When she was about to ask what was wrong, he released his hold, and she went sliding down his body right into the water. Sinking deep within, her feet hit the bottom, becoming completely drenched.
He was a monster!
Sputtering for air, she wiped the wet strands away from her face. “Why, you...” she stammered, until realization dawned on her.
The water was
warm
.
He stood there with his arms across his chest and a smirk on his face.
She cupped the water in her hands, letting it slip through her fingers. “Did you do this?” she asked in utter astonishment.
He nodded slowly with a slightly arrogant smile.
Her gentle laughter rippled through the air, right before she plunged back down into the water.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“As the harp began to play the lovers a song of their story, their strings of fate were snapped in two.”
Stephen stood transfixed by the beauty splashing in the water before him. Laughter continued to bubble out from those divine lips each time she would burst forth from the water. One would have thought her some mystical sea-maiden. He bit back a curse watching her bum descend under the water. His gaze followed her body as it glided toward him, floating lightly on her back. Her pert nipples bobbed in the air, beckoning him.
“If I would have known that I could have my water heated, I would have asked much sooner,” she said sighing, her hands gently moving with the rhythm of the water.
“Do ye like the water?” Stephen asked hoarsely.
“Always have,” she replied softly, not realizing the feast she was presenting to the hunter until his arm captured her underneath.
Stephen took his mouth and suckled lazily one breast, kneading the other with his hand.
Aileen’s eyes snapped open. “Stephen?” she asked, hesitantly reaching out to touch the dragon on his right arm. “It’s shimmering.”
He tilted his head to look at where her fingers traced the outline of the beast. “She blazes when I use my powers,” he said quietly.
“Does it hurt?”
“Nae.”
“So beautiful,” she whispered.
He shuddered at her words. No one had ever found the dragon beautiful—frightening, aye, but not beautiful. In that moment, some part of him fractured.
His lips pressed against hers, then gently covered her mouth in sweet tenderness. He took his time placing small kisses on her eyelids, then her nose, and capturing the sigh that escaped from her lips. She swayed in his arms, trailing her fingers along the muscles of his back.
His mouth grazed her earlobe. “Wrap your legs around me,” he whispered, grabbing her bottom.
She complied, and he plunged deep into her. “Oh my—”
Resting his forehead against hers, he continued to move in a rhythmic dance of pleasure. Never had Stephen taken a woman in the water. Yet, here he was sharing the most intimate part of himself surrounded by the very gift he had fought against for so long.
His soul cracked open a fragment more.
“Open your eyes, Aileen.” His voice husky, as he slowly slid in and out of her.
She tilted her head back, keeping her gaze upon the man whose eyes mirrored hers in yearning. Aileen pressed her fingers deeper into his arms. They were buoyed with the gentle lapping of the water. Each heartbeat melding into one—a fusion of souls.
Stephen tried to control his release, but just watching her desire build, and the color of her eyes change to beautiful hues of lavender was sending him faster over the abyss.
“I cannae...” he rasped, before letting go and emptying totally into her. Aileen followed with a guttural cry of his name. He shook violently and took her mouth voraciously. The vortex of bliss sweeping them away on its current joined as one.
He did not want to let her go. They stayed immersed within the soothing waters for some time letting the beating of their hearts slow. Her legs were still around his waist with her head cradled against his neck.
By the Gods! What were they going to do? What was
he
going to do? By taking her in the water, he sealed his fate, and the realization frightened Stephen more than life itself. Gently lifting her, he carried her out of the water over to the boulder against the shore. She lay back against it watching him.
Did she feel the same
?
Placing a soft kiss on her lips, he stretched. “I’ll go fetch my wrap.”
Aileen’s heart was still beating rapidly. She’d felt something shift out on the water, as if a part of her melded with him. A union of body and soul. “No, this cannot happen,” she sighed, hugging her knees close to her chest.
Still contemplating their last encounter, Aileen heard what sounded like a growl. Quickly standing, she peered around. If there were any animals out there, her best place of safety would be in the water. However, Stephen was out there. She could yell his name, but then he would come running, and run into danger. Clenching her fists, she heard it again. This time, she realized it wasn’t an animal.
Aileen sprinted toward the glen.
“
No
,” she gasped. Kneeling down on the ground was Stephen. He was rocking back and forth, obviously in a great deal of pain.
“Stephen, what is it?” she asked lightly touching his arm.
What followed was a torrent of words she couldn’t understand.
“Please, Stephen, tell me where it hurts?” She tried to turn his head, but he thrust out of her grasp.
“Damn,” she hissed out. Grabbing the plaid, Aileen wrapped it around herself, and sat down to wait.
Mere moments turned to at least ten grueling minutes, before she witnessed any sign of his pain receding. He blinked open his eyes, briefly. With a groan, he vomited on the ground.
And Aileen waited.
“Water,” he rasped low.
She grabbed the skin, emptying the contents of wine. As fast as she could, she ran back to the stream filling it to the brim.
When she returned, he was crawling toward an old oak.
Holding his head, she lifted the water to his lips.
“Nae,” he bit out. “Here.” He shook as he held out his hands to her.
Frowning, Aileen did what he requested. The water pooled in the palm of his hands, and she gasped in shock.
The water had frozen.
“Neck,” he whispered.
She knew instantly what he wanted to do. Taking the ice, Aileen placed it on the back of his neck. Understanding what he needed, she sat behind him on the plaid. Saying the healing words she knew so well, Aileen let her breathing become steady reaching for the light within. Shards of crystal colors danced before her eyes. Within moments, the healing energy of her power passed into him, soothing, and mending the burning pain that radiated inside his head. Her energy quickly melted the ice. Aileen then used her fingers. She continued to caress his neck working her way up to his temples, and through his scalp.
Simple touches, but ones that would ease the pain.
He tugged her hand within his, gently stroking her palm. “Thank ye...for your gift.”
Aileen sighed, laying her head against his back, she took strength from his warmth. As always, the healing sapped her greatly.
Time passed. A hawk circled lazily above, and the air chilled.
Taking a deep breath, she stood. Reaching for her gown, she stepped into the material. There were questions she wanted to ask, but hesitant to hear the answers.
She took a sip of the water, noticing Stephen looking away, a frown marring his features.
At a loss for words, she gathered their items, scanning the area for his horse.
“I have
visions
,” Stephen said softly. “They leave me with searing pain.”
Moving to sit down next to him, she asked, “Have you always had these visions?”
“Aye.”
My God, she thought. How could he have lived like this all his life? “I am so sorry, Stephen. Will it help to talk about the vision?”
He rubbed a hand over his face, shaking his head no. “Same vision, same ending.”
“Bad?”
He snorted in disgust, while he grabbed his tunic, pulling it over his head. Standing weakly, he whistled for Grian. Instantly, the horse emerged from the trees.
Aileen wanted to inquire more, yet held back. Gathering her tangled mass of hair, she swept it to the side in an effort to braid it.
“Here, let me,” he said.
She arched a brow skeptically.
“Aye, I do ken how to braid.”
After he was through, he tied the laces on her gown, placing a soft kiss on the back of her neck.
“I don’t understand, Stephen.”
“What dinnae ye understand?”
“Why would you be given such a gift when it leaves you with such pain?”
He reeled her around to face him. “It was not always like this.”
“How long then?”
Pausing, as if trying to decide how to answer her, he finally answered, “Since the night I was cursed.”
“Oh,” she breathed out. What more could she say? She only understood the legend in bits and pieces. Biting her lip, she was about to ask what happened when she saw him rub his forehead, as if still in pain.
She reached out to him. “I can help more with the healing.”
“Nae.” He shook his head slowly. “There are times when I miss my relic. With it, I was able to control the burning pain when the visions entered.”
“Relic, as in medallion? Is it something you wear around your neck?” uttered a shocked Aileen.
He nodded, placing his pack onto Grian. “Aye, ’tis a stone set in silver.”
“Oh my stars!” yelled Aileen. “How could I have forgotten?” She cupped a hand over her mouth in glee. “All this time.”
Stephen eyed her suspiciously. “What are ye talking about?”
“Can you ever forgive me, Stephen?” she asked, smiling weakly.
He placed his hands on his hips. “What do I need to forgive ye for?”
She swallowed. “You see, Stephen,
I
have your medallion—your stone.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
“The truth is better served with honey, than with lye.”
“Judas’s balls, woman!” roared Stephen.
Aileen cringed. “I can understand you’re angry, but not this angry. I didn’t realize how important the medallion was to you. You should be grateful I found the bloody thing in the first place.
And
traveled eight hundred years to deliver it!”
“Where is it?” his tone remained brisk, snapping her out her thoughts.
“In my coat.”
He went to reach for her, but she backed up suddenly. “I didn’t realize the gravity of the situation,” she protested, pushing past him. Wanting no help from him, she mounted Grian.
Instantly, he was behind her, still grumbling beneath his breath. It was all reminiscent of when they first met. As if the past twenty-four hours never existed.
A long silence ensued as they traveled.
Stephen’s mind reeled. All these weeks, she had it in her possession. By the Gods! How verra cruel to send her back through the veil with no knowledge of what she had. A deep rumble started in the pit of his stomach, and burst forth. He felt her tense, as he continued to laugh. So verra cruel, but so verra sad.
He could only laugh at the irony.
He slowed Grian somewhat before they came upon the crest of the hill. She truly didn’t deserve his anger.
“I am sorry, Aileen,” he uttered softly.
Her shoulders slumped, and she let out a long held breath. “I am, too.” She twisted sideways to look at him. “Honestly...”
“Whist, my bonny fae.” He placed a finger against her lips. “How could ye fathom?”
“But I did, Stephen. I saw it in a depiction on a tapestry, which just happens to be in my father’s home.”
“Truly?”
“Yes,” she said smiling. “It’s beautiful, one with your brothers, and sister, too,” she uttered the last softly.
His gaze grew troubled. “I am honored he would think so highly of us.”
Aileen touched his arm lightly. “I would like to know what happened that night.” He started to object, but it was her turn to shush him with a finger to his lips. “Only when you are ready.”
He gave her a terse nod, before urging Grian forward.
****
Betha was the first to eye the lovers coming over the hill. She waved Ian over, telling him to fetch his father. Smiling as they rode closer, they had no idea the entire camp spoke of the Dragon Knight and his lady joining on such a special night. It was as if hope soared with the likely pairing of the two.
“It is the easy part,” muttered Betha.
Some of the men nodded, and the women blushed as they rode past them. It was the day after feasting, and most were still feeling the effects of wine, ale, and lovemaking.
“I’ve sent Ian to bring Cathal. ’Tis best to let Seamus rest,” said Donal giving her a squeeze on her bottom.
Betha leaned against him giving him a mischievous look. “Later, my love.”
He growled into her ear just as Stephen and Aileen approached.
“Sir Stephen, Lady Aileen,” smiled Betha.
Aileen blushed slightly. Her appearance was enough to suggest what had happened between Stephen and her. Thank the Goddess she didn’t have a mirror.
Helping her down, Stephen gave her a reassuring smile before turning his attention to the others.
“Betha, might I have a word with you?” asked Aileen.
“Of course. Have ye eaten?” she asked as they made their way along the path.
“Not much, but first, I need to get my coat.”
Betha raised a brow in question, but only nodded. “Meet me over there between the two oaks. There is some stew, and a portion of a wreath cake. We can have a moment before the feasting and dancing resumes around the maypole.”
At the mention of the cake, Aileen felt a searing heat on her face. All she could think of was Stephen licking the cinnamon from her chin last night and what he did afterwards. “Thank you, I’ll be along shortly.”
Quickly making her way toward the leather satchel one of the women had let her borrow, she dug her hand deep within the pocket of her coat. Snuggled tightly within her scarf, Aileen pulled it forth. Chills took hold of her realizing this medallion was not only linked to Stephen, but to the
fae.
Rubbing her thumb over the green stone, warmth spread throughout her body, lifting her spirits. To be chosen to return such a valuable item caused her heart to soar. Wrapping the precious relic in her scarf, Aileen went in search of Stephen. Her stomach protested furiously. However, it could wait.