“There’s a lake close by. Would ye like to go for a swim?” she asked.
Dust flew as he brushed his hands against his thighs. He laughed and nodded. “That would be great.”
The sun enveloped them in a warm glow when they stepped out of the barn, forcing Neala to squint against its brilliance. If she wasn’t already overheated from working so hard, it would have felt wonderful.
“Tis the perfect day for a swim,” Donal said as they started down the path that led into the forest.
“Ye like the water then?”
A big smile spread across his face, so full of joy that it compelled Neala to smile as well. “I love it. But we’ve been talkin’ about me all mornin’. What about ye, what do ye like to do?” he asked.
The question took her by surprise and she gaped at him for a moment like she was daft, which was exactly what she felt like. She wasn’t used to people asking her about herself, especially boys. Even Bren hadn’t asked her much about herself.
“Well, I love to swim, and…” she hesitated, not sure if she wanted to admit the next part.
“And?” Donal prompted.
“I enjoy fightin’. It sounds wrong after listenin’ to yer stories this mornin’. People die and it’s terrible, but I don’t know… it just feels like it’s what I was meant to do,” she finally said.
He reached over and took her hand in his, surprising her so much that she almost tripped over a twig. She recovered well enough that he didn’t even seem to notice. The feel of his hand, so big and strong, wrapped around hers, was enough to make her want to melt. It was more than that though. There was a charge coming from him that made her think of a lightning storm. Only this was lightning that she wanted desperately to be touched by.
“It’s not wrong at all. Ye’re a warrior druid, tis yer nature,” he said.
Hearing it put like that stirred up something Neala wasn’t used to feeling where her power was concerned; pride. Her eyes stung and her throat clenched. Overcome by a powerful sense of connection to this dark stranger, she had to look away. If he saw such a thing in her eyes what would he think? He started to let go of her hand and she clenched all the tighter. Embarrassed or not, she wasn’t ready to lose contact with him.
After a few hard swallows, she found her voice. “I’ve never met anyone who understands what it’s like.”
Reaching over with his free hand, Donal brushed a finger along her arm. It was a light, wonderful touch that sent shivers running to her core and made her turn and look at him. “We share the same nature, ye and I. Tisn’t wrong to fight for what ye believe in and to protect what is yers. Twas something yer brother understood as well,” he said.
His brow furrowed deep and pain darkened his eyes, eyes that matched the forest around them. Recognition stirred to life but Neala had not time to decipher why, not considering what he had said.
“Me parents told me Lorcan wouldn’t have wanted that life for me, wouldn’t have wanted me to be a warrior. Do ye know how he really felt about it?” she asked.
Donal’s gaze shifted to the sun-dappled path ahead of them and he chewed at his bottom lip as if fighting to keep the words in. His fingers interwove with hers as they walked until their palms were touching in a way that managed to be both casual and intimate. Part of her wondered if it was appropriate to be holding the hand of a young man she had only met yesterday but she ignored the thought. He was a friend of her brother’s who was comforting her, that was all. Comforting and distracting her.
“Please tell me, Donal.”
He let out a long breath and met her gaze for a moment. “Lorcan told me a lot about ye and yer family. He said he tried to prepare ye as much as yer parents would allow.”
“Go on,” she prompted.
“He knew it was what ye were, he knew it was the only thing yer heart would allow ye to be, just like him. It was yer parents that didn’t want that life for either of ye. Lorcan was proud of ye and he wanted ye to be who ye wanted to be,” he said.
The strength drained from her, forcing Neala to stop walking. “Truly? He said that? He talked about me?” she whispered.
Though she was never one to cry over anything, she couldn’t stop the tears that welled up in her eyes. Lorcan had been the center of her world and hearing that he wanted her to embrace who she was meant everything. The moisture in her eyes blinded her and her knees started to give out. Powerful arms wrapped around her, catching her with ease.
Sobs shook her body as she let herself really cry for the first time since Lorcan’s death over three years ago. All that time she had been fighting to hold it in and stay strong, for her parents’ sakes more than hers. Something about Donal made her feel like it was finally all right to let go. He held her close while she cried, not only with his arms, but also with his power. It wrapped around her much like hers had wrapped around Ciara when she’d been trying to keep her from falling over the cliff. There was a comfort and strength to his power unlike anything she’d ever felt. Clearly, he wasn’t a druid, but he was certainly more than he appeared to be.
“He would have been so proud of ye, of how much ye love yer home, yer family, and that ye want to fight to protect them,” Donal said in a soothing tone as he stroked her hair.
The words brought her focus back to her brother, back to what she had lost, and brought a fresh wave of tears. She stopped thinking about Donal and his kindness and gave herself over to her grief. It consumed her completely, pulling powerful sobs from deep within her. Along with the sobs, all of her pain and anger were wrenched up as well, dredged from her soul, leaving it feeling cleaner somehow.
When the tears finally stopped she felt completely spent, but lighter at the same time. Until that moment she hadn’t realized how heavy the grief she’d been holding onto had been. Reluctantly, she drew away sniffling and wiped at her eyes. She could have stayed wrapped in his arms all day—wanted to in fact—but he had already held her so long that she felt like she was imposing. Donal’s tunic was damp with the moisture from her tears, making it cling to the planes of his chest. Seeing that only made her feel worse.
“Oh no, I’m so sorry,” she said.
He reached down to where her hands rested upon his chest and took hold of them.
“Don’t be. I’m sorry what I said upset ye,” he said.
Neala shook her head and looked down at their clasped hands. “Twasn’t ye. I’m glad ye told me. Me parents don’t talk about him, ever. They think it makes it easier, but it doesn’t. It only makes it harder.”
Keeping hold of one of her hands, Donal started down the path again. “Everyone grieves in their own way. I’m sorry ye had to go through it alone,” he said in a soft voice.
Thinking of Dubh, Neala smiled. “I haven’t exactly been alone. And now ye’re here,” she turned her smile on him.
The creases that wrinkled Donal’s nose smoothed and his face lit up as though his eyes were glowing. For a moment Neala actually thought they were, but her vision was so blurry from crying, she realized that was probably all it was. As much as she might wish it otherwise, Donal was a normal human, not a druid. She blinked a few times and his eyes looked normal again. A vulnerable look crept into them, one that was oh so enticing.
“I am indeed. Now let’s go for that swim, shall we?” he asked.
“We shall,” she said as she nearly skipped along to keep pace with his long legs.
The trees soon gave way to the tangle of underbrush that surrounded much of the lake shore. A slight breeze blew off the deep blue water, blowing strands of her hair back and drying the tears that remained on her cheeks. It took the edge off the heat of the sun that blazed down upon them out of a clear blue sky. Picking up her pace to take the lead, Neala took them down the well worn path that wove through the vines and bushes. Despite his size, Donal maneuvered the narrow path with impressive stealth, emerging onto the rocky lake shore without so much as a scratch.
“Tis beautiful here,” Donal said.
Fi
nding the rock where she kept the bar of soap hidden, Neala sat down and unlaced her boots. “Tis me favorite place.”
The smooth blue surface that stretched across the horizon drew her gaze. She and Lorcan had spent many summers here cooling off after their chores. Bringing Donal here seemed right somehow. Memories danced vividly behind her eyes as she set her boots aside and stood to remove her breeches. Just before pushing them over her hips she paused to make sure Donal wasn’t looking. Her tunic was long enough that it would reach mid-thigh, but still, she had never worn so little in front of a man. Accept for the time in the cave with Bren, and that hadn’t exactly turned out well.
Back turned, Donal already had one leg out of his breeches. He had on tan linen drawers but they barely went past the curve of his buttocks, leaving very little of his muscular, dark-skinned body to the imagination. The sight of him pulled at her power and sent a warm flush through her body. She swallowed down the expletive that sprung upon her tongue just before it could leave her mouth.
Donal turned his head just enough that she could see the crooked smile upon his lips. “Hey now, if I don’t get to peek, neither do ye,” he said.
What, had he felt her eyes upon him? Neala cringed and quickly turned away. “Well, ye could warn a lass, ye know,” she said.
“What fun would that be?”
He tossed his breeches aside and took off running for the water.
Shaking her head, Neala dropped her breeches, removed the tie from her hair, shook it out, and jogged after him. The shock of the cold water didn’t even slow her down. She ran right into it, knowing that plunging past the sensitive parts was the best way to get it over with. Just ahead, Donal reached the point where the lake bottom dropped and opened up to the deep water. Rather than fall into it as she thought he might, he dove as if he had seen it coming. Wonderful, cool water flowed around her as she swam after Donal’s splashing feet.
They swam out until the shore was only a distant line on the horizon, Donal keeping pace with her all the way. Relaxing, Neala took a deep breath and floated effortlessly on the surface. Donal treaded water beside her, his black hair floating about him. A nearly overwhelming desire to touch his hair, his broad shoulders, or the curve of his jaw, swept over her.
The pull that drew her to him was terribly hard to resist and was profoundly confusing. She barely knew this young man, how could she feel so drawn to him? It felt as though her very power was betraying Bren.
“Now that’s not fair,” he said.
Her attention snapped back to Donal and all thoughts of Bren faded. “And what’s that?”
Arms fanning out to her sides, Neala enjoyed the feel of the water beneath her fingertips. It helped to keep her hands busy, else she feared they would find their way to Donal.
“With all this muscle I can’t float like ye can,” he said.
She gave him a look of mock surprise. “Are ye callin’ me fat?”
Eyebrows lifting in an appreciative look, Donal’s eyes traveled the length of her body. Their weight was almost as tantalizing as she imagined his hands would be.
“Certainly not. Ye’re a beautifully built lass. Tis just that yer jabs help ye float,” he said as he wiggled his eyebrows.
“Donal!”
She let her body sink under the surface and splashed water at him.
Laughing, they swam circles around each other as they splashed and teased. His big hands threw a lot more water than she could. Not to be outdone, she lunged forward, placed both hands upon his head, and dunked him under. He didn’t come back up and she couldn’t feel him in the water around her. She held as still as she could and tried to look down into the water. The rocky lake bottom about ten feet down was all she could see.
Hands wrapped around her feet and a powerful pressure launched her up, out of the water, and tossed her. A squeal slipped from her as she flew a few feet into the air before falling back into the water. She surfaced to find Donal backstroking lazily toward the shore, laughing so hard it was a wonder he stayed afloat.
“How did ye do that?” she asked.
Donal kept laughing and swimming away. His arms worked rhythmically in a perfect backstroke, legs barely kicking. Water cascaded over his dark skin. It plastered his short linen drawers to him, revealing curves of his body that made her heart race. The lake no longer seemed cold enough.
Pushing her face down into the water to help cool it, she swam after him. Pouring a bit of power into her arms, she used it to help her catch up and swim alongside him. It was easier to cool her blush when all she had to look at was his face. An adorable smirk curved one edge of his full lips upward and he winked when he caught her looking.
The shore loomed close by. Had they really been swimming that fast? How had he been able to keep pace with her while she’d been using her power? It shouldn’t have been possible. Letting her feet sink, she felt the rocky lake bottom beneath her. Chest barely above the water, she stood and watched as Donal backstroked a slow, lazy circle around her. That adorable smirk didn’t leave his face until he stopped and stood before her. The surface of the water lapped at his waist, drawing her eye down to his belly button and the hem of his drawers just below it. She stopped breathing as her eyes traveled up his dark chest, settling on the knotwork necklace that rested between his defined pectorals.
Now that she looked closer at the necklace she was certain it was almost identical to Bren’s. There was an extra ring of knots around the center knot that made it slightly different. Aside from that, the craftsmanship was the same.
“Where did ye get this?” she asked.
Though his lips pulled up into a smile, there was a deep sadness in his eyes. “From me da. It means—”
“Family,” she interrupted.
“Táteaghlaugh,” he said as he wrapped his hand around hers.
Yes, family.
The warmth of his hand, coupled with the way his voice deepened when he spoke in the old tongue, sent a shiver through her body. There had been something else she wanted to ask but it was swept away in a flood of desire when Donal let go of her hands and slid his arms around her waist.
His chest warmed against hers and she realized it was his power rising. In it were all the things she held dear, home, a wonderful, fierce spirit, and love. Her eyes locked onto his and she couldn’t look away. It wasn’t the lovely dark green color or the long lashes, it was the light that shone from within.
“I feel like I’ve known ye me whole life, how is that?” she asked.
She looked up into his eyes and was swept into their dark green vortex. It felt as though she was touching his soul and it was the most beautiful, wild thing she had ever felt. Without thinking about it, her arms snaked up around his neck. Her power surged within her, reaching out for his. It was a strange, wonderful feeling.
“I feel the same way, and tis more than just the stories yer brother told me. There’s somethin’ about ye that pulls at me and won’t let go,” he said.
It was as though he had plucked the words from her mind. “Exactly,” she agreed.
Those beautiful eyes closed, long lashes seeming to brush his cheeks. Even without the vortex of his gaze, she was still drawn to him. Using her grip about his neck, and the weightlessness the water gave her, she pulled herself up to meet him as he bent down. Their lips brushed and the most amazing tingling poured over Neala and spread down through the rest of her body. The kiss deepened as they clung to one another. Gently, Donal parted her lips with his and his power filled her mouth. It was warm, rich, and sweet, but it was also like air; something she had to have.
Unbidden and uncontrollable, Neala’s power rose within her, surging up to meet with his. Even if she could have stopped it, she didn’t want to. It felt like she was at the mercy of a force of nature; her own. She was caught up in the perfect storm of physical and mental sensations as their power mingled. Bumps rose along every bit of her skin, making her acutely aware of her thin tunic being the only thing between their upper b
odies.
Chest heaving, Donal drew back and leaned his forehead to hers. She kept her hands locked tight around his neck, not wanting him to pull away any further. Considering how pushy Bren always was, it surprised her that Donal could be so restrained. Surprised, and delighted.
“What was that?” Neala asked in a breathy voice that made her blush.
He drew back just enough to look at her. There was a definite glow behind his green eyes, she was sure of it now. Not only did she see it, but she could feel it. Her power was still connected to his, as if by the two mingling they had somehow become a part of each other.
“That was the bondin’,” he said in a hesitant voice.
“But I’m already bonded to an Order.”
A shy look came over Donal and he glanced down. “Not the Order bondin’, the pair bondin’. I didn’t mean for it to happen, I only meant to kiss ye.” His voice was the barest of a whisper.
Neala’s brows pulled down in confusion as she tried to make sense of his words. “Wait, do ye mean, like a couple?” Surprisingly, the idea didn’t bother her. On some level she thought it should, but not even thoughts of Bren could bring it to. Maybe it was because she was wrapped in a warm blanket of Donal’s power, or maybe it was because he was such a gentleman where Bren wasn’t.
He moved a strand of hair off her brow and slowly ran the back of his hand down the side of her face. She leaned into his touch, her eyes fluttered closed. Like the sweetest of aphrodisiacs, she craved his touch, both of his skin and his power. How could she feel this way after one kiss?
“Exactly like that,” he said, his deep voice rolling over her in a way that made her breath catch.
Neala was fairly certain her ma would hate the idea of her bonding with Donal much more than a rival clan member. But if her power had already chosen for her, was there any going back? And more importantly, did she even want to?
“But how is this possible, ye aren’t a druid. I thought me power would only bond me to another druid.”
Eyes flicking away, Donal chewed on his bottom lip. “That’s not exactly true. Yer power can bond to any magical creature.”
To Ride A Púca Page 23