18. Tempest

EIGHTEEN

TEMPEST

Faktil quo Laus

Relaxed, sitting on the rock, Faktil watched Naomi dip her toes in the surf. She practically glowed in the midmorning light, her dark hair fluttering in the warm breeze.

"Goddess," he murmured with a sigh while admiring his human mate.

He was truly enjoying these relaxed moments on the island. The last few days had been wonderful and he couldn't be happier. It was a big change of pace from constantly battling enemies. This was the ideal place to find his gorgeous, spirited little mate. He could watch her day after day with the vast ocean, idyllic blue sky and drifting clouds as a backdrop. His smile broadened at the way his mate's hips slowly swayed. Occasionally her hands would make these graceful little dips or waves toward the sky. He'd noticed her do this before in calm moments or between steps as she worked.

"Is there more to that dance?" he called to her .

Naomi spun and gawked at him, her cheeks redder than usual, which meant he'd embarrassed her.

"Well?" He grinned, loving how adorable she was.

All he had to see was that slight tinge of red and his wistful mood shifted, his desire whipping up like a tempest. Naomi had that effect on him.

"It's a traditional dance my people do, the hula. There is more to it. My sister and I learned when we were young. Kiana is much better at it, though." Naomi shook her head.

"We also have a traditional dance, the perambulo . We tend to perform it at bonding pronouncements, marking ceremonies, occasions like that." He stood and joined her at the water's edge.

"Marking ceremonies?" Naomi's head tilted in curiosity.

"My warrior's ink." He gestured to the tattoos on his chest. "These are the symbols of my mother's clans, five generations back." He pointed to the far left of his chest, extending up his shoulder. "And my sire's, as well as second sire." He smiled as he gestured to the other side of his chest, proud to also wear Avraham's marks.

"Oh, I like that. I wondered if they meant anything." Naomi smiled up at him before her gaze returned to his ink. "What about these?" She touched one on his shoulder.

"That one commemorates finishing first in my pilot training group. My arms and back are covered by accomplishments and battles." He flexed his biceps, proud of the workmanship.

"What about the center? It's blank." Naomi placed her hand reverently over the middle of his chest.

He smiled wistfully, placing his hand on hers. "The spot over my heart is reserved for my bonded, because you are the reason my life's blood flows. "

"Are you trying to make me cry?" Naomi's eyes grew glossy, as she leaned up on her toes.

"I love you." He leaned down and kissed her puckered lips.

"God, I love you, too, handsome." She kissed him back, her arms wrapping around him.

Naomi

She released a blissful sigh as she kissed Faktil. The adoration in his eyes when he said he'd reserved the space over his heart for her made her heart melt. The exotic man truly was wonderful.

She smiled at him when they eventually parted. "At this rate we'll never catch a thing." She gestured to the kayak and net they'd hauled to the beach.

She said she missed barbeque, but after eating nothing but pork for the last two days it was time for a change of pace.

"You aren't going to get out of showing me more of your hula so easily." He gripped her hips and gave them a little wiggle.

Naomi laughed. She should've known he wouldn't forget that.

"Only if you show me your perambulo ," she countered.

"It's a bargain." Faktil nodded. His tail whipped forward and the tip of it curled over, looking almost like a question mark. He then laughed. "I forget how much we use our tails. You'd hook the tip to cement an agreement," he explained.

"Ah." Naomi nodded in understanding, then grinned. She reached up and hooked his tail with her little finger. "Tail promise meet pinky promise."

"Accepted," he chuckled. "You first. "

She smirked at him. "Kiana really was the one who's better."

Naomi took a step back, attempting to recall what she'd learned as a kid. One glance at Faktil's smiling face and she realized this wasn't a competition. She didn't have to get her ami kuku just right. He liked what he'd seen earlier and she hadn't actually been dancing, just doing a little flourish as she moved. At the same time, she realized this would be her first dance for her husband. She recalled the way her cousin danced at her own wedding for her new husband. It was tradition, and she was honored to be able to do it for the man she loved, even though she was out of practice.

With a deep breath, she began to sway her hips. She was surprised to discover how readily the routines came back to her as she kept focus on Faktil's handsome face. He watched her like she was his whole world, and he'd certainly become hers. She got lost in his eyes and let her body tell him just how much he meant to her.

"Stunning," Faktil said when she came to a stop. His tail flicked back and forth over his head the way a squirrel's might, and she wondered if that was some version of applause.

"Did you like it?" Her cheeks heated.

"Aye, Blossom, very much." He caressed her cheek and she leaned into him, glad he approved.

"Your turn," she giddily urged him.

"The perambulo is intended to scare away evil, and prove that a male will be a good protector. My face would have temporary markings like my warrior's ink."

"I've been forewarned." She took a step back, eager to see him dance.

With a loud abrupt bark, Faktil bent his knees and stepped wide. He made a snarling face and slapped his thighs with both hands. Naomi watched in amazement as her giant warrior performed a kind of haka dance. She backed up farther as he advanced with daunting moves. He truly looked like a demon ready to go on a rampage. She could imagine how much scarier he'd appear with his face painted. At the same time, his bulging and flexing muscles were very sexy. She could watch Faktil perform all day long, but too soon he came to a halt in the sand.

"Bravo!" She clapped.

Faktil grinned, his arms wrapping around her. "I didn't frighten you too much?"

"Frighten isn't the word I'd use." She wagged her brows at him.

"Yes, I can smell," he groaned as he breathed her in, his face burrowing into the hair draped over her neck.

A thrill worked up Naomi's spine as Faktil's lips found the crook of her shoulder. The spot was so sensitive, and Faktil knew just how to kiss her, using just enough tongue and pressure from his teeth. She kneaded his biceps, eager for more, uncaring that sand and sex didn't go well together.

"Nope, nope, nope," she declared as that thought truly sank in and she pictured sand in some very uncomfortable places. "As much as I want to continue this, there is way too much sand here." She squirmed and cringed.

"Very well." Faktil released her with a petulant groan.

She grinned, even loving his pouty face.

"So, I was thinking you could sit on the kayak and I'll…" she started to say.

"Sit on my lap," Faktil interrupted with a wag of his brows.

"No, you randy beast," she giggled as she playfully shoved him. "I was going to say I'd hang out in the water. That way no crabs or sharks get you. "

"And let the sharks get you?! No." Faktil adamantly shook his head. "I like my idea better."

"I bet you do." She smiled at him, appreciating that he worried about her. She fetched the little boat and considered it. It wasn't really made for two people, but it was an open style kayak rather than an enclosed one. "Well, I could sit between your legs," she conceded.

"I think that will work," Faktil agreed.

"All right. Grab the net." She pointed.

"Got it." Faktil fetched the net, and they dragged the kayak out into the water. "I've been considering our escape plan. I think that my subitis , the emergency tech," he fingered a blue bead in his hair, "might be able to transform the unit that operates your solar power."

"Oh really. How?" Her eyes widened as they got situated on the kayak, with him sitting in the actual seat and her between his legs.

"The subitis rebuilds tech to send an emergency signal. It works best if the equipment it's altering already has the means to communicate," he explained.

"I can't believe that small thing can do anything besides look pretty." She shook her head in disbelief.

"It's more complicated than I can comprehend. All I know is that it breaks apart on the molecular level and embeds in the sacrificial tech. We acquired it from our allies," Faktil explained as he began paddling into the bay. "I'd like to wait several moons to see if my people show up before we try to use the subitis . I don't want to risk ruining our power source."

"That's probably wise." She appreciated his logic. It would suck to ruin the solar grid if there was no guarantee the SOS signal would work. "I don't mind waiting for a few months to see if your people come rescue us. I'll have good company." She tipped her face up and grinned up at him.

"Agreed. It has been a while since I was on holiday." Faktil beamed down at her and kissed her forehead. His expression then turned pensive.

"What's wrong?" she asked as she tossed the fishing net overboard, after quickly assuring the end was anchored to the kayak.

"As much as I enjoy being here with you, I worry about what is happening with the Jurou Biljana. I still don't remember chasing them here, but I must have obliterated their vessel before crashing, otherwise the reptiles would've descended on your planet by now." Faktil grimaced as he looked up at the sky.

She hadn't freaked out about the alien enemy because she had faith Faktil's people would prevail, but his memory still being hazy bothered her a lot. The knot on his head had thankfully gone away, but that clearly didn't mean things were all better.

She rubbed his legs which were flanking hers, as she turned to look at him. "I don't like that you still can't remember following the reptiles here. Your head isn't hurting, right? You can still see okay?" Her brow furrowed in worry.

"I still feel fine. Actually, I'm feeling really good, Blossom." He kissed the top of her head again. "I'm just missing the days it would take to get from the rendezvous to here."

Naomi nibbled her lip. The shark bite on his leg was healed, and there was no indication of an infection that might be affecting him.

"Okay," she finally sighed, hoping his memory would return if given more time. Her eyes widened, panic filling her as her head whipped around to look at him again. "You're not forgetting about a wife or mate back home, are you?!"

"No!" Faktil laughed. "I clearly remember piloting my cruiser toward the enemy vessel. It's everything after that that's hazy, not before." Yet again, he leaned down and gave her a kiss while hugging her tight. She liked that that was his solution to soothe her. He'd figured her out, because it certainly worked.

"Okay." She relaxed against him. "Well, I think as far as the reptiles go, no news is good news."

"That is probably true. Oh, it appears the fish are gathering already." Faktil pointed to where they'd strung out their net.

She smiled at the way he changed the subject. She wasn't real keen on talking about some scaly enemy or the state of his memory either, especially since there was nothing either of them could do about it at the moment.

"It looks like you're right. The buoy isn't dancing, so I'd say there's only a few at best."

"Back home, we'd use animal bladders for buoys. I was really pleased when they'd thrash about, knowing I'd caught enough fish for everyone," he shared, his voice filled with nostalgia and pride.

She got weepy anytime she thought about what he had to do as a child to help his family survive.

"You are an awesome brother. No one could've taken better care of your sisters and mother." She squeezed his arms wrapped around her.

Her brow furrowed as she looked back at the landscape. The sky was rapidly growing dark, black clouds blowing across the horizon. Disappointment filled her. She was hoping they'd have a relaxing afternoon casually fishing .

"It looks like the weather is going to spoil our afternoon." She pouted.

"Torment!" Faktil barked when lightning skittered across the sky.

The curse was barely out of his mouth when a wave came out of nowhere, toppling the kayak.

"Shit!" she sputtered just before going under.

Naomi floundered, her arms and legs tangling with Faktil's. She got herself extricated and resurfaced. She grabbed the flipped kayak before it could go far, and mopped the water and wet hair out of her face. They needed to get the net and boat back ashore fast. If lightning struck the bay, they'd be electrocuted. Her brow furrowed when she realized Faktil hadn't come up for air.

"Faktil?" She looked around, a knot forming in her stomach.

She dove back down. The water was cloudy from the churning waves but she searched beneath the kayak anyway.

I'm overreacting. Faktil fished his whole life. He knew how to swim. She resurfaced again.

Except he still hadn't surfaced and the knot in her stomach grew. She struggled to swim in a circle, searching for him as another large wave struck.

"Faktil!" she screamed, ignoring the water that tried to choke her.

She looked for a hint of red beneath the surf, but spotted nothing.

Maybe he got tangled in the fishing net. Her horror doubled.

She dove down again, found the line attached to the kayak and followed it.

Please. Please. Please. Her heart beat a million miles a minute .

Frantically, she searched the net until her lungs burned, forcing her to come up for air.

"Oh my god, where are you?!" she screamed.

Panicked tears ran down her cheeks mixing with the salty water. She fought against the onslaught of waves while panning the beach and surrounding bay.

This can't be happening. This can't be happening.

Naomi dove back down and desperately resumed the search until dark spots filled her vision, forcing her to resurface. She barely took a breath before she plunged back down again.

Faktil couldn't drown. They were just talking about his people rescuing them. She'd just danced for her new husband. He was going to teach her how to fly and countless other plans they started making.

No, no, no. This can't be happening.

She came back up, and tugged in a gasping breath past the lump in her throat. This wasn't possible. Fate brought them together. She was certain of that. The circumstances were too great for it not to be fate. Why would fate turn around and rip her love away?

"No!" Naomi angrily wailed at the turbulent sky, dove back down again and wildly searched, then again, and again, and again.