“Sweetness…” He moaned it against her throat, his hands sliding down to cup her ass. “No time of my life has been longer than these months without you, waiting to see if you’d come back, dying a little more each day you didn’t.”
There was pleasure to be found in his words, and pain too.
“I never wanted to hurt you.” The storm of emotion was growing, twirling around and through her, making her ravenous for him. “And I’m here now. Love me, let me love you.”
He lifted her with effortless grace and, with a moan of assent, Gràinne wrapped her legs around his waist. Admitting their love was more arousing than any foreplay, and there was no place for hesitation or gentleness in this coupling. They both needed it to be as elemental as the magic building and roaring around and within them. She was wild for him, pressing down against his hands when she felt the head of his cock take position at her opening, crying out with unrestrained bliss when it slammed home inside her pussy.
Thunder rolled in time with their hips, or was it their hearts that roared in her ears? The warm rain intensified and, curving her body around his, she reveled in the wet slide of skin on skin, the urgency of his thrusts, the sounds of passion breaking from both their throats. Jakuta was trembling, shuddering in her arms, and no sensation experienced before had ever thrilled her as that evidence of his desire.
His teeth grazed her neck, his hands tightening on her thighs as she rode him as hard as she could, greedily taking him again and again. Her entire body tingled and tightened, and she didn’t know, or care, whether it was from his electric power or the orgasm hovering just out of reach. All she knew was the need to reach out, grab hold and take him with her into the glorious release.
“Gràinne.” His lips were at her ear, her name something between a prayer and a groan. “You make me crazy. I can’t…”
She didn’t hear the rest, for her body had reached the limit of the pleasure it could take and, keening, she came. Their magic exploded. Lightning struck. Thunder roared. Jakuta did too, his body bowing, muscles locking as he rocked convulsively into her, prolonging and intensifying her orgasm, taking her to a plateau of ecstasy she never even knew existed.
Slowly he sank to his knees. They were still joined and she held on with shivering legs and arms, not wanting to let go. He curved his arms up her back until his fingers covered her shoulders. The rain had gentled, the force of their release having expended the magic, but the connection remained, strong, true and pure. Resting her forehead on Jakuta’s shoulder, Gràinne gave thanks to the Goddess for seeing her through it all and bringing her to where she belonged.
“I’ve waited many lifetimes for you, sweetness.” His words rumbled into her ear and Gràinne thrilled anew to hear them. “And want to spend many more with you.”
She lifted her head to tell him she now realized everything she’d been and gone through had been worth it, for that fate was what led her to him. But something caught her gaze and she gasped, breath suspended by surprise and a rush of love so fierce she could hardly bear it.
“You took my mark.” With one shaking finger she traced his new tattoo, a hooded crow, Badb’s symbol. “But what is this ax above it?”
“It’s the sign of the name I was given after my banishment and have refused for so long to acknowledge.” His arms tightened and he touched his lips to the sensitive spot beneath her ear, making her shiver with delight. “I wanted you to accept the past so as to see me as your future. I needed to do the same to be ready, with a pure heart and clean hands, when you came back.”
Overwhelmed, rocked to her soul, she pressed her lips to the tattoo. Beneath her lips beat his pulse, as strong and sure as love binding them together, and she felt her heart take up the rhythm. He murmured softly as she tasted him, and stirred inside her, hardening once more. Smiling against his skin, she shifted her hips, was rewarded by a welcoming groan and quickening of his powers to a tingling, swirling whirlwind.
Before the storm overtook them, she whispered, “I fled from a fate I didn’t think should be mine. Thank the Goddess it was into your arms, for there is nowhere I’d rather be.”
And holding her as though he would never let go, he replied, “Nowhere else you belong, but with me.”
About the Author
After living a checkered past, and despite an avowed disinterest in domesticity, multi-published author Anya Richards settled in Ontario, Canada, with husband, kids and two cats who plot world domination, one food bowl at a time. Having trained the humans around her to recognize the Do Not Disturb vibes she gives off when writing, she’s still trying to get the cats to honor her need for space. The suspicion is that they perfectly understand, but choose those moments when she’s most engrossed to once more prove who wears the pants in the house.
Anya welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by Anya Richards
Beyond Prudence
Oh, Canada!: Arctic Destiny
Shaken Up
Ellora’s Cave Publishing
www.ellorascave.com
Fleeing Fate
ISBN 9781419940088
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Fleeing Fate Copyright © 2012 Anya Richards
Edited by Grace Bradley
Photo and cover design by Syneca
Models: Rodney and Shannon
Electronic book publication July 2012
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