Luke clicked his tongue and tapped the flanks of his horse spurring the animal after Kiernan, then reined him back in with a chuckle when he noticed the beautiful blonde who had just come out onto the porch. With her hand blocking the sun out of her eyes, she watched the approaching riders, then let out a squeal. Luke laughed. He’d heard that sound before.
Abra.
Even in her eighties in his time, Luke had somehow known his great grandmother must have been beyond beautiful in her younger years. He’d been correct. A petite woman, slender except the rounded swell of an expectant belly, white-blonde hair, much lighter than Ami’s, hung down her back in silken curls. Soft blue eyes that held a hint of mischief belied the innocent pout of her full lips. Vixen was the word that came to mind and made Luke laugh, causing her to pull away from her husband and look up at him.
“Luke Tavish,” he told her as he slipped from his horse and held out his hand.
Her whole face alight, she smiled her welcome, clasping his hand in both of hers in more of a hug than a handshake. “I know, dear. Welcome home.” She laughed and squeezed his hand before turning back to her husband. “Come inside, the two of you. Tell me all about what has been happening.”
Kiernan swatted her behind playfully as she scampered in front of him. “As if you didn’t already know.” He glanced over his shoulder at Luke, motioning the still stunned man to follow them. “It’s the mind thing, remember?”
“He doesn’t know as much as he lets on, Lad. It’s the mind thing… and magic,” she said leaning past Kiernan’s arm to look at Luke. “Come on now.”
Luke shook his head. Talk about surreal to see his great grandparents, the people who had practically raised him, appearing younger than he was and very much in love. He looked at Abra’s pregnant belly and felt a jab of sadness knowing the baby she carried would never reach his full potential. That had to be hard on them. How many children had they watched come and go?
“You can’t dwell on what ifs, Luke. All you have is what is. Be happy with that.”
Wide eyed, he stared at Abra, nodding after a few seconds. Was she able to read his mind as well?
She laughed. “I can’t read your mind, love. But I still know what has to be going on inside your head.”
Luke laughed, thinking how in all those years she had changed so little. This Abra was the same woman who had nurtured and cared for him as a child. Smiling, he sat down in the chair she pointed to near Kiernan before she sent a servant to get them something to eat. Luke was glad. He had a feeling the afternoon was going to take an awful lot of energy that he suddenly didn’t have.
The changing part, Luke quickly found out, had been a terrifying piece of cake. It was the flying that had given him fits. He was sure he’d take to it naturally, though he supposed even baby birds probably crashed a few times before finding the right lift.
“Again,” Kiernan commanded after they’d changed back to human form for what felt like the hundredth time, when it had only been four or five. The shifting definitely took enough energy for it to feel like a thousand.
Luke sighed, his head dropping down, he stared at the ground for a few seconds before closing his eyes. He could feel his muscles rippling, bones changing even before he stretched out his arms, his head coming up and back. Exhilaration shot through him, his skin prickling as flesh became scales—shiny, colorful, glass-like layers stacked in an overlapping pattern. He wondered what Ami would think of him.
She’d been so enamored with the yellow and amber stones in the Room of Embers. Luke twisted his neck, looking down his long body. Not too unlike Kiernan, he was multicolored though purple, he would say, was predominant. His snout, from what he could tell, was a deep purple that faded into a dazzling blue, giving way to something just shy of turquois green before changing back to blue and fading into the beautiful purple.
When they were flying over a pond, he’d taken a moment to look at himself, noting the long, pointy horns that jutted out of his head. They’d reminded him of elephant tusks, only straighter. Maybe unicorn horns better explained them, though they were larger and sharper than he’d ever imagined a mythical creature might have.
A spiked ridge ran full length of his spine, from neck to tail. There were a couple smaller spikes in his wings, which he had to admit, were pretty spectacular. He kept thinking of that kids’ movie where the one character told the other, Impressive wing span, man. That might not have been it exactly, but it was close enough and exactly how he felt. Standing on the ground, he flexed them a bit, wondering how anything so seemingly thin could carry something as large as him.
He looked at Kiernan who had also changed and noticed the man was softly laughing at him. Luke squinted his elliptical eyes and tried to scrunch his nose, then he laughed as well.
“So, old man. When do I get to learn to breathe fire?”
Kiernan scoffed. “Old man! Huh. At least I’ve been born by now.” Both dragons laughed. Shaking his head, Kiernan added, “Sorry to tell you, lad, that’s something that didn’t get passed down. At least, I don’t have that power, and the Blends I’ve managed to come across in my lifetime didn’t have it either.”
“Others?” Luke picked up quickly on the slip. “I thought you said…”
Kiernan was already shaking his head. “I didn’t say there weren’t others. I said there weren’t any that I could find now. In all my years, I’ve come across a few. I know they’re out there, Luke, I just don’t know where.”
Luke thought for a moment, then nodded, even though he disagreed. If there were others out there now, then why was it so important for him to be brought back… not that he was complaining after the night he’d just spent with his Prihom. Luke quickly reined in that thought. Getting aroused as a human was hard enough to control, but a horny dragon… he had a feeling that was a whole other force to be reckoned with. He was thankful when Kiernan turned and, with two steps forward, took to the sky.
“Come on,” he yelled back at Luke. “One more flight before we head back. The sun will be starting its descent soon and I’ve heard there will be a certain young lady joining us for dinner again.” His great grandfather laughed as Luke growled and took to the skies again. At least concentrating on flight would keep him distracted for the next few minutes.
The ride back to Somerled was mostly quiet except when Kiernan asked him how he felt. Exhausted, Luke had told him. Kiernan laughed, telling him it would get easier. His shifting would soon be second nature. “Kind of like making love to the right girl,” he’d said with a wink. “You become one and it feels right. With your dragon, you’re one and the same. Once you learn to share the power, that too will feel right.”
Luke wasn’t sure he’d have used that analogy, though shifting from man to dragon had definitely been exhilarating, almost as much as making love to Ami, only in a completely different way. But, the being one… he liked that. One with his dragon, and one with the woman he loved.
The two men left their horses with the stable hands and made tracks up to the house just as the sun was beginning to set. At the door to the castle, Kiernan looked up and frowned. Luke swallowed hard. He’d seen it too. The dark shadows had returned and there was only one thing he could think of that they would be after.
“You can’t have her,” he mumbled under his breath as they went in. “She’s already mine.”
Chapter 13
The men were already seated around the dinner table when Lady Saundra and her lovely daughter arrived, their chatter stopping when they entered the dining room, arms linked. Ami turned her face from her mother to look directly into Luke’s eyes. She let her gaze drop quickly, but not soon enough that it didn’t have his heart racing and the blood rushing south at the speed of light.
Dinner, he was afraid, was going to be the death of him with her by his side. He’d already told himself he dared not touch her, because just the thought of her had the beast inside him roaring and he wasn’t talking about his dragon. He could feel his skin
prickling, much as it had at the manor before he’d shifted. It looked like they were both excited to see her.
When Ami approached and Kiernan stood to help her into her chair, Luke had never been so thankful in his life. Just like in Luke’s own time, the old guy seemed to have a sixth sense about him. Of course he did, Luke thought. By his time, Kiernan had lived almost a millennium. If wisdom came with age, it was no wonder his great grandfather was filled with smarts. No doubt being a dragon helped too. Luke chuckled, then dared a glance to his left side reveling in the sheepish smile returned to him. It was a gesture filled with promise.
Tonight, he thought. He knew she’d received his message and its intent when she shifted in her chair after sucking in a quiet breath. He smiled at the single word reply.
Tonight.
The meal couldn’t have taken longer had they had it catered, or worse yet, had to go out and kill the meat before cooking and serving it. The dishes set before him were tasty, but that was not what he was hungry for. He breathed a huge sigh of relief when, just before it was time for the women to leave, Gairlich informed them that port and cigars would be dispensed of because he had an important announcement and everyone was to gather in the drawing room at once.
“That includes you, daughter.”
Ami’s cheeks flamed when her father pointed a finger at her, though she managed to nod. Luke took the chance and squeezed her hand that was nestled on her leg beneath the table. She squeezed back, pulling her hand away as if the fire that had quickly spread between them might truly consume them. Clearing his throat, Luke pushed back his chair and rose to help her up, thankful again when Kiernan stepped in, offering her his arm as escort instead.
The announcement that a special license had been granted for Luke to marry Amileigh on Sunday was met with surprise by many and great excitement by the rest. Luke heard the whispered speculations that he chose to ignore even though they riled him and rankled his dragon. He looked at Ami who was shaking her head.
“Sunday?” She turned to Luke and then to Kiernan. “It will be too late,” Luke heard her whisper.
Gairlich moved forward, taking his daughter by the upper arms. “Now you object?” A look of complete confusion contorted his face as he leaned toward her. “You told me before I dispatched the messenger that if I believed it was for the best, then you would concede to this plan,” he whispered just loud enough for her to hear… though with their dragon hearing, both Luke and Kiernan had heard as well.
Amileigh shook her head. “No, Father. I don’t object. It’s just…” She looked past him, her eyes welling with tears that she quickly blinked away. “Sunday is so far away.”
Those gathered around laughed, many mumbling about the impatience of young love.
“Forgive me, my Lord, but is there no way to move it to Saturday? Perhaps that would be more to the Lady’s liking. And mine as well.” Luke winked at Amileigh, trying to act the part of the eager groom. The room again erupted into laughter.
“I’m sorry,” Kiernan volunteered when Gairlich simply frowned. “That was the earliest the Church would allow.”
Clapping her hands, Lady Saundra rushed forward. “A Sunday morning wedding in the West parlor will be perfect. I can see it now, with the light shining in…” She linked arms with Ami, steering her daughter toward the exit while chattering away.
At the top of the stairs, Lady Saundra paused, looking back at the guard that was dutifully following them up the steps. She rolled her eyes then continued on, kissing her daughter on the cheek in front of her door. When Ami made to open the door, her mother held tight to her hand.
The older woman breathed deeply, plastering a smile to her face, and exhaling slowly as she turned around. “Young man,” she said to the guard just before he settled into his chair. “I could use your assistance for a moment, please.”
The guard looked from mother to daughter, his eyes wide. How could he refuse a command from the Lady of the House? Saundra laughed, Ami cringing at the flirtatiousness of it.
“Oh, come now. I just need you to help me move my chaise closer to the fire. There’s a chill in the air tonight and I need to write some notes to be dispatched tomorrow morning concerning my daughter’s wedding. The door will be open so you’ll be able to hear. I can even help you keep an eye.”
After a few seconds of hesitation, the guard moved to follow, but only after Ami had opened her own door and moved as if she was going to go inside. As soon as the guard stepped into her mother’s room, Lady Saundra motioned her daughter to go. Stunned, Ami quietly closed her door, walking softly to the stair landing and then sprinting to the far end of the adjoining hall. She didn’t dare look back before turning the knob and slipping into Luke’s room.
Giggling like a little girl, she covered her mouth, even though the room was empty. She couldn’t believe what her mother had done. Walking over and picking up Luke’s rose petal peach colored shirt that was draped over the chair, she raised it to her face, inhaling deeply. She moaned softly, rubbing her cheek against the material before putting it back down. With trembling fingers, she untied the bow at her neck and began to unlace the bodice of her gown, letting it fall to the ground when she was done before reaching again for Luke’s shirt and letting it whisper over her as she slipped it onto her arms, unable to believe what she was about to do.
Hurry, Luke, she whispered in her mind, then she sat down in the chair, one foot on the stool in front of it, the other leg draped over the arm. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to quell the nerves fluttering around her insides. This is silly, she thought. He’s going to think I’m some immature child. She started to move and heard him growl.
“Nuh uh.” He continued in a deep, raspy voice. “Don’t move, beautiful. I want you right where you are, wearing nothing but my shirt.” She watched him saunter toward her, slowly working at the tie at the neck of the peasant shirt he wore. Pulling it over his head, he sunk to his knees before her, leaning in to where the material of his peach shirt pressed against the apex of her legs. “And me.”
“Oh Lord,” she whispered.
“Oh, Luke,” he chuckled, letting his head fall to where his face was nestled in the open fabric that revealed the outline of her breasts. He slipped his hands between them, pushed the material to the side, and placed his palms on her flattened belly. Ami couldn’t help but suck in a deep breath, especially when his fingers began to glide upward. Her nipples hardened and her breasts were fully alert, wanting what she knew he was about to give her.
“Yes,” she breathed as his palm scratched across one taut peak.
“This?” he asked, grazing her with the pad of his thumb.
“Yes,” she barely managed to get out.
Luke smiled and turned his head, letting his tongue trace up the side of her breast as he went.
“Oh,” she groaned when his tongue met his thumb, nearly crying out when he did it again and again.
Ami thought she might come up out of the chair when he reached down with his other hand and let his fingers slide through the wetness pooling at her center. Oh, how she wanted him!
“Luke,” she whispered, straining against his hand. She arched her back wishing he would take her in his mouth. With a chuckle, his mouth closed over her breast and he pulled away slowly sucking as he went, letting his tongue circle the silken end.
When his other thumb found its way to her swollen core, Ami cried out. He began to move it in rhythm to his tongue and slipped his two fingers inside of her. There was no doubting, Luke was an expert lover.
“Oh, Luke,” she moaned softly, as her body clamped around his fingers and her world shattered into mind numbing pieces.
Ever so slowly Luke released her, even before she had stopped twitching. He stood up, scooped her limp body into his arms, and took them both to his bed.
“How long do we have?” he asked, falling in beside her.
Ami stared up at him. How long? She had no idea. “As long as you’d like,” she w
hispered, running her fingers into his hair and pulling his head down to hers.
“How about forever,” he mumbled against her lips.
Yes, she thought. Forever wouldn’t be too much.
Chapter 14
Luke had just covered Amileigh’s body with his for probably the millionth time that night when a loud banging sounded on the door, followed by it being pushed wide open.
“Luke, we need to get… Oh, Lord. I, uh…”
Luke craned his neck to look toward the end of the bed to where he could see Kiernan standing in the opened doorway staring at the floor. “Kinda busy.” Luke chuckled when he looked back at Amileigh beneath him, her face covered with her hands. “Don’t think that’s gonna hide you, love,” he whispered, reaching down to deliver a playful nip to the back of one hand. She glared at him though her fingers and he rocked his hips causing her to suck in a deep breath.
“So, I, uh, so I see. Well,” Kiernan cleared his throat. “When… when you’re done, could you, uh, come next door and get me?”
The door closed with a thud before Luke answered.
“When we’re done,” Luke chuckled. “He may be waiting a while.” He feigned hurt and laughed when Amileigh slapped him. He leaned down and ran his nose against hers. “You’re adorable when you blush, did you know that?”
Ami rolled her eyes. “Get off me, Luke. I need to leave.” She tried to squirm away from him, but Luke just pressed her more firmly into the mattress.
“He said when we’re done.” Luke wiggled his hips again. “I don’t know about you, but I…” He paused his words while beginning to move inside her again. “Am not done.” He raised a brow. “Are you?”
On Wings of Time Page 13