The Morrigan: Damaged Deities (43 page)

Kamden’s headache now thundered inside his skull. “And ye fight wi’ each other?”

Apparently intolerant of Kamden’s questions, Macy once again crossed her arms and turned away. 

Bev dropped her legs down to the chair and rested her elbows on her knees.

“It’s not really fighting, little mosquito,” she explained like he was a child. “It’s kinda like a massive game of Battleship.  And Morrie keeps F-sixing Macy’s Aircraft Carrier.  It’s just a friendly little game and Macy gets a little butt-hurt when our sister sinks her battleship.”

“It’s just a game?” Kamden seethed, standing up.  Bev’s dark gaze followed him up, mischief alight in her eyes. “Those are lives, those are people ye’ve destroyed. And it’s all just a game tae ye?”

“Yeah,” she made a face. “That’s what gods and goddesses do.  What else do you expect from us? Caring and prosperity?”  Turning to her sister, she threw her thumb in Kamden’s direction. “Get a load of this guy.”

C
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“‘You said you would never heal me,’ the Morrigan said.

‘If I had known it was you, I wouldn’t have done it,’ Cuchulainn said.”

Táin Bó Cúailnge

This wasn’t something Kade had expected.

He had long ago blamed Morrigan for his immortal fate.  He had thought it her who turned him into a kelpie. 

Not that it changed how he felt about her, it just made him think.

Too many times over the last two days—had it been two days?  Kade lost count—he had intended to torture the witch and had, bringing her to the cusp of release only to deny her.  But he also succeeded in driving himself mad with lust along with her. 

Both were spent.  Both were beaten down by their unsated desires. 

Neither had eaten and the hag’s voice croaked when she spoke, strained raw by her constant screams.

“Why won’t you just free me?” she asked and in that sentence there was a vague threat of defeat.

But Kade was not defeated.  He would not lose to her.  Even if it drove him mad, which he was pretty certain at this point, it had.

He sat on the bed beside her, dropping his head into his hands.

“It wasna ye who turned me,” he spoke in a tired voice.

“I told you,” she sighed.

He sat up and twisted around to look at her. 

Her cheeks were pale, her eyes red.  They matched her flesh where he had her wrists still bound and the sight caused a sharp twinge in Kade’s chest. 

She almost looked like the lass he’d fallen for. 

She
did
look like Morrie.  Morrie and the Morrigan. 

It felt as though the goddess had taken her from him.  And Kade warred with himself because he wanted his Morrie so badly, but hated the Morrigan so much.

“Do ye remember what happened tae me that day?”

A frown creased her pale brow. “I was there.”

“Aye, I remember the crow landing before me as I stood dying.”  The bird had landed in his guts that had been spilled and tripped over them.  He had laughed at it back then.  He couldn’t bring himself to laugh now. 

Ridding himself of the image, he focused on the lass’ body.  Her ample breasts were made fuller from the strain of her stretched arms.  Her rosy nipples were hard in the cool air.  The fire he had built made the room warm, brought out a lovely sheen across her perfect skin and a pink flush on her cheeks. 

The smell of their arousal hung heavy in the heat around them. 

He had tortured her the last two days.  Brought her dripping wet and begging for him to drive inside her.  And then he had denied her.  Denied them both, spilling his seed everywhere but where he should.

Turning on the bed, he faced her fully, his gaze never leaving her body as he contemplated what to do with her.  He knew he couldn’t resist her much longer and he would hate himself for it.

Kade brought his fingers to the small bones jutting from her pelvis.

Running his touch across her lower belly, he asked, “Do ye recall wha’ they did tae me?”  He didn’t let her respond, not looking for an answer from her anyway. “After we had fought, I couldn’t think straight.  I headed straight tae battle with nary a weapon but a few spears.” He just studied her body, touched her while he relived that day.  Her skin quivered and he secretly enjoyed that he was the cause of it.

“I had my sword, my horse and my charioteer.  Driving headlong intae the fray, I chucked spear after spear, taking down men as I went, but ran out o’ spears before I reached the real fight.  Medb’s men took my own spears and threw them back at me.”  He ran his hand down her leg, across her knee, then her shin and back up again, his thumb stroking her inner thigh. “The first one hit my charioteer.”  He bent over and placed a hot, milking kiss just above her left breast. “The next one hit my horse.” Moving down to her left thigh, he did the same there, her muscles trembling beneath his lips. “I was tossed from my chariot.”

Kade stood up, tugging his shirt over his head while his jeans fell down.  Stepping out of them, he kneeled on the bed, pressing himself between her legs.  Her knees bent to give him room. 

Taking her hips in both hands, he bent at the waist, bowing his forehead to her torso, like a man in prayer.

“The third spear struck me in the stomach, slicing me open.” He pressed his third kiss just below her belly button, lingering longer to trace a circle around it with his tongue, nipping at the soft skin. 

Even now, he could still feel the pain of his grave wound that day.  Though the goddess’ body helped ease the sting, the phantom ache still remained.

“So I tied myself tae the stone tae die with honor, tae die standing.” 

He ran both hands up her shaking rib cage, taking her breasts into his palms.  The head of his cock pressed against her hot, wet sex, seeking the home it had been denied the last two days.

But Kade was not done with his tale.  Cupping her breasts in his hands, running the pads of his thumbs across her small, sweet nipples, he kissed her neck, nipping at her throat.

“They cut off my head next, Morrigan.”

“I know, I was there.”  Her words were low and thick…with emotion? 

Nay, not the cold and cruel Morrigan.  Thick with lust, that was the nature of the goddess.

“Were ye?” he asked, casual as though they spoke of some other time while he continued to kiss up the column of her throat, along her jaw.  He dropped a hand from her breast and pushed it between their bodies, skimming his fingers across the seam of her pussy.

Despite her nature, she was always so wet for him.  And knowing that, warmed a little of the cold madness in his heart.

“Yes, hero.” Her words were breathy and distant. “I knocked over your sword and cut Lughaid’s arm off.”

Kade chuckled.  He slipped a finger between her silken folds. 

Christ, she felt amazing; she felt like heaven. 

Her hips rose to meet his slow thrust.  But the rest of her was still, stony. 

When he finally looked up at her, he saw the wet trails of tears shining in the firelight.  She glanced away, wouldn’t meet his eyes.  But he still witnessed her pain, her hurt. 

For him?

Did the Morrigan mourn him?  The thought had never crossed his mind.  Never thought it possible.  But the longer he stared at her, the more he could truly see. 

Her bottom lip trembled, another tear escaped its sapphire confines.

“Do ye cry for me, lass?”

Instead of answering, she squeezed her eyes shut. 

Somehow her pain brought him from the brink of insanity, lit a candle in his darkness. 

Hurrying, Kade loosened her bonds, tugging frantically at the knots in the rope until one wrist was free and then the other.  Her arms fell limp over her head.

He kissed the redness of her skin, trailed his lips across the marks the bindings had left behind until he pressed a deep kiss inside her hand, first one palm and then the next.

She finally met his eyes as she wrapped those little arms around his neck. 

He crushed her lips with his kiss just as she circled his waist with her legs, drawing him to her.  As he drove his hard shaft inside her tight sheath, both gasped like they had taken their first breath, the relief nearly as strong as their desire. 

With slow and steady thrusts, Kade moved inside her, gripping her hip in an unsteady hand.  He dropped his forehead to hers, breathed her breath. 

Her cunt milked his cock and he thought he could die all over again just for it.  It would be worth it.

The headboard creaked in his grip as he used it for leverage to drive deeper inside her.  Her hand clutching his ass, she pulled him near, drew him in as far as he could go.

Both were building at the same time, each slow undulation drawing them closer and closer to the edge.  With one final possessive clutch, her sex gripped him and she cried out. 

Kade threw his head back, roaring as his orgasm burst from him.  She screamed out his name and came at the same time, her nails burying into his ass.

Both spent, Kade still couldn’t stop moving inside her.  Her damp folds felt incredible where they hugged his cock and he grew big again.  With a throb, she showed him she felt the same. 

But he couldn’t give in again.  And he had promised Nan he’d send the goddess down to her.

“Nan needs tae talk tae ye.” Kade slid out of her with a wince, rolling over onto his back.

“What does she need to speak with me about?” Morrie asked. 

Kade shrugged.  “Doona know.  I didna ask.”

“I need to go to my room.” She stood up on legs still shaky and unsure.

“Nay,” Kade put out a hand, stopping her.

Morrie sighed. “Kade, I need to get clothes.”

“I have somethin’ for ye here.”  He got up from the bed and rustled around in the bottom of his wardrobe before pulling out a large white box.  He placed it in her lap.

Frowning up at him, Morrie lifted the lid off and set it aside.  With both hands, she gently gripped the edges of the deep wine red fabric. 

She held it up and stood, allowing the dress to unfold. 

Glancing at Kade, her expression was unreadable as he took it from her and slipped it over her head and naked body.  It was made of a stretch-silk jersey with shoulder slits and a gathered waist.  The skirt had a wrap effect with the hem shorter in the front than the back.  But the best part was the leather-lined cutout in the back, revealing a good amount of bare skin.  It was stylish and edgy and the color played wonderfully against Morrie’s complexion.

She was beautiful.

Morrie’s cheeks flushed as she looked up at him, her lips pressed tight against the thank you she wanted to say, but couldn’t.  He acknowledged it anyway with the slightest of nods. 

Without another word exchanged, Morrie turned and left the room.  Kade leaned against the door frame and watched her go, not trusting that she would come back.

C
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HIRTY-
E
IGHT

 “In my dreams I hear again the crash of guns, the rattle of musketry, the strange, mournful mutter of the battlefield.”

Douglas MacArthur

Morrie stopped in the bathroom before going downstairs to run a wet cloth over her face and at least brush her fingers through her hair.  But no matter what she did, the blush of mind-blowing sex was still evident on her face.  And she didn’t even mind.