Forged of Fire

by Stacy Von Haegert

  Hamilton blanched. “Oh, do forgive me, my Lady. I had not received word.”

  “It is quite fine, Hamilton.” Kielyn said despite the fact that it was not fine. Nothing about this situation could be described as fine. “It was a last minute arrangement.” She rushed on just to realize how pathetic the words actually sounded coming from her own mouth.

  The poor butler looked even more confused. “You must be very tired. Let me get you to your rooms.”

  “Yes, please show us.” Stefen closed the door to his chambers. “I need to stretch my legs and would love nothing more than a continued tour.”

  “Right this way.” Hamilton proceeded down the hall, no doubt wondering why Mr. Von Emmerich cared so much where the master’s new bride would be sleeping.

  Kielyn shot her eyes to Stefen who merely shrugged his shoulders. “I am a huge fan of history.” He clasp his hands behind his back and strolled after Hamilton.

  Kielyn suddenly wanted to punch something. She had agreed to this farce of a marriage but she would be damned if she continued to be treated like a toddler. One mistake! One! And now she had two overbearing wardens. Kielyn forced her fist to unclench and followed the two men who were now discussing the original stoned walls still intact in the west wing. “How long have you worked for Ash?” She interrupted.

  Hamilton paused mid-sentence. “I have known…” He smiled. “Rather, I have been employed by Master LaGoryen at Castello Albornzo for ten years.”

  Not exactly what she asked, but something about his stance read he would not be forthcoming with any more questions regarding Ash until he had spoken to the master of the house. Kielyn almost felt bad for springing her untimely arrival on the man. It was not his fault his master was as closed off as a hermit crab. Considering how much time Ash had spent online on the plane surely he could have at least informed his staff he was coming home, with a wife. The thought only made her mood more sour as they proceeded further down the hall then up another massive spiraling stone staircase to the fourth floor. No, that would require him to consider me as more than just an extra guest. Kielyn continued to brood.

  So consumed in her thoughts, Kielyn zoned out of her surroundings until they came to a stop. “Master LaGoryen requested that you stay in these suites, my Lady. I suppose I should have put two and two together since they are the original castle Duchess’s chambers.” He smiled kindly. “Directly across from the master of the house.”

  Kielyn repressed a sigh she did not realize she was holding in. So, he would not make her share his bed. Yet…A new panic trickled into her mind. But he would. Or, maybe he would visit her room to seal the deal. Or, maybe he would just take her in the hallway on neutral ground. She suddenly felt dizzy. It was as if the last few days were a bizarre dream she was just waking up from. Holy fuck! She was married to a Vampire!

  “Are you feeling ok Kielyn?” Stefen asked.

  “Yes.” Kielyn snapped back to the present. “I would like to lie down for a bit I believe,” she lied.

  Hamilton opened the double doors for her. Thin dancing white layers of sheer material danced on the breeze from the opened French-style windows lining one entire wall of the massive room. A king sized bed with tall dark wooden bed posts anchored the far wall. Matching white curtains flowed down from the bed’s canopy and were tied loosely to the posts.

  Kielyn entered the room and was immediately welcomed by the smell of lavender. It was everywhere. Vivid purple flowers spilled from vases placed all around the perfectly decorated room. “Master LaGoryen did insist upon fresh cut flowers in this room.” Hamilton spoke from the doorway where he and Stefen remained. “I hope they are to your liking?”

  “They are beautiful. Thank you.” She smiled and for the first time all day it was not forced.

  “I am going to check out the rest of the house,” Stefen said. “Are you ok here by yourself?”

  Translation, do you plan on attempting to knot those curtains together and escape out the window. Kielyn waved him off. “I will be fine. Go explore.” With one final look over Stefen’s shoulder and a nod from Hamilton the double doors closed.

  Kielyn walked over to the bed, her fingers reaching out to skim the surface of the plush bedding. The view from her window was incredible. From so high up it seemed as if she could see all of Tuscany. The sun was setting and casting warm halos of pink across the landscape. She turned back after a few minutes of watching the colors fade into the horizon. He had asked that flowers be cut. Why? Kielyn walked over to the arrangement on a dresser and leaned in, breathing in the scent. It made no sense. If she were to only be an obligation then why bother trying to please her. Perhaps it was just another old school tradition.

  She stepped back. Yes, it was best to not overthink the actions of Ashdon LaGoryen for nothing about him was consistent. Funny, considering how particular he seemed. He woke at the same time every day, worked out, ate, disappeared, reappeared for dinner and retired at the same hour every night. His clothing was always perfect, be it jeans and a t-shirt or one of his expertly tailored and expensive suits. It was as if a personal stylist was tucked away in his closet just dreaming up new ways to dress the male so handsomely that women fell over when he walked by. Even his hair, in its tousled dark chocolate colored waves seemed to obey some secret command to always look precisely unkempt. He was the definition of an oxymoron. Completely unpredictable in the most organized sort of ways.

  All business, yet, flowers.

  ****

  “The Lady of the house is taking some down time in her chambers,” Hamilton said from the doorway of Ash’s main study. “Will Marsala be arriving later?”

  “Ah yes, about that.” Ash turned from his desk. Hamilton was the only human that Ash trusted. The man had been with him for forty years, only ten of which were public knowledge. He was well deserved in expecting an explanation. “The last few days have been a whirlwind. Can I give you the cliff note version now and the extended one later tonight?”

  “But of course.” Hamilton nodded. “I am only concerned is all. You left rather quickly and without your usual instruction then return only a few days later with a rather unusual being and a wife. Forgive me but I have never known you to even date and…” He looked back towards the hallway before lowering his voice to just above a whisper. “Is that man safe to be roaming the estate?”

  Ash chuckled. “He is safe. Enough.” He motioned for Hamilton to take a seat then took one himself. “We have some big changes ahead. All benders are reuniting to form an army to take on Dante. I have been chosen to lead the Fire-benders. Marsala stayed behind to help train the Air-benders. Stefen is an Angel. A rather elevated one at that. Kielyn is the woman that I have wed in order to get the backing of Stefen’s brother’s army.”

  “Is she an Angel too?” Hamilton asked, seemingly unfazed by any of the words coming out of Ash’s mouth.

  “No, as of right now she is a mortal with the unusual gift to bend both water and fire. Apparently any child she bears will have the power to unite the realms.”

  Hamilton smiled. “She seems like a lovely young woman.”

  “That’s it?” Ash tilted his head. “That’s all you have to say?”

  “Just one more question.” Hamilton stood still grinning. “Would you like beef or chicken for dinner?”

  “Chicken.” Ash watched, puzzled as Hamilton bowed and headed out of the room with what appeared to be a pep in his aging steps. It was as if the blasted man was happy. What the Hell?

  Ash shook his head, rose to his feet and walked back over to his desk. He could only imagine that either the man was forming the first signs of dementia or that he had just lived around Ash and Marsala for so long that he came to expect odd occurrences. Ash would dig deeper into the unusually jovial emotion later. He had more pressing matters to attend to now. Like fixing shit with Kielyn so that he could prepare her for what was to be expected when he turned her later that night. If only he knew himself.

  Ash shut down and
closed the laptop on his desk then headed into the hall. Mixed feelings assaulted him as he took the grand staircase. He had been completely honest with Stefen on the plane. Ash was only doing what was the right thing. He was not so selfish that he could not put aside his personal beliefs for the betterment of an entire race. Yet…Something happened on that jet when he looked back and saw the expression on Kielyn’s face. Hurt. Sure, she did her best to mask it immediately, but for the briefest moment that singular emotion flashing across her beautiful eyes stabbed him in the chest. The reaction Ash experienced from her hurt was the extreme polar opposite to the one he had felt the day in the gardens. Then, he had made her happy and it was the grandest feeling ever. Today, Ash literally felt like he had run over her kitten.

  He could not explain any of it, especially the overpowering desire to claim her. Spanking her had done nothing to quell the fact that the thing he was looking forward to the most in this relationship was fucking her blind. In over fourteen hundred years he had never experienced such devastating emotions and primal cravings. For anyone! Perhaps he was the one suffering from some sort of dementia.

  He took the third story hall that led to the circular back staircase. The fourth floor was closed off from the rest of the house, designed originally to be just for the founding Duke and Duchess. Because of that it was smaller than the first three floors but still bigger than the average house in square footage. It was composed of two matching bedrooms for the head of the household and his wife, a library, two separate parlors, a nursery and one spare room for a wet nurse. Two large spiral staircases were positioned at each end, one that connected just down the hall from the main stairs and one that would allow passage to the opposite wing of the third floor.

  He paused when he reached her chambers. There it was again. The quickened beating of his heart as if a mortal had just taken the four flights of steps. But, he was no mortal. Ash was experiencing the same blasted symptoms he felt when they were in New Orleans, right before entering a room he knew Kielyn would be in. It was as if her scent alone ignited a fire under his skin. Ash cursed under his breath and mentally tried to block out any attraction that was occurring before he lifted his knuckles and rapped three times on the door.

  “Come in.”

  He opened the door. “Please try and get in the habit of asking who it is first.” She turned from the window and his breath nearly choked him when it caught in his throat. Gone were the jeans and tee shirt she had arrived in. In their place was a red silk evening gown that hugged every curve of her slender body. “I see your things arrived.” He managed to get out.

  She nervously smoothed her hands down the front of the dress. “Oh trust me. This is not mine. I have never owned anything so nice.” Her eyes lifted from the perusal of the gown. “You ordered all these?” She looked over to the bed where numerous articles of clothing laid scattered about.

  “Yes, while we were on the plane.”

  “Oh…” The telling blush he was becoming obsessed with colored her ivory complexion. “Everything is so lovely. How did you know my size? Do you employ a stylist?”

  Ash closed the doors behind him. Another endearing trait of hers was the rushed questions when she was anxious. He felt himself grin. “I do not have a stylist, just good taste and a very good understanding of the female body.” He walked towards her. “Did you try them all on already?”

  She nodded. “Everything fits perfectly.” She smiled. “I won’t have any oversized sweaters to embarrass me now.”

  Ash stopped in front of her. “Oh, I insist on you keeping that one.” He brushed his hand over her naked shoulder, unable to resist the need to touch her. “Just only wear it around me please.”

  Her gaze lifted from his hand to his eyes. “It does not offend you?”

  “On the contrary. It excited me very much.” His fingers skimmed over her collarbone and up her neck. “But, I can’t have anyone else’s eyes on what’s mine. Do you understand?”

  She nodded again and bit her bottom lip. The action was akin to a knife severing a thin rope of silk which held together his self-control. Ash threaded his hands through her hair and pulled her close, inhaling her scent deep into his lungs, his lips hovering just above hers. “When you do that, you turn me inside out.” He whispered before claiming her lips with his own.

  ****

  Kielyn felt her eyes flutter closed as the heat of his kiss penetrated the barrier of her lips. His tongue danced with hers as his hands cradled the back of her head. She found her arms lifting to his chest. He was solid muscle, hot, tight and all male. Her hands roamed slowly up his body and he deepened the kiss, one of his hands tracing down her spine. He cupped her ass and pulled her tighter to him. He was hard. Kielyn could feel his erection pulsing through the denim of his jeans. Her own sex clenched as her heart hammered in her chest. His lips were everywhere now. Her cheeks, her neck. He took her earlobe in his teeth and her knees almost buckled beneath her.

  Before she knew what was happening he was unzipping the back of her dress and walking her backwards towards the bed. In the next moment Ash was lightly caressing her hips as the silk of the designer gown slipped to the floor. She could not think. Her mind was a fog. Her body was on fire. In one fluid movement he lifted her up and laid her on the bed. His shirt came off. He was stunning! The most beautiful creature she had ever seen. He slowly crawled onto the bed, his muscles tensing and rolling under his tan skin with each movement that prowled towards her. The mattress sunk with his weight, trapping her as he climbed over the top of her body and claimed her lips once more with his kiss.

  “Kielyn I can’t wait.” He groaned into her ear.

  He felt so good. Her body was screaming out for him to take her. Her mind had literally checked out and left the building. “Ash?” She heard herself pant against his chest as he shifted to unbutton his pants.

  “Yes baby.” He kicked his jeans off and onto the floor before spreading her thighs with his knees.

  “Please go slow.” Her panties were gone. Next went her bra. He settled his weight down on her. His cock was huge and pressed urgently against her thigh. For a split second she worried he would not fit.

  “I will,” he said as he parted her lips with his fingers. “You’re so wet.” He circled her clit and Kielyn nearly saw stars. Her own hips rose up as he slid one long finger inside her. “So ready for me.” He whispered.

  She then felt him position himself at her entrance. The head of his cock was slick, soft and hard at the same time. Like a silk wrapped rod. He slowly moved it up and down. Her hands roved over his chest and back as he slowly began to push into her, gradually stretching her to accommodate his girth. Every nerve ending in her body was begging for more. More. Yes.

  He thrust forward and the splintering pain ripped a cry from her lungs. He froze. “Are you ok?” Worry laced his tone.

  As soon as the pain had hit, it was quickly subsiding. “Yes. Better now. I knew there would be some initial discomfort.” She kissed his neck to reassure him it was ok to continue.

  He did not budge a muscle. “Initial?” He began to withdraw.

  “Don’t!”

  He paused. “Kielyn,” Ash leveled his eyes on hers. “Please, for the love of God, tell me you are not a virgin?”

  “Would it make a difference?” She grew worried. What if he found her lacking?

  “Yes! I would never have…”

  Kielyn reached up and clasped the back of his neck dragging him down for a kiss. His body responded by sinking slowly back into hers. She pushed her hips up in one fast motion sheathing him to the hilt. It burned just a bit, but the sting was quickly replaced by a need. She broke the kiss as her hands wrapped around his shoulders. “Please,” she panted. “Make me your wife.”

  It was all the prompting he apparently needed for he possessed her lips again. Bracing himself so that he was not resting all his weight on her, he began to rock forward. Kielyn’s desire mounted with every slow thrust. His elbows laid beside her s
houlders as if locking her in his embrace and his hands cradled her head. His forehead rested on hers and Kielyn could feel the restraint it was costing him to be so gentle. Having this powerful male working so hard to not hurt her combined with the rotation of his hips had her begging in his ear for more. He gave her more, driving faster and deeper with each thrust. Her body began to shake and she clawed at his back, arching her body into his movement. He kissed her neck and slowed his speed. “Do you trust me?” He rasped.

  “With my life.” She assured him.

  He thrust hard into her as he punctured the vein at her throat. Hot fire raced in with equal timing to his lips at her neck and the apex of her thighs. She was completely divided and utterly conquered. His cock slammed into her, driving home the already mounting orgasm while his mouth pulled life from her vein. The combination of both sensations took her over the edge and she screamed out his name as she spiraled into earth-shaking madness. He continued to claim her body and soul as she tumbled wave after wave through the all-consuming sea that was Ashdon LaGoryen, her mate, her teacher, her King.