragrant sea air with pleasure. She couldn’t wait to check out Septimus’s private beach, not to mention the cove he’d described in his letters, where he performed the bulk of his marine research. This was going to be a sabbatical in heaven. While Daq and Janko got her bags, the house door opened, and three more guys came walking toward them. Maura quickly forgot about the beach. Two were shirtless, wearing denim cutoffs with fade marks in the right places, while the third wore a loose blue T-shirt over a baggy pair of swim trunks. All had the same shoulder-length hair as the first two, leading her to wonder if Septimus shared his house with some sort of boy band or ran a male modeling agency on the side. All five guys gathered around her with blatant interest. “Welcome to Starfish Cove,” said one of the newcomers, a tall blond with the most beautiful sea-green eyes Maura had ever seen. Oddly, they each sported the same tattoo-like lines under their jawlines. Their long hair covered them, but only from certain angles. “Let me introduce everyone,” Daq said. He pointed to each of the guys in turn. “This is Tagin, Ejan, and Ivar. And as all of you have hopefully figured out, this is Dr. Ryan, Septimus’s guest. I trust I don’t have to tell you to be on your best behavior around her.” “So Daq thinks we don’t know how to behave ourselves.” One of the shirtless men, who she thought had been introduced as Ejan,

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laughed. “That’s rich, coming from him.” The others joined in his good humor. “You’ll see what he’s talking about in time,” the blond told Maura with a wink. “Let’s just say you won’t find many books on etiquette on Daq’s shelf.” “Exactly what do all of you do here?” Maura asked, scanning the entire group of five with bewilderment. If they weren’t rock singers, were they grad students or protégés of some sort? Could Septimus possibly need that many research assistants? Or was there something about her old mentor she didn’t know? “Septimus never mentioned any of you in his letters.” “We help him take care of the place,” the dark-haired man in the T-shirt—Ivar?—replied with a grin. “Sort of like caretakers, you might say.” “You mean all of you live in the house?” “No,” Daq replied. “I mean, one or more of us will stay here overnight if Septimus needs us. Otherwise, we keep our own accommodations…elsewhere.” “I see,” she said, though in all honesty she didn’t. “Well, speaking of that, where is Septimus?” Their smiles faded a bit, and the five of them went silent. She saw them exchange glances that gave her an uneasy feeling. “Why don’t we take your stuff inside?” Daq suggested, grabbing the first suitcase. The other four all grabbed for the second one. Ivar ended up with it, and Ejan settled for relieving her of her shoulder bag. Janko and Tagin walked ahead to open the doors for them. Maura followed the small procession of underdressed men inside, hoping Septimus would be waiting on the sofa or at his desk to surprise her. The front door of the house opened into a sunny room, with a large overhead fan battling the afternoon heat. Lush green plants filled the corners, complementing the simple but comfortable-looking bamboo furniture. Books on oceanography and related subjects

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covered every table and shelf. Interspersed were decorative objects salvaged from the sea, including coral, shells, driftwood, and seaglass. No sign of Septimus, though. “The beach is right through here,” Janko said, crossing the room to fling open a pair of French doors adorned with seahorse-patterned curtains. Maura caught her breath. The view beyond was everything she had hoped for and more. A seemingly endless expanse of pure blue sky and crisp white sand framed the gently lapping water, with a circular area enclosed by rocks and palm trees off to the right. A small, thatched hut sat perched among the vines and tropical flowers. This, she assumed, was where Septimus pursued his studies. “How do you like it so far?” Tagin asked with obvious pride. “It’s absolutely wonderful,” she said, transfixed. Though she’d been to the tropics before, she’d never seen anything quite as peaceful and utterly private as what lay before her now. “And this all belongs to Septimus?” Daq nodded. “It’s been in his family for a hundred years. He inherited this house and as much of the beach as you can see from here.” “It must be worth a fortune,” she said. No wonder Septimus had retired from the university the moment he was eligible and rushed off to live in his vacation home full time. She’d expected something cozy, but much more humble. “No one can buy a house in the Grenadines anymore,” Ivar said with a shrug. “The whole place has become a private playground for rich people and tourist companies. If we hadn’t been born here, we could never have settled on this island.” “Do you want to check out your room? We decided to put you upstairs facing the ocean. The view is better, and you get a cool breeze at night. Just make sure the screens are closed or you’ll have some nasty insects in bed with you in the morning.”

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“I’ll remember that.” Maura shuddered. “But hold on a moment. Before I go upstairs and all of you duck out on me, I want you to answer one question—where is Septimus? And don’t even think about distracting me again.” “See?” Ejan challenged Daq, who stood looking at her with a dark cloud forming on his face. “Told you she’d be smart. She was Septimus’s best student, after all.” Was his compliment an attempt to catch her off guard? Maura refused to be sidetracked. “Come on—out with it.” Everyone looked at Daq, and Maura prepared herself for bad news. Had Septimus met with some kind of accident in the water? Had old age or illness claimed him between the time he’d sent his invitation and the time she’d completed her journey? Maybe she’d missed some underlying sense of urgency in his letters. Silently she cursed herself for not making her travel arrangements sooner. Why hadn’t she taken off as soon as the university had closed its gates for the summer? “Well?” she demanded when no one said anything. “What aren’t you telling me, Daq?” Daq raked a hand through his long hair. Under ordinary circumstances, she would have found the gesture sexy as hell. Right now it only made her more nervous. “It’s not that we’re keeping anything from you,” he said. “The truth is, we don’t know where he is. He took off three days ago, and no one’s heard from him since.” “What?” It was all Maura could do not to freak out right in the middle of Septimus’s tidy living room. “How can that be? I e-mailed him my flight information—he e-mailed me back!” “I sent you those e-mails,” Daq said quietly. “Perhaps it was poor judgment on my part, but none of us wished to alarm you. Besides, we had hoped he would be back by the time you arrived.”

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“This is insane,” Maura said, gaping at each of them in turn. Why did they seem so calm? “Why aren’t at least some of you out looking for him?” “Don’t get worked up,” Janko urged. “He’s probably just off on one of his expeditions. He walks up and down the beach collecting shells and stuff all the time. Sometimes he doesn’t come back for a whole day.” “One day and three are very different! What if a wave took him out to sea? He might be dead!” “No.” Daq shook his head. “The professor has done this sort of thing many times before, sometimes for even longer periods. Trust me, he isn’t lying somewhere injured or drowned. We checked…thoroughly.” “You checked in the water? How is that possible? The current could have swept him miles offshore.” “You’ll have to trust us on this,” Ivar said. “We know our way around the ocean, and so does Septimus. He wasn’t washed away.” “Ivar’s right,” Ejan said. “Septimus is more than capable of taking care of himself.” “Don’t worry,” Tagin said in a soothing voice. Maura couldn’t believe their casual attitude. Were these guys all dense or what? “He’ll be back to greet you as soon as he can get here.” She quickly realized the futility of arguing with them. Either they knew a lot more than they were telling, or every last one of them was totally nuts. Another unwelcome thought struck her then. Had the five of them conspired to rid themselves of Septimus and take over the house? After all, they had already acknowledged its material value. But if so, why had they made sure she would still arrive as scheduled and move in? They had nothing to gain from kidnapping her. For now, she’d play along and try to find out what she could out on her own. “Why don’t I take you up to your room?” Daq offered. “We can talk about all of this later.”

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“Well…all right,” she agreed, seeing little alternative. Maybe Septimus was hiding somewhere nearby, waiting to jump out and surprise her. The old man always did have an eccentric sense of humor. Daq went up the stairs alone with her, carrying the two suitcases himself. For some reason, his friends weren’t as eager to fight over them this time. Maura carried the shoulder bag herself, mindful of the passport and other valuables stashed inside. “It’s this one.” Daq showed her to a pleasant, neatly outfitted guest room with its own bathroom and shower. The bedclothes smelled fresh and inviting, and pink tropical flowers sat on the nightstand in a jar of water. On a whim, Maura picked one up and rolled the petals against the inside of her wrist. Its softness soothed her and sent a jolt of energy through her body. For some reason, the hot climate made her more attuned to every sensation. She turned to find him watching her. His eyes looked dark and heavy lidded, his lips parted slightly as though he were concentrating on her to the exclusion of every other thought. “Where did you say you and your friends stay?” she asked. The idea of him sleeping near her, probably in the nude considering the heat, made her quiver. She busied herself with pressing on the mattress as if to test its softness. Daq shrugged. “Outside, sometimes. Not in this house. You’ll have the place to yourself.” “Until Septimus gets back, you mean.” “Yes. Of course.” Once again, an unpleasant scenario flashed through her mind, involving Daq and his strange friends taking advantage of Septimus in some way. Almost as quickly, she dismissed the idea. Septimus might have been seventy years old, but his e-mails and letters to her, not to mention his scholarly work, betrayed no weakness of mind or even of body. Taking off in pursuit of a rare shell or sea creature seemed

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perfectly in character. And Daq appeared sincere in his concern. He had a sweet quality, even if he didn’t talk much. She looked up to see him beside the sliding glass door beside the bed, motioning to her. “Come on, I’ll show you the best part.” He pushed open the door, and she followed him onto a private verandah, positioned exactly above the one she’d admired from the living room. A wicker loveseat faced the sea. Daq held out his hand, indicating that she should sit. As she did, she stole a glance at Daq’s smooth, sinewy legs. Good grief, every inch of the man was gorgeous. She sure hoped he didn’t turn out to have some nefarious agenda against her and Septimus. “This is lovely,” she said, smiling up at him. Hopefully, she could lower his defenses and find out a bit more about his relationship with her—or maybe their—missing mentor. “I’m amazed that Septimus can keep the place up as well as he does at his age, considering he still spends twenty-three hours a day on his research. You and your friends are obviously a great help to him.” “We try to be. He’s been like a father to us…but without all the intrusive, judgmental stuff you get with a biological parent.” “Point taken. I don’t spend a lot of time with my parents, either. Septimus sort of took on that role for me, too. He understood my passion for academics in a way my own family never did. They couldn’t understand how science could possibly appeal to a woman more than chasing down a wealthy husband and popping out babies. With Septimus, I never had to justify my choices.” The ghost of a smile played around the corners of Daq’s mouth. “He’s very protective of you. Talks about you all the time. I know he looked forward to sharing some of his new discoveries with you.” “That’s why I can hardly believe he isn’t here to meet me. Still, as you say, he’s always had his own way of doing things. So do you guys assist him with his scientific work at all? Do you have any idea what he was so eager to show me?”

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Daq shrugged. “We help him with whatever he asks us to. We take care of the house, run errands, that sort of thing.” He spoke of Septimus in the present tense, she noted. That was good. “Does he pay you?” “Not exactly. I’d call it a barter system. We look after him and he lets us live on his property.” This time Daq did smile. “Island life is different than what you’re used to. We move at a slower, less modern pace, and we try not to worry too much. I’ll let you get settled. We stocked the kitchen for you, but if you need anything else, just let us know. We’re easy to find.” He left her alone with her thoughts and the heat. Grateful for the opportunity to shed her damp clothing, Maura shut the bedroom door, stripped, and rinsed off in the shower. When she returned, she lay down on the bed, still wrapped in a towel, and closed her eyes in total exhaustion. She expected to hear Septimus tap on the door or buzz her cell phone at any moment—but when she finally woke, it was dark outside and there was still no sign of him. Remembering what Daq had said about bugs, she got up and went to the sliding glass door, double-checking to make sure the screen was closed tightly. As she jiggled it in the frame, she glanced down at the beach. The huge tropical moon illuminated the white sand like a lamp, making the beach sparkle. Standing just at the edge of the water, silhouetted against the whispering night surf, stood two male figures—wrapped in each other’s arms and kissing. Wide-eyed, she stared in rapt fascination. She couldn’t be sure, but from this distance the pair looked like Tagin and Ejan—assuming she wasn’t mixing up their names. She’d never actually seen two men together…in that way…but she couldn’t deny that it was more of a turn-on than she expected. When one of them—Tagin?—knelt to nestle his face against his lover’s abdomen, she felt a tingle in the same part of her own body. Her pulse quickened and thundered urgently between her legs.

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Drawing out of sight behind the floor-length curtain, Maura loosened her grip on the front of her towel, letting it slide open, and glided the fingers of her free hand down her thigh. She murmured in pleasure as she stroked her own tender flesh, mimicking the movements of the men on the beach. Suddenly, a burst of excitement bloomed inside her, taking her breath away, along with her voice. In the same instant, she heard a light clicking noise behind her. The door. She hadn’t locked it. Yanking her towel back into place and letting the curtain fall, she turned. Daq stood in the hallway, his arms folded and his eyes burning in the near darkness. The force of his lust filled the room. “Come in,” she said huskily. He did.

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Chapter 2 Daq crossed her darkened bedroom in three steps. Maura didn’t move as he reached toward her, curled his fingers over the edge of the towel, and whisked it off her. Nor did she object when his muscular arms slid around her bare waist and crushed her against him. Her eyes searched his in the brief moment before he lowered his head and began to kiss her left shoulder. She registered a dark flash of passion and noticed a corresponding surge of need tenting his baggy cargo shorts. “I’m…not usually…like this,” she said, trying to process the fact that she was standing naked in the arms of a man she’d met only a few hours before. “I told you,” he growled against her skin, “things are different in the islands. Whatever and whoever you were before means nothing here. We make it a point to enjoy our lives…in any way that feels good to us.” Maura couldn’t help but laugh. “I noticed. I saw your friends out on the beach. They were certainly enjoying themselves.” “Yes. Why shouldn’t they? They are young and hungry, the beach is beautiful and warm, and their bodies are receptive to love. I would say yours is, too.” Abruptly his hand dipped between her thighs and spread her apart. Maura knew she was already moist and ready, and his murmur of appreciation told her he also knew it. Meanwhile, his other hand moved down the curve of her hip until it cupped her bare buttocks. A slight movement crushed her even tighter against him. His erection jabbed at her, threatening to punch a hole right through his pants.

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“Take these off,” she breathed, hastily unbuttoning the front and pushing down the waistband. “I want to feel you against me.” “I want the same thing.” Daq leaned away so she could push the shorts all the way down. He kicked them to one side, let go of her just long enough to peel off his shirt, and lowered his mouth to hers. His bruising kiss sapped her breath and made her legs buckle. Maura imagined her knees turning into transparent blobs, like the jellyfish she studied on the job. Luckily, Daq was more than strong enough to hold her up. He moved backward toward the bed, pulling her along with him. His lips never left hers until they were settled on the soft mattress. He lay back with his shoulders wedged against the pillows and Maura’s legs around his waist. His cock reared up from a nest of coarse, dark hair. It hovered between them, seeming alert and determined, reminding her of an exotic sea serpent seeking prey. Its size and girth fascinated her, and she was sure she could feel actual heat radiating against her thighs. She reached down and grasped him in both hands, stroking and molding. Daq bit back a moan that contained more than a note of frustration, but he made no attempt to stop her. Instead, he pressed his fingers into the soft flesh of her buttocks and pulled her forward until her pussy was parked directly against his erection. Maura readied herself, expecting him to go further, but he paused and exhaled sharply. “Should I…should I wait for you to get something…?” he managed to croak. It took her a moment to figure out what he was asking. “Oh,” she said, suddenly comprehending. “No. No need. I’m protected.” Never before had she been thankful for the irregular cycles that had put her on birth control pills for years. The inconvenience of taking one every day, without the usual pleasurable incentive, seemed well worth it now. She wanted to experience the raw power of his naked cock plunging into her. And in just a few

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moments, she would. The anticipation was almost enough to drive her mad. “Please,” she whispered hoarsely. “Get inside me.” Daq’s mouth thinned to a hard, determined line. Lifting his hands, he raised her hips and tilted her forward until she was positioned directly over his cock. Then, with a slow precision she found incredibly titillating, he lowered her onto himself. Maura sucked in a breath. His cock felt full, thick, and nothing less than awe inspiring. He instinctively knew how to buzz her nerves in just the right ways, entering her but never fully penetrating her, lifting her off him before she sank all the way down. The flared ridge of his cockhead teased her outer edges without mercy. Soon she imagined electrical charges, blue and hot, crackling around the outside of her pussy. Maura sensed that with only a minimal effort on her part, she could have come from that stimulation alone. Before she decided to test her theory, Daq picked up the pace. He began lifting her higher and slamming her down harder on him. At the same time, he arced his hips in order to thrust himself more fully into her. Up and down, up and down they rocked, keeping perfect rhythm with one another, until the first twinges of climax tugged at the insides of her thighs. A moment later, she came with such fury and force that she squeezed an instant orgasm off in him, too. She couldn’t make out the details of his face in the near darkness, but she could imagine his expression of pure abandon by the way he thrashed and moaned beneath her. After the last shudders were over, Maura slid onto Daq’s chest and lay still, panting and luxuriating in the warmth of his unusually silky skin. Her full breasts rubbed against his small, pebbly nipples as his now-soft cock slipped from her. “That felt…wonderful,” she said when she finally found her voice. Daq smiled and leaned up to kiss her. “See what I mean?” he asked as he sank back onto the pillows. “Life is about enjoying the connections we make with others. Some are purely physical…others are something more.”

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She considered his words. “So should we consider what just happened purely physical? I mean…we don’t even know each other.” “True. Yet somehow I sense there is a bond between us. Erotic attraction, surely, but something deeper as well.” “Our concern for Septimus, maybe?” “Perhaps.” Daq kissed her again before shifting her to one side and swinging his long legs off the bed. She watched him get up and retrieve his clothes, admiring the smooth lines of his body and the natural grace in his movements. He returned to kiss her on the forehead. Then he stepped away. “I will leave you to sleep,” he told her. “It’s true that Tagin and Ejan are…otherwise occupied, but Janko, Ivar, and I are nearby. You may consider yourself well protected.” “Is that necessary?” She sat up, covering herself with the light quilt. “I mean, you don’t think I’m in some sort of danger? Is there something you’re not telling me about Septimus?” “No, nothing like that. I simply want you to feel comfortable and safe in a place and under conditions unfamiliar to you. Sleep now.” He smoothed a palm over her forehead. She closed her eyes. She heard the rustle of him sliding his clothes on and leaving the room. Outside the window, a cloud slid over the full tropical moon. Then everything went dark. **** In the morning, she dressed in a white button-down shirt and demure wraparound skirt and came downstairs to find all five of the guys at the breakfast table. Somewhat to her relief, they were discussing Septimus’s absence and not her impromptu little interlude with Daq the night before. “I’ve been thinking about the situation,” she said as she joined them at the table and helped herself to fresh fruit and coffee. Daq’s gaze touched hers only briefly. None of the others seemed to notice

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the spark that passed between them. “I wasn’t quite clear on whether you had notified the authorities.” “Not yet. We hoped it wouldn’t be necessary,” Daq said. “You would have no way of knowing this, of course, but the police force on Bequia is not what you are used to in the States. They are trained only to write up reports of cameras and cell phones stolen from tourists. People disappearing for a few days isn’t uncommon here, for many reasons. The majority turn up safely, though perhaps a little hungover.” “I doubt Septimus is off on a bender,” Maura said. The words came out more primly than she’d intended. “No, but he tends to get caught up in his work and lose track of time,” Ivar observed. “Can you imagine how angry Septimus would be if he was accosted on some obscure little beach and detained by the police while he was trying to take field notes?” Maura sighed. “I guess you have a point. Still, I can’t help worrying that a wave took him, or he’s lying hurt on the rocks someplace.” “In my opinion, he’s fine,” Janko spoke up. “The old man is an excellent swimmer, and he knows everyone who lives here yearround. It’s not uncommon for him to paddle over to the other side of the bay and have dinner with friends over there.” Ejan nodded. “He’s also been known to stop at the guest houses and take groups of tourists on an impromptu eco-tour, looking at shells and turtles. In return, they invite him for dinner or even an allnight party on the beach. Maybe he’s staying with a friend.” Yes, she thought, Septimus, a dedicated professor all his life, probably missed teaching. Maybe someone invited him to stay at a guest house or onboard a yacht in exchange for his expertise. Or maybe someone offered to show him a nesting site for a rare bird or reptile. He would spend days hiding in one spot, waiting for a clutch of eggs to hatch or documenting the movements of an unusual sea snail.

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Then again, maybe his powers of observation had gotten him into trouble. She’d heard tales of drug smuggling and poaching on islands like this one. Had he shown up at the wrong secluded spot at an inopportune time? She looked around the table. “You don’t think he stumbled on someone who was up to no good?” she asked. “You know…noticed something he shouldn’t have?” A glum silence settled over the group. “I guess anything’s possible,” Daq admitted. “Actually, I do have a theory of my own,” Janko said after a moment. “It’s true he was looking forward to Maura’s visit…but maybe there was another frequent guest he hoped to avoid.” To Maura’s surprise, all the guys except Daq shared a subdued laugh. She struggled to make sense of their reaction. “Daq’s sister has been sort of underfoot lately,” Tagin soon explained. “She’s been hanging around quite a bit—trying to recover from an unpleasant breakup.” “Oh, that’s too bad,” Maura sympathized. “Don’t waste your pity on her. Cyra can take care of herself.” Ivar grinned. “Anyway, you’ll find out for yourself. She’s bound to wash up again in a day or two. Forewarned is forearmed, I always say. So be prepared.” “My sister’s not as tough as you think.” Daq’s voice grew defensive. “A lot of that is an act.” “Was it a long relationship?” Maura asked. “Not really. I would call it more of a fling,” Janko said. “With five guys. And every last one of them turned his back on her at the same time. Ouch, right?” “Five guys?” Maura choked out. “Yup.” They all spoke in unison and then paused, expecting her to comment further. Maura was so shocked she wasn’t sure what to say. “Well…I suppose everyone’s needs are different,” she said noncommittally. Privately, she wondered how that could work,

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logistically or emotionally. Would Cyra be…intimate…with all five at once? Would they take turns? She couldn’t even imagine an answer. On the other hand, she thought as she looked around the table, she could see the appeal in having five guys lusting after her at one time. It presented a delicious fantasy. “Enough of this. Why don’t you tell us more about the research you came to assist Septimus with?” Daq suggested. He seemed eager to change the subject. “Maybe it’ll help us come up with a clue where to look for him.” Grateful to move on to a less incendiary topic, Maura nodded. “Well, he wrote and told me he’d made some exciting new discovery, and he wanted to discuss it with me. I took that to mean he wanted help publishing the results, or having me verify his findings. But I don’t know for sure. He was very mysterious about the whole thing.” Ivar frowned. “What do you think he meant?” “I honestly have no idea. Knowing Septimus, it could be anything from mapping out a shipwreck to documenting a new species of snail. Or it might simply have been a finding that contradicted some longheld scientific trope.” “Doesn’t give us much.” Daq ground his teeth. Maura couldn’t help but notice how sexy he looked when he did that. “I could go through his notes and computer,” Maura offered. “Maybe I can find a clue about what he was working on and where he went.” “Okay. That’s a plan.” “Well, we’re going into port today,” Tagin said, glancing at Ejan. The two grinned at each other, no doubt remembering their night together. Maura knew the feeling. “We need to get the boat serviced and pick up some supplies.” “Go ahead. Daq and I will do the dishes,” Ivar said. “Janko made breakfast, so I guess it’s our turn to pitch in.”

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“That means I get to take Maura to Septimus’s work area,” Janko said. “Come on.” Maura got up and followed him out. They crossed the beach, made their way up a slight incline strewn with rocks and wild vines, and walked into the small bungalow she’d spotted earlier. Inside, Septimus had set up a crowded but functional office. Books lined the sagging shelves he’d pushed up against every available inch of wall space, and a desktop computer sat in one corner with piles of notes scattered around it. Maura seated herself and shuffled through them. To her surprise, Janko leaned over her shoulder to look on with her when she opened a lined journal and began flipping the pages. She felt his chest brush her shoulders, and his long hair touched her neck. If she turned her head, his lips would be so close to hers. Did he suspect she and Daq had become lovers last night? Or was “lovers” the wrong word? Maybe they had just been indulging a physical itch? She thought about Cyra and her allegedly wild lifestyle. She couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to have both Daq and Janko pleasuring her at the same time. Janko’s hot gaze drifted over her shoulder as if he sensed her naughty thoughts. “You’re thinking about Daq,” he said. “What?” she jumped, startled, and dropped some of Septimus’s notes. “Why do you say that?” Janko laughed. “Don’t worry. I’m not psychic or anything. It’s just a feeling I have. I know the two of you were together last night.” Maura blanched. “He told you?” “No. He has more respect for you than that. I just saw the way you interacted this morning and figured it out. How was it?” “Well…to be honest, it was wonderful,” she said with a sigh. His arm slid around her as his lips settled against her ear. The tip of his tongue traced the shell-like curves, and Maura felt a tingle

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creep down her neck. His fingers strummed her nipple through her shirt. The writing on the pages in front of her grew blurry. Soon his hand moved inside her shirt. She closed the journal, as if she could somehow prevent Septimus from knowing what she was doing instead of looking for him, and turned her face into Janko’s. He continued to kiss her lightly, undid her buttons, and moved his hand down to the waistband of her skirt. She heard voices, and suddenly Daq walked in…with Ivar. She and Janko broke apart. “How is it going?” Ivar asked. “Come up with a lead?” Apparently he hadn’t noticed anything out of the ordinary. His expression, at least, remained neutral. “We haven’t had enough time to do a careful analysis.” Maura searched Daq’s eyes for any hint about what he was thinking or feeling. She detected nothing. Either he really hadn’t noticed what she and Janko had been up to, or their encounter hadn’t inspired a reaction. He and Ivar came and sat on opposite sides of her at the desk. She returned her attention to the journal. Its pages were filled with years’ worth of her mentor’s scientific observations. Between paragraphs and lists of numbers were interspersed drawings of shells and exotic fishes, diagrams showing the directions of currents and the times of tides, notations concerning water temperature, and other things that would have been meaningful only to someone as precise about oceanography as Septimus. “That just looks like scribbles,” Ivar said. “What little I saw of his notes over the years didn’t make much sense to me,” Daq admitted. “He used a lot of notations and shorthand that only he could read.” “Not uncommon among scientists. They don’t want anyone to steal their research. Since I was his graduate assistant, I learned how to decipher some of these snail trails.”

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A wave of sadness hit her. Was she holding her mentor’s last legacy to her? “Don’t worry.” Ivar noticed her troubled expression. “We’ll find him. Or he’ll come back on his own. He’s a tough old oyster.” She bit her lip. “I know.” “Want to go for a swim?” Janko asked. “We can do this afterward.” “Yeah,” Ivar said. “Clear your mind a little and then return to it. We’ll help.” Now that he mentioned it, she was feeling rather hot. She stood up. “Why not?”

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Chapter 3 To her surprise, the guys jogged down to the sea’s edge, flung their clothes on the sand, and waded into the surf naked. Maura held back, unsure what to do except stare. She had no control over that— they were all such perfect specimens of maleness, with their sunbronzed skin and rippling muscles. Watching them cavort in the sea in their natural state proved nothing short of breathtaking. “Come on,” Janko called out. He paused in waist-deep water and motioned for her to follow him. “It’s warm and there’s almost no current. I’ll keep an eye on you if you’re worried you’ll get in over your head.” Was he talking about the ocean? “No—I’m a good swimmer,” she said. Drifting into deep water didn’t seem to worry Daq and Ivar. Already they were pretty far out, plowing through the waves like flesh-colored missiles. Janko stirred her from her reverie. “What are you waiting for, then?” She watched the crystal blue-green water eddy around his waist. He was so comfortable in his own skin—and nothing else, in this case. She remembered what Daq had said about island culture. Still, she wasn’t an islander. She felt far too self-conscious to do what he asked. She twisted her hand into the front of her shirt and shook her head. “I can’t. Not yet, anyway.” He grinned. “Okay. I understand. When you change your mind, let me know and I’ll come back.”

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She couldn’t help but return his smile. When, he’d said. Not if. These guys were certainly sure of themselves, but not in a way that made her feel pressured or inadequate. A certain innocence and charm lay behind their appreciation of life’s pleasures. He plunged into the water and paddled out toward his friends. As his figure grew smaller, Maura’s eyes turned from him and swept the shore instead. She wished, perhaps irrationally, that the brush would part and Septimus himself would come striding through the palm trees. With any luck, the guys were right, and he was just off enjoying some remote slice of the island. Meanwhile, her three new friends swam on ahead. Never had she seen such graceful and powerful swimming outside of an Olympic pool. She could have spent hours watching their sleek limbs and sinewy-strapped backs split the waves, speeding out to deep water and then effortlessly pivoting and racing back. Now and then, one or the other ducked underwater for what she considered a remarkably long time. With anyone else, she would have felt nervous, but they reappeared without fail, looking refreshed at hiding from the world for a while. Before long, Janko circled back to shore. He stopped a few yards away from her, floating with his arms outstretched, the picture of relaxation. When was the last time she’d really felt that loose and carefree? Maybe never. “Doing okay?” he asked. “I’m fine.” “Must be kind of hot up there on the sand,” he observed. “You’re already turning red.” Maura glanced at her arms, which were indeed looking a little sunburned below the rolled-up sleeves. The tropical sun was full and intense, even at this early hour. “I’ll be all right,” she said. “Just be careful. This kind of weather takes some getting used to.” In an effort to change the subject from her own slowly baking skin, she gestured toward the other two men. They were out so far that

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their heads were mere specks. “You guys must swim all the time. You’re excellent in the water.” “We do,” Janko agreed. “In fact, we need to. It’s in our blood.” He paused, his grin widening. “You ready to jump in? It’s a lot more comfortable out here than where you are.” “I don’t know.” Averting her face, she pretended that the sun bothered her and shielded her eyes with her hand. Janko was right about one thing. The heat was becoming more intense…in every sense of the word. A swim did sound refreshing. And her shirt probably hung long enough to double as a smock. More good-natured cajoling from him brought her to her feet. Slowly, her fingers stiff with self-consciousness, she undid her skirt and folded it neatly. Then she tugged the shirt down as far as it would go and walked slowly into the water. To his credit, Janko avoided looking at her as she waded in. Maura kept walking until she was submerged up to her waist. Janko stayed by her side as she stretched out and let the warm current take her deeper. Even through the shirt, the water felt like a caress. Shutting her eyes, she reflected on how life here really did move slowly, sensually. The balmy air and water seemed designed for human comfort. The bay itself, so quiet and serene, felt as safe and comfortable as a gigantic bed. No wonder Septimus loved this place, a gentle haven where he could live out his golden years. Soon Janko drifted close. She didn’t object when he drew her body to his and pressed his muscular frame against her back, spoon style. She felt his cock, thick and hard, brush her thigh, just below the area still covered by her panties. The thrill of his flesh touching hers made her want to melt into the sea. “I won’t play games,” he said into her ear. “I want you as much as Daq did last night. I’m pretty sure Ivar does, too.” She pulled away a little, embarrassed not only by his words, but by the instant effect they had on her. “Well, I don’t know what to say. I’m flattered, don’t get me wrong, but still….”

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“If you’re worried what Daq might say, don’t bother. He’s not the possessive type. None of us are.” “Is that part of this island culture all of you keep talking about?” “Sort of, but there’s more to it. You don’t need to worry about that yet. In fact, you don’t have to worry about anything. Just sink back and let things happen.” His hand crept across the front of her thigh and dipped between her legs. Maura gasped as his fingers kneaded the crotch of her panties and then slipped inside the leg hole. He massaged her sensitive folds, sending thrills up the middle of her body. Was it wise to combine such intense bursts of electricity with water? “Feels good, doesn’t it?” he whispered. “There’s a lot more where that came from.” “Mmmm. I’ll bet there is.” Closing her eyes, she leaned her head back, resting her weight against his chest. His hand probed, pushing the panties aside. She began to wish she’d been bolder and left all of her clothing on the shore. Of course, nothing prevented her from shedding it now. Her own fingers soon drifted to the buttons of her shirt. Janko used his free hand to assist her. Before long the shirt was floating toward shore. “We’ll find it later,” he said. Maura nodded, but truthfully, she didn’t care. Her mind was on other things…like the way his cock, hard and hot, even under the water, slid between her thighs. He eased the panties away and slipped them down her legs. This garment, too, went bobbing after the shirt, a tiny pink blotch in a vast expanse of blue. Ready for each other now, they fitted their bodies closer together. Janko used one hand to skid his cock down the small of her back, tickling the sensitive nerves at the base of her spine, while the other went on teasing her pussy. “Do you like this?” he asked, sliding his cockhead into the space where his fingers had been only a heartbeat before. He stroked her

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outer lips the way he had her back, sending shudders of anticipation through her. “Yes,” she whispered, reaching around to grip the taut curve of his thigh. “Very much.” He leaned into her, his erection prodding her flesh more insistently. Maura readied herself for his welcome invasion, opening her legs and willing her muscles to relax. To her surprise, an entirely different sensation distracted her from what was going on between her legs. It started when something brushed over her right nipple, followed half a second later by a similar contact on the left. She knew even before she opened her eyes what she would find. Sure enough, two figures bobbed in front of her, with one set of hungry lips attached to each breast. Janko continued to support her, his cock rubbing just below the point of entry, while Daq and Ivar enthusiastically sucked on her tits. She marveled at the way the three of them worked in perfect tandem. Daq slid one arm around her waist, while Ivar wrapped one around her thigh. Janko supported her weight from the back, helping to keep her afloat while his friends applied pressure from the opposite side. Between them, they kept every erogenous zone on her body stimulated. Still, things couldn’t remain as they were for very long, mostly because she couldn’t bear to be teased and tickled indefinitely. She needed something stronger…or harder…and soon. Janko pulled her closer as Daq and Ivar began to move apart, though they kept their lips on her skin. Daq trailed his upward, kissing his way along the slope of her breast and then her shoulder, finally pausing to nibble her ear. Ivar, on the other hand, drifted lower, actually ducking his head underwater. A moment later she felt his tongue tracing the outline of her pussy. He encircled her swollen bud and gave it a playful squeeze as Janko finally, and fully, pushed inside her. Daq’s mouth found hers,

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and they enjoyed a fiery kiss above the waves while other arousing events took place below the surface. Pleasure more intense than any she’d ever experienced before, or even dreamed of experiencing, raced from three different parts of her body and collected in her center. Because of the water encasing them, Janko had to move his hips slowly and rhythmically, rather than fast and hard, the way she wanted him to. Still, she found herself getting caught up in the almost hypnotic motion of his measured, steady thrusts. He timed them to perfection, each push diving in a little deeper and stretching her a little wider. Climax built in her like a storm, gathering force and fury as it rolled across the sea. To her amazement, Ivar’s head remained submerged. He hadn’t drowned—the flicking of his tongue against her clit was proof enough of that—but his ability to hold his breath for so long, while using his mouth with such expertise, seemed nothing short of miraculous. She didn’t have much time to dwell on his talents, though, as an equally incredible pressure surged in her middle. No doubt sensing the quiver in her body, Daq lifted his face from hers. He dragged his teeth along her lower lip, setting off another shower of sparks. “Let yourself go,” he cooed. Rather than hearing them in the usual way, Maura felt the words brush her mouth. “Show us that we’ve pleased you.” “Of–of course you have,” she wheezed. “No, don’t tell us,” he whispered back. The vibration of his voice reached deep inside her, joining with the swirl of Ivar’s tongue and the thrusts of Janko’s cock. “We want to see it.” An inane thought crossed her mind. How could Ivar see anything when he was underwater? Still, she was literally in no position to argue. Daq drove his lips back down on hers, and Janko tilted his hips upward in a final energizing push. It was like thunder and lightning striking together, with a volcano erupting nearby for good measure. Maura’s voice caught in her throat,

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her heart seized in her chest, and the lower half of her body turned inside out with excitement. She came. **** Afterward, the four of them paddled back to shore together and retrieved their clothes. Though Maura’s shirt was wet and sandy, she put it on anyway. The hot sun began to dry it out almost immediately. Oddly, she felt shy around them once they were all dressed and on land. Maybe it was because she began to think about Septimus again, and the task of deciphering the stack of research in the bungalow. Hopefully, his notes and journals would point her in some feasible direction as to his whereabouts. She planned to study them more once her head cleared. Right now, with the guys hanging around, she didn’t think anything would make much sense. “Why don’t you three go on with what you normally do during the day?” she suggested. “I’d like to spend some more time going through Septimus’s papers.” “We promised we’d help,” Janko said, disappointed. Maura took on the voice she used in her college classroom when her students weren’t buckling down to the task at hand. “I think it’s safe to assume that if we’re all in the bungalow, we’re not going to get much work done. It would be better if we split up.” Ivar reached out and smacked Janko in the shoulder. “Give the lady some down time. We’ll see her at lunch.” He raised hopeful eyes to her. “Won’t we?” “Depends on what kind of progress I make with the research. Let’s play it by ear.” They stood, and Maura started back toward the bungalow. Daq followed her for a short distance then stopped. She couldn’t resist looking back at him. “If you need anything at all, don’t hesitate to come back to the house,” he said. “At least one of us will be there.”

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“I’ll do that.” She knew he wanted to say more, maybe to discuss what had happened between them all in the sea and where it left their relationship—if that was an accurate name for their frenzied encounter the night before. In any case, such a philosophical discussion would have to wait. Turning, she headed back to the jumble of scholarship they’d abandoned. This time, she took a more systematic approach, sorting the books and papers into neat little piles. She began to read through the material one stack at a time. More than once, she had to push thoughts of the guys out of her mind so she could concentrate. She felt a little guilty about invading Septimus’s privacy. Still, he could be in trouble—surely he would understand that they had to take every precaution. She paged through several journals, dating back a year or so. Unfortunately, some of Septimus’s notes didn’t make a lot of sense, thanks to his cryptic handwriting. What she could untangle suggested nothing of the great discovery he had hinted at with such excitement. Frustrated, she put the notebooks aside and mined the loose notes instead. These yielded more of the same. Time to attack the computer. It was an older model, probably one Septimus had used for many years. As soon as she turned it on, a password-protected screen came up. Cursing, she spent several minutes trying to override the security software. Apparently, she didn’t know her old mentor as well as she thought, since she was unable to guess the password. Eventually she gave up, turned the machine off, and leaned back in the chair with a sigh. Only from that angle did she spot the photograph tucked under the keyboard. Curious, she pulled it out and examined its faded surface. The black-and-white snapshot showed a woman seated on the beach, wet from swimming, her long, dark hair trailing loosely over her shoulders. She posed with both arms wrapped around her bent knees, dressed in a two-piece swimsuit that seemed a bit skimpy for the days of black-and-white photos. The background showed

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Septimus’s house, which hadn’t changed much. Maura turned the picture over but found no notation on the back. Maura doubted this was any sort of clue. For one thing, the picture looked at least fifty years old. Still, Septimus had kept it close at hand while he worked. She had nothing to lose by asking about it. She took one of the journals, tucked the photo inside to protect it, and started back toward the house. As she crossed the beach, she spotted Tagin and Ejan pulling up to shore in a blue-and-white bowrider, presumably the craft they’d had serviced in town. When they got close enough, Tagin jumped into the water and tethered the boat to a submerged mooring. Maura waited for them both to wade ashore. She wondered what they’d been up to all morning. Surely they had no idea how she and their friends had been entertaining themselves. She fought back a blush as Tagin approached her, grinning. Maybe he did have some inkling. Hastily she produced the photo. “I found this in Septimus’s office,” she said, holding it up for both of them to see. “Do you know who it is?” The two squinted and bent down for a closer look. Ejan shrugged, but Tagin peered at it for an extra moment before shaking his head. “Sorry, no. Maybe it’s someone from his family.” “I’d say it was taken right out here,” she said, gesturing toward the sand under their feet. “Look at the background.” “Not surprising,” Ejan said. “He grew up here.” “Coming in for lunch?” Tagin asked her. Maura tucked the photo into the journal. Though she wasn’t exactly in a hurry to return to the house, she had to ask Daq and the others about the picture. Besides, she realized, she was starting to get hungry. No surprise, considering how…active…she’d been that morning. “I guess so,” she said.

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Casually, Tagin reached for Ejan’s hand. The two of them walked alongside her as they headed up the beach.

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Chapter 4 As soon as Maura and the two guys stepped back inside the house, she spotted Daq standing in front of the bamboo sofa, speaking to a seated woman. She knew at once who the visitor must be, even before Tagin and Ejan exchanged weary looks. When she heard them enter, the woman turned to stare at Maura. Maura noted her thick mane of sun-lightened red hair, startling green eyes, and perfect skin with a twinge of envy. She bore the same curious lines under her jaw that the guys did. Was it some sort of tribal tattoo everyone on the island shared? “Maura, this is my sister, Cyra,” Daq said. “Cyra, this is Maura Ryan. Septimus’s colleague, remember?” “Of course I do. You’ve been babbling about her imminent arrival all week. Do you think my memory is bad?” “I know you’ve had a lot on your mind,” Daq said. “I’m not always sure you hear everything I say to you, Cyra.” Cyra gave a haughty laugh. This was the woman with five lovers, Maura thought. When she’d first heard about the situation, it had seemed too bizarre to believe. Since then, she herself had experienced—and enjoyed very much—an encounter with three. Heck, she’d almost caught up. “So you’re Septimus’s fellow scientist,” Cyra was saying while Maura’s thoughts wandered elsewhere. “I must admit, I expected someone older, or at least grayer.” Maura touched her shoulder-length, dark hair self-consciously. “Well, I’m older than I was when I first arrived,” she joked. She

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started to add “and a lot more experienced,” but thought better of it and stopped herself. Cyra’s eyes rose to Tagin and Ejan, who still flanked her. They closed in almost protectively. “I take it you two haven’t corrupted her yet.” “Nah. Too busy corrupting each other.” Ejan laughed. “But give us time.” “We were just going to clean up a bit,” Tagin said, indicating his wet clothes. “We’ll be back soon.” He and Ejan made a hasty retreat upstairs. Daq watched their escape with a cynical expression. “I’m going to get lunch ready,” he said, starting toward the kitchen. “Do you want to help, Cyra?” Cyra settled herself more comfortably on the sofa, stretching her long, pale arms out on top of the cushions and leaning her head back. “No. I’d rather get acquainted with your new housemate. Why don’t you call us when it’s ready? Maura, sit.” Daq scowled. Clearly, he’d wanted to speak to her in private, but had committed himself to preparing the meal. Turning on his sandaled heel, he grumbled and stalked off. Cyra gestured toward the chair opposite the sofa. Maura couldn’t help but notice that under the formfitting yellow sundress she wore, her body looked lean, muscular, and exquisitely feminine all at once. She and Daq had received some fantastic genes. “He might as well make himself useful for something besides the obvious, don’t you think?” she asked Maura with a pointed look. “Er…what do you mean?” “Oh, please. I can tell you’ve had sex with my brother. And some of the others, too, to judge by your blush.” “I can’t imagine why you would say something like that,” Maura stammered. Cyra was right. Her cheeks were growing hot and no doubt crimson. She’d always been terrible at lying.

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“How about because it’s true?” Cyra’s cool, sea-colored eyes glinted with amusement. Maura had no idea how to respond, but she felt she should defend her honor somehow, even if there wasn’t all that much to defend. “Well…I understand you get a little wild yourself now and then.” “Oh, I’m not judging you. I think every woman should have a stable of men to indulge her. The trouble is that they’re so fickle. Like pets you have to entertain constantly. The moment they get bored, they run away. Trust me.” Thankfully, her remark suggested a new avenue for the conversation. Maura suspected Cyra would be all too interested in talking about herself for a while. “Daq mentioned you’d had some disappointing experiences in that area.” “You don’t have to speak in code. Yes, everything you’ve heard is true. My five lovers all left me at once. Still, I’ve decided to take it in stride. They’ll tire of their new playmate soon enough. Then they’ll want me back…but I’ll have moved on. That will be the best revenge. Don’t you agree?” “Seems like a healthy attitude,” Maura agreed. So all five of Cyra’s men had found another woman to replace her? Was that kind of arrangement more common than she’d suspected? “Daq will be glad to know you’ve moved on. He mentioned he was sort of worried about you.” “Did he?” Cyra rolled her eyes. “Typical older brother. Do you have one?” “Three, in fact. We’re not very close. I’d kind of like it if they took some interest in my well-being.” “You wouldn’t say that if you had one as bossy as Daq. He’d be happy for me to stay around here and live according to his advice, but the truth is, I’d rather see the world and make my own mistakes along the way. That’s what life is all about, don’t you think? He doesn’t understand.” “Have you traveled much?” Maura asked.

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“Yes. In the past year alone, I’ve visited Australia, the Caymans, even the Bermuda Triangle. Trust me, that place is nowhere near as exciting as it’s made out to be. Not a glimpse of an alien craft, a sea monster, or anything remotely exotic. I wasn’t sure whether I should be disappointed or relieved.” Briefly Maura’s mind flashed on the exciting new discovery Septimus had told her about. Was it something along the lines of what Cyra was suggesting? She decided to put some more effort into cracking that computer password. At the same time, she realized how little she knew about Daq, aside from the fact that his sister drifted outside the usual behavioral currents, to say the least. Having him out of the room gave her the perfect opportunity to find out more. “Do your parents live nearby?” she asked. “No. They were swept away in a tropical storm many years ago. No one knows what became of them.” Maura recoiled in horror. “I’m so sorry. I–I had no idea.” She was even more shocked when Cyra shrugged without a trace of emotion. “It’s a risk on any island. The tropics can be wonderful, but deadly storms are common. Daq and I were teenagers at the time. Ejan’s mother lives right up the coast, so she let us stay with her. Eventually I took off on my own and Daq started hanging around here. Your friend Septimus had to go back to the States now and then to teach his classes and whatnot, so he let my brother take care of the house for him. Ejan moved in, too. The other guys showed up later.” Maura nodded. She could understand Septimus stepping in as a father figure for Daq, and maybe the others as well. He’d sort of done the same for her, knowing she wasn’t close to her own family. He would have been eager to help Cyra and her brother after they had been orphaned in such a tragic way. How ironic it would be if Septimus had met the a similar fate. Was Daq simply in denial? “Speaking of Septimus,” she ventured, “do you know him well?”

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“I’ve met him, of course. Can’t say I ever spent a lot of time with him.” “You do know he’s missing? I don’t suppose you have any idea where he might be.” “Of course I don’t.” Cyra’s gaze drifted to the beach outside, and she began to fidget as though she were eager to get back to it. Maura opened the journal she’d brought inside and held out the photo. “Do you know this person?” “No,” Cyra said. “You’re sure?” “Positive. Look how old that is! I wasn’t even born yet.” “Well, I wasn’t, either. But Septimus had it on his desk. What if he reconnected with a friend somewhere and went to see her? What if she’s a relative who should be notified? Identifying her might help us locate him.” Cyra sniffed. “Maybe he doesn’t want to be found. Have you considered that?” “I guess anything’s possible,” Maura agreed. She put the photo back in the journal. Just then, Daq reappeared, wiping his hands with a small towel. “Lunch,” he announced. “I think I’ll skip it,” Cyra said, jumping to her feet. She was through the French doors and heading for the water before either of them could say anything. Maura wondered if Daq felt the same relief as she did. He said nothing as Maura followed him into the kitchen, where he’d laid out plates, flatware, and a quantity of fruit salad and fresh shrimp. “That looks wonderful,” Maura said, genuinely impressed. The smile returned to his lips. “So do you.” He slid one arm around her waist, hauled her to him, and kissed her hard. His other hand roved over her breasts, cupping and squeezing each in turn. She felt his erection rise, throbbing through

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the layers of their clothing, and suddenly wanted him to take her right there on the table or maybe the counter. Unfortunately, both surfaces were covered with lunch preparations, and she realized that the other guys were about to burst in on them. She heard Janko laughing with Ivar outside the door, while Tagin and Ejan came thudding down the stairs. Daq released her as Janko walked in. He slid his arm around her shoulders and hugged her. Ivar, right behind him, looked like he wanted to do the same, but refrained. “How did the research go?” Janko asked. “It didn’t. I couldn’t get into the computer and the journals made little sense.” She held up the one she was still clutching and took out the picture of the mysterious woman on the beach. “I did find this. Do you know who she is?” Janko shrugged and showed it to Ivar, who shook his head. Daq likewise gave no sign of recognition. When Tagin and Ejan walked in, she passed it to them and repeated her question. “No. Sorry,” the two said in unison. “But it is kind of faded,” Janko pointed out. “I mean, she could be someone who still lives around here. An old flame or something. She might look totally different now.” “Good point,” Janko said. The six of them sat down and enjoyed the meal together. Though no one spoke of Cyra, none of them seemed especially disappointed that she hadn’t stayed to eat with them. Instead, to judge by their serious expressions, Maura suspected they were thinking about Septimus or possibly the woman in the photo. “Why don’t we take you out in the boat this afternoon?” Tagin eventually suggested. “Since it’s in working order again, we can putt around to some of the guest houses and ask if anyone’s seen him.” “You mean you haven’t done that already?” she asked, alarmed. “I thought you’d checked all the logical spots.”

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“Sure we did, but there’s a lot of turnover at those places,” Ejan said. “He might have shown up more recently, or maybe someone who knows something has just checked in.” “Good idea,” Daq said. “Take your time—hit all the ones on this side of the island.” “Is everyone coming?” she asked, looking around. Daq shook his head. “I’ll stay here in case Cyra comes back. Besides, the boat’s too small for more than three. Janko and Ivar can go out in the Jeep. There are a couple of hotels and watering holes up the road they can check out.” Maura nodded. The plan sounded solid. She wasn’t entirely comfortable taking off with just the two lovebirds, fearing she would be intruding. She knew a lot less about them than she did the other three, but that would change if they spent the rest of the day helping her search for Septimus. **** Cyra stomped down the wooden steps of Septimus’s house, shaking her head. What in all the seven seas was wrong with Daq? First Kral and his ridiculous excuse for a pod had given her the push for an insipid human with no concept of Aquan life, culture, and custom. They seemed happy and content with their silly mate Savannah, but Cyra knew that relationship was bound to end in disaster. Now her own brother was about to be hurt and humiliated in the very same way. Well, Daq would have no one to blame but himself if he refused to listen to her warnings. True, some humans were attractive enough, and Cyra had no shortage of men seeking her favors. Yet she had never been involved with a human and had no desire to go through the endless explanations, justifications, and accommodations such an alliance required. Eventually, she believed, she would find a pod more to her tastes than Kral’s had turned out to be.

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She longed to get back into the sea. Maybe it was time she ditched this whole ridiculous island anyway, but for now she’d settle for a quiet glide among the local coral gardens. When she reached a secluded spot away from Septimus’s house and the prying eyes of any nearby humans or boaters, Cyra grabbed the hem of her dress and began to peel it off. She paused in mid motion, sensing a stranger’s approach, and straightened. Presently a tall man with short, sandy hair and a colorful patterned shirt came into view, strolling along the water’s edge. His white trousers were rolled up to mid calf, exposing well-tanned and muscular legs. Fuming, Cyra stepped into his path. “Excuse me. You’re trespassing.” “Am I?” The man stopped, lifting his eyebrows in surprise. “Yes. You most certainly are. Starfish Cove is privately owned.” “I’m terribly sorry.” His accent was American, she noted. He also didn’t sound sorry in the least. “I assure you I meant no harm. I was simply enjoying the sea air and the open sky.” “Where did you come from?” she demanded. He half turned, tilting his head to his left. “I rented a cottage about half a mile up the beach. I only arrived this afternoon. I suppose I got lost.” “So it appears,” she said. “I would advise you to be more careful in the future. My brother takes care of this property, and he doesn’t like strangers.” His smile widened in a way that human women probably found quite charming. “Then may I suggest the obvious remedy of introducing myself?” He extended an open hand toward her. “I’m Alan Scott, your neighbor…at least temporarily.” She considered not taking his hand, but she supposed he was the type who would insist. She touched his palm in the most perfunctory way possible.

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“I’m on vacation by myself,” he added—unnecessarily, in her opinion. Did he think she would care? “To be honest, I was walking along the water hoping to come across someone who might direct me to a decent place to get a drink and some seafood.” “There’s nothing like that on this side of the island,” she informed him. “As I said, this area is private.” “What a shame—I would have been happy to treat you. After all, I want to apologize properly for invading your privacy.” “That won’t be necessary. I’m just warning you for your own good.” “Very well. My offer stands, though.” He turned and began walking in the other direction. Cyra stared after him until he disappeared behind a clump of rocks and vegetation. What nerve! As if she would waste her time having lunch and drinks with a human. Let her brother spend his afternoon that way, if he wished. Gratefully she pulled off her sundress, stashed it among some rocks so she could retrieve it later, and waded into the water.

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Chapter 5 Maura kept her eyes riveted to the shore as Ejan’s boat putted past silvery beaches and overgrown patches of green. Though she spotted a number of lovely birds and aquatic creatures, she detected no sign of Septimus. The scenery was so stunningly beautiful that she could see how Septimus might be happy to lose himself in it for awhile. Yet, as Cyra had reminded her, even the most charming tropical forests and beaches teemed with hidden dangers. She hoped Septimus hadn’t let his guard down at the wrong moment. Presently the boat carried them to a more populated stretch of coast. Every now and then, Ejan and Tagin would pull up to the docks of some guest house or hotel, and even a beachside tiki bar. There, Maura and one of the guys would disembark to make enquiries after Septimus. Maura wished she’d brought along the black and white photo, but she had worried about getting it wet. Crazy as the whole idea seemed, she kept an eye out for any older woman who might resemble the one in the picture. Sadly, all three of them came up empty. “We’ll try one last place,” Ejan said, noting her downcast expression as they pulled away from yet another dock and useless excursion. Maura realized that their investigation had taken most of the day. Already the sky showed the vivid red and purple streaks that heralded sunset. “They throw an outdoor cocktail party for their guests every night. People from nearby houses and hotels wander in, too. Maybe someone has seen Septimus. Who knows—he might even turn up on his own.”

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“Good idea,” Maura agreed, touched by the genuine concern in his wide, clear eyes. She reached out to squeeze his forearm. “Thank you for taking all this time to help me,” she said. She glanced up at Tagin, who stood at the wheel of the boat. “Both of you.” “It’s our pleasure,” Tagin said, touching her shoulder. “We care about Septimus, too.” His use of the present tense reassured her. She felt a flash of embarrassment at ever suspecting they had something to do with his disappearance. Soon they pulled up at yet another dock, this one painted bright white and festooned with festive paper ribbons and Chinese lanterns. They walked single file along a gravel walkway, heading toward a charming two-story house surrounded by palm trees and an explosion of huge tropical flowers. As Ejan had predicted, an informal party was going on in the courtyard, with a large number of people milling around and laughing. Jaunty calypso music played from a boom box set up on one corner of the deck, where a makeshift bar conducted a brisk business. The guests seemed to come from various generations and ethnic groups, giving Maura hope that Septimus might, in fact, be wandering among them. As they stood at the bottom of the deck stairs, scanning the party, a tall, steely-haired woman standing near the bar waved at Ejan. He returned the wave and gave her a brief nod. She moved quickly through the crowd toward them. A handsome, much younger man followed her attentively, resting one hand on the small of her back as they walked. “You know her?” Maura asked Ejan. “You could say that,” he admitted with a grin. “She’s my mom.” “She owns the place,” Tagin explained. The woman reached them, and her escort caught up to her. He slid one arm around her waist, beaming with pride. Maura found herself

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intrigued by their closeness. Ejan’s mother appeared to be in her early sixties, while her companion looked no more than thirty-five or so. Ejan introduced them. “Maura, this is my mother. Irissa Kol, meet Dr. Ryan. She’s staying with us.” “Maura, please,” Maura said as the woman extended a long, lean hand toward her. Maura had never seen such graceful fingers before, or a more luminous smile. Irissa probably had no problem attracting lovers of any age, she decided. As if he could read Maura’s thoughts, the handsome man stepped forward and extended his free hand. Ejan suddenly became flustered. “And this is her… uh… companion.” “Elliot,” the man offered helpfully. Maura thought she detected the hint of a British accent. “She’s lovely,” Irissa said to her son, not caring that Maura could hear. “I’m pleased, Ejan. This should work out very well.” “No, Mother, it’s nothing like that,” Ejan stammered. Beside him, Tagin smothered his laughter. “Septimus invited her. To help with his research.” Irissa’s indulgent smile never dimmed. “Yes, of course. I see.” Maura raised her brows. Irissa must be aware that Tagin and Ejan were involved with one another. Was she hoping her son would change his sexual preference? Surely she realized that wasn’t very likely to happen. Still, their issues weren’t Maura’s business. She was here to find out if Septimus had come by. To her relief, Ejan was already explaining their mission to his mother. “I’m afraid Septimus hasn’t called on me for quite some time now,” Irissa said with a touch of regret. “A shame, because he was always so entertaining for the guests. He could tell stories about this island that kept everyone spellbound. He was very good for business, in fact.” Maura perked up, intrigued. “What kind of stories?”

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“Incredible tales of the sea,” Elliot said, sweeping his arm over his head. “Wild theories about people who could breathe underwater and lived in cities made of coral. When their civilization fell, he said, they waded ashore and learned to live among humans.” He paused to laugh. “I told him he should write his stories down—he could make a fortune. Then he insisted he would never betray the sea people like that. Said they deserved to live in peace after all they’d been through. Has quite an imagination, doesn’t he?” “He certainly does,” Irissa said, raising a silver brow. Ejan and Tagin merely looked at one another and shrugged. “But then, my cocktails are known to be a bit strong. Speaking of that, let me get you one, Maura. Ejan, dear, be a gentleman and find her a place to sit down. She looks exhausted.” “It’s the heat,” Tagin said. “She’s not used to it.” “Come on, Maura.” Ejan held out his hand and led her toward a circle of chairs arranged around a koi pond. Each chair had a bamboo torch beside it, and many of the chairs were occupied by guests. Somehow, Ejan found her an empty one. “Stay here. I’ll fix you something nice and cold.” “Thank you,” Maura said, sinking down in relief. Now that she thought about it, this really had been a long, draining day. She’d probably crammed more adventure into the last forty-eight hours than she had experienced in all her thirty-one years on earth. For the moment, she gave herself permission to just lean back and enjoy the music and the buzz of conversation around her. Eventually, Elliot appeared, carrying a tall blue drink with a tiny paper umbrella and plenty of ice. He left her to sip it in blissful solitude and quickly returned to Irissa, who was in the middle of an animated conversation with her son and Tagin. Were they arguing about her? She hoped Tagin wasn’t angry over Irissa’s suggestion that something was going on between her and Ejan. Not that Ejan wasn’t as gorgeous as the rest of his friends—and so was Tagin, for that matter—but Maura respected their relationship to one another too

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much to entertain such a possibility. Aside from all of that, where did Daq fit into the equation? Did he even want to fit in? “Whoa,” she said aloud, pulling the drink from her lips and looking down into its frosty blue depths. Irissa wasn’t kidding about her drinks being strong. A few swallows and already Maura’s mind had tilted sideways. Well, she decided, why not? She didn’t plan to steer Ejan’s boat. When she glanced back at Ejan and Tagin, she saw that neither of them had taken any refreshment. So they were safe enough on that score, at least. The two men were still involved in a spirited conversation with Irissa. Elliot had disappeared. Soon the three of them were standing around her chair again. Ejan reached out and helped her to her feet. “I hope you’ll come back to chat.” Irissa took Maura’s hand next, pressing it affectionately. As she did, Maura noticed something surprising. Below the large bangles on her necklace, Irissa wore the same tattoo as her son and the others. She decided to ask about its meaning, but before she had a chance, the guys were already leading her back to the boat. As they set off from the dock, Maura felt a little woozy from the combination of the drink and the rolling of the water beneath them. She nestled herself into one of the deck seats. Ejan took the spot beside her while Tagin remained at the wheel. “How long has your mother been with Elliot?” Maura asked. “A month or so,” Ejan said with a shrug. “They’re still in the honeymoon phase. I’m glad she’s happy, but it probably won’t last. We’ve been through this before.” “Where’s your dad? Are they divorced?” “I guess you could say that,” Ejan answered, shifting his eyes to the left. Maura took his reaction to mean they had never been legally married, and Ejan was a bit ashamed of the fact. “He lives in Florida. That’s where they met. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out for them. My mom swam off before I was born.”

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What a strange way to put it, she thought. “Do you have a relationship with him?” “I’ve met him a few times. We get along okay. My mother didn’t want anything from him, and he didn’t push it. He understood where she was coming from.” “She didn’t love him?” “I think she did, but she wanted to move on. Restlessness is in her blood. I’m pretty sure she started running the guest house so I’d have a stable place to grow up. Since I’m on my own now, she still takes off by herself once in a while. That’s why I suspect Elliot isn’t a permanent thing.” “Does he know that?” “I’m sure at some level he does. If not…he may find out eventually.” Maura shook her head. She couldn’t picture such a free lifestyle, but who was she to judge? Overall, she had to admire Irissa. She certainly looked lively and happy despite entering late middle age. “I hope it works out for them,” she said. “Age difference and all.” To her surprise, Ejan smiled. “Me, too.” When they got out into the bay, Tagin cut the motor and stepped out from behind the wheel. Maura looked around as the boat drifted under the stars. The sheer beauty of the sky, the calming breeze, and the moon reflecting off the undulating water left her breathless for a moment. In fact, she mused, only one thing would make the scene better…but, of course, that whole train of thought was crazy. Just the cocktail playing a wild calypso song in her head, she decided. “I thought we could take a few minutes to enjoy the sea,” Tagin said. “A lot of people find it soothing.” “I can see why,” she agreed. “But aren’t you worried about running into a rock? Or a shark?” “Don’t worry, it’s perfectly safe. I know this bay like a part of my own body.”

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“I believe you.” She leaned back in her chair, loose and relaxed…free. Thinking about his body wasn’t unpleasant, either. When she turned away from the water, she found Ejan sitting much closer. “My mother says we look good together,” he said, still grinning. “I got the impression she thought so,” Maura replied. Casually she placed a hand on his shoulder, and his smile widened. “That’s sweet of her. But did she forget about Tagin?” “Not at all.” Ejan was clearly surprised by her response. “Maybe you didn’t quite understand. She meant the three of us.” “What?” It took a minute for his words to sink in. When it did, Maura blushed. “Oh.” “Tagin and I have a good thing going, sure, but I’ve never hidden the fact that I’m attracted to both men and women. My mother knows, by the way, and she’s fine with it.” Maura nodded. “I wondered. That explains a lot.” “Tagin feels the same. Don’t you, Tage?” Tagin had moved to stand beside them. “Yes.” “You know, I’m not sure I can say this in a politically correct way, so I’m just going to blurt it out.” Maura took a deep breath. “I’m amazed how everyone acts like having multiple lovers is the norm around here. Are things really so different on this island? I mean, I’ve never even heard of this kind of arrangement before.” Tagin shrugged. “It’s complicated. I figured Daq would explain it to you. I guess he’s waiting for the right moment.” “Explain what to me?” “I don’t want to get into the whole thing now,” Ejan said. “Basically, the idea is not to close ourselves off to any possibility.” “We think sharing what we have is important,” Tagin said. “It’s our way of life.” “And Daq is okay with…this…as long as you are,” Ejan added. She didn’t need to ask what he meant. The two men were now on either side of her, each of them nuzzling one of her shoulders.

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“We find you very beautiful,” Tagin murmured. Ejan kissed his way up to her lips. Soon he moved downward, skating his mouth over the curves of one breast and then the other. He tongued her nipples through her shirt for a while before he actually opened the buttons and eased the fabric aside. Tagin slipped into place behind her. His body formed a comforting pillow, holding her while Ejan pleasured her nipples. Tagin soon began to take a more active role, dragging his tongue along the slope of her neck and shoulder and moving down her back. Tingles of pleasure vibrated through her with every moist swipe of his mouth. Maura wasn’t quite sure how all of them got naked, but suddenly they were, stretched out together on the deck of the boat. She marveled at the way the moonlight cast Ejan’s body in a silvery-blue wash. His plump, eager erection jutted up from a fringe of silky, dark hair. Reaching down, she stroked his cock gently and was rewarded with the sound of him gulping back a groan. She couldn’t see Tagin, since he remained behind her. She could, however, feel the wet tip of his hard cock pressing into the small of her back and his right hand reaching around to explore the space between her legs. Now it was her turn to moan as his fingertips probed her most sensitive area. Gradually he worked his fingers into her crevice and spread the wetness backward. That gave her an idea of what he had in mind. Somewhat to her surprise, she felt wickedly excited, rather than fearful, at the prospect of taking him in such an unusual way. It was sort of like losing her virginity all over again. She shuddered with anticipation when she felt him fitting his erection between her buttocks. He rubbed his cockhead up and down a few times, tickling her until she squirmed with arousal. “Ever done it this way before?” Tagin asked, wedging himself in a little tighter. His flesh blazed red hot, and she could feel his pulse thumping inside his thick shaft.

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“No,” she said. Sweat prickled up and down her spine when he let out a low, growly laugh. “Well, Ejan’s never complained,” he teased. “Then I’m sure I won’t either.” A moment later, she gasped while Tagin began pushing his way into her rear entrance. The sensation wasn’t what she had expected. It was much more pleasurable and not at all painful, except for some stretching in places she wasn’t used to having stretched. To Tagin’s credit, he went slowly and in tiny increments, giving her time to adjust to each additional inch of him. Her own flesh cupped his willingly, molding perfectly to his vein-studded length. “Doing okay?” Ejan asked. He was still so close his lips brushed hers as he spoke. “It doesn’t hurt, does it?” “No,” Maura said, surprising herself with her openness. “It feels…wonderful, actually. I want you to fuck me, too. At the same time.” “I was hoping you’d suggest that,” Ejan confided. He wriggled his hips closer to hers and reached down, readying his cock for entry. He penetrated her in a single, quick thrust. He slid inside, his cock coming to rest alongside Tagin’s with only a thin, nerve-lined membrane between them. Keeping rhythm with the rolling sea under the boat, the two men pumped in and out of her at a measured but increasingly forceful pace. Tagin came first, flooding the deck and the backs of her thighs with hot seed. As if sensing his male partner’s response, Ejan let loose a moment later, bucking against her as climax raked his trim frame. Stuffed with male flesh at both entrances, Maura didn’t think she had ever felt so full. Gratification swelled inside her, raw and fiery. When she came, too, she saw stars bursting in front of her eyes. She wasn’t sure if she had imagined them or if they were real ones, winking far above the drifting boat.

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What a day this had been, she thought as she and the two men curled up together on the deck and basked in emotion and physical satisfaction. **** As she drifted over the waves, Cyra watched Ejan’s boat rocking back and forth, glimpsed enough to know what was happening on board, and rolled her eyes in disdain. Another perfectly good pod about to be infiltrated by a grasping human. Where would it all end? Before long there would be no men of her kind left for anyone else. Disgusted, she swam toward shore, intending to settle down in the shallows for the night. To her surprise, when she got close enough to make out details, she spotted a bonfire on the beach near, though not actually on, Septimus’s property. Alan lay stretched out on a blanket on the sand, drinking a cocktail in a totally natural state. Cyra couldn’t stop herself from staring, mesmerized by the sleek planes and solid ridges of his body, perfectly accented by the moon reflecting off his naked skin. Despite his being a human, with all the usual limitations, she couldn’t deny that she found him a magnificent specimen. “Now you’re the one who’s trespassing,” he said, spotting her as she treaded water a few yards out. “How rich is the irony. However, I’m not about to complain. I had a feeling you’d return.” “Don’t be ridiculous,” she shot back. “I’m in the sea. No one owns the ocean.” He put down his drink, wedging the glass securely in the sand, and propped himself up on one elbow. His other arm draped across his middle, his fingers resting next to the base of his cock. “Come to me,” he demanded. “Now.” At first, Cyra was outraged at his tone. Yet if she swam away, he would assume she feared him. And she most emphatically did not.

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She waded toward him, rising from the water directly in front of him and crossing the sand in a few decisive strides. Her own nakedness didn’t seem to faze him in the least. “I came because I wanted to,” she said, moving to stand over him. “Not because you ordered me to.” Haughtily she shook herself. Seawater dripped from her bare body onto him. He didn’t flinch as the cool droplets showered him. Instead, he reached up to her. “If it pleases you to think so, I’ll let it go—for now.” His hand closed around her wrist and drew her a step closer. “Provided you make amends for your other transgression.” His arrogance astounded Cyra. She looked forward to teaching him his true place in the hierarchy of things. She sank down on top of him, straddling him. Her legs, the muscles honed by years of life in the sea, clamped down on him possessively. She knew her grip would cause him some discomfort, if not actual pain. The thought pleased her. Then the human did something unexpected. He bucked his hips and rolled onto his stomach, so quickly that Cyra’s eyes could barely follow his motions in the dark. Before she knew what had happened, she lay on her back underneath him. His hands pinned hers in the sand. She felt the hard dome of his cock poking against her thigh, and arousal coursed through her like a roaring high tide. “An excellent start,” he said, shifting his weight so he could hold her down more effectively. “I sensed great promise in you from the beginning. Good to know my instincts are still sharp.” Cyra laughed inwardly. Who did this human think he was? She looked forward to besting him at his little game. But she decided to let him play for now. It had been a while since she’d taken her pleasure. No sense in wasting a prime opportunity like this one. She raised her legs and wrapped them around his hips.

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Chapter 6 Seated in the bungalow behind Septimus’s desk, Maura watched Daq and his sister meander along the sand. She’d slipped out early in the morning, managing to avoid talking to the guys. Her escapade with Tagin and Ejan the night before still made her blush a little, and she couldn’t help wondering if they’d shared any of the details with the others. Though she had no regrets, such brazen experimentation didn’t reflect her normally cautious personality. All she could do was blame Irissa’s potent cocktail mixture…and wonder if island life hadn’t changed her, too. Below, the two siblings were still talking, and Cyra was moving her hands in an animated fashion. When Daq didn’t respond, Cyra turned her back on him. She marched down the beach until she disappeared from sight. Setting down the handwritten journal she’d been poring over for the fourth time, Maura exited the bungalow and approached Daq. He stood watching his sister stroll away, his thumbs hooked in his cutoff shorts and a scowl on his face. “Trouble?” she asked. His mood lightened. “My sister’s always trouble. How are things going with Septimus’s notes?” “I don’t know. Some of his entries seem perfectly normal, though of course his eye for detail is superb. Then he’s made others that seem…well, a little different.” “In what way?” Maura hesitated. She still wasn’t sure what to make of Septimus’s most recent volume of notes, which contained snippets of folklore

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about mermaids and sea serpents, drawings of mysterious stone formations, and maps of bizarre places she didn’t recognize. “He seems to have become interested in marine legends and vanished societies—Atlantis and that sort of thing.” Daq’s brows sank on his forehead, and Maura’s stomach fluttered. She had to admit, she found his brooding expression incredibly sexy. His bare chest, flecked with droplets flung up from the waves, wasn’t exactly unappetizing, either. “Why do you consider that a problem?” he asked. “I don’t, not at all,” she said. “Septimus loves obscure or offbeat subjects. Anything connected with the sea fascinates him. It’s just that last night, when we visited Ejan’s mother, I heard how he’d been going around telling people about underwater cities and races. I suppose he wanted his stories to be authentic, so he was brushing up on the myths. Maybe he was planning to write a book.” “Maybe so.” “Still, I can’t see how this new interest relates to his disappearance. I mean, it’s not as though he started walking around the island looking for sea monster eggs or something. His notes refer to places and people that supposedly vanished thousands of years ago. I doubt he built a time machine.” “Yes—that does seem unlikely.” Unhooking his thumbs, Daq wandered to the water’s edge, gazing wistfully over the waves. “Tide’s coming in,” he observed. “Seems that way,” Maura agreed. The churning crests looked as though they were topped with cream. “So what’s with Cyra? She wasn’t too happy with you.” “She did seem rather on edge,” he said with a shrug. “I expect she’ll calm down soon.” “Why do you say that?” “Because I’m pretty sure she’s seeing someone. I don’t know who, and I can’t tell how far it’s gone, but I know her well enough to

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read the signs. We’ll find out the details eventually.” Grinning, he stepped into the water and held out his hand. “Want to swim?” Maura gazed down at the pink tank top and white shorts she had on. She wished she’d had the foresight to put a bathing suit on before coming down from her room. As if reading her thoughts, Daq casually reached down and unbuttoned his cutoffs. Moments later he’d flung them onto the sand and lifted the hem of her top. “Haven’t we been through this before?” he asked, stripping her and throwing her clothes on top of his shorts. “We prefer to do things the natural way around here. Not only is it more fun, it cuts down on laundry.” She didn’t protest as he took her wrist and pulled her into the water. When they got deep enough, he wrapped both arms around her waist and drew her spoon-like against his body. “This feels wonderful,” she admitted. She stretched her own arms out like wings and floated like one of the flowers in Irissa’s koi pond. “You, the ocean, everything.” “I knew you’d like it.” They drifted in the exhilarating rush of the warm waves, Daq easily supporting her weight despite the powerful current. “I can offer you something else I’m pretty sure you’d like, too.” His palm slid across her waist, trailed over her middle, and then moved lower. Though Maura had no idea how he did it, he managed to keep both of them afloat as he pushed her thighs apart, guided his cock inside her, and began a gentle rubbing motion on her clit. While they bobbed among the swelling breakers, he pumped his hips lightly. Compared to what she’d been up to during her last few erotic experiences, this position was fairly standard stuff, but Maura found it no less satisfying. Letting the sea embrace her along with Daq’s strong arms, she closed her eyes and opened the rest of her body to him. Because he was behind her, his cock delved into her pussy at an unusual angle, allowing him to stimulate an entirely new set of nerve

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endings. Writhing with excitement, she reached back and cupped his buttocks in both hands, pulling him closer. The warm water splashing over her clit, combined with the slight but steady pressure of his fingers, made her blood rush and white flashes go off in her head. The sun bore down on her nipples, turning their stiff peaks rosy with heat. Her internal muscles flexed and squeezed, her lower body shuddering as he thrust into her. Suddenly, the triple stimulation became too much, and a mindwiping climax seized her. The ocean’s current seemed to eddy around them, sucking both into a bright blue void where nothing existed outside an endless, all-consuming pleasure. Her body went rigid, gripped Daq’s shaft, and wrung a quick but furious release from him, too. Maura knew she was crying out, though all she could hear was the throb of the tide and their mutual pulses pounding as they melted together. All too soon, the moment passed, and the world took shape around her again. Daq’s muscles loosened, and his cock slipped from her pussy. His hand trailed upward this time, tweaking her nipples while his teeth grazed her earlobe. “Do you want to go ashore?” He growled in her ear. Maura sighed, leaning her head back on his chest. “I guess I should,” she said. Though the water felt wonderful on her hyperaroused skin, the powerful orgasm had left her drained and sleepy. She worried about Daq being able to buoy both of them up much longer, too. After paddling out this far and exerting himself in such creative ways, he must be as exhausted as she was. “Hold on, then,” he said, giving her ear a sensuous lick before drawing his mouth away. “Just lean against me and I’ll do everything.” Maura did as he asked, resting her head against his chest. Still on his back, he began the journey to the shallows. She wasn’t sure how much time passed until they were on the sand again, but she had the impression they’d been a lot farther out than she’d realized at first.

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Though no one seemed to be around, she felt a little selfconscious walking out of the water wearing nothing except a fullframe blush. Hurrying over to the heap of discarded clothes, she bent to retrieve her tank top and panties. Daq caught up to her just as she straightened with the garments in her hand. His lusty embrace enveloped her before she had a chance to put anything on. His mouth, tasting of seawater, ground against hers while his palms cupped her rear end. His fingers imprinted her buttocks as he rocked her forward. His hard cock jabbed at her thighs, seeking entrance. “Daq, please,” she chided him, though her protest was halfhearted at best. “Someone might walk by.” “So what if they did?” he asked between kisses, clearly amused. “It wouldn’t be anything they hadn’t seen before. Think about it— you’ve been with all of us now. Why should we hide?” Maura’s blush deepened. Daq had a point. She wondered who had told him about last night with Tagin and Ejan, or had he simply guessed? She didn’t bother to deny what he’d said. Both of them knew it was the truth. “Just the same, I’d prefer to be inside.” Laughing, he stepped back. Hastily she pulled on her clothes and he did, too, though he without any hurry. He left the waist button of his cutoffs undone and slid both hands in his front pockets, watching her brush the sand off her tank top and adjust the straps on her sunburned shoulders. “Guess I should go back to Septimus’s journals now,” she said. “I’m still hoping to crack that computer password.” Daq nodded. “I wish you luck. See you inside later? I’ll get lunch and some cold drinks out.” “Of course.” He started toward the house, then stopped and turned back to look at her. The sun shaded his face so that she couldn’t see his expression. “Maura—I think we should talk. Not just you and I, but all of us.”

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The tops of her ears burned, and this time she doubted it was the sun. “Yes. We should.” “All right, then.” He continued on his way. Maura paused, watching the casual sway of his shoulders as he walked along the uneven dunes. Under the wet strands of his long, dark hair, ridges of hard muscle rippled in his tanned back. She could still hardly believe she’d managed to attract one such perfect specimen of male, never mind five. When she’d first heard about Cyra’s unusual polyandrous relationship, little had she known she would soon be experimenting with a similar arrangement herself. No question, she thought as she strolled back to the bungalow to resume her work, having multiple lovers provided many benefits, even if it was a little tiring. Yet, as deliciously naughty as she felt, she couldn’t help but wonder what would happen when it eventually came time for her to leave the island. Would they all toast each other, laugh at their little adventure, and make empty promises to write and e-mail each other? Or would there be genuine pain? Maybe that was what Daq wanted to speak to her about. She only hoped Septimus would be there to see her off. She entered the bungalow, still adjusting her straps so they wouldn’t chafe her sunburn, and headed for the desk and the work she’d left spread out on its surface. When she finally looked up, intending to pull out the chair and sit down, she jumped back in shock. Cyra was already seated there. Eyes narrowed, arms folded over her bright yellow sundress, she used her bare feet to turn the chair in irritated half circles. “Took a break, I see. That’s good. Wouldn’t want you to work too hard in this hot sun. I hope you were able to fit in some swim time.” Had she seen the two of them out in the water? Maura forced herself not to look or sound embarrassed. She owed this woman no explanations, even if she was Daq’s sister.

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“I do have difficulty concentrating in this heat. I’m not used to it. In fact, I was looking forward to sitting down.” Cyra smirked but didn’t budge from the chair. “Well, I’m sure you’ll have a chance to lie down for a while later.” “Look, Cyra.” Maura took a step toward the other woman, her anger flaring. “I realize the situation here might be a bit awkward, but I’m not sure it’s your business.” “No? My brother and I might have our differences, but at a basic level, we watch out for one another. I don’t want him wounded any more than he would want that for me.” “Wounded? Why do you think that? Septimus asked Daq to look after me during my stay here, and the two of us have become friends. I don’t see the problem.” “Yes, you’ve made a lot of new friends since you’ve been on Bequia, haven’t you?” “Well, no offense, Cyra, but you’re not exactly the standoffish type yourself. I told you once that I had no intention of judging you, and I would appreciate your extending the same courtesy to me.” Finally, Cyra rose from the chair. Her green eyes flashed in anger. They really were an odd color, Maura thought. Even their shape seemed different from any she’d ever seen before. The same might be said of her long, narrow hands and the texture of her skin. Apparently all the islanders shared some strange genetic traits, not to mention those odd neck tattoos so many of them sported. “As far as that topic goes, I wish only to say you are woefully uninformed,” Cyra snarled. “I suppose next, you’ll insist my brother is capable of making his own decisions, and I shouldn’t presume to know what’s best for a grown man.” “Well, yes,” Maura admitted. “Something like that. To some degree, I understand your concern. But Daq isn’t naïve. I don’t think you have to worry that he’ll be devastated when I go back to my life in the States.”

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“Is that what you believe? That I’m worried you’ll leave him with a broken heart?” Cyra’s scowl melted into a genuine, though unpleasant, laugh. “Not at all. The fact is, I’m worried that you’ll stay. It’s very beautiful here, isn’t it? All the waves and sunshine…all that supple male flesh. I’m sure you’re very tempted already to toss your old life away and jump right in.” “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “No? It seems all the rage to get human women to join the pods these days—trust me, I know. Women like you are nesters, the guys think. Less motivated to swim away and see the world. But the cultural issues inevitably come up. It’s like they say about human royalty—you weren’t born to this life, and you won’t enjoy it. You can take my word for that.” “Human women?” Maura stared, flummoxed. Why would Cyra use such a term? “Pods? I’m sorry, but you’ve lost me.” “Don’t play dumb with me. I know perfectly well that Septimus told you enough to get you down here, and Daq and the others have surely filled in the rest by now.” “The rest of what? I promise you, I really have no idea—” “Cyra!” a harsh voice interrupted. Cyra’s face tightened, and Maura turned. Daq had come into the bungalow holding two glasses of soda. “That’s enough.” “Enough? I haven’t even started. Oh, I’m sure you talked up a tropical storm for her, Daq—made it sound so wonderful to live on the beach and get all her needs cared for, right?” “Cyra,” he said again. This time, she did fall silent. Her expression changed as she looked from his angry face to Maura’s astonished one. “Wait a moment. You haven’t told her anything, have you, Daq?” Cyra asked in wry amusement. “Well, then, it looks like I saved you some time. Bringing it up is always the most difficult part.”

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“Bringing what up?” Maura turned to Daq, who kept his furious gaze trained on his sister. “Can one of you please enlighten me as to what we’re all arguing about?” “I’d be delighted.” Cyra took two steps toward Maura, reaching up to thread her fingers through her shimmering red hair. “The truth of the matter, Maura dear, is this—they’re not human. None of us are.” While Maura gaped, speechless, Cyra flung her hair back over her shoulders and exposed to full view the strange lines Maura had noticed on all of the guys and on Ejan’s mother as well. Her eyes widened as Cyra drew in a deep breath, puffed out her neck, and made the slits flutter—like gills. **** “Is this true?” Maura asked the five guys, who were seated around the kitchen table with glum and embarrassed expressions. Only she and Daq remained standing. Calling the impromptu meeting and waiting for his friends to assemble had done nothing to assuage his temper. His arms were crossed over his bare chest, and his jaw was still taut with rage. “Yes,” Janko said. “I’d wanted to explain this in my own time,” Daq growled, pulling out a chair at the table and motioning Maura into it. “Maybe even later today. But Cyra short-circuited my plans.” Maura nodded. Cyra herself had flitted off, announcing that she wanted no lunch and apparently pleased at the conflict she had managed to ignite. “Go on.” “Well, my sister was right about one thing—she got the most difficult part out of the way.” “You mean when she said you weren’t quite human?” The guys chuckled in unison. Looking around the table at each of them, she began to notice things that hadn’t struck her as out of place

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at the time. As with Cyra, the shape of their eyes, and even their faces, seemed different from most people’s. Their skin had a shiny texture and a burnished, coppery tint she’d assumed was the result of prolonged exposure to the sun. “Yes. Of course, she isn’t entirely accurate about that. Over time, we’ve evolved and crossbred with land dwellers. These days we’re more like a separate race than a different species. We call ourselves Aquans, though of course we’re known by other names in other places.” “I just can’t quite take this in,” Maura admitted. “A different species? Not human? How is it possible?” “You’ve probably noticed some of our differences on your own,” Janko said. “You just didn’t realize their significance.” “Like our agility in the water,” Ivar said. He bit back a naughty smile, and she remembered how long he’d stayed under without having to come up for air. She didn’t want to get distracted, so she didn’t dwell on what he’d been doing at the time. “The Grenadine Islands are full of our people,” Daq continued. “As are the Caymans, where Cyra spends most of her time, and a number of other spots, even the Florida Keys and certain remote areas off the coasts of Maine and Canada. We have made our home in the sea since ancient times, and geographically speaking, we’ve spread out. Even we’re not sure where all of our brethren live, or how many of us there are.” Ejan spoke next. “We’ve learned to keep ourselves hidden— merge with mainstream culture. Islands are best, we’ve found, because people come and go without paying much attention to anyone else or invading anyone’s privacy. Yet some of us are fully integrated into modern society and even live in coastal cities, passing as human. You might have met Aquans and never suspected a thing.” Maura could hardly believe what she was hearing. Was this some sort of huge joke they were playing on her? They certainly sounded

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serious. Were all of them just delusional? Were they part of an esoteric cult? “Because we can go pretty much anywhere underwater, we started off by helping Septimus with his research,” Tagin added. “We could bring him specimens and investigate things in a way humans can’t. Gradually, we confided more and more of the details to him. A lot of it he figured out himself.” Maura thought back to the journal entries she’d found so puzzling at the time. Now they made sense. He was jotting down and verifying their story. Had he been able to tell if any of it was true? “She doesn’t care about our long and distinguished history,” Janko said, laughing. “What she really wants to ask about is the whole multiple-partner thing. Right, Maura?” “Well…it is kind of unique, you have to admit.” “It’s our custom,” Daq said with a nod. “Our primary social unit consists of one woman and a group of men who come together voluntarily. We’ve done things that way for thousands of years.” He answered her next question before she had a chance to ask it. “There’s no jealousy between us because we’re all connected. It’s not exactly what human call a psychic link, but more of a subconscious bond that keeps us together. Sharing a woman feels as natural to us as living in a cooperative pod. Historical reasons exist for the tradition, but I won’t get into those now.” Ivar’s smile widened. “Woman shortage,” he confided. “No need to dance around it. For some reason, there have always been more male Aquans than females. And our females don’t care for domesticity. They tend to take off and leave us guys to cultivate the coral gardens.” This, perhaps, explained the apparent wanderlust of both Cyra and Ejan’s mother. She wondered if Daq and Cyra’s own mother had really been killed in a storm, as Cyra had told her, or if she had allowed herself to be washed away. The bond Daq spoke of probably

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accounted for the relationship between Tagin and Ejan, too. They’d simply taken things to the next level but left room for her. “We wouldn’t force pod life on anyone, of course,” Janko went on. “Personally, we think it’s the best way, but some humans might not agree, and that’s fine. There are a lot of pods, though, with a human woman at the center.” “So that’s what Cyra meant when she said her other lovers had chosen someone unsuitable.” Janko nodded. “Exactly. She was hoping they’d pine over her forever after she took off on them. As it turned out, they decided not to wait around. Can’t really blame them. Sorry, Daq.” “Never mind Cyra.” The mention of his sister made Daq visibly annoyed again. “I plan to deal with her later.” “Actually, I’m glad she told me,” Maura said. “I’d thought all along that something wasn’t quite…right, but of course I never expected anything like this!” Another realization struck her then. “Did you start to tell me that Septimus knew all about this?” “Yes,” Daq said. “He’s known Cyra and me since we were young, but Janko came later, and Tagin and Ejan are fairly new additions to our family unit. He didn’t grasp all the details right away, but over the years he was able to put a lot together on his own. Eventually, we told him everything. He’d taught us so much that we wanted to give something back to him. Besides, we felt he would understand the situation and protect us.” “Of course he would.” Maura thought again about the mythological tales he’d entertained Irissa’s party guests with. He’d spoken only in general terms, she was sure, and no one had taken him seriously anyhow. Or had they? A troubled feeling came over her. She knew now what Septimus had wanted to tell her about once she arrived on the island. He’d called it the most amazing discovery he’d ever made or even heard of. And he hadn’t exaggerated. An entirely new race of people, if true,

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constituted nothing less than a total paradigm shift that could affect the entire scientific world. Had someone killed him to protect the secret?

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Chapter 7 By the time the guys finished their explanation, Maura found herself more perplexed than ever. Assuming what they said was true—and, as a scientist, she wasn’t quite ready to make that leap— how did Septimus fit in? Suddenly, all his notes about underwater archaeology and mysterious life forms began to take on new meaning. Had the wrong person overheard him at Irissa’s party? Had he gone off to find proof? Daq’s voice interrupted her drifting thoughts. “Well?” He had obviously said more, but she hadn’t heard the preceding words. When she looked at him, he seemed to understand. “I asked if you had any questions,” he said gently. Maura exhaled heavily. “More than I can formulate right now.” “We know,” Janko said, getting up from the table. “Septimus had a lot to ask us, too. We just took things slow with him.” “I think I need to process this for a while.” Maura followed him to his feet. “Do you mind if I…?” Her voice trailed off, but Daq nodded. “Take as much time as you need. When you’re ready to talk, just tell us. We have nothing to hide from you, Maura. We want to explain everything. The truth is...Cyra is right about one thing. We do hope you’ll stay here with us.” “You mean…permanently?” She swallowed. In some ways, his admission didn’t come entirely as a surprise, but to hear him broach the subject of cementing their unusual relationship made her nervous. “That’s exactly what I mean. Don’t bother telling me it never crossed your mind.”

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“Of course it has,” she said quietly. “I don’t deny this place is beautiful…and I’d say my feelings about all of you are pretty apparent, too. But don’t you think it would be premature to make any plans for the future until we know what happened to Septimus?” “She’s right,” Ivar said. He moved to stand beside Maura and gave her hand a squeeze. “Now that this whole thing is out in the open, we need to get back to searching for Septimus. Is it worth making the rounds of the guest houses and tourist spots again?” “Couldn’t hurt,” Ejan said. “I was going to drop by my mother’s place today anyhow. Without all the party noise, Tagin and I can ask around more efficiently.” “Get to it, then,” Daq said with a nod. The pair left the room, each kissing Maura’s cheek on their way out. “What about you two?” he asked Ivar and Janko. “I hate to say this, but I guess we could search the bottom of the bay one more time,” Janko said. “I don’t want to believe Septimus drowned, and trust me, Maura, all of us spent days down there making sure he wasn’t snagged on a reef or something. But it wouldn’t hurt to take another peek.” “You mean you’re going to go diving for him?” Maura asked. “Not in the way you might think.” Janko gave her a wry smile and puffed out his neck the way Cyra had done. The black slits she’d thought were tattoos flared open, then receded. “No oxygen tanks required. We can stay down there as long as we need to. Want to help, Ivar?” “You bet. Just to be able to say once and for all that we found nothing, and he isn’t down there.” They followed their friends out of the house, leaving Maura and Daq alone again. Maura couldn’t help marveling at the prospect of Janko and Ivar wandering the deep without any need for diving equipment. How could such things be possible? And even if they were, she, too, hoped they would find no trace of Septimus at the bottom of the bay.

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“He either left by swimming or walking,” Daq told her. “The boat and the Jeep were both still here.” He smacked a fist into his open palm. “This is my fault. I should have started looking right away, and more aggressively. I just never dreamed he wouldn’t come back by nightfall. He always did before.” “We’ll figure it out. We have to be optimistic,” she said and then paused. “Daq…do you think it’s possible someone wanted to hurt Septimus because of what you told him? You know…silence him? Could there be others…like you who didn’t want to take a chance on him spreading your story?” “Hard to believe. My people are peaceful and always have been. It’s one of the reasons our ancestors were driven from Lemuria eons ago. Besides, a handful of humans in various places already know about us. Others dismiss them as New Age fanatics or the like. We’ve had thousands of years to learn how to keep a low profile.” Maura nodded, admitting to herself that she would have been one of the first to label anyone presenting such a tale as fact, but inwardly she continued to wonder. Was Daq being naïve? How could he say for certain that no one on the island wanted to stop Septimus either from telling about or possibly profiting from his knowledge? One thing seemed certain—she needed to go back to the bungalow and reevaluate everything she’d seen in the journals, keeping this new information in mind. “I still need some time to myself,” she said. “I just can’t help thinking the answer is in front of us. The right code will decipher it.” Daq nodded. Then he gathered her in a tight embrace she found more reassuring than any encouraging words in any language…known to mankind or not. They kissed hungrily, almost desperately. Maura hoped with every fiber of her being that neither Daq nor his people were involved. She didn’t think she could ever be with him, or the others, if that turned out to be the case. And she did want to be with him again. With all of them. Very much.

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He released her slowly, apparently aware how crucial this moment might turn out to be for them. The answers they would find—or not— could very well determine whether they had a future together. “I’m doing everything I can,” Daq reminded her as she, too, slipped from the house. “Please believe me.” “I do,” she said. He smiled. “I’m glad.” Back at the bungalow, which thankfully remained Cyra-free, Maura sat at the desk and retrieved the journal with the strange notations and drawings in it. When she’d looked at them before, she’d assumed they were random sketches with unreadable labels scrawled underneath them. Only now did she understand what the odd-looking diagrams and fantastical schematics represented. They were maps of underwater cities—complete with stone-paved roadways and currents to propel an aquatic traveler from one to another. The incredible hand-drawn atlas spread across two full pages of the journal, with a few spots labeled in Septimus’s scribbly penmanship. Had the guys described all this to him? Her eyes, and then her fingers, traced the routes marked out on the paper. Some of the words began to sort themselves into familiar contours she could now decipher. She read them out loud, mortified that she’d been so slow to catch on. Atlantis. Lemuria. Mu. All three civilizations had long been the subjects of myth, folklore, and speculation. New Age gatherings celebrated them, supposed psychics claimed to channel their denizens, and oceanographers like herself debunked them. Septimus had realized they weren’t mere myths. Something else began to dawn on her, too. The password. She had tried many random words relating to Septimus’s studies, but not these.

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Her hands shook as she turned on the computer. “Mu” she rejected right away because of its brevity. “Atlantis” yielded nothing. Finally Maura typed in the last of the three words…Lemuria. The system hummed and clicked as the software began to load. Moments later, a formatted document began to take shape on the screen. She leaned forward and saw a letter from Septimus…addressed to her. My dearest Maura, First, I must apologize for the somewhat underhanded manner in which I enticed you to the island. I regret I could not divulge more detail in our initial correspondence, but I could not be certain how secure the documents would be. In addition, knowing your fine scientific mind, I assumed— correctly, if you are reading this—that a touch of mystery would prove impossible to resist. Since you have cracked the password code I left for you, you are now aware that my discovery involves the continuing existence of a secret civilization evolved from ancient sea dwellers whose history was lost to us. I assume the boys filled in most of the details. You have my word that what they speak is the truth. I obtained independent confirmation, as you will read below. There is one aspect of the story I have not told even them. Yet, in some ways, this part alone matters. I have long wondered, and you may have as well, how I came by my admittedly unusual first name, especially since I am an only child. I learned some years ago from Ejan’s mother, Irissa (I hope you met her, as she is a delightful hostess) that I was in fact the “seventh” member of an Aquan pod—the product of a human mother and her five Aquan companions. Unfortunately, the arrangement did not last and my mother chose to raise me alone, telling me nothing of my

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heritage. I do not know where the other members of the pod went. Perhaps, after all these years, they are resting, as is she. As a hybrid, I inherited limited abilities compared to full-blooded Aquans. However, the boys, especially Daq, were kind enough to show me how to access those I can use—such as being able to breathe underwater. For years, I had wondered about the curious indentations on the sides of my neck, but assumed they were nothing more than a birthmark I chose to cover by wearing a bushy beard. As it happens, a few simple exercises enabled them to function as well as the fully formed gill-like apertures you have no doubt seen by now. One night, I used the maps Daq assisted me in preparing and swam to another island. There I met beings like me and like Daq, Cyra, and the others. I also discovered that it might be time to reclaim a hope I had long ago abandoned. As a young man, before I left for college in the States, I met a woman on the very beach you are overlooking now. As you were once my student, I don’t wish to embarrass you, but suffice to say that I had never given my heart before, and I have not given it since. We spent the summer together—in some ways the happiest season of my life— and then I departed the island. We promised to stay in touch, but I never heard from her again. I never forgot her, either. Still, I went on with life until I visited my fellow Aquans. I knew, suddenly, that she had been one of them. And when I mentioned her name, one of them knew her. So, the moment I returned to Bequia, I began making plans to go on a search for my old love. I must reconnect with her. I am therefore on the journey of a lifetime. Whether I will return, I know not. But better to die trying than go on wondering what might have been. If in fact I am lost at sea, I have filed documents bequeathing you the house and the modest personal assets I collected over the years. I hope you can welcome the boys as part of your family, as I did. My

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instincts suggest to me that you will. Elsewhere on this computer are instructions on how to contact my attorney. Whether or not we meet again remains in the hands of Fate. Until then, I remain, Septimus Despite the heat in the bungalow, by the time Maura finished reading, she had broken out in a cold sweat. Her hands shook so badly she could barely send the document to Septimus’s ancient dot matrix printer. Somehow, she managed to punch the appropriate keys and wait for the tired machine to crank out a faint copy. She ran to the house, clutching the printed sheet hard enough to make her fingers ache. “Daq!” she began shouting before she had even reached the steps of the verandah. She took them two at a time, continuing to shout for him all the way up. “Daq, I found it! I know where Septimus went!” When Daq didn’t appear, she ran straight for the French doors, luckily remembering to pause and open them. Waving Septimus’s letter over her head in triumph, she charged into the modest sitting room. Two people were seated on the bamboo sofa with their backs to her, and Daq was standing in front of them, engaged in conversation. Apparently visitors had shown up while she was in the bungalow making her discovery. Maura regretted interrupting, but she knew he would consider the intrusion justified. She hurried past the couch and right up to Daq. She thrust the letter out in front of him. “Daq, look! It’s all here—the whole reason Septimus left! Now we can—” The words died on her tongue when she realized that Daq wasn’t responding to either the letter or her obvious elation. She scowled, perplexed at his expression. He looked passive, almost helpless. Maura’s eyes followed his as he tilted his head toward the couch. She couldn’t believe what she saw…or rather, whom.

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Septimus was leaning back in the cushions, looking tanned, healthy, and happy. His arm was draped around the shoulders of a woman, whom Maura instantly recognized as an older version of the one from the photo. Both of them were damp and wrapped in towels, as though they’d just come in from swimming. “Maura! How wonderful to see you!” Septimus said. He tightened his arm and pulled the woman closer to him. She, too, was beaming. “I’d like you to meet Zaila.” **** Upstairs in her room, Maura wheeled around to face Daq, who had followed her there. “Why didn’t you tell me before that Septimus was Aquan? Never mind denying it—it’s all here in his letter.” Daq extended his hands to her in a pleading gesture. “I admit I did omit a few details. But Maura, I gave him my word.” “A few details? I would say that was one very big detail, wouldn’t you?” Unexpectedly, she found herself blinking back tears. “You didn’t tell me the truth, Daq. You let me think Septimus might be dead. Janko and Ivar weren’t out looking for his body today. They were telling him it was safe to come back.” Maura crumpled up the letter she’d printed off and threw the ball of paper at him. It fell ineffectively to the floor halfway between them. “I swear to you that isn’t true,” Daq said. “We didn’t know where he was. We only knew was that he most likely didn’t drown. You heard him explain how he was driven off course in a storm? He’s new at underwater navigation and wasn’t used to the current. It took him some time to get back onto the seaway.” She shook her head, exasperated. “All five of you played me like a fiddle. All six, if you want to count Septimus. Personally, I’m inclined to.”

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He stepped aside as she charged past him to the closet, tore it open, and pulled out her suitcase. She moved to the bureau and started pulling out the clothes. In some ways, the day she’d arrived and put these away seemed like a lifetime ago. In another way, she couldn’t help but reflect that everything had crashed to a halt all too soon. “What are you doing?” Daq asked. “Just what it looks like,” she shot back. “I need to get out of here, Daq. I can’t do this anymore. Since I’ve been here—with all of you— I’ve become a completely different person. Everything I thought was true turned out to be an illusion at best, and a terrible lie at worst. Not even Septimus is who I believed he was. How could he mislead me like that? I realize he was in love and not thinking clearly, but still—” She stopped sorting the clothes and looked up at him. Her lip trembled, and anger and heartbreak coursed through her. “I understand,” Daq said. Maura saw the pain in his face, but she wasn’t sure whether that made her feel better or worse. “We can get a room for you at Irissa’s, or we’ll even take you to the airport if you want. All I ask is that you wait until tomorrow.” “I don’t know what I want,” she admitted. “Well, sleep on it at least. And give Septimus a chance to explain, even if you don’t want to hear what I have to say.” Maura sat down on the bed. Her throat felt so tight it took genuine effort to answer him. “I guess I owe him that much. I don’t believe he would deliberately betray me, so I assume he had his reasons.” “So I’ve been trying to tell you.” Her anger returned. “You, though, are another story entirely. You don’t even realize what you put me through. That’s the worst part.” “I hope in time you’ll be willing to listen to my side of things, too. In the meantime, all I can do is apologize.” She didn’t answer. With a resigned sigh, Daq went out and closed the door. Next, she heard him talking to someone out in the hall—Septimus and the woman, she deduced. No doubt they were shocked at her

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reaction—hopefully as shocked as she’d been at learning she had been lied to and manipulated. Now that she’d had time to calm down, she regretted the way she’d blown up at first seeing them, demanding how Septimus could have been so insensitive to her feelings. Then again, what her trusted mentor had done to her, letting her agonize for days over his possible death, more than justified a confrontation, in her opinion. She had a right to yell a little. She heard footsteps retreat down the hall and then down the stairs. To her surprise, someone knocked on the door a few moments later. Maura opened it to find Zaila, Septimus’s lady friend, smiling at her. She’d changed into a white terry bathrobe that probably belonged to Septimus. Maura supposed that swimming over from Atlantis or some other distant world made it difficult to carry luggage. “I understand you’ve been given a lot to deal with,” Zaila said. “Naturally the men are slow to comprehend your anger. But I do.” “Oh?” In spite of her anger, Maura found herself soothed by the woman’s wide gray eyes and warm, clear voice. With her silvery hair and graceful figure, she reminded Maura of Irissa. She wasn’t surprised that Septimus had spent most of his life pining for her. There could be no doubt that Zaila, like all the Aquans she had met so far, was strikingly attractive. “Forgive me for saying this, but you don’t even know me.” “I know what Septimus told me about you,” Zaila said. “He thinks of you as the daughter he—or perhaps I should say we—never had.” “I’m glad you found each other again—really. I just wish Septimus had been honest with me from the beginning. I was genuinely scared that he was dead. Didn’t he give any consideration to what that would do to me? And even worse, didn’t anyone else? I thought the guys and I had a stronger bond of trust than that.” “As far as the boys go, my guess is they were torn. Septimus asked them not to reveal anything to you, so they probably felt it best to wait until he returned. They had no way of knowing he would get

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lost and turn up late. His trust is important to them—but based on what Daq just said, you are, too.” “I’d hoped I was,” she said quietly. “But suddenly I don’t know how I fit in here. Everything I thought I knew about life, about Septimus, and even about myself was just washed away by the biggest tidal wave I’ve ever seen.” “As I said…I do understand. I also want to tell you something else—letting Septimus go was a mistake I relived every day for fifty years. I convinced myself at the time that I did what was best for him. He had another path to follow, one that would take him far from this island. But when he found me again a few days ago, I realized how wrong I had been. We can move forward, but we can never get those lost years back.” Zaila’s eyes dropped to the clothing scattered over Maura’s bed. “It’s worth thinking about before you finish packing that suitcase.” She walked out, leaving Maura alone with her thoughts.

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Chapter 8 The sun had already started its daily descent as Cyra walked quickly along the beach, her bare feet scrunching in the damp sand. Though she was alone, she couldn’t help but indulge in a little gloating laughter. The scene at Septimus’s house had been everything she’d expected and more. The human woman had freaked out at the prospect of being surrounded by Aquans and was already making plans to flee the island—just as Cyra had predicted. Complete pandemonium had reigned in the house, with her brother and his friends tripping over each other to try and appease her anger. After a few hours of pouting in her room, she’d come down to dinner at their request. Normally, Cyra hadn’t planned to share a meal with that repulsively lovesick group, but it had been worth sitting through that insufferable dinner just to watch them all squirm. How childish humans could be! Yet the odd drama unfolding in front of her had made her consider her own human. She had no doubt that Alan would react as impulsively as Maura if he found out the truth about her, but then again, Cyra didn’t plan to reveal anything. She would enjoy herself with him until she tired of his human ways and then move on, offering him a reason only if she felt like it. She made her way through the underbrush to his cottage, which stood a few hundred yards from the edge of Septimus’s property. The bamboo shades were pulled, but a faint yellow light glowed from inside. Cyra paused on the front step, wondering whether she should knock or reject silly human manners and simply walk in when the

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door swung open. Alan appeared in the doorway, wearing a thin cotton robe, tied so loosely that she could see his erection pushing against the fabric and parting the folds slightly. In one hand, he held a drink that gave off the faint scent of dark rum. Cyra pursed her lips, tasting him already. “Come in,” Alan said, stepping aside to make room for her. He closed the door as soon as she was inside and leaned against it, looking her up and down. “I’m glad you came. Now take off your clothes.” Cyra raised her brows. “Aren’t you going to offer me some refreshment first?” “No.” Alan finished his drink in a single gulp, set the glass down on an end table with a bang, and pointed to a pile of body pillows in the corner. “Over there. Do as I say. You’ve kept me waiting long enough this evening, and I’m not in the mood for any further delays.” “Luckily for you, I was just thinking the same thing.” Strolling over to the pillows, Cyra pulled off and discarded her sundress. She lay on the pillows, opening her legs and stroking the fiery patch of curls between them. She saw his gaze sharpen and his lips part slightly. Then he followed her across the room. She expected he would shed his robe en route, but he merely stood over her and planted one bare foot on either side of her outstretched legs. “Now undress me,” he said. She blinked up at him, taken aback by his demanding tone. Such arrogance, she marveled, though she supposed it wasn’t unusual among humans. She would have to correct that later, but for now she decided to play along. Reaching up, she tugged at the hem of the robe until it opened all the way and slid down his shoulders. Alan’s single shrug sent it fluttering to the floor. His exposed cock bobbed in front of her face, thick and hard, the tip already dark with lust. “Now suck me,” he said. “Don’t get me off.

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Just bring me to the edge, so I’ll be ready to come the minute I shove it into your pussy.” “I thought you could use your tongue on me first,” she said, her own eyes narrowing. “Get me wet.” He laughed as though her suggestion were utterly absurd. “You heard me. If you expect me to fuck you tonight, you’re going to have to do what I say.” Gripping his cock, he angled it so that it hovered directly in front of her lips. “I think you’ll find, my dear, that the greatest pleasure is giving pleasure to someone else. I realize you may not be familiar with that concept right now, but I intend to change that.” Cyra sniffed. Frankly, she’d never heard anything so ridiculous. Still, he was tempting, and she’d waited all day to be with him. Saving her cutting retort for later, she leaned toward him and drew his cock in, sliding her tongue up and down the shaft and using her lips to put pressure around his base. “Yes…good…that’s wonderful.”Alan stroked his hands through her hair, tilting his own head back and lunging his hips forward. He seemed to like it even better when she added some teeth into the mix. “Mmm. Yes. Perfection.” It didn’t take her long to bring him to the edge, as he’d requested—or demanded, if one wanted to get technical about things. Cyra was gratified to feel his balls quiver against her chin. His fingers applied increased pressure to her scalp. “Stop now,” he said. She did. It amused her to leave him hanging. She should do that a lot more, when he least expected it. That would help keep him in line. “My turn now?” she asked. Her face felt warm with lust. Alan smiled and batted his cock playfully with one hand. It was so stiff it vibrated in front of him. “In a way. Perhaps just not in the way you expect. Move over.” He sat down on the pillows and drew her between his legs, facing away from him. He spent a few moments kneading her breasts and kissing her shoulders and neck. The whole

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time, she was aware of his hard-on brushing against the small of her back. The plump head was moist with her own saliva and Alan’s bubbling pre-cum. Cyra had to admit that she hadn’t been so aroused in ages. Suddenly, he stopped and pulled his hands and lips away. “Lie down across my thighs,” he said. Curious about what he had in mind, Cyra shifted position and stretched out with her hips balanced over his legs. The body pillows supported her upper body. Alan skated a palm over her spine, her shoulders, and finally her buttocks. He spent a long time there, smoothing over the outside curve and massaging the tender place where the backs of her thighs began. Cyra shuddered with need, excited as she imagined what he might be building up to. “Do you know why none of your other lovers has ever been enough for you?” he asked her in a casual voice she hadn’t expected. “What do you mean?” She turned her head and shoulders to look up at him, but his strong hands kept her in position. “I mean that you’ve wasted a lot of years trying to find a place for yourself and a lover—or lovers—who can satisfy you. And I wonder if you’ve really given any thought to why you’ve never been happy with your choices.” Cyra frowned. He’d used “lovers” in the plural, but how could he have known about her attempts to join Kral’s pod? She shrugged it off mentally. An incidental choice of words, perhaps. No doubt he could tell that she was far from inexperienced when it came to men, and she felt no shame about that. “I don’t see why I should answer that, frankly. My past and my future are my own concern.” He went on as if he hadn’t heard her. His hand stopped roving over her ass and settled in one spot, turning in a slow circle. “I probably didn’t mention it, and you didn’t care enough to ask, but this isn’t my first visit to this island. Over the years, I’ve spent time with many of the alluring women who come swimming past these shores. I

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enjoy their exoticism, though I admit I’ve never felt any strong desire to be part of a pod. I prefer to have just one woman to myself.” She gasped, and he laughed. “Yes, Cyra, I know about your Aquan culture. And I’ve made some interesting discoveries concerning the psychology of Aquan women. You, dear one, are a perfect example. You think you want to be in control of a man—of everything, really—and then can’t figure out why your life consists of wandering from one lonely place to another. What you really want is someone to guide you through life— someone who can set boundaries. Luckily for you, that’s something I’m rather good at.” Moving his legs apart, he used the fingers of his free hand to spread her pussy open. Then he pushed his fingers inside her. She gasped again as he stimulated her. The hand on her ass only increased the pressure on her clit. “I figure if I set some boundaries with you, you’re less likely to wander off on me,” Alan continued. “And I’ve decided that I’d like you to stay around for a while.” “Presumptuous human!” she hissed. Briefly she considered wriggling off his lap and confronting him face to face. However, his two hands felt so good against her hot, wet flesh that she had no desire to interrupt what he was doing. “The root of the problem is that you, like all Aquan women, are simply too accustomed to getting your own way.” His hand moved more insistently in her pussy, penetrating her and buzzing her clit at the same time. Then, to her shock, his palm lifted and abruptly came down on her rear end. The smacking sound rang through the room. “How dare you?” she erupted. “I dare just fine.” He laughed again, no doubt noticing that she wasn’t making the least effort to free herself. “You wouldn’t respect me if I didn’t take command of the situation. You need a lover who can keep you in line and protect you as well. That’s what will get you to stay. You know you want to.”

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He smacked her again, a lusty strike that made her buttocks tingle with heat. At the same instant, the fingers underneath her moved in such a way that the dual sensation triggered an orgasm that was nothing less than thunderous. She came against his hand, bucking and writhing as jolts of pleasure zigzagged up and down her middle. Oddly enough, Alan was right—she had never felt more safe. And yes, she did want to stay. He smacked her rear end again, prolonging the orgasm for a few amazing seconds more. He seemed to know when she was finished. Gently, he spread her out on the pillows and positioned his body over hers as though shielding her. His thighs nudged hers apart, and she welcomed him into that wet crevice. She had forgotten how hard she had gotten him earlier. Instantly, she was ready to feel more than fingers inside her. She raised her hips against him, but he stilled her movements with a kiss. “No hurry,” he whispered. “We have all night.” “And even longer,” Cyra murmured. “Yes,” he said. “That’s the idea.” **** Maura stepped out onto the verandah of her bedroom. A brilliant sunset glittered over the sea. In another hour or so, this long day would finally be over, and the beach would go dark. In the morning, she had to make her decision about staying. She still felt guilty that Septimus’s first dinner home had been strained because of her. As happy as she been to talk to Septimus, as the evening wore on, she found it increasingly difficult to pay attention to his stories of traveling underwater and exploring life among the Aquans. Luckily, the guys had respected her emotional state and didn’t push her to take part in the conversation. Nothing was mentioned

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about her leaving, either for Irissa’s or for home. However, she caught the guys flashing each other nervous looks across the table more than once. Daq had no doubt filled the others in while she’d been in her room trying to decide whether to pack her suitcases or not. Even Cyra had shown up and smirked her way through the meal. She seemed to sense the tension in the room, and found it amusing enough to keep her at the house. Maura doubted either Septimus’s new girlfriend or his scientific discoveries interested her. A balmy breeze drifted across Maura’s forehead, carrying the sweet scent of salt water and tropical flowers. The sinking sun made the waves shimmer with streaks of red and gold. Since childhood, the ocean had called to her. Eventually she’d decided to spend her life studying its mysteries. Never had she imagined anything like the hidden world Septimus had uncovered. The opportunity for scientific discovery was mind-boggling. Could she bear to leave all this behind? Clambering down the outdoor steps, Maura made her way to the beach and spent some time just wandering and picking up shells. Their smooth white surfaces gleamed in the setting sun as she turned them over in her hand, marveling at their delicate curves and intricate patterns. Maura would have loved to spend every day beside the sea, not in a laboratory or even a classroom. Septimus had always promoted a hands-on approach to studying nature, and in this matter she respected his judgment. She took a few steps into the shallows, bathing her bare feet in warmth and comfort and welcoming an overall feeling of freedom. The hassles of civilization seemed so far away that they had ceased to exist. The sky was a shade darker now, and the windows of Septimus’s house were dark. No one was watching her. This might be her last night here. She wanted to take one final, special experience with her. After peeling off and tossing her clothes away, she waded boldly into the water. When the swell reached her waist, she stretched out on

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the surface and began to swim. The current seemed to merge with the movements of her limbs. Before long she’d propelled herself further out than she’d ever ventured before. She experienced no fear at all. Was this how Aquans felt when they drifted on the waves? If so, she could see why they found it intoxicating. Eventually, she stopped swimming and floated along on her back with her eyes closed. Nothing had ever felt as liberating…at least, nothing she had ever done alone. Then again, she wasn’t alone. She realized that as soon as a pair of hands slipped around her waist from below. Another pair encircled her middle, the fingers stroking her nipples. More hands joined in— one pair on each thigh, and finally a gentle palm against the side of her face. She opened her eyes and found herself looking at Daq’s face. The others were there, too, reaching up to her from below the surface. “We’ve come to convince you to stay,” he said. “Irissa’s guest house is nice, but you can’t deny that her koi pond is microscopic compared to our bay. And I guarantee you have nothing remotely like it back in the States, either.” “You’re right,” she admitted. “I can’t deny it.” “This island means nothing to us without you,” he went on. “It’s only beautiful to us with you here. If you leave, we’ll have no reason to stay, either. We want to build our lives around yours. You won’t have to give up your career, either. Septimus used to travel to the States to teach his classes, and then he flew back as soon as they ended. You could do the same.” “Daq, I—” “Shh. Don’t answer now. Just let us make our case…without words.” Dropping his hand, he ducked back underwater. The other hands withdrew as well. Though she couldn’t see a single one of the men, Maura felt herself being spirited along toward the shore, propelled from beneath.

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The next thing she knew, her knees were planted on the wet sand, and all of them crouched around her. They kissed her back, her shoulders, and both her arms. Between the dimming light as the sun went down, and the flurry of Aquan activity, she lost track of who was doing what. Somehow, though, that made the situation more exciting. “Daq is right,” Janko whispered in her ear. Obviously he was the one licking the nape of her neck. “We want you to stay.” “All of us,” Ivar’s voice confirmed—she wasn’t sure from where, exactly. Was he the one kissing the sensitive space between her shoulders, or nibbling the tender inside of her elbow? Then again, what did it matter? They functioned as a team. She understood that now. “Please stay,” she heard Ejan say next. He was most definitely the one who had been brushing his mouth over her abdomen, tantalizing the underside of her left breast. Tagin, positioned opposite his male partner, murmured his agreement and went further, wrapping his tongue around her right nipple. Where was Daq? The answer to her unspoken question came a moment later, when she felt gentle hands easing her into a kneeling position. She gasped with surprise to find Daq lying on his back underneath her. He reached up, gliding his palms along her stomach, her rib cage, over her breasts. His erection poked up, hot and urgent, to prod between her legs. The domed tip spread the lips of her pussy and rubbed the sensitive bud of flesh nestled there. Moaning, she sank down on him with all her weight, taking him inside. The sensations coursing through her as his cock drove upward were intensified by two of the guys suckling her nipples. She felt another Aquan leaning over her shoulder. “Remember this?” Tagin whispered. He stroked his cock along her butt crack. “It was good, wasn’t it? You liked it.” “Yes,” she said. The word came out as a near-gasp. “I did.” “Let us show you how great we can be together.”

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He used his fingers to stretch her out and guide himself inside. Then he began to fuck her slowly, timing his thrusts so that she could pump herself on Daq at the same time. With both openings stuffed, the sensation of fullness was incredible. One thing was missing. Between gasps, she managed to form a few words. “One of you…over here.” She motioned to the empty space in front of her. Someone came forward. The beach was nearly dark now, and she couldn’t tell who it was until he got close. Ivar, she thought. Well, that was appropriate. She still owed him for that wonderful underwater tongue job he had given her. She wrapped her lips around his cock, drawing his pleasure out in long, slow sucking movements. He moaned as she drew her mouth along his shaft, letting everything slip out but the head. Then she would pitch forward again, gulping him down. Maura could hardly believe she was really doing this. One guy was plugged into each available aperture, and one more labored at each breast. She felt like a primitive priestess being worshipped by some unknown tribe who lived utterly outside of any modern concepts of time, science, or geography. She even heard a wild drumbeat in her head, only to realize it was her own thrumming pulse. She was pure body, pure passion. She was one with the sea. And with them. Climax struck suddenly, tightening her flesh around Daq and Tagin at the same instant. Maura felt hot tremors rock every fiber of her being. Her inner muscles flexed, and her nerves sang with delight. Even her nipples seemed to turn inside out and back again as their rasping tongues pleasured them. “Please stay with us,” Daq pleaded as she slumped down on his chest, feeling as though her body had exploded. She was ready to rebuild herself, though. “We need you. We love you.” “I love you, too,” she whispered as she closed her eyes. “All of you. I won’t leave.”

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Chapter 9 All eight of them gathered at the edge of the sea, the guys in their cutoffs and cargo shorts, Maura in one of the light one-piece sundresses she’d taken to wearing around the house. Septimus and Zaila were modestly wrapped in large beach towels they planned to shed as soon as they hit the waves. But first it was time for farewells. “I’m glad you’ll be looking after the homestead, Maura,” Septimus said, reaching out to take her hand. “It’s not that I don’t trust the boys, but housekeeping’s never been their strong suit. They’re not good on the computer, either, and someone has to keep up with my e-mail.” Maura returned his affectionate squeeze, but couldn’t stop the tears from springing into her eyes. “Please be careful, Septimus. I know this sounds like the journey of a lifetime, but it’s still risky.” “Nonsense!” Septimus laughed. “I knew my way around the ocean floor long before I figured out that I belonged there. Not even getting blown off course stopped me last time. Besides, I’m going to have the best tour guide in all the seven seas.” Still holding Maura’s hand, he took Zaila’s as well. When she smiled up at him, and their gazes locked, Maura’s doubts concerning the wisdom of their plans faded. “I’ll keep him out of trouble—and kelp forests as well,” Zaila said. “Go on with your lives here, and don’t worry about us. We want you to be as happy as we are.” “We’re certainly going to try,” Daq said.

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Finally, Septimus released Maura’s hand. She stepped back, averting her eyes as he and Zaila tossed their towels onto the sand. They waded into the water and soon disappeared from sight. “Off to see the world together,” Janko said, shaking his head in wonder. “I have to hand it to Septimus—he knows how to plan a memorable date.” “You’re not jealous, I hope,” Ivar said as all six of them turned and trudged up the beach toward the house. “Yeah, we’ll be sticking close to the shore from now on,” Ejan pointed out. He took Maura’s hand and brought it to his lips. Maura wondered if Irissa would extend them yet another dinner invitation this week. She never seemed to tire of Maura’s company and loved to regale her with tales of Ejan’s remarkable childhood and the special talents and gifts he had carried with him to adulthood. “I, for one, am looking forward to that.” “Not jealous in the least.” Janko grinned. “Helping Maura with her research suits me perfectly.” Maura returned his smile. “I’m excited to have all of you help me.” It was going to be tricky to document her findings and possibly even write articles without giving away the existence of the Aquans. Still, Septimus had faith in her, and she was sure she’d manage somehow. She looked around at the five of them walking with her, enjoying Ivar’s boyish laughter and Janko’s breezy attitude. Ejan and Tagin stayed close together, but she felt more than welcome as part of their relationship. And then, of course, there was Daq. Even now, as they strolled along a few yards away from one another, she felt the warmth of his love and the power of his desire. The bond was so strong that they didn’t need to touch to feel it. Soon, she would return to the States long enough to collect her possessions and arrange to join them here permanently. Aquan multiple marriage wasn’t technically legal in the human world, the

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guys had explained, but what mattered was the commitment between them. Maura was ready to make that commitment. She’d be away from them for a few days, and though the separation wasn’t something she was looking forward to, she knew it would make their reunion that much sweeter. When she’d first arrived in Bequia, she’d had no idea who was picking her up or what kind of situation she’d been plunging into. The next time she stepped off that plane, she’d know exactly who—and what—to expect. She couldn’t wait.

THE END WWW.CASSANDRAPIERCE.COM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Cassandra Pierce has been a fan of Gothic literature for most of her life, even studying the origins of the genre in college and graduate school. Before long, she got the urge to create paranormal romances of her own and is now hard at work on the third Darkisle novel (among other projects). When she is not writing, she teaches English (including a course on Vampire Lit) at a small New England college and is active in a charity that rescues and rehomes abandoned pets. Read excerpts from Cassandra’s upcoming books and her author blog at www.CassandraPierce.com, and visit her on Facebook!

Also by Cassandra Pierce PolyAmour: Terran Border Patrol: Captain Gareth’s Mates Siren Classic: Darkisle 1: Heirs to Darkisle PolyAmour: Darkisle 2: Loving Two Vampires Siren LoveXtreme: The Aquans 1: Jewels from the Sea Siren Classic ManLove: The Vampires of Anarchy 1: The Vampire’s Vacation Siren Classic ManLove: Elven Treasure 1: The Enchanted Earl

Available at BOOKSTRAND.COM

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com