Chapter 254 - Move the stars for you pt 2 (1/2)

Every part of Jos's body was alive with d.e.s.i.r.e as Arei led her away from the window and toward the bed. The monitor beeped in rhythm with her wildly beating heart. She couldn't stop thinking about what it would be like if he really did bend her over the window seat, what would it be like to watch his reflection as he drove hard into her... What would his handsome face look like with all that well place control shoved to the side for just one night? Her eyes widened as he guided her hands to the buttons of his shirt. His eyes twinkled down at her with a fire she'd not seen in them since that first encounter in Florida.

Arei stroked the backs of her hands lightly as her trembling fingers worked the buttons. ”You have absolutely nothing to be nervous about, kitten.” He whispered huskily.

Jos gave an awkward nod as her eyes darted from his back down to the tattooed flesh that she was uncovering. She'd seen him topless countless times but for some reason, this time seemed different. When she got to the last of the buttons of his tucked shirt, she stepped back, the bed coming into contact with the back of her b.a.r.e t.h.i.g.hs. ”Do... do you want me to...” Her eyes trailed down to the belt of his tight pants.

Arei smiled down at her. ”Only if you want to.” He brushed his fingers down her arms and over the backs of her hands teasingly as she bit into her lip while considering her options.

She shook her head as she lowered to the bed not taking her eyes off the belt. ”I'm not good at working complicated men's accessories and clothing... I don't have a lot of experience with them... accessories that is...”

The corner of one side of his lip lifted higher. ”It's not too much different than the complicated things you women wear.” His eyes stayed trained on her as he worked the latches of the belt and pulled it free of the pant rings slowly causing a slight pop as it freed. He then began unbuttoning and unzipping his pants, biting his lip seductively as her eyes moved in nervous fascination back up to his face. He finished undoing the final buttons of the dress shirt and tugged it off his arms and tossed it to the bed beside her. He then lowered to the floor in a crouch as he slowly glided his pants down. Once they were free of his feet, he positioned his hands on either side of Jos's t.h.i.g.hs and pushed up letting his body brush against her legs as he went until he could reach her lips with his. He gave her a teasing kiss as he retrieved his shorts and lowered back to a crouch to step into them. His manhood stood proudly on display as he stood, tugging the trunks up as he did so.

The monitor began beeping loudly and rapidly. Jos's cheeks flared fire engine red as she forced her wide eyes away from his formidable shaft. ”My gods, Arei! You've made your point!” She hid the monitor behind her back and held her other hand up shielding her eyes... or rather make sure she didn't give him the satisfaction of seeing exactly how unnerved he was making her.

Arei chuckled as he tied the drawstrings and took one of her extended hands. ”My only point is if you were truly ready to take things to a more physical level, you wouldn't have turned away.”

Jos's eyes widened indignantly as she flung her free hand into the air. ”What difference would it have made if I hadn't?! You would still be you, and I'd still be left getting myself off in the bathtub later tonight!”

It was Arei's turn to stare at her in shock. He flickered his eyes open and closed a few times as he shook his head and a mischievous smile spread across his lips. ”Well if that doesn't paint a beautiful picture... maybe I should tease you more often if that's the outcome.”

She pulled her hand away from him and crossed her arms under her c.h.e.s.t. ”You think you're soooo charming...” She narrowed her eyes, a slight pout curving her lips. ”You are, you know that! And it's annoying as f.u.c.k!”

He busted out into laughter as he bent to retrieve the discarded dress shirt. He held it out for her to slip on as he answered. ”It must be to have you using such language. I swear I can count on one hand the times I've heard you say f.u.c.k... even recently...”

She narrowed her eyes as she slid her arms into his enormous and somehow still warm shirt. ”What can I say you frustrate me like no one I've ever met before and thank the gods because I don't think I could handle it from anyone else.”

His eyes twinkled as he smiled playfully down at her. ”And you can handle it from me?” He released his hold on the shirt and brought his hands up to her face, tilting it back slightly so that he could kiss her from over her shoulder. ”I'll take that as a challenge.” He whispered against her lips. He smacked her a.s.s pulling a yelp from her as he moved away. ”Adventure awaits!” He called out from the door as she was still rubbing her b.u.t.t and glaring at him in irritation.

”Challenge accepted indeed, you jerk...” She mumbled as she stomped past him, knowing good and well he'd left at least a faint handprint on her right cheek.

***

Jos's eyes lit up with excitement and wonder as they moved around the older architecture of the room Arei had brought her to. It was hard to determine what was the natural stone of the pre-existing landscape and what had been carved by the creator of this particular room. There was lighting scattered throughout the room in various forms, some came from older flickering gas lamps while others were added LEDs, while the water's own natural light sent a shimmer across each ripple. ”This is amazing...” She said as she quickly tossed his button-up to the side and made her way over to the beautifully carved railing lining the staircase leading into the water's depths. When the waters were hitting her against her upper ribs, she released the rails and fell backward taking in the many details carved into the ceiling and molding of the room. ”I would have never guessed something like this was here.”

Arei lowered himself into the water from the edge instead of taking the stairs and made short work of swimming over to her. ”If you think this is amazing wait until we go below the surface and into the lower levels of the palace. Some of the lower levels were here before Father took over rule of the sea... several portions were brought here from various 'lost cities' and sunken lands.” He nodded to an open area that seemed darker than the rest of the surrounding waters. ”Are you ready?”

Jos nodded in wide-eyed fascination. She followed his lead as he dove into the waters and made his way into the cavernous cutout in the bottom of the beautifully tiled floor. To her surprise, it wasn't as dark as it had seemed from above the waters. Tiny blue lights seemed to be built into the passage before opening up into an otherwise normal-looking corridor. Brightly colored corals of various shapes and sizes lined the walls of the corridors, running up the numerous pillars running its length. Several species of fish schooled around the coral in large groups. She'd nearly missed it when Arei nodded toward another opening. She watched in amazement as he nodded and waved to a beautiful merman as he swam by. Surprised bubbles escaped from her mouth as a curious octopus swam up to her and running a tentacle across her before fl.i.c.k.i.n.g on away. Her eyes shot over to see Arei smiling happily back at her.

It didn't take long before they were resurfacing in an area that, unlike the upper-level pool rooms, were completely open water areas. Her eyes trailed along all the partially submerged furniture. There were books and other various things lining the walls just above the water's surface. There was even a bed that was partially submerged. ”Wow... what is this place exactly?”

Arei followed her eyes around the room. ”This is one of the bedrooms. Chary and Scylla share something remarkably similar when they stay here. Come on.” He said as he guided her back out of the room.

Her eyes darted around the wide-open area as they swam closer. It was some type of common area filled with various residents and guests of the palace. Some seemed to be perfectly content staying in the submerged portion, reclining and relaxing in seating areas... some alone some in smaller groups... while others filled the partially submerged furniture overhead. Arei led her toward a passage that seemed to be well-traveled and immensely popular. There wasn't any signs of coral or barnacles in the area. All the walls and surfaces were as smooth as could be with updated lighting and beautiful artwork lining the walls. {How is that even possible?!} Her surprise only grew as they entered a circular room completely surrounded by books.

Arei took her hand and made his way to the surface of the room. ”Welcome to the Alexandria library. This was a great treasure of my father's when it was first discovered and brought here. It is the sunk library of Alexander the Great. Some of the books found here have no other circulating copies in the world, same with most of the art you'll find here.”