The Warrior's Reunion

by Mia Pride

  She started to pull away, but he gripped her tighter. “Aye, and you will. But not yet.” He gripped her hips and pushed her backward until her legs hit the bed, guiding her down onto the soft mattress. She squealed as she fell but the slight smile on her lips and a mischievous look in her narrowed eyes told him she was more than willing to postpone the tending of his wound until he was finished having his way with her… which may be never.

  The room was almost pitch black and that would never do. He needed to see all of Morna before he made love to her. Walking over to the table next to the bed, he struck his flint and iron together until they sparked, then lit the tallow candle beside Morna. The firelight was dim and it flickered, casting shadows across the room, but Brennain could see his beautiful Morna laying in his bed, awaiting his touch.

  Her golden blonde locks fanned out around her face and she looked like a goddess lying before him on his bed. Brennain pulled his tunic over his head then kneeled down beside her, running his rough hands up her bare legs beneath her dress. He felt gooseflesh spread across her skin as he traveled higher, spinning slow circles on her inner thigh. Her eyelids grew heavy and her breaths became shallow. He knew she was waiting for him to touch her just where she preferred, but instead, he pulled away slowly if only to witness the moment of disappointment on her face. Her lower lip pouted, and he bit back a triumphant grin as his hands began to gather the fabric of her dress and slowly slide it up to her waist.

  Morna surprised him by lifting her hips to help him pull the dress all the way off her body, then spreading herself before him like a temptation he would never be able to resist, and by the look on her face, she did not want him to resist at all.

  “Gods, Morna,” he said with a deep intake of breath, “You are the most beautiful woman in the world.” His fingers grazed the sensitive flesh between her legs and she bucked her hips in response. “I want to taste you on my tongue.”

  Her eyes widened as he tilted his head, then her head plopped back against the bed when his tongue made contact with the sweet flesh of her womanhood. They groaned in unison, him tasting her more thoroughly than ever before, and she in wonderous ecstasy as he continued to slowly make love to her with his mouth, focusing on that one spot that made her tense beneath him, ready to let go of all inhibitions. “Let it go, Morna.”

  Her hips moved in time with his tongue and he felt her body stiffen as she cried out in pleasure. Her release only caused him to ache with greater need and he could no longer wait to feel himself deep within the woman he loved.

  Swiftly untying his trousers, he kicked them to the floor and covered her body with his, searing his lips to hers as he tried to slow his breathing and calm himself down. His erection throbbed against her belly and he felt her hand come down to grip him firmly. He groaned and couldn’t help but thrust into her palm once, but he needed so much more.

  Thankfully, while Morna’s tongue danced with his, she guided him to her entrance and he took no time in thrusting as deep as possible into her, filling her completely. She arched her back and gasped at the feeling but made no indication of feeling pain, so he continued to move slowly, allowing her to fully adjust to his size and length. “You feel so good, love,” he whispered in her ear, then took one rosy nipple into his mouth, lightly sucking until she writhed beneath him, her hips moving in tandem with his.

  “So do you, Brennain,” she gasped. “I love you so much.”

  His mouth unlatched from her breast and he looked down at her. “I love you more,” he growled, and increased the speed of his thrusts, feeling ready to succumb to his own pleasure. By the tension in her body and her frantic panting, he knew she was close to her release, as well. He braced himself so as not to hurt his injured arm, and let himself feel everything, all the love, and pleasure he knew he would find with this woman for the rest of his life.

  Before meeting Morna, he never thought he could love just one woman, never knew he would feel so lost without her. She cried out and gripped his backside, pulling him into her deeper and faster as she rode out the waves of her release, taking what she needed while giving just as much. His release came just as swiftly, and they shuddered together in a heap of sweat slicked flesh and panting breaths.

  “You amaze me, Morna,” he sighed, and looked down at her, pleased to see she looked as sated and relaxed as he felt. His love for her would never wane. It would only grow deeper, more intense with every rise of the sun.

  Morna opened her mouth to speak, but just then a loud boom of multiple voices drifted from down the corridor and Brennain knew the rest of his family had arrived, and by the sound of it, they had company. He wondered what had taken them so long to find their way home in the first place, but was glad all the same. It had given him the time he needed to reunite with his soon to be wife.

  Climbing off her with a groan, partially of disappointment and partially from the pain in his arm, he found her gown on the ground beside the bed and carefully helped her dress, making sure to caress her soft skin as much as possible in the process before pulling on his own garments, with help from Morna so he did not further aggravate his wound.

  “It seems my family has arrived. We should make our way to them, aye?” he said, as she tied the string on his trousers for him.

  “Aye, but not until I cleanse and wrap that wound. Nay more putting it off, Brennain” she scolded, adjusting her dress around her breasts and combing her hair back into place with her fingers. She looked so beautiful after lovemaking, all flushed and disheveled, but he knew she was modest and wouldn’t want to walk out looking as if they had just mated like animals, even if they had, so he helped her fix her hair and lifted her to her feet.

  “All right. I suppose you have a point, love.” He sat on the bed and grit his teeth as she began to cleanse, sew, and wrap the wound, but he did his best to forget the pain and focus on the amazing feeling of being back with the woman he wished to spend forever with.

  When she finally finished, he took her hand and led her out of the room, hearing the voices grow louder as he drew nearer. Morna clung to him tightly, as if she never wanted to let him go again, and he was quite all right with that. He felt proud to have her on his arm.

  As they entered the crowded living space, he was pleased to see the hearth fire blazing as everyone he loved stood around it chatting amicably. He took the measure of every man in the room, making certain there was nobody missing, Alyson’s vision flooding his mind. A sigh of relief filled his lungs when he saw every single man in his family was gathered together, even his youngest cousin, Duncan who was much newer to fighting battles than the rest of them.

  His gaze stopped as he saw Reaghan standing near Flynn, a most unexpected sight, especially since his brother did not appear to want to murder the man. And beside them, he saw Mack and Bryant, who immediately turned to look at him and walked toward Morna with serious expressions on their face.

  “Morna. We have come to deliver the news to you that Caleb is dead, not from his arrow wound, but it seems, another wound inflicted upon him at some point during the battle,” Bryant said softly, unsure if his news would upset Morna. Brennain was not certain either, but he clutched her to him all the same, knowing that despite her dislike for the man, he had been her husband and the father of her daughter. Yet, now, they were truly free. Caleb held no more power over Morna and Glennis and though he had not played a hand in the man’s death, he also could find no pity for the bastard in his heart. Caleb was a coward and died a coward’s death.

  Morna was quiet beside him, simply staring at the men with a furrowed brow and digging her nails into the flesh of his arm.

  “Who… who killed him, then?” Morna eventually asked, and his entire family stood around to listen to the news.

  Mack shrugged. “Caleb had many enemies, Morna. Somebody must have lost everything to the man and was tired of him trying to destroy more lives. I assume whoever did it, had a fair right to take the man’s life, as many did.” Though it was not a confessi
on, Brennain heard it in the man’s voice and saw it in his eyes. Caleb had stolen Mack’s wife, planted his seed, abandoned her, and Mack had to lose her to childbirth. If any man deserved to slay Caleb, it was Mack. He doubted any man would ever blame him for his actions if they knew, but Brennain vowed to protect his new companion and take Mack’s secret to the grave.

  Morna tugged his arm and he snapped his gaze down to her, seeing her eyes wide with disbelief, yet lightened with relief. “Alyson was correct, then,” she whispered into his ear. “Elwynna lost her father, as did Glennis. Two lassies lost familial blood in your family today.”

  Brennain nodded in understanding and kissed her forehead. “Then the rest of us are safe… and everyone is here. You know what that means, aye?”

  Her brow crinkled, and she cocked her head. “Nay…”

  “It means I plan on marrying you. Tonight, in front of all those I hold dear… if you will still have me.”

  “Of course, I will, my love! It’s all I have wanted since the day we met! Glennis will be happy to have her Papa, at last!” She reached up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek.

  His mother walked up holding Glennis, a wide smile on her face. “Did I hear you say you wish to marry tonight?”

  “I am certain I whispered that in Morna’s ear…” Brennain scowled at his mother playfully, then turned to see his father standing behind them, a guilty look on his face and a flush rising up his cheeks.

  “Aye, well… indeed you did. My sons may be informants for King Tuathal, but I happen to have an informant of my own and he is very good at reading lips.”

  “And not so good at staying hidden,” Brennain chuckled, as his large father rocked on his heels, shrugging.

  “Well, then. What’s it going to be? A wedding or nay?” Una shouted excitedly, and clapped her hands, catching the attention of everyone in the room.

  Brennain looked down at Morna with what he knew was a ridiculous smile on his face, the same sort of smile he always teased Flynn for when his brother looked at Maggie, but he found he could not care. He loved this woman with everything he was and did not mind if the world knew it. “What say you, mo chroí? Are you ready to join a family of mad people?”

  Morna flushed deeply and smiled wide. “I cannot think of anything I would rather do!” She took Glennis from Una and propped her on her hip, but Glennis reached for Brennain.

  “Papa!” she squealed, and blew raspberries in his face.

  With an irrepressible chuckle, Brennain reached out and took the wee lass in his arms. “Almost, my love… almost.”

  Epilogue

  Winter 87 AD

  “Now who is the fool with the ridiculous smile on his face?” Flynn punched him in the shoulder and Brennain paid him back in kind.

  “I suppose ‘tis I, this time. And I suppose I should apologize for being an arse for so long, but you still look like a bloody fool when you look at Maggie.”

  “Mayhap it never ends then?” Flynn suggested as he took a seat next to Brennain on the log, staring into the fire as the frigid winter wind caused the flames to dance, mimicking the women dancing around its perimeter.

  Brennain watched proudly as Morna held Glennis close and tilted her head back to laugh as she followed the other women around in a circle, her pale-yellow skirt twirling behind her. It had been half a year since they married quietly in his own home surrounded by his closest friends and family.

  Since then, Morna had taken to life at Ráth Mór quite well, had become a valuable healer, working alongside Maggie and Elwynna. Brennain had continued his training yet had had no reason to leave on any missions, as things had remained quiet for now with Mal gone and the threat from the Rómánach seemingly vanished.

  Word had traveled to the druids that the Rómánach military leaders claimed to have turned tail due to a last-minute summons from their emperor in Rome, but according to a writing from one of their scholars, the foreigners had seen a sea of nude men covered with blue paint, wearing horns as they banged their weapons upon shields and screamed at the sky. Whether they withdrew on orders or fled in fear would remain unknown, but in his heart, Brennain knew they had achieved their goals of frightening the enemy off, behaving as the very savages they were believed to be. In doing so, they had lowered the numbers against them, defeated Mal, and restored peace to Ériu once more.

  Peace. It was all Brennain wanted now that his wife was expecting another child. Glennis was walking more and talking much more just in the past few moons and soon, there would be another wee one joining them. He watched as she danced and laughed, and his heart nearly exploded with happiness when Glennis looked over at him and reached her pudgy arms out, desperate to be in his embrace.

  “Papa!” she giggled, as Morna placed her on his lap. “Mama dance with me! You see?”

  Brennain chuckled and pinched her cheek gently. “Aye, I saw, lass. You both looked very bonny out there.”

  Morna laughed and bent over to catch her breath before cupping her rounded abdomen slightly. “Och! I cannot manage to dance so much these days! I am out of breath!”

  Reaghan stood from his place beside Flynn and offered his seat to Morna. “Please, have my seat, Morna. You must rest. I am done talking with this lout, anyway,” Reaghan said, as he winked at Flynn, who shot him a feigned scowl. Brennain snorted at their antics, glad his mate and brother had finally found peace between them after all this time. Reaghan had been naught but a loyal warrior to Tuathal and a faithful friend to Brennain, and now, he was apparently one of Flynn’s closest companions.

  Morna nodded at Reaghan in thanks and sat beside Flynn with a loud huff. Spotting her friend near the fire, Morna raised her hand and hollered. “Nola! Come join us!” Nola turned toward Morna’s voice, her red hair blowing in the breeze and Brennain scooted over to make room for the woman they had saved from a life of slavery.

  She had fared well here in Ráth Mór and was quite an accomplished baker. She had been busy making bread, tarts, and many other delightful foods that kept her busy on market days and well sought after on every other day. She was a mysterious woman who did not seem to speak much, but she held secrets in her dark eyes that made Brennain wonder where she had come from before being captured by the Rómánach but as of yet, she had never spoken of her past. Many lads in Ráth Mór pined for her attention, yet she seemed to hold nothing but contempt for most of them. For Brennain and Reaghan, the men who had saved her, however, she wore an easy smile that told him she still had some life left in her. The damage could be reversed.

  “Greetings, Morna!” Nola embraced her friend before sitting between Brennain and Flynn, giving Reaghan a friendly smile. “’Tis lovely to be in the village during Yule Tide. The fires, the music, and dancing. The mistletoe and holly all around. ‘Tis truly my favorite time of year.”

  Just then a young lad came up to Nola and Morna, handing them each a spiced apple as a Yuletide gift. “Many thanks, lad,” Nola said with a smile, and ruffled the child’s hair before he continued off at a skip with his basket of apples. Nola looked at Morna with a wide grin. “How are you feeling?”

  “I am exhausted! Who knew growing a wee human could be so much work?” She blew a blonde ringlet away from her face and Brennain leaned across his brother to tuck it behind her ear.

  “I did!” Maggie came up and giggled, sitting on Flynn’s lap and cradling their wee daughter in her arms. “But it is worth every moment, Morna.” Maggie’s gaze shifted to Glennis, who was nodding her head and clapping while everyone spun in circles before the fire. “Though, I suspect you already know how very worth it, it shall be.”

  Morna’s gaze locked on Glennis, then Brennain’s. “Aye, indeed I do. But this time, my children shall have the very best Papa who will never leave them.” Nola scoffed beside Morna, obviously remembering how Caleb had treated her, but she said no more than that as she turned to gaze into the fire once more.

  “Come, love. Let us go for a walk.” Brennain stood up and propped Glennis on
his hip while extending his hand to his wife who gladly gripped his fingers with hers. “I have a surprise for you.” Her eyes widened, but she willingly allowed him to pull her away from the fire and the crowd of people.

  “Where are we going?” she asked breathlessly, as he dragged her into a private copse of trees away from all the noise. She gasped when she saw the blanket on the ground and a basket of bread and cheese. “What is all this, Brennain?”

  “One of my favorite memories with you is the night we laid under the stars as I showed you the gods in the sky. I was so hopeful back then that you would agree to marry me, that someday we would be a family together and that you would not resent me for stealing you away as I did.”

  “You said you would never regret that…” she smirked at him and kissed his cheek.

  “And I never shall. But I did fear you would not forgive me or understand my need to take you away as I did. Now, here we are: you, me, Glennis and our wee unborn child and I could not be a happier man.” Brennain’s heart beat wildly as he looked into her blue eyes, so deep under the cover of darkness, the stars hanging overhead. “I was the sort of man you would not admire before I met you. I lived a life of frivolity and never wanted or expected more… until I found you. I thought you were lost to me when I arrived at Miathi and saw your daughter in your arms and talk of a husband. I thought I had finally found the woman I wished to marry, and she was lost to me forever.”

  “Oh, Brennain. I am so sorry about how all that happened when you arrived. I wanted to talk to you and explain everything—”

  Brennain put a finger to her lips and made a shushing noise. “I know my love. I know. We are here now, and I wish to spend some time with you looking up at the stars.”

  “Stars!” Glennis cheered, and tried to grab one out of the sky. “You give me star, Papa?”

  His heart nearly exploded out of his chest. How had he come to this place in life? How had he made so many mistakes and still somehow ended up with so many blessings? At that moment, he knew for certain that the gods above were indeed smiling down on him and that as long as he had his wife and children, all would be right with the world.