by C. A. Szarek
Xander stood about five feet from the end of the bed. Had to swallow hard. He should order her to leave.
Our…wedding is supposed to be in the morning.
If Duncan caught Janet in his rooms, a grave would be more necessary than the priest who was currently in a Dunvegan guestroom.
“Hi,” Janet whispered, using the shortened greeting Claire often uttered.
“Hello,” he returned, but his voice cracked. Xander wanted to throw the bond open so he could sense what she was feeling.
“We need to speak.”
“As you wish.”
Janet put the brush on the table next to his bed and stood, but Xander didn’t—couldn’t—move.
She came closer, but didn’t reach for him.
“I want bairns,” she blurted. Janet’s cheeks went pink, and she broke eye contact. The sincerity in her expression made his heart skip.
Maybe Alana was right.
He’d vowed he wouldn’t fight the bond, but truth be told, Xander had never wanted to fight it. He’d wanted Janet from the start.
The only human mind he couldn’t read.
She calmed him. She always had.
And he’d crushed her.
Rejected her.
Xander had let his pride push away the woman he loved. He’d been the wounded one—in his own mind. He’d made decisions for her, not allowing Janet to tell him what she was feeling. Afterwards, he’d committed the ultimate wrong by rejecting the bond when she’d tried to reopen it.
Alana was right.
I’m a fool.
And Janet had come to his rooms, proving yet again she was stronger than he’d thought.
She’s reaching out to me.
She’s stronger than me.
The earthy scent of peat burning in the large fireplace mixed with the appeal that was just his wife. The aromas tickled Xander’s nose and made him want to snatch her to his chest and kiss her. But he owed her an apology first. “I’m sorry.”
Those sapphire eyes were wide as saucers as they collided with his gaze. Janet said nothing.
“I was a fool.”
“Go on.”
“When we got captured, I failed to protect you. When I saw—” Xander’s voice cracked and he had to clear his throat, “I thought I’d failed you in the worst way a man could fail his wife.”
Janet took a step toward him.
He could feel the heat coming off her body and he tried not to stare; he could see her creamy flesh through the thin fabric of her chemise.
“They didna hurt me. Your father stopped it. You didna fail me. They took your magic, Xander. They were hurting you. You were as helpless as I. Blame doesna’ lie with you.”
Xander nodded, because he couldn’t speak.
“Both your parents helped us get home, Xander. That is all tha’ matters.”
Again he nodded. His tongue was glued to the roof of his mouth.
“I want ta be with you,” she whispered. Her voice was wrapped in honesty, hurt, and hope. “I care abou’ nothin’ else.”
His stomach somersaulted as he stared into her beautiful eyes. He couldn’t—wouldn’t—reject her again. Xander didn’t want to. “As you wish.”
A ghost of a smile played at her delectable mouth. “I do wish it. But do you?”
“Aye,” he whispered.
“As I said, I wish for children, too.”
He smiled, weight lifting off his chest. “Anything in my power, for you. I’m yours.”
Her eyebrows knitted together. “I need you to wan’ them, too.”
Xander had to touch her. He contented himself by caressing her cheek, and tucking some flyaway strands of her hair behind her ear. His heart stuttered when his wife leaned into his fingertips. “I do.”
Her gaze searched his face. “Truly?”
“Only if they’re yours.”
Janet’s cheeks went crimson, but she nodded. Her lips parted and air rushed from her mouth. When her breasts heaved in her see-through sleeping garment, it took all Xander was made of not to crush her to him and take her mouth, then take her.
He needed her in his arms—in his bed—every night.
He loved her.
“Janie—”
“I need you to love me.” They spoke at the same time.
Her embarrassment was palpable even though the bond was still only an echo in the back of his mind. She shifted on her feet and broke their eye contact again. Janet stood close, but not close enough.
Xander tamped down his elation and cupped her face. Forced her to meet his eyes. “Done.”
She shook her head but didn’t pull away from him. “How can you promise such things?”
“Because.” He tried to sound serious, but couldn’t hold back his grin.
“Because?”
“I already love you.”
A whimper fell from her lips even as the first tear rolled down her cheek.
Xander thumbed it away and brushed a kiss to her mouth.
“I love you, too,” Janet whispered.
His pulse pounded in his ears.
They stared at each other. Neither said a word.
All he could smell was her. The appeal of the peat faded. He didn’t think of the saccharine scent of the colored woods Fae burned in their hearths or miss them.
Janet was all he could see.
Sense.
Need.
Love.
Heat shot down his spine, spreading slowly over his limbs to settle deep. His cock stirred and tingled as it went from interested to overwhelmed.
Xander tugged her to him and took her mouth. She kissed him back until they wobbled against each other. Her perfect breasts were flat against his chest, her lovely hips flush against his. He ran his hands down her back, the soft linen giving him pause as his palm followed the curve of her bottom.
They had too many clothes on.
“Wait,” Janet breathed into his lips.
“What’s wrong?” he panted, his arousal already throbbing in his trews for her.
“The mating bond. I want it open. I wan’ to feel you completely.” The words—as well as the desire in her eyes—shot a tremor down his spine as good as a caress.
Xander nodded. “Take my hands, mò aingeal. Call the magic to you, like you did before. I shall do the same and the bond will open. You will feel me, and I shall feel you. Always.”
“As it should be.” She smiled, and closed her eyes.
Her beauty stunned him. Xander watched her; the magic made her skin glow. Warmth spread up his arms and across his chest, then continued on, down his legs and up his back. Tingling was next, and his cock jerked.
The mating bond solidified and appeared as the golden rope, disappearing into her chest and his.
Janet sighed and opened her eyes, a dreamy smile curving her kiss-swollen lips. “I feel your heart echoing mine.”
“I feel yours, as well.”
She nestled close and stood tiptoe to kiss him. Xander claimed her mouth gently, cupping the back of her neck.
Janet yelped a protest when he pulled back. “What’s wrong?”
“You should go to your room.”
“Why?” She frowned.
“We are not yet wed.”
She smirked, and it was adorable. “Wha’ is but one night? And besides, we are a Fae mated pair, are we no’?”
Xander chuckled. “Aye, but as your brother said, we are not joined by MacLeod standards. If we’re to have those bairns you want, I need to keep my bollocks.”
Janet giggled and slipped her arms around his neck. “I shall stay here with you. Duncan, Alex, and my da willna find ou’.” She spread little kisses along his jaw line that sent desire straight to his cock.
The bond’s magic hit him with a force that almost knocked Xander off his feet. He’d grown used to it being muted. Janet’s love and passion for him enveloped him and he trembled against her. “One condition,” he forced out.
“What’s tha’?” She sta
red up at him.
“Meet me in the chapel in the morning?”
Janet squealed and threw herself into his arms. “Aye, I’ve the perfect gown!”
Xander chuckled and kissed her. “I missed our bond, mò aingeal.”
“I didna like bein’ shut out from you.”
“I love you, my strong lass.”
“I love you, my Fae Warrior.”
His heart leapt, because her words were echoed, enhanced by the magic that joined them.
Xander helped her out of the lacy chemise, then gathered her up into his arms to place her at the center of his bed. He divested himself of his own clothing, glad he’d rinsed the sweat from his body in the ocean.
“Come to me,” Janet whispered, spreading her arms wide as she beckoned.
He settled over her, propping himself above her and caressing her cheek. “I will always. We will always belong to each other. Bound by magic, but also by love.”
“Love is more important than magic.”
Xander chuckled. “You’re right, mò aingeal. Thank you for showing me that.”
Janet smiled, her sapphire eyes misty. “I know magic. Now show me love.”
He dipped his head down and proceeded to do just that.
The End
About the Author
Multi-genre, award winning and bestselling author of romantic suspense and fantasy romance, C.A. is originally from Ohio, but got to Texas as soon as she could. She is married and has a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. She works with kids when she’s not writing. She’s always wanted to be a writer and is overjoyed to share her stories with the world.
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