by Cathryn Fox
“You’d be forced to get your own coffee,” she teased.
Katrina laughed and leaned in to hug her best friend.
Susan braced her hands on her hips and narrowed her gaze. “Are you ready for this?” she asked, nodding toward the long white gown draped over her dressing table.
“Yes.”
“You’re absolutely sure this is what you want?”
Katrina averted her gaze. “Yes.”
Susan hooked her arm through Katrina’s. “Okay. Then let’s go. The hairdresser’s here and there’s no time to spare,” she said, before ushering Katrina down the hall. Before Katrina had time to finish her coffee, her apartment was full of women.
Roxanne and Sherry fluttered about excitedly, as they primped and pampered in preparation for the big moment. The shimmering pale green gowns Katrina had picked looked absolutely stunning on them. She hadn’t realized until now that the gowns were similar to the one she wore the night she mated with Ranek.
Katrina sat before her mirror and watched as everyone rushed about. The hairdresser piled her hair on top of her head, allowing a few tendrils to fall over her neckline and jaw.
She immediately remembered Ranek telling her never to wear it that way again.
Sherry’s voice pulled her thoughts to the present.
“You’re going to need some makeup to cover those dark circles under your eyes,” she said, coming up behind her to admire her new hairdo. She twirled a wisp through her fingers and smiled.
Roxanne stood beside Sherry and smiled. “James is going to think he’s died and gone to heaven. You look beautiful.”
Katrina forced a smile of thanks and squeezed their hands.
The rest of the morning flew by. Numbly, she went through the motions of preparing herself for marriage. She felt as though she was in someone else’s body, watching as the activity continued on around her.
Less than an hour later, she found herself standing at the back of the church. Her heart beat faster than the wings of a hummingbird as she watched the guests take their seats.
She closed her eyes and concentrated on her breathing.
She envisioned herself walking down the aisle. Organ music playing softly in the background, all eyes on her, including the eyes of her soon-to-be husband. Except in her mind, it wasn’t James standing at the altar waiting for her.
It was Ranek.
Her eyes sprang open and she bit down on her bottom lip hard enough to draw blood.
All of a sudden it felt as if the air was forced from her lungs. She struggled for breath, but none came. Intense pain shot through her stomach leaving her feeling cold, numb. Her chest heaved as her lids fluttered shut. A strangled cry caught in her throat.
Her pulse leapt in her throat and she knew in that instant that Ranek made good on his promise.
I will die for you.
Dear god! What had she done?
A sick apprehensive knot tightened in her stomach and she swallowed the dryness in her mouth.
The connection between them was so strong she could feel his pain, feel the cold blade of the dagger penetrate his skin.
No! This couldn’t be happening!
How could she give her heart to James when all along it belonged to another?
Ranek was her soulmate.
Was she too late to follow the path she was meant to travel?
Ranek was everything her heart had been looking for. He was the man of her dreams, the man of her past, and the man of her future.
She had to go to him. To save him.
But how?
The human part of you must believe who you are in order for the transformation to be complete. You must will it to happen.
She looked up to see James watching her. She motioned him to come closer. The wedding guests watched with curious eyes as he hurried to the back of the church. He followed her into a private room where they would not be overheard. Her fingers trembled as she reached out and took his hands in hers. “I can’t do this. I’m sorry, James. Please forgive me.”
“I don’t understand” he said, confusion on his face.
Susan came up behind him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Go, Katrina. I’ll take care of things here for you.”
Katrina gave her a grateful smile and hugged her. “Thank you, Susan. I love you.”
“I love you, too, now go before it’s too late.”
Katrina ran from the church and drove the short distance to her apartment. Tears pooled on her lashes and she wiped them away. “I love you Ranek, please don’t die,” she cried, praying he could hear her. “I never meant to hurt you.”
She bolted to her apartment and threw herself onto her bed. How could she contact him? What was she to do?
You must will it to happen.
Katrina closed her eyes and drew a deep calming breath. She folded her hands in front of her and gave a silent prayer. Suddenly it felt as though she was floating through time and space. “I love you, Ranek. You’re my soulmate and I’ll be yours for eternity,” she whispered.
* * * * *
Cold pain sliced through him and he bit his bottom lip to stifle his agony. Blood poured from the gaping wound splitting him open. His hand still clutched the dagger embedded in his stomach.
He jerked and writhed on the floor of his lair waiting for the pain to subside. Waiting for it all to end.
“Ranek.”
He heard her sweet, comforting voice, smelled her signature scent and thought he must be dreaming. A warm hand touched his forehead and he struggled to open his eyes.
“Ranek,” she whispered. “You’re on fire.”
He forced his lids open. The silhouette of her body shimmered in the lamplight. Surely he must be hallucinating.
“Katrina?” he mumbled, letting his eyes slip shut again.
“Yes, Ranek. I’m here. I’m going to heal you. But you must rest. You’ll need your strength.”
“Why? How?” He wanted to reach out and touch her hand to make sure she was real, but he couldn’t find the strength.
She frowned in concentration, silenced him with her fingertips, and called forth a servant. Her voice grew faint as he began to slip from consciousness.
A moment later, he felt her long curls brush across his cheek. “Don’t even think about leaving me, Ranek,” she whispered into his ear.
He forced himself to speak. “It’s too late.” He tightened his grip on the dagger.
She peeled his hands free and placed them at his sides. “Have you forgotten who I am and what I am capable of? I am this clan’s healer and I do not give up so easily.” In one quick, painful movement, she pulled the dagger from his stomach and placed her hands over the wound.
The smell of herbs and spices reached his nostrils. He listened to Katrina mumble something to another. Was that Tiera’s voice he heard? The muted sound of whispers mingled together and he could no longer distinguish one voice from another. The whispers turned into chanting and he knew Katrina was performing a healing ritual on him.
* * * * *
For days he’d been unconscious as Katrina sat by his side. She’d spent day and night bringing down his fever, cleaning and changing his dressings. When he moaned painfully in his sleep, she soothed him with a touch, calming his agony and nightmares.
She took her rightful spot beside him in the bed and glanced around his lair—their lair. For the first time in her life she felt a sense of belonging. She was home. A smile touched her mouth as her heart swelled with the love she felt for the man beside her.
She checked his wounds. Dark purple bruising spread across his stomach all the way to his back, but thanks to her healing ritual and magic herbs, the wound itself was almost healed.
She sponged his naked body and knew he would soon rouse from his deep slumber. Relief washed through her as his breathing finally returned to normal. He mumbled incoherently in his sleep and Katrina whispered reassuring words, certain that he could hear her.
A familiar
knock sounded on the door and Katrina called for Tiera to enter. She placed a basin of water and a sponge on the side table.
“Would you like some help?” she asked.
Katrina shook her head. “We’ll be fine, thank you.” Tiera nodded in understanding and exited the lair.
She dipped her hand into the basin, wrung out the excess water from the sponge, and began to bathe his naked body. She trailed the sponge over his chest, being careful not to disturb his wound. She trailed lower, until her hand lingered over his midriff. When she dipped even lower and caressed his groin, his cock stirred to life.
Katrina chuckled. “Now is not the time for that, my Lord.”
* * * * *
Her voice pulled him awake. He lifted his lids to find Katrina sitting on the edge of the bed, her eyes fixed on his body while she cleansed him.
“It is always the time for that,” he whispered.
“Ranek!” Her eyes opened with surprise and relief. A smile crossed her beautiful face. “Feeling better?” she asked.
He furrowed his brows questioningly. “Why, Katrina? How? How did you get here?”
She took his hand in hers and pressed it to her heart. “It is my will to be here. So I am here.” There was so much emotion in her voice, in her eyes. She placed a gentle kiss onto his cheek. “Thank you for bringing me home,” she whispered.
His heart nearly exploded with emotion as he pulled her mouth to his for a tender kiss. “Thank you for coming home.”
Desire twisted inside him, firing his blood as her throaty purr resonated through his body. He broke the kiss and looked at her. “What is this nonsense that this is not the time for that?” he said in his most commanding voice, a suggestive edge to his smile.
He watched her eyes darken with heat as his cock pulsed and brushed against her hand. She moistened her bottom lip. A fever rose in him and it had nothing to do with his wound.
“But you’re still recovering. You’ll need your strength.”
He raised one brow. “You question my strength?” he asked, slipping his hands under her nightgown. His eyes held her captive as he cupped her full breasts and squeezed. A low, primal groan caught in his throat. Katrina’s head fell back as she arched into his touch. She practically vibrated as a shiver racked her body.
She bent forward, her hair spilling over his chest, her warm breath on his face. She closed her mouth over his for a slow, simmering kiss. Climbing on top of him, she pressed the heat of her desire against his legs. She was warm, moist, ready. Her arousing scent made him weak with longing.
“Perhaps you are right. Perhaps I do need to conserve my strength,” he teased, feigning exhaustion.
“Very well then, my Lord.” She began to climb off.
He growled and grabbed her hips, pulling her back on top of him. “You get back here.”
Katrina laughed and reached out to stroke his engorged cock. “Perhaps you are in need of tending. And I suppose as your wife it is my duty to attend to your every need.” She gave a heavy sigh. “And since I am a disciplined, dutiful wife who always follows your rules then I guess—”
His deep laughter cut her off. He gripped her hips and gyrated against her. “Take your clothes off,” he ordered.
Slowly, seductively, she began to work the buttons on the bodice of her nightgown. She let it slip over her slim hips and pool over him and onto the bed. Her breasts spilled forward, her nipples swelling under his gaze.
“Bring your pussy to my face,” he commanded.
She shimmed over his chest and straddled his mouth. Her skin tightened when he flicked her clit with his warm tongue. She fisted his hair and held him against her as she rode his face. He licked her from front to back as she rocked against his hungry mouth.
She moaned with intense pleasure and cupped her breasts. Throwing her head back, she increased her speed and rode him harder, his tongue delving into her wetness. Ranek felt her pussy muscles contract and a moment later a loud cry sounded from her throat as she tumbled into orgasm. Ranek lapped her juices and felt her body relax.
“Let me make love to you, Katrina, in our own bed, as I’ve been dreaming of doing for so long.” He grabbed her hips and guided her to his cock, her release leaving a path of moisture over his chest and stomach. The pain from his wound was a distant memory as her pussy pressed against his cock.
Straddling him, she leaned forward and kissed his mouth as his cock breached her slick entrance. She moaned, arched her back and sank his length deeper inside her. She bucked, matching the pace and rhythm of each sweet thrust.
Katrina cried out and as her climax ripped through her. Ranek grabbed her hips and held her tight as his own orgasm approached.
Katrina climbed from his cock and nestled herself between his thighs.
He stroked her warm cheek. “What are you doing, my love?”
Her grin was mischievous. “What I’ve been dying to do for days.” Her soft voice was filled with love. She sheathed his cock in her palms and drew it into her mouth.
Ranek gripped the sheets and, within seconds of feeling her hot tongue, came in a fiery release.
Katrina lifted her chin, met his gaze and licked him from her lips.
He chuckled. “You are most undisciplined, Katrina.” He gathered her into his arms and smoothed her hair from her forehead.
“Yes, I know,” she whispered into his ear.
Ranek threw his head back and laughed. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
About the author
Cathryn lives in Eastern Canada with her husband and two children. When she is not creating sensuous, compelling love stories, you can find her reading, researching, or relaxing with her family and friends.
She is an active member of Romance Writers of America and served two consecutive terms as Secretary for Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada. Cathryn's heroines are spirited, her heroes are what dreams are made of, and her imagination knows no boundaries.
Cathryn Fox welcomes mail from readers. You can write to her c/o Ellora’s Cave Publishing at 1337 Commerce Drive, #13, Stow, OH 44224.
Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer e-books or paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.
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