by Mia Pride
“It worked!” Ceara cheered, and kissed Garreth hard on the mouth.
“Did you think it would not? As if the goddess Danu would not respond to her own daughters,” he said wryly. Still, a pleased smile spread across his face.
Morna looked down into the chest and gasped. Sure enough, three shining gold relics lay within: a sword, a spear, and a cauldron, which was much smaller than she had expected it to be. They each shone brilliantly as if made just yesterday, but she knew they were supposed to be at least fifteen centuries old, supposedly brought to Ériu by the gods themselves.
“We must be quick. It is not safe to leave it open and vulnerable. The faster we fill it and seal it back up, the better,” Gwynneth said.
“Aye,” Una agreed. “I will add my sapphire brooch. It is too valuable to be left here should we be attacked.”
“But, my love…” Brocc interjected, and frowned at her. “That is precious to you. My mother gifted that to you. You will never see it again.”
“You are precious to me, Brocc. Our children are precious to me.” Then Una turned and looked at Morna with a smile. “And our son’s wives and children are precious to me. This… this is not but a trinket. I shall live well without it, husband. And if what we know is true, someday one of our ancestors… mayhap the people of Ériu will be in much greater need of it than I am.”
Her words warmed Morna’s heart. Una was such a loving woman, yet she was not certain what she meant about their descendant’s requiring the gold. Before she could think further on it, Brennain whispered in her ear. “A druid came to them and told them that the treasure must be buried along with as many valuables as possible, not only to keep it safe but when the time was right and Ériu was in need, one of our ancestors would be selected to seek out and find the treasure. It is said that the treasure is found every fifteen hundred years when it seems Ériu is most in danger.”
It baffled her that anyone could possibly know so much about what may happen, but she supposed druids and the Sisters of Danu would have more communications with the gods than most people, and the gods knew all.
“And you are the one tasked with saving it, Brennain. Does that not frighten you?” she whispered back.
He shook his head and kissed her cheek. “Nay. I am not at all frightened. I am, however, saddened to be leaving you so soon. Once we are done here, I want to get you home and continue what we started earlier.” The promise in his deep voice gave her chills and she suddenly was more mesmerized by his words than by any spell in this room.
“I have decided to contribute my ruby headpiece. I wore it when I was younger and a queen. These days it sits within my chest and can certainly be of value to others someday.” Ceara stepped forward and gently placed a beautiful band studded with small red rubies on top of the other valuables and then stepped back solemnly.
“All I have to contribute is mother’s ruby brooch, but that will be a sacrifice to us all,” Gwynneth said, looking at her sisters. Morna did not understand what this brooch was or what it meant, but clearly, it was something very important to the sisters.
“Nay, Gwynneth. It should be safe. It is the most valuable item of all, from the Otherworld and faery-made,” Ceara said, Una nodded and Gwynneth unclasped it from her cloak and gently placed it inside with the saddest face Morna had ever seen a person make.
Again, Brennain explained everything to her. “The only trinket they have to remember their mother by is an ancient brooch she passed on to them. It has been passed on to the eldest female descendant of a faery named Dana for centuries. When we met Dana a few years past—”
“You met an ancient faery?” Morna questioned. What other secrets did this man hold?
“Aye. Faeries age much slower in their world than in the human world. They can live for a thousand years. ‘Tis not so strange, really. Well, the brooch was originally hers, the only item of importance she had brought from her world into the human world. We gave it back and she accepted it, but soon after it reappeared on my Aunt Gwynneth’s cloak… nay doubt a gift from Dana. We never saw her again, but this brooch means a lot to the sisters.” Morna nodded, absorbing his words, though she was beyond overwhelmed by the importance of his family. Gods, goddesses, faeries, battles, jewels… all she had known was her simple hut and the two cows she had in her byre. Mayhap she was a wee bit out of place here. Though she knew Brennain loved her, was she enough for him? Did he not deserve to marry a woman from a powerful family, mayhap a noblewoman?
Shaking her head, she took a deep breath and watched in a daze as the coins were added and the sisters said more enchantments to close the chest, murmuring something about only a direct descendant in desperate need being able to truly locate and open the treasure. It would be lost to time, hidden from all eyes, until the proper person came to seek it… supposedly in fifteen hundred more years. Her head hurt, and she wished to go home to rest. Fortunately, all was done, the chest was sealed, and they were able to head home. She had so many questions to ask, but little energy to ask them. Besides, Brennain was leaving on the morrow at dawn and she would not keep him up all night just to ask him questions.
“How are you feeling?” Brennain asked, as he held her hand and walked back to his home. “You appeared overwhelmed. I hope my family does not frighten you. You shall adjust.”
Had she been so easy to read? She could not deny that she felt a bit in over her head, especially with him leaving so soon and her being here alone… nay, not alone, yet not quite belonging either. “I am indeed overwhelmed. ‘Tis a lot to take in, but I shall be all right. I am mostly concerned about your adventure. Have you an idea where you must journey to?”
Squeezing her hand tighter, he dragged her at a slightly faster pace toward the house where she was certain her mother and Glennis would already be sound asleep. “Aye. Tuathal told me I must seek a group of caverns high on a mountain directly west. They are renowned for their connection with the god, Lugh. I am certain I shall find them. He says I must look up, for the caverns are in the sky... whatever that means. ‘Tis what the druid said. They always talk in riddles. You think they could just say it and be done,” he grunted.
“That is strange, but I am certain between you and Reaghan, you shall find your way.” Arriving in front of the house, Morna stopped and took both his hands in hers. “Just be safe, my love. I have lost you before. I cannot face losing you again.”
“Never,” he said, leaning in to take her lips with his in a soft, delicate kiss. “Come. The night grows late but never too late for what I have planned for you,” He grinned, his dark stubble scraping wondrously against her cheek, causing gooseflesh to travel over her skin like thousands of ants covering her flesh.
“You must get some rest,” she half-heartedly insisted, but inside she was elated that he wanted to spend more time with her before he would leave her for at least a sennight. Feeling him against her had been the best experience of her life and she selfishly wanted more, despite his need for rest.
“Nay. ‘Tis you I need, not rest. Only you.” His lips came down on hers again, this time more forcefully and she reached up on her tiptoes, struggling to reach his height as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Before she knew it, he hoisted her up on his hips, his hands cupping her backside as her legs wrapped around his waist to brace herself. She squealed with sudden delight, but his deep voice shushed her as he quietly opened the door to his home.
She heard the door creak closed as he kicked it carefully with his boot, his grip on her never wavering as she felt herself being carried through the blackness of the room. Fortunately, Brennain seemed to know his way around quite well and ran into no obstacles as he found the corridor leading to his small, private chamber… their chamber now.
Before her eyes could even adjust to the darkness, she felt herself being tossed onto a soft surface, felt the slight crunch of hay beneath her and knew she had landed on the mattress. Silence consumed the room for a few seconds until she heard the familiar sound of fli
nt on iron and saw a spark of light just before a candle near the bed was lit. Brennain’s eyes glittered in the blaze of the flickering flame and she saw a feral smile slide across his face, promising all manner of dark deeds. Her heart felt as if it had grown two sizes in the past few hours, but now it seemed to ache as she stared at his dark green eyes, hooded lids and seductive lips.
“I am going to take your clothes off, then I am going to thoroughly, and very, very slowly, enjoy every inch of you.” The determination in his voice made her core flood with warmth, her breasts feel heavy with need. But when she felt his warm, calloused hands glide up her ankles, she felt as if she may catch on fire. His fingers deftly gathered the fabric up to her waist and she arched her back to help him pull the garment over her breasts and then her head. He threw her borrowed dress onto the floor behind him and hovered over her, keenly taking in every inch of her exposed flesh.
“You are the most beautiful woman I have ever beheld. Soon, you shall be my wife. But tonight, I want to make you completely mine. Is that all right with you, love?” Leaning down, he kissed her softly once again, not giving her a chance to respond. Brennain’s fingers dragged slowly down her arms and rested on her hips. His hands were so large she was certain they could encircle her entire waist.
His lips moved down her throat and his tongue left an enticing trail as it dragged down to her breast before his mouth clamped down and gently sucked. Her hips bucked off the mattress but Brennain pinned her down with his strong grip, making sure she stayed right where he wanted her. Her breaths became shallow as his mouth moved to her other breast and the cool air hit the nipple he had just laved. “Brennain!” she whispered, but he just made a shushing sound and sucked her other nipple into his mouth as his hands drifted lower, over her belly.
Then they moved lower, his palms pressing on her inner thighs and she tensed as she realized his lips had moved down toward her hip and he was gently pushing her legs open.
“Wha—”
“Just lay back, love,” Brennain crooned, and his lips hovered over her center. “Just feel.” His hot breath fanned over her sensitive flesh and her eyes widened when she felt the tip of his tongue graze her in the one spot that could drive her wild. “How does this feel?” he asked between soft licks and flicks of his tongue.
She wanted to tell him it felt utterly wonderous, but her mouth could do no more than make small whimpering sounds while her hips flexed into him. She knew men did this to women, but Caleb had never bothered to focus on her pleasure. His own seemed to be his only concern in any circumstance. His lovemaking had been rushed and less than passionate, but as Brennain carefully and slowly made love to her in this whole new way, she was glad he was the first to ever make her feel such pleasure. They would have a lifetime together and she knew he would be her first in every way that mattered.
Within seconds, her body tensed, and a fire burned through her veins that threatened to consume her entirely. One of Brennain’s hands came up and gripped her breast, tweaking her hard nipple between two fingers while his mouth continued its precise ministrations until she arched off the bed and cried out in what had to have been the purest moment of pleasure and release she had ever felt in her entire life.
Her heart beat erratically against her rib cage as she tried to calm her breathing. Her body tingled from head to toe as Brennain gave her inner thigh a few last soft kisses before moving up her body slowly. She could smell her scent on his breath and something about the intimacy of that made her quiver with need. His arousal pressed against her hip and she snapped out of her daze to realize he was still fully dressed.
“Take your clothes off,” she whispered, and ran a hand under the hem of his tunic and up the hard planes of his chest. His skin was hot to the touch, like a hearth burning just for her. Helping him slip his shirt over his head, she then reached between them to pull the knot loose on his trousers, pleased when they instantly loosened, and his impressive erection sprang out proudly.
He shifted off her just enough to fully remove his pants, then kissed her belly once again. “How was that, mo chroí?”
“I have nay words for how that was, Brennain. It was unlike anything I ever imagined, I just want you to make love to me now.” Morna gripped his shoulders and was pleased that he allowed her to at least take control in this way as he climbed up her body and gently took her lips with his.
“This time, I wish to make love to you very slowly, so you can feel all of me, so you can know the depth of my love and yearning for the woman you are.”
His words were a balm to her soul. Though she had no doubts about his love for her, it was hard to imagine that such a man could have chosen a plain woman like her to spend his life with. The more reassurance he gave, the more confident she became in their relationship. She wished trust could come easier but her life with Caleb had proven that men who enjoyed women had a difficult time staying with just one. But, she would not worry about that for now. She wanted to get lost in the moment as their bodies came together one last time before he left on a dangerous mission.
As he settled between her legs, she opened her thighs wider, gripping his manhood in her hand and slowly guiding him where she needed him most. He let out a low growl of pleasure as he slowly slid into her and she felt the pressure already building as he pushed all the way in. As their bodies became one, so too did their souls.
His hips moved in slow, languid thrusts, enjoying the push and pull, give and take, as their bodies worked toward the same goal of shared pleasure. His warm skin was hard, yet smooth beneath her touch, and she ran her hands up and down his arms, feeling his muscles flex with his every movement.
“I love you,” he whispered, lowering his lips to hers, his hot breath mixing with her own as they shared the same air between them. Never had she felt more consumed by another person. It was as if he was slowly claiming every part of her, and she wanted nothing more than for him to do just that very thing. Little did he know that he had already consumed her two years ago, before he had even touched her, yet now it felt as if that bond was unbreakable.
“I love you, Brennain,” she replied, and he leaned in to softly graze his lips across hers, his chest pressing against her sensitive breasts while his hips sped up more and more until they were both covered in a thin sheen of sweat. Her hands gripped his backside and she could feel his raw strength as he thrust deeper. The roughness of his beard dragged across her neck as he suckled on her throat, and he bit her shoulder slightly when his body tensed and shuddered, his grip on her hips almost painful in its intensity. He growled against her chest and her body arched and writhed beneath his, finding its release just as his did the same.
The room smelled of smoke, his familiar clove scent, and their love. Something primal hung in the air and she knew that was the residual effect of a soul-searing coupling that would leave her breathless with anticipation until he came back home to her and did it again.
“Are you all right?”
She laughed and kissed his crinkled, sweaty forehead. “What a thing to ask at a moment like this. Aye, I am more than all right. I have never been better.”
“Good. Then I have accomplished my greatest task in life. To satisfy my wife.”
She swatted his arm and smiled up at him. “I am not your wife just yet, Brennain.”
“In my heart, you are. Do not forget that.”
“Then, I shall confess that you have been my heart’s true husband since the moment I met you,” she whispered, and brushed his black hair away from his beautiful face.
“It was the same for me. I only wish I had been man enough to do something about it two years ago.”
“You did what you needed to do, Brennain. You had been ordered to Miathi to gather soldiers to fight for Tuathal… not bring home a bride. We needed those two years apart to know we belong together. It was difficult, and I missed you every day, but I am stronger for it. ‘Tis the only reason I know I shall survive your absence, for I have done so before.”
Brennain stroked her cheek with his knuckles and his gaze searched her features. “I never want you to feel as if you are merely surviving again. From this day forward, we live. Truly live. And I meant what I said before. Have a dress ready, for when I return, I plan on wasting nay time making you my wife in truth. And becoming Glennis’s papa.”
His words touched her in a way she could never describe, so she decided to lock them away in her heart and remember them always. He cared not only for her, but also for her daughter, wanted to be her father. That meant more to Morna than anything else he could have said.
“Then I shall find a wedding dress and wear it every day while you are gone, so I may be ready to wed you the moment you arrive.” She smiled when he grinned wickedly at her. “Och… get that look off your face. You need some sleep now. There will be nay more bed play until I am your wife.”
“Is that so?” Brennain growled playfully and flipped over onto his back, bringing her with him. She was suddenly straddling him, his erection once more pressed into her core as she sat atop him. His hands came up and twisted her nipples, making her arch and groan as the head of his cock pressed against her aching flesh. “Are you certain you cannot handle one more wee round, wife?” He cocked an arrogant brow, but she was no match for his charm, good looks, and sweet words.
“Oh, all right,” she sighed in feigned disinterest. “I suppose once more will do.” Pushing her hips down onto his manhood, she felt him fill her once more as his hands gripped her rear passionately and he grit his teeth and closed his eyes. “But just this once,” she teased, and she began to rock against him.
Chapter Fourteen
The cart rattled behind them, jolting violently and creaking over every rut or boulder in the road. The Treasure of Danu was hidden well beneath stacks of hay and sacks of grain, then covered and tied down with heavy linen tarps and rope to keep it secure. They had left several hours ago at the crack of dawn, without any breaks, but Brennain had no intention of stopping the cart, nor did Reaghan complain. Both were more than anxious to get this treasure where it belonged and off their hands.