A Druid of Her Own: An Immortal Highlander (Druid Series Book 4) (9 page)

K
ennard stood just
outside the door to the room he was renting at the B&B. Beyond the door lay Maggie, resting quietly, barely talking to anyone, including her best friend who had stopped by several times a day for the past week. Cillian and Liam were helping at Maggie’s coffee shop. How the twins hadn’t run off her business was beyond Kennard. The people of Sandsville seemed to like the twins—even Liam. And after Kennard called his cousin Coyle—a high ranking member of the High Council of Magiks—to let him know all that had happened, Coyle suggested they let Sandsville keep Liam, at least for a bit.

Raising his hand, Kennard considered knocking. He’d given Maggie space. Too much space probably, sleeping in another room, allowing her time to try to work through all she’d learned a week ago. She’d barely touched her plate of food—again.

He sighed and rapped lightly on the door.

No response.

No surprise.

“Lass, if you do nae answer the door, I will let myself in,” he said, deciding the time had come for her to stop wallowing.

He heard her soft curses as if they were spoken at a normal level—his wolf hypersensitive around her. Amusement tugged at his lips. His woman had a foul mouth on her when her temper flared. He’d seen her in action. She was fierce indeed.

The door opened and Maggie stood there, wearing all white, her long red hair braided in one braid over her left shoulder. The cuts on her face were almost healed, but seeing them enraged him once more. How dare Athol raise his hand to her? His own flesh and blood.

She worked at a tiny cross she wore around her neck, her blue gaze averted, shame radiating from her. Maria was right. The cat-shifter had cornered Kennard, insisting that she thought Maggie was ashamed of what she was—of who fathered her.

“Lass, look at me,” he ordered.

She obeyed.

He’d been dancing on the brink of a shift all week, and he wasn’t sure his wolf could have handled anything other than obedience at the moment. He put his hands on the doorframe, leaning in slightly. He stared down at her. “You know yer nae like him, right? That yer nothin’ like yer father.”

The dark shadows around her eyes troubled him. Though he’d promised himself that he would keep his hands to himself, he found himself touching just under her right eye gently. “My sweet Maggie.”

She sniffled and finally met his gaze. “The people in town were right. I’m evil.”

“Och, yer nae evil, and what people think this?” he asked. “For all I’ve seen are people comin’ out to help in large numbers. They’ve cleaned the lot yer trailer was on, and anything that could be salvaged they did. They’ve even started a fundraiser for you, though I told them they dinnae need to. That I can and will see to all yer needs.”

He could tell she didn’t believe him. Her gaze narrowed. “Are they mocking me? Mad Maggie?”

“Lass, while some may have been cruel in yer past—as Maria has explained to me—they are nae so now. They love you here, Maggie. Yer one of their own and they protect their own. Mr. Hopkins took his cane and whapped Liam a good one for nae tellin’ him where you were. Cillian had to pull the old man off his brother.”

That brought a laugh from her and warmed his heart. He understood that his feelings for her were because she was his chosen, but in addition to what the Fates had lined up for him, he found himself growing more and more attached to the woman, even though she kept him at a distance.

“He really hit Liam with his cane?” she asked, stepping aside so he could enter.

He brushed past her, his body heating. “Aye. Cillian found it verra funny.”

She laughed again and then sighed. “I’ll never be able to repay them for their help.”

“Yer family, lass. They do such things for family.”

She caught his wrist. “I’m not family. We’re not mated. Maria explained everything in detail to me. I know that while I’m supposedly some chosen one for you, we’re not actually a fully mated couple in the eyes of the supernaturals.”

He nodded. “’Tis true, we are nae yet fully mated, but that does nae take from who you are to me. And before you ask, no, I willnae go and leave you be. You wish to remain here, then so shall I. I’ve already talked with builders about breaking ground on our home.”

Maggie sucked in a large breath and squeezed his wrist, easing closer to him. “Our home? What do you mean?”

Her fingers branded him, burning his skin in the best way, making his already undeniable need for her grow at an alarming rate. He knew it was for the best that he remove her hand from him but couldn’t bring himself to. Instead, he broke his own rule about giving her space and not pushing her too far or too hard. He took hold of her and dragged her against his frame, a low growl coming from him.

She yelped, exciting his wolf more.

Kennard dipped his head, his lips finding hers, and he kissed her, leaving her no room to doubt what he felt for her. No room to question what was between them. Passion. And a hell of a lot of it.

Her tongue met his and he smiled against her lips. When her hands inched their way up and under his shirt, he found himself backing her up towards the bed, wanting what he’d been denied since their meeting.

Her.

All of her.

She yanked at his shirt and a frustrated noise came from her as she broke their kiss. “Off.”

He grinned. “Aye.”

Kennard removed his shirt and tossed it aside. He paused, not wanting to break the moment, but he didn’t want anyone interrupting what was about to happen. He shut the door to the room and locked it, his attention returning to Maggie.

He thought she might change her mind, go back to ignoring him and sulking. She surprised him by pulling her shirt over her head, tossing it on the floor near his. Her pale cream-colored bra showed her nipples through it with ease, making his cock respond.

He kicked off his boots and then touched the tops of his jeans. “Yer sure?”

“Aye,” she mimicked his brogue, making him laugh. She didn’t wait for him as she eased her bra off, letting it fall away. When she pushed her skirt and panties down, he feared he’d come where he stood, just looking at her.

His woman was a vision of beauty and oozed sex appeal. Simply being near her nearly drove him mad with need. Kennard had waited long enough for her. At the rate she’d been doing on her own, she’d never be ready. More importantly, she’d never forgive herself. Her shame and self-loathing would come between them always—if he continued to let it.

Reaching down, he finished removing his jeans. Since he didn’t bother with underwear ever, he was now naked before her. He couldn’t tear his gaze from her pert, pink nipples. He didn’t trust himself to touch them gently so he looked up at the ceiling in an attempt to collect himself fully before moving forward.

Cool fingers wrapped around his shaft and he jerked, his gaze snapping to Maggie who was before him. She bit at her lower lip, drawing her hands up and down the length of him. She kissed his upper chest and he threw his arms out wide, knowing better than to trust himself now.

She giggled and the sound was music to his ears. His woman had found joy in something again. That pleased him. Knowing it was him that made her smile, pleased him more. He felt it then, her warm magik rising between them, calling to his power. His power answered instantly, weaving around hers, complementing it as a mate’s energy should. Unable to control himself a moment longer, Kennard lifted her, his lips finding hers as she wrapped her legs around his waist.

He’d played this moment in his head a thousand times over the past week, working out how he’d caress her, love her, sample her—giving her endless pleasure before he took her.

His body, his wolf and his cock apparently thought otherwise.

He lined up with her hot, wet entrance, their kiss intensifying as he did. She moaned into his mouth, swiveling her hips, trying to take his cock into her. Kennard held her in place, struggling with the warring sides of himself. He wanted the moment to be special, yet he wanted her more than he’d ever wanted anything in over seven-hundred years.

He tore his mouth from hers. “Maggie, you do nae want me like this.”

Maggie arched a brow. “Oh, I think I know what I want.”

A shaky laugh fell from him. “Please,
a ghrá,
let us take this slower. Let me love you.”

Something in her expression changed, though he couldn’t completely read it. All he knew was that her power flared, drawing them together, her body sinking down and over his cock, taking him inch by inch, making his teeth clench as ecstasy assailed him. Maggie cupped his face, her mouth returning to his, their tongues colliding at the same moment their bodies completely meshed.

Pure bliss radiated through him. He feared he’d come, ending their time together too soon, but he found a rhythm, easing their bodies to the bed. He laid her out, staying in her, his body covering hers. Kennard pumped harder then, causing the headboard to strike the wall again and again. He paid it little mind, his focus on his woman.

Her pussy drew him back in, as if it never wanted him to leave its sanctuary. That was fine by him. He didn’t want to go. There was a faint buzzing and then a ringing in his ears as his magik flared higher, stronger, combining with hers fully. He lost himself in her silken depths, his power riding the air with hers.

Maggie cried out in his mouth, her fingernails digging deep into his upper arms. Had he been only druid, with no wolf to think of, their mating would have been complete the moment he released in her and she climaxed. But his wolf needed to mark her as his. Breaking their kiss, he didn’t try to stop the shift in his mouth. He understood it was necessary. He let the wolf up enough to do what was needed to assure no one could ever come between him and Maggie again.

“Yes,” cried Maggie, countering his thrusts, her body now clenching down upon his. She cried out, raking her nails down his arms, drawing more blood. The smell of it excited his wolf. He thrust deeper into her, pummeling her sweet body with his. Maggie gave as good as she got, her body grinding against his, her grunts and moans filling the room, joining his own. The room smelled heavy of sex, power and blood.

He had to concentrate so as not to be too hard, too alpha with her. She was smaller than him and he did not want to break her. She tugged at his upper arms before gritting her teeth, her blue eyes narrowing.

“Fuck me,” she said. “Harder.”

His lass was full of fire. He obliged, using his strength and speed to give her what she wanted. The bed felt as if it may give under the stress of their joining, but he didn’t care. He wouldn’t leave her body. He didn’t care what happened so long as they finished what they’d started.

Maggie’s body tensed and she arched under him, a cry tearing free from her as her pussy began pulsing around his cock. His mouth went to her shoulder and he wasted no time sinking his teeth into her, her blood rushing over his tongue at the very same second his balls tightened, seed erupting from him. He filled her and felt it then—the claiming was complete.

They were one.

Forever.

Kennard eased his mouth from his mate’s shoulder and licked the wound, watching as it healed over before his very eyes. He grinned, staying rooted in her. As he planted a row of tiny kisses over her neck to her jaw, he stiffened, wondering how he would explain what he’d just done to her.

He’d claimed her fully.

She was his soulmate.

His wife now.

There was no going back.

He stilled.

She kissed him chastely, running her foot down his leg. “Is it done?”

“Lass, did you nae feel me fillin’ you? I thought you might burst from what I unloaded in you,” he said, before thinking better of his choice of words and phrasing. She was his woman, she deserved finesse. He lacked the trait and wasn’t sure how he’d manage to gain it. “I mean, yes. For at least a minute or so, it is done.”

Maggie seemed puzzled before she smiled wide, caressing the backs of his already healed over arms. “I know that is done. I mean, is the claiming done?”

He stiffened. “You know of claimings?”

“Maria filled me in.”

He drew in a sharp breath. “Did she now?”

She kissed him gently. “She did.”

Kennard’s cock came back to life. It would never have enough of her. Neither would he. He began to move lazily within her. “Do you know what this means, then? Our joinin’? Our magik rising at the same moment? Me biting you?”

With a nod, Maggie bit her lip and her eyes moistened, and Kennard tried to pull out of her, worried he’d harmed her in some way. He couldn’t live with himself if he upset her or caused her pain. She clamped her legs around his waist, holding him there.

“It means you, Romance Hero Guy, you’re mine forever,” she said, biting at his lower lip, calling to his animal side as she did. “And that you didn’t kiss me on a dare.”

Laughter, deep and rich, sprang from him as he rolled with her, going to his back on the bed, Maggie astride him. “Och, no, lass. You were nae a dare. Far from it.”

Her long, red hair fell around him and he inhaled, loving the smell of her. She bent, kissing his upper chest, and she rode him. He ran a hand into the side of her hair, holding her head as she nibbled at his flesh. “Aye, wife, just like that.”

Maggie sank onto him fully, taking him deep, and his cock twitched and he nearly lost control. He slammed his hands onto the bed, worried claws might emerge. Maggie’s impish stare told him she found great amusement in his dilemma.

The minx.

She put her palms against his chest and sat up, driving him deeper into her. She moved on him and increased her pace, driving him over the edge. He hit his zenith as she hit hers. She raked her nails down his torso, coming around him as he expelled himself into her once more.

She collapsed over him and he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. As he held her, he began to shake slightly as emotions overtook him. He’d found her and then had nearly lost her to Athol—his sworn enemy. He didn’t give a shit that she was the man’s daughter. His only concern was that she was safe from Athol.