Page 47 of Charmed

“Aaaah!” He came splashing into the sea right next to her. “That wasn’t funny,” he said, spouting out a stream of water and hitting her right in the eye.

“You are wicked,” she said with a giggle, rubbing her eye. With her free hand she scooped up water and threw it at him.

“You have no idea how wicked I can really be.” He grabbed her wrists when she tried to splash him again. They both laughed, and the mood changed from solemn to happy quite quickly. Then he knocked her down on her back, and straddled her in a sexual way, his long, wet hair hanging down around him as he leaned over and kissed her passionately right there on the beach. The waves washed over them, making Persimmon feel so delightfully naughty. It wasn’t a feeling she was accustomed to, having grown up in the convent, but it was one she could get used to very quickly. His hand roamed down her chest and slowly slid over to her breast. He cupped her and gave her a light squeeze. Heat grew in her belly. He continued to kiss her and fondle her and it brought Persimmon to life. Still straddling her, he used his arms to hold himself up, pressing his hardened manhood against her belly, making her squirm beneath him in anticipation. Excitement filled her, and she found herself wanting to make love with this man.

“Mmm,” she cooed, enjoying the intimacy between them. “I love your kisses.”

“So, have you had many to compare them to?” he asked, kissing her once again.

She answered with her eyes closed. “Nay. Just yours.”

“Really?” There was silence that followed and she slowly opened her eyes to see him staring at her with hooded eyes.

“What is it, Stone?” she asked him. “Why did you stop?”

“You’ve never been with a man before?”

“Nay,” she admitted.

“And how old are you?”

“I’m twenty-five. How old are you?”

“Twenty-eight.”

“And you’re not married,” she pointed out.

“Neither am I still a virgin,” he mumbled. “Damn,” he swore under his breath, pushing his wet hair out of his eyes. He got up and pulled her along with him.

“Is it so shocking that I’m still a virgin?”

“It is, where I come from. Most girls are married by the time they are sixteen and have three or more children by their early twenties.”

“It is like that where I come from, too,” she said, wringing the water out of her long, black hair. “However, it was different for me because I grew up in a convent. I am an only child and my mother had me out of wedlock. She told me she had no choice but to put me in a convent so my reputation wouldn’t be sullied like hers.”

“But you’re a witch. Did the nuns know that?”

“They didn’t know or they never would have taken me.”

“So they never saw you use magic?”

“Nay.” She shook her head. “Never. If they had, they probably would have burned me at the stake.”

“If this is true, how can you blame Elric for never visiting you?” He took her hand and also the reins of the horse and they walked.

“Something went on between my parents that really affected them both. However, I could never get a straight answer from either of them what it was. I still don’t know why my father never married Mother.”

“Can’t you ask Elric?”

“Do you see the way he is around me? Especially when my mother is mentioned?” She raised her brows. “I think he’d rather walk through fire than tell me anything that involves him and my mother.”

“Well, mayhap someday that will all change.”

Persimmon felt a buzzing vibration and an odd warmth coming from the wet pouch at her side. “Stone, wait a minute. Something is odd here.” She dug out the orb and held it up. Her jaw dropped. “I can see those swirling colors again in the gazing ball. I really can, I’m not lying.”

“Why sound so shocked?” he asked. “After all, you’ve seen crazier things. Like ghosts.”

“Nay, this is the most amazing,” she said, straining her eyes, trying to see the silhouette like before but she couldn’t. “Stone, I almost feel as if I am on the verge of scrying. I don’t how or why, but it almost seems like it might actually happen.”