The Twelve Zenati Pt. 21

"There she is," Shari smiled, as the helicopter dipped lower, and she began to line up her decent.

"Where what is?" Marcella asked, only seeing the vast expanse of blue ocean below them.

"Your next destination," Shari smiled as she nodded toward a boat that looked too small for the helicopter to land on and she panicked for a moment, wondering if she would have to jump again.

"You want me to jump out of this perfectly good helicopter?" she gasped, turning her head to scowl at Noah.

"No, Lovely," Shari laughed. "I'll land you down there."

"You plan to land on that boat?" Marcella gasped.

"I've done it plenty of times, so don't worry," Shari laughed again.

Realising that she was still holding Noah's hand, she clutched it tighter, as the helicopter swayed and manoeuvred closer to its landing pad on the roof of the large cruiser. Marcella felt the adrenaline-fuelled panic spike again, and she squeezed her eyes shut for the long minutes before she felt the skids touch down on the solid surface.

Minutes later, Noah was out of his seat and lifting her down from the helicopter, holding her in his arms against his body, as he walked from the landing pad to the stairs leading down to the lower levels of the cruiser.

"You can put me down. I haven't lost my ability to walk," Marcella grumbled, not liking that she took comfort from the strong arms wrapped around her, holding her close to the hard body she acknowledged that she wanted, now more so than ever.

"If you insist," Noah said regretfully, and lowered her to her feet, reluctantly pulling his arms away from her. Once they had descended the narrow stairs, however, Marcella surprised him by taking his hand once again, before he had offered it. He led her to the stateroom, where the overnight bags that he had packed for them were stored.

"A bedroom?" she asked drolly.

"If you would rather not change into your bikini and a sarong for what I have planned after lunch, then I am just as happy to see you in your underwear again," he teased, moving past her to show her that the clothes inside the overnight bag were her own. "I packed for us while you were sleeping in this morning."

"Sleeping in? you woke me up before the crack of dawn!" Marcella gasped indignantly, making him chuckle.

"It was worth it so far, though, right?" he asked.

"Yes," she admitted.

"No foul balls for quads, or the waterfall, means I get another base," he said, his voice dropping lower as he moved closer to her.

"No foul balls," she murmured nervously. She was concerned about what second base might entail. Still, she stood her ground as Noah approached her, admitting to herself that she felt the attraction and wanted him, but that was a totally different thing to actually following through with that want. However, when he reached for her and pulled her against his body, she didn't resist.

Placing his fingers under her chin, Noah tilted her face up to his and angled it perfectly for his kiss. It was soft, slow and deep, helped along by the feeling of her hands running over his shoulders to link around the back of his neck. One of his hands moved down her ribs and around her hip, to cup her ass, lifting slightly, and pressing her more forcefully against his growing hardness. The other hand lifted to brush over the sensitive skin of her neck and collar bone, as he extended the kiss.

"I thought about kissing you every moment since that first kiss when I found you in your room at StarCity," he murmured. Holding her ass more firmly, and pressing his almost-full erection against her, while his other hand strayed from her neck down to her breast. "Every time I am with you, I want to be this close, and closer, I want more..." His mouth lowered again to take hers, sucking her lips and tongue into the kiss hungrily, as his hands continued to explore her body through the fabric of her clothes.

"More," Marcella murmured breathlessly, between kisses, despite her concerns. His hands on her breasts and ass, teasing the skin of her neck, and the deep soul-rending kisses, were making her lose her sense of self-preservation. Untangling her hands, she placed them on his shoulders and pushed him away. His breath was as ragged as her own, and she stood looking at him for a long time before she took another step back. "More is third base," she breathed softly in response to his confused look. She then gathered her bikini and sarong from the bed and walked through the doorway that she hoped was to the bathroom attached to this stateroom.

Noah let out a long breath and ran his hands through his hair once she had gone. He felt like he was losing his mind. He was walking a tightrope between giving her what she said she wanted, and what he knew she needed. He moved to the bag and changed quickly, unconcerned that she would walk back in and find him dressing. He planned for her to see him naked often in the future. He allowed himself a small smile. Today was going well, aside from the initial foul ball for making her wake up so early, she had conceded that the unfortunate swallowing of water was her own fault, for not listening to him more closely, and leaping before she looked.

"Hurry up. I'm starving, and since you won't let me eat you, lunch is going to have to be the poor substitute," he chuckled. He wanted Marcella in no doubt at all as to what he wanted and needed from her, not that he would ever force her. He knew that she had never forgiven him for turning down her invitation to spend the night, so long ago. Now, he knew, he would need to ensure that she was in no doubt at all that he did that for other reasons, not because he hadn't found her enticing in every way possible. If he had known then what he knew now, nothing would have kept him from her bed.

"Oh yes please, food!" she said eagerly, as she exited the bathroom, her hair once again falling about her shoulders in long waves.

"Right this way." He held his hand out to her and led her out onto the deck. She blinked at the table, shaded by a tightly-strung cloth awning, that was covered by a sumptuous banquet of fresh seafood and salads, as well as homemade, iced tea and sparkling water and champagne chilling in a bucket of ice.

*****

When Gideon had called her and asked her to cancel her plans for lunch, and the afternoon, Vivienne had delighted in the idea of spending time with her husband. It seemed that he was always being called away for family-related business. She had been with Olivia when he had called her, and Genesis had called at almost the same time, telling Olivia that he was coming home for the rest of the day.

Vivienne hadn't expected him to whisk her away to this remote cabin after a quick, but filling, lunch at the small café that he liked on the outskirts of the city. When she complained that she hadn't packed an overnight bag, he had only chuckled and waggled his eyebrows at her. He had led her inside and left her standing to look around the one-room cabin, the bathroom a wet area, only partially-hidden with a half-wall, for modesty when using the toilet, she assumed. She watched as he went to lock the door behind them and return to her, taking her in his arms.

"I love you." Gideon's fingers brushed Vivienne's cheek as he lifted her chin. She took in his broad, towering shoulders, one of the very few men who had ever made her feel soft and feminine. He wore an untucked button-up shirt, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His dark eyes stared down into hers with a heated look, his large hands holding her face between them as he teased her with a long tender kiss.

Small sounds seemed amplified in the little cabin. The soft hiss of the air conditioning unit. The buzz of the light above their heads and the soft moan that escaped Vivienne's lips, when she thought of the afternoon and evening ahead, with her amorous husband. Something tightened in her gut as she relived how adventurous he was encouraging her to be in the bedroom and any other room that took his fancy, lately.

Gideon took her hand and guided her to the bed. Her skin tingled from the contact and the thoughts that were running through her head.

"You look beautiful," Gideon murmured, close to her ear, and kissed down her neck. "So very beautiful." He kissed along her jawline, turning her face to his.

She tilted her head up to him. Despite his free use of the word, Vivienne still hadn't become accustomed to being called beautiful. Her eyes dropped down to the dress that she'd chosen to wear today. A silky rose-pattern on a black background that provided ample cleavage. Something that she knew her husband admired and enjoyed. It was one of her favourites, mostly because she felt feminine and somewhat pretty in it, despite her oversized body. She kissed him back with equal ardour and turned towards him, placing a hand on his broad chest, pushing him slightly and breaking the kiss so that she could look at him.

"I'm glad you like the dress," She smiled and ran her hand over his chest. "You always look so handsome. It's challenging to keep my hands to myself sometimes."

"Then don't," he smirked, and his hand cupped her jaw, drawing her closer. Her eyes drifted closed when his warm lips touched hers. They brushed lightly at first and then pressed harder as he deepened the kiss. His hand slid to the back of her head, his fingers burying into the gathered strands of her soft hair. When he nipped at her bottom lip, she gasped. And when his tongue slipped inside, dancing with hers, she moaned softly into his mouth again.

Gideon continued to kiss her, taste her, until she was moaning and moving closer, showing that she wanted more and that her arousal was building to match his own. He pulled the clip that held the front part of her hair secure on the crown of her head and watched as the soft waves cascaded to her shoulders, and whispered against her ears and cheeks before he brushed them back so that he could see her face, surrounded by the beautiful mass.

Her hand found his thigh and squeezed, eliciting a moan from him, and moved him into action as he helped her scoot back over the quilt so that he could lay her back against the pillows propped on the headboard. His fingers caressed her cheeks and neck, smoothing over her hair as he bent his head to press another kiss to her lips. He was gentle but firm, showing her that he was in control, but in no hurry to rush this moment, either.

Vivienne's fingers rose to trace the contours of his neck, across the slight stubble on his jaw, up into his hair, as she returned his kiss. She felt his fingers slide down to her shoulder, over the wide strap of the bodice of her dress, and graze against her bare arm. She marvelled that, even through the dress and bra, she could feel the heat from his touch and ached for more. She almost willed him to cup her breast and ease some of the tension that she'd been feeling ever since they'd left their apartment. He was so close, yet he seemed to avoid any of her erogenous areas purposefully.

"You taste so good." His mouth covered hers once more, before moving to her chin, and along her jawline, to that sensitive spot behind her ear, before settling in the curve of her neck. His nose nuzzled, his tongue licking over her skin. He drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly, with a groan. "You, your skin, your hair, smell amazing."

"Please, don't stop now" Vivienne whimpered, her skin tingling as his warm breath travelled over skin wet from his kisses.

"I don't intend to," His voice was muffled as he sucked gently, before biting, and then licking away the sharp pains that resulted.

Vivienne gripped his arms, anchoring herself to him. His warm body pressed against her side, but she recognised the signs that told her he was in control of what happened in this cabin. She knew that he would never scold her for taking the initiative, and even encouraged it on some occasions early in their marriage, but her husband liked being in control and, she had to admit, she loved this side of him. Even though his pace was far too slow for her need at that moment, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes, sinking into the sweet sensations he gave her.

His mouth landed butterfly kisses across her shoulder and throat. When he pulled back, her eyes fluttered open. His eyes were fixed, but she realised that they were no longer on her face. She followed their path to the quick rise and fall of her breasts, pushing against the confines of the dress's plunging neckline. Her gaze returned to his face, just in time to see him lick his lips.

"If you want to save this dress so you can wear it again..." His voice trailed off, as her hands immediately flew to the buttons running down the length of the dress and began to undo them.

A soft chuckle escaped his lips as they brushed along her throat again. Slowly, methodically even, they covered every inch of skin. Sometimes, his tongue darted out, making her shiver. Her breath caught as he moved his head, inexorably lower.

When his lips caressed the swell of her breast, she gripped the buttons she had made it to on her dress as her body arched up to him of its own volition, seeking more of his torment. The flat of his tongue stroked the flesh above the edge of her lacy bra, and the feeling of wet heat burned into her sensitive skin and brain. She felt his fingers trail along the curve of her cleavage, dipping into the space between her breasts before sliding under the edge of the bra. His tongue followed, and a moan rose from the back of her throat. Her nipples were so hard that they throbbed for his touch but, once again, he veered away from the sensitive nubs of pale pink flesh before making contact. She groaned in a combination of need and disappointment, making him chuckle softly again.

Her body writhed, urging him to go just a little lower to where she wanted it. When she moved her own hands to ease the aching, Gideon shifted against her and grasped her wrist, raising it above her head. He rose enough to gather her free wrist as well and, holding both wrists with his right hand, he lowered his mouth to her breast again and resumed teasing the soft, plump mounds of her breasts, without touching the nipples.

"Please...oh, please, Gideon..." she whimpered, not quite struggling against him, but needing more than he was giving. She arched up against his mouth, but he pulled away, looking up into her fevered eyes.

"What do you want, Beautiful?" His breath caressed her wet skin and made her ache even more for him. "Tell me what you want, use the words I like to hear you say." His voice was low and husky, telling of his own desires.

"Oh..." Vivienne's voice trailed off as she blushed. Why couldn't he just read her mind? Why did he have to make her say it?

"This, maybe?" His fingers grazed the underside of her breast through the bra, and she let out a purring moan in appreciation. "Yes, I think that's it." He teased again, and then finally, his hand cupped her breast, squeezing gently. His thumb brushed over the peak. Even through the material, he could see that he had her so wound up that even the small touch sent shockwaves through her entire body.

"Oh, Gideon!" Her eyes shot open, and she held her breath, staring at the ceiling but seeing nothing, revelling in the fact that he had finally touched her where she needed him to. She gasped as he moved his hand up and slipped a finger under the edge of her bra, then swept it over her nipple, stroking it back and forth. Heat rushed down her body, and her breathing quickened.

His lips brushed her ear, his breath making her shiver. She practically panted for breath when his hand slid further inside the bra, to cup her fully. His roughened skin added to her pleasure, as he kneaded her breast, before rolling her nipple between his thumb and fingers.

Vivienne turned toward him, her mouth searching for his. He kissed her and pushed her back into the pillows again, echoing her moan, as his tongue swept her mouth to dance with hers in a slow, teasing way.

He squeezed her breast one last time, then removed his hand. He released her wrists, slid his hands up over her shoulders, and pulled both the straps of her dress and bra down her arms, letting cool air brush over her now-bared chest, making her nipples tighten painfully, rising on the top of her breasts as if begging for his touch.

Vivienne shivered as his fingers slid over her breast, slowly lifting her arms back up above her head. When she felt him tie something around her wrists, her eyes opened wide. "Gideon?"

"Yes, Beautiful?" he asked, as he kissed his way down her arm and over her breast, finally sucking her nipple into his mouth.

"Oh!" She forgot what she was going to ask him, her nerves at being restrained wiped away with that one simple action. She trusted him, and she needed him. Her body arched against him, showing how much she needed his touch, and his mouth, on her body, like this.

"You are so fucking sexy, like this," he murmured, moving away from the breast he had just been lavishing his attention on and sitting up, to look at her with a dark, heated gaze that melted her insides. His eyes scanned her, eventually settling over her naked chest, her dress and bra resting just under her bust line.

Vivienne pulled gently at her wrists. She had never been tied up so tightly before, where she couldn't easily break loose. There was enough slack to let her arms relax against the pillows, but not enough that she could actually untie herself if she so desired.

Her focus on the soft restraints was lost when he reached under her back and released the clasps on her bra and slid the dress down to her hips. She kept her eyes on his, watching the heat and desire in his eyes as he shimmied her dress down further, revealing more of her body.

He sucked his breath in when he unveiled the skimpy satin and lace panties, and he paused, gripping her hips and running his thumbs back and forth over the soft material. Resuming his undressing, he practically tore the dress from her and tossed it aside. His fingers slid over her calves, up to her knees, and then down again to remove her heeled shoes.

With his eyes raised to hers, and giving her a wicked grin, he slid his fingers under the edge of her panties and slowly pulled them down. Cool air brushed against her heat, and she couldn't help pressing her thighs together and squirming, as he sat back and gazed longingly over her now-naked body. He raised his hand as if he were going to touch her, but his hand returned to rest on his thighs. Eventually, he leaned back over her and brushed his lips against hers.

"Do you trust me, Beautiful?" he asked her, in a rough, husky voice.

"Of course, I do. I love you and trust you completely," she whispered back, but couldn't help the gasp as his hands moved over her face, and soft cloth covered her eyes, blocking out even the smallest chink of light. She felt him adjust an elastic strap behind her head to keep the cloth in place like a sleep mask. She told herself again that she trusted him, as she felt her anxiety rise a notch higher.

Gideon kissed her and moved off the bed, his eyes lingering over her fantastic body, noticing her breath hitch as she found herself alone and wondering what was going to happen next. He smiled inwardly. This was going to be fun for both of them, but building her anticipation was feeding his desire like nothing else had to this point. He loved this cabin because, as he moved to prepare the things that he had brought with him, or asked for, when he told his cousin he wanted to use the cabin overnight, he could still see her and monitor her anxiety. He started by opening his phone and playing the soundtrack to 'Me Before You' softly, placing it on the side table near her head, to hide what he was doing.

Vivienne could actually feel his eyes on her. It wasn't that uncomfortable feeling you get when you think someone is watching you and then glance around nervously, trying to locate the culprit. Instead, she felt the warmth of his adoration of her spread through her. He had told her repeatedly, every day, how amazing he found her, how beautiful she was, how much he lusted after her sexy body and, even though she still found it a little hard to believe at times, he had shown her in every way possible that he meant every word.