Chapter Five

After the celebration, Zeta thanked everyone and headed to her cottage excited to see Phoenix yet still upset at the thought of him leaving so soon. Hell, she had never wanted anything so much just the thought of him leaving was almost too much to bear. Seeing Tamara on her way out she smiled “You don’t need to worry about coming to my cottage to help me undress.”

Tamara frowned “Oh really and why is that?”

Zeta thought to lie and say one of her sister in laws was going to help but decided against it. “I can handle it, I’d rather be alone.”

Tamara shrugged then walked away, all Zeta knew was she didn’t want Tamara anywhere around her cottage when Phoenix showed up. She figured if she needed help she could always just ask him and that thought sounded rather tantalizing, to say the least. Getting to her cottage she lit a fire and poured two glasses of brandy. Phoenix grabbed a bottle of brandy his father had brought and headed to Zeta’s anxious to see her.

During dinner, while talking to her brothers about his voyage, he realized midway through the conversation that she wouldn’t be there which seemed like a weird thought since they had only just met. While waiting for Phoenix, Zeta checked her reflection for the second time and shook her head. “Stop acting like a fool, he’s just another man, I’m sure he’ll turn out to be just another mollycoddled rich boy just like all of the rest of them.”

Even as she said it, she knew it wasn’t the truth he was different, hearing a knock she nearly fell trying to get to the door and couldn’t help but laugh at herself. When she opened the door she was still laughing, Phoenix smiled “What’s so funny?”

Zeta shrugged “Me I nearly fell on my ass trying to get to the door.” Phoenix had taken off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves his hair was no longer slicked back but was tucked behind his ears. “I hope it’s still all right that I came?”

Zeta stepped back showing him in “Yes of course.”

Phoenix sat the bottle of brandy on the table and took the glass Zeta offered him. “Did you enjoy your birthday celebration?”

Zeta smiled “Yes very much thank you again for your gift.”

Phoenix laughed “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather I got you a big frilly dress? Zeta shook her head “That woman doesn’t know when to quit.” Phoenix sat and Zeta followed sitting on the opposite side of the couch Phoenix laughed “I was rather hoping you might sit next to me.” Zeta smiled as she moved closer “So you’re setting sail in six weeks?” Phoenix’s smile faded a bit “Yeah that’s the plan.”

Zeta nodded “When are you and your father planning on heading back to London?” Phoenix shrugged “Monday, I guess.”

Zeta finished her brandy and got up to grab the other bottle then came back and sat down. Phoenix watched her “So what was wrong at dinner earlier, you said you would tell me?”

Zeta shrugged “To be truthful I guess it was you talking about going away on your voyage. I think it’s great, I really do it’s just there’s a good chance you won‘t return for a really long time and when you do it might not be alone. I know I have only known you a few days but I like you and me liking someone is well rare damn near impossible actually. So when you were talking about your voyage I got a little depressed over the thought of you leaving.”

Phoenix nodded “I can understand that I’ve really come to like you too. Let’s you and I not think about where we will be in six weeks and concentrate on right now?”

Zeta smiled as she stood and walked to the window “It’s getting a little warm in here how do you feel about you and me taking a walk?”

Phoenix stood and followed her stepping in close behind her and resting his hand on her waist as he moved her hair back over her shoulder with the other. Leaning down he placed hot kisses down the column of her neck his breath on her skin made her heart beat quicken as she leaned back into his embrace. His large hands spanned her waist holding her close. “A walk sounds nice.”

Zeta turned in his arms wrapping her arms around his neck while he continued to kiss on her neck and chest. “Being my birthday and all I think we should walk out to the swimming hole.” Phoenix smiled “I haven’t gone swimming in years it sounds fun.” Stepping back Zeta smiled “I sent Tamara away earlier so I’ll need you to help me get out of this dress.” Phoenix laughed “Oh I definitely can help you out of that dress.” Zeta laughed as she walked to her room Phoenix followed “What will you wear?”

Zeta shrugged “Something simple and easy to take off.” Phoenix looked around her bedroom her bed spread was crushed velvet with black, red and purple star-shaped patchwork. “Damn that sounds good.” Zeta smiled as she started to undress turning she smiled over her shoulder “Can you unlace me?”

Phoenix smiled taking his time enjoying their closeness, when he was finished Zeta walked behind her changing screen and stepped out of her dress, then removed her undergarments. Phoenix sat on her bed listening to her as she hummed a happy tune, seeing her chemise being flung over the top of the screen Phoenix laughed “Lucky me you’re not planning on wearing any undergarments.”

Zeta smiled as she slipped a simple black slip of a dress over her head. “Don’t need them where we're going now do I?”

When she walked out Phoenix whistled “My God woman look at you, that dress fits you like a glove and just the knowledge that you’re totally naked underneath is driving me wild.” Zeta smiled biting her bottom lip “Let’s get going you and me alone in my bedroom might not be the best idea.”

Phoenix nodded “Your right any longer in here and I may not let you out.” Zeta walked out “That doesn’t sound so bad, the swimming hole is about a half hour walk best get going.”

Phoenix opened up the door and held out his hand Zeta took it. They walked in silence for a moment then Phoenix chuckled “I’ve never held hands with a woman before today, well not like this at least, it’s strange how comfortable I feel with you.”

Zeta smiled “I’ve never held hands with a man before either, most of the men that I meet are only interested in my dowry and my appearance. Hell, most of the men don’t even get around to talking to me. Most are only looking for a meek wife they can control and make babies with, I actually had one tell me I should only speak when spoken too and that was within the first hour of meeting each other.”

Phoenix shook his head “I want to know who I’m married to, I want to be in love with my wife, I want her to be my best friend, that’s probably why I’m not married yet.” Zeta smiled “Where do you see yourself in a year’s time?”

Phoenix shrugged wearing a far off looking smile, “At sea on an adventure doing something I love. When I sail out, I’m headed to the West Indies; I plan to travel between the islands to get the proper measurements and the details I’ll need to make the map I want to make. In June my cousin Phineas is getting married and has asked me to be his best man, he lives in the Virgin Islands, I promised him I’d do it.” Zeta smiled “I’ve heard the water in the Caribbean is clear blue and the sand is white.”

Phoenix smiled “Where do you see yourself in a years’ time?”

Zeta shrugged “I’d like to say on a grand adventure but I’ll be here like usual, with all my brothers living far away and my father always traveling between the coffee houses. I’m pretty much all alone except for Apollo and Artemis and Hermes of course, the servants avoid me I scare them I guess that’s why I live in my cottage. Lately the only time I have even seen my father is when he’s trying to marry me off to someone and after five minutes with me they can’t get out of here fast enough.” Seeing a cluster of tree’s ahead Zeta smiled “Almost there.”

Phoenix stopped and pulled her close putting his arms around her waist. “It’s strange your father, mother and brothers are all tall with light hair and blue or green eyes and you are dark haired, violet eyed and tiny.” Zeta shrugged “My great-grandmother on my father’s side looked a lot like me; I guess it just missed a few generations.”

When they walked up on the swimming hole Phoenix smiled “This is larger than I imagined.” Zeta walked over to the water’s edge and lifted her dress up over her head then threw her dress on the ground before diving in, surfacing she laughed “It’s freezing.”

Phoenix was still staring in awe “Well honey no one can say your shy now can they?” Zeta laughed “That’s one thing I’ve never been accused of, are you planning on joining me?”

Phoenix took off his boots then his shirt, Zeta watched him eager to see every inch of him his bare chest was wide and toned with crisp black hair sprinkled across it. Zeta swam around in a circle as she waited for him to join her when he was naked she couldn’t help but study him, just the sight of him pulled at her strings of desire. Phoenix jumped in and surfaced directly in front of her lightly grazing his fingers over the soft supple skin of her stomach. “I don’t think you realize how hard it is for me not to touch you and taste you.”

Zeta swam closer wanting him as much as he wanted her. “Do you think it’s possible for you and me to just kiss and hold each other?”

Phoenix reached out and pulled her up close against him breathing heavy as he kissed her neck and whispered into her ear. “Damn honey you feel like heaven pressed against me.”

Zeta leaned back as Phoenix kissed her passionately letting his tongue mate with her own Zeta’s soft moans driving him forward his erection very apparent to Zeta as it pressed into her. Boldly reaching down between them she stroked him sending him into a frenzy of need. Both panting as they broke apart to catch their breath, Phoenix ran his hands over his face as he backed away. “Sorry I want you too much; it’s too much of a temptation.”

Zeta smiled “I’ve never felt passion like that, I’ve never experienced so much desire, I’ve never wanted anything more than I want you right now.” Phoenix ran his hand through his wet hair “Please don’t say that.” Zeta frowned “Why not it’s how I feel?”

Phoenix shook his head “Don’t say it because as it is I’m so tempted by you I can hardly hold myself back and I don’t want to take your innocence, not like this.”

Zeta smiled “It’s not like I’m saving it for anyone else.”

Phoenix sighed “You say that now but when you get married you’ll think differently.” Zeta shrugged “Yeah well I don’t see myself ever getting married, you’re the only man I’ve ever met that I’ve actually liked and got along with. The only man that has anything in common with me and that might actually like me back and trust me I have met a lot of men.”

Phoenix smiled “I really do like you honey, in fact I can’t seem to stop thinking about you, what do you think that means?”

Zeta swam around him wearing a sexy smile “It means I’ve put one of my witches love spells on you.” Phoenix laughed “You never know I’m a Warlock it may be that I put a love spell on you.”

Zeta laughed “Well aren’t we a pair.”

Swimming to the edge Zeta lifted herself out of the water and walked to where her clothes lay, the sexy sway of her hips in the moon light was enough to put Phoenix in a daze of desire. Swimming to the edge he jumped out and walked to his clothes both stealing peaks at each other. When they were dressed Phoenix took Zeta’s hand and they started walking back toward her cottage, neither spoke they just held each other as they walked in the moonlight. When they reached Zeta’s cottage Phoenix stopped her at the door. “I had a great time tonight.”

Zeta bit her bottom lip as she leaned up and kissed him softly “Don’t leave stay with me.” Phoenix sighed “I can’t baby I really want too but I can’t trust myself you’re too much of a temptation.”

Zeta smiled “I need you to stay here with me; I’ve never wanted anything more.” Phoenix stepped back “You really are not making this easy on me.” Zeta shrugged “I’m sorry I can’t believe I’m standing here begging you to make love to me, I guess I should be embarrassed.”

Phoenix grabbed a hold of her and kissed her passionately “You have nothing to be embarrassed about I’ve never been so lucky and even though it kills me to do it I’ve got to walk away.”

Zeta nodded “When will I see you?” Phoenix smiled “Well you don’t attend breakfast so.” Zeta laughed “I will see you at breakfast.”

Phoenix smiled kissing her one last time before heading back to the main house, when he walked in it had to be around two a.m.

Noticing the study light on he peaked in to find his father, Augusto, Devlin and Kent drinking brandy and talking when Webster saw him he smiled “Where have you been all night boy?” Phoenix smiled “With Zeta.”

Devlin frowned “It’s two a.m. what exactly were you two doing?”

Augusto held up his hand “Now Devlin that’s none of your affair.” Devlin huffed “Yes it is damn it that’s my baby sister.”

Phoenix smiled as he leaned against the door “Went on a walk, talked.” Kent frowned “Till two a.m.” Phoenix shrugged “Long walk.”

Webster laughed “Why is your hair wet?”

Phoenix smiled “Went swimming.” Kent scowled “Swimming?”

Turning to Augusto Kent shook his head “Did you hear that pops swimming you damn well know Zeta swims naked.” Devlin frowned at Phoenix “Did you and my sister swim naked together?”

Phoenix nodded “Well we weren’t dressed, so yes we were naked.” Augusto laughed at his sons “Come now boys you know your sister there is not a shy bone in her body, I doubt Phoenix had a choice or any idea what she would do.” Phoenix laughed “That’s for sure.”

Looking at her brothers Phoenix smiled “Don’t worry I was a gentleman not saying I didn’t look but a gentleman all the same.”

Augusto laughed “I’m just glad you two are getting along so well.” Phoenix moved to leave “Well Goodnight I’ll see you tomorrow.”

As soon as he had gone Kent frowned “I don’t like the idea of them swimming naked together but I have to admit they do make a good couple.” Turning to Webster Augusto smiled “You never know maybe they will want to see each other again.”

Webster smiled “Phoenix seems to be rather smitten with her and I’ve never seen him like that so that’s a good sign.” Standing Webster walked to the door “I’m going to head off to bed see you at breakfast.” Augusto smiled “Night Web.”

Phoenix lay in bed wide-awake Zeta asking him to make love to her going over and over in his head, he had never wanted anything so much before, walking away had been the hardest thing he had ever had to do even now he wanted to run back to her but knew he couldn’t, picturing her naked flesh in the moonlight was the last thing that went through his head before falling asleep.”

Zeta lay in bed awake wondering if Phoenix had fallen asleep, she didn’t know what they were going to do the following day all she knew was it may be the last day they would ever have together. What she would give to join him on his adventure to the West Indies, she had never had a connection with a man like she had with him. A future with him was plausible hell in truth she couldn’t imagine a better match for herself.