by Donna Grant
He gazed into her Druid green eyes. “Moira.”
She smiled at him and leaned down to run her lips over his. He traced the outline of her mouth with his tongue and pulled her down atop him. The feel of her full breasts against his chest made his sacs heavy with need. It had been so long since he had held her, and he knew once wouldn’t be enough that night.
His hands cupped her breasts and tweaked her nipples. She cried out and rotated her hips against his swollen rod. He moaned and brought his mouth to a hard nipple. He ran his tongue over her nipple and swirled it around his mouth until she writhed with need.
Only then did he allow her to sit up and take him slowly into her. Her hot, wet sheath nearly made him loose his seed right then. He closed his eyes and reveled in the feel of her tightness surrounding him. When she began to rock back and forth, he gripped her hips and felt his climax coming faster than he wanted.
He opened his eyes to tell her to stop and found himself staring into mystic blue eyes.
Lugus stood by the ship and watched the sun break the horizon. He let out a pent up breath and inhaled the sea air. Except it wasn’t salt he smelled, but the distinctive fragrance of innocence, sexuality, and magic.
Ahryn.
He could feel her approach and wondered how she had slept. After another dream where Moira once again turned into Ahryn, he hadn’t been able to sleep again. He was tired and in the worst of moods. Ever since he had left the inn he had experienced an urgency to board the ship and leave as soon as possible.
“Good morn,” Ahryn said as she stopped beside him.
He glanced at her and noticed the dark circles under her eyes. Instead of commenting, he glanced at the gown and her clean hair plaited away from her face with many tiny braids that met in one thick braid down her back.
“Good morn. The color suits you,” he said and turned back to the sea. He saw her turn to him out of the corner of his eye.
“Thank you. Is everything set?”
“Just about,” he said as he spotted the captain.
She began to fidget beside him until he could ignore it no longer. “What is the matter?”
“Don’t you feel it?” she asked under her breath.
He looked around. “What?” “I don’t know. There’s an urgency in the air I cannot explain.”
He nodded and looked at her. “That I have felt.”
“Is it Marcus?” Her wide blue eyes searched his.
Lugus shrugged. “I don’t know. Once we board the ship, the captain will show you to a chamber. Stay there. Don’t venture on deck until I come to get you.”
“Where will you be?”
“Around,” he said as he put his hand on her back and guided her toward the dock as he saw the captain wave to him.
“How long will it take us to reach the gateway?”
“About three days until we reach Skye, but I’m not sure how long it will take to reach the gateway,” he answered as he glanced over his shoulder. He could have sworn someone was watching him, and even though he searched, the sensation did not go away.
He turned back around to find Ahryn facing him. “Someone is out there,” she said.
“Aye. Now follow the captain. Quickly,” he said when she didn’t move. He watched as the captain led her away before he turned back to the village.
People milled about, but no one looked suspicious. Until he saw a man with long black hair disappear behind a building. It could be nothing, but it could be everything, especially since the sensation of being watched no longer affected him.
“Ready?” the captain asked as he joined him.
Lugus sighed and handed him his sword. “Ready.”
~ ~ ~
Lugus’ arms burned as he pulled the rigging tight. The wind had given them speed but changed often. He had been at the sails since the ship had left the dock, and he could well imagine Ahryn getting antsy in the cabin.
He jumped down and ducked below deck to find her cabin. He barely tapped his fingers on the door before she jerked it open.
“Where have you...,” she began then stopped as she looked him over. “What have you been doing?”
“Helping the captain.”
Her blue eyes narrowed. “Doesn’t he have crew for that?”
“Aye.”
She sighed and leaned against the door. “So why are you helping him?”
Lugus knew he had to tell her. “It was part of the package.”
“For our passage?”
He nodded once. “You can come on deck if you like. We are far enough away from shore,” he said and retraced his steps.
Ahryn hurried after him. She couldn’t believe he had bartered himself as payment for their passage. She had seen him give up two of his daggers already but had no idea just how many weapons he had.
The sun hit her as she came on deck, and for a moment she stopped and tilted her face to it. The few hours she had been in the small, cramped cabin being tossed about was almost worse than being trapped on Earth.
She moved toward the rail, a smile on her face when Lugus stepped in her path. The frown on his face let her know he wasn’t happy.
“What is it?”
“Hide the bracelet,” he hissed. Then in a softer tone, he warned, “You aren’t using magic, so the men will flock to you. I’ll be watching, but just in case I’m not near, use this,” he said and handed her his dagger.
She took it instinctively. “I won’t stay on deck long,” she promised and hurriedly hid the dagger and her right hand.
His face softened as he looked out over the water. “It’s just for three days. We can survive three days.”
“Aye, we can,” she promised him and gave him a bright smile when he turned his blue eyes on her.
He started to walk off when he stopped and reluctantly turned towards her. “One more thing.”
She leaned against the rail and waited.
“In order for you to come aboard, I had to lie.”
Ahryn was finding Lugus more and more interesting. “And what did you have to lie about?”
He sighed dramatically. “I said you were my wife,” he said quickly and hurried away.
Ahryn blinked in stunned disbelief. She was surprised he hadn’t said she was his sister or niece. But wife? That she hadn’t expected, and the thrill of hearing it on his lips worried her more than Marcus finding her.
By mid-afternoon the sun and bright skies had given way to dark, ominous clouds and distant thunder. Ahryn had spent the majority of the day in her small cabin alternately calling for her parents and even the Fae king, Theron, yet none answered her call.
The ship began to toss wildly, and Ahryn gave up trying to pace the cabin and sat instead. The first rain drops could be heard over the shouts of the sailors, and all Ahryn could think about was Lugus high up in the rigging. If he didn’t have a good hold, the pitch of the ship or a blast of wind could knock him right off. Her worry increased with every heart beat until she was nearly mindless with it.
Then suddenly the door to her cabin flew open and Lugus staggered in. He looked as if were ready to pass out. She jumped up and caught him as he tripped and the ship pitched. He raised his head and looked at her with half closed eyes. She gave him a smile and wrapped her arms around him and his wet clothes.
“You need to rest,” she said as they stumbled their way to the bed.
He fell on it in a heap before she could get him out of his clothes. She set about removing his boots and socks, then managed to turn him over on his back so she could work on his tunic.
She could only imagine how she looked sitting nearly astride him as she worked to get his arms out of the wet material, and then once that was done she had to sit him up and get it over his head, which proved to be harder than she imagined. Just as she removed the tunic and tossed it aside, she turned back and found him staring at her.
“What are you doing?”
She swallowed, her mouth now dry at seeing the desire darkening his blue eyes
. “Your clothes were soaked. I didn’t want you sleeping in them.”
His gaze raked over her face as if he were searching for something. “You should have woken me.”
Unable to resist, she raised her hand and traced his mouth with her finger. “Nay. Not after the work you have done today to aid me.” She dropped her hand and met his gaze. “I will never be able to repay you.”
“Nay,” he mumbled as his face drew closer.
Ahryn held her breath, waiting and wondering if he would kiss her again. The memory of their first kiss still lingered in her mind.
The ship jerked to the side, and Ahryn grabbed hold of Lugus with one hand and the wall with the other. And that’s when she felt his rod nestled against her. Heat pooled between her legs, and a deep throb of hunger resounded within her.
She was surprised when his arm gently wrapped around her and brought her to his chest to keep her steady. Her eyes lowered to his wide, full mouth. It was a sensuous mouth, one that could bring about the most intense pleasure, just with a simple kiss. She licked her lips and heard his intake of breath.
Her lips parted as his mouth drew near. Their cheeks met and brushed ever so slightly. The stubble of his whiskers scraped her face as his mouth moved toward hers slowly, as if undecided.
She felt his arm tense around her just before his lips touched hers.
Lugus knew he would burn in a special realm for this, but he could no longer deny the pull of Ahryn. He was too tired of fighting it and the growing need his body had for release. When her smooth cheek met his, he closed his eyes and savored the feel of her silken skin against his. He opened his eyes to see her chest rising and falling rapidly, and her lips parted, waiting expectantly.
And his control vanished.
He moved his head, and his lips met hers, and pleasure burst within him. His arms crushed her to him as he deepened the kiss and explored her delicious mouth. He promised himself he would do no more than kiss her, but with each taste and moan and sigh that escaped her sweet mouth he found it difficult to think of anything but sinking into her heat.
Needing to know more of her, Lugus broke the kiss and moved to her neck. She rolled her head to the side and gave him access to her long, slender neck. His hands moved to her sides as she leaned back, her breast thrust outward as if begging him to taste their nectar.
Lugus could no more turn away than he could stop breathing. His hands moved to cup her breasts, and even through the heavy material of her gown he could feel her nipples harden. She moaned and gripped his arms as he leaned forward and kissed the skin above each breast while his hands continued to squeeze and roll her nipples.
His rod begged for more. It demanded more until he was mindless of anything but Ahryn’s pleasure and the desire that ran swift and true in him.
He was about to begin work on removing her clothes when someone banged on the door and hollered for him to come back on deck. Reality descended upon him like a bucket of cold water. And he knew the instant Ahryn realized that.
She said not a word as she moved off him. He reached for his wet tunic and pulled it on before tugging on his boots. He didn’t know what to say to her, so instead of saying something he either didn’t mean or didn’t want, he decided the best course of action was to leave it be.
He quickly walked from the cabin and softly shut the door behind him. Just before he walked out into the storm, he stopped and touched his lips. He knew her taste, which meant he had kissed her before. Why had she lied about their first kiss?
~ ~ ~
Ahryn stood in the corner and watched Lugus walk from the cabin. When the door closed she slid down the wall and drew her knees up to her chest. She had thought he knew who he was kissing, but maybe she had been wrong again.
Her breasts tingled as if his hands were still on them. She sighed and buried her head in her arms as the ship continued to toss about.
She must have dozed for when she woke she was on the bed. She rubbed her eyes and rolled over as she yawned and tried to remember if she had climbed into the bed. With the ship pitching about, she was sure she wouldn’t have chanced being tossed out while she slept. But how had she got into the bed?
Then she spotted Lugus asleep on the floor. He was on his back with a hand thrown over his eyes. His clothes were still wet, and he had dark circles under his eyes.
She looked out her small window and saw the sun just breaking the horizon. Briefly she thought about waking him since he had seemed to like to watch the sunrise, but the haggard lines on his face stopped her.
Unable to help herself, she watched him. Fae men did not have facial hair like the men of the Earth realm did, yet Lugus did have some growth. She accounted it to the fact that when he lost his immortality, he took on mortal attributes.
His long hair had been pulled away from his face, but it was still tangled and in need of a comb. She noticed a bruise on his neck near his shoulder and could only imagine it had occurred while he was aiding the men during the storm. She hoped he wasn’t seriously injured because she knew he would never tell her if he was.
She chewed her bottom lip and brushed the hair from her face with her hand. The jingle of her slave bracelet drew her attention. She ran her finger over the intricate knotwork of the ancient Celts and wondered about the strange markings that looked somewhat like a language. If anyone could decipher what the language was, they would be found on the Fae realm. She just had to get there first.
Needing some air, Ahryn scooted to the end of the bed, then slipped on her shoes and quietly left the cabin. Just as it normally was after a vicious storm, the sky shown blue and the sun bright.
She leaned on the railing and studied the deep blue of the sea. Off to her left and up ahead was the Isle of Skye. If she walked to the other side of the ship she would be able to make out the isle, but she didn’t like knowing it was so close yet so far away.
“Good morn, milady,” the captain said as he approached.
Ahryn inclined her head and wished she had taken the time to replait her hair. She could only imagine how awful she looked having just woken up.
“I see you survived the storm,” he said as he leaned an elbow on the rail and stared at her.
The captain was an older man with hair nearly completely white and a full beard to match. His hazel eyes seemed innocent, but Ahryn somehow doubted he was.
“I did,” she finally answered. “Thank you for the excellent work in keeping us afloat.”
He chuckled and looked out over the water. “That storm was nothing compared to some of the ones I’ve been in. I could tell you stories that would make you never want to step foot on a ship again.”
Ahryn found herself smiling. “I imagine that you could.” Her eyes lowered, and that’s when she saw it…Lugus’ sword.
She knew he hadn’t been wearing it yesterday, but she just assumed he had stowed it in their cabin.
“’Tis a mighty fine sword,” the captain said. “I’m surprised yer husband parted with it.”
She swallowed and made her gaze meet his. “As am I.”
“Just shows you how much he loves you,” the captain said before walking away.
Ahryn was stunned. That sword had been a masterpiece and worth the price of the ship and ten others just like it. And the captain knew it. She tucked a stray hair behind her ear and thought over the man asleep below deck.
~ ~ ~
Lugus came awake with a start. He sat up and tried to get his bearings. His shoulder throbbed where a mast had broken loose of its knot and slammed into him. Other parts of him hurt just as badly as he recalled the many long hours as he and the other sailors had struggled to keep the ship together in the violent storm.
He braced one hand on the floor as he leaned back. To his surprise, he realized it was the first night he hadn’t dreamed of Moira. He knew it was probably due to his fatigue, so didn’t scrutinize it more.
His stomach grumbled, reminding him he hadn’t eaten since yesterday morning. Using the bed
as leverage, he pulled himself up. And stared at an empty bed.
Chapter Nine
Lugus blinked. Where was Ahryn? She had to be on the ship, but he had warned her just what her Fae magic could, and would, do to the sailors.
He threw open the cabin door and rushed down the narrow hall and up the stairs. As soon as he reached the deck he had to stop and shield his eyes from the bright sun. With his arm raised, he scanned the deck. When he didn’t find her at the railing, he began to walk the ship.
It wasn’t until he reached the other side that he found her. He stopped and braced his hands on his knees as he drew in a deep breath. The trepidation he had felt at not finding her scared the hell out of him. It had been a long time since he had felt such a strong emotion, and he didn’t know if he was ready to feel again.
When his breathing was under control, he walked to her and leaned against the railing beside her. They didn’t look at each other but stared at the water instead.
“Thank you for moving me to the bed,” she said.
He still recalled walking into the dark cabin and finding her huddled in the corner. Despite his fatigue, his rod had stirred as he lifted her and placed her on the bed.
“I couldn’t let you sleep as you were.”
She shrugged. “You needed the rest more than me. The floor couldn’t have been comfortable.”
“In truth, I was so tired I didn’t notice.”
“You bartered your sword.”
Lugus sighed and turned towards her. “Aye. I did.”
She faced him, her eyes troubled and her brow furrowed. “Why? That sword was magnificent.”
“And can be replaced. I will make another one.” He didn’t want her to know just how much the sword had meant to him or how easily he had given it to the captain to give her safe passage to the isle.
