The Willow

by Stacey Kennedy

  “You need a break that is most important. You can always return to your Guardian duties as long as you can control your magic. We will test your restraint when you are ready.”

  I rested back in her arms and accepted her strength as my mind lingered back to my family. With each passing moment, my pain eased to acceptance.

  They were gone. Nothing was ever going to bring them back. It didn’t matter how hard I wished for a different end for them. This couldn’t be undone. It was what it was and wishing for something different was pointless.

  The only consolation I had was in knowing Drake’s life wasn’t lost for nothing. He helped destroy the reason my mother’s life ended. A reason he would’ve died for gladly.

  I’d learned long ago life wasn’t fair. Didn’t always give you everything you wanted, or work out how you planned. God, did I know that well. But how could I complain. Only twenty-four years old and been surrounded with more love than one heart could almost hold.

  No matter how short my time with them was, I was lucky to have had it in the first place. This is what I was going to try to remember—not the loss or the pain of losing them.

  It was every happy moment they ever gave me. All the reasons they made me smile, and I wouldn’t shame their memory by mourning with things I couldn’t change. I’d remember them like they deserved.

  “That’s exactly right,” Zia said. “This would lift their hearts with joy to know this is what you’re taking with you.”

  I backed away from her arms. “Thank you for being here with me.”

  She smiled and brushed my hair away from my face. “I wouldn’t have been anywhere else, sweetie.”

  Now that I understood the connection we shared, what I wanted wasn’t such a difficult thing to do. I cleared my thoughts and thought of one thing only.

  “Blessed be, Nexi,” she responded, hearing my message loud and clear. After a kiss on the cheek, she left.

  Alone, I lay back beneath my willow and ran my hands within its leaves—reliving these past months. I was different. Forever changed by the past unfortunate events. No matter what had happened, all the despair that swept over my life, I was still intact—even a little better, a whole lot wiser and definitely a hell of a lot stronger.

  Continuing to twirl my hands within the leaves, a soft noise came above me. I raised my hand across my brows to cover the sun and looked up. Perfection stood before me. The sun shone down on Kyden’s body and sparkled off his skin. I sighed deeply. “God, you’re sexy.”

  He grinned sweetly and reached down to help me to my feet. He cupped my face in his strong hands. His eyes were soft and focused. “I am lost in love with you too.” Then, he brought his mouth to mine, ran his hands along my body as he slowly removed my gear.

  A moments worry hit about being naked here, but it settled immediately. Not only was it daytime, but everyone would be fast asleep, and besides, Zia was kind enough to place my tree far away from watchful eyes.

  Kyden released my mouth and stepped out of his gear quickly. His body was strong—glorious. My mind was lost in him as was the rest of me. His body was friggin’ spectacular!

  Most of it I’d seen already, but what I hadn’t was beneath those shorts. And I couldn’t breathe as I took in all of him in. He was definitely all male—every last little bit of him. Sure, I felt it. But seeing and feeling is something totally different.

  As I grazed over every line of his spectacular physique, he lowered his hand. With slow sensual movements, he stroked himself. Calling me to him—teasing me with his touch.

  Sinking to my knees in front of him, I held him in my hands. “Every part of you is perfect.” Then, I devoured him with my mouth.

  His breath hissed through his teeth as he watched me. “Mmm…Álainn. You do that well.”

  With each play of my mouth and stroke of my hand, his breath deepened. He wrapped his fingers tightly in my hair to guide me—in a gentle request that I take him deeper and faster until I was lost in the pleasure I was giving him.

  His body was tense. His muscles quivered, and with a thunderous gasp, he stepped back. He leaned down, wrapped his hands around my face and took my mouth furiously—tasting every part of mine while we worked our tongues in a whirl of passion.

  Without missing a beat, he lifted me to him and slid his hands down my body, sending warm currents of erotic needs simmering through my blood.

  He grasped my breasts and my nipples tightened with desire—immediately awakening to his answering thumbs. Just as they hardened with a desperate plea, he tore from my mouth to bask a nipple in the all too gloriousness that was his mouth. My only response was to grasp his shoulders in a frantic attempt to remain upright. His licked his way back up, his ravenousness gaze met mine, and blasted me with a wild hunger. Grabbing his hand, I demanded that it go lower. He grinned devilishly and lightly ran his fingers along my inner thigh until he reached the awaiting excitement. Instantly sending me to wobble as the pleasure nearly shattered me.

  When his touch lingered inwards, my breath became ragged and forced my legs to give out. He caught me in his arms and laid me down in front of him to continue his attack—not only with his fingers, but with his mouth too.

  He never let up. Not for a second. Never let me catch my breath as he worked my body to mere madness.

  Just as the sensation peaked high enough to send me dancing with the angels, he groaned deeply and withdrew his hand. “What do you think you’re doing? Get back there!” I gasped.

  He began to climb toward me. “If I let you finish, it will make this harder for you. It is best this way.” He put his hips between mine, raised himself on his forearms, and slid his hands beneath my head.

  His erection touched my body and I instantly tensed. He began to rub against me, allowing my wetness to spread along his hardened length as he primed me for entry. His face became one of utter torment. “I hate that I have to hurt you.”

  “Hurt me?”

  Shock hit his face. “You didn’t know this would hurt?”

  “Of course I knew, but I thought,” I hesitated. “Well, I’m a Guardian now. We can handle more pain. Doesn’t that mean this shouldn’t hurt?”

  “I am sorry, Álainn. This is a pain you should feel.” He kissed my lips softly. “Are you ready?”

  “I think so.”

  He lifted his hips, gave a steady push. I gasped out at the shock of it and dug my nails into his arms. He stopped with only a little of himself sheathed inside, and reached down to kiss my lips.

  Barely able to kiss him, the pain was so great. It hurt—this hurt.

  He pushed a little farther, only to meet with resistance. My body was tight against him. For a very scared moment, I contemplated if he could even fit. It sure felt as if he couldn’t. He was large—very large. “You’re not going to fit. You’re too big.”

  He chuckled low. “Do not worry, Álainn. It will just take a moment.” He lowered again and deepened his kiss as he tried to relax my body for him.

  It burned. My entire body tensed around him. His kiss deepened further and it wasn’t long before he turned me into a big pile of goo.

  My muscles settled. He pulled away from my mouth and met my gaze. I took a deep breath and he pushed deeply. My legs buckled, my breath hissed out, and tears escaped my eyes as pain overtook me.

  “Alright?” His voice was strained.

  Pain enveloped me, ripped into me, and tore me to pieces. I held his ass firmly. “Don’t you dare move!”

  “I won’t.” His control was flawless.

  I took another deep breath as he returned his lips to mine tenderly—lovingly. Minutes later, the arousal stirred. When he backed away from my lips, I asked, “Please tell me it gets better than this?”

  “It definitely gets better,” he purred. “Ready for me to show you?”

  I nodded. “Be gentle.”

  He began to move slowly in small short movements to allow my body to become acc
ustomed to him. With each withdrawal, I hissed. With each insertion, I gasped.

  He no longer kissed me. His head was inches from mine as he gazed at me intently.

  The pain slowly began to fade. Faded away to something better. My body released a little and my wetness grew. Kyden moaned and lowered his head to rest against the base of my neck as the pain gave way to a sensation that was all consuming.

  When my gasps of pain became moans of pleasure, he began to pick up his pace—still being gentle, only faster, while I accepted him.

  He raised his head, entirely absorbed in the moment. I lifted my head out of his hands to kiss his neck. I lightly ran my tongue up the length of a bulging vein, which only intensified his thrusts.

  With each quick thrust, I moaned loudly. He lifted himself onto his hands, peered down at me while his thrusts came harder, faster, until I was whimpering from its strength.

  I wrapped my legs around his thighs, angled my hips to meet his every move. For a brief moment, pain crippled me. But within seconds, it faded away to the all too brilliant ecstasy that drifted over me in sweet satisfaction.

  “Harder?” he growled.

  “Yes…” I gasped with each thrust. “Harder.”

  His thrusts increased, leaving me breathless. I closed my eyes as he slammed into me, created a force that teetered on near insanity.

  “No,” Kyden growled, deep and low. “I want you to watch.”

  His words plus the feral sound of his voice made my muscles contract instantly. My entire body, for a few seconds, froze. There was no noise, no breath, no Kyden, only sheer intense pleasure skyrocketing into every nerve of my body.

  As I crashed back, Kyden trembled. His eyes widened. His gaze intense. He shuddered and let out a deep grunt as he dropped down on top of me. His groans continued as my body massaged his, eagerly drawing out his release.

  When I no longer trembled and my body was the equivalent to a jelly-fish, I shook my head, breathless. “Christ!” I laughed. “I shouldn’t have waited so long to do that.”

  Kyden rose up and looked down at me, breathing heavily. “Of course you should have. It was mine to take.”

  The End

  About the Author:

  Stacey Kennedy is a lover of the paranormal romance and urban fantasy genres. If she isn't plugging away at her next novel, tending to her two little ones, she's got her nose deep in a good book. She lives in Cambridge, Ontario with her husband. Come stop by www.staceykennedy.com for upcoming and new releases.

  Meet Lsb Authors At The House Of Sin

  Lsbooks.Net

  We invite you to visit Liquid Silver Books

  LSbooks.com

  for other exciting erotic romances.

  2007: Terran Realm

  Urban fantasy world: TerranRealm.com

  Featured Series:

  The Zodiac Series: 12 books, 24 stories and authors

  Two hot stories for each sign, 12 signs

  The Coven of the Wolf by Rae Morgan

  Benevolent lusty witches keep evil forces at bay

  Fallen: by Tiffany Aaron

  Fallen angels in hot flight to redeem their wings

  The Max Series by JB Skully

  Meet Max, her not-absent dead husband, sexy detective Witt, his mother…

  And many, many more!