by A. C. James
“D’you have a penny?” Her voice was coy. “Not that I’d necessarily tell you...”
“What about when we’re alone?” Sage’s voice was a low growl, and Maelíosa shivered to hear it. “Then what would you tell me?”
“I might tell you how to unlace my dress,” Maelíosa whispered back. Sage’s delicious, masculine scent washed over her, and she resisted the urge to close her eyes and inhale deeply. “In case you needed a little instruction.”
Sage flexed his hands, and Maelíosa gulped at the size of them. Just watching the firelight dance on the surface of his skin was enough to make her overly warm, and the ale only intensified the effect.
“I don’t think I’ll need any help,” Sage said gruffly. “I’ve been staring at you all night. And I’ve already undressed you a million times in my head.”
Maelíosa smirked, raising one of her eyebrows. “Oh, have you?”
“You’re the most stunning woman I’ve ever seen,” Sage said, leaning even closer, until their foreheads were touching. Thankfully, the roar of the crowd around them was still going strong. “I’ve been warned you’re a stubborn one.”
Maelíosa stiffened and tried to pull away, but Sage wouldn’t let her.
“I know we’ll have our disagreements, fighting for no reason, but I wouldn’t change any of it. Getting to know a woman like you, with mystery and depth, is a beautiful thing,” Sage said gruffly as he cupped her face. “You’re beautiful, and I want you...”
Maelíosa realised that Sage was about to kiss her, and furthermore, that she wanted him to. She licked her lips and gently tilted her head to the side, waiting for the delicious pressure of his mouth on hers. When they were mere centimetres apart, there was a loud booming cry from the other side of the bonfire. Blushing, Maelíosa jerked backwards and sat stiffly upright in her throne.
Fallon was standing up with his arm in the air. A hush fell over the crowd as everyone turned to face their king. Fallon was grinning triumphantly, and for a horrible moment Maelíosa thought he was about to tell some embarrassing story or anecdote about her as a wee lass.
“Everyone!” Fallon shouted.
Her da was grinning. Maelíosa’s stomach flipped, and she slunk down into her chair. Here we go. The story about the time I kicked Ryan’s arse for flipping up my dress. She’d camped by the lake and refused to wear clothes for a fortnight. Her mum had to send Fallon to fetch her. It’d been leather leggings from that day forward.
“Shite,” Maelíosa muttered under her breath.
Sage gave her a questioning look and reached over, giving her hand a squeeze.
Instead, Fallon stepped forward. He held his other hand out, and in a moment was joined by Cyn. Her face was glowing with happiness.
“Everyone,” Fallon repeated, the grin stretching his face widely. “My beautiful Queen, Cyn, is going to make me a father. She’s three months along.” There was a loud cheer and Fallon waited patiently. “We’re thrilled to welcome a new member to the clan!”
Maelíosa clapped her hands together so hard that they stung. When she glanced over to Sage, he was still staring at her, but clapping along with everyone else. All of the other púca and clan-members were cheering and shouting. They surrounded Cyn and Fallon in a veritable crush.
Sage gave her hand another squeeze and Maelíosa met his intense grey eyes. The firelight flickered on the hollows of his face, making him look stern, and she swallowed hard.
“Fancy a trip to the castle?” Maelíosa asked softly. “I think it might be about time to complete the ceremony.”
Chapter Seven
Sage’s heart thudded against his chest as he stared at his sexy new wife. Her eyebrows were raised in a playful smirk, and the light of the fire reflected on her body made her look otherworldly. He nodded his head.
“Come on,” Maelíosa said.
She stood up from her chair and darted through the crowd of people surrounding Fallon and Cyn. So, they were going to have a child. Good for them. Sage already liked the friendliness of the clan, a close-knit community where everyone had each other’s back. It wasn’t like anywhere else he’d ever been on Earth, and he’d traveled all over with the Navy.
He gently pushed his way through the crowd and for the first time in a long time he felt like he belonged. On the other side of the bonfire he caught sight of his daughter. She’d climbed a tree with Darcy, and the two of them were watching the celebration from a tall branch. She was going to love it here. They both belonged, and he couldn’t have hoped for a more amazing mate. Maelíosa was the most intriguing woman he’d ever met.
Away from the bonfire, the night air was frosty and chill. Maelíosa was waiting for him in front of the castle, with her back facing Sage. As soon as he walked over to her, she turned around. There was a hint of a smile on her pretty face.
“Ready?”
Sage nodded. “Oh, I’m ready.”
He bent at the knees and scooped Maelíosa up in his arms. The pain ricocheting through his abdomen was worth it for the high-pitched giggle that came in response. Maelíosa molded against him, curling her body close and wrapping an arm around his neck as Sage carried her up the stone staircase to their chamber.
Kicking the door open, Sage strode into the room and tossed Maelíosa onto the bed, where she bounced lightly. Before she had time to respond, he was beside her, kissing her. Maelíosa’s hands rubbed over his close-cropped dark hair, down the back of his neck and his muscular shoulder blades. It felt so good to be touched by a woman again, especially one as breathtaking as Maelíosa. Sage shuddered, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her even closer. She let out a small cry of surprise as he pressed his lips to hers, slipping his tongue into her mouth and tasting every secret corner of it.
The arousal coursing through Sage’s body was intense, and he growled with lust as he tangled his fingers into her hair and tugged gently. She moaned and squirmed against his body, pressing her breasts to his tunic. They were soft and warm, and his cock twitched in his breeches as he flipped Maelíosa onto her back, pinning her to the soft mattress.
Maelíosa had a coy look on her face as Sage pulled away. He lowered his face to her chin, nudging her head up so he could access her neck. She let out a shuddering sigh as he planted a trail of kisses down its slope. Sage reveled in the clean, salty taste of her skin. He nipped along the white of her throat with his teeth, letting his hands roam all over her body as he explored it for the first time.
“Damn this dress,” Sage muttered, ripping it neatly down the front.
Maelíosa let out a cry of pleasure as he trailed his hands down her bare chest in the wake of the dress. She was beautiful—flawless tan skin all over, the slight swell of her breasts with perfect dark nipples, a neat waist—and Sage could barely keep his mouth off her. He crawled down between her legs, pulling the fabric of the dress away from Maelíosa’s skin. He didn’t know how, but she consumed him—in his heart, in his head, and in his bed. He’d never wanted to know a woman the way he did her. He needed to explore every intimate detail of her, both body and soul.
“I thought about you the entire time we were sitting at the bonfire,” Sage said. “I was thinking about this...”
Sage ran his hands down her body, cupping her breasts and gently pinching her nipples between his thumb and forefinger. Her moan sent a shiver of lust through his body. His cock twitched, throbbing with desire as he nudged the ripped fabric away from her waist.
Her eyes grew dark and her breathing heavy. With his head almost in her lap, Sage could smell her musky, private scent. He inhaled, breathing her in until he felt dizzy. Beneath his hands, Maelíosa was writhing and moaning. She spread her legs under him and bucked her hips. As Sage crawled back up her body and pressed his lips to hers, Maelíosa moaned softly into his mouth. He groaned—his erection was so hard that it ached—and reached down to pull his own tunic off.
Sage wasn’t even thinking about his scars as he tossed his tunic to the floor. Thankf
ully, he noticed, Maelíosa wasn’t either. Her eyes were closed and she had her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him down on top of her. When their chests touched, Sage gritted his teeth together. He needed her, right now. If he didn’t possess her, take her, he was going to die. Maelíosa pressed her body against his and slid her hands down his back. The sensation was incredible, and Sage groaned as her soft hands slipped under the waistband of his breeches.
Unwilling to wait for her to pull them off, Sage bent back on his knees and unfastened the breeches as quickly as he could, yanking them down his hips and tossing them to the floor. He got on all fours, crawling between her legs and kissing the inside of her thigh. Underneath the fancy dress, she’d been naked. He eyed the dark thatch of curls between her legs with lust.
MAELÍOSA LAY ON HER back, arms spread above her head. Sage was nestled between her legs, breathing on her most intimate place. She moaned softly as his nose and mouth tickled the inside of her thigh. Sage’s arms snaked under her legs and gripped her ass, holding her legs spread wide. She wriggled nervously and found that she could barely move—his grip was too firm. Her mare pranced around, nickering as though she were in heat.
When Sage pressed his lips to the curls between her legs, Maelíosa let out a throaty moan. She arched her back, pressing her head into the pillows, and bit her lip as his tongue gently caressed her labia. His fingers moved across her body to spread her apart, and Maelíosa’s cheeks reddened with the knowledge that she was completely exposed. An uncontrollable wave of pleasure passed over her as Sage licked and sucked.
Maelíosa shuddered as Sage slipped a finger inside of her and began to wiggle it around. She threw her head back and whimpered. She was soaking wet, and the sensation of his finger inside of her was incredible.
She’d never imagined that mating would be like this. It was beyond her wildest expectations. Biting her lip, she suppressed another moan as Sage sucked on her clit. Her lower belly clenched and tensed with pleasure. She tried to squirm away from him, from the intensity of the sensation, but it kept coming, and before she knew it her own sweet orgasm took her. Maelíosa shuddered and cried out. Her sweaty body writhed on the sheets, and she dug her fingernails into his shoulders, letting out a wild moan.
“I love how your tongue feels down there,” she said once she’d managed to catch her breath.
Sage propped himself up on his elbows and stared right into her eyes. The connection between them was shockingly intense—the kind of thing Maelíosa had never believed in for herself.
“You are so beautiful to me.” He pushed the hair away from her eyes. “And you taste delicious.”
Her mare whinnied her approval, but for the first time in her life Maelíosa was lost for words. With her body still shaking from the orgasm, she wiped the sweat from her damp brow and reached down to pull his body closer. His cock was hard, poking her in the belly, and she shuddered again at the thought of him inside of her.
Maelíosa’s mare pranced and whinnied once more, tossing her mane high into the air and rearing onto her back legs. She pawed at the air with her front hooves, urging Maelíosa to make Sage her mate. Maelíosa pulled his face down and kissed him just to shut the desperate, needy beast up. Her own taste on his lips was sexier than she’d imagined.
Sage tangled his hands in hers and gently pushed her back, wedging his body between her thighs. He slid his hands down her body, over her ripe breasts and flat belly, then down to her hips, where he gripped her tightly.
Maelíosa stared into his eyes. They were intense and sincere, and she suddenly knew that, more than anything else in the world, she wanted him inside of her. She needed to make him hers just as much as the whinnying beast inside of her.
Without speaking, Sage dug his fingers into Maelíosa’s hips. It was almost painful, but the intensity was good. He plunged inside of her with a single, purposeful stroke. Maelíosa moaned softly. Sage was buried in her to the hilt, and for a moment they stayed locked together. Then Sage began to thrust and rock his hips on top of her. She wrapped her muscular legs around his waist and ground her hips into him, rubbing her clit against his muscular body. Sweat began to bead on his forehead as they rocked together in a frenzied rhythm. A wave of pleasure was building inside of her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down into a passionate kiss. Maelíosa didn’t think she’d ever tire of kissing him. As their lips and tongues glided together, Sage drove into Maelíosa even harder than before. A pleasurable ache spread outwards from her hips. She moaned into his mouth, arching her back. His muscular chest pressed against hers, and they moved slickly together, coated with each other’s sweat.
Sage groaned. He took his hand off her hips and grabbed a handful of the sheet, wadding it up in his fingers. As they moved together, she could feel him trembling and shaking. Then he slammed his cock inside of her. Her own desire began to slowly build, until she teetered on the brink of orgasm. Maelíosa tightened the grip of her legs around his waist and threw her damp head back into the pillows. The sensation of his mouth and teeth nipping at her neck were enough to send her over the edge, and she cried out as a fierce orgasm erupted.
When she shattered, it spurred him on even more, and she could tell from his grunt that he was very close to his own release. He steadied his hands on her shoulders and shoved his hips against her body, sliding deep with every thrust. His face was damp and red. Maelíosa watched with pleasure. She wanted to memorise that moment. He buried himself inside of her, his body shaking and twitching with the effort of it all, and came.
There was no sound in the room except for that of their laboured, twin breaths. Then Maelíosa began to hear snatches of cheering and cries of glee from outside. She gently disentangled her limbs from Sage and lay down on her side, glancing out the window in her chamber. Very faintly, Maelíosa could see the orange flames of the bonfire licking up into the sky.
Even without looking directly at him, Maelíosa could tell that Sage was smiling. She flopped onto her back and sighed happily, pulling the sheet up to her hips.
“You’re incredible.” His voice was hoarse, and he wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. Sage shook his head again and grinned. “I never thought it would be like that.”
Maelíosa smiled slowly. “I never thought that, either. I bet you’re knackered. What a day we’ve had.”
Sage pulled the sheet up to his waist and lay back on the pillows. He was so large that he took up most of the bed, but Maelíosa didn’t mind. It was odd to think about—she’d never contemplated sharing her bed with anyone. In fact, most nights Maelíosa sprawled out in the middle of the bed, arms and legs akimbo. But to be honest, she didn’t hate the idea of sharing with Sage. Especially not if there was more of that steamy lovemaking.
Maelíosa yawned. “I’m wrecked. Aren’t you tired?” She was back on her side, staring out the window. “Look at those eejits! What a craic they’re still having out there.” She yawned again, covering it with her hand. “Sage?”
When she turned around, he was asleep. She grinned—he looked almost angelic. He was snoring slightly. Maelíosa pulled the duvet up from the end of the bed and over his chest. She noticed several scars on his abdomen: they were pink, and recent-looking. She ran her fingers over them softly, wondering how he’d got them. From the Navy? Or from something else, like the cancer treatments?
Frowning, Maelíosa snuggled under the blankets and turned out the light. For a moment, she was wildly awake and she doubted that she’d be able to sleep at all. Her mare was curled up, happily sated. Though Maelíosa’s mind raced, her limbs were tired, and the bed felt better than she could have ever dreamed. Finally, her lids began to grow heavier. Good night, Sage. Maelíosa rolled onto her side. The light snores coming from his side of the bed were enough to relax her into one of the deepest nights of sleep she’d ever had.
MAELÍOSA WOKE UP MUCH later than normal the next morning. The sun was shining brightly into her chamber, making the air look thick
with dust. She sat up in bed and stretched. Sage was slumbering beside her. He’d barely moved in the middle of the night, except for once—when she’d woken up, his arm had been possessively wrapped around her waist. She smiled at the memory, wondering if he was even aware that he’d done such a thing. Having a mate, especially one as intense as Sage, was going to be interesting. Maelíosa wondered with a smirk if he’d be up for another shag.
She slipped her hand under the sheet and stroked the hard muscle of his chest, astounded that a mere human could have a body like Sage. But he’s no mere human. He was a NAVY Seal. They’re tough bastards, aren’t they? At least that’s what she’d been told.
Maelíosa debated waking him for a moment. There was a stirring in her loins that almost seemed to demand it—once she’d happened upon the idea of a morning quickie, it was hard to put out of mind. A blush came over her cheeks as she thought of what he’d feel like, first thing in the morning.
She stared at Sage sleeping for another second, and then shook her head, quietly climbing out of bed. As she was pulling on her usual leather leggings and roughly woven tunic, Maelíosa breathed a small sigh of relief. The familiarity was exactly what she needed this morning. The mating ceremony is over, and the next time I wear a dress it’ll be for a funeral.
She glanced at the sorry-looking ripped gown on the floor. It may have been her mum’s, but she wasn’t sore at Sage for ruining it, since she’d never been attached to feminine attire. With a slight smirk, she picked it up, brushed the dust off, and folded it up on top of the armoire. She’d have someone fix it and clean it for storage anyway; Darcy might want to wear it someday.
She had a hard time bringing herself to leave her sleeping mate. Her mare pranced and whinnied around her. Maelíosa pulled her hair into a loose ponytail. I’ll go for a nice run. Despite getting over ten hours of sleep, she still felt knackered. That’ll clear my head. It always does.