you become lovers, Wilson will know, so be ready for that. Three,' he turned to face Nikki. `Do anything to hurt this family and I will—'
Renee reappeared in a soft gush of air. `Well, the shit has hit the fan.' She stopped and looked at them. `Everything all right here?' Finally she picked up her wine glass and took the last sip.
Ruth let Nikki go and sat at the table. Nikki followed.
`Just spilt some wine,' Ruth said, taking a long drink.
`Any more left, then?' Renee looked at her empty glass.
Ruth closed her mouth as Mason opened the second bottle.
`Thanks,' Renee beamed, glass held out. She had changed her clothes and scented her hair. The `sweaty' description no longer fitted. `Mother wants us off the island, now.'
`We can't just leave. What about tonight?'
`Mother was adamant. Forget the ceremony and get our backsides back to the mainland.' Renee sat back, looking surprisingly relaxed given the urgency of the message she was delivering. `I haven't told the others anything yet. I'll leave that up to you, sis. Damn, this stuff is good.'
`You both need to leave.' Mason stood, wine glass falling onto the patio.
`What? Why?' Renee spluttered, still seated.
Ruth put her glass down, knowing the wine had finally affected Mason beyond his control. His physical reaction was obvious and, as Renee sat looking stunned at his sudden dismissal, Ruth saw it become obvious to the redhead.
Nikki's eyes widened. `Come to the nightclub tonight—'
Mason was tearing his shirt off.
`When he's calmed down.' Nikki's lips brushed hers and then she was gone, the lingering taste of spices teasing her senses.
Nikki dragged Renee off the patio.
`They could have stayed,' she said, standing and taking her top off. Mason quivered, watching her.
`No.'
`Why not?' She reached over and slid his shorts down, brushing against his hardness as she stood up.
`Because — I want you.'
His eyes burned for her as she sat on the table. `Come here.' She pulled him in, his hardness pressed against the fabric still covering her sex. `I want you.'
Her bikini bottom was torn off and he paused, ready. Ruth could feel her body hum with energy and anticipation as she reached down and held him firmly.
`I want it, Mason. Make love to me like we're meant to. Discover me again.' She pulled him into her and Mason didn't hold back. Ruth howled in delight as the sound of pleasure roared in her ears.
CHAPTER 7
Nikki ran. Renee followed, stumbling behind.
`Enough!' Renee stopped suddenly, unmovable.
`We can't stay here. We have to go.'
`No.' Renee's tone was hard and flat.
Nikki stepped back. It was too late. Renee was aware of what had just happened.
Nikki called her gift; ready for the coming fight, but knowing it was one she might not win. `Renee, please.'
It was much too late. Green eyes went black.
`He was immune. I didn't see it until… The wine was laced with something, wasn't it? Wasn't it?' Renee's face creased, caught between rage and delight.
`Yes, Gaia had touched it somehow.'
`Damn it, Nikki.' Renee smashed her fist into a tree, shattering the wood. `If we'd stayed longer...'
Nikki braced herself. `We had to go. He wanted us to leave.'
`I didn't. Neither did Ruth. She wanted you so bad it oozed from her. Fuck!' Renee shredded the tree trunk with her nails.
`Listen.' Nikki tried to stay calm, but Renee was right. `Yes, I want her. I want to be with her. But we had to leave. Mason asked us to go. If we'd stayed he might not have been able to control himself. He could have killed us, Renee. He nearly did already today and I couldn't let that happen again.'
`Bullshit!' Renee crouched, hair forming into a thick ponytail on her back. `This is about me, the freak, screwing up your chances with Ruth. Can't have me pissing Mason off, can you?' Her voice dropped as she flexed her neck. `Can't risk losing the chance of screwing Butcher's wife, can you? The ultimate fuck!'
`Shut up!' Nikki lashed out; streams of white energy coursed from her at Renee.
`Oh, come on, sis.' Renee leapt through the blaze of energy. `It doesn't work on me, remember. I'm the freak!'
Nikki twisted away and Renee's razor sharp nails flashed by her face. `I've never called you that.' She faced Renee, ready. `You keep saying it, not me.'
`Everyone in the clan does. I'm the half-cast freak with no gift.' Renee snarled and dropped onto all fours.
Nikki tensed, knowing what she had to do. `Stop now, before you go too far. You've let your anger take over.' Nikki called up an earth shield as Renee leapt.
`He was immune!' Renee screamed, driving her fist through the wall of earth.
Nikki buckled at the force striking her shield, but held. A slab of earth rose up and rolled around Renee, trapping her.
`It won't hold me.' Chunks of rock cracked as she writhed.
`No, it won't'' Nikki closed her eyes, focusing. `But the swim will calm you down.' Energy rose up at her command and Renee howled. Nikki opened her eyes and watched as Renee hurtled through the air, far out over the ocean, before cracking her earth bonds apart.
`Hmm. She is strong-willed, that one. How long has she been immune to our energy?'
`Always,' Nikki sagged. A long shadow moved out of the trees. `Tashia—'
`Hush.' Long fingers touched her lips as Tashia knelt to speak to her. `Your sister's secret is safe with me. As always, little one, you have my support, but it is a dangerous secret you keep from the others.'
`I know,' Nikki sighed, touching Tashia's long face. `It is so good to see you again.'
`Mmm, yes.' Long fingers reached out to touch Nikki's side.
Nikki winced. `Oh shit, she did get me.' She explored her body, feeling blood.
`It's deep. You're not healing? Her touch does that too — slow the healing?' Tashia lifted Nikki's blouse, touching the pain.
`Ah! Yes.' Nikki bit her lip as Tashia's powerful healing gift worked on her.
`There. It will be sore for a while but should be truly healed for tonight. If we are still to have the ceremony?' Tashia stood up, looking down towards the villa, just visible through the trees. `Hmm. So it is true. He is here. And busy, it seems.'
`Don't you start,' Nikki muttered as she heard Ruth's faint cry. A shimmer of energy rippled out from the villa.
`Very interesting.' Tashia held her hand up, sensing the energy as it passed. `Earthbound energy. They create it with sex?' she asked, peering through a branch to look at the villa.
`It's complicated.' Nikki touched her wound and winced again. Renee had never cut her so deeply before. `You're out and about early. Did Mother ring you?'
`No, she rang the twins and they told me. 'Tis not natural to speak into such things as telephones.'
`Still holding out on technology? At least you've embraced more suitable fashions.' Nikki smiled, eying Tashia.
`Mmm, yes.' The tall woman held her arms out and spun round slowly. `I refuse to wear the scraps of material they consider clothing, so I found these.'
Nikki shook her head, scanning the ocean for Renee. `You've embraced jeans and shirts, but not shoes?'
`I