by Pandora Pine
“Do you trust me?”
Cadence nodded without hesitation. “I do.”
“Close your eyes for me and no peeking.” When she obeyed, he scooped her up in his arms, laughing when she squeaked in surprise. “Remember, eyes closed. I don’t want you spoiling the surprise.”
Cadence giggled and cuddled closer. “My eyes are shut.”
No matter how old he was, this place would always be magical to him and he hoped Cadence would be similarly affected. “I’m going to set you down, but keep your eyes closed.”
“Okay.”
Donnall shivered when the ghost of Cadence’s breath brushed across his face. It took all the willpower he had not to be the barbarian she thought he was by kissing her. Here, under the light of the full moon, Cadence was nearly irresistible. Its pearlescent glow brought out the red in her hair, while her dewy, full lips beckoned to him like the sirens of old. The final straw was his cock stirring to life. “Down we go.” He set her on her feet before she could feel his arousal for herself.
“Can I open my eyes yet?”
Donnall placed his hands on her shoulders, moving her a bit to the right, so the light of the full moon was behind them. The moon was spectacular, but not the main attraction this night. “Now, my beauty.”
Cadence opened her eyes to see they were standing on top of Fairy Hill. She blinked a few times to get her eyes adjusted to the bright moonlight. Back in Boston the moon never shone this bright. It was always washed out by the lights of the city. She twisted around to see an expectant smile on Donnall’s face. “The moon is behind us.”
“Trust me.” Placing two fingers against her cheek, he urged her to face forward again.
His fingers were hot and rough against her face. Once she had turned back around he removed his fingers, much to her disappointment and annoyance. What was it he wanted her to see? “Oh!” Cadence gasped, when the air began to light up all around them. Bright flashes of neon green light dipped and swirled all over the hill.
“Do you see them, lass?”
“Fairies!” she gasped breathlessly.
“’Tis how the hill was named.” Hesitating for a moment, he reached out for Cadence’s hips and pulled her back against him, leaving his hands on her slim waist.
“Donnall, this is incredible. They’re everywhere.” She turned to smile at him, catching the awed look in his eyes.
“Do you know the legend of Fairy Hill?”
“Only that the hill is named for the fireflies the locals fancied were fairies.”
Knowing the truth behind the legend made it seem less magical. Donnall smiled when the cool autumn wind sent Cadence’s silky hair brushing against his face. “In case you have failed to notice, you are a local now.”
Even with her back to him, Cadence could hear the amusement in his voice and knew if she turned around Donnall would be wearing a devilish smile made even more devastating by the light of the full moon. Fighting her attraction to the barbarian wasn’t getting any easier especially now that Islynn mentioned how good it was that she and Donnall had finally met each other. Cadence shivered knowing Islynn wasn’t telling her all she knew about her future and what role Donnall would play in it.
“Let me warm you, my beauty.” Donnall pulled her closer and held on tight. “The idea of fairies dancing under the light of the full moon is certainly more magical that the truth of knowing we’re standing in a swarm of bugs. Legend has it your true love would be revealed on a night when the fairies dance under the light of the full moon.”
Was Donnall looking for true love? More to the point, was she? Thoughts of Liam’s betrayal were pushed from her mind when Donnall brushed her mass of strawberry-blond hair over her right shoulder and leaned closer to her ear. Being this close to him certainly was warming her up. If he got much closer she might burst into flames. She could feel his beard prickling against her sensitive skin and couldn’t help shivering in his arms.
She struggled to pull herself together rather than turning and kissing Donnall’s lips off. “Well, the fairies are dancing in the moonlight, what’s next?” She shouldn’t be asking at all. She should be pushing out of his arms and running for the castle as fast as her legs would carry her.
“We need to dance around a fairy ring and kiss.”
Cadence snorted. “I knew kissing would be involved somewhere.” Donnall had set her down in front of a large fairy ring. The mushrooms seemed almost luminescent in the silvery light of the moon. While her mind cautioned her to run, her body had something else in mind. Warmth pooled in her belly and spiraled down to her damp core. “What happens after the kiss?”
“Well, it’s said if two people are fated to be the first kiss will lead to a second…”
“And a third?”
“Exactly, lass. What say you? Should we give it a go?”
No. They absolutely should not give it a go. Cadence turned in Donnall’s arms, one eyebrow raised skeptically. “Is this a real legend or one you just made up?”
“Only one way to find out,” Donnall teased. The moon was casting a silvery glow over Cadence making her ginger hair glow like fire. If he weren’t careful, he’d be the one getting burned. What was he doing out here with Cadence, telling her the legend of the fairies? He should be with the men back in the great hall, drinking ale and telling exaggerated stories about battle scars and women they fucked. Instead, he was here on Fairy Hill with Carter’s opinionated sister, who if he were honest with himself, was the most beautiful woman he had ever known.
“Show me the dance steps.”
Cadence startled him back to the present. Her smile gleamed in the moonlight while her eyes danced with daring. The excitement in her voice was like a lightning bolt to his cock. Moving slowly, so as not to arouse suspicion, he swiveled his pelvis away from Cadence. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to touch her, but more that he didn’t want to ruin the magic of the night with his rampant erection.
“Take my hand.” He offered his large, battle scarred hand. How small her dainty hand would look in his own if she took him up on his offer.
Cadence laced their fingers together and looked up at him expectantly.
Donnall tugged her a bit closer, the wind stirring up her hair. She smelled like lilac and something else unique to only her. “We dance the Irish jig around the fairy ring until we’re back where we started.”
“And then we kiss?”
Donnall’s cock twitched. Being this close to Cadence was a bad idea. The only dance that interested him now was one that was old as time and ended with Cadence screaming his name. He cleared his throat and started the steps. He was impressed when Cadence needed no instruction to follow along. As they moved around the circle, his heart hammered against his ribcage. “I should not be surprised an Irish lass, no matter when she was born, knows the steps to the jig.”
“I used to dance like this with my father when I was a girl.”
“You still are a girl.” Donnall winked and pulled Cadence to a stop when they reached the start line.
Cadence laughed but sobered quickly when Donnall pulled her into his arms.
“It is time to see if we are fated to be.” He shouldn’t be out here like this, alone and unchaperoned. At the very least he should have asked Carter’s permission to court his sister, but no one had seen hide nor hair of him all day. “Come closer,” Donnall whispered, cupping Cadence’s face in his left hand. She was such a tiny thing, standing over a foot shorter than his 6’2” frame, with the top of her head coming up to his chest.
With shaking hands, Cadence took half a step forward and slipped her hands over his hips.
“Do not be frightened, little mouse.” Donnall brushed his lips against hers. One small taste was all he intended to take. Her full lips caught and held his while her fingers trailed up over his lower back. One taste wasn’t enough. He needed more. He growled low in his throat and pulled her flush against his chest.
Cadence moaned and gripped Donnall tighter.
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When he kissed her a second and then a third time, Cadence was kissing him back with enthusiasm which wasn’t totally unexpected. What did surprise him was the way she kissed as if she’d had practice. A lot of practice. He pushed that thought aside. Nothing mattered more than the lass in his arms kissing him as if she had a dawn appointment with the hangman.
“Donnall,” Cadence whispered, pushing her hands against his broad chest. She had only meant to let him kiss her quick to satisfy the terms of the “legend,” but Donnall’s kiss had turned too hot too fast. Her body tingled with aftershocks of his kiss. Much more of this and she’d be inviting him back to her room in the castle. It wasn’t like her to think about sleeping with a man on the day they met. Liam had been her first lover and they’d been together for a year before he’d finally convinced her they were in it for the long haul.
“Yes, my beauty?” Donnall grinned against her lips before kissing her again.
One thing was for certain, Donnall didn’t kiss like Liam. He was strong and sure of himself, holding her as if he owned her and knowing exactly how much pressure to apply, while compared to Donnall, Liam kissed like a wet fish, sloppy and limp. As much as she wanted to kiss her impossible barbarian until the sun chased the moon from the sky and the fairies sought their beds, she knew they needed to stop. “I think we satisfied the legend.”
Donnall laughed. “Lass, we did that five kisses ago.” He waggled his eyebrows and reached for her again, hauling her up against his chest.
“Well, we don’t want to make the fairies jealous.” She stepped out of his arms and moved quickly toward the castle.
“You cannot run from fate or the fairies, little mouse.”
Oh yes she could. Problem was she didn’t want to.
6
Cadence was startled awake by an earthquake. Her bed shook and bounced and giggled. Did earthquakes giggle?
“Wake up! Wake up, sleepyhead,” a tiny voice sing-songed.
Cadence smiled in the low light of the room. She had a feeling she knew who was singing and about to bounce her out of bed and onto the floor. “Is that a fairy waking me up?”
“No, silly. It’s time to rise. The bread will not bake itself.”
“I didn’t know fairies bake bread,” Cadence giggled along with her tiny alarm clock. The bouncing stopped and a small body landed on top of her with a thump.
“Daddy said you’re my Auntie.”
“If I’m your Auntie that must mean you’re my Jilly!” She wrapped her arms around the small girl and rocked her back and forth.
“I am your Jilly.” She giggled and peppered Cadence’s face with kisses.
“Okay honey, Auntie Cadence is awake. You can stop bouncing around,” Carter said from just outside the door to Cadence’s room.
“Well, it’s nice to see you’re out of bed.” Cadence snorted.
“Only because Fionn needed his sleep.”
“Eww. Is my nephew with you?”
“He sure is. Get dressed and we’ll walk you down to the kitchens. Come on, honey. Let’s give your Aunt some privacy.”
“Ooookay,” Jilly whined dramatically and flounced out of the room.
Ten minutes later, after she gave herself a quick wash with ice cold water from the basin in her room, Cadence was introduced to her infant nephew. “Hello, little man,” she cooed to the sleeping baby. “Carter, he’s perfect.”
“For now. He’s going to need to eat soon and when he starts wailing, he’ll wake the entire castle.”
“It’s a shame there’s no formula and bottles so you and Fionn can take turns feeding him.” She brushed a finger down the baby’s cheek. His skin was warm and soft.
“It’s a small price to pay for getting to marry the man of my dreams.” Carter’s smile stretched from ear to ear.
“Marry?” This was 1433 not 2015. Although the people of Moone seemed not to mind that Carter and Fionn were a couple, she couldn’t help wonder how they would react when they started throwing the “M” word around.
Carter blushed. “Fionn asked me to handfast with him.”
“Congratulations!” Handfasting was rooted in Celtic tradition and before the same-sex marriage laws in the United States started to change, was a popular way for gay and lesbian couples to commit themselves to each other.
Cardinn stirred in Cadence’s arms, his tiny face scrunching up before he started to cry.
“He looks just like Fionn when he frowns,” Carter laughed. “Do you know how to get to the kitchens? I need to get him to his wet nurse.”
“I can show her, Daddy.” Jilly jumped up and down eager to help.
“Do you want to learn to bake bread with me?”
Jilly nodded her head, sending her mop of curls flying all over.
“Bye, little love. Be good for your Daddies.” Cadence pressed a kiss to Cardinn’s angry face and handed him back to Carter.
“You’re a lady, why do you want to bake bread?” Jilly linked her hands with Cadence.
“The castle is a great big family and everyone has to do their part to contribute.”
“Ah, there you are,” Aggie greeted brightly when Cadence walked into the kitchens with Jilly.”And you brought my little lass.”
“Aggie!” Jilly ran and hugged the older woman before running back to Cadence. “Aggie taked care of me before Fionn asked if he could be my Da.”
“You’re so lucky to have all these people who love you so much, honey. Are you ready to get to work?”
Jilly nodded and ran to pull her apron off its peg.
“I think there’s something wrong with Donnall,” Mallory whined.
They’d been making dough for about half an hour. Jilly was a quick study and Cadence found it was easy to get into the familiar rhythm of bread making. Cadence was showing Jilly how to knead the dough when the younger woman’s comment caught her attention.
“What do you mean? That boy’s righter than rain,” Aggie grinned.
“He wouldn’t invite me back to his room last night. He said he wasn’t in the mood. I think he’s ill.”
Cadence snorted and quickly coughed to hide her bark of laughter. Donnall was, in her mother’s words, like a randy stallion, always ready for a ride.
“Are you ill too, just like Donnall?” Jilly asked, an adorable dusting of flour on her pert nose.
“Why would I be sick like Donnall?” Was she being busted by a tiny Sherlock Holmes?
“He taked you for a walk to see the fairies, remember? Maybe you catched a chill together?”
Cadence felt her face start to flame. Her skin was so hot she’d swear she could bake the bread just by standing near it. Thankfully, depending on your point of view, Cadence was saved when the man in question strode into the kitchen.
“Good morning lasses.”
“Donnall!” Jilly screeched, scrambling off her stool. “Are you ill?”
“Of course not. Never been ill a day in my life,” he beamed and dropped Cadence a sexy wink.
“Good, cause Mallory though you were sick. I want a hug.” Jilly ran to the warrior and threw herself into his outstretched arms.
“Hello, my pretty.” He swung her into his arms and peppered her flour-spotted face with kisses. “Are you baking the bread or rolling around in the flour?”
“Auntie Cadence teached me how to kneel the dough,” Jilly said proudly.
“Did she now? I’m thinking she does her best work on her knees,” Mallory snipped.
Cadence shot Mallory a warning look. It didn’t matter what Donnall’s obviously scorned lover thought of her, but she wasn’t going to speak like that in front of Jilly.
“I’ve come for you, my beauty.” Donnall’s smile was almost as devastating in the early morning light as it had been under the moonlight.
“Used to be he came for me…” Mallory muttered loud enough for everyone to hear her.
Cadence heard the women titter from behind her. “What do you need?”
“Fionn wants you
to attend the Council of War.”
“That’s a laugh! Why would our lord want a woman to attend a council meeting?”
“Maybe because my talents extend beyond the kitchen?” Cadence dropped the stunned Mallory a wink before walking over to kiss Jilly. “I’ll see you at dinner, honey.”
“I love you, Auntie Cadence,” the little girl whispered.
“I love you too. Have lots of fun playing with your friends, okay?”
“You have lots of fun playing with your friends too.” Donnall set the giggling girl down and she ran out of the kitchens.
“Only her type of playing takes place on her back,” Mallory quipped.
“Actually, I prefer to ride my stallion to the finish line.” Cadence set her apron on the counter and walked out with Donnall.
“Do I even want to know what that was all about?” He had a feeling Mallory would be out for blood after his refusal to take her to his bed last night. He would never admit it to anyone, but after he got one taste of Cadence, he couldn’t stand the thought of touching another woman. He had a feeling last night would be the first of many he’d spend alone.
“Your lover was telling the other girls she thought you were sick because you wouldn’t have sex with her last night. Then Jilly piped in that she saw you take me to see the fairies. Then, putting two and two together, Mallory reasoned I was the cause of her having to sleep alone.”
Donnall’s mouth gaped open and closed a few times before Cadence reached up and shut his mouth for him.
“What? Surprised I figured out you two were lovers? Or more surprised I said it out loud?”
“You know and say far more than a young woman of breeding should.” He didn’t want to bring it up, but his little mouse was acting more like a ferocious wolf.
Cadence stopped short. “I hate to break it to you, but women of my time are more liberal about sex.”
“Is that why you kiss like a ha’penny harlot?” He knew it was a mistake the minute the words flew off his careless tongue.
“You have the nerve to call me a harlot when I was in love with the only man I had ever kissed before last night. Yet you’re the one taking random women to your bed.”