Liam’s emotions are spiraling along with hers. When Carmina’s arms move around his neck to pull herself into him, he can feel the passion and acceptance thundering between them. The strength and power she displays closely matches his own and Liam feels his control slipping. He did not expect the intensity in her response. The heat from her face as she buries her head into his shoulder biting down hard on his neck met with the ice in his body. He hears her moaning as she pull her mouth back into a warm pulling kiss and Liam responds with a sensual, powerful growl. His hand finds her hair again and he pulls her head away just far enough to search her face. The hazel-green eyes that meet his somewhat choke him. The bright gold tint glows past his own and it is the gaze of the Wolf soaking up her features.
***
I feel the change in me. My own desire rises like an animal and I have no control over my body. The guttural sigh escaping Liam’s throat causes a frenzy inside me. My heart thunders in my ears and I can hear my blood rushing through me. I don’t know where the sound comes from that breaks over my lips but I feel it breaking free from my stomach, pushing into my chest and escaping into the air around us. I see the Wolf, I feel the nature and there is nothing I want more than to belong to this man.
I feel Liam’s arm tighten around me, wrapping all the way around below my waist. The other snakes across, his palm flat against my shoulder blade, pulling me into his chest. The embrace is a gentle power, slow and intense and the energy flowing between us twisting and turning, spiraling around us. Liam’s figure cradles around me and I close my eyes. I feel his lips pushing down, the pressure and urgency bruising against mine. Like before, I taste my own blood and push into him harder, bathing in his response to the taste. The first kiss we shared tumbles down in memory around us, sharing the intensity that existed since then.
“I’m dangerous for you,” I hear him inside my consciousness.
“And I am dangerous for you.” I answer without hesitation.
Liam’s arms tighten and the air blasts from my lungs. I notice his hands closing into a fist, grabbing the material underneath them, tearing into the fabric. The kiss slows down, becoming more sensual, enticing. Slowly, Liam lifts his head away from me, licking his lips turning his face up to the ceiling. When I move, he twitches into a powerful hold keeping me still but, otherwise, he does not move.
After a time, I feel the tension ease, his arms relaxing around me, his fists opening and cold palms pressing on my naked skin. I lean against him and rest my head against his chest, forcing my body to relax. We sit like this for the longest time before Liam speaks, in a throaty voice: “I love you Carmina. Don’t leave again, don’t choose someone else and please… don’t close the door between us.”
It was some time before I found enough control over my emotions and trusted my own voice to speak.
“I am not afraid to suffer life anymore,”
Liam’s body stiffens again; he leans back and lifts my face to his. “Do you mean it?”
“Yes.”
My body willingly moves along when Liam gradually lays me down, sliding his body over mine, putting his ear to my heart, his hand searching and finding my wrist, clasping it firmly.
***
Hearing Carmina’s confession cause another frantic grab at control from Liam. She has that effect on him. Just when he thinks it’s safe, she bowls him over and tests his resolve once more. Carmina is not afraid of suffering life anymore, and Liam knows what she means by that. The implication of what she tells him beats hard against any logical and sensible thought process. He wants to hold her to it, he want to ensure she will not change her mind again. Carmina is not afraid of suffering life anymore – the thought churns in his mind - and right now he’s fighting the selfish desire to follow through and claim her soul. He feels the heat seeping into his palm where he holds her wrist, feeling her reach for him through the link. He hears her heartbeat under his cheek and he knows she is telling the truth. His Rockflower now accepts him.
“Let’s try it your way first.” He croaks.
“Let’s.” Carmina responds, and the silence grows into a dream, with warm, passionate colors flowing between them.
***
I wake up during the night to feel Liam curled around me, his body cold and still, but I know he is awake. He is always awake. His finger strokes over the back of my hand.
“Liam?”
“Hmmm?”
“Will you stay with me? Here?” I am anxious to hear his answer.
Liam pushes up onto his elbow, pulling my hair away from my face again.
“Our… den?” He asks.
“Uh huh.”
The gentle kiss and the happy curl around his lips gives me the answer.
“But we’ll have to make changes.”
“Of course… Starting with a new door?” I tease lightly.
Liam strokes over the bruises on my shoulder. “I’m sorry about that.”
“I’m not. You are right. I didn’t understand the difference. I now know you won’t hurt me, but you can.”
Liam kisses me softly and then gets out of bed. “Come.”
I stare at him but in conclusion make my way onto my feet, following his long strides. He leads me out to the small back garden of the cottage and into the snow. He inhales excitedly and lets out the most beautiful, raw, passionate howl I have ever heard. My body trembles under the command and, watching this beautiful man, walls break down that should never have been there. His power and raw emotion swirls inside my mind and wraps me up against the cold. I have no choice to obey the call from nature, to answer the Wolf and the man. The sound breaking from my lips was not a howl, nor was it a screech or a growl. It was an unearthly sound carrying with it my answer to the Wolf who asks the question. Accepting the tie on three plains: the man, the beast and the vampire. I seal an oath with Liam in the same way he has just sealed one with me.
Liam snatches me to him especially roughly and his kiss is uninhabited and icy, igniting the fire that will never burn without the ice again.
Paired
When I hear the gong announcing breakfast and the horn following shortly after, I am slow to move. Liam, however, is already moving and clearing out the broken door pieces. I stretch and minutes later find a big man dragging me out of bed with a mischievous curl at the corners of his mouth.
“We’re going to be late.”
“Won’t be a first….” I stretch lazily, eyeing over his half naked body. My heart starts rambling along and a cheeky grin stretches itself over my face.
Liam moans and bites the knuckle on his fist.
“Temptress,” he accuses me past his hand and I giggle.
“I’m going to have to borrow a shirt. Get dressed my Rockflower, I’ll be a moment yet.”
Today I am choosing conscientiously: black it is. I feel the need to be vivacious. I brush my hair out, pulling a face and giving up on the battle when it pokes in every which direction. I find my boots and strap them on as fast as my hands will work - which is pretty quickly when I don’t have to worry about being more human than fast. When Liam walks in, he is wearing a fresh white, long sleeve shirt. I love the look of approval he casts casually my way.
“Hmmmm, maybe we should skip breakfast.” I wrap my arms around his neck, pull myself up onto my toes and kiss him fast on the lips.
“Argh! Mina… let’s go. Come, before we need more than a new door.” Liam takes my hand in his and we walk like two unruly teenagers towards the courtyard.
The terrible trio is waiting on us and I cringe at the sight of Roland’s jaw. It is sporting a dark red and purple bruise.
“Mina! You’re an animal!” John teases and Jarrod’s constant nodding makes me fear that his head will come off. “We allll heard it!”
The blush spreads, making my face match the color of my hair.
“Come on guys, enough.” Liam comes to my rescue.
When Roland steps forward, there is a smirk of utmost accomplishment on his face.
“I will not ask forgiveness,” he tells Liam, holding his hand out to shake on it.
“I would not have given it.” Liam answers him, taking his hand with a grin.
The trio breaks out cheering, howling in celebration and by the time we enter the hall, every person inside is turning to see us. Liam puts his arm around my shoulders protectively and whispers “Hang in there” in my ear.
Lilly double-hand flags me and I take a deep breath, turning down the Lilly control volume in my head. She is squealing and bouncing and I worry about the baby falling out.
“You have a beautiful call, Carmina” Lilly sparkles at me, “I am so happy for you both. Who knows, the next clan baby—”
“Lilly!” I cut her short “We’re not—We’ve not… Ugh. It’s not like that!” I end up stuttering my way through the sentence and feel Liam chuckling next to me.
“Yet,” Lilly chirps, just in time Jarrod to hear.
“Yet what?”
“Nothing?!” I shout and give my sister the dagger look. She puts her finger to her mouth and giggles.
“You’re such a prude, Mina.”
I ignore my sister and reach for the livers in front of her, just to have my hand slapped away.
“Get your own.”
I look up with a happy smile to see Lady E and Uncle Will walking through the doors. It is no surprise that they would be here. I guess they have accepted Momma’s request for help and good news travels fast.
While we’re eating, John and Roland take turns to inform us of a conversation they had. When John mentioned that Liam is a ‘slow mover’, Roland decided that he is the man to speed things along. Of course, John was obliged to warn Roland to take it easy on me because I am still recovering from my last adventure. The simplest warning Roland received about Liam was not to push him too far. John tells us that he thought of doing the same thing, but would have to face his mother and that was a prospect he did not fancy. Roland was not too bothered because he trusted that I knew him well enough not to be too taken in by his behavior. Of course, Roland is also a Romany gypsy and expected far more than the one punch that landed.
Lady E takes Roland’s face between thumb and forefinger, turning it side to side having a look.
“Liam’s handy work?”
“Yes Missus. For no good reason, may I add!” Roland whines and Lady E lifts an eyebrow.
“Did I not teach you to use your words, my boy?”
“I used it afterwards.” Liam answers his mother. Lady E kisses Roland on the cheek and, with a happy look, thanks him.
“Was worth it Missus, if just for the honor of your gratitude.” This time Roland means it, as he proudly juts his chest out.
Lady E rests her eyes on us and there is no denying that she is pleased. Uncle Will winks at me, pulling out a chair for his beautiful wife. Every time I see Lady E, I feel in awe of her beauty and how well she fits with her silver haired husband. I didn’t realize I was staring again until Momma tells me to close my mouth.
The rest of breakfast proceeds as normal but I still had one unanswered question. I find John’s energy and connect almost instantly.
“Where were you last night? I called and…”
“Liam told us to stay away and keep the clan away from the cottage too. Are you alright? You have a rather big bruise on your neck.”
I put my hand up and cover the bruise. I know where it is as it serves as a great reminder of the ability of the gentle giant sitting next to me.
“I’m fine. What if Liam didn’t stop last night John? What if…”
“Carmina, it was the exact point Liam was trying to make. You’re always at risk. You forget too quickly what we are and that not everyone is like us.”
“Thank you, John.” I speak sincerely and John’s gentle mood rubs up against mine.
“Don’t thank me, thank my brother. He’s not the only one who loves you, Vixen, and Jackie and Teresa aren’t the only ones who hate you either.”
John fades from the conversation and when I look over at him, he salutes me with two fingers to the head. I salute him back under the raised eyebrows of the Elders at the table.
I hear Liam’s words drift towards me “I’m dangerous for you.”
I look at him with a smile to which he answers by stealing a kiss. After breakfast, we find the cottage to fix the door and shop together for a less girly setting. Once done, I spend a lot of time thinking. Lilly and Jarrod will leave tomorrow. Momma will join them and the caravan will escort them.
Things are about to change again but at least for now, I have my Liam. I re-live the moment when I thought Liam had lost control and was going to make me immortal, or kill me. Now, for the first time, do I understand how dangerous this man is. I relied on my speed and senses and the strength of late to see me through – but the Wolf inside the man is a combination I never reckoned with. I love him so much.
“I love you too, my Rockflower.” Liam answers, kissing the back of my head. I watch the snow fall, cuddled up in his arms on the bay window, the fire making me lazy and dreamy.
Momma sends a message to meet at Jarrod and Lilly’s. We help them pack and sort through their belongings. The time passes quickly and the work gets done. Before we leave to get ready for Dinner, Lilly holds a gift out to me. Upon I opening it, the tears flow freely. It is a picture of the Moretti family and ours at her wedding.
“Your first new together item.”
There is a mixed energy in the dining hall. It is the last night of a full house, and a tinge of sadness stains the celebration. Still, there is plenty of laughter, in particular when Roland decides to teach Liam how to make my ‘Leg Fort.’ Sitting in the newly found castle – the fort was upgraded because of Liam’s size, I was told – I thank Roland for his meddling but warn him not to do it again. He smiles and kisses my hand, then puts it against my chest.
“For as long as you have a heartbeat, Carmina…. Forever.”
I feel the strong protective flow following his words and I know and fear that Roland will give his life for mine.
“Just look after yourself.” I ask him and he wipes over his nose with his thumb.
“Hey, don’t you worry, pretty lady. I lived to tell the tale after being slugged by an Ancient. I think I’ma going ta be alright”
Before dinner comes to an end, Sullen, Bianca and Raina go around with baskets, handing each person in the clan a gift. I clap and do my best Lilly impression by squealing. Liam leans over, frowning at me, not understanding my excitement. When everyone receives and opens their parcel, the pink puffer balls make their appearance. The Moretti family stares. It is clear that Momma explained to the Rulers but I prefer not to spoil it for the two younger Morettis.
Sullen and Briaan thank us for our hospitality and toast to our clan’s health. Then, under a fast, happy tune, Sullen holds her hand up and counts down from five. When she makes a fist, we all bite into the firm balls in our hands and puffs of sherbet and laughter fills the air around us. Briaan claps happily at the tradition while John and Liam and take their turn under loud cheers. White powdery faces and bloody red lips are all at the order of the day. The gentle nudge from Roland against my leg reveals a gift box.
With sticky fingers, I open the gift and feel the tears streaking down my face. Inside the small box is a carved, bleached chicken bone with the words ‘forever’ edged into it.
“Oh you silly, silly boy! Thank you so much.”
Roland gets up, taps his chest twice, kisses his fingers and waves to me before he leaves through the door. I know I won’t see him tomorrow. He will scout ahead. Liam’s arms close around me.
“He’s a good man, he’ll be back.”
To make it easier on our clan, we have always said our hard or sad goodbyes the night before. That way the departure is not delayed and the trip starts measurably less emotional. I head over to check with Momma if she has all she needs, assuring her I’ll stay in touch and then kiss her goodbye.
“C
armina, don’t tell Darious where we’ve gone yet. I think it is better that way. We’ve kept it under wraps with the clan too.”
I frown at my mother’s cloak and dagger approach but don’t question her.
“Sure thing Momma.”
Lilly and Jarrod join us and I hug them.
“I love you both,” I say, slipping a gift into Lilly’s hand, “Only when you get there. Not before.” I then do the same with Jarrod.
Liam and I head outside and towards the gipsy camp. I hug each of the family and wish them health and prosperity. Raina comes closer and hugs me tight, too, as I slip a small token into her hand: a small wooden disk with a wolf and volcano on it. On the back it reads: “To Raina, with love – Ancient Liam and Human Carmina.”
Liam smiles at the girl, whispering to her, “If any of those fools question your purity, you send them my way.”
We hand Bianca the same coin with her name on it, inscribed just like Raina’s.
“And if you find a boy that is a slow mover, you bring him to visit.” Liam grins at her.
The blushing girls rush off to show their gifts to their parents; they wave us off as we leave.
When we get home, Liam takes me to the mirror first and I gasp at the look. My face has two red streaks where the tears have mixed with the sherbet down to my chin. After I shower and clean up, I head to bed. It was a lovely, long, emotional day. I drift off into sleep almost instantly.
Hidden Carmina Page 30
