Fated Mates

by ML Guida

  But he didn’t answer.

  She ran her shaking hand through her hair. He was face down. She knelt next to him. He was such a tall and muscular man. His dark hair spread around him like a wreath. She lifted his shoulder and gritted her teeth. She pushed as hard as she could. He slumped back down on the ground.

  “Damn it.”

  She refused to give up. Taking another deep breath, she shoved, using all of her strength, and slowly pushed him onto his back. Mud had splashed onto his pale face and his shirt.

  His lips had turned gray.

  “Please, donna leave me, Fergus. I need ye.” She put her hand over his nose and barely felt any breath.

  She cradled his head in her lap and then brushed the mud off his face with her hands. He was like a frozen statue. Tears slid down her face, splashing onto the smeared dirt on his face. Why couldn’t she have his healing power?

  Her throat closed up. “Come back to me, Fergus.” Her voice shook with a loss that tore at her very core. She couldn’t lose him. Not now.

  She picked the leaves and twigs out of his silky hair, then leaned over, kissing him on his forehead. “I need ye.”

  All the fear and terror bubbled up inside her. The wall she’d built to keep it locked inside her crumbled. She quietly sobbed, rocking Fergus back and forth, cradling his head in her arms.

  She couldn’t do this fight without him. He’d become her rock and now, he was slipping away from her.

  “Elspeth?” Fergus’s low voice broke through her despair.

  She smiled. “Yer alive.”

  He gave her a weak smile. “Was I dead?”

  She laughed. “Thank God, no!”

  His eyes turned solemn. “You wept for me. You cared?”

  Her tears blurred her vision. “With all my heart.” She put her hand on her chest.

  He slipped his hand around her neck and pulled her toward him. She parted her lips, inhaling his weak breath. Their kiss turned hot, desperate and determined. Tingling sensations burned in her chest. Strength pushed through her veins.

  Fergus wrapped his arm around her waist and rolled her on the damp grass. He planted kisses down her throat.

  She laughed.

  He lifted his head. “You’re laughing?”

  She ran her fingers down his stubbled chin. “Yer beard tickles.”

  “Do you want me to stop?”

  She shook her head. “No. I want ye to love me. I want ye to claim ye.”

  “Are ye sure? Once done, it canna be undone.” Fear echoed in his words as if he were afraid she’d push him away.

  She put her hand on his chest. “Are ye saying ye donna want me?”

  Passion flared in his eyes. “I’ve wanted you the first day I saw you. My heart has always belonged to you.” His husky voice stroked a need inside her.

  He’d always been gentle with her, never forceful.

  She frowned. “Will mating hurt?”

  He shook his head. “No. Why are you worried? You’re shaking.” He slowly sat, pulling her with him.

  She cleared her throat. “I thinking of that poor––”

  “During the Culloden war?”

  She nodded. “The guards brought a poor girl into my cell. They…they took turns with her.” More tears flooded down her cheeks.

  He took her in his arms. “Fates, I’m sorry, Elspeth.” He kissed the top of her head. “Did they hurt you?”

  She clutched his shirt with her fists. “No, but I’ll never forget her screams. And the blood.”

  He lifted her chin. “Those men raped that poor girl. Consensual sex isn’t like that. It’s pleasurable for both the woman and the man. I promise you. We still don’t have to do this. I can wait.”

  That was a lie. His face was pale and his hands still shook. Kissing wasn’t enough for him.

  Once again, he was thinking of her and not himself. He almost died, but she still came first. She couldn’t lose him.

  Not now. Not ever.

  She put her hands on his cheeks. “I trust ye. I’m just scared.”

  “I know.” He smiled. “I’ll tell you a secret.”

  “What?”

  “I am too.”

  Her eyes widened. “You are? Why?”

  “Because I don’t want to disappoint you. All I have ever wanted was to please you and bring you happiness. The last thing I ever want to do is to bring you more pain.”

  “You’ve never brought me pain, Fergus. And I don’t think ye’ll do it now.” She clasped his hand and stood.

  He hobbled to his feet. Any minute, she was sure he’d pass out again.

  “Are you sure about this?”

  She kissed his hand. “I’m sure.”

  He led her toward the cave. “Tell me if you want me to stop and I will.”

  “I thought men couldn’t stop when they started to take a woman.”

  He frowned. “That’s an old wives tale created by selfish men. Yes, we can stop. You’re more precious to me than anything, Elspeth. I will only do what you want to me to do.” He pulled her to chest. “You’re in control. Not me.”

  “Thank ye,” she said shyly.

  She followed him into the cave, battling the demons telling her to run. Her body shook and fear pooled in her gut. She wanted to believe that sex could be pleasurable, but her memory said it was a lie.

  The cave was cool and damp, but she didn’t detect anything foul.

  “We’re lucky,” Fergus said, as he took off his shirt. “There’s nothing residing in this cave. I fear Ian or his voodoo priestess saw to that.”

  The dim light flickered off his broad back. His muscles rippled with his tiny movement of spreading his shirt onto the ground. “What is a voodoo priestess?”

  “In this case, it’s someone who practices dark magic.” She cleared her throat. “What are ye doing?”

  “You don’t think I would have you lie on a pile of dirt, do you?”

  She folded her arms and shifted on her feet. “I donna know.”

  He patted his shirt. “Please, sit.”

  Elspeth forced herself to sit next to him, but her spine was as stiff as a board. He pushed her hair back gently.

  “Are you sure you want to do this?”

  “Aye, I am.” She bowed her head, heat swelling on her cheeks. “Do ye want me to take off my clothes?”

  “No, not yet. I want you to relax.” He picked up her hand and kissed her wrist, sending chills racing up her arm.

  “I’m trying.” But her quiet voice sounded brittle.

  “Let me help you.”

  She frowned. “How?”

  He gestured with his arm. “Lie on your stomach.”

  She unbuttoned her jeans.

  He clasped her shaking hands. “Not yet. Please, lie on your stomach.”

  Her nerves were twisted into tight knots. “What are ye going to do?”

  He patted the back of his shirt that was on the ground. “Please.”

  She shrugged, not sure what he was about to do, but she did as he asked and lay on his shirt. She looked over his shoulder. “What are ye doing?”

  He smiled. “You’ll see.” He clapped his hands, then he rubbed his palms faster and faster.

  Chrakk

  She nearly jumped out of her skin. Her eyes widened. Sparks flickered in between his fingers. “What…what are ye going to do?”

  “Relax. I’m not going to hurt you.” He gently clasped her shoulders. Even through her shirt, his hands were warm, stealing away the cold air. He kneaded her muscles with his fingers that worked out every single kink until she sighed.

  He leaned over. “Do ye mind if I lift the back of your shirt?”

  She tensed again. “No, I donna mind.” A lie, but she wouldn’t admit the truth.

  He gently moved her shirt up to her neck, the tips of his fingers making her shiver. “You’re not wearing a bra?”

  “What’s a bra?”

  He laughed. “Obviously, your sisters haven’t told you about women’s u
nder garments in the twenty-first century.”

  She had no idea what a bra was and would ask her sisters. “Are you upset?”

  “No, not at all.” He spread his palms over her bare back. “You’re still tense.”

  Before she could answer, he pounded her back softly as if she were a drum. The drumming turned to kneading. His expert fingers and palms dug and loosened up bunched up muscles, finding every knot and kink until she was pile of putty.

  She sighed softly.

  “Feels good?”

  “Aye,” she murmured.

  “Good.” He swept the hair off the back on her neck and kissed her flesh.

  “Feels nice.” His lips were warm and soft for such a strong warrior.

  He pulled her shirt down, then stretched out next to her. Disappointment filled her of not feeling his hands on her body.

  “Can I kiss you?”

  She nodded. “Aye, ye may.”

  He kissed her briefly on the lips, sending warmth through her. His lashes were dark against his cheeks, and his mouth looked so inviting, but she froze, too afraid to do anything else.

  “May I make another request?”

  “Aye.”

  “Will you take off your shirt?”

  She tensed. God, they really were going to do this. She couldn’t answer him, but sat up. Taking a deep breath, she grabbed the edge of her shirt, closed her eyes, and yanked it off.

  Cold air rushed over her, making her nipples bud.

  “Your beautiful, Elspeth.”

  Her cheeks turned red-hot. She nodded, not knowing what else to say.

  “Will you roll onto your back?”

  She wrapped her arms around her waist, trying to hide her breasts, but then slowly lie on her back.

  “Elspeth, do you want to stop?”

  “No.”

  Her voice was sharp, maybe too sharp.

  He cocked his eyebrow. “That didn’t sound too convincing.”

  She gave him a small smile. “No, I guess it didna, but I donna want to stop.”

  “Trust me.” He clasped her wrists and slowly moved them to her side. “That’s better.”

  Her heart beating wildly, she squeezed her eyes tight, waiting for the pain like the poor girl had experienced. Men had slobbered all over her and their fingers had clawed her skin. At least she only had one man mauling her flesh, but then again, he was an alien. She shuddered, thinking of what an alien could do to her, ripping, scratching, or biting her skin. Would she even survive?

  Chapter 9

  Fergus laughed and shook his head.

  Elspeth opened up one eye. “Why are ye laughing?”

  “You!” He clasped her shaking hand. “You look you’re ready for me to perform some sort of horrible experiment on you.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be.” His eyes turned solemn. “I can’t tell you how long I’ve dreamed of this moment. You’re more beautiful than I could ever imagine.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes.” He lowered his head and before she knew what happened he captured her lips with his. Warmth spread through her from her lips down to her stiff toes, and she forget about everything except for his kiss.

  He stretched out next to her. They were skin-to-skin, flesh-to-flesh. She felt the tremor in his hands as they slipped down the curves of her body. She gasped when thumb brushed her nipple, sending sensations all through her shaking body. She was aware of everything around her––the smell of spicy scent, the roughness of his thumb, and the eagerness of his lips. Instead of lying like a dead fish, she hesitantly moved her hands over his naked back, marveling at how his strong muscles moved underneath her palms.

  Fergus planted kisses down her throat, his thumb still brushing her nipple. Goosebumps broke out over her skin and she quaked.

  He immediately stopped kissing her. “Are you scared?”

  Sensitive sensations pooled inside her, creating a need she never thought possible––desire, desire for a man. “No. I donna what’s happening. I have never felt like this before.”

  “I’ll bring you pleasure, if you let me.”

  She nodded wordlessly, not sure what he would do next.

  He captured her nipple with his hot mouth, driving the air out of her lungs. His tongue swirled around her breast, igniting a hunger she never thought possible. His stubble beard scratched her, but instead of pain, it was pleasurable, white blinding pleasurable. For the length of two, three pulse beats she thought she’d faint. No man had ever been so intimate with her.

  As if by instinct, she drove her hands into his thick hair. His mouth stay fastened to her breast, sending sweet sensations all through her. A wild passion unleashed inside her. She arched her back allowing him to take more of flesh deeper into his mouth. A low moan escaped her lips as if she were a wolf in heat.

  But she nearly jumped off the ground when his hand slipped inside her jeans and his hand cupped her feminine core. His thumb rubbed her clit and she cried out.

  “Fergus.”

  “Trust me,” he murmured.

  Something in the timbre of his voice turned Elspeth’s bones to jelly. He slipped a finger inside her core, stroking a fire she never thought possible. Unfamiliar tingles swept over her, making her shudder.

  She could barely get the words out. “What…what are ye doing?”

  He left her breast and kissed his way down to her stomach. “I told you––bringing you pleasure.”

  Before she knew what was happening, he slowly edged her jeans down her hips. Her heart nearly exploded in her chest as he stood up and pulled her jeans off. She waited for the pain when he would pierce her with his cock, ripping her apart like those jailers had done to that poor girl.

  The pleasure slowly faded from her body replaced with a fear that nearly paralyzed her.

  She thought he’d rip off his pants, but instead, he knelt in front of her.

  Her eyes widened. “What…what––”

  He got on all fours and stared at her dark curls. “You’re still much too tense for mating.”

  She couldn’t make a sound and could only watch him. He lowered his dark head then he did something that was totally unexpected––he kissed her dark mound.

  “Fergus!” Her heart practically jumped out of her throat.

  He inserted his wicked tongue inside her folds, licking her into a frenzy. She dug her fingers into the dirt, trying to withstand the ballooning feelings inside her. Blood pumped through her faster and faster. Heat swelled inside her like a huge balloon, making her skin red-hot. She couldn’t believe a man and woman would do such a thing.

  A crest of her first orgasm peaked and she exploded, crying out his name. Stars blinded her vision.

  “You’re ready,” he murmured, as he stood.

  He stripped off his jeans and his cock protruded. Fear strangled her lungs. It was bigger and thicker than the jailers who had raped that poor girl.

  Her eyes nearly popped out of her head. She lifted herself on her forearms and crossed her legs tight. “Fergus, yer too huge.”

  “I promise you it will only hurt for a moment.” He knelt beside her and lifted her chin. “Will you trust me one more time?”

  She could barely breathe. “I donna know.”

  “Please. If you decided to change your mind, we’ll stop.”

  She bit her lip. Fergus hadn’t lied to her yet. Hoping she wasn’t making a mistake, she nodded. “Aye.”

  He slowly settled on top of her and his cock pressed against her thigh. She was shaking so bad she couldn’t stop.

  Fergus kissed her then nuzzled her ear. “Spread your legs.”

  She closed her eyes and did as he said. He rubbed her clit, kindling another wave of desire.

  “Will it hurt?”

  “Only for a moment. Do you want to stop?”

  She frowned. A need buried inside her woke up. It was as if her body craved him, ignoring the memory in her brain.

  Fergus had been there when she needed
him most. She risked her life for him. A feeling she never thought she’d experienced burned in her chest. She looked into his intense eyes. If she didn’t do this, he could fall apart again, or worse, Marduk would change him with his terrible machine. “No, I want to do this.”

  She lifted chin and spread her legs. He nestled his hips between hers, his cock pushing against her sensitive folds. She gritted her teeth and braced herself for pain.

  Fergus captured her lips, kissing her until her fear slowly faded away. Suddenly, his cock slid inside her, breaking her barrier. A sharp pain gripped her. She gasped, unable to cry out. He filled her, her tiny muscles clutched him.

  He didn’t move, but his kiss turned more demanding, more intense, more passionate. She met his passion and ran the tips of her down his back. She suddenly realized he was shaking as bad as she was and she could feel his heart thundering as loud as hers.

  “Move with me,” he murmured.

  Fergus slid his cock back and forth, the ridges teasing her sensitive folds. The pain subsided and pleasure burst inside her like a roaring river crashing down the mountain side. She moved her hips, slamming into his, taking his hard flesh deep inside her. She clawed his back and screamed. Nothing had prepared her for such a wonderful delight. She crossed her legs over his hips, wanting to draw out every bit of his passion.

  A white aura flooded around them like a cocoon. Sensitive sensations sizzled all around her. A warm sensation spread across one breast. Power burst inside her, filling every pore. Strength bulked up her muscles. She felt like she could take on a dragon by herself.

  He arched his back, spilling his warm inside her. His orgasm was as fierce as her own. He collapsed on top of her gasping for breath.

  Tears blurred her vision.

  “Elspeth,” he gasped. “I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?”

  “No,” she smiled. “I never thought this passion could happen between a man and a woman. Is it always like this?”

  “Only with you.” He playfully bit her lip. “Elspeth, I love you.”

  She clapped his cheeks. “And I you.”

  He kissed her hard. She devoured him, not believing how much she cared for this man. He’d slipped into her heart when she hadn’t been looking.

  “Elspeth, do you know what this means?”

  “Aye, it means ye belong to me.” She grinned. “Forever.”