Page 13 of Derius

He raised his head to look at her. “I told you before I was feeling the first inklings of love that night, which scared the hell out of me. I’m not scared any more, Leonie. I know now the only thing I want and need in this life is you. More than air, more than food or water—if I don’t have you, then I have nothing. I love you too, all the way, no reservations, no takebacks. I’m yours.”

She kissed him, soft and sweet, a promise, not a claiming because she’d already done that. Derius was hers and she was his. “I trust you,” she said, “Which is perhaps equally important for us right now.”

He sat up and took her hand, pulling her from the bed. “Let’s clean up and then go explore our desert island a bit. If the waterfall is as spectacular as Delain promised it might be a good backdrop for round two.”

Willingly she went with him and if the shower became long and complicated it was deeply satisfying and demonstrated yet again how completely right for each other they were.

Chapter Six

“Oh, this is gorgeous,” Leonie said in between deep breaths, as she surveyed the clearing where the promised waterfall frothed and foamed over a relatively small cliff, rainbow-colored waters splashing into a beautiful miniature lake, dotted with clumps of fragrant water lilies. A stream on the far side carried away the overflow. Even knowing it was entirely terraformed and designed to please the IDA guests, she let the beauty of the scene sink in. “I wish the builders had made the trail to get here a bit less challenging though. Can we rest a bit?”

“Of course, whatever, you’d like.” Derius stood surveying the grassy meadow and the lake. He wasn’t winded at all of course. He set down the pack he was carrying for both of them and got a water bottle out for her as she moved closer to the lake. There were nice flat rocks among the reeds and cattails and she sank onto the warm surface with a grateful sigh, accepting the offer of refreshment. A fish jumped suddenly to catch a dragonfly-like insect that had skimmed too close to the water’s surface and she exclaimed in surprise.

“Should have brought a pole—I could have fished for our dinner,” Derius said with a grin. “Who knew the pool was stocked with fish?”

“Delain might not like you cooking his ornamental fish.” Leonie leaned over the water to watch a few fingerlings dart about among the water lily roots. A shiny black turtlelike creature swam by and clambered laboriously onto a rock at the edge of the pond. The whole scene was incredibly peaceful and relaxing.

“For the price people have to pay to spend time on this island the fish should be included,” he replied. “Glad we got it all for free, even if it was just for one day and a night. Pretty unique experience, I’d say.” His attention was caught by something on the far side of the glade and Leonie’s adrenaline spiked, even though they’d been assured there were no dangerous animals or reptiles on the island.

“What is it?” she whispered.

”You have to see this.” He took her elbow and tugged her to her feet, putting his other hand to his lips in a sign for silence.

Puzzled, she crept after him until Derius hunkered down behind a blooming bush and pointed. Following his indication, she checked the area and inhaled sharply. Three large birds were strutting on the grass ahead. Two of them were obviously males, with big, showy tails comprised of vivid green, red and purple feathers with black markings. Rather than fighting, the birds puffed out their chests and sang in bursts of notes that were melodious to her ears. Ostentatiously ignoring both of them, a female hunted through the grass for insects and seeds, gobbling her catches with gusto. She was gray with only small splashes of the colors the males sported.

What happened next took Leonie by surprise as both males made the short flight to get in front of the blasé female, forcing her to take note of them rather than her foraging and the suitors rose as high as they could stand on their pink legs, spread their wings wide, displaying colored panels of feathers, and proceeded to dance. There was no other word for what they were doing, moving in a definite pattern, making chirruping noises, flaring their wings and spreading their astonishing tails.

“Two credits says she picks the one on the left,” Derius whispered. “He has the better moves going on.”

Leonie considered as the ritual continued. “I think she’ll ignore both of them and find herself another mate.”

Surprising both of them, the female moved gracefully to shadow the smaller male, matching her steps and head bobs to his.

“Maybe your candidate was too boastful,” Leonie whispered with a chuckle as the bigger male hopped away a few steps, making sounds of distress. “Too pushy.”

With a final discordant screech the spurned suitor flew away and the new couple ignored him, necks entwined, with the male’s wings covering most of the female’s smaller form. The birds stayed in the pose for a minute or two and then flew away together, out of sight in the trees. Leonie stood up, as her leg muscles were protesting the position she’d taken to watch the courtship. “That was amazing. Really a once in a lifetime experience.”

“Agreed.” Derius walked toward the spot where the dancing had occurred and picked up a long, colorful feather one of the males had dropped in his efforts to win the lady. Holding it he faced Leonie and said, “Maybe I should have done a dance for you.” He hummed a tune that had been playing at the club the previous night and shimmied his hips, waving the feather through the air.

Laughing, she joined him, appropriating the feather and hugging him. “Oh yeah that thing you were doing with your hips would have me riveted. What’s next—will you sing? Or shall we build a nest?”

He caught her close. “I think that’s an excellent idea. Not here though—what about on Ardanna Prime?”

His bluntness took her by surprise. She wasn’t quite ready for the discussion and not here, surrounded by the beauty of nature. If she chose to go with him to his home planet and make a new life together, it wasn’t going to be while she was intoxicated by the scent of the tropical flowers and the romantic atmosphere of the glade. “Can we talk about—I mean really, seriously discuss the situation tonight over dinner?”

“Fair enough. Ready to hike down the backside of the island now?”

She tucked the amazing feather into her hairclip, where it dangled against her cheek. “Tell me hiking downhill is easier. I’m not an outdoor person, or not as much as you are.”

“I prefer the water, the ocean, but this has been pretty today.” He took her hand. “Yes, my lovely, downhill is easier. Or I can carry you.” He swept her into his arms and she giggled in delight.

“Put me down, I can walk, although I appreciate the offer.”

Derius set her on her feet. “Anytime you need a lift let me know. I’ll do anything for you.”

Sincerity rang in his voice and as she followed him to the hiking trail on the other side of the meadow, she thought the decision she had to make regarding her future was becoming easier by the minute.

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