Authors: Caris Roane
The cliff opposite had striations of rock, one after another with variations of beige, gray, a thin line of black and even red. She’d always loved Dark Gorge for its natural beauty and the feeling of power inherent in the rugged cliffs. The river below, that serviced most of the plain cities of the realm, had cut through the rock over the millennia.
A quarter mile away was a beautiful wrought-iron bridge. She watched as shifters in their wolf form moved from the southern cliff to the northern, then disappeared along several trails leading into the mountains. She loved her world, the beauty of the land and the unique aspect of each species, which only made Margetta’s corruption of the usually gentle wraith spirit one of the most heinous in the Nine Realms’ long history.
When the shower shut off, she turned in the direction of the bathroom, where steam flowed into the dressing area.
Ian emerged, a towel around his waist, his dark hair hanging wet to the middle of his back.
Her lips parted. His warrior physique was so beautiful and so perfect. His shoulders were broad and heavily muscled, and his back angled to a narrow, fit waist. The towel covered a tight gorgeous ass and her hands involuntarily made a pair of claws because she knew when and how she wanted to sink her nails, something he’d always enjoyed.
“See something you like?”
She lifted her gaze from his backside and saw that he’d caught her watching him from the mirror above the sink.
Busted.
But she wasn’t embarrassed. Instead, she crossed the room coming up behind him and slid her hands around his waist. She wasn’t a short woman, but Ian was six-six, so she had to peer around his shoulder to meet his gaze in the mirror.
I was just thinking about how I used to use my nails. Remember?
His whole body did a strange rolling jerk.
Sweet Goddess, yes.
She released him and he leaned forward, catching his hands on the edge of the sink. He’d been in the middle of putting his rings on and now took deep breaths.
I want to kiss you and do everything else right now. But if I get started, I won’t be able to stop.
She laughed and headed back to the bedroom window.
I’d better be good, then, because I really don’t want to stay in this house as beautiful as it is.
When Ian lost the towel, however, desire shot through her sex once more and created a kind of whirling effect between her legs. She almost ran to him and leaped on his back.
But he was right. Once either of them got going nothing would stop them. Worse, there’d probably be a dozen Guardsmen outside who’d hear a whole lot of moans, sighs, and at least one earth-shattering scream she knew would come from her throat.
So she turned away from him and even closed her eyes as she worked to focus on anything else. “Just let me know when you’re dressed. Okay?”
He chuckled, a deep throaty sound. “Almost done.” A moment later, “There. You’re safe now.”
But as she shifted to face him, she knew she was anything but safe. He wore jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt and looked more handsome than ever. Her heart was in danger of falling for Ian all over again. Everything he was as a warrior, as a devoted leader of his realm, as a trusted friend to those closest to him was what she admired most in a man. In some ways, Ian was her ideal.
In others, as in how much he blamed her for the massacre at Raven’s Overlook, she knew she had little hope this could ever be more than a brief interlude.
Sex with Ian would be amazing; it always had been.
But beyond a beautiful laying together, what future could she possibly have with him?
He came to her and took her hands. “I know you’re distressed; I can feel it in the air. Was it the battle?”
She shook her head. She could have said so many things right now, but held back. She could even have spoken the words, ‘Raven’s Overlook’, and ended this moment with Ian entirely. In doing so, she wouldn’t have to worry about the future of her already achy heart.
Instead, she made a decision then and there not to let her concern for
what might happen
destroy the next few hours with Ian.
Taking a deep breath, she told a half-lie. “I’m worried about what Margetta is planning to do next.”
He pulled her against him, wrapping his strong arms around her shoulders and back. She moaned softly. “You don’t know how good that feels.”
~ ~ ~
She was wrong; he did know. Regan felt like heaven in his arms because she fit him really well and he never felt as though she’d break if he squeezed too hard. She had a full figure with rounded curves and large breasts.
And he needed her in his bed.
Without saying another word, he released her to pick up her satchel. Afterward, he took her hand. She walked beside him to the front door with a hop to her step. She seemed to be as anxious as he was to get going. But for what he wanted to do to her, he needed some privacy. No way in hell he wanted even one of the Guardsmen privy to his doings with Regan.
Once outside, he settled her on his right boot with his arm around her waist and held her tight against him. He inclined his head first to Ben, then Stone. After which, he levitated straight up, then headed east until he was well out of sight of any of the Guard.
When he felt certain no one could see him, he veered north angling his flight at the foothills of the Dauphaire Mountains, staying to the contours of the land. He passed over several villages, but maintained his altitude so that he and Regan wouldn’t be seen.
Regan was quiet, though she sighed several times, leaning her head against his neck. She’d always loved flying with him. How many times had she asked him to take her for a quick flight for the sheer pleasure of it? She trusted him — that much he knew — and he valued her confidence in him.
Sweet Goddess, he needed to take her to bed. His drive toward her was almost overwhelming and everything he’d read on the loop or heard the other mastyrs say about the blood rose experience now made complete sense to him. Mostly, he was struck by the powerful need he felt to protect her, as though her essential value to him had increased exponentially.
But how could he and this woman ever truly have a life together? She’d enthralled him, or at least he’d always believed she had. And because of that thrall, over two hundred villagers at Raven’s Overlook had died.
Yes, he blamed her. He’d tried to leave her bed repeatedly that night, knowing he needed to be with his Vampire Guard, but she’d kept calling him back.
And he’d gone to her because he couldn’t help himself. If that wasn’t enthrallment, then what was it?
He’d lived with centuries of guilt for having been so weak and here he was again, caught in a similar drive to be with Regan. Only this time, a phenomenon had hold of him, something other mastyrs had experienced.
He also knew he had to be open to the power their connection could bring. From the same conversations and loop emails with the bonded mastyrs, he knew unexpected powers could emerge, abilities with great potential for use against the Ancient Fae.
When he reached the foothill village of Juniango, he veered west and began the climb in altitude to 5000 feet. Regan’s warm body pressed up against his, kept his need for her thrumming strong, despite the serious questions he had about their relationship.
The battle with Braden had drained him. He needed to make love to Regan and to feed again. Whether he liked it or not, she was a blood rose and he’d made a commitment to take the journey with her as far as he could.
He knew she had her doubts as well, which kept his conscience clear.
When he topped the final rise, he flew down into a large green meadow. The cabin was perched between a meadow and a small river. Behind the cabin was the typical Dauphaire mixed forest.
A hot spring bubbled from the top of the meadow at the western end, flowing in a shallow stream to the river. He often used the spring to ease sore muscles after a hard night of battling, then bathed in the river at the point the spring emptied its superheated contents into the cold water of the river.
He slowed his flight as he headed to the front porch.
“Ian, you have a paradise here.”
He smiled. “I do. And in case you’re concerned, only my caretaker, whom I trust with my life, knows about this property. He’s stocked the fridge for us and I think he said he’s provided a dish of his wife’s homemade lasagna.”
“Sounds like heaven.”
As he dropped to the wide, wood walkway that overlooked the river, she stepped off his foot and turned to view the broad rush of water. “I’d be here all the time. I mean, I enjoy the location of my fae retreat, but we don’t have anything like this nearby.” She leaned on the handrail, peering over the side.
He drew up next to her. His gaze lifted to the rising moon, and he was reminded again what Regan’s blood had done for him. “I’m still amazed I don’t need the sunglasses anymore. This amount of light would have given me a serious headache.” He twisted his thumb ring. “I’m grateful, Regan. I want you to know that.”
She glanced at him as he settled his forearms on the thick wood, then rubbed his shoulder. “I’m grateful as well. It was always hard for me knowing how you suffered, but I could never do a thing about it.”
He nodded, holding her gaze. “You have a good heart.”
Her lips curved in a soft smile then she shifted her attention back to the river.
He did the same, taking a moment to enjoy the sound of the river, the small white-caps as the current hit immoveable stones, the glimmer of moonlight reflected in the water.
As often happened when he came here, he found he could breathe. Of course it helped that Stone was in Camberlaune and would take care of anything the Invictus might throw at his realm through the rest of the night.
After several minutes of shared appreciation, he turned to her. “Hungry?” he asked.
She nodded, smiling. “Starved, especially since you mentioned lasagna.”
A few minutes later, he had two plates loaded with the warmed up, layered Italian casserole, a pair of forks, and two glasses of wine settled on the table by the deck window.
Regan had never stopped looking outside. She held a glass of wine to her lips and even now her gaze slid to the forest on the opposite side of the river, then the starlit sky above. “This place speaks to me.”
An image flew through his head of keeping Regan secluded in his cabin for weeks or months on end. His hips arched in response. He grabbed for his wine and gulped, then settled in to chow down on the lasagna. He needed this meal.
“You should eat,” he said.
“Yes, you’re right.” She smiled in such a way that he knew she’d caught how much he wanted her right now.
He didn’t try to pretend otherwise. He was ready to take her to bed. Only what would it be like, after all these centuries, to be buried between her legs once more?
CHAPTER SIX
What surprised Regan wasn’t that Ian was anxious to move things along, but just how clearly she could feel his blood hunger rising. It was like a soft crawl across her skin moving toward her heart. Her own supply had increased and felt like a weight on her chest. Ian needed to feed and she needed a strong bite.
But she also needed nourishment, so she kept her fork busy. “I noticed your cabin has a second smaller story. Is your bedroom up there?”
“No, it’s a loft space with a couch and a couple of ottomans as well as a full 360 view.”
“Mmmm. Sounds perfect.”
He lifted his gaze to her and sipped his wine. Setting the goblet back on the table, he asked, “What do you mean?”
“Well, I already love the view from the deck. To see every possible direction would be heaven.”
“Then we should go up there.”
“Okay.”
When she was done, she offered to clean up and didn’t wait for Ian to suggest otherwise. She rose from the table, gathered everything and set to work. She used a soapy sponge to wipe each plate and glass down, as well as the forks. She made quick work of it.
Ian rinsed and dried the dishes, then took her hand. “Come on.”
It was definitely time.
He led her to the staircase. She moved quickly up the steps, smiling as she entered the round space. Dark paneling covered the few areas not framed by windows.
The view, just as she’d expected, was magnificent. She took a moment to look out each curved aspect.
Ian waited patiently, though she could feel his tension from across the room. When she reached the last of the windows, completing a full circuit, he drew close, sliding his arms around her from behind.
She leaned her head back and allowed herself to savor this time with him. She couldn’t imagine any other circumstance that would have brought them together like this.
She turned in his arms, and he kissed her. She’d always loved the feel of his full lips, which he used to tease her mouth open.
When she parted for him, he slipped his tongue inside and everything shifted. Gone was every concern. In this moment, she felt only Ian and the soft, seductive rhythm as he pulsed within her mouth.
She leaned into him, gripping his arms through his long-sleeved t-shirt, wanting the shirt off, needing to feel her skin against his.
When she drew back, she took the hem and tugged it part way up his chest.
He responded with a smile, and obliged her by pulling the shirt the rest of the way.
She stepped away, eyes wide.
“What?”
“You’re magnificent.” Her gaze settled on his thick pecs and the hawk tattoo spanning his chest. She took her time exploring each feather etched in black ink and the muscles that lay beneath.
He brought his arms in front of his abdomen, crossing his wrists and flexed each of his muscles for her.
She planted her hands on him, feeling him up, enjoying his hard nipples. “More,” she whispered.
He flexed slowly, building up the girth of the muscles, then released.
She dipped and took a nipple in her mouth and as much surrounding flesh as she could reach.
Do it again,
she pathed.
She groaned as he flexed. She sucked him, while covering his other nipple with her hand and playing with him.