Her Druid Desire (The Amber Druid Series)

by Trish F Leger

  Drake’s eyes closed at that and Nadia sensed the war he had raging inside of him. He wanted her with him forever, and she wanted that also, but the unknown in front of them was killing him. She could tell from the way he clutched her hand and kept quiet.

  Ramsey and Brenan moved, each taking the same side of the bed that was unoccupied while Kale stayed at the foot. They all stood, except Drake, silent, ancient beings-sentinels guarding her from what Drake was about to introduce her to.

  “Drake, I assume you are ready to do your part?” Kale questioned.

  Nadia watched Drake open his eyes and spear her with heat. “I am,” he replied. The base tenor of his voice having changed to deep Druid mode, Nadia shivered, but bravely squeezed his hand.

  “You may, at any moment, ask her the question and proceed.”

  Golden eyes held hers. “I love you, angel.”

  Not the words she was expecting, and sure enough the sting of tears threatened. “I love you too,” she replied.

  She watched as his lips began moving, and words she couldn’t understand whispered into the air above her. There was no change in anything, and within about a minute he was finished. He had already told her that spells wards and other casting abilities were adopted when a person transformed. The spells came from whichever ancient Druid had genetically sent certain abilities into his bloodline. Every Druid had a different set of spells and they were ingrained, not learned. Since she was being ‘gifted’ over and not changing on her own, she would adopt the same abilities and spells that Drake had. It would be as if he were sharing his soul with her on some level.

  When she felt his gentle fingers on the neckline of her shirt, Nadia tensed for a second then relaxed. He had told her that the bite was usually on the neck, since it was close to the heart. That meant the power could be injected into the body as close to that muscle as possible. He had also told her that within seconds after being bitten the inductee usually passed out as their body started the transformation.

  “Nadia, do you accept this gift I’m about to bestow on you? Do you accept all of its grievances and abilities? Do you accept your new life?” His voice was deep, but sure, and as Nadia stared into his gorgeous eyes, she let go and gave into her love for him.

  “I do.”

  His fingers pulled the material away a final time. Nadia took a deep breath, and watched as Drake’s mouth opened. Fangs gleamed from within as he lowered his mouth to her neck. Instantly a searing pain exploded on the side of her neck, and she gasped, but immediately after her hands came up to burrow in his hair, she felt as if she were floating. Then there was nothing as she passed out into blackness.

  ***

  Two days had passed.

  There had been blood from her nose, a small amount that Kale had staved off, but other than that there had been hardly anything else but a bit of thrashing and a killer fever.

  Drake sat by Nadia’s bedside in the semi-darkness with only one little lamp giving off light. The guys were still there, in the bowels of the monstrous house doing whatever they wanted with Drake’s highly faceted electronics. Every now and again he would hear them exclaim over some sport they were watching. But he knew that if he needed anything they would be there in seconds. The loyalty they all felt for each other was as strong as blood. Even though only Ramsey and Brenan were cousins, to every single one of them they felt as close as family.

  The bad phase had passed. And even though Kale told him that, and he knew that himself, it was still hard to sit beside Nadia while she lay unmoving and silent. Power that hadn’t yet settled was coursing through her blood. The power he had gifted to her was singing through her veins, taking inventory of its new owner. He could feel it pulsing to him on thick waves, battling against his own power. It was like this with every Amber Druid, but after years of ignoring it, Drake and the others had become adept at not worrying with it. It was similar to a calling card of sorts. The Druid’s ways of letting each one know that another comparable to them was coming close.

  The change so far had been blissfully quiet. Drake didn’t know whether that was a good thing or not. She had had the requisite heightened fever color on her body, and she was hot, eerily so. That was all normal. The body would bloom red, as fever raged, and the transformation began. This was usually the time where they would be able to tell if her soul was strong enough to handle the change. So far so good. With her aura pounding around her body like her blood was pounding inside her skin, Drake kept a close eye out for the violently colored red that would converge over her body. The telltale color was the mark that showed pain at its highest. And that was the reason the guys were here. They could all help with the pain, and the better she handled the pain, the easier she came out of this okay.

  So Drake sat and watched and prayed like he hadn’t prayed before.

  With her long black hair a mess around her small body, she resembled a teenager. Drake remembered every moment they’d shared, not only the most recent, but the ones when he had first met her. They played like photo snapshots in his mind. For what seemed like hours he sat and reminisced about her and her family and then thought about the present and the future.

  When all this was over and done, it seemed only perfect that he ask her to marry him.

  Shuffling feet got his attention from across the hall; seconds later, Ramsey peeked in. “How is she?” he questioned. Drake motioned him into the room. The large Scotsman entered quietly, and then knelt on the opposite side of the bed.

  “There has been no change, hardly any movement as of yet either,” Drake told him with a deep sigh.

  Flashing green eyes took in Nadia’s still form. “That can be good. She seems like she is a fighter.”

  Drake thought of all the years she had quietly loved him. He also thought of everything in her life she had gone through, and she was only twenty-five. “Oh yeah, she’s a fighter alright.”

  “I took it as so.” Quiet reigned for a few moments until Ramsey spoke again. “It is clear to see the feelings you two share. It’s almost humbling to be in your presence.”

  Drake let a smile curve his lips. “Don’t even think to steal her away from me, Scotsman. You need to find your own woman to hound. Leave mine alone.”

  A deep chuckle sounded from Ramsey. “I would never be able to take this one.” Green eyes found his and Drake felt a brotherly instinct kick-start inside of him for this man and the others in his vicinity. “She is already yours, brother. You deserve to be happy.”

  Drake inclined his head. “You do too, so take my advice and find you your own woman. That should be easy for the most eligible bachelor in New York.” He almost missed the heartbreaking look in Ram’s eyes, as it was, the flash only lasted a second.

  An instant coil of movement from Ramsey alerted Drake, and within seconds both men were staring at the bold red color that boiled above Nadia’s now thrashing form.

  “I take it that we are needed now.” Kale’s voice from the doorway was a shock, but Drake didn’t question the man’s eerie abilities, he just nodded.

  The next few minutes were hectic as the men each found a space around Nadia to concentrate on. With their hands they touched wrists, forehead, stomach, and ankles, and within seconds there were pain relieving spells rising up to the ceiling.

  Drake concentrated hard, feeling his fingertips burn, but not acknowledging the pain. Nadia needed him and the others, and for right now any pain would be taken in stride for her.

  For what seemed like hours they called forth their own brand of spells until the red started to dissipate and her body seemed to quiet. Drake watched as she seemed to breathe a bit easier and his body relaxed too. He and the others removed their hands and stood silently by her bedside. They all knew this could go on for hours or minutes. No one knew just yet.

  Minutes later the room had cleared out once more. Drake sat back in his chair and kept up his silent vigil beside the woman he loved.

  Chapter 20

  Nadia awoke on Tuesday
morning to a blessed darkness.

  In the back of her mind, she went through everything that Drake had told her about after the transformation. She would instantly feel amazingly better. Her new power might take her unawares, so it was best that she not become agitated or upset. She would be able to feel the presence of other Druids, and at first it might make her feel as if she should be on her guard, but he told her that was normal and would always happen. Her eyes would stay amber for a good three to five days, and her eyeteeth would be sporting points for the same amount of time. Any spells or wards would have been implanted deeply in her subconscious, ready to be called forth when the time came for it. Her senses would be enormously awake.

  For now, with her eyes open in the darkened room, she felt the press of an emotion that was telling her to beware. When she cocked her head to look to her right, she actually felt her hair sliding on the pillow and the separate strands of thread that made up the material. This senses thing was pretty damn strong.

  The feeling that she needed to protect herself made sense when she saw Drake sleeping in the chair beside the bed. A rush of love imploded in her body. She sat up carefully, thankful to note when the sheet fell away from her that she still had on a tee shirt and a pair of sleep pants.

  Licking her lips, she stopped short as two pointed pricks snagged her tongue. At first she was confused, then she remembered she had fangs. For a few moments, she had to stop and feel them with her tongue, lips, and even her fingers, trying to make herself realize that this was indeed real. After the shock had worn off, Nadia reasoned with herself that she would have to find a mirror as soon as possible.

  As her eyes turned back to the sleeping man beside the bed that thought drifted away and the only one left was that now she was his, he was hers, and they would be together for a very long time.

  Everything seemed so much brighter now. Her eyes were crisp with every color heightened in perfect pitch and tone. His hair was a luscious shade of every brown she had ever seen. His skin was sumptuous, a deep, rich warmed tone that was supple and pleasing to her new eyes. Long, dark lashes rested lightly atop high cheekbones and Nadia had the urge to run her fingers over every ridge of his face.

  She didn’t stop herself from giving in.

  With her newfound strength and speed she was kneeling in front of him on the bed within one second. She couldn’t stop the air from stirring though, and that was what sent those lovely lashes fluttering up. Light brown eyes focused on her instantly and Nadia felt her heart stutter to almost a stop as he visually checked her for outward signals that would tell him if she was okay or not.

  “Hello, beautiful. I see that you survived with no ill effects inside or out.”

  It was in that moment when Nadia remembered that she could sift through his emotions now. He would never be able to hide from her unless he ‘glamoured’ himself. Right now that wasn’t happening. Everything he felt was there, out in the open and stage center for her to see and read around him. Nadia felt her soul expand when she saw the shimmer of pure emotion hazing around his body. Love, wholesome and real, was there and she felt it in the way his eyes traveled over every inch of her body, in the way they warmed as he looked at her, in the way she heard his blood moving furiously inside of his body.

  “Y-yes,” she had to clear her throat so that she could speak around all of the emotions in the way. “Thanks to the others and you. Speaking of them, do we still have company?” She asked as she slyly crawled from her side of the bed onto his lap, straddling him as she climbed on.

  Burning eyes never left hers. “They have left. Kale knew you were clear about five hours ago.” His hands burrowed into her hair. “Thank God they’re gone.” He smiled his crooked smile and Nadia felt it inside her body.

  “How are you handling the push of power I’m giving you?”

  She thought of that and answered honestly. “Actually, it isn’t bothering me much right now but it is there, in the background.”

  He snuggled up to her, nuzzling her neck. Nadia felt a surge of emotion and love wrapping her up from her feet to her ears as he kissed her and whispered, “Good…and I’m sure you’re dying for a bath, aren’t you angel?”

  “God yes,” she all but growled when he nipped her earlobe.

  “Well then by all means, let’s give the lady what she wants,” he told her, and within seconds they were in his bathroom. That was another AHA moment for Nadia when she remembered that she could now do what he could.

  “Oh no ma’am,” he told her with an eyebrow cocked in her direction.

  “What?”

  “You can’t try any of that so soon. You need to wait until your body catches up with your new senses. Then you can go crazy.”

  “You’re such a party pooper,” she whined and gave him a pout.

  He smacked her on the ass, and then gathered her in a strong hug. “We’ll see what you say about that whenever you are through with your shower.” He silenced her with a gentle kiss then he let her go. “I’ll see you when you’re done, angel.” Then he walked out.

  About thirty minutes later, Nadia was staring into the mirror with shock deep in her veins.

  Drake had never mentioned anything about her looking so much healthier or vibrant. Her skin was practically glowing with health and even though her eyes were a deep amber color and she had fangs, of all things, the absolute newness of everything floored her. The little laugh lines around her eyes were gone, the grooves on the side of her mouth when she smiled were gone, even her nails looked longer and healthier.

  Any other discovery was stalled by a knock on the door. “Angel, you okay in there?”

  Nadia sensed the hesitancy in his voice, and even through the door she could feel his anxiousness. He was worried that she hated what she was now. Under all those emotions though was the real thing, the ever present, strong undercurrent of absolute trust that he had for her, which spoke of love to her. With tears in her eyes, she tugged on the edge of her tee shirt and turned to open the door.

  Drake’s massive frame was hovering there with one arm leaning on the jamb. Nadia hadn’t noticed before but he looked tired, strung out, and so very worried about what she had noticed about herself so far.

  When his hand came out to trace her face, tears threatened immediately at the powerful emotions that snapped to life inside of her, and the ones that he hadn’t tried to hide from her.

  “You have no idea how worried I was for you, darlin’.”

  With a tremulous smile she looked deeply into his eyes. “I see it now.”

  He didn’t acknowledge the fact that his shield was down but said, “I know.”

  A millisecond later his mouth was on hers. Nadia barely had time to catch her breath before strong arms were lifting her to settle on the edge of the counter. His mouth teased hers mercilessly, sucking and nipping at her lips before catching her jaw with his thumbs and opening her mouth for his tongue. Almost too late she remembered her fangs, but her worry was for naught. Drake effortlessly kept away from her new elongated teeth, only giving her a lick or two down the edge, which caused her womb to throb with renewed want and desire. That little lick had made her feel as if he had stroked her from the inside out.

  At that rush of heat, Nadia let her hands creep over his waist and slip under his shirt. She kept the momentum up as she grabbed the edge of it, and ripped it from his body.

  Shock had her pulling away from his kiss. “Oh God, I’m sorry…” she mumbled helplessly as she showed him two halves of his shirt hanging limply from her hands.

  Instead of replying, he just threw the ruined material in the corner of the massive bath and sent his hands to the buttons on his jeans. Flashing amber eyes were burning down at her as he shucked the jeans from his body and said, “Sorry, but I can’t wait…”

  Burgeoning emotions, love, passion, a deep seated feeling that this was meant to be burst inside of Nadia as she in turn ripped her shirt off too. God, but she loved this man.

  Instantly he
was on her again, and not once did he let up. His mouth made love to hers, deftly kissing her senseless while his hands molded to her body. The sensations were sharper for Nadia, so sharp that she could hear their skin rubbing together, and she could feel his desire, love, and want burning so hot inside of him. It made her burn even hotter to realize just how much he wanted her.

  When his mouth left hers, and his hands framed her upper waist, Nadia leaned onto the faucet behind her, the heavy metal cutting into her skin, but she didn’t feel it; all she felt was his mouth latching onto her nipple, drawing it so deep inside. She shuddered and wrapped her legs around his waist.

  A deep, fearsome growl emanated from his body and traveled into hers from where his mouth was touching her. Immediately a flow of moisture gushed between her legs, and Nadia knew she had to have him now.

  “Take them off…” she told him, referring to her underwear that was still in the way.

  “Not yet”

  “Now Drake,” she practically yelled, which of course got his attention. With heavy lidded amber eyes he watched her. Dark eyelashes rested almost on his cheekbones, giving him a sleepy look. Nadia knew he wasn’t the least bit tired. She leaned her hips, still encased in panties, towards him and allowed her core to touch his hard erection. When he trembled, she looked into his face and said once again, “Now, Drake.”

  A determined look echoed her words and a millisecond later, both their underwear were gone.

  “You better be ready for me, angel,” he growled against her ear as he settled his large frame on top of her.

  She undulated beneath him, loving the way he felt on top of her, against her, probing the entrance to her body, especially now that all of her senses were heightened. The knowledge that he loved her and wanted her had tripled her foreplay and cut down the time to mere seconds.

  Instead of answering him, she let her hips do the talking as they moved against him.

  “You’re making it hard for me to go easy on you, honey.”