Rachel arched her eyebrows, and they grinned at each other. Then Etienne shook his head and they both said, "Nah."
"Ah, well. Guess impressing you with my romantic nature is out of the question," he said good-naturedly. Pushing the strawberries and basket aside, he added, "Guess my sexual prowess will have to be enough." Rachel burst out laughing.
Etienne dropped to lay on top of her and covered her open mouth with his. Her laughter soon turned to moans of pleasure. Then Rachel shifted, and she managed to turn him onto his back. The only reason she managed was that she took him by surprise. Unwilling to give up the advantage, she quickly climbed on top of him. Bracing her hands on his chest, she grinned down at his startled expression. "You don't have a problem with me being on top, do you?"
His surprise slowly gave way to passion. He shook his head. "But now that you're there, what do you plan to do?"
Rachel considered then suggested, "Ride you like a wild pony?"
Etienne's eyes widened incredulously. Giving a howl of mirth, he flipped her onto her back, caught her hands, and raised them over her head, holding them both there with one of his own. Arching one eyebrow at her wickedly he said, "I should have brought my handcuffs."
"Handcuffs?" Rachel squealed. "That sounds kinky."
"Hmm." Etienne dropped his head to catch her nipple in his mouth, and suckled delicately. Lifting his head, he informed her, "In a hundred years or so, when we get tired of straight sex, you'll appreciate my kinkiness."
Rachel shook her head, amused. Sighing as he bent his head to her breast again, she watched him lave her nipple with his tongue then nip lightly at it. Arching, moaning, and squirming as he did, suddenly his words registered in her mind. In a hundred years or so, when we get tired of straight sex, you'll appreciate my kinkiness.
Did he really mean that? Did he expect her to be in his life in a hundred years? Was this more than an affair? They hadn't been together long, and she knew it was too soon to ask his intentions--if there ever really was an appropriate moment in this day and age for such--but the thought nagged at her. Where were they headed? What was she to him besides the woman who had saved his life and whom he had saved, the woman his cousin had tricked him into sleeping with.
"What am I doing wrong?"
Rachel jerked back and met Etienne's gaze with confusion. "What?"
"Your mind is closed to me," he explained quietly. "Which means you aren't excited. I'm doing something wrong. What is it?"
Rachel managed a smile and shook her head. "Nothing. I was just thinking."
Before he could ask what about, she lifted her head and claimed his lips. She had no desire to let him know what she had been thinking. If he had intentions or hopes for their future, she didn't want to put him in a spot where he felt he had to announce them before he was ready. And if he didn't have any intentions, she'd really rather not spoil this by knowing. Life held no guarantees, even for vampires, it seemed.
They frolicked and made love on the beach until well past midnight, then decided to head home to feed. Etienne's home, Rachel corrected herself as she picked up the blanket and folded it. Etienne rinsed out the bowl and two champagne glasses at the shoreline. They had eaten the strawberries and every last drop of chocolate, at a couple of points using each other's bodies for plates. Then Etienne had produced champagne and two glasses. Rachel had been curious to know how the drink would affect her now that she was a vampire. She had never been much of a drinker; two drinks had always been enough to put her under the table. As it turned out, making love on the beach was a thirsty business, and she had managed to put away half the bottle Etienne produced without much effect.
Etienne finished replacing everything in the basket, picked it up, then straightened and held out his hand. "Let me take that."
Rachel handed over the blanket and watched him lay it atop the basket under the handles. She placed her hand in his when he held it out again, and they started up the beach toward the parking lot.
The path was narrow and they had to walk single file. Since he knew the way better, Rachel stepped behind Etienne, allowing him to take the lead. They were several feet onto the wooded trail when he stopped, turned sideways, and whispered, "Look."
Rachel stepped to his side and peered where he was pointing, then sucked in a breath. The air was full of brightly shining miniature lights.
"What are they?"
"Fireflies."
"Fireflies?" she asked with disbelief. She shook her head. These weren't like any she'd seen before. They were much brighter, like tiny stars, really. She couldn't believe these brilliant lights were insects. Etienne apparently recognized her incredulity.
"Your eyesight is different," he explained. They'll appear a little different now than before the change."
"Oh." Her gaze locked on the tiny lights. Rachel was so enthralled, she hardly noticed Etienne slipping his hand around hers to clasp it. He tugged her gently sideways to lean into him, and they simply watched in silence for several moments. At last Rachel sighed and said, "It's beautiful."
"Yes," Etienne agreed. He gave her hand a squeeze and bent to press a kiss to her forehead.
Rachel glanced up at him with surprise, but he was already looking back at the fireflies. She stared at him silently, wondering what he'd meant. He had kissed her in passion, made love to her even, but this kiss had felt different. It had been affectionate, perhaps even a loving caress. It was the first sign that he might feel something besides desire for her, and she found herself cherishing the idea. Her own feelings were confused and slightly muddled, but she knew they went beyond desire. Rachel liked Etienne Argeneau. She also respected and was learning to trust him. She was starting to think things could get serious, at least on her part. But she wasn't sure what his feelings were on the matter, and frankly, that left her nervous.
"We should go," Etienne murmured. "The sun will be making an appearance soon, and I didn't bring any blood."
Rachel nodded and straightened, then fell into step behind him. They continued along the wooded path. This time she didn't even bother to try not to stare at his behind as they walked. The man had a butt you could bounce coins off.
Chapter Twelve