by Donna Grant
With each run of his fingers, he slowly began to pull Ahryn back against him until she rested her head on one of his shoulders. He knew he shouldn’t tempt himself, but when it came to Ahryn he could never think straight.
Suddenly, her eyes opened and she looked at him. His mouth was near hers. All he had to do to taste her sweet lips again was move his head a fraction of an inch.
His aching rod begged him to take her, but he didn’t want to break the spell that held her soft body against him. It felt so good to hold her that he was content to do just that.
Lugus was prepared to stay there the entire night, but the black had made his way over and nudged him.
“We’ve tarried here long enough,” Ahryn said as she rose to her feet.
He raised his gaze as he stood and looked at the darkening sky. “I suppose. I know you are anxious to reach the gateway.”
“Just as you are anxious to return to your life.”
Lugus nodded absently. “Have you considered what may happen if we don’t reach the gateway?”
Her hand reached up and cupped his cheek. He looked down to see her searching his face.
“Don’t say that. We will reach it. I know you will never give up until we do.”
Her faith humbled him.
“Stop doubting yourself,” she said as she pulled his head down towards her.
Lugus’ body came alive. His blood pounded in his ears as he glanced at her inviting mouth. For several moments they stared at each other until she suddenly moved away. He sighed and watched as she gathered the remaining food.
“You haven’t eaten,” she said and held the food she had gathered out to him.
He waved away the offered food, his mind on other things. “I’ll eat later.”
She nodded and stuffed it into the small basket. When she was finished he lifted her atop the black, handed her the basket and vaulted onto the horse behind her.
Her soft body pressed back against him was nearly his undoing. Just moments before they had nearly kissed, and with his body already inflamed it was all he could do not to nuzzle her neck or run his hands across her velvety skin.
Using his iron will that had gotten him through the endless millennia of the Realm of Shadows, he was determined to forget about his need and growing attraction to Ahryn. In a day or so they should reach the gateway and she would be gone out of his life forever.
And somehow that made him sad.
She had managed to fill his days with more adventure and excitement than he had seen in more than five years. He hadn’t realized until he had been around her just how much he had hated being alone, though he had chosen his own state.
Whenever he tried to think of how his life would be once she was back in the Fae realm, he saw only bleakness.
He jerked his mind back to the present. The black was making steady headway following the coast. Ahryn shifted and unknowingly rubbed her firm bottom against his rod. Lugus couldn’t stop the hiss of pleasure that escaped his lips. Before she could turn around and ask him what was wrong, he nudged the horse into a canter which had her holding onto the black’s mane for dear life.
The rest of the night was spent in silence as Lugus contemplated his attraction to Ahryn and her sudden withdrawal from him. He had told himself at first that his attraction was because he hadn’t bedded a woman in years and needed release, but now he wasn’t so sure. And the more he thought about it, the more confused he became.
He alternated walking and galloping the black, which let them cover a lot of ground. By the time they stopped just a few hours before dawn, Lugus knew that they had traveled twice as far as he had hoped.
With a gentle pull on the reins, Lugus stopped the black and held onto Ahryn’s arm as he lowered her to the ground. He slid off the horse and walked the animal to a small shelter of trees and gave him a thorough rubdown.
When he was finished he turned and found Ahryn staring at the sea, her fair locks blowing in the breeze. She looked lonely and isolated, and he had the sudden urge to take her in his arms and comfort her.
The jingle of her slave bracelet caught his attention, and he followed her arm as she raised it to brush hair from her face. Lugus knew she would have to see Theron and tell him of the bracelet so other Fae could be warned in case there were other Celtic slave bracelets out there. Which meant she would tell Theron he helped her.
Lugus wished she would omit his part in the tale, but he knew she wouldn’t. For some reason she had gotten it in her mind that all she would have to do is talk to Theron and everything would be set right. Only Lugus knew better.
He really didn’t want her to discover his foul deeds, but he was just glad he wouldn’t be there when she did learn the truth. At least this way, she might remember him fondly for aiding her.
Lugus didn’t try to dissuade her from speaking to Theron because he knew it wouldn’t do any good. Theron would assume Lugus had done the act in order to be allowed back into the Fae realm, when in truth Lugus had helped because he had so much to atone for.
The fading moonlight shed its pale beam on Ahryn and her simple, elegant beauty stole Lugus’ breath. His feet moved on their own accord to her side. He didn’t try to speak to her as they watched the darkness loosen its hold on the sky, and as much as he wished to watch the sunrise, Lugus knew they needed sleep.
He took her hand and led her into the trees where they would sleep. After he removed his weapons and lowered himself to the ground, he gently pulled her down next to him.
“Lugus,” she said, but he quickly covered her lips with his finger. Her brow furrowed as she watched him, and he could see the doubt and confusion in her mystic blue eyes.
Lugus himself had no idea what he was doing, only that he wanted Ahryn in his arms, needed to feel her softness and warmth in an otherwise dead, cold world. He needed to feel alive again, and she gave him that. It was time he stopped running from her and the need she awoke.
As his gaze searched her eyes he saw something in her blue depths that touched him as he had never been touched before. And before he knew it, his mouth lowered to hers.
Just before his lips touched hers, she pulled back a fraction and studied him. Whatever she looked for she must have found for she raised her face to him.
The instant their lips met, Lugus felt a sizzle of awareness skim down his spine. It was as if a beast he had kept locked inside of him was unleashed.
He pulled her tight against his chest as he covered her body with his. He deepened the kiss as he ran his tongue into her mouth to duel with hers. The kiss empowered him as much as it weakened him, but he couldn’t get enough of her.
His hands skimmed her arms as they traveled down her body to her hips. The craving to rip her clothes from her body so he could see her in all her glory was so strong his hands shook.
He moved his hands to her head and buried them into the thick strands of her flaxen hair. And just as he reined in his raging desire, she moaned.
It was Lugus’ undoing.
His need was so powerful that he forgot everything and everyone except Ahryn.
Ahryn’s mind whirled with the incredible sensations that roared within her. Lugus’ kiss sent her spiraling out of control, and when he deepened the kiss, he stirred her already awoken desires that quickly flared to life and brought an ache between her legs.
Her hands clawed at his back as she tried desperately to feel his skin beneath her fingers, yet he continued to kiss her as though it was all he longed to do.
Then his hands glided over her body and brushed the outside of her breasts. And just as quickly his hands held her neck as he gave her a kiss that sent her senses soaring. A moan escaped her as his swollen rod pressed into her stomach. Her breasts grew heavy and her nipples taunt as she rubbed her hips against him.
She had seen the look in his eyes before they kissed. He knew exactly who was beneath him, and she would bet her life that he wasn’t thinking of Moira now. It was the only reason she had allowed the kiss.
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There was no denying she knew Lugus was going to make love to her. It was what she had prayed and hoped for. And as his mouth moved from her lips to her neck, Ahryn let her hands roam over his magnificent body.
His lips did incredible things to her. As his warm breath brushed across her skin, she heard herself sigh with delight. When she was about to scream with want of his hands on her body, he finally moved his arms.
She waited in breathless anticipation for him to cup her breasts or grind his hips against hers, but he did nothing. Ahryn gripped his shoulders and opened her eyes to see him staring down at her.
“What is it?” she asked hesitantly.
His jaw clenched. “Is that the only gown you have?”
“Aye.”
“Then I cannot rip it off of you.”
Ahryn smiled and pushed him off her as she sat up. “I’ll gladly take it off. All you had to do was ask.”
“Then consider this begging,” he said as his desire filled eyes pleaded with her.
Ahryn rose to her feet and quickly shed her shoes, stockings and gown. When she next looked up, it was to find Lugus removing his tunic. She moved to stand in front of him and ran her hands slowly over his sculpted torso.
“I’ve wanted to do this for so long,” she said as she placed kisses over him.
With a fierce growl Lugus pulled her away from him. “If you continue I will not be able to give you pleasure.”
“Touching you is pleasure enough,” she said and reached out for him again.
She thought she had won as she moved her hands over his chest to his trim waist, but he had other plans in mind. He pulled her tight against him so she felt his rod.
“My turn to play,” his husky voice said just before he claimed her mouth in a kiss that made her forget her name. His tongue touched every part of her mouth and demanded she give as much as he.
Ahryn eagerly returned the kiss, but with each stroke of his tongue the flames of desire leapt higher and higher until she thought she would burn to a cinder.
Then his hand reached up and cupped a breast. She sighed into his mouth, her sex now heated and moist. As his hand massaged her breast, she found her breath locked in her chest. Until his thumb grazed her nipple and her breath exploded from her as she cried out in pleasure.
She didn’t remember him lowering her to the ground until she found him on top of her again. The delicious weight of his body on her brought an intense throb through her center.
Her fingers threaded through his long, silky strands of hair as his mouth moved lower and lower until he hovered over her breast. His warm breath fanned her nipple, causing the tiny bud to hardened in expectation. Ahryn moved her hips as she tried to lower his head and felt the most delicious sensation as she met his hard rod. A sharp, powerful stab of pleasure shot through her as Lugus’ tongue ran over her nipple before he began to suckle while his other hand tweaked and pulled at her other nipple.
Pleasure like Ahryn had only dreamed of engulfed her and shot straight to her center. Yet she wanted more.
He moved his mouth from one breast to the other until Ahryn’s only coherent thought was to fulfill the raging desire that surged through her.
“Lugus,” she moaned as his mouth left her breasts to travel down her stomach.
She opened her eyes to see his tongue flick his tongue on her navel. Never had she known such passion could exist, but she wanted Lugus. Pulsing and hard inside of her.
Chapter Sixteen
Ahryn didn’t shy away from Lugus when he spread her legs and kneeled between them. She was spread open for him, her folds exposed to the air and his penetrating stare. She watched, fascinated, as he settled on his stomach and kissed first one thigh then the other.
With each kiss he drew closer and closer to her sex. As he hovered over her center she felt moisture run down her leg, and she knew he had done that to her.
He dipped his head and gave her sex a small, light lick that sent chills of anticipation across her body. Then he settled between her legs and gave her a kiss like no other. His tongue licked along her folds, dipped into her center then circled around her swollen nub.
The wonderful, succulent longing that washed over her made her arch her back as she pushed closer to him, wanting more and crying out from the sheer pleasure of it.
And just when she didn’t think she could stand any more, he pushed a finger inside of her. She gasped and stilled as even more sensations rocketed through her, locking the breath in her lugs. Then he began to move his finger in and out of her as his tongue played skillfully over her sex.
Ahryn cried out as she felt herself building toward something, something so intense and amazing that she couldn’t wait to reach it.
Lugus’ name was wrenched from her lips as the first waves of her orgasm caught her, yet he never stopped his ministrations. He continued to stroke and lick her, bringing her higher and higher until the last bursts of her climax had claimed her.
Ahryn had never felt so...special...in all her life, and she didn’t want it to end. She glanced up through the thick foliage to see the sun making its ascent. Her body still convulsed from her orgasm, but she wanted to touch Lugus’ body as he had touched her.
When he rose over her she returned his smile then reached up and pushed him onto his back. She rolled over until she leaned over him.
“Let me touch you.”
He shook his head slowly, his eyes sad. “In truth, I should never have laid a hand on you.”
“I’m glad you did, but now I want to return the pleasure.”
He started to shake his head again, but Ahryn reached between their bodies, cupped his hard rod and gently squeezed. A moan tore from his throat as his eyes rolled back in his head.
She moved between his legs and ran her hand up and down the length of him. His rod strained against his pants and jumped each time she touched him. She quickly opened his pants and freed him. The sight of his hard rod jutting out made her sex clench and want him deep inside of her.
Her hand reached out and stroked the rigid, velvety length of him. When she heard him moan she became more aggressive and wrapped her hand around him as she slowly moved her hand up and down his length.
A drop of liquid formed at the tip of his rod. Her eyes caught his as she leaned down and licked the moisture. A hiss passed through Lugus’ lips just as she leaned down and took him in her mouth.
Lugus’ hand dug into the ground as Ahryn’s sweet mouth took him inside of her. It had been torture enough when her hands had explored him, but when she licked him, it had nearly sent him over the edge. He had never been so hard, wanted so deeply as now. It was too much to refuse her.
And now as she took him deeper and deeper into her mouth, he found himself wishing he were plunging into her tight sheath, burying so deep that he would touch her womb.
Lugus felt his need rising as she sucked and cupped his sacs. He groaned and jerked as his climax pulled him under. Before he succumbed, he pulled Ahryn up and onto his chest as his seed poured from him with an orgasm so strong that for a moment he thought he had died.
~ ~ ~
“What do you have to be so pleased about?” Theron asked his wife as she walked seductively to their bed that he reclined on.
She shrugged and climbed onto the bed, allowing him a glimpse of her breast. “Nothing special, my love.”
“Now I know you lie,” he said with a laugh as his eyes feasted on a nipple that hardened before his eyes. “Tell me,” he demanded as she crawled on her hands and knees until she was even with him.
She leaned over and kissed him, her tongue licking his lips before she sat back and stared.
“You are making me uneasy, Rufina,” Theron said. It wasn’t like his wife to be so pensive.
“Something has happened.”
Theron sat up, all traces of play gone. “What is it?”
She reached over and took his hand and placed it on her stomach.
Theron stared at his hand then loo
ked up at his wife. “Are you sick?”
She laughed and shook her head. “For the ruler of the entire Fae realm, you can be dense some times.”
Theron looked again at his hand on her stomach -- then jerked his gaze to her. “Are you....”
“Carrying your heir in my womb? I am,” she answered with a bright smile.
Theron grabbed her to him and closed his eyes as he said a prayer of thanks. For centuries they had hoped for a child and had nearly given up.
“Are you sure?” he asked as he grabbed her shoulders and pulled her back so he could look into her eyes.
“I’m positive. Are you happy?”
“Ecstatic, my love,” he said just before he kissed her.
~ ~ ~
Lugus woke with a smile on his face and Ahryn in his arms. He didn’t regret the pleasure they had shared, though he knew it could never go further. If any of the Fae knew she had shared herself with him, she would never be able to find a mate.
“Awake. And with a smile,” Ahryn said as she grinned and sat up.
He shrugged and stretched. “Did you sleep well?” “Like a newborn Fae.”
“I think we’re very close to the gateway,” Lugus said as he rose to his feet and fastened his pants and donned his tunic.
She stopped pulling on her own garments and stared at him. “Truly?”
“I think so. Are you ready to ride?”
“Give me just a moment.”
While she finished dressing, Lugus went to the black and made sure the horse was ready. In no time at all he had Ahryn on the back of the black and they were once again on the road. He wouldn’t tell Ahryn, but he was almost positive they would find the gateway that day.
Ahryn watched the satisfied expression on Lugus’ face. He seemed more relaxed and open since they had woke. Her body still tingled for his touch, and it was on the tip of her tongue to ask him to stop so she could taste him once again.
