Beyond Wild Imaginings (22 page)

He looked up from where he knelt in front of her and gave her a bashful smile. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sneak up on you.” He ran his fingers down her ankles and pulled the buckles on her heels free. He lifted one foot, slipped the shoe off, and did the same to the other one. He kept a hold of her ankle and sighed, caressing his hands up her calf and pressing a tender kiss to her skin.

Kelly smiled and reached down to thread her fingers through his silky hair. The light caught on her wedding band and made it shine, drawing her attention to it. Warmth stole into her heart and she knew that, even if there were no other moments of joy for her and Garren, they had this moment. It was real. It was perfect. And it was all theirs.

Garren pressed another kiss to Kelly’s leg, then hugged it close to him and rested his head against her knee. He closed his eyes as she continued to trail her fingers through his hair and along the contours of his face. “You have shown me so much,” he whispered. “So much beauty in such a short time. I never knew such beauty existed, such joy…” He looked up at her, his eyes glossy. “You are everything to me.”

A lump of emotion constricted her throat, and she framed his face with her hands. “You rescued me, Garren,” she murmured. “And not just literally. In every way. You made me remember who I really was, who I’d always been afraid to be. I was living a half life as a half person. Because of you, I am better. I am…me.” She shook her head, fighting tears. “Your love has changed my life, Garren. Whatever happens, my heart belongs to you. I don’t want it back. I want you to always hold it, to always carry my love.”

Intense emotion flashed in his eyes, a mixture of awe, devotion, and sadness. He rose up to take her face in his hands as she had done to him. “Your love is a gorgeous gift, little one,” he whispered. “I am yours for eternity.” He sealed his vow with a kiss, encircling Kelly tight in his arms.

She knotted her fingers in his hair, and she kissed him back with passion she had kept locked inside herself for her entire life. It was the passion she only used when writing, the passion that was hers alone and now belonged to him. No one else would have appreciated it. No one else had been deserving of it. Her tongue tangled with his, and he laid her back against the bed, blanketing her with his body and running one deft hand down the length of hers, starting at her slender throat.

Garren felt his fingers tremble as he slipped his hand underneath her skirt and slid it back up the path of her leg and hip, taking the fabric of her dress with it. He broke the kiss long enough to tug the garment up and over Kelly’s head. He wasn’t meaning to be bold. He wasn’t meaning to be aggressive. He just knew that there wasn’t much time left, less than he had anticipated, and he couldn’t wait any longer to see her supple skin and perfect curves. He was a gentleman, and because of that, coupled with the chaos that had been ensuing over the past week or so, he had not made any bold moves toward intimacy with Kelly. But she was his wife now. She belonged to him, and he could no longer keep his wicked fantasies locked inside of his inexperienced mind. He had been kept far too long in seclusion. He had known isolation and cold. He wanted to know her body. He wanted to know her warmth. He wanted to know every aspect of her love. He wanted to memorize her taste, her smell, the feel of her, everything that made her the woman he adored. He wanted it emblazoned in his mind and heart.

He caught her contented sigh as he returned his lips to hers, and he shuddered as he felt one long leg wrap around his waist. Her satisfied giggle made him raise his eyes to hers, and mirth danced in their green depths. He arched an eyebrow. “I see you have no intention of making this easy on me.”

She grinned. “Not at all.” She shifted her weight and rolled him onto his back so that she was straddling his waist. His sharp intake of breath made her smile, and she focused the attention of her hands on removing his shirt.

He allowed her to pull it up part way, her fingers teasing along his skin and sending shivers all throughout him. Unable to take much of that for fear he would incinerate on the spot, he yanked his shirt off the rest of the way and lay back with a small smile on his lips, more than willing to let her make her inspection.

Kelly gasped as her eyes fell on his chest. She blinked in bewilderment, and he glanced down to see what had caught her attention. He smirked when his gaze fell on the large, tribal tattoo he had. It looked like some sort of dangerous weapon, a blade of some kind with an intricate hilt that sported two long, wicked points on each side.

“You have a tattoo?” she squeaked. She met his eyes in confusion as her fingers traced the outline of the design.

He grinned. “Looks that way.” He chuckled at her halfhearted scowl and put his hands behind his head, enjoying the feel of her body on his and her imploring fingers caressing over his skin. “We all had them, the Royal Guardians. It identified our status.”

She frowned and shook her head. “But we never gave you tattoos.”

He propped himself up on his elbows and brought his face close to hers. “Not everything came into being merely by your will, little one,” he murmured. “We had a whole civilization while the Lucienus lived.”

She smiled and looked down at his chest again. “It’s beautiful, Garren.”

He cupped her cheek in his palm and gazed into her eyes. “So are you.” He brought his lips to hers again and took the dominant role, cradling her in his arms and rolling her back down to the bed. He monopolized her mouth while he let his hands explore, finding the remnants of her clothing and removing them. Once all of her silky skin was exposed, he launched an assault, investigating every fascinating and beautiful part of her until she was writhing and making the most desirable noises.

She, likewise, took her turn, shedding him of his clothing and taking him to the heights of ecstasy with her clever hands and lips on his body. He didn’t know how long they explored one another. He lost concept of time. He lost himself in the rapture that was all her. There was no lurking darkness. There was no imminent demise of joy. There was only Kelly. His best friend, his wife, his purpose. Without her, he would never have been anything at all. Without her, he would be nothing still.

Nothing could have prepared him for the feeling of making love to her. It was so intense, so all consuming, that he trembled like a child. Her fingers dug into his shoulders, and she whispered his name. It was the sweetest sound he had ever heard.

His breathing was ragged, shaky with his emotion and the intense pleasure he felt at being one with her. Instinct guided him, for he had no experience to mark a clear path. He tuned his senses to her, let her noises and her reactions show him what was right. He let her essence fill him completely, and swore that more than their bodies joined. Their hearts beat in tandem, they breathed the same breath. They were one and the same in body, heart, and soul.

Kelly was shaking with the force of their union when Garren finally laid his head on her shoulder and tried to calm his breathing. She wrapped her arms around him and held on tight. He relished in the warm comfort of her embrace.

“Little one,” he murmured. “I have…” He shook his head, searching for words. “No word or phrase can describe that feeling. If heaven exists, you have shown it to me. I have seen beautiful things. You have shown me beautiful things. Nothing compares to what I just experienced in your arms. You are the most magnificent wonder on this world or any other.”

She bit her bottom lip as tears leaked out of her eyes. She gave a forced laugh. “Garren, for not being good with words, that was very poetic.” She laced her fingers through his hair.

He frowned and looked at her, hearing the tears in her voice. “Kelly,” he murmured. He cupped her cheek. “Why do you cry?”

She sniffed and smiled, shaking her head. “So many reasons.” Her bottom lip trembled and she let her eyes scan over his face. “Just hold me?”

He obeyed instantly and gathered her up in his arms, pulling her to his chest and cradling her head under his chin.

His heart ached with what he knew was coming. It throbbed with knowing that he would not have a lifetime of happiness and rapture with his Kelly. He knew she felt it too, the impending darkness. He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to banish the painful thought by concentrating on how she felt in his arms. Soft, warm, trusting.

“Never let me go,” she whispered.

“Never,” he swore, smoothing her hair. “Never, never, never.”

She curled into him and they lay in silence, drawing enough comfort from one another to momentarily chase the shadows away. Slowly, sleep overtook her.

Chapter Nineteen

“
Sing the song of Guardians, who live beyond the skies…”

“
Garren, why did Rachel and the others stop playing with me? Why did they turn their backs on us?”

Garren’s smile was warm and compassionate. “I don’t know, little one. Sometimes children lose their love for fantasy.”

Young Kelly was confused. “But why?”

He reached out and touched her cheek with his forefinger. “Not all believe like you do.”

“
No one has ever believed like you. No one who’s ever brought life to the realm.”

Kelly’s mind was sluggish, and she felt like she was traveling in a surreal cloud. The voice was indiscernible, but it stirred something inside of her. “Who are you? Where am I?”

Slowly, the mist surrounding her cleared, and she was lying on a hard slab of stone. Around her, she saw lush forest and cabinlike structures. Her eyes widened as she realized she was looking at the long-forgotten village of the Lucienus. She tried to sit up, but her body felt heavy, and it limited her movement.

“
You lie where the Royals used to address their people.”

Her frown deepened, and she followed the sound of the voice to a shadow that was approaching. He came closer, and Kelly made an audible gasp as his strong form and flowing golden hair came into light. He crouched in front of her. “Eamon?” she whispered.

His smile was gorgeous, but his handsome face was drawn and fatigued.

“
But how?”

“
You dream. All things are possible in dreams.” His brilliant blue gaze met hers with intensity. “You, Kindred Spirit Sister, possess power unknown. You can correct the damages done. Within you lies the secret to save all.”

She frowned. “What? I don’t understand. How are you here?”

“
I’m not. I live in your memory. Listen to me. Reach inside yourself and find the answer or he will die. We’ll all die.”

His shape wavered, and she wanted to reach out to him, but her arm refused to move.

“
I love you, little one.”

Her breath hitched as Garren’s voice seemed to float in on the breeze. She closed her eyes as she felt his fingers caress against her face. “Goodbye, my heart.”

“
Save him,” Eamon’s voice came, just as ethereal as Garren’s. “Save us all.”

Kelly awoke with a gasp, disturbing voices still ringing in her ears. Her heart beat abnormally fast, and she had to close her eyes and concentrate on her breathing to get it to calm down.

That dream. She swallowed. It had been surreal. She knew that Eamon was gone, that it was impossible for him to communicate with her. The dream had only been a convoluted attempt by her psyche to sort out her troubles.

Still…

With a sigh, Kelly rolled over and reached for Garren. Her dream had left her feeling cold, and she needed his warm embrace to chase the shadows away. Her eyes flew open as her questing hand found only bed sheets. She raised her head with a frown, and her heart lurched. “Garren?” When no answer came, she sat up. “Garren, where are you?” Still, nothing. “Garren!” Her voice wavered and she swung her legs out of bed as panic caused her hands to feel like they were being pricked with hundreds of needles.

She yanked one of the robes off the bathroom door and hastily wrapped it around her naked body. She noticed that the other robe was still there. She threw a glance over her shoulder, and her stomach dropped as she saw Garren’s clothing still on the floor.

Tears filled Kelly’s eyes and her heart threatened to pound from her chest. “Garren!” she shouted. “Where are you? Come back, please!” She barreled past Rachel and ran out into the hall, calling his name at the top of her lungs. She prayed he would answer, that he would walk down the hall and tell her he’d just been exploring.

“Kelly!”

Chad ran to her and tried to take her by the shoulders, but she pushed him away. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she felt her heart begin to splinter. She closed her eyes. “Sing the song of Guardians who live beyond the skies. Who fly to fight beside us and help us when we cry.” Her voice was shaking so badly she could hardly understand herself. “Come to us, great Guardians. Your friendship is a must. We are your kindred spirit sisters. You have our promise and our trust.” The rhyme was followed by deafening silence, and she squeezed her hands into fists. “Come to me, Garren!” she cried in desperation. “Please!”

Rachel and Chad exchanged a worried look, and Chad started for her again.

Kelly shook her head and ran back into her room, looking around in futility. The rational part of her knew it was hopeless. She knew that if Garren had been there, he would have come immediately the first time she had called his name.