Chapter 6
Lena
Stumbling over rocks in the dark, my flashlight bounces erratically, sending owls and small critters skittering into the dark. It should deter me and send me back to my room, but my curiosity is in overdrive, and I can’t stop, can’t let myself think about this too hard, or I will chicken out.
Looping around the back to the only other entrance we’ve found so far, I stand there, uncertain.
I have no memory of how I got out of the cave once I fell, and have no idea how to get back in.
And you’re going alone, you moron. “That’s not helpful,” I whisper to myself.
My anxiety grows, growling in my stomach, stalking its way up my spine and into the follicles of my hair, causing it to stand on end.
I should leave, just leave, and go back and pretend like this never happened.
I hesitate and then turn my feet back toward the forest when I see it, the flashes of neon blue light just lurking underneath the surface of the pool in this entrance.
The scientist in me can’t help it; she’s curious and needs a closer look.
This area is smaller, with a pool no bigger in diameter than a kiddie pool, but the neon light is reflected deep into the ground, showing a rock formation that funnels into the earth like a crooked ice cream cone.
All along the walls are rivulets and drips of water, sending soothing echoes into my ears.
I feel my shoulders relax, the tension in my neck ease.
I start to feel around the craggy rock, looking for any type of entrance.
Once I make my way all around it, shining my flashlight up and down the tightened sick feeling comes back into my belly.
I stand by the pool, the light has gotten more intense as I’ve been working my way around the walls, as though the water is trying to help me to see.
Memories flash back to me, Nahuél explaining that it was the water as well that healed me.
Bending down by the edge of the pool, I just dip the ends of my fingertips into the warm water, once again surprised that it's not freezing cold.
“How do I get back to him?” I whisper. “Help me.”
A second feels like an eternity, but nothing happens. Heaving a sigh, I stand up and immediately step on a rock that I don’t remember being there, losing my balance and scraping the meat of my right palm against the wall.
“Shit!” I catch myself on the wall and look at my hand, drops of blood oozing out of the same place where I scraped it yesterday.
“You’ve got to be kidding me-” And then it happens, the silver glow of the far rock wall appears in a crevasse that definitely was not there moments ago when I examined that same wall.
I look at the water, my hand, the wall, and back to my hand again, putting all the pieces together.
“You sassy minx,” I say to the water. Small burbles escape from the bottom, causing a laughing sound to bounce around my head. “Blood offerings, totally normal.”
Stepping carefully around the pool, I reach the crevasse, holding my arm out in front of me, squinting into the glow. “Here goes nothing.”
Opening my eyes is impossible, and I would probably go blind if I did, so the only feeling I have to go on is what is happening to my body.
It feels like I stepped on one of those airport walking pads while also being drenched in an icy waterfall.
My breath is caught in my throat, the speeding sensation twisting my stomach into knots, when finally I’m pushed forcefully and land with a flump in complete darkness.
I reach for my flashlight and realize it's missing. Great.
The familiar damp, condensation tickles my nose, the pressure of the air pressing on my body.
My heart pumps wildly against my throat now that I’m here, and now I’m second-guessing everything.
Any moment now, I might see him again, this time not through a haze of pain, the thought equal parts terrifying and intriguing.
“Nahuél? Are you here? It’s Lena.” Even though I murmur these words, the cave amplifies and stretches the sounds out, the walls reverberating with them.
I feel bad disturbing the peace, so I scoot forward on my knees, too scared to stand up.
If I can just find the edge of the pool, I’ll be able to orient myself, and maybe get the water to glow a bit for me.
Scooching forward bit by bit, I stop abruptly when a small splashing noise reaches my ears, like a small fish jumping out of water.
“Nahuél?” I breathe. His name sends tingles down my legs. I want to see him again. To make sure he’s real. To talk to him. And, if I’m being honest with myself, to see if I can touch him.
Suddenly, my whole arm slips off, plunging into the pool. I nearly fall before catching my balance. The water is much warmer here. I sit by the pool and take off my shoes, pants, and sweatshirt, revealing a bathing suit. My feet find the water, and I slip myself in slowly.
“Nahuél, I came to see you again.” I pause. Be honest. “I needed to see you again.”
Splash. The sound comes from the other side of the pool, small waves crest against my chest, causing my pulse to thud in my neck.
A tiny glow within the water starts at the deepest section at the bottom, and I scramble back to the rocks at the ledge, vertigo threatening to tip me over right into the depths.
I’m a strong swimmer in ideal conditions, but this is far from ideal.
This pool seems to be bottomless, and I wonder if it connects to every pool within the cave system.
Right as that thought pops into my head, I see him, far below, emerging from under a rock formation. I follow his silvery form as his massive body cuts easily through the water toward me. My breath catches as the top of his head crests just in front of me, hands braced on either side of me.
His silver eyes gaze down at me with a soft curiosity, and before I can think, my hand reaches out to touch his chest. His skin is slightly rough, but so deliciously taut over the corded muscles.
My hands seem so small in comparison to his form, and my other hand joins in, brushing over the ridges and bulges of this beast of a man hovering over me.
What are you doing?! My brain interrupts my worship, and I snatch my hands back just as a hot flush floods my face.
“I’m sorry, I should have asked if that was okay,” I say breathlessly.
He makes me feel small and dainty, which is entirely new for me.
Most guys aren’t taller than me, and if they are, they act like entitled douches, and if a man is shorter than me, they will try to get me to be smaller around them. In the end, I can’t win.
Instead of answering, he pulls my hand into his, pressing my palm flat against his chest. I can feel his heart thundering against it; the thought gives me a thrill that he is just as excited for me to be here as I am.
The ridges of his ribs meet the pads of my fingertips, and I feel the hard muscles of his abs hidden under the soft layer of his belly.
Hard, but soft. I bite my lip at this because it’s appealing and I don’t know why.
“You came back.”
I pause the exploration of his expansive torso. “Yes.”
“You make me stronger.”
“Why?” My brows draw together, not understanding what he is trying to say.
“You said you needed me.”
“Yes…” I draw it out, still not understanding.
“You need to speak with me.”
“Yes, I wanted to come back, to speak with you.” And touch you, and fantasize about you.
“Your worship makes me strong.” His eyes are locked onto mine.
Pressing my lips together, I suppress a laugh. “My…worship. You’re going to need to explain this a little more.” But the back of my mind is laughing at me, because if he let me, I would worship this big, beautiful body of his.
“I am a god. Being worshipped gives us the power to heal and answer prayers.” He pauses, looking off into the distance, a sad look drawing his sharp features down. “It has been centuries since anyone has visited me. Or thought of me. My powers weakened, and now I cannot leave.”
It’s a gut punch to my chest at the thought of him trapped down here alone, waiting for someone, anyone, to bring him an offering, to need him for a prayer. Smoothing his long hair away from his bulging shoulders, I bring his attention back to me with my touch.
“What are you the god of?” I hope that my question wasn’t going to cause him even more sadness.
“Rivers, underground water systems, caves.” He picks up a handful of water from the pool, letting it filter through his fingers. The water shines happily in his hand, and I can almost hear a giggle. “Not as important or impressive as the god of seas, perhaps.”
I press my lips together, not answering. I don’t want to tell him that even today, most people learn about the Greek and Roman gods of the sea, and that books are still being written about them. Instead, I decide to focus on what we have in common, and I’m also bursting with questions.
“Well, that’s certainly impressive to me.
” I point at myself. “I’m a hydrogeologist, a scientist. I study underground water systems, groundwater, and its movements.
I’m here working with the city to map this cave system, take samples, and see how it connects to the other rivers nearby.
I know there is a pretty large lake in town, and I’m curious to see if this cave system links into it in some way. ”
The water suddenly glows so bright I fling up a hand to block its light. Nahuél chuckles, patting the top of the water’s surface as though it were a pet dog.
He smiles at me, a deliciously crooked smile revealing deep dimples on either side of those plush lips. I have to look away because just looking at his lips is making heat pool in my center, and flashing reminder of what I know his mouth is capable of.
“They are all connected, as you say.” He takes my hand in his, tracing the back of it, sending chills up my arms and goosebumps along with it.
“But humans will not be able to enter those areas; they are closed off to anyone but me and the water. I’m its guardian, after all, even all these years later. ” He wears a rueful smile.
“I’d like to see it.” It comes out in a rush. Because I would do anything to see this magical system.
He stills, eyeing me. “There is a cost for such a request.” As if in slow motion, he reaches for me, tracing the outline of my jaw, my lips, sending sparks down my neck.
My eyes close automatically at his touch, marveling at how it can feel familiar and comfortable already.
He pulls me to his chest, pressing himself in between my legs, wrapping me around his wide middle, an arm hooked around my back, holding me in place.
And then, oh, his lips, those pillowy lips drag along my cheek before plunging into my mouth, making me moan. I feel the pad of his thumb against my chin as he opens my mouth for him. My bones melt, I’m helpless against him as he suckles my lips.
We break apart, both of our chests heaving with the heat of our kiss.
“I dreamed you would come back to me. I dreamed of this mouth, these lips, this body.” His words are hot against my throat.
He presses himself to me, the hard ridge of his cock locked against my now-swollen clit.
I yearn to rub myself along his length, but before I can move, we plunge into the water below.
My brain has no time to scream about lack of oxygen because the next second, we emerge together in a cave lit by what can only be described as a crystalline heaven.
We are in yet another pool, the water throwing its ethereal light to bounce off the domed rock walls full of selenite blades that resemble light itself, delicate aragonite star clusters, and vein upon vein of quartz glittering at every turn.
As I spin in place, mouth open in awe, I realize that Nahuél has eyes for only me, his pure joy evident.
“I don’t have words. This is…beyond what I thought I would see.” I murmur. “Thank you for sharing this with me.”
I can see the pride blooming in his chest, magic whispering around us as we watch the light bend and reflect.