Lost Wanderer Awakened - Book One of the Airendell Chronicles

by Audra Hart

  “I am sorry. I just didn’t think I was ready to take them on by myself, not yet. It turns out that I was right. I fought like I was fighting a human. I really wasn‘t being that effective.” Morna laughs at herself. “And this happens immediately after I told Damian that I was in no real danger from any ordinary vampire.” Morna shivers at what she knows was a very close call and says, “Thank you love. I guess I am not back in fighting form yet.”

  “Morna, you were handling it just fine. I am glad you called for me though.” Luca kisses her. “You have gained a lot of maturity in this life time. I remember a time, not that long ago, when you would never have called for help, even though it was close by.”

  Morna chuckles at that and she says, “Well this mature lady is going to take those things into the house for the kids and then I am going upstairs for a hot bath. I am feeling my ‘maturity’ right about now, and my head is really pounding.”

  Morna kisses his cheek and goes to fetch her things form the trunk and goes inside. Nearly thirty minutes later she drags her tired body up the stairs. She smiles at how much things have changed so quickly. She feels like she is truly at home. She stops by the refrigerator to get a coke, and then heads to the bathroom where she starts running a hot bath with her favorite combination of eucalyptus scented Epsom salts and lavender oil. Then she goes to her wardrobe to look for a nightgown or another pair of pajamas, but she doesn’t find either. “Oh well, I’ll ask Luca tomorrow,” she mutters to herself as she turns to look in his dresser for a tee shirt to sleep in.

  She jumps when Luca speaks from the doorway between the bedroom and bathroom, “Ask me what, baby?”

  “Oh, hi Luca. I thought you two had already gone out to hunt. I was just wondering if you had thought to get me a nightgown or another pair pajamas.”

  He snorts, “That one set of pajamas is for lounging around in cool weather, not for sleeping in.” He comes up and wraps her in his arms, wearing her favorite lopsided grin. “If you insist on wearing anything to bed you have several sets of matching undergarments to choose from.” He chuckles wickedly then says, “No seriously, I just didn’t think you would want a night gown. You have rarely used them.”

  “Well, normally I wouldn’t, but you won’t be here tonight…” she admits.

  “Oh, but I will. Damian said he would be more comfortable if I stayed here tonight to listen for Mac. He’s afraid she might decide to go exploring or something. It’s not like he needs me to look out for him as he hunts, and I hunted two nights in a row, so I am good for two or three weeks.” He kisses the tip of her nose and says, “Your bath water is cooling off quickly.” He spins her toward the bathroom door and swats her behind gently. “I’ll will be in there in a minute to massage her hip and leg, I noticed a bit of a limp.”

  Morna smiles. She knows the real reason that he is staying. Because of their little visit from the vampires, he is worried about another attack. “Yeah, I think I over did it today.” She wants to bite her lip for saying that. He’s going to think I am sore from our wild loving at the little house in Connerville. CRAP!

  She decides to try distraction; “What time is it anyway?” she asks as she walks into the bathroom.

  “8:40,” he says.

  “Wow, it feels like it should be later,” she mumbles. “I am beat.” She walks over the vanity and retrieves her toothbrush and toothpaste from the medicine cabinet. She notices some Advil in there and decides it might be a good idea to take her pain meds. Her leg and hip hurt, but worse than that, her head is throbbing unmercifully, and that foul taste in her mouth is back. She goes and gets the pain meds out of her purse, takes them with the last of the coke and returns to brush her teeth. After brushing her teeth she strips slowly and eases down into the tub. Luca enters the bathroom and comes over to the tub wearing only a pair of boxers.

  She chuckles delightedly and asks, “Why do you have those? You have always gone commando.”

  He laughs too, “I don’t know, I may not be human anymore, but I guess I still have a bit of a human’s sense of modesty, believe it or not.”

  “Well, you look very sexy in them,” she murmurs appreciatively as he starts to rub the knotted muscles in her neck and shoulders. Morna relaxes considerably under his skillful hands and asks, “How did Damian take the news of the two vampires following him here?”

  “He was very upset. He blames himself, he was very frightened for you when we heard you call for me. He was following me out, but I told him to stay and watch Mac. I think that young man is quite taken with you, baby.”

  “He just doesn’t really know what to make of me. Hell, I don‘t know what to make of me right now.” Morna moans as his strong, talented hands move down to her tense shoulders she asks, “Did we do the right thing bringing the kids into our home?”

  “I think so,” he says. “Why? Are you having some reservations?”

  “Not exactly,” she replies. “I was just thinking that we really don’t know much about Damian. I wonder if he has more enemies out there that will end up on our doorstep. What if the Italians come looking for him? And more selfishly, I was thinking that having someone in the house, besides you with super human hearing, might put a damper on our private time.”

  “Well, if the Italians come looking for him, we will deal with them. They won’t be eager to go up against Spell Weavers. As you probably remember, they are not magic, and avoid getting into conflicts with those who are. Which is a pretty wise move on their part. They already have Stone Breakers and other hunters on their trails, they don’t want our whole Guild out for their heads as well. Besides, the three brothers and I came to an understanding a couple hundred years ago. We agreed to steer clear and mind our own business.” Luca laughs, “And, I have already put a buffers spell on the upper level of the house.” He looks at her and asks, “Do you remember exactly what a buffer spell is?”

  “Doesn’t it keep anyone from entering a protected area?” Morna asks doubtfully.

  Luca nods and says, “Yes, and no one on the outside can hear or see what goes on inside the spell. When you can hear every sound your neighbors make, you don’t want to take a chance that any of them can hear you. So you don’t have to worry about that, our privacy, its protected. No one can enter or listen in without our consent. As to not knowing Damian very well, I think he respects you too much to ever pose a threat to you. But it might be a good idea if I re-teach the iron-lion to you, very soon.”

  “No need,” she assures him. “It just came to me today at Mike’s bar, I wove the spell before I ever let you leave the room. I may not have all my memories back, but I am not foolish enough to stay in a room with an unknown vampire with nothing but a binding spell at my disposal. I also used the spell against Larry and Moe. I am just glad that they didn‘t decide to bring Curly along for their fun and games. I would have really been in trouble if the odds were three to one.”

  Luca chuckles are her reference to the Three Stooges when talking about the vampires who attacked her. “Really, the spell just came to you?” he questions, “Are you sure you got it right?”

  “Yes, would you like to arm wrestle to test it?” she quips.

  Luca laughs heartily. “I wondered how you had the strength to impale that vamp with a tire iron.”

  “I hadn’t woven it yet. That was purely self-preservation and adrenaline at work.” Luca looks at her thoughtfully but doesn’t comment. Morna chuckles “Now what about my offer to wrestle?” Morna asks with a wicked smile.

  “Well, we might do some kind of wrestling…” he hints. “Unless you are too tired.”

  “Luca, I am never too tired for that,” she assures him with more bravado than she really feels. She truly is utterly exhausted and the encounter with the vampires has left her aching and pretty shaken. Moe had shoved her up against that trunk pretty hard before she remembered to weave the damned spell. And on top of that, she doesn’t want to tell Luca that her head is throbbing viciously. He worries too damned much about me
as it is. I won’t add any more to his worries.

  By now Luca has finished her massage and is soaping a bath puff with her favorite lavender bath wash. “Stand up, baby,” he commands gently. She complies, holding his proffered hand for support. He starts scrubbing at her neck and very slowly works his way down. Frequently using his bare, rock hard hands instead of the puff. By the time he gets to her knees they are both breathing erratically. “Time to rinse off and come to bed, baby.” Luca nuzzles near her ear and murmurs seductively. She turns to face him and is delighted to see that his eyes are smoldering with the same powerful desire that she knows is obvious in her own eyes. He lowers her into the water, and slowly rinses the body wash from her body, then reaches out to pull the plug before he helps her up and wraps her in a fresh bath sheet.

  Morna hates to break the spell but; “I need to moisturize my skin, Luca. This low humidity and all the hot baths are drying me out. Winter in Oklahoma is hard on a woman‘s skin,” she says shyly. “I’ll come to bed in a minute or two.”

  He laughs huskily, and then tosses the bath sheet across the tub, scoops her up into his arms, grabs the lotion off the vanity and plops her in the center of their bed before she can squeal in surprise. “I can help with that little job,” he growls as he starts applying the lavender and peppermint scented lotion to her feet, grinning at her salaciously.

  “Luca, you spoil me horribly.” Morna gently chides him, as she raises up, supporting her weight on her elbows and forearms. She grins happily and admits, “I am loving every minute of it.’’

  “Me too,” he acknowledges. His pays extra attention to the left side of her body, massaging it deeply and humming.

  Morna is watching him closely and says, “I know that tune, but can’t place it.”

  “Baby, it’s a healing spell.” He looks into her eyes, willing her to remember it. To remember teaching it to him. “You taught it to me a very, very long time ago.” He stops humming and is now actually singing the words very softly. The words are in a language she doesn’t think she’s has ever heard yet she understands every word. Soon she is singing with him. “Very good! I told you, it’s all there.” He says as he taps her chest. He continues massaging lotion into her body and singing. Morna is becoming so relaxed that she is struggling to stay awake.

  When he is finished, he rolls her over onto her tummy and gently moistures the backside of her body. He is just finishing massaging the soles of her feet, when he realizes her breathing is too even. He chuckles because she has dozed off, despite her protestations that she would never be too tired for him. He can’t help himself, he kisses her lovely rounded backside and trails kisses up her back, but stops when she starts to stir. He pulls the sheet up to cover her prostrate body and then stretches out beside her to read a novel he had tossed into the bedside table last week for just such an occasion. He chuckles quietly to himself, “Just like old times.”

  CHAPTER 13 - FORGED IN FIRE

  Luca has just finished chapter 8 in the novel, when he notices a change in her breathing pattern. She sleepily reaches out for him. He sets the book down and stretches out beside her and takes her into his arms. “You forgot something,” she mumbles in her sleep thicken voice.

  “No I didn’t,” he counters with a smirk. “You went to sleep on me,” he informs her in an amused voice.

  “Just a cat nap,” she corrects him as she crawls on top of him. Morna feels a desperate need to be near him. “What time is it?”

  “Almost ten. You haven’t slept very long.” Luca says as he pulls her closer and kisses the top of her head.

  “Can you get me some Advil? I took my pain meds before I took a bath, but my head still really hurts.” Morna asks groggily.

  “Be right back.” He slips out of bed and is back in less than a minute. He has a cold coke for her and four Advil. “I guess you had to absorb a lot of new information today.”

  “Carlisle introduced himself. You told me his rank and lineage. I can’t even imagine Marla as an adult. She was a feisty little kid. I was really looking forward to training her for ascension and the Airendell Warriors.” Morna says with a chuckle.

  Luca frowns a little that Morna only remembers Marla as a kid, but asks; “What else do you remember?”

  Morna frowns thoughtfully. “Well, I remember Kylor.” Luca inhales sharply, “He was one tough old bastard. I remember that he was pestering me to take over all the training so that he could retire.” Morna chuckles at that thought. “I think he just wanted to get away from his wife.” Morna chuckles again, “All that talk about being tired of battle, and wanting to visit the Nepalese realm.” Morna can’t help it, she scoffs at the idea of her former mentor as a monk in some distant temple.

  “Do you remember anyone else?” Luca asks hopefully.

  “No. Let’s see Carlisle mentioned someone, but I don’t remember the name….” Morna starts rubbing her head, it’s really pounding now. “I am going to go get under the hot shower. Maybe that will help.” She scoots out of bed and heads for the shower.

  When he is sure she can’t hear him he grabs his phone from the bedside table and calls Carlisle. “Who did you mention to Morna?”… “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude…Yes I know it’s kind of late. But this is important, whoever you mentioned to her is a memory she can’t wrap her head around it’s causing her a lot of pain. I explained how that works to you.”… “Damn Carlisle! She doesn’t remember our life together. Her last memories of people from Airendell are from long before my changing, back when your mom was a kid. She doesn’t remember training her or delivering you, being your godmother, training you in Weaver lore, and to be a warrior… none of it… be careful… I know son, I am sorry I didn’t mean to come down so hard on you, just be careful, wait until she mentions people that she remembers, okay?”

  Luca puts the phone away and goes into the bathroom. Only two things help Morna with these kinds of headaches, sleep and sex. Luca is determined to see that she gets both. When she shuts the water off and steps out he’s waiting for her with a towel. She smiles happily at him, but he can tell she’s still hurting pretty bad. “Feeling better?”

  “A little.” She smiles weakly when Luca starts drying her off. When he is done he tosses the towel over the hamper and scoops her up and carries her to the bed. “Why don’t you weave a healing spell for this stupid headache?” Morna asks him as he lies in the center of their bed.

  “I’ll try, but it probably won’t work. This headache is from trying to process new memories. Trust me baby, you and I have been through this many times over your life times. Only two things seem to help, sleep and sex.”

  “Two of my favorite things,” Morna says with a giggle. “Just not in that order.”

  He starts to chuckle, but she cuts him off with a passionate kiss. Morna works her way down his neck to his chest, planting kisses and trailing her tongue across the ice cold, perfectly shaped planes of his chest. Her hands are caressing his shoulders and powerful arms. She trails down his arms until she entwines her fingers with his. By now she has made it to his abdomen with her mouth. She releases his hands and splays her fingers down his ribs as she traces lazy patterns on his rock hard belly with her hot tongue. She smiles happily because her actions are definitely having an effect on him. He’s breathing is a little faster than normal and his hard cock has caused his boxers to tent invitingly.

  She drags her fingers down to the waistband of the boxers. She loops her fingers under the waistband and slowly drags the material over his erect shaft, down his legs and off the tips of his toes, tossing the material over her shoulder. She positions herself in between his feet, and starts caressing his feet, now working upwards. She wants to treasure every inch of him. She very slowly works her way up his legs, caressing every contour and raining hot kisses in her path.

  When she gets to his knees, she raises up and straddles his right leg, dragging her warmth slowly up his leg. She leans back in and starts tracing lazy patterns on his right thigh with h
er hot tongue. She repeats a similar process on his left thigh. Her hands move to his hips, splaying behind him to mold to his powerful buttocks. She sighs in deep satisfaction. She looks up and meets his eyes and smiles because he is looking at her with so much love in his eyes that her heart seems to swell in her chest.

  Morna returns her full attention to his body and slowly drags her face up the length of his shaft, trailing her hot breath against his hardness as she moves. She enjoys the silky smoothness of the hard member. She circles the head slowly with her tongue several times, savoring his taste. Finally, she takes him into her mouth. Takes him in as fully as she can, then eases back up and slowly repeats the motion several times before he exhales violently. She realizes belatedly that he had been holding his breath for many minutes.

  He reaches down and takes her face in his hands and gently draws her face up to his. She sighs because she is very reluctant to stop, but complies. She wonders, not for the first time over the centuries, why he never lets her love him with her mouth like she wants to.

  He hungrily seizes her lips; as she turns to him when she recognizes his intent. Then he reaches down and lifts her by hips so that she can position herself over his shaft. “Ride me, baby!” he growls sexily as he slowly eases her down onto his length. He moans her name as she takes all of him into herself. He revels in her heat and her wetness. He gently moves her up and down his shaft several times before she repositions herself. She wants to control her own rise and descent onto his swollen erection.

  Every time she goes down, she rocks her pelvis into his hips slightly to allow him even deeper penetration as he thrusts up to meet her. Responding to his increasing sense of urgency she increases the speed of her movements. She rides him in wild, forceful, driving abandon; feeling stronger and wilder by the second. Her climax is building rapidly, her need for him urges her movements ever forward. Even faster and more forcefully, eager for the impending release that she knows is coming.