Caledonia Destiny

by Lexi Ander

  Avory sat next to Donn and peeled down the dressing covering a portion of his upper chest. The skin was mostly healed, though puckered. “In a few more hours there shall be no sign of the clash with the warloghes.”

  “Warloghe? Ye mean the sorcerers, the buildsears. Be they dead then?”

  “Warloghe,” Avory said the name again as if there was a distinction betwixt the two. “Four of them, at least. Once upon a time warloghes wore the title of sorcerer, of buildsear as you name them. But have no doubt, sorcerers have honour and respect. Yet sometimes they be seduced by the black arts and their spirit becomes fouled by malice and greed.”

  Lethargy seeped into Donn’s bones as he mulled over Avory’s words. His marrae crawled back into bed and moved to the head, lifting the thick coverlet in silent appeal. Donn slid off the mattress to place the platter upon the bedside table. Minding Avory’s beckoning, Donn pulled back the covers and moved to lie next to him, giving a gusty sigh.

  He rolled to face Avory, the luxury of the feather mattress odd after sleeping so many nights upon the hard ground. “We were taught all magick be performed by sorcerers. I be not aware there be others.” Having Avory, his marrae, lying beside him in his bed— Had it not been so surreal, Donn’s tired body would have been pulled into the dark of slumber ere now. He could not keep his eyes from tracing the lines of Avory’s face, the curves of Avory’s tattoo, or from tasting the scent of him upon his tongue. He feared waking to find Avory but a dream, for Donn had wanted his marrae for so long, the need so strong he could not bear to take a simple lover. The first and only time Donn had been enticed to take another into his heart or bed had been Roi. Roi had smelled of the promise of home, and Donn had thought he could be content caring for one such as him.

  Until this morn.

  Fate had led Donn to Avory’s aid. Never could he take another and be content. Avory’s scent did not give a mere promise, nay, he was Donn’s home, and none other would come afore him. If he woke from this dream and Avory be gone, Donn would search to the ends of the Earth for him.

  Avory made a low noise. “The way you behold me with your eyes, as if I am a prize worth having, it scares me and at the same time causes strange stirrings in my gut. My skin grows hot then cold, and I wish to touch you all over, rub against you until you smell only of me. You confuse my senses and cause me to want— I know not what, only that it be you who sates this need brewing within me.”

  Donn grinned, though his eyes felt as if they were filled with grit. “I would alleviate this yearning ye speak of, but for now we both need rest, or we shall be of no good later this day when we hunt the sorcerers—warloghes—who attacked the keep.”

  Avory’s gaze hardened, shining like polished metal. “Aye, they have much to pay for, and then we shall search for my brother. I caught his scent upon the far side of the mountains. Then the trail of a warloghe crossed his, and I could not leave them at his back, so I gave pursuit. He be close. You shall help me find him?”

  “After my niece be returned home, I shall go wherever ye lead.”

  Avory seemed satisfied with Donn’s words and pulled Donn to him. They wrapped around each other as if they had already spent a lifetime thus.

  As thrilled as Donn was to have his marrae, awed by the one fate had yoked to him, and how his body stirred with want at Avory’s mere touch, sleep would not be denied. Though he struggled to stay awake and watch over Avory, the dark rose up and laid claim to Donn, dragging him unwillingly into the deep.

  XXI

  PLEASURE IN WHICH Donn rarely indulged flooded his body, dragging him into awareness, rousing him from a healing sleep. A moan clawed its way from his throat afore he knew the why of it. Dragging heavy eyelids open, he searched for the source of the bliss that coursed through him, and the reason he could not move. Glancing down the length of his body, Avory was ensconced betwixt his legs, arms wound under his thighs as Avory painstakingly laved the length of Donn’s manhood with his warm tongue.

  Avory’s eyes danced with mischief. “You seemed reluctant to take me earlier, but you were nigh dead with weariness, so I complained not. Now I find I grow impatient to taste you upon me tongue, to make you mine. If I do not, then I mayn’t be able to keep from causing harm to the next person who attempts to come through that door. Already I have chased off the woman, Freya, who insists upon seeing you even though I have denied her.”

  Donn dropped his head back to the pillow, stomach clenching tight when Avory licked the sensitive place where thigh and hip met. A part of him knew if he rose not from the bed and reassured Freya, she would make him regret it. But he wanted the world to go away and let him bask in the attentions of the man who would become his. His leman. His marrae. Donn would attend to his family, do his duty in due time, but only since discovering Avory did he realize how hollow and lone he truly was. Just for a while, he wished for others to let him be. To allow him this small slice of happiness.

  Avory licked and sucked his way up to Donn’s belly where he rubbed his face against the dark, wiry hair there, making small noises of pleasure. Avory’s long, dark hair cascaded down either side of him; Donn could not resist running his fingers through it. Avory leaned into his touch, his gaze seeking Donn’s once more.

  A heavy fist pounded upon the door, and Avory’s golden eyes flared with ire. He began to swear, the likes of which Donn’s ma would have taken a switch to his hide for and then a sliver of lye to his mouth for daring utter such profanity. His marrae was not quiet about his displeasure either, for his words echoed off the unadorned walls of the room. Donn quickly grasped Avory’s ankle afore he could crawl off the bed. His fit of temper would not endear him to Donn’s kinsmen.

  “Allow me. She wishes only to be assured of my well being.” Donn moved by Avory, releasing his hold.

  Avory made a low noise of disgust in the back of his throat. “Nay, it be more than that. Her scent be sly, matching not the show of her intent.”

  Donn could not gainsay him, for Freya meddled in affairs not her own more oft than not. As sister to Catriona’s adoptive mother, without a hearth or family of her own, Freya’s meddling was many times ignored or overlooked. Forced to see her from Avory’s eyes, Donn wondered if they had been too lenient, especially since Catriona’s death.

  Afore he opened the door, Avory shoved a discarded tunic in front of Donn’s groin, the message clear. The incessant pounding upon the door forestalled any words Donn had for him. Lifting the bar, he opened the door to see Arailt, Edan, and four guardsmen, Freya standing behind them, her face pinched and drawn.

  “Can ye not bestow a man a bit of peace with his marrae?” Donn barked, his words coming out harsher than he intended. Avory wrapped his arms around Donn, blanketing his back, Avory’s breath tickling Donn’s ear as he looked over Donn’s shoulder.

  Those closest glanced down the length of Donn’s body, the action not lost upon Avory. Even though Donn held his tunic as a shield over his manhood, and understood his cousins and kin wished only to ensure he was in good health, Avory seemed to take their liberties as a challenge. The low rumble of his protracted growl grew in volume, one of his hands snaking around Donn’s chest to cover Donn’s hand where it held the garment, the other draped over Donn’s shoulder. He reacted without thought and relaxed back into Avory. His marrae was in a strange place surround by strangers who had not gained his trust. Though Donn was, in essence, one of those strangers, he was also more and thus, not counted amongst them. Naturally, Avory would feel threatened by their behaviour. Donn yielded to him afore his kin, showing them all was well whilst soothing Avory.

  Avory’s protracted growl was stifled as he mouthed Donn’s neck and shoulder, his teeth grazing Donn’s skin. Donn trembled with need.

  Arailt stepped away, motioning for the others to do the same, the grin splitting Arailt’s face and the glint in his eye telling Donn he would receive a playful ribbing. But his cousin would have his fun later. For now, mouth pressed into a firm line, Arailt dismisse
d the guard.

  Ire flared to life within Donn as he met Freya’s gaze. “We shall speak upon this later.” She dropped her eyes at his promise, but not afore he glimpsed in them a determination mixed with fear. Arailt grasped her elbow and led her away.

  Avory shut the door with enough force it rattled upon its hinges. Donn laid his head back against Avory’s shoulder, giving himself over to Avory’s ministrations. Dropping the tunic to the floor, he reached behind him to grasp Avory’s hip, drawing him closer. Avory’s fingers wrapped around his hard shaft, a gentle stroke causing Donn’s breath to leave him in a halting exhale.

  Afore he became mindless with want, Avory’s injuries came to mind and Donn reluctantly withdrew. “Let me attend ye,” he begged when Avory seemed disinclined to release him.

  Without Avory’s strength holding him up, Donn’s limbs would not bear his weight, so he moved quickly to sit upon the edge of the bed. Avory’s touch slew Donn in more ways than he thought possible. The knowledge frightened him until Donn glanced up and met Avory’s concerned gaze.

  “What do you wish to do?” he asked.

  For the first time Donn noticed Avory had removed his bandages. Donn traced the scars where grievous wounds had been mere hours agone. Pushing Donn’s hand aside, Avory straddled his lap, placing Donn’s palm against his lips, his eyes holding Donn’s as he guided Donn’s hand down his neck, over his breast, and across the plane of his stomach.

  “What you behold afore you be a man, Donn, who be hard to slay. Even as we be the same, we differ greatly. Your concern warms my breast. Evidence of your yearning greets my sight, tickles my nose, and I find it hard to harness my patience. I would bed you, if you allowed it. What say you?”

  Donn swallowed to relieve the ache in his throat. “I have never been breached.” His body grew warm, and tightened, spurred upon by the moving image Avory’s words conjured. Avory’s rigid shaft prodded Donn’s belly, and he grasped Avory’s hips to keep from tossing Avory under him.

  “Then it be fortunate I have prepared meself for you.”

  Afore Donn could respond, Avory claimed his lips in a rough kiss. He closed his eyes. To have witnessed Avory breaching himself would have wrenched Donn’s every restraint from him. As it was, Donn grasped Avory’s hips in a bruising grip, struggling not to spend. After Avory’s dominant display, Donn had thought Avory would claim him, though he had hoped that some time in the future Avory’s dominant nature would abate, eventually allowing Donn to claim Avory in return. But this gift went beyond all expectation, overwhelming him. Not that Donn had breached another afore. He would have been duly wedded ere now if he had. But he had only ever wanted his marrae and had forgone all other intimate relationships.

  Regaining his senses, Donn realized he wished their first joining to be most pleasurable for Avory. Even though Donn had indulged in all the other pleasures of the body without actually coupling, he would endeavour to have Avory writhe under him in a wanton display of abandon. Caressing what would later would be bruises where Donn had gripped him too tight, Donn ran his hands down Avory’s thighs to his knees. The coarse hair tickled Donn’s palm as he moved to caress the firm roundness of Avory’s breech, reaching the cleft betwixt to find him slick with oil. He tapped Avory’s entrance with his fingertip, gently massaging where he would eventually enter Avory.

  Avory moaned for Donn, breaking the kiss to throw his head back as he tried to bear down upon Donn’s fingers and take them into his body. He laved a path down the column of Avory’s neck to Avory’s large, dark nipple to suckle it in his mouth, surprised and pleased when Avory grabbed the back of Donn’s head to hold him in place. Eager for more, Donn caressed every part he could reach. Avory rocked into Donn’s body, rubbing his hard flesh into Donn’s abdomen, coating Donn in trails of his essence, marking his skin.

  “Halt,” Donn gasped weakly, no force behind the word. “Ye shall undo me too soon.”

  Avory pushed at Donn’s shoulders, and reluctantly he moved away after he administered a quick nip at the edge of Avory’s breast.

  “Move farther onto the mattress, for I have no wish to fall over the edge.” Avory panted, reaching for a small pot sitting next to the platter of cold meats.

  Once Donn moved to the centre of the bed, Avory straddled his thighs and generously anointed Donn’s shaft as his lips marked a passage up Donn’s chest with scarlet bruises. But instead of claiming a kiss, Avory gazed down at Donn. His heart swelled from the affection brimming in the depths of Avory’s eyes. Caught in the moment, Donn stilled.

  Breaking the calm, Avory lifted upon his knees, grasped Donn’s shaft, and placed the tip where he would breach Avory. Yet Donn had no wish to cause Avory harm, and he had heard of mishaps caused by carelessness and negligence. The thought he might do so now with any sudden move caused his heart to thump heavily beneath his breast. So he stayed still as Avory bore down upon his rigid length, slowly sheathing Donn’s shaft within his body.

  Donn had no words. The pleasure—unlike aught he could or would have imagined—stole his breath. The warmth of Avory surrounding him, trusting him, gazing at him as if he were the only man on the vast Earth Avory would ever see, all of it was almost overmuch for Donn to bear in silence. No pretty words of wonder filled his mouth. How would he say, how could he describe that which he had only heard of? As bare flesh moulded to bare flesh, a coiled power built within him, threatening to engulf him in a fire that would cleanse him of all else but Avory, Donn knew he would gladly burn in Avory’s embrace.

  The sight of Avory, his head back, hair draping his shoulders and chest in a dark cascade, the column of his neck taut as he strained, Donn doubted he would ever see anyone more beautiful than Avory at that moment. Even though he trembled at the feel of Avory’s body about his, Donn held still, wanting to move yet waiting for Avory to adjust to the intrusion.

  Finally, at his wits’ end, Donn pushed up into Avory. He revelled in Avory’s groan as his marrae fell forward to brace his hands upon either side of Donn’s head. “Spend in me. Join us. Finish this exquisite torture.” The pleading note in Avory’s voice was irresistible.

  All restraint crumbled afore Avory’s intent gaze and Donn rocked his hips, delivering a tentative thrust as Avory gasped Donn’s name. Planting his feet upon the bed, his thrusts quickened, his incessant ingress of hot, hard flesh spearing into his marrae. Avory mewed for Donn, his eyes rolling up, but Donn needed more.

  Rolling them until Avory was on his back, Donn sealed his lips to Avory’s in a molten kiss, hooking his arm under Avory’s knee as he surged deeper. The tight twist of pleasure threatened to unravel Donn as he drove into Avory with nigh bruising force. Caught in the throes of ardour, Avory writhed beneath him, body straining upward to meet Donn thrust for thrust. Avory snarled, his hand snaking betwixt them to grasp his hard length. Soon after, Avory gave a choked cry, liquid warmth spreading betwixt the press of their bodies. And with that, Donn was undone, driving hard and deep into Avory, gasping harshly as he spent.

  He collapsed in a boneless heap atop Avory, their breaths billowing loudly in unison as they attempted to gather the pieces of themselves. Donn had shattered, and with each indrawn breath he was made anew even as he lingered inside Avory awhile afore gently withdrawing.

  Brun rose, pleased their scent marked Avory so deeply. He lay with his limbs entwined with Avory’s, loving how Avory swept his hand up and down Donn’s damp back. Awareness of the world without dawned. Much was left to do this day, duties to attend to but, oh, what Donn would not give to have time to simply lie abed with Avory. He had many questions for the man who had become his marrae. Donn wished to know his mind as well as his heart. But there was no time. Afore they left the bedchamber, Donn had to clean them, find Avory clothing, and they must both eat a hasty meal.

  Turning his head as he lay upon his stomach next to Avory, taking in the look of him, the problems seemed not as overwhelming as they had hours agone. Whatever Donn faced, it would not be alone. Not anym
ore.

  XXII

  ROI CRIED OUT to the rafters, arching his back off the table as Ewen thrust into him, now and then brushing against the place within that made Roi’s body sing. The heels of his feet perched upon the edge of the table, Ewen’s palms fitted behind his knees, pushing until Roi’s legs were splayed apart. Ewen’s gaze affixed upon Roi as he filled the space betwixt.

  Mercy of the gods, Ewen looked as though he glowed. Ewen leaned over him, bending Roi nigh in half to take his mouth in a soul-searing kiss. Roi’s vision dimmed and his breath caught in his chest. Ewen ate Roi’s cry as he spent, liquid warmth spilling against his skin. Driving hard and deep, Ewen broke the kiss to gasp harshly. Staring down at Roi, Ewen’s hazel eyes were bright, his jaw clenched as a deep groan pushed out from betwixt his lips as he reached his own pleasure.

  His weight crushed Roi to the table, not that Roi was of a mind to complain. Breath coming in ragged gasps, he ran his hands down Ewen’s sweat-slick back to the top of his arse afore beginning again at his shoulders. Eventually, Ewen released Roi’s legs. He wrapped them about Ewen’s waist, not yet ready for Ewen to move.

  Ewen started sniffing again, a sound Roi had come to connect to Bear. The creature oft looked out of Ewen’s eyes, yet Ewen seemed not aware. Roi’s suspicions not yet allayed, he spoke not of what he espied to Ewen for he needed to bring proof, not guesswork. Ewen’s light, his aura, was still coloured with pain, and Roi had only fable and lore to point to the reason why. Ewen spoke of his mathan being wilful, yet Roi sensed no ill will from the creature. Afore he decided what to do, he would watch and learn more. If he was aright, then one day soon Bear would emerge.

  Roi had stayed with Ewen in the cottage for many days and nights, all filled with now-familiar touches. They seemed unable to get enough of each other. Yet their time together was coming to an end and Roi dreaded the moment they would leave, regardless of his desire to behold Ewen’s home and meet the rest of his family. For now, Roi revelled in having Ewen to himself.