by Sara K
"What did you tell them?"
Michael laughed gently "They welcome you. Go to them, Clara." looking into his face she could see the slight amusement in his eyes. Clara let out a deep breath, her eyes wandering over the black wolves. They stared at her friendly without regarding her as food. It relaxed her but only a little. Digging her nails into her palm, Clara stepped forward and reluctantly touched one of the wolves. Then the other.
"See that wasn’t so hard. There is no need to be afraid of them." Michael said from behind. She thought she heard him giggle. Turning her head she glared at him. It was easy for him to say. Someone who lived for a long time in his bizarre world.
Clara climbed onto Michael’s back. It was weird. If she was riding a horse it would be easier she would have more leverage controlling a horse. But a wolf, she wasn’t so sure.
Told on to me tight. Do not let go. Michael instructed forcefully, she clearly heard the hint of fear in his voice. Did he think she would fall off?
Soon the three wolves were racing across the dark, dense forest. Michael leading at the front, his companions on either side of him. For Clara the trees, the forest became a blur, the wind picked up speed brushing more harshly against her naked skin. Her midnight black hair flew in the wind creating a carefree feeling in her. Closing her eyes she absorbed the scent of the forest, the thudding footsteps of the wolves. She suddenly felt more alive, alert at the race. The faster the speed continued the more reckless she felt. Holding on to Michael's neck as he sped across the forest floor in a breakneck speed, with his companions either side of him. She enjoyed the thrill. A new experience that heightened her senses and cleared her mind.
For half an hour they rode through as sole owners of the forest, Michael didn’t stop neither did he talk to her telepathically. She figured he was concentrating and she didn’t want to break his line of concentration by interrupting him. She continued the ride exhilarating at first until she felt the waves of dizziness and nauseous hit her hard. Her head came down, her eyes closed and her chin rested against her chest…
Clara did not see the huge boulder in front, her white wolf jumped to avoid hitting it, Clara let go of the wolves neck as it tilted to avoid the boulder. And then she was flying through the air, with a thud landed on the ground. Everything stopped, stood still. She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t move. Time stood still for a fraction of a second…
Michael noticed immediately as Clara’s grip on him loosened and she fell. He halted immediately and rushed towards where she lay absolutely still. He transformed back into human body and knelt beside her, taking her hand he looked down at her closed eyes. The stillness of her drove him insane, his fangs lengthened in anger and he roared into the night. He should never have brought her with him. He ought to have left her home, where she should have been safe. Once again he had brought her to death.
"Clara”. He whispered in anguish. He lifted her in his arms, holding her flat. Then the most miraculous thing happened. Her mouth parted, she sucked in oxygen and he saw her chest rise and fall. Her eyes followed opening painfully. He never felt so relieved as he sat on a rock and placed her in his lap.
"Michael…" she uttered his name painfully.
"What hurts, sweetheart. Tell me." he urged.
She winced as he moved his hand down her back. "Everything."
Michael hugged her to his chest, tenderly. He clearly saw the dark bruises. She was hurting he felt her pain in her body. Very gently he assessed her damage; fortunately nothing was broken however the bruises that marred her skin were inescapable. He uttered a curse and turned back to the wolves that stood quietly feeling his despair. He sent a command and they left. Michael stood with Clara in his arms and went to the pool in the mountains.
"I am so sorry, honey." He told her angrily, his eyes flashing with remorse. "I make mistakes and I cannot keep you safe."
"Not your…fault." She replied wincing as the pain resided over her body.
"This accident could have killed you." he roared, lowering her in the hot watered pool. Reaching under a rock he pulled out herbs and ointments crushed them with his hand and threw them in the pool." I should have been prepared."
"I love you… Michael." The words flowed freely. Tears shimmered in her eyes." I didn’t think I was capable of loving anyone or being intimate but with you…"
"That's because you belong to me. Only me." he kissed her passionately traced his hand down her body.
"Promise me something." Clara said breathlessly.
"The world."
"Don’t blame yourself for whatever misfortune that's fallen upon me. I want you to remember what you rescued me from. I want you to remember the different life you gave me."
"Clara…"
She placed her fingers on his lips." I'm not finished yet. I forgive you for whatever you think I should hate you for. I love only you. Not your past or your demons." Grabbing his hand she placed it over her heart. "In here I know you would never intentionally hurt me. I want you to stop hating yourself for not protecting me, for causing me misery." She smiled up at him. Tears gleamed over her eyelids. "The amount of protection and happiness you've given me is endless. You've made me happy, shown me what love was. Restored feelings." The tears slipped down her cheeks. Her voice filled with emotion she said. "With you I feel the darkness and pain in my heart disappearing every day."
His gaze was burning, possessive, his face hard and edgy with need as he found her lips and kissed her softly. "You are the most precious thing to me. You are so forgiving, affectionate. I don’t deserve you."
Clara laughed lightly. "I don’t think I deserve you either. But here we are."
"How do you feel, honey." He asked massaging the nape of her neck.
"Like I've been run over by a truck. My head hurts I need painkillers."
"You took quite a fall." He said quietly.
She sent him a disapproving glare. "No dwelling."
He laughed and she reached out and stroked his chest. Throwing an arm around his neck, she lowered his head and kissed him severely. Her lips moved over his and she breathed him in. "Make love to me, Michael." She whispered in to his mouth. He nodded and slid into the pool, Clara leaned her head back against his arms and relaxed. He set her on the edge of the pool. Drew her legs out of the water and covered them with kisses, finding every little bruise, every hurt and licking her skin easing her pain.
"Lie down on the rock." She watched the water trickle down the lean, muscled contours of his body. He grabbed her by the waist and lifted her easily. He trapped her eyes in his, he trapped the very air in her lungs and she wondered frantically how he did it. With a kiss, a touch, with the timbre of his voice he reduced her to a quivering mush. He made her want to fling open every door and give him everything she had. His power over her was terrifying but still she lay back on the tilted rock, breathless with excitement. He ran his hands hungrily over her wet, steaming body until they closed over her entrance. He was gentle, exquisitely gentle
He was claiming her. She felt the possessive authority with which he handled her body, but she was in no position to protest as his tongue swirled inside her. She let her head fall back, staring at the candles. She sobbed with unbearable perfection of as he pushed her over the crest. He gathered her into his arms and lowered her body back into the water, cradling her in his strong arms until her tremors melted away. She clung to him for a long time, her face hidden against this neck. With the tremors subsided and a loneliness settled between her legs. She moved again clinging on to him. She pushed against him hungrily for more, her breasts rubbed against his chest. Reaching for his erection she slid all the way up the solid length of him bathing him in her slick, sultry juices and sank down at the same moment that he gripped her hips and drove himself upwards into her channel, the moist heated gripped him, welcomed him.
She dug her fingers into his back as each powerful thrust filled her emptiness and a terrifying pleasure burst from her. She never dreamed there was so much sen
sation deep inside her lying dormant for him. The mouth of her womb pulsed with energy, every cell in her body pulsed with heat and desire. She felt him, thicken, and enlarge as he penetrated her womb, completing her. Endless hours passed and he never retired from his task as he repeatedly filled her, groaned against her neck in pleasure caressed her wet, slick skin and she clung on to him giving him her soul. She felt the moment he reached his climax; he shuddered slamming into her as hot lightening ignited against their bare skin.
Clara felt explosion inside her, bathing her. He trembled, circled her waist gently bringing her against his hard, broadened chest.
"I cannot get enough." He whispered against the pulse in her neck. His tongue slid up and down her throat and she wondered whether he was hungry. He hadn't left her side tonight. Clara lifted her lips to his mouth and kissed him deeply, whilst her hands stroked his beautiful face. He caught her hand, took her fingers inside her mouth nibbling gently making her gasp.
"You are insatiable." She told him, shaking her head at him. Her lips curled into a smile. "But I love you nevertheless." He captured her mouth in his kissing her deeply, their bodies responded with intimacy and hunger, Clara felt heat wash over her in waves of a tide. He explored her mouth, his tongue stroking the inside she gasped and kissed him furiously thrusting her tongue in his mouth her hands wandered over his muscled body. Then the earth rocked beneath them in a shattering never-ending climax.
Chapter 30: A NEW BEGINNING
Two weeks later Cassie had fully recovered her ordeal and for that, Clara was grateful. After recent events, life was calmer and more ordinary. Clara’s life had changed for the better and her feelings grew towards Michael at each passing day. Her heart was lighter and emotionally she felt happier and satisfied. They had discussed their future, drew out life plans, and planned a new beginning.
Michael decided he wanted to marry her in a human ceremony. Clara on the other hand was contemplating Immortality, a decision that could only be granted solely by the Immortal High Council when they presented their case together in the next few weeks.
On an evening out together Michael and Clara had come across a wailing cry of a baby, they were shocked to discover a baby girl merely a few days old in a dumpster. Clara’s heart had ached painfully and memories of her lost childhood resurfaced. She had immediately connected to the abandoned baby. Clara, seeing herself in the eyes of the baby girl decided to keep the child despite Michael’s warning of the consequences attached to her decision when many childless couples would be thrilled to adopt. Clara later named the baby Grace Paige Edmund.
Now Clara stood on the veranda with Grace in her arms, Michael stood beside her his arm circling her waist. They stared into the twilight sky as they silently bid farewell to another day. Michael kissed the top of Clara’s head and softly brushed his fingertips down Grace’s cheek. Clara smiled. She had a family now. She had a future. Every day her heart repaired a little because Clara knew she had finally come home.