Time And Time Again (Out Of Time Book 1)

by Pandora Pine

  “Your heart, am I? More like your hole.” Carter pulled away from Fionn’s iron grasp.

  “I simply meant that Donnall…”

  Temperance’s shrill whinny stopped Fionn’s explanation in its tracks. Argument forgotten, they turned and ran back to her stall.

  “What’s happening?” Carter asked, vaulting over the low door and into her stall. Temperance was lying on her left side and appeared to be laboring hard.

  “The mare is struggling mightily,” Davin said sadly.

  “Why do you sound so sad?” Carter asked, moving toward the horse.

  “Stay back, lad. She will not let anyone near her.”

  “Bullshit,” Carter hissed. He moved gently toward her. “It’s okay, beautiful. It’s okay,” Carter soothed, reaching her head. He stroked her cheek and turned to Fionn. “How do we help her?”

  Grateful Carter was speaking to him at least for Temperance’s sake, he said, “We shall have to wait and see what happens. The danger to both the mother and the baby increases the longer the labor lasts.”

  It wasn’t going well. The sun was beginning to rise and Carter estimated Temperance had been in labor for at least six hours. He knew the danger for mother and foal was growing greater with each minute that passed. Carter was kneeling at Temperance’s massive head whispering words of praise and stroking her face.

  “Carter, I will need your assistance,” Fionn said. “The foal needs to be pulled from her body. If we do not remove the baby, we will lose them both.”

  Tears pricked Carter’s eyes. “No, we’re not losing either of them. Tell me what to do.” Carter kissed the laboring horse and made his way back to Fionn.

  “It is too dangerous for you to help. I will need you to stay at the mare’s head and keep whispering to her calmly like you have been doing.”

  Carter’s eyes blazed in anger. He wasn’t going to stand idly by when he could help the mare and her unborn foal. “Davin, what do I need to do to help?”

  With a troubled look on his face, Davin looked back and forth between Fionn and Carter, “I do not wish to upset you, Fionn, but the boy has the smallest hands out of all of us.” When Fionn nodded his head slightly, he turned to Carter. “I will need you to reach within the mare and pull the baby free,” he said.

  “How do I start?” Carter asked, rubbing his hands down Temperance’s neck.

  “You need to reach inside her and feel for the foal. I tried earlier and she kicked at me, lad. A kick like that will kill you if she makes contact.”

  “I’ll be fine,” he said to Davin. He turned back to the laboring horse. “Let me help you, sweetheart,” he whispered and stroked her face. “Tell me what to do.” He stood and moved toward the rear of the horse.

  “Reach inside the horse and tell me what you feel,” Davin said nervously.

  “Just make sure it’s the right hole,” Donnall offered with a grin.

  Fionn shot him a dangerous look.

  “What?” he asked innocently, “The lad knows nothing about horses.”

  Carter moved behind the horse. He could see her legs pull back in defense. “It’s okay, beautiful. I’m gonna help you and your baby,” Carter cooed to the horse. He bent down and tried to gather his courage. He’d never done anything remotely close to this before.

  “Reach in with your hands together, like this.” Fionn placed one hand palm up and set the other hand on top of it, palm down. “Keep your fingers together.”

  Carter did as he instructed. “It’s okay,” he said to the horse when she whinnied at his intrusion.

  Fionn opened the door to the stall. He saw the horse tense and started whispering to her as he had seen Carter do. “You are safe, Temperance. Neither Carter nor I will hurt you.” He kept his eyes on the edgy mare as he continued to move toward her head. “It was a simple misunderstanding,” Fionn said softly.

  Carter figured he was speaking to him and looked up to see a regretful look in his blue eyes. He was about to look away when the tips of his fingers brushed something solid. “I can feel something,” he said calmly.

  “Is it a hoof?” Davin asked.

  “Carter reached forward a bit more. “Yeah, I think so.”

  “How many do you feel?” Fionn asked gently, rubbing the horse’s head.

  “Just the one.” Carter scooted closer, hoping he would be able to reach deeper inside the horse to feel for the other hoof.

  “Try to find the other. You are going to need to grab both ankles to ease the foal free,” Davin said. “Now that she’s calmer, do you want to do it, Fionn?”

  “No,” Fionn said quietly. “She trusts Carter as do I. He can do this.”

  In any other circumstance, Carter would have welcomed Fionn’s vote of confidence. In this moment, it felt like cold comfort. He pushed Fionn from his mind and focused on finding the foal’s second hoof. He reached deeper and Temperance responded with a sharp whinny. “I know, beautiful. It hurts. You’re so brave. So brave,” Carter cooed. His fingers hit something hard. “Found it,” he whispered triumphantly.

  “Grab hold of the forelegs and begin to pull the foal free. I do not need to tell you to be gentle.” Davin said.

  It was tight quarters for Carter to move. “Okay, got them. Now what?”

  “Get up on your feet, my heart, and dig them into the floor. You will need to pull using the strength of your legs.”

  Carter frowned at Fionn using his special nickname in front of Donnall and Davin, especially while they were fighting. It was late and he was too tired to deal with this kind of emotional blackmail. He did as Fionn instructed and tried to pull the foal free. He felt the baby move a bit and he adjusted his hands to pull again. “Come on, beautiful girl, you can do it,” Carter said and pulled with all of his strength.

  “Is it moving?” Fionn asked, concern marring his handsome face.

  “A bit,” Carter said and pulled again. He pulled until he felt the baby slide forward. He kept pulling and saw his hands reappear holding tiny hooves. “It’s partway out,” Carter said tiredly.

  “Keep going,” Fionn encouraged. “It has been far too long as it is. I know you can do it, Carter.”

  Carter rearranged himself and grabbed the tiny foal’s ankles. If he was this tired, he could only imagine how tired Temperance must be. “Here we go, mama, get ready to meet your baby.” Carter gave one last pull and the foal spilled free from her body landing on Carter’s chest as he fell backward. The tiny horse was butt to nose with him.

  “Well, what is it?” Donnall asked from the door.

  “Heavy,” Carter groaned, trying to move himself out from under the newborn horse.

  Fionn came around to help Carter and the baby. “It is a girl,” he said triumphantly. He moved the baby off Carter’s chest and helped him back to his feet. “Thank you, my heart. You have saved both of them. You may gift the baby girl with her name,” he said with a smile.

  Carter blinked several times to hold the tears at bay. “Since she kept us waiting for so long, we should call her Patience.”

  “’Tis a fine name, lad,” Davin said, stepping into the stall to check on Temperance’s welfare. She was already trying to get back to her feet to see to her baby’s needs.

  “Come on. Out!” Donnall said opening the stall door for Carter and Fionn. “She is going to need time to bond with her wee lass.” Both men stepped out of the stall. “And you need a bath,” Donnall laughed when Carter got a good look at his ruined clothes.

  “How long until she can stand on her own?” Carter asked excitedly. He had done it. He helped bring a new life into the world.

  “Should be any time now,” Fionn reached out to squeeze Carter’s hands.

  Carter surprised himself by not pulling away and squeezing back. He knew Fionn wanted to explain what he meant earlier. Instead of being angry and holding a grudge, he wanted to hear Fionn out. Try as he would to deny it, he was in love with his stubborn warrior and he deserved the chance to explain. “Come on, little one,�
�� Carter urged the foal who was trying to stand. “You can do it.”

  The tiny foal wobbled a bit and managed to find her balance.

  “She did it! She’s standing,” Carter said excitedly and then yawned.

  “Say good night, princess. It is time to get you a bath and then into bed.”

  Carter’s body shivered. He may be pissed off at Fionn, but his body wasn’t. His traitorous cock twitched and started filling with blood. He nodded. “Good night, ladies,” Carter said to mother and baby.

  “Good job, lad,” Donnall said, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “Let him explain,” he said low enough so only Carter could hear him.

  Carter nodded and headed toward the barn door, needing a moment to himself before Fionn caught up to him.

  Fionn’s heart sank when Carter left without him. How was he ever going to explain what he meant if Carter wouldn’t give him a chance? It had been a long night and all he wanted to do was hold Carter until they both fell asleep. Once Carter had a bath that was, he smelled awful.

  “Are you going to stand here looking lost or are you going after him?” Donnall asked.

  Fionn growled and took off after Carter. He could hear Donnall laughing as he ran toward the barn door.

  Carter was standing outside the foaling barn when Fionn ran past him. “Where’s the fire?” he called.

  “My heart, thank the gods.” Fionn panted, retracing his steps back to Carter.

  Carter walked to catch up with him and they started back toward the castle together in silence.

  “Carter, I am sorry if I gave you the wrong impression about how I feel about you. Warriors tend to take care of their bodily needs with whoever is willing or available. Donnall’s preference is women, while mine has always been men.”

  Carter opened his mouth to interrupt, but before he could, Fionn held up a hand to stop him.

  “I spend my free time loving you because you make me happy to be me, princess. You make me want to be a better, less stubborn warrior for you. I spoke rashly and in generalities earlier. Can you forgive me?” He stopped walking and turned to watch Carter’s reaction.

  “Of course I forgive you, Fionn. Can you forgive me for jumping to conclusions?”

  “I forgave you hours ago, princess,” Fionn said, relief flowing through his body. He had never been so scared in his life, not even in the heat of battle, as he was that Carter might not forgive him.

  Carter took a step forward to hug him.

  Fionn held up a hand to stop him. “We can hug once you have bathed. You smell like a baby horse.”

  30

  Carter reached for Fionn when he woke up, but found himself alone in their bed. He could tell from the amount of daylight in the room that it was close to noon. He stretched and sat up in bed. Instead of being mad Fionn let him sleep late, he wondered where he was and hoped he had gotten enough sleep. Being with Fionn was making him a better man too.

  A loud thump and a string of curses outside the bedroom door gave Carter a clue as to where his grumpy warrior was. There was more fumbling and more colorful four-letter words before Carter finally got out of bed and opened the door himself.

  “For fuck’s sake, did I wake you?” Fionn asked noticing Carter’s naked and aroused form. “Why are you opening the door stark naked?”

  “Good morning to you too, grumpy warrior.” Carter laughed. “I opened the door because I could hear your voice outside. If my naked body bothers you,” he paused to slide a hand down his erection, “I can put clothes on.”

  Fionn pushed past him into the room and set the food laden tray he was carrying on the table with a thump. “No,” he said, stalking back toward Carter. He went down on his knees in front of him, licking his full lips while he stared up at him. “Feed me, princess,” he whispered opening his mouth wide.

  Carter put his hand on the back of his lover’s neck and pushed his cock into Fionn’s velvet heat. “Fuck, Fionn,” Carter said, losing himself.

  Fionn gagged when Carter hit the back of his throat and moaned for more when Carter pulled back.

  “You like that, Fionn? You like sucking my cock?”

  Fionn nodded and moaned around Carter’s meat.

  “So fuckin’ good,” Carter whispered, feeling himself getting closer to the end. “Better get ready,” Carter panted, fucking himself into Fionn’s mouth faster and faster. “Fionn!” he called and exploded in his lover’s mouth.

  Fionn tried to breathe through his nose as pulse after pulse of Carter’s release coated his tongue. He swallowed his mouthful when Carter pulled his deflating cock from his mouth.

  Carter hit his knees in front of Fionn. “Good morning.” He pressed his lips to Fionn who opened his mouth, his tongue thrusting into Carter’s eager mouth. He could taste himself on his lover’s tongue and moaned into his mouth. “Stand up, let me return the favor.”

  “No,” Fionn said with a smile. “It is nearly time for the noon meal. We must eat and be on our way.”

  Carter frowned. “Can’t we spend the rest of the day in bed and leave in the morning?”

  Fionn laughed and regained his feet. “Come, Carter.”

  “I just did,” he pouted, “now it’s your turn.”

  “There will be plenty of time to pleasure me once we are settled into the woods.”

  An hour later, Carter was flying through Moone on Cerberus’ back, trying to keep up with Fionn and Brimstone.

  Fionn had ordered him to only pack a few changes of clothes. He said he would see to the rest of the provisions. From his position behind Brimstone, the saddlebags did not appear to be stuffed to overflowing.

  Being behind Fionn gave Carter a chance to study his lover. His blond hair was flying loose in the wind. He was wearing a blue tunic which he knew would make Fionn’s eyes glow and fawn colored breeches which hugged his legs and ass perfectly. His ramrod straight posture in the saddle was perfect and the twin globes of his ass were repeatedly slapping the saddle, keeping his own cock rock-hard from the moment they rode through the gate of Moone Castle.

  Fionn turned back to look for Carter who was about one hundred feet behind him. He signaled Brimstone to slow his pace. “We are nearly there, princess. How are your nether regions bearing up to your time in the saddle?”

  “I feel spanked,” Carter whined.

  Fionn growled and leaned over to press his lips to Carter’s.

  Carter opened his mouth to respond when Cerberus started to nervously dance away from the other stallion.

  “Stallions do not like being in such close quarters,” Fionn explained.

  “They don’t know what they’re missing,” he teased. “Are we there yet?”

  “Almost. Are you hungry?”

  “Yes, but not for food.” Carter ran a hand up the hard ridge of his cock through his dark breeches.

  “Horseback riding makes you hard, princess?” Fionn leered.

  Carter shook his head. “No, but watching your ass slap the saddle for an hour does.” Carter dragged his tongue slowly over his bottom lip.

  “We will be there soon, but then we must make camp and hunt for our supper.”

  Carter pouted. He had a long list of things he wanted to do and making camp and hunting weren’t in the top five. “Okay, let’s hit the road.”

  “Know my body craves yours, princess.” He clicked his tongue and set Brimstone to a gallop.

  “What do you think of our location?” Fionn asked once the horses had been tended to.

  “It’s beautiful.” Fionn had picked an area on a small rise near a river. The water was pure and glittering blue in the afternoon sunlight. The spot where they would pitch their tent was flat and grassy, on the outskirts of the forest. Fionn had assured him it would perfectly suit their needs for hunting and fishing.

  The only need Carter cared about was privacy. He was looking forward to having Fionn all to himself for the next day or so, without the weight of running Moone Castle on his shoulders.

  “Let us set
up the tent and then we will set traps for our supper.”

  Carter shook his head and wrapped his arms around his lover’s hips. Leaning up on tip toes, he licked over the hot skin of his neck. He would never tire of kissing Fionn.

  “There will be time for that later, princess. We have more important tasks to see to before the weather turns.”