by Audra Hart
As he listens to her heart finally calming down, and he gathers his senses about him. He strokes her face lovingly says, “Your sister is at the door.” He kisses her soundly and sets her on her feet. He makes sure she is able to stand on her own two feet before he flies to retrieve a robe, and to go greet his sister in law.
When he opens the door, Breena takes one look at his wet hair and the robe, and says “No way! You guys had to do that, knowing I was on my way over? Wow!” She playfully jabs in him the ribs and says, “You lucky bastard. I am so glad you two have each other. You seem to be custom fit.”
He chuckles, and says, “I couldn’t agree with you more. Make yourself at home in the sitting room, I will be back shortly with your sister.”
Luca darts back to bathroom to check on his mate. She has found her way out the shower and is towel drying her hair when she hears him come in. “Is it Breena?” she squeaks, with an adorable blush coloring her cheeks.
He grins wickedly, “Yes, I think she may have thing or two to say about our behavior before the night is over,” rasps out nearly choking on his own laughter. “She knows full well why it took me so long to answer the door.”
Morna is laughing too by now. Luca gathers clean undergarments and a lightweight pull over cotton jersey shell dress that’s a lovely shade sapphire blue. And a low heeled pair of pair of black patent leather mules out of her suit case on the dresser in the bedroom, and darts back into the bathroom. Morna is brushing her teeth when she sees him reappear in the mirror. He sets her things down on the counter, kisses the back of her neck lovingly and darts back out into the bedroom to locate his clothes and dress.
When he returns she has finished brushing her teeth and has donned the panties. They are a shimmering shade of deep gold, and he groans when he notices how well they complement her skin tone. He picks up the bra and holds it out in front of her to slip into. She complies willingly, grateful for the help because her hands are shaking from the multiple orgasms she experienced in the shower. They laugh in unison as he slides the bra straps up her arms to her silky shoulders, then snakes his hands out front to quickly cup her breasts. They both moan and then he quickly hooks the fasteners in the back.
He pulls her to him quickly and runs his hand from her right hip up to her right breast and enjoys the satiny feel of the fabric between her hot breast and his icy cold hand. His hand slides down over her belly to rub the front of the matching panties, and sliding his hands slowly between her legs. He exhales loudly through clenched teeth, and groans, “So hot and wet again!”
Morna laughs happily and says, “Well, it’s your fault. You keep touching me.”
“I do indeed, baby. Get used to it. I won‘t ever stop touching you,” he whispers and then kisses her cheek. He is deeply satisfied because she is breathing so hard and leaning into him heavily.
Then he reaches for the pull-over dress, and says, “Raise your arms, my love.” Morna instantly complies with a dreamy look on her face. He easily slips the lovely sapphire blue dress over her hands and head, down past her breasts and over her hips. He sighs when he sees how well the dress hugs her curves and accentuates the red highlights in her hair. Her emerald green eyes are still smoldering with passion. “BE GOOD, woman! Stop looking at me like that,” he growls playfully. And kisses her passionately.
Then he spins her around and points her toward the door. “Go greet your sister. I will be right behind you. Oh wait, your shoes.” She stops in her tracks and he sets the shoes on the floor in front of her, she steps into them. He says, “Maybe I don’t need to go hunting tonight…”
Her head snaps up, “No Lucian! Do not deny yourself. We can stage a repeat performance for you when you get back. Please, I don‘t want you to be miserable. Besides, it will give me time to get reacquainted with my sister,” she assures him. She blows him a kiss, and walks slowly out into the sitting room to greet her sister has she hasn’t seen in almost 600 years.
CHAPTER 19 - OLD TIES RE-BIND AROUND THE HEARTS & NEW TIES BEGIN
Morna stops to take a deep breath before she places her hand on the door knob going into the sitting room. A quick glance at the clock in the bedroom told her that is was 7:45. “Did all that really only take 45 minutes?” she wonders in amazement. She smoothes the front of the dress out and brushes the hair from her face, and takes a moment to wish that she had had time to blow it dry and straighten it, maybe apply a touch of make-up. Morna chuckles at her insecurities. “What the hell? Breena isn’t waiting to see my ‘professional face’ she just wants to see me.”
Another deep breath, and she thinks; “Oh hell, I am still on fire everywhere that man touched me in the last five minutes.” She can’t help but smile and very contented smile, and opens the door. She steps through the doorway easily, and standing there to meet her again is her very best friend in the whole world, the best sister anyone ever had the privilege to be related to.
“Breena!” she calls out joyously when she sees her. “You are as beautiful as ever. Oh how I have missed you big sister!” She flies to Breena and embraces her and lifts her up in her arms. It feels like the years just melt away. They could once again be the innocent girls running through the fields of wild flowers at home, practicing spells and giggling about the type of men they fancy would make good husbands.
They hold each other tightly for over a minute, swaying from side to side. Their joy at their reunion is so complete it escapes words. Breena finally says, “Well put me down so I can get a good look at the prodigal sister,” she croaks as she looks up at her much taller sister. Her voice tight with emotion. “My God, Morna you are more beautiful than I could have imagined. This life time certainly suits you well. Oh my darling, after all you have been through, look at you. You seem as bright and fresh as a new day!”
Morna chuckles, “Really Bree? I am forty-nine years, the mother of three and I have the face and body to prove it.” Breena notices that Morna’s face tightens a bit at the mention of her children, but she can tell her sister wants to focus on their reunion and not on her tragic lossess.
“Pish, posh! You look hot and you know it,” Breena giggles happily.
Luca is watching the sisters from the doorway. He smiles at the difference between the appearances of the two woman. Breena looks a great deal like Morna used to look, in her original life time. Breena is about 5’1’ and might weigh one hundred pounds when soaking wet. She has beautiful clear blue eyes, the same heart shaped face, the same tiny, upturned nose that Morna had in Airendell. Her fiery copper colored hair is cut short and it makes her look like a red haired pixie. He is reminded of what a lovely woman Morna was when he met her and married her. But he is so much more drawn to the newest version of Morna that he doesn’t miss the “old” Morna at all. The “new” Morna is stately, strong, passionate, sexy as fuck and absolutely gorgeous in his opinion.
The sisters are hugging again when they hear Luca chuckling. They look up and he is standing in the doorway, smiling so warmly that their hearts overflow because they know he shares their joy at their reunion. He comes forward to hug his long estranged sister in law. “Breena, you beautiful little sprite. Oh how I have missed you, sweet girl!”
After Luca hugs his sister in law for a few moments he stands back and says, “So now that you see our Morna up close, she is more amazing than ever, is she not?” he beams. “And wait until you hear how fast her memories are coming back and all the power she has under her control already. She is truly astounding!” Morna blushes a violent red and Luca takes the cue to leave off before he makes her really uncomfortable. He walks over to his mate and wraps one arm around her waist. “Breena I am so glad you came to Chicago to meet us. I really have missed you and Morna needs her sister.”
He gestures to the couch and says, “Have a seat dear girls, get comfortable,” he urges. Can I get either one of you anything to drink?” Both girls want a coke. Luca leaves the suite to get the drinks from the vending machine down the hall.
Breena
looks at Luca thoughtfully as he walks out of the room, “Why does he feel guilty?” she wonders. Then mentally shrugs it off, “He will tell one of us about whatever it is soon enough.” She mentally assures herself. Morna and Breena just sit with each other chat quietly about how good it is to see each other until Luca returns with their sodas.
When everyone is settled, Luca starts rattling off Morna’s recent accomplishments. “Breena, your sister remembers the first time we declared our love, our wedding, Aideen’s birth, she remembers picnics we took, times she gave me lessons on weaving spells, she remembers driving back the trolls into the underworld, she remembers various facts about our friends. She can levitate objects, do a binding spell without even thinking about it, weave an iron-lion, not that she seems to need it, she can catch and hold without thinking about it…” Luca breaks off because he can see Morna doesn’t agree with that last one. “Morna, on the stairs when you fell, that was a catch and hold, didn’t you realize?”
“Well…,” she mutters in embarrassment, “that was just instinct, I probably couldn’t do it again.” Luca tosses the table lamp up in the air and it starts to fall back to the floor. Morna gasps, holds her hand out to it, and it freezes in midair.” She turns to look at Luca in amazement, “You were saying my love…” he chuckles as she slowly lowers it back to table with a graceful movement of her hand.
“She’s been running with vampires, even practically adopted one, as though being eternally bonded to one as mate isn’t enough of a challenge for her. She adopts seers, and all kinds of hopeless cases, then works tirelessly to try to make them whole. She has been meeting with envoys from Middle-world royalty, and she makes a really good meatloaf I am told,” Luca finishes with a wink.
Morna looks at her mate sardonically, and says, “If I ever decide to run for office, will you manage my campaign and PR?” she says with snort. “Jeez Luca, please baby, you know I hate that kind of attention,” she pleads gently.
He ducks his head and then smiles sheepishly. “I am sorry Morna, I just trying to avoid saying what was really on my mind,” he confesses.
Their eyes meet, then they both look at Breena and say, “She/I remembered Kylor,” they whisper sadly in unison. Breena gets up and rushes to her sister to hold her.
Morna refuses to cry, but says in choked voice, “I don’t understand. If the Elves would send a sprite for my three children here on Upper-world, why would they not send one for Kylor in Middle-world?” she whispers.
Luca comes to kneel before her, he strokes her face and looks deeply into her hard emerald green eyes. “Darling,” he soothes, “you know why. It was Kylor’s time, his destiny to only be with us for such a short time. Kyle, Aiden and Nora were stolen from you prematurely, the world was robbed of their potential. The Elves would not stand by and watch that happen to such valuable members of the magic clans.”
“Oh Luca,” she chokes out, “I know that logically, but it rankles my very soul. The pain of losing our baby is so fresh to me. And it comes on the heels of my eleven month loss of my other children. Even though I know they are not truly gone, and I will most likely be able to see them, if I survive, the wounds from their losses are still so raw. I am sorry, but this mother’s heart is weak. Forgive me,” she pleads.
“Nonsense, Morna,” insists Luca as he strokes her cheek gently. “Your mother’s heart is one of the many things that makes you a force to be reckoned with. And grieving over these horrible losses is certainly nothing to be sorry for, and definitely nothing that needs forgiven!” he further asserts with force. He picks her up off the couch and holds her tightly in his arms.
Just then a knock sounds at the door. Luca looks to Breena and pleads with his with eyes her to take care of the new arrivals while he quickly carries Morna to the other room. He takes her into the bedroom and closes the door behind him. He swiftly takes her to the bed and sets her on it and kneels before her. “Morna, Morna my love. You must give yourself a little credit. Do you not see all the impossible things that have thrown at you over the years? And especially this year? Take heart love, you are one the grandest survivors in all of history. He holds her hands tightly and kisses them several times, before he raises up to kiss her lips passionately. “My mate, my warrior goddess, my Morna!” he whispers fiercely.
In the other room they can hear Breena greeting their daughter, Aideen and their old friend, Brigid. Then they hear her say, “Oh they just stepped in the other room for a second.” Brigid chuckles slyly, misunderstanding or perhaps falling for Breena’s deliberate misdirection, Morna isn‘t sure which. Whatever the explanation, she is grateful for the opportunity to collect herself before meeting with the women.
She kisses Luca and embraces him and smiles back at him brightly, because she is so pleased, so honored and above all so joyful to have him for her beloved mate. “I am fine, my love. Let us go see our daughter and dear friend,” she whispers.
Morna is delighted to see her good friend Brigid, especially since after today she realizes how many reasons she has to be grateful for to this woman. Saving her child, and then being a regular fixture in her life. Providing a true source of love and support when Morna herself could not be those things for her daughter. Brigid is, indeed a true friend. And Morna is very, very happy to see her. They hold each other in a long embrace. When they pull back to look at each other, Morna quickly glances at Aideen and then back to Brigid and mouths thank you and holds her joined hands over her heart. Brigid laughs good naturedly and hugs her again. “Morna, do you have any idea how many times over the centuries you have thanked me for my role in Aideen’s life?”
“Well, I can’t remember them… so you just have to endure another round.” Morna smirks at Brigid good naturedly.
Brigid just laughs and then steps back to look at Morna. “This incarnation really agrees with you, Morna. My heavens woman but you shine! You positively radiate love and grace and hope! Amazing, so gorgeous you are in this body and face. A lovely Amazon!”
Morna blushes violently and tears herself away from Brigid to go to her daughter. Aideen reaches out with her hands to take her mother’s hands, then the women silently touch and hold their foreheads against each other. Then Morna brings her arms up to hug her daughter. “So sweet to see you a second time today, my beautiful babe,” she whispers in an awe filled voice.
Aideen looks away and looks at Brigid and Breena, “You see, didn’t I tell you? Her spirit animal must be the Clydesdale. She is truly a great beast of a woman, towering and strong.” She grins saucily.
Brigid clears her throat before anyone has a chance to comment that comparing one’s mother to a beast of burden doesn’t not exactly warm one’s father’s heart, nor encourage one’s mother’s heart either. Then she says, “Hey, there is an excellent pianist performing in the bar downstairs tonight. What say you, ladies, should we go have us a drink and enjoy a song or two?” Morna looks to Breena and Aideen quickly and sees that neither of them object to idea, so she turns to her friend and brightly agrees. “I’ll just be a moment, I need to grab a clutch bag and a wrap.”
Breena silently follows her into the bedroom and shuts the door behind her. Breena is concerned that Aideen’s careless remark hurt her sister’s feelings, so she follows Morna around the room as she gathers her white cashmere wrap and finds the clutch in her suitcase and throws her cell phone, card key for the room, and wallet into it. Finally, Morna turns to Breena and says brightly, “Let’s go!”
As soon as Morna and Breena are in the bedroom, Luca opens the door to the hallway and he and Brigid herd Aideen out of the suite. Luca’s face is a mask of fury, “Aideen, did you really just call your mother a beast? A damned horse?” he hisses through clenched teeth.
Aideen steps back quickly. She has never seen her father truly angry with her. She looks to Brigid and sees a very similar expression on her foster mother’s face that her father is wearing. She is genuinely surprised and sputters for a moment. “What… wh… I… mean... Oh hell! Well
, she does tower over me by over a foot and she probably outweighs me by 50 to 70 pounds. And she shoved you across the room, Daddy, like she was flicking a fly off her arm. My God, she is a beast. A glorious, wondrous, amazing beast, but a beast none the less!” she finishes indignantly.
Morna opens the door suddenly and says, “Ah, I see we are all ready to go!” She waits for Breena to follow her out into the hallway, and says, “Are we ready?” And she smiles beautifully and brightly. She lets the three other ladies take the lead and holds her mate back to walk with her. She leans over likes she is going to nuzzle his ear and whispers to quietly for the women in front of them to hear; “Darling, if I have a problem with anything that child says to me, I will take care of it. Thank you so very much for being so concerned about my feelings, but they are my feelings and I can fend for them just fine with our daughter.”
Morna looks at his face to see how he is taking what she is saying to him. He seems to be accepting it in the spirit she’s intending so she concludes with; “Please understand me, I do not mean to chastise, I am only seeking your cooperation, she and I have a lot of rocky ground to traverse, but we must get to know each other and learn to trust each other to do it. If you insist on rushing to my rescue every time she pecks at me or expresses displeasure with me, she won‘t be able to trust me. You are her Daddy, she needs you in her corner. Don‘t let my being back take that away from her.” She kisses his cheek and nuzzles his neck and pulls back to try to get a read on his reaction to her little speech.