Swallowing hard, I leaned back against my chair and closed my eyes, wishing, no, hoping, for anything that would change my fate. A shadow pa.s.sed over the large front window. Daring not to breathe, I leaned forward to see just what caused such a shadow. Shaking my head, I leaned back. No friggin' way, I thought and leaned forward to look up once again.

Merpeople. I swear I saw a bunch of merpeople just outside my research sub. Now I knew I was going crazy. The anoxia was much further along than I had thought. I tried hard not to let the tears squeeze out.

Suddenly, I felt my little craft move. Looking up once again, I saw the merpeople move the rocks away from the top of my sub. But it didn't matter, the rudder was broken and there was no way I could return to the surface. Surely, they could see that.

Sighing, I leaned my head back again, knowing nothing they did would actually help. I would die in this little sub like a moth in a jar. Rubbing my chin, I knew I had just been handed the discovery of a lifetime but I would never get to share my newfound knowledge with anyone.

It took them about ten minutes to remove the debris that held down my sub. By this time, I was getting lightheaded, but it didn't diminish the fact these were beautiful people, all lithe and muscular. Some of the women had the most wondrous hair in different colors and the men were very colorful with blues and greens in glorious tails that fanned behind them. All had the faces of G.o.ds and G.o.ddesses and it made me want to touch them even more. I couldn't even imagine what their skin would look like up close. Would their skin be scaly like a fish? Or more rubbery like a dolphin? Or how about a waterlogged human? I wanted to laugh, but knew I would use more air than I could afford to lose.

Laying there watching them, I finally drifted asleep from the lack of oxygen, dreaming about the beautiful people I had seen under the sea. But that wasn't the only thing I would dream about, as some of my last imagines were of the last day spent with my lover, Jonas Adaria, an Adonis I had only wished for in dreams. If nothing else, at least my final thoughts were filled with beautiful imagines of wondrous things only imagined, and even some fulfilled wishes as Jonas had been a girl's wildest dream.

I just couldn't believe my luck. Jonas, the man, I had pursued for months had become my lover with a deep kiss and the clasp of my palm. Even now, I could remember just what happened as it would be forever etched in my brain.

The day had dawned bright and clear as many Caribbean days. But this one was special and I knew it. No matter just how much he had protested, I knew he was the man for me and I pursued him from the moment I saw him. He was smart and knew his way around a small submersible. What more could a woman ask for? He had no problem standing up to me when he felt I was wrong, or up for me when I needed defending.

And defending was something I seemed to need more often than not recently. But then again, who wouldn't if they were determined to find the lost continent of Atlantis? Then again, maybe it had been just a city as many of the new theories proclaimed. At any rate, I would be the one to fully realize the dream. I was so close, I could taste it.

Still, today was not the day for lovers, it was the day for exploration. I should have known something was up when he arrived bright and early that morning, bearing gifts.

"Hey, sleepyhead, wake up."

The fresh aroma of coffee filled the air and it was followed by a gentle nuzzle at my neck. I sighed and leaned into the gentle kisses as my crotch ached to be touched. Jonas couldn't come into a room without me becoming aroused. In some ways, it was very much a nuisance while in others it made me remember the promise of pleasures to come.

This morning was no different except I had had another agenda in mind for the day. This time he wouldn't dissuade me from achieving my goal. I'd just do it after the lovemaking, I suddenly decided. I stretched and put my arms around his neck, pulling him closer to me. I could feel the bulge in his shorts getting bigger. It didn't take much to turn on my big boy. Pulling him away from my neck, I nipped at his bottom lip.

"So that's how we're going to play it today," he growled and nipped me right back.

"And just how is that?" I whispered, my breath coming out slightly faster than intended. A girl didn't need to appear too anxious, no matter who the lover might be.

Jonas Adaria was a glorious lover, the best I'd ever had and I have never been one to turn down a little nookey in the morning. The man was a virtual G.o.d, with golden blond hair, turquoise blue eyes, and muscles in all the right places. He reminded me of the perpetual surfer boy who had always been the man of my dreams. He was especially the one who would matter more than most to me in a few minutes time, I thought, and smiled to myself.

He'd shown up on my doorstep one day about two years ago and just didn't leave. At first, all I wanted to do was shake him because I felt he was like every other person who swore they wanted to look for Atlantis. I didn't need another soothsayer, as most were not serious researchers and were downright nuts when you started digging into their past. But Jonas, now he was different, as he didn't give up, and hounded me again and again until I gave in, because at first I just wanted to shut him up.

But every day we worked together, I became more and more aware of him s.e.xually. I wanted him more than I had ever wanted anyone else. At first, he resisted my feeble attempts at flirting, but eventually he started responding, until I finally enticed him into my bed. And it had been magic. There was no other way to describe it. It was the best s.e.x I had ever had in my life and I was determined to get as much as I could for as long as I could. If I had my way, it would be forever, but just not now.

It wasn't long after the first time I offered him a key to my home, and we'd been together every night since. Sometimes, he would disappear between midnight and dawn, to where I'd never know. He'd always show up during the next day, usually in the afternoon. I never got around to asking where he'd been during that time, as it never seemed to matter much.

And this morning was no different. This morning all I wanted was the extreme pleasure this man would be giving me. Reaching between our bodies, I rubbed his c.o.c.k through his shorts, enjoying the feel of the growing organ.

"Not today. I get to have my way with you first."

He pushed me back none to gently and pushed my t-shirt out of the way. He leaned down and his lips clasped my nipple, sucking until it until it throbbed. I arched my body, moaning in pleasure, each tug on my nipple giving a corresponding tug in my crotch. Rubbing his teeth over the sensitive skin, he flicked it with his tongue as his fingers moved to my other breast. Moving further down my body, he laved my belly b.u.t.ton as he continued his downward journey. His hands ma.s.saged my b.r.e.a.s.t.s, tweaking the nipples to the point where I could almost feel an electrical jolt in my c.l.i.t. It was almost unnerving in itself.

"Jonas, please-please..." I began.

"Please what?" he murmured. "I'm not going to kiss you until I've had my share. I have another meal I want more than your lips."

This was not going my way at all. I wanted to convince him I needed him with me in the sub later today. Unless I could get the upper hand, I would never convince him to come with me. h.e.l.l, at this point I would never convince my own body that I needed to take another approach. Groaning, I arched even more into his mouth.

"Good...good...I want you to feel everything. I'm going to f.u.c.k you better than ever before."

I loved it when he talked dirty. I loved it even more when he acted out what he whispered he would do to me. "Better?" I questioned, breathless. "How can you get even better than you've been before? I think you're fantastic as it is." I could feel his chuckle on my abdomen.

"I love loving you," he murmured and continued his a.s.sault on my senses.

I only hoped I would remember to address the love comment later. Pulling me closer to the edge of the bed, he pushed my legs apart. Pausing what seemed a lifetime, he rubbed his thumb around my hard c.l.i.t as the sensations poured through my body. Moaning, I grabbed his head and ran my fingers through his hair. He has such wonderful hair, I thought, my mind adrift on a sensual haze.

Soon, his tongue replaced his thumb and he licked me slowly. Putting his mouth around my c.l.i.t, he sucked me gently before rubbing me further with his tongue. It was almost more than I could bear, but bear it I would, because it always got better. Pulling back, he again stroked me with his thumb.

"We're going to do everything today, baby."

"Everything?" I knew what everything was and I still wasn't quite sure I was ready for this.

"Everything. Now just enjoy what I'm doing to you. Everything else will take care of itself."

Lifting my legs, he put them over his shoulders and continued to lick my c.l.i.t. Pulling back slowly, he nuzzled me top to bottom bringing me up a notch on the pleasure scale. Sucking on my c.l.i.t again, he plunged his fingers into me, stroking my inner body, bringing me closer to fulfillment. Dragging moisture from my body, he lovingly ma.s.saged the liquid into my backside. The pleasure it brought me was shockingly sinful and unrelenting as he caressed my body with mouth and hands.

"I just can't believe what you do to me...what I allow you to do to me..." I sighed and bit my finger. I had never been a screamer, but Jonas almost made one as I could barely keep it all in.

"Let loose, Lindsay, you're always so...controlled," he said quietly.

I knew he was correct. It was rare when I lost control. I couldn't allow myself the luxury as there were people who hung on my every word, wishing I would make a mistake. When one was out of control, you made mistakes all the time. True, one's personal life should always have moments where you were out of control. I just hadn't learned to separate the personal from the professional yet.

I decided to let my body do the talking as I moaned in response, moving under his expert touch. Jonas's fingers slid in and out of my body eliciting a deeper, fuller response from my already taut body. He brought me closer, closer... "Jonas...please..." I could see through lowered eyelids that he stopped and looked up at me.

"Please what, Lindsay? What do you want? You're going to have to tell me this time. Do you want me to touch you more like this...or how about this?"

His fingers stopped their fast movements and began a slow, sensual onslaught on the most sensitive parts of my body. "Yes, yes...I want...I want it all," I finally managed to get out. Laving my body with his tongue, he bit softly on my c.l.i.t and I went tumbling over the edge as my body clenched with one of the best o.r.g.a.s.ms I had ever felt. Moving up my body, Jonas kissed me all the way up and took my mouth in a forceful kiss.

"Now it's your turn to touch me," he whispered.

I tried to calm my breathing because there was only one thing I loved more than Jonas's touch on my body, and that was exploring his. I smiled slowly and flipped us over, so I hovered over him. Pinching his nipples, I slid down his body, kissing him on the way down. Lying beside him, I gripped his p.e.n.i.s in my hand, still awed that my hand couldn't fit around the hard shaft.

Lowering my head, I pulled the purple mushroom head into my mouth, my tongue brushing under the rim. I could tell by his moaning I gave him as much pleasure as he had given me. I lightly grabbed his b.a.l.l.s and squeezed. His hips pushed his d.i.c.k further down my throat. I sucked and stroked him for a few more minutes.

"Baby, that feels so good...grip me with your hand, a little tighter...a little harder."

My touch lingered on him a little longer before I pulled myself up and away from him. Crawling up his body, I smiled wickedly. Straddling him, I slowly lowered myself on him, loving the feel of his hard d.i.c.k stretching my body to capacity, sliding down to embed him fully in my tight sheath. Nothing in my life would ever feel as good as this.

Slowly moving up and down, I felt every push and shove as Jonas slid in and out of me. His d.i.c.k reached deep inside and rubbed me, so I became a quivering ma.s.s of pleasure, aching to be pressed just a little higher, so I could fall into the abyss yet another time. Grabbing my waist, Jonas pulled me from his body.

"I told you, baby, that I wanted everything today."

I gasped. Yes, he had said many times what everything was, but I wasn't sure I was ready for it. "Jonas...I'm not sure..." I murmured. "I've never-"

"It'll be okay, baby, I know how to do it right."

I swallowed hard as he pushed me to my knees. His hands rubbed my body and he leaned over to reach inside my bedside table, pulling a bottle of lubricant from the drawer. I gasped as I felt the cool liquid slide between my b.u.t.t cheeks. Taking his hand, he spread the lube from top to bottom paying special attention to my c.l.i.t for a few moments.

Slowly, he entered my v.a.g.i.n.a and pumped into me a few times, leaning over and rubbing my c.l.i.t still more. Soon, I quivered as my body strained toward total satisfaction. Placing his hand over my a.s.s, Jonas pushed his thumb into my tight rosette and I almost came undone. I never would have thought my a.s.s could make me feel that way. My rapid intake of breath ended up a moan as he continued to caress and stroke my body in ways I had never thought about before. Eventually, he pulled out of me and I felt the head of his p.e.n.i.s at my a.n.u.s.

"You know I'd never hurt you."

I grunted a response, lost in the moment, the sensations coming in faster and faster waves. Pushing past my tight a.n.a.l ring, I felt the head of his p.e.n.i.s pop through the barrier. I stayed still as the quick stab of pain subsided much faster than antic.i.p.ated. Jonas did the same, but he continued to rub my c.l.i.t until I all but forgot the slight pain when he had first penetrated me.

"Baby, you are so tight," he moaned.

Unhurried, he continued to press into me until he was completely inside me. Feelings came rushing toward me as he pressed my c.l.i.t harder, pinching it in a slow dance, making my perception even more acute as he moved inside me. Then suddenly, quite unexpectedly, it was so intense, like being in s.p.a.ce with all the stars around me as I shot to the highest high I had ever felt. There was no pain, nothing but hot flames, like a nova, building ever higher. I burst through all emotion as Jonas continued to hammer into me, slow then fast, driving my desire even hotter, if possible.

His strokes became longer and deeper, his breath came in shorter gasps. "I can't hold off any longer. Please come with me."

Breathing hard, I did my best to answer. "I'll...try..."

One hard shove, a pinch and I went over that edge, into the deep abyss of total completion.

My head screamed at me, I wanted nothing more than to make the two very loud voices quit arguing so close to me. Willing my eyes to open, I found myself in a room with walls, which looked like the inside of an abalone sh.e.l.l. Swallowing, I tried hard not to, but instead found myself groaning, not too loudly, but loud enough that I drew the attention of the owners of the voices.

"Hi," I whispered hoa.r.s.ely. "Could I get some water please?" I could barely keep my eyes open, but I still found myself staring at two of the most beautiful creatures I had ever seen in my life. The woman had reddish blonde hair that reached to her hips. It was wavy and thick and, even though I was a woman, I found myself wanting to touch it to see if it felt like I imagined. Her eyes were like a turquoise pool anyone would want to jump into. Her body was incredibly seductive and desirable, its pull even palpable to my totally female tastes.

The man was incredibly familiar and I couldn't believe my eyes. There standing before me was my lover of six months. "Jonas?"

"Lindsay."

He just stood there. No explanation, no anything. "What's going on?" I tried to struggle to a sitting position when he rushed by my side.

"You shouldn't do that without help. Here."

He propped me up against the wall, pushing what I a.s.sumed was a pillow behind me. All I could do was sit there and stare, trying my best not to clutch my head. This man had been on my Atlantis team from the very beginning. What did he have to do with this? "I was dying," I whispered, looking up at him. His hand slid over mine and suddenly I felt all warm, cozy and loved. Trying to shake off feelings I didn't even understand, and it took a great effort on my part, I pulled my hand from his. "I don't understand. But I have a feeling you do."

He shook his head. "I can't explain. At least not yet. You need to rest and acclimatize to our world. Once you do, we can talk more."

I looked from his very handsome face to the woman still standing in the room and had the thought flash through my mind I must look terrible. "I don't understand," I repeated like some foolish doll.

"I tell you, Jonas, you have put us all in grave danger by bringing this woman here."

She looked furiously first at me then at Jonas.

"Maleka, please be quiet."

He glanced at her quickly and back to me. I had seen that look of frustration more than once.

Crossing her arms, she impatiently stamped her foot. "I am not some stupid topsider woman. I am Atlantean and smarter than she'll ever be."

"Maleka, the council discussed this over and over. Their decision was final. Do you dare defy them?" He turned and looked at her for a few moments.

I don't know what unspoken note had been exchanged between them, but something obviously did as the woman called Maleka seemed to back down. Swallowing hard again, my throat felt drier than ever. "Please, Jonas, I need something to drink."

"Maleka, could you please get our guest some water?"

I watched as the woman stomped out of the room. "Geez, that was pleasant," I muttered.

"She can be very negative when she wants, but most of the time, she is a wonderful woman."

I watched him watch her receding back. "You care for her deeply."

"I should. She's my mate."

"You're married?" The fleeting thoughts of a very satisfying afternoon crossed my mind. d.a.m.n, I thought, what had I done.

"It's not what you think, Lindsay."

"How the h.e.l.l do you know what I think, Jonas? You're certainly not the person I thought you were." I just sat there and glared at him, arms crossed.

Sighing, he rubbed his head. "In our society, it is prudent to take more than one mate. We must maximize our potential for creating children. There aren't many Atlanteans left and most of those are from the royal houses. There are actually three of us in our mate unit, myself, Maleka and Bruin."

"Two guys and a girl?" Now my thoughts were really racing. Heavens, just where had I landed? Not that I was opposed to a multi-partnered lifestyle, I just wanted to be the one who made the choice. "Jonas, just what is going on?" I demanded.

Jonas came to us a couple of years ago through some close colleagues of mine with an impeccable resume. The man knew more about Atlantis than any one I had ever met. I would have been a fool not to s.n.a.t.c.h him up right away. So s.n.a.t.c.h him I did and I hadn't been sorry in regards with his work. h.e.l.l, I hadn't been sorry in regards to the s.e.x either.

I frowned more to myself than anyone else. I hated the thought of sharing someone without my consent and I definitely hated it more when I had been sharing him with his wife-or mate-or whatever it was here. I had rather fancied Jonas when it came right down to it, with his surfer boy good looks and hard muscular body. I was fooling myself if I didn't admit I more than fancied him. On more than one occasion I found myself doing everything I could to have an excuse to rub my body against his. There had been a few times when my l.u.s.t had been fulfilled. But there was more than my libido at stake here. I intensely disliked men who cheated on their wives. My father had done that to my mother and she had never recovered. I would not become a family statistic.

Now I knew exactly why he had been steering us away from this area for weeks. There was something here he didn't want us to find. "It all makes sense now." Disappointment filtered across his face.

"I'm sorry you ended up here but I just couldn't let you die."

"How very n.o.ble of you. And all those times when we had s.e.x, were you being n.o.ble then, too? What about your wife, or mate, or whatever you call her?" I knew my bias and sarcasm came through loud and clear.

"Making love to you was a wonderful experience and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. It is every Atlantean's duty to take every chance they can to procreate. Our mates each take our duty very seriously and we all have the opportunity to bring other members into our mate unit."

My heart thumped rapidly in my chest, my crotch clenching in antic.i.p.ation. I tried hard to force down the surge of s.e.xual awareness. I needed to know more about what would happen to me before I decided about Jonas. "Sorry, buster, no chance for procreation there. But whatever. I want to know where here is. And before you snag a girl for your family unit, you need to make the girl aware of the fact she's going to have to share."

"You know where here is, Lindsay, so there's no reason in playing dumb. I don't care about what Maleka said, but next to her, you are the smartest woman I know. And I'm really sorry I couldn't explain everything to you before, but I was actually doing what I thought best by seducing you slowly. Now we have even a bigger problem."

I licked my parched lips and sighed. "What's that?"

"Lindsay, the council has ruled you are to live but we now have the problem of figuring out what we are going to do with you. If you don't agree to become part of our family mate unit, your options will be limited."

I pushed myself away from the wall. "What do you mean?"

Sighing, Jonas took my hand and sat in the chair beside the bed. "You realize you will never go to the surface again. You will never see your home again. You will never again work for the inst.i.tute. Your life as you knew it is over."

He smiled sadly and reached for my hand. My heart pounded in my chest and this time it wasn't because of s.e.xual tension. "Why?"

"A variety of reasons. First, if we let you go, you'll tell everyone and they will try to find us and it would be a disaster for the world above and our world. Second, we can't let you know just how we travel from our world to your world. I mean not the specifics because you'll probably figure it out the moment you can study it. Even if you never told anyone, there are those in your world who would torture the information out of you if they thought they could. Everyone would want the knowledge and it just isn't possible to share what we know with the rest of the universe. Your world and people are much too young a species to entrust this type of powerful information to at the moment. Maybe in time, but for now there are only a few people in your world we would even consider bestowing this honor on and you were but one of a handful. We know what can happen when we try to interconnect the two worlds."