by C. A. Storm
“Sam, you already met my mother, Victoria, and my youngest brother, Hugh. The young man on the left is my other brother, Thomas, and my uncle, Wilhelm.” His hand tightened briefly on her shoulder before he released a slow breath. “Thomas, Uncle Wilhelm, this is my anam cara, Samantha Kelly.”
Thomas looked like his younger brother, only he had filled out a bit, broader in the chest and shoulders, but with the same vivid blue eyes and shock of dark hair, with dark stubble shadowing his square jaw. At eighteen, he was extremely serious, with a steady gaze and quiet voice, as he dipped his head, “Bon jour, Samantha.”
Wilhelm was a hale, hearty man, with black hair gone gray at the temples and a close-cropped beard that emphasized strong features. He was a little taller than Rik was, a little more stoutly built, but his face was open and honest. Sam could read the hint of pain and resignation in his dark hazel eyes as he gave Rik and her a shallow nod. “Be welcome, Samantha, Rik,” he flashed a grin that was eerily reminiscent of Rik’s as he turned to nod at Bertie, “And Bertrand, my old friend. Please, accept our hospitality for as long as you may need. You are all welcome here, at any time.”
Bertie grunted, returning the grin reluctantly as he rumbled, “Thank you, Wil, Victoria.”
Rik grunted as well, particularly when Sam dug a sharp elbow into his stomach as she offered her brightest, friendliest smile, “Yes, thank you! It’s beautiful! Well, what I’ve seen of it, anyways.”
That, of course, led to a full tour of the Chalet. It was massive, with more than a dozen bedrooms—including ones that had been set aside for Rik, Clara, and Gen—two libraries, a kitchen that impressed even the taciturn Bertie, a game room, movie theater, and a deck that overlooked the Alps complete with a wet bar and two different hot tubs. Victoria kept up a stream of lively chatter, but Sam felt tension radiating from every one of them. By the time the tour had returned to the parlor, Sam had had enough.
They sat in the parlor, Rik's arm still firmly around her shoulder and Bertie just as firmly planted in the seat next to her. Wilhelm, Thomas, and Hugh all sat on the settee across from them. The men were all blandly staring at one another, making no effort to converse. Victoria nervously fluttered around, pouring tea into delicate porcelain cups and passing around a silver tray with lots of little nibblies.
Never a big tea drinker, Sam demurred both tea and cookies and pursed her lips. Drumming her fingers on Rik's taut leg, she glanced about the room, struggling to find something, anything, to break the tense silence.
"So, how about them Broncos?" she jokingly muttered half-under her breath, drawing a startled laugh from Rik.
Squeezing her shoulder, Rik whispered in her ear, "Football season is over, ma petite flamme. It's baseball season."
"Ugh," Hugh groaned, "American football and baseball suck."
Thomas nodded, his expression serious and intent as he said, "Yes. Rugby's much more intense. Ireland has done quite well in the European Rugby Cup this year, with Leinster and Munster making it to the semi-finals in two weeks." He shrugged, "The Saracens from England and our Clermont team are also doing quite well."
Victoria gazed between her youngest sons in consternation as they began arguing over who they favored, Hugh was cheering for England with Thomas going France all the way. Sam felt the need to pipe in, "Nah, Ireland all the way. Erin go bragh, brah!"
The younger Leon boys turned on her, both loudly going on about stats, hookers, flankers, tries, until Sam's head spun. Holding up her hands defensively, she admitted, "I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm not really into sports, except for football...er, American football, I guess, because that's what my father and brothers are all obsessed with. Oh! And I watched a couple of women's rugby games during the Olympics!"
The matching looks of utter disgust on Thomas and Hugh's faces made Sam laugh.
"In that case, you should come and see Leinster play Clermont at Stade Gerland," Wilhelm offered with a knowing grin. "It's two weeks from today, in Lyon."
Rik shook his head, "That's the last Sunday before the Village opens for the season. It would be difficult to get away."
"Oh, that's right," Sam said, slumping in disappointment. Then she perked up, "You guys should come to opening weekend!"
Once more, an uncomfortable silence fell over the room. At least until Sam once again unleashed her Elbow of Doom into Rik's ribcage.
His breath exploding in a rush, Rik gave Sam a Look—which she totally shrugged off—but as he rubbed his sore ribs, he turned to his mother and Wilhelm. He even managed to sound sincere as he said, "Yes, please. I know it's been awhile since you've been back to the Estates, and I think the boys would really enjoy the Village."
See? He could be trained!
Oops, she must have said that out loud, because Sam found herself the center of a bunch of smirking faces. Ducking her head to hide the onslaught of Sudden Blushing Syndrome, Sam cleared her throat loudly, "I mean, could I have some coffee, Victoria, please? Apparently, my brain's still asleep."
"But your mouth is wide awake, baby," Rik huskily whispered into her ear, eliciting a shiver from her. Stupid pregnancy hormones! And yes, she was well aware it was too early for hormones to have kicked in, but if she was knocked up, she was going to milk that excuse for all she was worth—starting now!
Thankfully, after that, conversation flowed a bit easier, more naturally. Rik's mother was a sweetheart, and his uncle, while gruff, was obviously trying his best to make them feel at ease. The boys were hilarious, each in their own ways. Thomas was sardonic, serious, and wielded sarcasm like a whip. Hugh was more outgoing and gregarious, always ready with a joke or a well-timed jibe aimed at either older brother. From the looks he occasionally sent her way, he also apparently had a little bit of a crush on her, which Sam found more adorable than words could say.
Finally, Rik leveraged himself to his feet and offered Sam his hand up. Placing his hand on the small of her back as she stood beside him, he dipped his head. "Maman, thank you for tea, and for healing my anam cara, though none was apparently necessary."
Victoria came forward and wrapped both he and Sam in a warm hug. "Non, my son and new daughter, you are always welcome here, and if you ever need me, call." She smiled knowingly, "I'm your mother, call anyways. I like to hear your voice, even if its groaning in disgust at something I've said."
"Yes, Maman," Rik said—and yes, it held that whining groan all children developed not long after they spoke their first word—as he kissed her upturned cheek.
Wilhelm came forward then and offered his hand to Rik. After only the briefest of moments, and before Sam could do much more than ready her elbow—just in case—Rik accepted the older Sidhe's grip. "Oncle Wil, thank you for your hospitality."
The boys came forward then. Thomas offered Rik his hand, only for Sam to pull the serious young man in for a warm hug. Hugh was more than happy to get his turn to hug Sam, and Sam had to stifle a giggle as she caught Rik's glare at the smirking teenager.
"What are your plans?" Victoria asked them.
Sam looked up to find Rik looking down at her, a question on his face. She gave him a small nod, and he smiled before looking back at his mother. "If you don't mind, we'll stay another few days. Unfortunately, I've got to work and Sam has a new job she needs to start, or her boss will have to have words with her."
"Hey!" Sam interjected, "From what I understand, Clara's going to be my boss."
With a sly grin, Rik kissed the tip of her nose. "Mm-hmm, baby, she is, she is..." He was way too smug.
"It's his signature on our checks," Bertie said calmly. "Clara and Gen run the Estates, but they fall under Cœur de Lyon Enterprises..."
Rik laughed at the disgust on Sam's face. Holding up placating hands, he said smoothly, "Baby, it all balances out. I mean, once you put a ring on it, you'll be the boss of me, so we can take turns bossing each other around."
"Count on it," Sam said, much to everyone's amusement.
The next few days p
assed in a beautiful blur. The Chateau was located in Vallorcine, near the border of Switzerland and with an unobstructed, breathtaking view of Lac d'Èmosson. A tiny municipality, away from the bustle of the more popular tourist and ski resorts of Chamonix, the isolated location gave Sam and Rik plenty of alone time together.
The two even managed to actually start getting to know one another, and totally did not spend more than half of their time awake having sex or making love. No, seriously, they didn't! Stop laughing.
Unfortunately, the real world outside kept intruding. Rik had to take a few video conference calls, although Lizzie was more than capable of running most of the company without him having to lift a finger—something he grumbled about. There were also near-constant phone calls, text messages, and even emails all to Rik's phone, as their combined family and friends checked up on them.
On their last night at the Château, Sam stood at the balcony of their room, taking in the sight of the moonlight reflecting off the clear blue waters of Èmosson. Rik came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her, his large hands once more finding their place splayed over her stomach as he nestled her against his warm body.
"What are you thinking, ma petite flamme?" His breath was warm against her ear, and her shiver was entirely due to that and not the cool, crisp Alpine breeze.
Resting her hands atop of his, Sam looked down to where their hands were joined. Their marks had not changed at all in the last few days, and frankly that worried her.
"I'm worried this is all just a dream, a fairy tale," she finally admitted.
Rik rested his chin on top of her head as he rocked her in his strong arms. "Nope, I'm afraid I'm stuck with you. You won my hand in fair combat, after all. That quite ruined my prospects at any political marriages. I'm tarnished goods. A ruined man. No other would accept me for my scandalous reputation. You..."
The son-of-a-Sidhe would have kept on with all that if Sam hadn't have turned around in his arms and leaned up to press her lips against his. To shut him up, of course. No other reason. Of course, that could be because reason and rationality completely deserted her the moment their lips met. Either way, it totally shut him up.
Pulling her lips away, Sam looked up into his glowing eyes, more emerald than amber today. He was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. And the goofball made her silly happy. She studied his eyes intently for a few moments before she leaned forward and pressed her lips against his chest, right over his heart.
"I love you. I'm going to love and annoy you forever. You have my heart and you are my soul. I want to share an eternity loving you."
Chapter 40
Rik froze. A spark danced in his chest, rapidly expanding upward and outward, liquid heat blazing through his body. Throwing his head back, a guttural cry of triumph and ecstasy tore from his soul, a primal note that merged with a sweet, passionate cry from Sam as the magic wove through their joined bodies.
Conscious thought was gone. He would never fully be able to recall how they got from the balcony back into the bedroom, of tearing each other's clothing off. But he would never, ever forget the first sight of their completed mark.
With trembling fingers, Rik traced the roaring, sunlit lion's head that now rested atop Sam's left breast. The mane was strands of coppery fire and brilliant golden sunlight, it's eyes a vivid emerald that seemed alive. Emerging from beneath the lion's mane, underneath its jaw, was a ruby heart. The whole was surrounded by a Celtic knotwork design of intertwined rose vines, with both deep red and amber blossoms that grew up over her shoulder, down to wrap around her arm. The vines thinned out toward her wrist, until only a single vine continued over the back of her hand. At the base of her left ring finger, a single rose bloomed, golden at the heart and blushing to pink at the edges.
His tattoo was a near perfect reflection of hers, although instead of a male lion over his heart, he had a fierce, fiery red she-wolf with storm-gray eyes, and the rose at the bottom of his left ring finger was copper at the center, bleeding to gold at the edges.
More than the physical, outward manifestation, however, Rik could feel Sam's presence within him. A constant, warm glow that pulsed in tune to his own heartbeat. A mystical, soul-deep bond that could not be seen, only felt. And it made him the happiest fucking man on Earth.
Sam's small hands were cool against his feverish flesh as she stroked over the mark that covered his left pectoral, while her other hand wrapped around the insatiable organ that damn near purred at her touch. Pushing back against his chest, Rik let her lead him backward to the bed, where he sat down at the edge. As he reached for her, however, she shook her head and knelt between his spread legs.
When her lips grazed the swollen glans of his cock, Rik tangled one hand in her thick hair as he hissed between clenched teeth. He had no words. They were all gone, stolen by the delightful minx as she wrapped those sweet lips around his shaft.
Fisting her hair in his hands, Rik watched avidly as Sam slowly licked the length of him, tasting his flesh and suckling upon him as if greedy for the taste of him. The sight of her glorious copper hair spread over his thighs, of her passion-glazed eyes looking up at him to gauge his reactions, nearly had him exploding within seconds. Her hands gripped his flexing ass, blunt nails digging in to him as she pressed into him. When he felt his heavy sac resting atop her breasts, he had to pull her off of him with a muttered oath.
Before she could verbalize the pout he saw on her lips, he crushed his lips to hers. He could taste himself on her, and it gave him a thrill knowing she craved him as much as he craved her. Pulling her up, he lifted her bodily into his lap, so he could bury his face between those breasts he fucking adored.
As her hands came to rest on his shoulders, he licked his way up over her collarbone as he guided the moist entrance to her body up along his thick cock. Placing his lips over the faint hickey that still remained from where he had marked her earlier in the week, he growled and lapped hungrily at the mark as he began to lower her slowly, but firmly onto his throbbing arousal.
He pulled her down on him, steadily but unrelenting, as his cock gladly burrowed its way into her already slick body. When she wrapped her legs around him, he palmed her ass and strained upward, fully seating himself inside of her until he could go no further.
Planting his feet, Rik wrapped an arm around the small of Sam's back and surged upward. Sam's back arched, a strangled cry escaping her as he stood upright, bracing her in place. Oh, look...such pretty breasts just begging for his mouth. Always eager to please, Rik took ruthless advantage of those up-thrust beauties, suckling greedily on a pert, pink nipple.
Blunt nails clawed at his back as Rik twisted, bearing Sam down on the bed until he was nestled between her spread thighs. Hands gripping her hips, he held her up as he began to drive into her, filled with the clawing, relentless hunger to possess every part of her. When he felt her inner walls contracting around him, he ground himself deep inside of her, muffling her cries with his lips as his own sob released as he swelled and exploded within her.
The scent of sweet strawberries and wild roses filled the air, mingling with fresh cedar and sandalwood as the entire room was bathed with the golden glow rippling through their joined flesh. The room faded away, leaving the two bodies straining toward release lost in a world of their own creation. Throughout the night, they came together. Never resting, never pausing, filled with an insatiable hunger for one another.
It was fierce and quick. It was sweet and gentle. Time held no meaning as their hearts and minds, bodies and souls, were eternally intertwined.
Dawn found them wrapped around one another, their hands gently stroking one another, lips softly sharing sweet, gentle kisses. Resting his forehead against hers, staring deep into eyes a soft gray, Rik whispered, "I love you."
"I know," Sam said solemnly, then giggled when his hand weakly slapped her ass, causing her to wriggle weakly against him. "Nooo," she whined. "Okay! I love you, too, jerkface."
"Jerkface?" Ri
k growled against her neck before he blew a loud, wet raspberry that sent her squirming to escape.
"Dick?" she offered considerately.
"Yes," Rik said evenly as he pressed his poor, wrung out, exhausted cock against her thigh. "He's just a bit tired right now, but he sends his love."
Laughing weakly, Sam buried her face in his chest. Stroking her back, Rik nuzzled the top of her head with a contented grin and a deep, happy sigh.
"We have to go home, don't we?" Sam asked, her voice muffled as she kissed the wolf over his heart.
"Yeah, we do," Rik reluctantly admitted. "We've got a lot of stuff we should be doing, but..." He leaned back, lifting her chin with a crooked finger so he could give her a small smile, "But, we'll figure things out. We've got eternity to get things right, ma petite flamme. Besides, if we don't get Bertie back home, I'm afraid we'll never tear him away from my mother's kitchen."
"True...and I'm honestly surprised the Ginger Brigade hasn't invaded the Alps yet," Sam chuckled when Rik groaned and flopped back on the bed, throwing an arm over his eyes.
Sam gently patted his chest as she rested her cheek against his shoulder. Rik reached up, entwining his fingers with hers and pressing it over his heart as he studied her face from beneath the shadow of his arm. As she closed her eyes, relaxing into a light slumber, he continued to watch her beautiful face.
Other issues awaited them back home. Although he and Sam had discussed his world, spoke of the Sidhe and the Fae, of the other Uncanny beings and the Otherworlds, he had avoided talk of politics, of the secret machinations—both subtle and overt—that made up the world hidden from Mortals.
Someone had put Evie, wittingly or not, against his cara. Someone who had had an interest in Rik's love life for quite some time, apparently.
Killian Sinclair was an entirely unknown variable introduced to the upper echelons of Fae politics, officially accepting leadership of the ragtag Gray Fae from the hands of Audrick Gunvald, the eldest known dragon still involved in the world's affairs.