"Back to training,” he said, to her disbelief. They were still in the middle of their conversation. At least, Aislan was. Every time they reached an impasse about him and her, she saw his immediate refusal to deal with it. Or had he already made up his mind?
Whatever he came up with, she had no intention of leaving him. Not now. Not ever. Before she could confront him, Lucien turned the blank book upside down and flipped it open. She noticed immediately he had written pages and pages of text, starting from the back of the book. She stared at it in shock.
He placed the Archangel's Fire dagger on the table. “Over the next few days, we will go to the stream to practice where you will not feel so claustrophobic. You'll learn the foundations for using Archangel's Fire. Aislan, why are you looking at me that way? I am not jesting."
"I am sorry. I know you are serious about this.” She touched the hilt of the dagger lightly. “Why?"
"You need a physical projection of your power, a weapon you can use defensively or offensively. Despite what people believe, we cannot throw fire from our fingers or move a heavy force across the room with our mind or a wave of our hands. We have to touch their physical form. We fight with weapons. You have no means to defend yourself against physical force. With this, you have a better chance."
Lucien flattened the book in front of her. “You start out with incantations. I have coded it in this pattern.” He showed her with quick movements from page to page. “Sorcery incantations are never recorded in a straightforward manner because techniques are safeguarded. When you think about each word, step by step, your body movements have to match, the flow of your energy has to match."
Aislan remembered waking to him sitting on the bed with this book. She touched the words he had scribed. He had filled up most of the pages. He must have stayed up all night to do this for her, to take the time to code the incantations.
"There is already power forged in the dagger,” Lucien continued. “Initially, you go through the physical process of transferring your wishes to the weapon through incantations. Eventually, you control it with your thoughts. You have already done that for warmth, a basic need that was easier to project. To have better control, you need to will it to obey your thoughts. That requires training."
She caressed the hilt of the dagger as it lay on the table. “You will make a weapon like this for me?"
"No, you may have Archangel's Fire."
Aislan could barely breathe. “You give me this dagger?"
He shrugged. “My sword is more than adequate."
Without a doubt now, Aislan knew he was preparing her so he could leave her somewhere that no Tracker could find. She could only deal with one thing at a time. First, they had to resolve what they felt for each other before they could decide what to do with Trackers.
Aislan kept her voice calm and reasonable. “What will become of us now?"
He looked wary. “Eventually, we go our own way. Is that not what you wanted?"
"No, I have no wish to leave you,” she said softly. “So, how do we go forward from this point? What do you want to be? My sorcery master? My lover?"
Lucien flinched visibly. “You should not put those two roles together.” He walked away, but she went after him, grabbing his arm to keep him from leaving.
"I understand.” She nodded. “I have to decide if I want you as my sorcery master or my lover, since according to the law, I cannot have you as both. Is there a way around this so we can be together? Twenty-one years can be a very long time to be apart so I can train properly elsewhere. We shall become old and gray, and you will not think I am beautiful anymore when you see me again. Can we work out a way so we can turn gray together?” She waited.
"Aislan, do not push me."
Apparently, he would not ask her. Aislan backed him up against the wall until he had nowhere to go unless he shoved her aside, which she knew he would never do. His gaze moved between her breasts and her mouth.
"What if we were to wed?” she suggested. The prospect of marriage had frightened her, but not anymore. Lucien's love gave her the freedom to grow. “I would like that. So, would you like for us to become husband and wife?"
Chapter 23
For Love
Aislan could not understand why Lucien looked stunned. He loved her, so why would he not want to wed her? He seemed to struggle with himself for a while, looking like he wanted to be anywhere but here. Finally, he frowned in disapproval.
"You should not be asking a man to wed you."
"Shall I wait for you to ask?” She waited, but he did not ask. “Apparently, not. So, what else would you suggest we do to be together and be happy? If I go to a sorcery clan, I'll not be able to see you again. They must have strict rules about allowing my lover to visit me frequently."
"Now you make fun of sorcery clans.” He shook his head as if she had committed blasphemy.
"No, I am being realistic. I want to develop my sorcery power. That goal drove me throughout my life, and I'll not give up my dream. I am willing to devote the years required by any sorcery clan that will accept me, but I am not willing to give you up. You can offer me both. You have already given me both. Why must I choose only one? Why can I not have both with you?” She caressed the hard pectorals as she smoothed his tunic over his chest. “I only care about us being together, Lucien. I want to be with you."
"I am certain you do. I offer you the best of everything, so why bother looking elsewhere in several places?"
She smiled. “You qualify wonderfully. Is that not what ‘tis all about? We choose our mate from what we see as the very best of everything combined into one. You are the best of everything for me."
"You are very cold-hearted.” His face was hard. “Mayhap you should sit down and write a list of all my qualifications in case you missed something."
"Why am I cold-hearted? You have given me everything. You made sacrifices for me. Why would I want anyone else? You would not make love to me because you are my teacher. Who would you make love with? Who am I allowed to make love with?"
"You have a couple of other willing contenders who may have something better to offer,” he suggested helpfully.
"Lord Traver? Too cold. Lord Jaden? I could not take seriously. I have no interest in anyone but you.” Reaching up, she wrapped her arms around his neck, determined to bring him around from his determined path of trying to leave her to keep her safe. “If I cannot make love with you, then by God, we will wed so I can love you freely."
"We would not last beyond the next strapping, young sorcerer in your sight."
She let go of him and stepped back. “Now, that is uncalled for! Lucien, what kind of women did you consort with in the past to give you such a horrible opinion of me? Oh, never you mind. I know the company you liked to keep. Well, no more of that. Now, please stop being unreasonable. You have no need to be jealous. Aside from you, the only other man I had been with was my husband. Did I use him as an example of how all other men are? No. So, why are you judging me so unfairly? I was drawn to you from the first moment I saw you, even under the worst circumstances. I came to you, mayhap too willingly, but that makes me no whore. ‘Tis not my nature to go from man to man. Once I believe in something, and I believe in you, you know how difficult ‘twould be to shake me loose."
She could see him weakening as he looked from her eyes to her mouth, to her breasts, and back up.
"Aislan,” he seemed to struggle hard with his decision to keep resisting her, “you are no longer safe with me. They could find you through me."
"Where would I go then? Where do you have in mind to abandon me?"
"Now, you should be reasonable. You stay here. Traver will take care of you."
"And, pray tell, where would you traipse off to after you have given me to your cousin?” She gave him a cool look while she waited for the right answer.
"I am not giving you to Traver. I only want you to be safe."
She kept her cool tone. “And where will you be during this time whi
le I am safe here?"
He did not answer as he looked at a point over her head.
"Lucien.” Aislan realized he was serious, and she felt as if he had taken her heart and squeezed it. “Why would you consider abandoning me?"
"I'll come back for you."
"Where are you planning to go?"
His mouth tightened to indicate his refusal to answer. Eventually, she would get to the bottom of this, so she asked another question, “When will you come back for me?"
"When ‘tis safe to do so."
"And what if ‘twill never be safe? Will you leave me here forever?"
"No."
Aislan stared at him, and he met her gaze steadily, but she could not read his expression. Because he gave her no choice, she had to force an answer out of him. “As long as you think I'll be safe here, I know you will not come back. If you leave without me, be assured that I'll not wait around here for you to come back."
"Why are you threatening me?"
"Why are you considering leaving me behind? Have I become such a burden to you that you have wiped your hands of me?"
He looked resigned. “Aislan, do not play games with my peace of mind. The only thing that matters to me is to keep you safe."
"Oh, Lucien!” She flung herself into his arms, holding him tightly. “I know how much you care. We belong together. We are meant for each other. I want to be with you forever."
"Aislan.” His arms went about her waist, but his voice tinged with unhappiness. “What will I do with you now? I cannot save you from yourself. ‘Tis risky to take you with me. You must stay here, my darling. I'll come back for you as soon as ‘tis possible to do so, I promise."
"Where will you be going?"
"Such a persistent woman.” He sighed. “I only want to ensure a future for you.” He hesitated. “Hopefully, for us. If I have to worry about you, I would not be able to accomplish anything. Just wait for me here. You mean everything to me, Aislan. I would never just walk away from you."
Aislan could not torment him by probing further. “Oh, Lucien, Lucien.” She pressed her cheek against his chest, her hand against his heart, feeling its strong, steady beat. “Do you know, my love, your name means, ‘full of light'? All my life, I chased a light, but I interpreted it wrong. All that time, you are my vision of light."
"What do you mean?"
Aislan glanced at the philosophy book. She imagined he was unlikely to think about the meaning of his name, and of course, he knew nothing about her vision of light.
On the day of the hunt, only a fortnight ago but now seemed like a lifetime, Aislan had seen a flicker of light a moment before Lucien appeared on the scene. Later that fateful evening when he found her after she swam away, before they shared their first kiss, she had seen a faint glow about him when he sat across from her. Again, when he healed her after she had tried to run away, she had thought the sunlight outlined him from behind in the semi-darkness of the cave. She had been so fixated on associating the light with Victania, her mind had not readjusted until last night.
Last night, Lucien had stepped out of the light behind Narisse, trying to reach for her, but the sorceress had grabbed her first. Narisse had waited for her all this time. Aislan had shut her out during her sleep, shutting out everything completely to keep herself safe from Narisse's predatory grasp. Last night, Narisse had finally made a connection. Aislan could only imagine her regeneration in the water had opened up a path somewhere in her mind and enabled the sorceress to reach her now. The mirage of images plaguing Aislan's visions all her life had slowly come together piece by piece.
"Darling Lucien,” she smoothed her thumb across the wide curve of his bottom lip, “I love you. Tell me we will be together after this."
He pressed his mouth against her knuckles. “Aislan, my little love, all I can promise is that I'll do my best. I'll never let anyone or anything harm you."
Although he had not answered her directly, Aislan was content with the love in his eyes, etched on his face, and evident in his tone of voice. They had time to talk about their future, but she needed to be with him now.
"I need you so. Please make love to me,” she whispered, and he met her kiss halfway. She melted into him, wrapping her arms around his neck, letting go of all other thoughts except him. The scent of his maleness and the taste of his demanding tongue made stars dance in her vision. Aislan was ready to give him everything in her heart and her soul, and everything else he wanted of her body.
She tugged at his baldric, and he helped her remove it, then he pulled his tunic over his head. As she helped him, Aislan used the opportunity to sweep her tongue up the ridge of short, sparse hair between his chest, breathing in deeply of his intoxicating scent. She scratched lightly at his nipples, feeling them harden. She flicked her tongue over one before she bit him the way he liked to bite her. He groaned when her teeth clamped several times to catch the areola, tugging at the rigid nub. She lavished the other nipple with the same attention.
Aislan looked back up into his eyes, the silvery gaze bright and yet warm, the pupils large as he studied her face. She could see her reflections in the molten depths. She puckered her lips in a teasing moue, and he smiled and obliged, kissing her with the same devouring thoroughness he had always given each kiss. His hand braced her back while the other squeezed her bottom, once, twice, the third time a little harder than usual. Aislan's heart raced madly, but in excitement. Her vaginal muscles clenched, and wetness trickled down her thighs.
"Mmm—yes,” she murmured against his tongue.
"Yes, what?” He released her mouth to kiss her chin and nuzzle her throat, prickling her skin with gooseflesh while blood rushed along her veins. His teeth ravished her burning flesh, his tongue laving and stoking a fiery trail up to her ear.
"Yes, you may proceed further."
"Be more specific.” He pulled her tunic off over her head, unlacing her shift quickly. When her breasts sprung free, he suckled her good and hard. She moaned. When he finished with one breast, she offered him the other. He sucked that one too, pulling and drawing on the nipple until her pussy clenched in need.
"Yes, what again?” he asked, his breath hot against her skin as he trailed kisses from her nipple to her chin. He cupped and fondled and squeezed her breasts, kneading and pinching her into a frenzy.
Cupping the bulge of his erection, Aislan rubbed her palm caressingly. “Would you like to be in my mouth?” she teased, licking her lips. He smiled in approval.
"Now, how could any man refuse?” He rewarded her with a searching kiss while he loosened the ties. “On your knees, beautiful wench."
"Yes, my demanding lord and master.” She wedged both hands under the waist of his braes and pulled the material with her on her way down. His huge cock popped out without restraint, standing at full attention, bobbing in invitation, veins straining along the firm shaft. She knelt and opened her mouth, stopping a mere inch from the bulbous, purple-red crown and waited.
"Ah, you little temptress,” he groaned hoarsely and thrust his cock forward into her waiting mouth, but he only pushed several inches in and left it to her to decide how much she wanted to take. She sucked on the head to taste the pre-cum that dripped from the tip, took half the length where it hit the back of her throat, then pulled back and licked him. She began laving the length of him from crown to base, her mouth wide as she flicked her tongue under one huge globe and pulled it gently into her mouth to suck.
"Ah-h-h!” he groaned, his whole body tensing. She took his huge cock in hand and lifted it high, tilting her head to lick her way to the other ball. He squirmed. “Aislan!"
She rolled his ball gently in her mouth, taking her time to enjoy the taste, inhaling deeply the smell of him, craving more. When she released him, he was panting hard. She pressed another kiss on the crown.
"Darling, suck me now."
"Yes, milord.” She tapped the head of his cock against her lips several times and pretended to ponder.
"Impert
inent, as always,” he grunted.
She laughed and trailed her tongue along the long shaft. She took him into her mouth and sucked, relaxing the back of her throat as he had taught her. The head of his cock slipped past her tonsils.
"There, my sweet Aislan,” he said above her as she concentrated on taking him as deeply as possible. She could not get all ten inches down at first, so for what she could not put in her mouth, her fingers enclosed. She brought him in and out. Each time in, she took him as far down her throat as she could until, finally, she got him in to the hilt.
"Argh!” he growled, and it pleased her to hear his pleasure. She wanted to give as much as he had given her, to show him how much she cared.
His fingers tangled in the hair at the back of her head to hold her steady as his hips moved back then forward. He thrust slowly down her throat, pulled out slightly, and then slid back down.
"Steady, my sweet.” His body tensed and he grunted. His fingers tightened against her scalp before he ejaculated, his cum filling her mouth, sliding sweetly down her throat as she drank of him. She swallowed every last drop of his seed, licking him clean. When she had finished, he pulled her up to her feet and swept her into his embrace.
"My lovely Aislan,” he panted against her cheek before he brushed his mouth against hers, back and forth several times. She opened her mouth. He tasted her upper lip before grasping the bottom one in a firm, rough suck. She savored the heady kiss, reveling in its demand, basking in the knowledge he loved her even though he had yet to admit it.
"I could die now and be happy,” he murmured, one arm tight about her waist while he fondled her bare breasts. She sighed in contentment and relaxed in his arms.
A kaleidoscope of images flashed, startling her. Aislan closed her eyes and looked and looked for him, but she could not find him anywhere in her future. Aislan pulled back abruptly, shaking.
"Aislan, what is wrong?” He watched her expression, then said softly, “What do you see, my love? Tell me."
Vision of Light [The Renegades 1] Page 25
