Waiting For You

by Glenda Diana

  Still hard and buried deep inside her warmth, he smiled. "I still have things that need to be done. You distract me."

  "What things?" she asked tightening her woman muscles around him.

  "Witch," he muttered softly. "We have to be prepared."

  "So that none can find us?"

  He shook his head. "It's too late for that now. Someone would have detected your powers when you sent them out to me."

  "I'm sorry."

  "Nay, love. No matter what we might have done or will do, you can rest assured that there will be those who have the powers to find us. They will come to terminate me and take that which they claim for themselves. Only a few will bother with us for the simple reason that most will not have the ability to find us. But one in particular will come. I do not want you to lose sight of the reality that we will have to face."

  Arysa nodded. "I know. My grandmother taught me well. I may not have the experience or the knowledge that you possess, but neither am I uninstructed in what will come."

  Again he smiled. "I was not referring to you as being uninstructed, just young."

  She returned his smile and moved gently beneath him. "I was tutored beyond what most young women are. You know this ... you know what destiny my race has chosen for me."

  "Aye." He pulled back slightly and then surged forward. "You were not meant to be mine."

  "On that I disagree ... I was taught by my grandmother that only I can decide what my destiny will be and that only I can fight the instincts that were born in me. So you see, I was taught the most valued lesson from the one person that I love and trust above all others ... until you."

  Instead of replying he continued to make love to her, this time he let go of his tight rein just a little more. Their hunger for one another brought them to the peak much too fast. As her juices exploded around him, she pulled him with her along the climatic trail that they blazed together.

  "I love you."

  Arysa purred as she tightened her muscles around him trying to draw the last of him into her womb. "And I love you."

  "You are the sorceress of my soul, the sorceress that all men are warned of and yet I surrender to you quite willingly ... quite thoroughly."

  She smiled as she pulled him back to lie upon her. "Sorceress I may be, but you Sir Knight are the forbidden angel and I willingly and thoroughly surrender to you."

  With one last lingering kiss, he rolled away. "Before sunrise I must leave again. I'll be back by nightfall."

  "How much time do you think we have?"

  "Not much."

  "What can I do to help?"

  Cupping her face between his hands he kissed her lips. "Keep your powers close to you. Don't send them searching for me again. I will return as quickly as I can. Remember, whatever comes our way we are now one."

  "Aye."

  "Come," he murmured. Rising to his feet, he held out his hand to her. "We have a few more hours before I must leave.

  Placing her hand in his, she smiled. "We may accomplish much in a few hours."

  He laughed and pulled her against his chest. Staring down into her face he felt his love for her grow. "I sincerely hope that we do, my love. For I have craved you for a very long time. The hunger within me is immense. Are you sure that you can handle it?"

  "I will do my best," she whispered, standing on tiptoes. Her lips settled against the sharp angle of his jaw and slowly glided down to the base of his neck.

  Swinging her up into his arms, he marched off toward the manor. "Aye, I know you will. I do not wish to hurt you in my enthusiasm."

  "I am made of stern stuff, so put your worries behind you."

  For a reply, he growled.

  "Wait, you left the shirt I was wearing back on the ground."

  "I have others you may borrow. I will have to see about having clothing prepared for you."

  "I have clothing back at the cabin in the woods."

  "'Tis not safe to return there."

  She nodded her head in understanding. "Will you at least tell me if my grandmother is safe?"

  Her whispery plea made him stop. The fear he saw on her face made his chest ache. "To my knowledge she is," he replied and then sighed. "You know as well as I, Arysa that this could change within a beat of a heart. Your grandmother cared nothing about her safety, only yours. She will do what needs to be done until she knows you are safe."

  "Could I ask you one more question?"

  "Aye."

  "By what name do I call you?"

  His laughter filled the silence of the manor. "Aye, I guess that might help. My given name is Connor."

  Her laughter joined his. "An unusual name for your race, is it not?"

  "Aye, but then there are many in my clan that have equally unusual names. There are no rules as to what we are named as with some races."

  "Mine for instance."

  "Your race is very complex. They stay to themselves. Outsiders are not welcomed and none have dared to interfere with the rules and traditions of your clan."

  "You have dared," she whispered.

  They reached the third floor landing and he was making his way down the hall to his room. "Aye, I dare. But then I was not given a choice in the matter." At her expression of confusion he let her body slide down his as he kept his arm around her. "The moment I felt your aura I was lost. It was either follow my heart or face misery every day of my existence."

  "Maybe you do not need to refine your charm after all."

  "A change of heart in that area?"

  "Just a little ... you will have to show me more before a complete change of heart can transpire."

  "I will do my best," he murmured, backing her toward his massive bed. "If for any reason I frighten you, tell me and I will hold back my desire."

  She could tell that he was completely serious. A shiver raced down her spine, whether it was from fear or her own desire she wasn't sure. "I promise," her words whispered out.

  Lowering her to the bed, he began by directing her to turn upon her stomach. The scraping of his teeth against her back made her wiggle. The soft bites against her tender skin soon had her moaning and then came the wetness of his tongue as it soothed the bitten area, making her blood hum to life.

  "I have wanted you for so long," he murmured, moving downward.

  She raised her hips at the feel of his mouth against the globes of her bottom. "What are you doing?"

  "Feasting ... sampling ... savoring."

  "Oh," she moaned softly.

  "Do you mind?"

  "No," came her breathless reply.

  Connor could not stop. Over and over, he tasted all of her. Biting, licking, nibbling every inch of her flesh. He kept his powers inside himself and gave her the full-force of his loving without it. He knew he could bring her to ecstasy with his powers, but he wanted more than what his powers could bring ... he wanted her complete surrender to him.

  Rolling her over he began anew. Kissing her face, eyes, mouth, and nose before working his way down toward her fully aroused breasts. He lavished his attention on her hard and pouting nipples and then moved lower where he licked and gently bit her stomach.

  His fingertips danced over the smooth woman's mound. The skin was slick without the slightest prickly of stubble. Later he would ask her how she achieved such smoothness, but for now he would enjoy her labor of work and feast his lips and tongue upon it. The wetness of her beckoned him onward. He could prolong it, but his desire to be buried deep within her was overpowering all other cravings. Placing a kiss upon her mound he lifted her legs and gently moved into her waiting heat.

  He gritted his teeth and reminded himself to go slowly. Though her passage was slick with her passion she was still overly new to this and he did not want to hurt her. A groan escaped him when she shifted, taking him deep within her depth as their groins brushed against one another.

  The sound of a low growl made her eyes open. The muscles in his neck stood out as he tipped his head back. Such beauty, she thought as s
he moved with each thrust he made. Again he growled and the very sound had her passions shooting upward. "Aye," she whispered, catching hold of the fire he had set to blaze within her.

  Connor arched his back. His head came forward and his eyes met hers. A part of him expected to see fear, but such was not the case. Her green eyes were intent and they seemed to glow with her pleasure. She murmured something, but he did not know what, could not hear it over the blood pumping through his body.

  Arysa held tight to him. His body shifted in proportions and still she held tight. Watching him was almost as exciting as the loving part. Though she knew what to expect she still held her breath in anticipation ... waiting. He was himself, yet he wasn't. It was as if he had become the inner creature hidden within everyone. His was a creature of power and strength. He appeared no different yet she could see the white beast that lay beneath.

  She tightened around him, pulling him deeper. It was excruciating and at the same time exalting. The wide range of emotions and sensation that his mind and body were going through was something that he had never experienced before ... always, he had come close and always it fell far short, but not this time. This time he tasted the full meaning of ecstasy. All it had taken was the right one to share it with ... all it had taken was Arysa.

  "Aye," she whispered at the soft-growling rumble that issued from him. "Show me."

  Reason told him to hold back, but her soft pleas were the words that whispered through him blocking out all reason. Knowing that she would eventually see him in such a form, he gave into her plea. His body covered hers and slowly he let go of the reins.

  Arysa smoothed her hands down his back and then grasped hold of him just as he drove her to the brink of passion's fiery realm. Her body shook and shivered as it reached the hottest flame and then slowly began wafting back downward.

  Connor felt his body shift yet again. The panting breaths hissed from his lungs as his heart pounded out a pulsation of wildness. Rolling to the side, he pulled her to his chest as he wrapped his leg around hers so that she could not move away. But then there was no need to worry over such a thing, he realized when she wrapped her arms around him and buried her face against his neck.

  "You are beautiful."

  The words were stated in a soft husky voice. Connor smiled. "I have never been called beautiful before, not that I remember."

  She heard the teasing timber of his voice and raised her head. "Then the others were most blind."

  Brushing the hair back from her face, he kissed her brow. "Perhaps none have taken me to the heights of passion that you have."

  "What is it like?" she murmured and then blushed. "Is it different with one of your own race?"

  He hesitated for a moment. "Aye, I suppose. Just as it is different between two of your race. We could say that perhaps it is our two races that makes our loving more special, but in all honesty I would say that it is the feelings that we have for one another that make it so."

  "I think so too," she said, burying her face against his skin.

  "Though I dislike to, I must rise from this bed and prepare to leave. There is much to take care of."

  "I will be lonely here without you."

  "You will not be alone, Arysa. I have arranged for the woman that cooked your meal earlier to reside here with us. She will also bring some others to help her."

  "A woman?"

  "Aye, she is an outcast from her clan and has nowhere to go. I befriended her several years ago. I think that you will like her."

  Arysa nodded. "Those that she brings with her, are they outcast also?"

  "Aye. We shall be a household filled with outcasts."

  Aye, from here out that was exactly what she and Connor were. Outcast to be shunned and unacknowledged by their people. They were risking the wrath of both clans. But such was the way they would travel this new uncharted path.

  "A circumstance that will bring unity to us."

  Connor laughed. "You are very wise, my love."

  "Nay, not overly wise. I put you at risk by letting my powers search for you."

  "We have been at risk, or at least I have, for the past few years. But it seemed that the harder I tried to stay away from you the more I needed to be with you."

  "I have loved you from the first time I felt your presence in my woods. Then there were the nights that I sat alone, wishing and hoping to feel you out there. I will not claim to have known who or what you were, but I knew you were forbidden to me."

  "Aye, but the forbidden fruit is the tastiest."

  Arysa laughed. "Is that what you find so alluring about me? The fact that I am forbidden?"

  Lifting her face, he stared into her eyes. "If that were the case then my desire would have been quenched by now, but it is not. I still want you as my own ... from now until the end of my time."

  "Aye," she sighed, leaning forward to taste his lips.

  "I must go," he sighed. "Once we are prepared, then we can spend more time getting to know one another and feeding our yearning for each other."

  "Oh aye," she whispered with a smile. "I would like that. When do you think the war will come?"

  "I do not know. Perhaps soon and then again it may be a game of waiting. The one who thinks to claim you might find it amusing to keep us waiting, building our unease and agitation. I know him and would not put it past him to do exactly that. But then again, he might forget his logic and be ruled by his anger. Either way, we must be prepared."

  "You know him?"

  "Aye, we have had clashes before." When she opened her mouth, he placed his fingertips against them, halting her words. "Nay, do not even ask."

  "What?"

  "I had been visiting your woods for nigh on a year before I found out that you were promised to him. Knowing that did not change or enhance my desire and need for you."

  Arysa gave a slight nod of her head. "Thank you for explaining."

  "We are here together for one reason and one reason alone ... Love. I would not use you in such a way nor do I have anything to gain. You know that just the opposite is true. Each of us has risked much. Either we will exist or we will perish, but that was the choice we made by consummating our union."

  "So it will be a game of challenge to him?"

  Connor nodded. "That is the way I believe he will perceive it, aye."

  "I will not go with him," she stated with anger.

  "Nay, you will not."

  Her anger left her instantly, as she burrowed closer to his heat. "Thank you."

  "There is no reason to thank me, Arysa. I do this for me as much as for you."

  "Still ... "

  "Still ... I love you and will do whatever is necessary to protect us."

  "And I will help."

  "Aye ... together we will be an unbeatable force."

  She knew that he did not take her words seriously for he was too busy nibbling at her shoulder. Mentally she gave a sigh and a promise to herself that she would help him when the time came. Right now he was driving her to distraction with his nipping kisses.

  Chapter Twenty

  Arysa awoke to the dimming sun filtering through her window on the cool afternoon breeze. Stretching, she tossed the covers aside and climbed from Connor's bed. Again she made use of his shirts, this time choosing a pristine white one. Next she found a leather belt that required her to wrap it twice around her waist to keep it from falling. She brushed and braided her hair before exiting the room.

  Upon reaching the second landing she could smell the aroma of food. Quickening her steps, she hurried down the stairs. Her steps faltered when she saw an unknown man standing in the doorway to the dining hall. Her cheeks turned warm when she realized how much of her person he could see.

  He was handsome, she thought approaching more slowly. He had golden hair, brown eyes and full, sculptured lips. He appeared to be around the same age as Connor, but lacked his brawn and height. As her eyes returned to his face she noticed the slight smile crinkle the corners of his eyes and
bracketing his mouth and wondered if he thought her discomfort amusing.

  Stepping away from the doorway, he bowed slightly. "Good day, Mistress."

  Arysa tipped her head and silently studied him.

  "Connor told us what a lovely woman you were, but I thought he was jesting. I did not believe that anything could be as lovely as what he described. I was wrong."

  "And who are you?"

  Again he bowed. "Forgive me, my name is Justin and I am Connor's second in command."

  "Second in command?"

  "Aye, Milady. Connor is, was, the commanding officer of his own men. I was his second in command then and still am."

  Arysa nodded. She had known that Connor was a high ranking officer by his presence, but still it shocked her somewhat to realize just what he had given up for her. "You will be residing here with us?"

  "Aye, Milady."

  "So you have gone against your people for the sake of Connor?"

  "For the sake of friendship. Connor and I have been friends for many, many years."

  "I see," she murmured.

  Justin smiled. "I think I have confused you and for that I apologize."

  "Nay, I am not so confused as I am in awe. I hope that he does not regret what he has given up to be with me. Just as I hope that you will not regret following him."

  "Connor had given much thought to this before he brought you here. He is not one to act rashly or impulsively. It is our fondest hope that you will not regret the decision you made by accepting Connor."

  "Nay, I will not."

  "Then you will accept him in all ways?"

  Arysa grew uncomfortable under his steady gaze. "Aye."

  "Do you know what is required in order to accept him fully?"

  "Nay, but then I think you are going to tell me."

  Justin smiled at her sarcastic tone. "You must unite with him in a joining vow that is recognized by our people. If this is not done before the one you were promised to has arrived he will have the upper hand in the fight."

  "Why did not Connor mention this?" Arysa asked.

  Justin shrugged. "Perhaps he feared what you may say."

  Arysa stiffened at his implication. "After the hours we have spent together in his bed, I think that he would know the answer. But should you yourself have any doubt then I will tell you aye, I will join with him in a vow. Now, if you will excuse me, I am hungry."