by Lisa Sanchez
“Yes,” I whispered breathless as I held his head to me with my good arm. “God, yes.”
“Good.” He lifted his head so our eyes met. “Because I can resist you no longer.”
Still holding me against him, he carried me to the large island and set me down atop the cool marble counter. Cupping my face in his hands, he kissed me tenderly, brushing his lips over my bruised cheekbone, as if trying to kiss the hurt away. Pulling away momentarily with a devilish grin, he took hold of the thin fabric of my top and ripped it from me, taking care not to jostle my injured arm.
I sat topless before him on the counter as he stared at me, his eyes dark and full of desire.
“Beautiful,” he breathed out softly. “In all my life, I’ve never known an equal to your beauty.”
My breath caught at his words, sending a shiver down my spine.
“Here,” he said, taking my hand and placing it on his chest. “Feel what you do to me.” His heart hammered a wild rhythm against my palm, and his breathing was choppy and ragged like mine.
“Never once, in the entirety of my existence, have I ever wanted to make love to someone more.” His voice was low and seductive, his sapphire eyes dark and smoldering. Pushing me down so that my back was flush with the cool marble, I watched as Quinn removed my jeans, emitting a low growl when he discovered I’d gone commando.
Taking his time, Quinn explored every inch of my body with his hands and mouth, memorizing every curve, every dip, and every detail. He worshiped me with a reverence that nearly shattered me. As he devoured my flesh with his mouth, I couldn’t help but think how happy I was I’d saved myself for the one person I truly loved. There was no other person I could imagine sharing such an intimate part of myself with.
Any and all thoughts of the outside world vanished when I felt his warm mouth on me, exploring, teasing and deliciously torturing a part of me no man had ever touched before. He held me still as I writhed on the countertop, back arched, crying out in pleasure. With one powerful hand beneath me, the other explored the contours of my chest and abs, setting fire to my skin as his mouth prepared me for what was to come. Before I knew what happened, my body stiffened, every muscle contracting as wave after wave of sweet, agonizing bliss washed over me.
Moving up to devour my mouth once more with his own, Quinn pulled me up so I was once again sitting, then hastily removed his jeans. He broke away for just a moment, ripping his shirt over his head and tossing it to the side.
Still trembling from the pleasure he gave me, I sat in awe as I eyed Quinn in all of his naked glory.
Beautifully sculpted, he was a heaping mass of raw power and sinewy perfection.
And I wanted him, desperately.
He pulled me forward, placing himself just at my opening and paused. “You’ll hurt for a moment, a ghrá, because it’s your first time. But after that, I promise, you will feel no pain.”
Crushing his lips against my own, he thrust into me hard, claiming my innocence. I cried out from the pain as he held me in his arms, patient and still. The burning subsided quickly and my body relaxed against his as I reveled in his magical embrace.
Ravishing me with his mouth, paying tribute to every inch of my upper body, Quinn slowly moved within me, schooling me in the art of love, teaching me what two people were capable of when they came together as one.
My breaths came in short pants as I teetered on the brink of the same earth-shattering feeling I’d experienced before at his mouth.
“Quinn,” I cried out.
He slid his hands up my body and cupped my face in his hands, staring deeply into my eyes. “I love you, Ryann, always. Now come for me.”
That was all it took. I fell over the edge screaming his name, pure, undiluted ecstasy enveloping me.
Quinn followed me into oblivion moments later, shouting as he experienced his own release.
We sat, molded to one another, for what seemed like an immeasurable amount of time, caressing each other’s backs and sharing kisses, oblivious to everything but each other.
“Thank you,” I whispered, completely spent. “That was amazing.”
He brushed his lips across my cheekbone, trailing them down until he nuzzled my neck. “No, a ghrá. You are amazing. Tá grá agam duit. I love you.”
A brilliant flash of light filled the room.
I clung to Quinn, clamping my eyes shut to shield them from the light. When I opened them again, I found we were no longer in the kitchen, but in Quinn’s bedroom, lying atop his bed. My arm no longer wore a cast, healed as if by magic.
“What the—” Quinn shot up, taking a defensive stance, ready to attack anyone or anything that might harm me.
With another brilliant flash of light, Morgana appeared before us, standing at the foot of the bed. “It is finished.” Her majestic voice filled the air, cutting Quinn off mid-sentence.
“My queen,” he said, completely taken aback.
I grabbed for the sheeting to cover myself, but found both Quinn and I wore black silk robes.
Just as before, Morgana stood dressed in a flowing white gown, her long hair cascading in perfect waves past her shoulders and down her back. Her expression was soft, and with her, she carried an air of benevolence that eased me at once. “Yes. It is I.”
On hearing the majestic voice of his queen, Quinn jumped off the bed and knelt on the floor with his head bowed.
Morgana stepped forward and addressed him. “Quinn. At long last, you have discovered the true nature of love. You have learned that love is selfless and unconditional, patient and kind. Love requires sacrifice and the ability to put another’s needs before your own.”
My hand shot up to my mouth as the queen’s musical voice filled the room. Could I dare hope to we had overcome his curse?
Morgana held out her hands as she continued. “As you gave of yourself freely to Ryann in this manner, and she to you, I hereby release you from the bonds of your affliction. You are cursed no more.”
I gave a loud sob at hearing her words. Quinn would live. Overwhelming joy and relief washed over me, and I wept like a child.
A giant tremor wracked his body and his voice cracked as he spoke. “Thank you, my queen.”
“Furthermore, I should like to bestow upon your mate a gift.”
I stared at the queen in confusion. “A gift?” What else could she possibly give me? I was already eternally indebted to her for rescinding Quinn’s curse. As far as I was concerned, I had everything I’d ever need.
“Precious child.” She smiled at me as she spoke. “You truly possess a pure heart, and it pleases me all the more to bestow upon you my gift. As a faerie, Quinn ages differently than a mortal. His life will go on for a great while, while your mortal body will age quickly and eventually perish. I find it cruel that one of you should die while the other lives on, so I bestow upon you the gift of life. From this moment on, you shall age as Quinn does, so that you may remain with one another always, and leave this world in the same manner—together.”
I sat dumbstruck atop the bed.
What would that make me? I wasn’t a faerie, but would I still be human?
A low chuckle filled the air as the queen read my confused thoughts.
“Be of ease, child. Though you will age as the Fae do, you will not possess our magical abilities. Your humanity shall remain intact, and you are free to live out your life as you so choose. May your children be blessed as well and enjoy my gift of long life.”
Warm tears of happiness flowed down my cheeks and I choked on my words. “Thank you.”
“Yes, my queen, thank you,” Quinn said, echoing my response.
Morgana stepped forward, and placed a hand on top of Quinn’s head. “You are most welcome, Quinn Donegan. I long feared you would fail to overcome my punishment. It brings me great joy to see you embrace the true nature of love, and with such a worthy mate. Cherish each other always, never forgetting the journey that brought you together.”
With a smile and a
flash of light, Morgana disappeared, leaving Quinn and me alone in stunned silence.
One moment Quinn knelt on the floor, the next he was cradling me in his powerful arms, holding him to me as if he’d never let me go.
“We did it,” I sobbed, kissing every inch of his skin my mouth could find. “You’re safe. You’re alive.” I was certain there wasn’t a person on the planet who’d ever felt as happy as I did at that moment. We’d overcome his curse. Quinn would live. And I—I was on top of the world.
The electric spark flowing between us whenever we were near flared, but gone was the magical pull his curse once brought about with his touch. The euphoria I felt, as his hands cupped my face and his mouth claimed mine, was all Quinn’s doing.
We held each other for what seemed like an eternity, touching, caressing and enjoying our newfound ability to explore each other’s bodies without repercussion.
Perfectly content to remain in his arms for the rest of my existence, I frowned when Quinn pulled away. “Where are you going?”
Quinn glanced toward his enormous bathroom and the glass shower that took up the majority of its back wall and turned back to face me, a rakish grin on his face. “You’re not wearing a cast any more.”
A blast of heat scorched my skin, and I sent a silent prayer of thanks to the queen for magically healing my arm. I knew what he was thinking and I was all for it. I shifted in place. Eager. “No. No, I’m not.”
He groaned, a low rumble that sent my pulse skyrocketing and my nether regions aching with need. “I haven’t been able to get the picture of you standing naked in that shower out of my mind for some time now.”
My heart leaped in anticipation of what was to come, and I cast him a wicked grin. “You know what they say: Practice makes perfect.”
I squealed as he scooped me up into his strong arms and carried me into the bathroom to fulfill my shower fantasy in real life.
He nipped playfully at my neck and flashed me a hungry smile as he turned on the water. “It’s time for a wee bit of fun, little girl,” he said and stepped into the shower.
Acknowledgments
First, I’d like to thank God, without whom I’d be nothing.
I’d like to give special thanks to the two best critique partners a girl could ever have. Kaiti, Kristin, you girls rock my world. Kaiti, without you, this book simply would not be. I’m forever grateful.
I’d like to give a hearty WOOT to my girls in The SC: Deanna, Karen and Edie. Thank you for reading those early drafts over and over and over again. More importantly, thank you for your friendship. It means the world.
To my mother, my sisters, Diana and Jan, and my best friend Sarah, who is more family than friend. Thank you for your encouragement. I love you dearly.
Most importantly, I’d like to thank my husband, Ryan, and my three daughters Kendall, Taryn and Irelynn. You inspire me daily. Thanks for putting up with a messy house and a mom who can’t tear herself away from her laptop. I promise, no more chicken nuggets for dinner! I love you all more than words can say.
About the Author
Lisa’s lifelong love of writing, coupled with her ability to weave together an intricate and compelling story has led to the release of her first published novel, Eve of Samhain.
In her role as a busy stay-at-home and self-proclaimed “cheer mom,” on any given day Lisa wears a number of different hats. From taxi driver to chef, nurse to seamstress, laundry-woman to enforcer, and, of course, writer, Lisa manages to keep everything together all while caring for her husband and three children. The few spare moments left in her day are usually spent reading or writing, and if she’s really lucky, possibly even catching up on some much needed sleep.
Lisa and her family currently reside in Tracy, California.
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