“Diabolical,” she replied, but there was a generous hint of interest underneath the straight face she showed me.
I wiggled my eyebrows. “Love spelled backward is evol.”
She moved in front of me and lowered herself like a debutante at a comin’ out party, never takin’ her eyes away from the peanut butter treat attached to my body. When her tongue emerged from her lips, my cock jumped of its own accord.
I grabbed onto the base with one hand to hold the fucker still for her, but she replaced my hand with hers and set to work givin’ me the most amazin’ blowin’ in the history of sex. By the time she’d cleaned off the gooey mixture, I was aroused past reason.
I took her from behind, bent over the butcher block island and, judgin’ from the sounds she made, she liked it every bit as much as I did. I leaned over her so that she could feel my breath on her ear when I said, “This was my fantasy when I gave you these lovely britches.”
As I looked over Elora’s head at the front door, I had the unwelcome thought that it might no’ be locked. Since I’d asked Liam to look in on me, as a ruse to make sure the horse was no’ abandoned, I began to fear havin’ someone walk in and see my mate in a compromised position. I could no’ abide the sort of interruption that would steal the moment, so I reasoned that the best option was to hurry things along. I found her nub with my fingers and massaged so that we might come at the same time.
Without statin’ my reasons for doin’ so, I hurriedly pulled up the JUICY pants.
Elora smirked at me. “So this was really a Yule present for yourself. That means you owe me a present.”
“Anything you want.” And I never meant anything more.
After pullin’ on pants and a Henley, I poured some hot mulled wine into the kettle and set it on the edge of the hearth. While I was slicin’ the loaf of bread Moira sent, I explained how the plumbin’ worked.
“If you want, I can fill the tub with water from the hot spring.”
The radiant smile on her face told me she thought that was a brilliant idea, so I pumped water until the kitchen was filled with steam.
Makin’ sure the door was locked, I climbed into the tub first and, restin’ against the curved back, gestured for Elora to lie back against me.
Even though I’d had the best night’s sleep of my life, I was gettin’ drowsy in the quiet calmin’ closeness of Elora, skin to skin.
I roused when she said, “So you were huntin’ yesterday?”
“Oh, no. The creatures in the New Forest are under the protection of the king. My brother owns everything here.”
“You were carrying a bow.”
“For self defense. Some of the creatures in the wood have no’ got the memo that this is a more civilized time.”
She rearranged the linen square that was coverin’ her abdomen from view. “I’ve decided you’re officially an enigma; an elf who shreds metal, worships Metallica, and chooses to retreat to a society that bans electricity.”
“An enigma, hmmm? Well, I'm hopin' that will keep you interested for a long, long time.”
I felt her muscles tense. “What do you mean? I thought mates are forever.”
“Aye, in elfdom ‘tis true. But I’ve observed that humans are no’ always so…committed. Seems that, for humans, ‘ever after’ is hard to come by.”
She was silent for a bit before sayin’, “My people don’t divorce. We choose. Then marry and stay together. I’ll never leave you, Ram. No matter what.”
At those words, I felt all worry give way. “My darlin’ girl, you ease the fear in my heart.”
“Please don’t let there be uncertainty between us,” she said. “You’re my charming prince.”
The idea of that made me chuckle, knowin’ that there was often such a figure in her beloved stories and that he was an idealized fantasy. I knew that I would like very much to be that for her.
“Agreed,” I said, thinkin’ ‘twould be a good time to press the point about her self-consciousness. “Please do no’ let there be shame between us either.”
“Shame?”
“Elora…” I stopped to gather my thoughts, knowin’ that words can no’ be recovered once spoken, “…first, I love that my woman is the first female knight in the history of Black Swan. It honors me more than I can say. I hate that you went into that tunnel without your team, but I love and admire you for it, too. Please do no’ hide from me. The sight of your body, as it is this very hour, could no’ excite me more. If you bear these marks forever, you will still be the most beautiful female in the world to me. What can I do to convince you ‘tis so?”
For some time she gave no response. I did no’ push further, but let her digest my opinion, for better or worse. At length she set the cloth away, wrung it out and hung it over the side of the tub.
I pulled her head back onto my shoulder and kissed her temple, bein’ greatly honored that she believed and trusted me.
At length she said, “What will we do about Black Swan?”
No’ really wantin’ to think about anything outside the copper tub in which we sat, I sighed. “How did you leave things with Storm?”
“He said he wasn’t surprised, that anyone could see we were in love, and that he doesn’t have regrets about anything.”
In a way that was the sort of thing I’d expect from Storm. In another way his admission that he knew we were meant for each other was shockin’. ‘Twas cruel of the Fates to throw my mate in his path. After all, who would no’ fall in love with her given half a chance?
“When we get back we’ll go to Sol and explain that we’ll marry.” When she said nothin’ in reply, I added, with a little anxiety, “You do plan to marry me?”
Her hesitation worried me.
“As proposals go…” She pulled the cloth back into the water and began to bathe with it, runnin’ it over her face and arms, dippin’, squeezin’, repeatin’.
At a loss for patience, finally I said, “Aye? As proposals go…”
“That may not be the worst one ever, but I think you can do better.”
I relaxed and sat back, knowin’ it was merely a matter of findin’ the words that would please her. “How’s this then? Tell me your dreams so I can make them come true.”
She did no’ turn around, but I could tell she smiled. “Much better. And, yes, if you promise to make my dreams come true, I will marry you.” She chuckled. “What do you think Black Swan’s policy will be regardin’ married knights?”
Truthfully, I found nothin’ amusin’ about that prospect. When I came to my cottage, I did no’ expect to return to Black Swan. I expected to expire of grief. Since Elora’s arrival, I had no’ confronted the notion of her bein’ a knight in the field again.
“So…” I began slowly. “You’re thinkin’ you will return to active duty?”
At that, she did turn around, sloshin’ water everywhere, to face me.
“Of course.” I watched her gaze flick to the scar on my face and travel down the path the vampire’s knife had taken before comin’ back to my eyes. A new clarity settled on her expression. “Oh. You thought that, because of the incident, I wouldn’t go back to B Team.” I remained still without a flinch or shrug or blink. “Are you giving it up? Because of what happened to you?”
I took in a deep breath and really considered the idea of movin’ on to something else, while we still could. While I was runnin’ scenarios in my head, tryin’ to imagine doin’ something other than huntin’ vampire, she interrupted my thoughts.
“What are you thinking?”
“I’d think ‘tis too big a decision to make in haste.”
She nodded. “I see that.”
“Would you like to get out?”
“Okay. Sure.” She looked ‘round and started to rise from the tub.
I took hold of her wrist. “No. I meant would you like to get out of the cottage? See some of the New Forest? Maybe go for a ride?”
She grinned. “Would love it.”
An ho
ur later we stepped inside the stable. She walked around like the queen while I hauled tack and began dressin’ the beasts for an outin’.
“This is nice, Ram. South facing. Tight against the wind. I’ll take that one.”
When she pointed to my mare, I was almost speechless. “Ah…” I said, like a dullard. “I’ve already put my saddle on her.”
“Well, here,” she said, smiling brightly. “Let me help you make the switch.”
“I, em, I’m no’ sure this is the right mount for you. She can be temperamental at times and she’s used to me.”
“Oh, don’t worry. She’ll get used to me.”
Don’t worry?
I frowned, no’ wantin’ to insult her, but no’ wantin to have this outin’ end badly either. “I really think you’d be more comfortable on the geldin’. He’ll be inclinded to do as ye ask whereas my mare has a mind of her own and spends her time thinkin’ up deviltry to give me a challenge.”
She laughed. “Now I know you’re exaggerating. Look at it this way. If I fall, it won’t hurt me.”
She had me there. Under my breath, I said, “Paddy bless mischievous mares and stubborn women.”
“What was that?” asked Elora.
“Oh, nothin’.” I pulled my saddle off my mare with a huff. The horse pricked her ears forward and looked at me as if wonderin’ what was up. I did no’ say more, but went about dressin’ the horses for a ride.
“Come let me help you up,” I said. I bent and cupped my hands for her left foot. “Put your left boot right here in my hand and I’ll give you a boost. She’s tall, as you see. Almost fifteen hands.”
When Elora was mounted, I handed her the reins. “Nudge her gently with your heels to ‘go’. Hold the reins in your hands like this, no’ too much pressure, no’ too much slack. If she moves to go somewhere you are no’ directin’, pull back, but no’ hard enough to hurt her.”
Elora nodded as if she was understandin’ me, but I was no’ too sure and hoped I was makin’ the right decision, lettin’ her try ridin’ on a horse like that.
I swung my body up onto the geldin’, turned to Elora, and said, “Ready?”
She said, “Um hum,” then laughed out loud and kicked my mare hard in the ribs. She shot out of the stable, in front of the cottage, and jumped the stream in a fluid motion that told me in a flash I’d made a fool’s assumption that she was no’ already a rider. The geldin’ was eyein’ me over his shoulder. “What are you lookin’ at?”
She led me on a chase for twenty minutes before pullin’ up to let the geldin’ catch up.
“Very funny,” I said.
Her laugh was made exponentially gorgeous by the color in her cheeks and the surroundin’ woods. “Like your horse, lover.”
“Aye. Me, too. Want to trade?”
She chuckled. “Maybe tomorrow.” I shook my head. “So give me a tour of this very magical place.”
“Magical,” I repeated, lookin’ around. “Aye. ‘Tis magical,” I agreed. We walked the horses through the east part of the woods for another hour.
“This is wonderful, Ram. Can we do it again tomorrow?”
“O’ course,” I said, overjoyed that she was at home both on a horse and in my woods. “Are ye hungry?”
“Yes. The peanut butter was very good…”
I interrupted with a wicked smile. “I concur.”
“…but I need more than love to sustain me.”
I nodded and turned the horse ‘round. “You ride as well as an elf. In case you do no’ know it, ‘tis a high compliment indeed.”
“Thank you, then. I rode all my life at… home. I was competing in equestrian events by the time I was ten.”
I realized then that there was still so much about my mate that I did no’ know and I looked forward to uncoverin’ each story includin’ the secrets buried within.
I made a stew of the remainin’ chicken, root vegetables, and a glass jar of green beans. Elora could no’ wait so I sliced the rest of the bread loaf and handed her a skewer.
“Here,” I said. “Take this to the hearth and toast it to your likin’ over the fire.”
She took both, lookin’ pleased and said, “How very cottagey.”
“You know you just sounded like a brat.”
“Even if I did, you can’t say so. You’re supposed to adore me.”
“I do adore you, faults and all.”
“Ugh!” she replied. “You’re not supposed to see my faults.”
I chuckled. “Sorry.”
“Okay, then, what are they?”
“Oh, no.”
Stepped in it, idjit.
I shook my head vigorously, gettin’ very busy with stew stirrin’. “No’ a road I’m goin’ down.”
“You started it.”
“A fact for which I could kick my own arse.”
“Tell me.”
“No’ a chance.”
“I will withhold sex.”
I barked a laugh at that. “Elora. I believe I could easier make that threat than you.”
Her brows drew together as she thought that over, seemin’ to come to the same conclusion.
“Okay. Tell me what I want to know and tomorrow I’ll let you ride your own horse.”
“Very generous of ye.”
“I thought so.”
When I did no’ say more, she finally pressed. “Well?” She took a bite of the toast at the end of her skewer. “This is good. I think it’s somehow better when you do it yourself over a fire.”
I nodded. “You want jam?”
“No. You’re changing the subject.”
“Imagine that.”
“Just one.”
“One what?”
“You’re being deliberately exasperating.”
“Somehow that seems better than bein’ accidentally exasperatin’.”
“Gods on fire, Ram. Tell me what I want to know!”
“Just one?”
“Yes.”
“And then you’ll leave it be?”
She narrowed her eyes and took another bite of toast. “Maybe.” She said it so slowly ‘twas almost like an elf song, intended to enchant me into doin’ her will.
“No maybes. If you promise to leave the subject behind, I will name one fault.”
“Okay, I agree. On the condition that the one you name is the thing about me that you like the least.”
“Done. The thing I like least about you is that you want to be a vampire hunter. I knew ‘twas goin’ to be near impossible to go in the field with ye, worried out of my mind that something might happen. But now that it has happened, I’m no’ sure how to do it and remain sane.”
Elora set the skewer and the remainin’ toast down next to where I was workin’, put her arms ‘round my neck and kissed me into believin’ I could die happy at that moment because nothin’ could ever be better.
“We have six days left to talk it through.”
The remainin’ days flew away like sparks in a wind. ‘Twas a whirl of elemental and sensual pleasures, accompanied by mulled wine and laughter. She was more beautiful with every day that passed and my hunger for her seemed to grow rather than recede. The more I got of her, the more I wanted and I knew I would never get enough if I lived to be two hundred.
I greeted Liam and his cart in front of the cottage on the day we were to leave and returned to fetch Elora’s things. She was standin’ in the middle of the room in her travelin’ clothes, lookin’ like leavin’ was the last thing she wanted.
I thought about tellin’ her we did no’ have to go, but we’d hashed it every which way and made our decision. And I knew she’d hold firm to it and no’ be moved.
So I came up behind, encircled her in my arms, and said, “We’ll be back.”
“Promise?”
“Oh, aye.” I nuzzled her neck feelin’ pleased that she loved the New Forest as she did. “‘Tis one of the best parts of happily ever after.”
CHAPTER 30
Sol was surp
rised that we were back a day early, but we wanted to get things straightened out before Storm and Kay were due to report.
He steepled his hands as he always did when makin’ decisions.
“Suitable for a married couple? Has to be the oddest request I’ve ever received. I guess you just can’t keep a good office romance down, huh?” Elora and I exchanged a quick glance. “Matter of fact,” he said, “I’d already agreed to loan B Team to Edinburgh temporarily. Things are pretty quiet around here since so many vampire have met their end. So I’d ask you to stay on for one more assignment before we talk about permanent change.”
I knew my mouth was standin’ open. “Fairyland! You did no’ agree to send us there, temporary or otherwise.”
“Don’t worry, Hawking. Your teammates will watch your back.” I could no’ believe he was dismissin’ my concerns like they were irrelevant. “Lady Laiken, you’re unusually quiet. Do you have similar concerns about Scotia?”
She shook her head. “No. I don’t care about the assignment as long as he’s there.” I could no’ help but grin at that, even in the face of bein’ assigned to the land of fairies. “It’s Blackie. I understand that, technically, he belongs to Jefferson Unit, but I think he’d be happier with me.”
Sol smiled. “Consider him a wedding present from Jefferson Unit. We’ll make sure the usual quarantines are lifted. Be ready to leave in four days.”
I had been at Jefferson Unit long enough to know when I’d been dismissed by the Sovereign. I was turnin’ to leave when I realized Elora was no’ with me. I turned to see she’d run ‘round the desk to give Sol a big kiss on the cheek.
Storm and Kay were back in time for dinner in The Mess. ‘Twas awkward with Storm and I hoped ‘twould be less so in time. I described Sol’s reaction to Elora’s kiss. “He turned pink as a Tequila Sunrise.” I laughed. “She rendered him speechless, which set a record so far as I know.”
Kay laughed with me, but Storm did no’ find it amusin’. Can no’ say I blamed him. When I thought I’d lost her, I did no’ take it well either.
Next morn I took Blackie out for a walk and stopped on the way back for a to go hot chocolate for my girl. But instead of greetin’ me, grabbin’ for the cocoa, I found her barfin’ in the toilet, lookin’ more green than pink.
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