Merlin's Kiss

by Stephanie Burke

  "Yes, resentment. No one asked you if you wanted to lead. You pulled the sword out, and accepted all that it entailed without a moment's thought. No one asked you if you wanted to be cast into the future, yet I have not heard you complain about your fate. You were told to go on this quest and you did without argument. Are you not tired of people dictating your life to you? You were sorely lacking in choices, Brieana. And I can empathize with that."

  "Your gift of talking to and hearing the drackoon," she said as she ran one hand through his loose silvery hair.

  "Gift, curse, affliction. It goes by many names, Lady, and it was something I would not choose."

  "But you live with it."

  "Because it has shaped me into the man I am, because if I want to live I have no choice."

  "So if I want to live, I have no choice but to accept my fate."

  "No, Lady! You have choices. You can run away, and be sure I will run with you. We can start anew someplace else, someplace untainted by Dagon or his ilk. And we can be happy."

  "But Dagon will follow, Tybo will die, the people will suffer, and they will find us eventually."

  "True, but for a time, you would have decided your own destiny."

  Brieana pulled back and observed the man before her. He was wise, this man of hers. He always knew just what to say.

  "How did you get so smart?" she asked as a smile broke out across her lips.

  "Experience, Lady. I am very old and wise," he laughed, seeing her answering humor in her eyes.

  "Not as old as I, Warlord. So if we must die tomorrow, come and love me now."

  With a trembling grin on her lips, she opened her arms to her amber-eyed lover and invited him home.

  He knew she would not refute her responsibilities, her destiny. But he also knew making this decision would be easier on her if she had a choice, if she decided for herself.

  She would fight tomorrow, possibly die tomorrow, but she would meet her fate with open arms, knowing it was her decision, and not the dictates of some out-dated legend.

  She was Queen, damn it, because she wanted to be! Not because of a sword pulled out of the stone! But because she wanted that title, because she knew she could do the job!

  Let tomorrow come, she decided as Kerian's lips brushed against hers. She would own tomorrow! But she would live for today.

  With that thought in mind, she pulled her lover closer, relishing the feel of his body.

  She would live for this, for the passion that lived between the two of them, the love that understood her and knew best how to get a reaction out of her, how to bring the very best from within her. She would live!

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  "Someone's getting laid tonight," Tybo sighed as he carefully scanned the land that surrounded him. "And it ain't me!"

  His wings adjusted as he began to glide around the area where Dagon's reinforcements had been set upon by rabbits. Rabbits! Who had ever heard of such a thing?

  This was a strange land, he decided. Strange, but far more comfortable than the Dark Isles.

  Comfortable, that is, unless Dagon had his way with the land. Then you could wave goodbye to all of this beauty.

  As he approached the ground, something caused his ears to perk up and the magic coursing through his body began to react.

  Something big had just been reborn, and whatever it was, it was headed in his direction.

  Before he could complete the thought, a large purple ball of cold hurtled past him, the magic filling him with a screaming silence that seared his inner walls and froze his skin!

  Twisting and turning, the purple ball of hot-cold magic zoomed past him, barely missing his wings as he dove out of its path.

  The magical backdraft sent him tumbling head over heels and forced him towards the ground.

  The only thing that saved him from serious damage was his warrior training. As he hurtled past a thick branch, he latched onto it, determined not to touch the ground that may still be inhabited by the vicious little fur-balls.

  "What the…?" he managed as he regained control of his body, his shoulder joints straining as he fought against his freefall.

  His body swayed slowly as he quickly turned his head up, searching the night sky for the flying ball of magic, and wondering what had caused such a magical influx!

  But all he saw was a pale trail from the end of a flying comet, and felt the magical energy slowly dissipating.

  Grunting with the effort, he managed to pull his upper body over the branch, before swinging his legs around to straddle it, his breathing fast but silent.

  He shuddered as the last of the energy trail eased, but his ears rang with words that seemed to be heard through all of his magical channels.

  That purple ball of furious cold was screaming!

  Mother! Gren! it howled, easily translated through his magic—something he had never heard before—but the echoes of that angry, violent, desperate plea left him shaken to the bone!

  He decided to give up his hunt for survivors—just on the off-chance that some had survived the rabbit attack—so shaken was he. He collapsed back against the strong tree trunk and tried to get his thoughts together.

  Whatever it was that had just passed him was something formidable and nothing to be trifled with. He only hoped it was on their side.

  * * * * *

  "Kerian!" Brieana gasped as her lover and true mate began to tear the clothing from her body. "Oh my love!"

  But Kerian paid no attention to her words. He was too busy filling his hands with the warm full globes of her breasts.

  With his Lady's doubts and fears put to rest, Kerian now felt free to affirm their lives, their commitment to each other, and celebrate the here and now!

  Dragging her tunic over her head, he gently placed her on their bedroll, relishing the dim light that cast her body into shadows and pale curves.

  To touch her without the full benefit of his eyesight would be amazing! His sensitivity would be magnified a thousand times and he could use his other trained senses to enjoy her.

  "You are beautiful," he purred as he bent to lap at one plump breast. "Mmm."

  He slowly lowered his upper body over her, gently spreading her leather-clad legs and resting a bit of his upper body against her heated woman's core and her stomach, holding her in place.

  "Kerian, I want to touch you!" she gasped as his searching tongue curled around one swelling nipple and sent sparks shooting through her blood.

  Her hands latched onto his hair, moaning as the silk of it slid through her fingers. Her body arched underneath his, pressing her feminine junction closer to the hard heat of his body. She shuddered as her heels sought purchase in the spread blankets.

  "If you touch me now, I will explode," he growled as he felt his manhood swelling and throbbing with each heartbeat.

  The unique scent of her was thick in his nostrils and he inhaled, desperately gasping air, his mouth leaving a wet trail across her chest as he sought her other neglected breast.

  "Oh!" she gasped as his mouth homed in on her turgid flesh and his hand closed over the abandoned nipple, tugging and gently rolling it.

  Kerian growled low in his chest as he released her nipple with a popping sound and began to place small kisses up to her neck. Dragging his still-clothed body against her naked skin heighten her awareness of her vulnerable position and of his growing passion.

  He stopped when his crotch, tented hard with his desire, pressed against her womanhood, making her gasp and shudder in pleasure. And he was still fully clothed!

  "You are mine, Brieana," he panted. "As I am yours!"

  With that vow, his mouth dropped to take her lips in a searing kiss.

  His tongue gently but firmly invaded the wet heat of her mouth, pressing past her teeth to get to the softness within.

  Desperately, she began to suck on his tongue, relishing his flavor as his hips began a gentle grind against her.

  Her legs came up and around his waist as she tried to brin
g him closer to her need. But their pants were in the way!

  Her hands flew to his waist, to fuss and pull at the ties that held his pants up. But he quickly saw what she was about and slammed her hands above her head.

  "This time, I do all of the work," he breathed as he broke off the kiss to lick and nibble a trail down her neck to her breast.

  "Please hurry," Brieana purred, as she tugged lightly against his grip.

  He would not harm her, but he would hold her. He was determined to have this mating his way. He grunted as he again latched onto her nipple, tugging it into his mouth and sucking hard. His hands moved steadily down, pushing her pants to her ankles and off her feet.

  Her body arched against his chest, pushing her breast deeper into his mouth as her head began to roll from side to side and her body began to quiver. Her blood began to boil and she felt a soaking wetness began to flow from between her legs. She wanted her mate, and her body showed it!

  "I'll love you enough for all of our tomorrows," he vowed as he pulled away from her tempting heat and tore his tunic over his head.

  Heedless of the scars on his back, he came to her, unashamedly in his bare chest and his urgent pulsing desire.

  "Feel me," he urged as he gripped her hands and brought them to his chest, right over his heart. "It beats for you," he whispered, as he closed his eyes in sensual enjoyment of her touch.

  Of their own violation, her hands began a slow teasing exploration of her mate.

  His nipples, set in two large slabs of pectoral muscles, were erect bronze buttons that hardened at her touch. His chest was firm and hard, the skin felt firm and so tight across the muscles that it felt like it would explode if he but flexed. His powerful heart moved his flesh, tapped out a fast, deep beat against her wandering palm, telling her of his excitement for her.

  She sighed in genuine appreciation of his male form and moaned as she realized his affect on her already overheated system.

  But at his urgings, her fingers traveled lower, down the rippling abs, down all of that satiny skin, right to the deep impression of his navel.

  He gasped a bit as her pinkie trailed there, just pressing in a bit, and his whole body lurched.

  She looked up as he opened his eyes, his slumberous amber eyes that dilated in the firelight with the passion her touch invoked.

  "Lower," he commanded.

  As if in a daze, her fingers trailed downward until the waistband of his pants stopped there movements.

  "Loosen it," he purred as he reached out and trailed his fingers down her face, the back of his hand caressing her cheek. "Release me, Brieana."

  Mindlessly, her fingers tore at the ties that held up his pants, tearing the thin leather strips in the process, but desperately needing to see him free.

  Almost reverently, she lowered the soft leather down his body, slowly pulling the material away from the part of his body that gave her such pleasure.

  Kerian said nothing as his mate held her breath and exposed him to the warmth of the fire and her avid gaze.

  Her breath caught as she eased the warm leather off of his erection, but he said nothing, just gave her a bit of time to explore.

  "Are you always this hot?" she said as her hands neared his throbbing flesh and tested the heat wafting off of his body.

  "My nature," he replied as he watched her hand draw closer to the pounding hardness of him. "As it is your nature to be wet and welcoming."

  His hand reached out and cupped her streaming wetness, pressing against her pleasure pulse, and eliciting a groan of anguished desire from her parted lips.

  His words and his actions sent a thrill throughout her body and a tingling down her spine. Kerian was taking charge, proving that while he was her equal in some things, he was her superior in carnal knowledge.

  With a wicked grin, Kerian began to press and rub at her clitoris, remembering how she liked the direct stimulation he had applied before.

  Brieana threw her head back, all thoughts of exploration gone from her mind as Kerian's rough fingers pressed where lightning bolts tingled. A low ragged groan escaped her lips as she felt her mouth go dry, her panting breath heating her lips, forcing her to lap at them with her tongue.

  Seeing her pink tongue leave a wet shimmering trail across her lips caused Kerian to end the teasing game!

  With a low moan of surrender, he parted her legs and dropped between them.

  Like a starving animal, he buried his face in her feminine heat, deeply inhaling her musk spreading her essence across his face, luxuriating in her silky warmth.

  "Kerian!" Brieana screamed as she felt his swift attack and spread her thighs to give him easier access. "Oh yes! Kerian!"

  Her vocal approval of his action only served to inflame his senses more. Anxious to see her writhing beneath him, he pulled his mouth away from her heat and trailed slow licks up across her trembling belly, tasting the salt on her sweet skin. He paused for a moment at her navel, diving his tongue in that sensitive dimple before traveling upwards to latch onto an upthrust nipple.

  One hand replaced his mouth at her inner core, teasing and stroking her points of pleasure, keeping her excitement high, while the other plucked at her other nipple, rolling it between his fingers, pinching it delicately.

  Brieana bucked under his body, awash in sensations as her body spread itself for his convenience and her pleasure.

  Nothing had ever felt this good, this right before! Maybe it was because of the danger that awaited them on the dawn, maybe it was all of the intense emotions from their conversations, or maybe it was just the fierce lust that accompanied the overwhelming love she felt for this man.

  With a sigh, she surrendered everything to him, her pride, her body, her soul. She belonged to him, just as he belonged to her, and this type of brutal, overwhelming, agonizing love needed to be expressed physically as well as emotionally. The two were as one.

  "Let me!" Brieana gasped, as her arms wrapped convulsively around her mate. "Kerian, please let me!"

  Lifting his head still attached to her nipple, he looked up at her to gauge the meaning of her words.

  "I want…need to touch you!" she begged as she arched her body in an attempt to roll him to his back. She wanted the dominant position, and she would have it!

  Reading and understanding the desire in her eyes, Kerian slowly released her, allowed her to turn him over and straddle his waist, his leather pants abrading her soft skin, her hands pressing against his chest, balancing her.

  "What is it you wish, Lady?" he breathed, his eyes following the glowing planes of her body in the firelight. "Your wish is my command."

  "Just you," she answered as she slowly bent over, her breasts swinging to brush her erect nipples against the wall of his chest. "Just to pleasure you as you pleasure me."

  That said, she dropped her head and began to bite and suck at the webbing where neck met shoulder, running her tongue along his massive muscles.

  "Brieana!" he gasped as his thighs began to tremble and his large hands reached up to torment and tease her breasts.

  "Say my name!" she crooned as she began to lick her way down his body.

  Kerian closed his eyes, lost in sensation as her hot wet mouth trailed lower and lower. He wanted to open his eyes, God how he wanted to open his eyes, but he knew the sight of her full red lips trailing across his skin would send him over the edge into oblivion.

  Instead, he squeezed his eyes shut and concentrated on the feel of her lips trailing down towards his chest, the softness of her thighs as they clutched at his legs as she slid lower, her hot panting breaths that heated the cool trail of wetness her lips left behind. She was intent on proving she was an equal match for him in everything, including desire.

  "So hot and hard," she breathed. "And so smooth to the touch. You feel unreal, Kerian!" Brieana breathed as she gently fisted his hardness at the base.

  "I'm spinning out of control," he warned her as her hand began a gently gliding motion, squeezing a bit as she
pulled up and loosening as she pulled her fist down, imitating the actions of his cock inside her body.

  "Then let's spin together," she replied, all shyness burnt away by her intense need.

  Even as his body arched and writhed under her touch, her head lowered and she popped the large heart-shaped head into her mouth.

  "Brieana!" he all but screamed as she began a hard suction, just as he drew upon her own body, making sweat break out over his skin and his nerves tremble wildly.

  "You taste like a man," Brieana pulled off long enough to whisper, before lowering her head again.

  But she was not to enjoy this delicacy for long.

  In a mighty heave, Kerian pulled Brieana off his hardness and flipped her to her back.

  His pants were no longer an issue though, for as soon as she was flat on her back, he reached down and tore them from his body, shredding the leather and freeing his legs for movement.

  Brieana blinked up at his sudden action, a bit confused at finding herself in her original position when just seconds before she had Kerian at her mercy. But all confusion cleared up as he gripped her thighs, pulled them around his waist, and slammed home.

  "Oh!" was all she could grunt as he began long, slow strokes within her, teasing her body by changing the angle of penetration with each movement, ensuring he hit every pleasure button and forged a few new ones.

  Kerian closed his eyes, then forced them open as he felt her hot tight sheath grip and pull at him.

  Being in his Lady was like a slow wonderful death, a death because he lost a bit of himself each time he entered her, but it was a welcome death, full of rebirth. Rebirth because even though he gave of himself, she returned his life to him tenfold!

  Being lost in his Lady, his Brieana, his Woman of Legend, was more than he could have dreamed of, and more than he had ever hoped or imagined.

  The sight and the feel of her were too good for words, as he found himself bathed in her scalding wet heat.

  "Mmm," Brieana moaned as she lifted her body to meet each of his thrusts, trembling at the insane pleasure he brought her. Her arms went around the solid arms holding his massive frame off of her body, but holding his chest low enough to brush against her nipples, sending new waves of pleasure to her center where they were so tightly joined.