Immortal of My Dreams

by Alexis McNeil

  Elise slid back up next to me as the mock battle began while bystanders cheered and shouted. The roar of war cries drowned out the clanking of metal. I admired the lithe forms on the field and the endurance it took to fight. Men swung swords around and bellowed as they ran past.

  “What did I miss?” Blake asked as he came up on my other side out of breath.

  “Why aren’t you in the battle? I thought you’d fight today,” I said to a morose looking Blake.

  “That’s what I thought too,” Blake mumbled. “Cameron insisted I stay on the sidelines because the fighting is still dangerous. He didna want me ta get injured.”

  As I watched the fake battle I glanced over at Elise. She looked like she was on pins and needles. I grabbed her hand in a reassuring hold. She turned, smiling a shaky smile at me while she continued to hold my hand, squeezing tighter and tighter as the battle progressed.

  Blake pointed out over the field. “Och, look!”

  Immortals began falling to the ground, pretending to be injured by the opposing team that would take out Cameron. I sucked in a deep breath as I sighted Merrick and watched him fall to the ground with a fake stab in the stomach.

  Elise grabbed my arm. “’Tis time,” she said. Elise sucked in her breath as Alexander stalked over to Cameron. Alexander grasped the Sword of Divinity—a simple gold sword with a large emerald at the hilt—and stopped in front of Cameron. Alexander whispered into Cameron’s ear and without warning, Alexander thrust the tip of the blade into his friend’s heart. I gasped and Blake took my hand in his, squeezing it gently.

  The crowd quieted. A light blue gown making its way onto the field caught my attention. So engrossed in Cameron’s death, I didn’t even realize Elise had left my side. Warriors parted as she made her way toward Cameron who lay on the field in a heap with blood running down his chest. Elise reached him with tears streaming down her face and knelt down. She leaned down, cradled Cameron’s head with her hands, and kissed him.

  A loud roar of clapping and laughter erupted as Cameron’s hand came up holding onto Elise’s head, keeping her from ending their kiss. They both stood and Cameron took a small dagger from inside his boot and slashed his palm. I sucked in another breath along with everyone else. Once again, silence fell over the crowd as we waited to see if Cameron turned mortal. The wound bled freely and after a minute…still bled. Loud cheering exploded from the tents. Men, women, and children ran onto the field offering wishes to Cameron on the start of his new mortal life with his beautiful mate.

  “Come on, Jilly,” Blake said as he took a step toward the field, “let’s go give Elise and Cameron our blessings.” Grant and I followed, getting shoved and pushed in the crowd as we grew nearer to the happy couple. As I wound my way toward Cameron and Elise, I realized I lost Grant and Blake in the crowd. I glanced around and abruptly stopped as Merrick stepped directly in my path. His leather chausses were covered in dirt and sweat ran down his chest disappearing under the leather vest covering his torso. He paused, staring at me with an anguished look on his face.

  “Jilly!” Blake yelled. I sighted Blake’s head bobbing up and down over the crowd to my left. “Over this way!” I glanced back over at Merrick. He was gone. I spun around, but found no sight of him.

  “Congratulations!” I said to Cameron and Elise as I came up beside Blake.

  Elise gave me a big hug. “Thank ye, Jilly.” Elise beamed like an angel as friendly embraces and words of kindness were bestowed upon her.

  “Jilly,” Cameron said as he noticed me standing beside him, “I’m glad you’re here to be a part of this.” He wrapped his arm around my neck pulling me into him as he smiled and gave me a kiss on the forehead. Cameron peered out over the crowd. ‘Come, now we feast!” he yelled. More hollers and yells sounded as everyone made their way to the great hall.

  Music filled the great hall while everyone talked, told stories, and ate a meal fit for a king. It took everything I had not to look up at Merrick. I tried to pay attention to Grant’s stories and Blake’s recounting of adventures of Cameron and his days of Immortality. Elise seemed ecstatic as she described what she went through when she saw Cameron take the blade of the sword. I smiled and answered when talked to, but I couldn’t remember a single thing I said. I still wished Merrick would accept my apology. I did learn, however, that in the Immortal’s eyes, the Ceremony of Beginnings was also like a wedding, it bound the couple together for all eternity. Before we ate dinner, Cameron and Elise exchanged vows in front of many smiling faces for Elise’s sake and her being raised Catholic. Technically, Cameron and Elise were husband and wife after the Ceremony of Beginnings.

  After all the trenchers were cleared and new kegs of ale were set up, men pushed the bench tables along the walls of the room and a huge dance floor was created. I took a seat next to Blake and we watched as the floor began to fill up with dancers. Women twirled and whizzed past us as the music grew louder and men became boulder with their flirtations. A curvy woman that had to be in her forties danced over snagging Blake off the bench regardless of his protests. I cringed and laughed as his face sunk into her plentiful bosom.

  As I waved out to Blake, still laughing, Grant plunked down next to me. He wiped beads of sweat away from his forehead. “Come on, Jilly, come dance,” he said clasping my hands in his.

  “Oh, I have no idea how you dance to this music,” I said leaning back against the stone wall.

  “I’ll show ye!” Before I knew what he planned, Grant grabbed my hand yanking me into the throng of dancers. He tried to show me when to dip and how to spin, but I knew I probably just looked like a fool. I’d be more content to just sit and watch the dancing instead of being a part of it.

  “I need to use the latrine,” I yelled leaning over to Grants ear. “I’ll be right back.”

  “All right!” he shouted over the din of the music. “I’ll be here, hurry back!” I didn’t really need to use the bathroom, but I thought I’d get a breath of fresh air. The great hall began to get stuffy and hot with the enormous crowd gathered in it. As I wound my way through the crowd, I kept an eye out for Merrick. He was nowhere to be found and I had not seen him since I lost him on the field.

  “Sorry!” Hanna, the curvy blonde said as she stumbled into me while crossing the dance floor. I smiled tight lipped remembering the intimate act I caught her and Merrick in. As I made my way through the doorway and toward the door to the garden, a large form stepped out of the corridor shadows in front of me blocking my route.

  “Dinna ye like celebrations?” Merrick asked quietly stumbling forward a few steps. He raised a goblet and drank deeply from it.

  “Merrick?” He shook his head as if he tried to clear his thoughts. “Are you drunk?”

  “Aye. Nay. ‘Tis an Immortal’s curse,” he said smiling lazily. “As soon as ye start ta feel good, ye lose it.”

  “So…you’re talking to me again?” Merrick stumbled forward as I stepped back until my backside pressed up against the stone corridor wall. Merrick dropped the empty goblet to the ground putting his hands up against the wall on each side of my head, caging me in.

  “I ken why ye would’ve thought that was me in the garden,” he said huskily as his gaze brazenly roved over my body. ‘Ye ha’ ta believe me. I didna kill Lorna.”

  “I believe you. I’m sorr—“

  He put his finger over my mouth. “Shh.” Merrick lightly rubbed the pad of his thumb over my lips. “Ever since I kissed ye by the loch….” His tongue darted across his lips. “I want ta taste ye’re sweet mouth again, Jillian.” I stood breathless plastered against the wall as Merrick bent his head down. I quickly ducked under Merrick’s arm keeping myself pressed up against the corridor wall.

  “I-I don’t think that’s a good idea.” I took another step to the side dodging his attempt to kiss me once again, but Merrick had his arms caging me in before I could make another move.

  “What are ye afraid o’ lass? I’ve seen ye’re naked body already,” he said a ha
irbreadth away from my lips.

  “I’m n-not afraid of anything,” I said breathlessly. He was right, I was afraid. I never felt so much need for a man as I did for Merrick. If he ended up using me for a one-night-stand, I don’t know how I’d recover.

  “Aye…ye are,” he continued inching closer to my mouth. “Are ye afraid ye might like my kiss? Or are ye afraid ye might want more?” I began to shake my head side to side in a feeble attempt to make him go away when he leaned down, softly tasting my lips. His kiss suddenly turned demanding like he was starved. His tongue darted across my mouth and pushed its way inside.

  My hands came up on their own accord resting against Merrick’s hard chest as his hands slid down gripping my waist. Next thing I knew, his hands ran up and down my sides as I intertwined my fingers in his hair at the base of his neck. He wrapped his strong arms around my waist lifting me up, never taking his mouth from mine.

  My feet dangled as he walked to the nearest door and kicked it open. Once inside the small shadow covered room, he spun around and closed the door by walking me backwards so I rested against the door. The door clicked shut and he pulled away as we both breathed heavily. I quickly glanced around in the darkness, and noticed a dim light shone through a small window up toward the ceiling.

  Merrick gazed into my eyes for a moment carefully sliding his hands up my ribcage stopping under my breasts. His thumbs began to slowly rub my hardened nipples through my dress as I sucked in my breath through my teeth. I should stop him. What if he was looking for his soul mate? I knew I wasn’t her. I couldn’t return the special love he searched for. I willed my hands not to touch him. I pressed them against the door behind me, sliding the lock just incase, as Merrick lowered his head and slowly tasted my cleavage spilling over my low neckline. As his tongue swam across my skin, his hands reached behind me and loosened the lacings of my dress. My gown fell away from my shoulders. With his help, the dress slid down to my waist. I really needed to stop him, but…his hands and mouth on me felt so good, so right. His hands worked back up my rib cage and over my breasts until he reached my shoulders where he slipped his hands under the neckline of my leine, slowly running his warm hands down my arms bringing the leine along. As the top half of my body became exposed, Merrick paused, looked me over, and raised his gaze to meet mine.

  “Lass, this is what I wanted ta do ta ye that day at the loch.” Merrick slowly bent his head to one of my achingly swollen breasts. I sucked in a breath arching my back as I dug my nails into the door, sinking deep into the wood. What started as gentle lapping became hard suckles as he took my throbbing breast into his mouth. I gasped as his teeth lightly bit down on my peaked nipple. His mouth worked fervently as one hand came up capturing my other breast. Cupping and gently squeezing my breast, he made me cry out while his other hand wrapped around my waist pulling me closer to him. My hands left the door only to grab Merrick’s head holding him to me.

  Abruptly, he spun me around walking me backwards as he kissed the swells of my breasts and back up to my collar bone. My heel hit a heavy object making me fall backwards landing on a rough linen bag which caused a puffy white cloud to fill the air. I coughed as Merrick gently fell down over-top me. I waved my hand in front of my face fanning the air.

  “’Tis flour,” Merrick said wiping my cheek with his thumb. “We’re in the storeroom.” He stared down at me as the cloud of flour settled over us. His gaze left my eyes only to travel down over my breasts stopping at the skirts bunched at my waist. He glanced back up as a slow smile crossed his face. I knew what he wanted, and as much as I wanted to refuse him, my mouth just wouldn’t form the words. His hands moved down to my waist leaving trails in the flour that covered my skin. His smile grew bigger before he lowered his head to my abdomen and began kissing down to my navel, slowly pulling my skirts down as he went. I took breathless, urgent gasps when his tongue darted across my skin growing closer and closer to the apex of my legs.

  “Wait!” I yelled as he lifted his head up to look at me.

  “What is it, lass?” he asked out of breath.

  “I-I don’t usually do this, I mean, usually I’m in a relationship for a while. I usually know the person better.”

  Merrick smiled. “I’ll tell ye everything ye want ta know aboot me…when we’re done.” He kept eye contact with me as he slowly lowered his head as if he dared me to stop him again.

  I reached down with my hands and ran them through his silky thick hair as his tongue licked the sensitive juncture of my thighs. I cried out as his tongue lapped the very essence from me over and over. Shortly after clenching my fists in his hair, I erupted in an explosion of feeling. My hands slowly released his hair, dropping lifelessly to my sides as Merrick placed soft whisper-like kisses on my inner thighs. My breathing slowed and Merrick leisurely kissed his way back up my body making my damp skin tingle from his rough clothes brushing against me with every move.

  His gaze reached mine. Slowly, he brushed a lock of hair away from my face. I looked up into his eyes as a slow smile crept across my lips. It was the most satisfied I’d felt in a long time. I knew I’d remember this night forever. I wanted him to remember too, to put the memory of me before the memories of all other women.

  “It’s your turn now,” I said. Pressing my hands against his chest, I pushed him backwards until he stood up, with me following. He reached his hands out to touch me, but I swatted them away. “Uh-uh,” I said playfully, pushing his hands back down to his sides. Slowly, I unhooked his belt along with his broadsword, removing it, letting it land on a flour sack off to the side. Placing my hands on his muscular shoulders, I began to slide my palms down over his chest, down to the hem of his tunic where I slipped them underneath causing Merrick to suck in his breath.

  Smiling, I noticed his hands held in tight clenched fists at his sides. Slowly, I began my trip up his smooth velvet skinned torso as he let out a curse. His hands began to reach for me. “Ah, ah, ah,” I said keeping him in-check. A low growl escaped him as he dropped his fists to his sides. I pushed the tunic up over his taut pecks as he raised his arms up over his head so I could pull his tunic off. I tossed the shirt behind me and rubbed my hands back over his smooth skin. Leaning forward, I began kissing his chest, letting my tongue dart out lazily tasting his incredibly hot skin. Another low growl came from Merrick when my hands traveled to the waist of his chausses. I stuck a finger in the top of his pants lightly brushing his sensitive skin back and forth teasingly. The shape of his engorged flesh pressed against his chausses. I slowly brought one hand down rubbing over him.

  “Jillian,” Merrick said in a strangled voice. I gazed up at him and smiled a devilish grin. I slowly began to untie his chausses. His breath halted. My eyes grew huge when his chausses opened allowing his straining erection to free itself. My hands stilled and the smile I had left my face as I stared in awe at his huge throbbing shaft.

  Merrick growled and raised his hands up to my waist and pulled me to him. His rock hard sex pressed against my stomach as he abruptly pushed me back down onto the bags of flour. Another white puff of flour filled the air as Merrick claimed my mouth filling it with his warm velvety tongue. His hard muscular core rubbed back and forth across my body, while he reached down grabbing under my thighs.

  “Wait!” I yelled. “Don’t we need some sort of protection?”

  Merrick smiled. “I’m as healthy as the day I was born.”

  “No, wait,” I said as he began spreading my thighs. “I could get pregnant. My birth control is back in the twenty-first century.”

  A low throaty laugh escaped him. “Jillian, Immortals can no get a lass with child. When the Guardians created us, they made us infertile. So, can I get back ta…where was I again?” he said as he continued right where he left off. Feeling satisfied with his explanation, I assisted him in bringing my legs up on each side of him while he spread my legs further apart. I arched in anticipation. With one hard thrust, he drove into me. I arched toward him matching the thrust of his h
ips. He cursed and his breathing became ragged gasps. I sucked in short heated breaths as he moved deep inside me driving me crazy while I raked my nails down his back exploding into a million waves of pleasure. “Jillian!” Merrick ground out as his magnificent body shuddered, spilling himself deep inside me.

  He lay on top of me for a moment before rising up on his arms. He peered intensely into my gaze. “Jillian…ye’re worth it,” he said quietly. He rolled off of me and pulled me close to his side. Somewhere, between thinking this shouldn’t have happened and trying not to smile, I fell asleep.

  * * * * *

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  I woke up squinting as the morning sun shone down through the small window. I glanced over finding Merrick asleep on his stomach with half his body covering mine and his warm arm wrapped tightly around me. Did I make a mistake by sleeping with him? I gingerly tested the weight of him and shifted seeing if I could sneak out. No use, his one arm felt like it weighed a ton. I glanced around the room which was previously covered in shadows. Shelves filled with jars of food lined the walls and flour covered everything. Merrick’s head began to move and he lifted it, looking up at me.

  Flour covered half the side of his face. I reached out lightly brushing the flour off. He scooted toward me laying his head on my breasts as his hand came up beginning to toy with one of my nipples. He must have felt me stiffen, because he said, “Dinna be havin’ no regrets, Jillian.”

  “I-I’m not.” He gave me a look that said “yeah right”. I sighed. “Okay, I was just thinking that if you only wanted this to be a one-night-stand kind of thing, well…I-I’m fine with that and if you might want something more, than—“

  “Shh, lass,” he said leaning up to my mouth, softly caressing my lips, sending any second thoughts swiftly out of my head. “We made quite a mess,” he said huskily as I felt him smile against my mouth. “Ye’re a feisty lass.”