No Wind, No Waves

By Staci Cornwell

It's a battle of compelling love and free will. Now that Liya’s back on the team and has come to terms with her past, her greatest worry is admitting to herself that the attraction she has toward Dez is more than a crush. As things seem to be settling down, the team gets a lead on the Number One Get and discovers that where it's been hiding is nothing compared to the legend behind the bracelet's power. Unsure whether to believe in the mythical fantasies, Dez and Liya find themselves giving into their attraction, only to end up entangled in the bracelets trap. Uncertain what is real and what is just a mythical fantasy, Catherine and the team are forced to explore the possibility that the bracelet has an incredible power over love and free will, and they each end up revealing their most hidden desires.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Staci Cornwell
• Release date: Jul 16, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301018536

Staci Cornwell

My imagination has always run wild with me. It wasn't until recently, that I began to encourage and push the images in my dreams and thoughts beyond the surface of my subconscious, and into coherent stories. Sharing these private thoughts, putting them into words for others, was never part of my plan until now. I'm thankful for my husband who encouraged this madness, and beyond grateful to my twinkies, Keri and Olivia, for their support, editing, and cultivating skills. Those two poor souls spent a week on the beach, forced to do nothing but relax in the sun by a beautiful ocean, and read the final drafts, while I grilled them for perspectives. With that said, I know my stories do not "suck," but I recognize there are wide varieties of tastes. I welcome constructive input that I can apply to future work, and if compelled to comment or criticize, please consider that I am a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, and human with feelings. Enjoy!

Book preview

No Wind, No Waves

Staci Cornwell

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2013 Staci Cornwell

License Notes: This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this ebook with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Ebook formatting by www.ebooklaunch.com

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Acknowledgments

For my husband whose only input on this last one was for Dez and Liya to just do it already. Back to the Twinkies. Although you came from different approaches, I am so thankful for each of your perspectives. I would never divulge who was who, but thank you for allowing this story to fill your dreams, only after day two, and then blushing about it. Thank you for laughing out loud at very different spots. Thank you for the cozy work robes that I'm sure made us all more productive. Thank you for 'not being surprised' by how much the main character startles. Thank you for not knowing what a safe word is, and for still supporting my decision to not include Hugh Jackman no matter how compelling your point. Thank you Keri and Olivia for helping me bring it all together. Please hear the genuine spirit in my voice, and picture me riding on a bike, cheering you on (while you throw pine cones, nowhere near the vicinity of a coiled snake to determine whether it is in fact still alive), as I say Great job ladies!

I would also like to acknowledge Laura Shinn for bringing my cover ideas to life, and to Ebooklaunch.com for their clever formatting skills so that getting this available in e-format was even possible.

Prologue

A little girl lied on her bed sobbing, not even hearing the door open behind her. A small squeak came from her bed as she felt her mother sit beside her. A comforting stroke combed through her hair and over her back, until she turned to face her. She was sure to wipe the tears first. The little girl knew how her mother felt about shedding tears in front of others.

I brought you something, her mother said, reaching down for the book that rested beside her.

A gift. Something that the little girl expected each time she got upset. It was her mother's way of keeping the peace. A frilly white ribbon wrapped around the hard back, and the little girl could just barely read the words that curved across the top. Luameruva. The little girl's mother opened the book, intentionally not acknowledging the red puffiness around her daughter's eyes.

You know, you shouldn't waste your tears on him. Not for any man. It was all her mother said before starting the fairy tale.

.

A thousand moons ago, a young woman wept at the bank of a stream. She was a simple girl with plain dark hair and matching eyes. A tattered brown dress draped loosely over her skin, revealing an ailing body.

It had been several days since she had even a piece of bread. Her father insisted that she was old enough to marry, and yet there was no one in her small village that loved her. He told her that love would come with time, but she was frightened; so terrified that she could not eat. Her body grew weaker every day.

She knelt by the stream and prayed to the Gods for love. She knew that if she did not marry by the end of the earth's cycle, she would be handed off to someone of her father's choosing. To marry without love was a fate worse than death in her eyes.

Oh please, oh please. Grant me the gift of love, and I shall forever be a servant of your choosing, she pleaded, and they answered.

As her tears fell off her face into the stream, she saw something so magnificent. Buried deep within the water's surface, a shimmer of light sparkled from the stream below. Her cautious hand reached down into the cold water, wiping away the muddy bank until the gift had been freed.

She carefully rinsed it off, admiring the offering that clearly the Gods had bestowed upon her. It was a delicate bracelet that adorned diamonds and pearls intertwined in a wispy circlet. A flip of a small clutch revealed a pale pink pearl hidden within. She wrapped the bracelet gently in the rags of her plain skirt, and headed back to the village.

That night, she had a dream. Those in her village would call it a vision of prosperity. It guided her back to the stream to other treasures beyond her imagination. Defying the laws of the village, she did not reveal this vision, and secretly went back to the stream where her dream had led her. The sun illuminated the water, transforming it into tiny crystals that brightened the entire bank. The young woman shielded her eyes from the blinding reflection, searching for what the Gods had willed her to find.

She knelt down next to the same spot she found the bracelet, and began to dig. She reached a hard rock that sparkled a marquis of sunlight in every direction. She pried up the rock from the stream's clutches, watching the muddy residue wash away in the current of the stream. The rock had been cleansed from the earth's grunge, and now glistened in the sunlight. It cracked open like an egg, spilling a dozen beautiful smoky diamonds. She had seen jewels before from other travelers, but none like this. She quickly put aside the diamond egg, searching for others like it.

By the end of two hours time, she had unearthed over a hundred of the tiny diamonds. Worry crossed over her. If anyone would find her right now, they would steal the jewels, which she believed were rightfully hers; a gift from the Gods. What she didn't know is that the God's gifts always came with a price. She would soon find out what her sacrifice would be.

The young woman conspired to hide the diamonds until she received another message. Just before leaving the river, another shimmer caught her eye, and she knelt down beside the river reaching her hand toward the bright reflection. Her fingertips which had been shredded by the jagged rock, now found themselves upon a silky smooth surface. She traced around the edges, prying it up from the earth's hold. Gripping it tightly in her palm, she raised it out of the water and opened her hand to see an enormous gem, half the size of her palm. It sparkled in the sun, holding her in a brief enchantment.

A strange feeling came over her, as the sun blinded a reflection from the gem in her eyes. Everything became brighter. The amber grass appeared to have turned to gold, the light blue sky was now a radiant topaz, and the stream was now a brilliant aquamarine. Even the sun appeared more magnificent in it's color. The girl examined her once dull skin, which now prickled and appeared to have transformed into a silky onyx. She was mesmerized by the radiant color, only to be stirred by footsteps behind her.

She quickly gathered the God's treasure into the folds of her skirt, and ran away to a place that only she visited. The heavy rocks clanked with each stride until she reached her private hideaway. She had already been gathering things over the past few months, fantasizing about running away, should the day come that she would be forced to marry. Looking around, she was satisfied that she had everything she would need to fulfill the task that laid before her from the Gods.

Each morning she rushed to her secluded hideout. Her days were spent spinning thread and weaving it into a white translucent fabric the way her parents had taught her as a child. Her nights were spent carefully chiseling away the brilliant stones into tiny solitaires. An invisible hand guided her as she sewed the diamonds into the sheer fabric.

By the end of the moon's cycle, she had finished. She placed the bracelet beside the jeweled garment, waiting for another sign. A new dream came to her that night. A vision that spoke of the bracelet's enchantment. The magic of the pearl, and its ability to entrance any onlooker. The young woman could now choose any man she wanted. There was no one who could resist its power.

She was warned that the gift from the Gods was only an illusion, as even they cannot harness true love. If she chose to continue on this path, her transformation into a beautiful Goddess would be complete, and no one would recognize her; not even her family. She would take the journey on her own, and if she didn't find her true love, she would remain alone, and unrecognizable by everyone. It was a sacrifice she was willing to make.

In the morning, she stripped out of her plain dirty clothes and cleansed her body in the cool waters of the stream. The water glistened off her dark skin as she walked toward her private sanctuary. She slipped the gown over her naked body, allowing it to gracefully fall down to her feet. Placing the head dress on top of her head, she secured it within the thickness of her hair. She reached down to put on the final piece. The bracelet was an elegant circlet, unlike any other. Nothing would compare to its beauty. One look, and anyone could tell it was a gift from the Gods. As she slid the bracelet over her wrist for the first time, her transformation was complete. A Goddess was created. She was none like anyone had ever seen before.

The young woman approached the village. The Gods were right. Even her family did not recognize her. She was as beautiful as a Goddess, and some suspected as much. Tiny smoky blue diamonds covered her delicate dress that draped off her shoulders and down to the earth. A headpiece formed a sharp arc above her forehead, marked with the biggest diamond anyone had ever laid eyes on. Its smoky brilliance made it nearly impossible for others to resist her seduction. A translucent veil cascaded down her bare back, also adorned with miniature smoky blue gems that matched the exquisite gown. She shimmered in the sunlight, casting diamonds in an aura all around her. All who laid eyes on her were immediately enamored by her mystifying allure.

Her sleeveless arms, adorned a delicate circlet of smoky pearls and diamonds that met together at a simple locket. She unclasped the locket to reveal the tiny pink pearl. It was the only contrast from the steel blue that even her transformed eyes radiated.

From the moment she entered the village, onlookers were mystified, offering her food and riches beyond what she had ever fathomed, but none of which she desired. She took their offerings, and travelled from village to village searching for love. With each new place, came new offerings and those professing their undying love for her. Men were willing to leave their families for her; willing to carry her new possessions for her across treacherous conditions, all the while, hoping for requited love.

Her name was Luameruva, a Goddess unlike any other. She had harnessed the gift of lust. Whether it be her beauty beyond any other, or favor of the Gods, she was able to wield it as she chose. She had many men who worshipped her, but none of which she truly loved. Knowing that the men who professed their devotion was merely a trick of the Gods, she was more alone than before she ever found their gift. She did not want to accept their will any longer, but so desperately wanted to be loved. It was this day that she went on a quest to find her one true love. Traveling from village to village she searched for him.

She kept a few companions, and although it had been over a year, she had yet to find her true love and was becoming desperate and hopeless. It was not until another moon's cycle had passed that she met him. As with the others, he could not resist her presence. He immediately professed his love for her, as she did for him. She commanded her other companions to return to their homes, and settled in the village with her true love.

A final dream came with the full moon. The Gods had grown impatient. If she hadn't found true love by the next new moon, she would spend the rest of her life alone and a servant to the Gods bidding. A life imprisonment of lust, but never love. It was the deal she made when she prayed to them that day by the stream. To truly test it, Luameruva would need to transform back to her true self, and return the bracelet. Only then, would she know if his love was true, and not the result of the God's trickery.

She woke in tears, unsure what to do. She feared losing the man she loved, but needed to know for sure if he loved her truly the way she loved him. At the next new moon she removed the bracelet, caressing the locket that she now had clasped shut. She believed in the pearl's power as the source for all her worshippers, and was remorseful for the enchantment. Her only hope was that her true love would forgive her.

From above the clouds, an eagle appeared. It landed next to her, tilting his head in a curious manner. She knew why it had come, and carefully reached out her hand to offer the bracelet. The eagle took a tentative step forward, holding out its massive talons. Luameruva wept as she tied the bracelet to the bird's ankle. Without any further ceremony, the eagle leapt into the air, soaring high through the sky until she could no longer see it.

Deceiver!

It was the only thing he said to her when she told him of the God's gifts. She was immediately transformed back into the young village girl, only no one would recognize her. Leaving her with nothing, she spent the rest of her days walking the earth in solitude. Her soul had been broken, so much that even the Gods had no use for her.

.

The young girl's mother closed the book, waiting for the questions that were sure to follow. The little girl only had one.

Why did she give the pretty bracelet to the eagle? She asked.

Because she was weak. She fell back to the fantasy of true love, forgetting that there is no such thing. If you want love, you have to find it, and then you take it. There is no Prince Charming, no true love's kiss, nothing majestic like soul mates or destiny. Love is merely a romanticized word for power. When you find it, you take it. Do you understand?

Yes, mama, the little girl answered.

She was finally starting to understand the message her mother had been telling for all of these years. And it just didn't apply to love. Things didn't just happen. You make them happen. That was the lesson every day and every night.

Her mother got up from the bed, tucking the book under her arm. She had just turned out the light and was getting ready to walk out the door as the little girl made one last profession.

I'm going to find that bracelet, someday.

I'm sure you will, said the mother proudly. Goodnight, dear.

Good night, mother.

Chapter 1

It had been over a month since that regretful day I walked out of Tiger Lily's. More like ran out of Tiger Lily's. I now found myself anxiously waiting for them to arrive. I sat alone at the bar, sipping on a virgin margarita. I wore a platinum blonde wig and navy rimmed glasses to match my dress. I disguised myself from Lucky, and only allowed the new bartenders to wait on me. I couldn't risk her discovering who I was. I didn't want Kasie and Ben to find me before I had a chance to work things out with Dez.

I sat each night at an inconspicuous spot at the bar, waiting for him to arrive. With reserved hopes, I wanted him to see me. To know who I was. So I could talk to him. Explain where I had been. Plead for him to take me back.

I had been at Tiger Lily's four nights in a row, with no sight of any of them. The bar that had been dynamically designed to parallel Lucky's exciting life now appeared stagnate and dreary through my eyes. It had once been a place that I looked forward to, and now I sat uncomfortable and exposed in my disguise. Four nights and still nothing.

I was out of rejection lines from all the patrons that wanted to buy me a drink. It was after ten o'clock, and I grabbed my purse. I took one last look around the bar that now appeared as a stranger before me. With my head hung low in defeat, I slipped some money under my drink and stood up to leave, when he walked in.

I sat back down slowly, my eyes never leaving him. Kasie and Ben were right behind. Fear and excitement paralyzed me. A familiar chill coursed up my spine, pricking the back of my neck.

He looked the length of the bar, meeting my eyes briefly. I forced a shy smile, despite feeling like I was tearing a part from within. In that brief moment I thought he recognized me, his eyes seeming to hesitate for a fraction of a second. I fought a tremble that crept through me, and convinced myself that I was just hopeful. He showed no signs that he knew me. His eyes moved on, scanning the rest of the bar for Lucky. He gave her a friendly smile and nodded once he found her. Her face lit up at his acknowledgment. I guessed mine did too. He looked exceptional tonight. His dark hair was shorter than before. It was as neat as his trimmed scruff that looked a few days old. My stomach fluttered at the memory of his soft whiskers tickling my face during a casual kiss on my cheek. He never understood the effect he had on me, and tonight my attraction to him was amplified. Crush gone haywire. Big time.

They walked over to our usual table, now with one empty chair. My chair. He didn't recognize me. That was a good thing. I hoped that my disguise would attract him so that he would come over and talk to me. I only needed a few minutes to get him alone. But I didn't want him to recognize me. I couldn't risk that he would refuse to talk to me if he knew who I really was. I copied my new look after the girls that I saw him leave with in the past when we had all come here together as a group. Blonde beauty and a nice smile. That was his criteria.

I waited until 10:30 to look back at their table. Kasie and Ben were there, but he wasn't with them. I checked his chair, and his jacket was gone. He already left. I missed him. I picked up my purse, and walked out the door with a heavy heart. I was resolved to try again tomorrow.

I went back to my hotel, not ready to return to the lake house. I didn't want to settle in, only to have to leave for good. For all I knew, Catherine had my bracelet deactivated, or settled in a new tenant. This thought bothered me the most. A replacement. I couldn't even bare the thought, although I knew it was a real possibility. Catherine had wanted two retrievers. With me out of the picture, she may have already found someone else. Seeing only the three of them tonight gave me hope.

The next night, he arrived at nine o'clock. I wore the same blonde wig, pulling it back into a messy pony. I wore a silver off the shoulder rayon tee and black pencil jeans. My glasses were slim black with tiny crystals on each side.

Tonight he didn't scan the bar, and so he didn't see me. Lucky caught him at the door, and he gave her a sweet kiss on the cheek before heading to their table. Ben was with him. Kasie walked in about 20 minutes later. This time I kept hidden eyes on their table. Between guys trying to pick me up, I was able to peer around to see that he was still there.

My brother and I would like to buy you a drink. A large man said as he placed his arm around an even larger man, and flashed a lascivious smile. Brown drool dripped out the side of his mouth from the oversize wad of chew that was crammed into his lower lip.

No thanks. I'm waiting for someone.

Suit your self, but I bet you've never been with two brothers before?

Excuse me? Seriously? That's your pickup line? An incestuous threesome. Ick!

We're brothers. I'm Jake and this here is George.

The men were too large for me to peer around inconspicuously. I didn't want to be rude, but I needed to move them on.

Nice to meet you. If you don't mind, I need to use the ladies' room. And throw up.

I hopped out of my seat and made my way to the restroom. I froze at the entrance, as I saw the door swing open exposing Kasie putting on some lipgloss in the mirror. I turned around to their table. Ben was seated by himself. Dez's coat was gone. I missed him again. A heaviness pressed on my chest, feeling as if I wouldn't be able to get air much longer. I took a deep breath to settle my nerves, hoping that he would be here tomorrow, but mostly that three really was a charm.

It was Friday night. The place was packed. My usual corner stool had been taken, leaving me vulnerable in the middle of the bar. My blonde wig was left flowing and wavy down my back. I wore a Nickleback screen tee and blue jeans.

They had just sat down, when I saw Dez get up and walk back out the door. At first I thought maybe he forgot something in the car, but he gave Kasie a tender kiss on the top of her head, and shook Ben's hand before walking away. Ben and Kasie both seemed confused at his early departure too.

My plan for him to approach me was not working. I knew I had to do something. I grabbed my purse and chased after him. I walked through the doors outside to find nothing but quiet blackness. Seriously? I shouted silently to myself.

Defeated, I hung my head low on the verge of tears. I took off the navy glasses, rubbing them through my thumbs when he approached me from behind. His hand wrapped around my arm, holding me in place. I clumsily tried to put the glasses back on before he saw me. His other hand reached for mine preventing me from covering my face.

What are you doing here, Liya? He asked with annoyance.

You know who I am?

Yes. I saw you that first night. Why are you here? His tone was more irritated than before. He was angry, although his grip on my arms was gentle.

Is this guy bothering you, miss? Asked a man walking toward the entrance of the bar.

No. Thanks, I answered assuredly. I parted from his grasp and stepped out of the way for the man to pass.

I'll come back and check just to be sure, if that's all right with you. The man hesitated briefly, eyeing Dez, and then walked through the doors.

I looked back to Dez. His patience was wavering.

I just wanted to talk to you. Can we talk? I pleaded.

Talk, he said with an edge to his voice. He stood there, closing himself off with his arms folded across his chest.

I'm sorry I left. I just needed time to think.

He stared at me with cynical silence.

Please I need you to understand.

Liya, or whoever you are. You left us. You walked out without a word, without a call to let us know you were okay. Kasie cried every night for a month, wondering what happened to you. I finally convinced her that you were okay, and must have had a really good reason to shut everyone out that cared about you. Why didn't you answer her calls?

I don't know. I couldn't. I wasn't sure if I was Liya or Corrina. Everything was blurring together. I couldn't trust anything. Please, you have to understand.

My perfect speech that I had agonized over, rehearsed every day and every night in the shower, in my dreams, everywhere, was now spewing out clumsily into broken pieces.

I don't understand any of this. You walked into our lives, not knowing who you were, but you found yourself with us. You became part of our team. Our family. Then you remembered your past, and you abandoned us for your old life the first chance you got. His voice was loud. He had never spoke to me this way before. I had hurt him badly.

My eyes became hot, and my head began to spin. I leaned up against the building and collapsed to the ground with tears flooding. My hands instinctively covered my face. My entire body trembled. I heard his defeated sigh, and then felt his arms reach under mine and lift me up. He pulled me close to him. His hand cupping the back of my neck, pressing me closer to his chest while my tears poured out. His scent soothed me as I breathed deeply into his chest through my sobs.

Come on. Let's get out of here. He helped me over to his bike. Why have you been dressing like a blonde call girl anyway? He asked as he placed his helmet over my head.

I didn't want anyone to recognize me, I managed to blubber out.

Sort of defeats the purpose of talking doesn't it?

Yeah, I guess so. I was hoping you would pick me up. So we could be alone. It was stupid, but I haven't really been thinking straight lately.

You think I couldn't recognize you?

He hesitantly patted my leg as an old habit, and kicked off before I was able to return the signal that I was ready to go. We drove around the city before ironically stopping at the very same park bench that I had run to the night I left two months ago. I pulled off the helmet and the wig. Freeing my hair from the matted pony, I shook it out before taking a seat on the bench. It felt good having the air fly through my hair.

You know this place? I asked.

No, You?

This is where I ran to that night. Its kind of ironic being back here, I said with solemn regret.

It's ironic that you returned exactly a year later from when you first arrived on the team. This is the day we first met.

I hadn't even realized the date. I had been so consumed in my subconscious crisis that I lost all concept of time. I sat there, waiting for him to join me but he remained standing next to his bike. He was waiting with skeptical eyes. I tried to recall the speech I rehearsed, but it had shattered and was gone. Not wanting him to lose interest, I blurted the first thing that came to mind.

Why did you give me money? You knew I was going to leave, but you wanted me to stay. I asked.

I knew you were impulsive. I didn't want you to get in trouble and not have a way out. His response was short and to the point, as if he was ready for the next question.

Thanks.

So, are you here to say goodbye? He asked with an indignant tone.

My head hung down. I took two deep breaths, summoning any courage I had left.

Actually, I want to come back. I was hoping you would take me back. I stood up taking a step toward him.

Liya—err-Corrina. I don't even know what to call you. You left us!

I'm back. I took another step forward.

What's the guarantee that you won't leave again?

I took a deep breath. I won't. Another brave step.

His anger toward me was melting. He still cared about me. He always would. It was why he only let a few people into his life. Dez stared at the ground, refusing to look at me. He was conflicted. I had seen this look before.

I stepped closer toward him, unable to conceal the tears that had resurfaced. I was inches from him, trying to peer into his eyes and break his contact with the grass beneath us. Please forgive me. Even if I can't come back to the team, I need you to forgive me.

What about your old life?

There's nothing left of it. Just memories. I'm not that person anymore.

You'll always be that person. It's who you are.

I thought I had to go back. To be true to myself and my old life, but all I wanted was to leave it behind and come here. I felt guilty for it. For wanting to give up my old life. For not wanting it anymore.

So what did you decide?

"I'm Liya. And Corrina. But Liya is the life I want to live. Not Corrina's. Back then, I was nothing but an empty shell. After the accident, I had no feelings, no emotions. Just numbness. That's why I spent the last year doing all of those crazy things. It was so I could feel. Something. Anything. When I became Liya, I didn't have the pain that Corrina carried with her. I could feel everything. I was finally happy. You have no idea what it's like to feel again. It had been a really, really long time since I had any human connection."

You're back? He said with wavering skepticism.

I'm back. If you'll have me.

He raised both his hands to my face, wiping the tears from my cheeks. He brought his forehead to mine, exhaling deeply.

I wished you would have just talked to me first. Before running off. I was so worried about you.

I know. I'm so sorry.

I missed you, Love.

I missed you too.

I reached my arms around him, squeezing a big hug and burying my head in his strong chest. We stayed in an embrace for several minutes in silence. His hand caressed circles in my back, eventually moving their way to my shoulders. He gave a small squeeze before stepping back and finally looking me in the eye.

So, what should I call you?

My legal name is Liya. That's who I am. But you can call me whatever you want.

I reached for another hug. This time it was filled with relief and excitement. He pulled me back again by my shoulders.

You'll need to make this right with the others.

I know. I needed to talk to you first. I was hoping you would help me with Kasie and Ben.

They still don't know about your accident.

You never told them?

"No. Like I said on the