by Lynn Crain
Stamping his feet to remove the snow, Cuinn nodded. “Alright. I understand my sister is a busy person. Where is she off to today, Alma?”
Alma arched an eyebrow in his direction. “You know unless your sister gives me permission to disclose her where abouts I can’t tell you. Didn’t I tell you so last time you were here?”
Lacey looked at him surprised. “You’ve been here since Aingeal and Fearghus got married?”
“I have. Who do you think made sure all their wedding gifts for their home here arrived safely?”
“What happened to the rest of the presents? I mean, when they were at the North Pole, they stayed at your parents’ house so there didn’t seem much storage space there.”
“They’re having a home built there just like all of us have. Santa has storage areas for us when we need them. In case you didn’t realize it some of the homes there are smaller than the others. Once we have children, we can build a new house or try and fit into the one we have.”
“Oh. I’ve never been in any other homes except mine and your parents. I didn’t realize there were different places.”
“Sounds like you’ve been lax in giving your girl the full tour.” Alma looked at him rather smugly. “Well, I’m sure the council will ask you all sorts of questions and then you’ll have to tell them everything anyway.”
“What? I don’t understand.” She looked from one to the other, confused.
He let out a big sigh. “Did you have to say anything, Alma? I hadn’t told her yet.”
“I know. Just like your bothers you are. You best be giving her the details now. But first, let me get you to your room. Grab your bags.”
She took her overnight bag and followed the woman up the staircase. She could tell this was a traditional Victorian home. “How old is the house?”
“It was built in the mid-1800s by the elven council however the land has been the charge of the elves for generations. The council knew we would be needing a house outside the loinnir and they decided then to build it so the landed gentry around the ancient forest wouldn’t become suspicious if the land were never developed.”
“I can see where that’s important. How many visitors do you get here a year?”
“Depends upon the year. Some it’s only elven folk and they come in all the time. If they have problems and the village inn is full, they end up here. If it’s one of the year’s we open up for tourists, we usually get a limited amount. Though most of the people who come here must be recommended by someone in the elven community.”
“Cuinn did mention about the weddings and such. How big is the house?”
“The house has twelve bedrooms all ensuite. There’s a game room, a ballroom, offices and facilities for a small conference.”
“Wow, that is big. No wonder people come here for events. With the grounds outside, this place has enough room to house a small army.” Lacey looked around appreciatively. This was a place she could get used to visiting. “I love the high ceilings and all the wood. I noticed some of the paintings downstairs before we came up. Are those Victorian as well?”
Alma gave Cuinn a look of approval. “I think I’m going to like this woman, Cuinn.”
“Everyone says the same thing.”
Alma smiled and came to a stop in front of a room on the third floor. “Some of them are from the same time as the house but others come from before, way before. There are all sorts of priceless pieces in this house. Make Cuinn show them to you and give you the full tour. I think you’ll find it incredible. Well, here we are. I hope you like it.”
Lacey gasped when the door opened. The rich mahogany wood floor was covered in rugs in a burgundy color accented with a seafoam green. A large four post bed was against the far wall. On the top of each post looked to be a pineapple type carving. The armoire and dressing table all had the same carvings on them. Even the fireplace on the wall closest to her seemed to have similar features.
“Wow, I’d heard of this style before but I never expected to see it. My grandparents told me once they had made a bid on a bed like this.” She turned back to Alma. “Thank you. I can tell this is a very special room.”
Alma smiled. “I know I like you now as this is my personal favorite. Have a good rest.”
“Thanks.” She returned the smile, thankful her first meeting with another elf went very well.
“You, too, Cuinn. I expect you two down to dinner. It will be served at six as usual.”
Chapter 11
The door had barely closed when Cuinn pinned her up against the wall, making her all flushed with desire. Running his hands over her, he whispered, “That means we have almost ten hours before we have to see anyone else. Can you guess what I want to do in that bed you seem to love so much?”
Lacey swallowed hard. This man could arouse her like no other and the fire raced through her body. Pulling his shirt from his pants, she ran her hands up his chest to tweak his nipples. Reveling in his rapid intake of breath, she pulled him closer. “I can guess. But this time I want to be on top,” she murmured and stood on tiptoes to kiss his neck.
He pulled her hands from his body and held them over her head so he could nuzzle her neck, scorching a path of heated kisses down to the top of her breasts. “I want you out of these clothes now. If you don’t remove them, I swear I’ll rip them from your body.”
She gave a deep chuckle. “Please don’t. I have limited clothing on this trip. I hoped we’d have some time for shopping since Scotland is the perfect place for winter clothes.”
“Shopping later, sex now.” He swung her up into his arms, walked to the bed, dropped her on it unceremoniously and unfastened the buttons of his clothing.
She licked her lips in anticipation. This man knew all the places to touch her to make her feel loved and cherished and oh so special. Again, eagerness coiled like a snake deep within her and suddenly, she couldn’t get her clothes off fast enough. He was someone she had waited her whole life for and now she would never let him go. She watched as he finished getting his pants off, his cock hard with desire then glanced at his face. “You know I’m falling hard for you, don’t you?”
“Good,” he growled and pulled her to him, running his hands along the length of her body. “I’m already there.”
The admission warmed her as she returned touch for touch, her fingers lightly brushing his body, feeling the shiver she gave him. Pushing her hand lower, she grabbed his cock and slid along the length of its shaft, pulling his liquid along with her fingers. She gripped him firmly as he throbbed in her hand, kissed the bright purple head, and then engulfed it completely. Suckling him, she teased his body with her worship and adoration. Reaching around him, she gripped his buttocks and pulled him even further in her mouth.
Her reward came to her in the form of a groan and his body twitched as if in a great wind. Satisfied, she continued to flick her tongue over his sensitive dick.
Gently, he caressed her head. “Please, I would like to return the favor. Let’s both get on the bed.”
Positioning themselves so they could each partake of the other’s body, she gasped when he spread her legs and labia to expose herself to him. His fingers probed her leisurely, pushing and prodding in her slick folds. Arching her hips, Lacey strained even closer to him as he continued to rotate his hand on her most sensitive of areas. Slowly, she brought herself back to the moment and to his body, leaning in to rim his dick with her tongue. Soon both of them were writhing as wave after wave of sensation rained down.
“Please Cuinn, I need…” Lacey could barely catch her breath as he buried his fingers in her silken sheath.
“I want to be inside you, muileach, now,” he whispered, his breath caressing her with its sensual warmth.
He didn’t even wait for her answer but turned and entered her in one fluid motion. She grunted as he slammed into her heated moistness. She bucked and pushed up into him, pressing him for more over and over. It wasn’t long until the colors were swirling around them, envelop
ing them in their fierce dance of love.
“You complete me in a way I never thought possible,” he whispered as he pushed himself away from her. Curling one hand around her breast, he squeezed it tenderly, rasping his fingers over the tender flesh. “I want all of you, everything you have to give.”
All she could do was nod as he pounded her. Reaching between them, he found her hard nub and pressed his thumb against it. With a strangled sob, she surged against him, crying out her need. She knew soon she would be dumped over the edge of the abyss into a world of nothing but sensation and emotion.
“Yes! Yes!” she cried as she moved ever closer to fulfillment.
Pulling out of her, Cuinn went down on her quickly, sucking her clit forcefully as his fingers moved in and out of her pulsing cunt. Pulling moisture from her body, he rubbed it gently into her tight rosette until it relaxed beneath the insistent pressure, then he pushed one finger into her and rubbed, making the feeling come in wave after rushing wave. Plucking her clit at the same time he rammed his finger into her ass, he teased her body until she felt she could take no more. And still he pushed.
“Cuinn, please, I’m coming.…”
Again, moving quickly, his cock pushed into her harder and harder until the colors coalesced becoming one solid hue. Lifting her legs high, he searched for and found her inner spot, driving into her and finally pushing her into the abyss as molten fire burned its way into her very soul. Above her, Cuinn’s breathing was getting harsh and his skin slick with sweat as he struggled to follow her. Then his body jerked, the muscles in his back spasmed and he cried out as his hot jism filled her.
“I love you,” she whispered and almost immediately fell into a dreamless sleep.
* * * *
Aingeal looked at them from across the table and rubbed her face. This might be harder than she thought it would be. They had been with the oldest council member for almost two hours and Conall was no nearer to finding out why the spell had gone wrong than they when they started.
“Tell me again what happened? I think we’re missing something.” Her frustration was evident in her face and posture.
“I would say so, young lady. Do you have any idea what?” Conall looked directly at Aingeal and then back to Cuinn and Lacey as if they could impart some more information.
Lacey huffed, apparently aggravated with the whole process.
“I’m sorry but there has to be something else. Something so small you wouldn’t think it was even a component of this whole process.”
“Aing, why would I not tell you everything? I don’t know what happened.” Cuinn gave an exasperated sigh.
She rubbed her hands together again. “You’re sure you didn’t have any special inflection of your voice? You didn’t hold her any other way?”
Lacey sighed heavily. “Isn’t there some way you can restore my memory to see if there’s something he’s missing?”
Aingeal shook her head. “Not really. This spell is meant to stay in place so the person doesn’t remember. But the reason we’re finding it so disconcerting is the fact it made you feel a void in your being. The real problem is that is exactly what we can’t do or at least we’re not supposed to have the influence. Conall, could we just let this alone and let her have a gap in her memory?”
He shook his head slowly. “I really don’t know. This is the first time we’ve ever had this happen that I can remember, especially one who has returned to the elven realm by their own choice.”
“No.”
They all turned to see Fearghus standing at the door. “I’ve talked to Merlin and we looked into some of the ancient texts. This has happened at least three times in the elves recorded history. Each time, the pair were meant to be together and nothing kept them apart. No memory spell, no distance apart. Nothing.”
“Come and tell us what you’ve found.” Aingeal patted the couch next to her, glad she had talked the council into getting some comfortable chairs in this room. Smiling up at her husband, she felt her heart do a flip-flop. She would never get used to the fact he was hers now and for always. Fearghus sat and in his hands held one of the most ancient books in the library. “Has there been any recent couples?”
“No. The last one noted happened about a hundred years or so ago.”
“Ah.”
“Ah? What does ah mean?” Lacey questioned.
“Well, it means we can’t ask the human involved what their point of view was. Elves have a longer lifespan so we might be able to find out something from their friends. Who was it?” Aingeal turned to her husband.
“We can’t do that. The couple died together in a plane crash in the early 1940s. I might be able to track down their children though. They might have more information. There might be a journal. You want me to do some more checking?”
Aingeal sighed heavily. “Might as well. We don’t seem to have much else. My biggest concern is whether this will have any long term permanent effect on Lacey. I tend to think it won’t since they are back together, but I’d rather be sure before I let it go. There is the fact she has started overriding the spell herself.”
“Aye, I would agree. They are together now as they should be, as they were meant to be. Why worry about any long tern effects?” Conall asked, staring at Aingeal.
“Well, there’s a bigger problem here as I see it.”
“And that is?” Cuinn questioned, tension obvious in his voice.
Turning to her brother, Aingeal tried to give him as much sympathy as she could. “The problem is if Lacey can override one of our spells because she’s in love with you, how many other humans have the same ability?”
Conall nodded. “That would bring danger to every elf in the world. We have kept ourselves hidden for a reason. If we suddenly can’t we’re in trouble.”
“I’m sorry to cause this. I wouldn’t have known at all if I hadn’t come into contact with you all again, would I?”
“No, Lacey, you probably wouldn’t. You would have lived your life with a piece missing. I don’t know how you would have fared.”
She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. “I guess it’s a good thing your mother intervened.”
Aingeal smiled. “My mother is good for doing what she thinks is best for her children. It’s one of her most admirable traits.”
“Most of the time, Aing. And you know what I mean.”
Aingeal laughed. “Okay, there are some items she should leave alone but most of the time, she has our best interests at heart. I wonder what made her know there was a problem.”
“She said it was because she could tell I was depressed.”
“I can see you aren’t now.” Aingeal laughed. “But it still doesn’t solve the problem. We have got to figure out just why Lacey felt the void and why she can override the spell. How easy was it for you to accept who we are and where you ended up for your job?”
Lacey shook her head. “I’m not sure it was. I know the moment Santa introduced himself, I understood immediately what Cuinn and the rest of you are. That first morning was a little hard. I wasn’t comprehending what was happening, but once we got to the compound and Santa showed up, it was as if all the puzzle pieces fit together. Does that make sense?”
“It does in some odd way. It seems as if just one piece was taken away, but once you had all the surrounding pieces, it didn’t matter the piece was missing. It’s like when one reads. The human mind doesn’t see all the letters, but fills in the gaps with known scenarios.”
“I’ve heard that as well. The human mind is amazing that way.” Cuinn nodded in agreement.
Fearghus looked at Lacey then Cuinn without emotion. “Have you tried a mind probe on either of them?”
“We’re only going there as a last resort. You know how stressful it can be on a human.” Aingeal gave him a frustrated look.
“Mind probe? Stressful or not, if it’s something which could help, maybe we should do it.” Lacey stated emphatically. “Because if I’m hearing you correctly, my mental
state isn’t the only thing in jeopardy but the whole elven realm.”
“Young lady, you have a quick mind and noble thoughts. Thank you for thinking about us.” Conall smiled knowingly with a pleased look on his face.
“You’re welcome.” She turned to Cuinn and smiled. “The Locklins have welcomed me warmly, and we should protect each other. I need to do my share if I can.”
Aingeal nodded. “I totally understand. I think if we do the mind probe, Fearghus will probably be the one to do it.”
The door to the chamber opened and a member of the office staff came in to whisper something to Aingeal who turned to look at him with disbelief. “You’re sure?” When the man nodded, she felt the emotions race across her face. “We need to break up this meeting for now. We can discuss the next step at a later time. Right now, we have a family crisis to discuss.”
“What’s going on, àilleagan?”
“Apparently, Giselle has been attacked in Boston and she’s asking for Lacey. There weren’t many details. She wants you there as soon as possible.”
Cuinn stood up. “I guess we should pack and be on our way.”
Aingeal grabbed his arm. “Cuinn, you’ll be staying here for a little while longer as there is another matter to discuss. It may have something to do with this attack. I’m not sure but we need to get you in the loop. Lacey can go and take care of Giselle.”
“I can. You don’t have any other information on her condition?”
Aingeal shook her head. “Other than she was attacked, nothing. She’s apparently at the hospital. Uncle Marion and Aunt Ruth are on a European trip because she refused to tell them she was in the hospital. Mom says she has been asking for Lacey since they brought her in.”
Lacey sighed and stood as well. “I’ll go get my things. How am I going to get there?”
“I’ll make the arrangements for you, lass. Just go gather your belongings.” Fearghus gave her a warm glance before reaching out to his wife.
“Thanks.” She gave Cuinn a quick kiss. “I’ll miss you.”