“Wow…” Alex came to stand beside him, wiping sea water from arms and legs.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Her whisper held awe at a vista she had only ever
dreamed of. With a bemused nod, the Bard ran an arm over her shoulder dropping his chin
to rest on a wet head.
“If you are thinking this is the place we build our home? Then Aye...” Releasing the horses
to run free over sweet grasses, he lifted Alex into his arms striding forward to place her
gently in the centre of a clearing surrounded by fruit trees, leaves rustling in the balmy
breeze.
“Can we do that? Just pick a place and call it home?” Totally oblivious to her near nakedness
Alex wandered off towards the waterfall, too absorbed in the beauty of the valley to wait for
an answer.
Teague followed closely taking in the view. His view was filled by a supple body, muscles
rippling as Aingeal fought a way through the undergrowth. Senses on high alert, he searched
for signs of predators. As in the rest of this peaceful dimension the only predators were the
species who were spreading out from a small settlement.
Wildlife was plentiful, birdlife as prolific as water borne creatures. It was too good to be true,
this gift from the Fates. One day payment would be expected, what form that remuneration
would take was a guessing game no-one wanted to play.
Stopping at the edge of a deep pool, Alex watched an endless stream of sparkling liquid burst
forth from a fissure in the cliff face. A thundering roar of falling water fell just below the pain
threshold.
Do you wish me to take you back? The question seeped painfully into her mind, barely
audible above natures stunning force. With a nod Alex wrapped her arms around Teague’s
waist ready for the disorientation of translocation.
Feet planted once more on the lush grasses of the clearing, she shook her head free of the
wooziness that came hand in hand with Sidhe transport. Leaning back in the Bard’s arms her
face was alight, sapphire eyes glowing with excitement.
“We have everything we could ever want on the doorstep, fresh water, fruit, fish and game.
Ok… So there’s no sign of a Chinese restaurant, but for you that’s a breath away.” Gripping
at the front of his leather jerkin, Alex emphasised her point with a little shake.
“Here and now we can stake a claim, before anyone else stumbles across our paradise.”
Grinning in the face of his female’s vibrant appreciation of glorious surroundings, he dropped
a light kiss on her nose. “I sense a shopping list developing.”
A heady laugh echoed down the canyon, she fairly danced in his arms.
“How much can you carry?”
Teague heaved a bottomless sigh. Any male in any dimension would recognise the look in
his Aingeal’s eye.
“As much as you wish…” He had some reservations, knowing in advance that her lists
could be used to decorate a small room.
“Can you manage one of the smaller Tipis?” Screwing up her eyes Alex waited for a
blistering rebuttal. The silence was more ominous.
Peeking up at a perfect face through a fan of sooty black lashes, Teague’s violet eyes held
the long suffering question of the newly mated anywhere. Why?
“I want something permanent, something to say this is taken, get your hands off.”
A wide smile stretched his lips. “Aye, I see why you would want this.”
Running his palms over a bare back, Teague pulled her close to his chest.
“What is my reward for running thy errands My Lady?” He whispered close to her lips
promising a kiss, but not fulfilling the wish.
“My undivided attention…” A wicked smirk tilted the corner of her mouth.
“In truth I find that a fair exchange of labour.” A purr reverberated in his throat as the kiss
was delivered with a vengeance. Coming up for air, Alex laughed as kisses rained down on
her throat and shoulders. Palms pressed to his chest, she pushed him away.
“Payment comes with delivery.” She giggled at the disappointment on his face.
“As you wish…” He answered with calm indifference, totally at odds with the fire burning
in amethyst eyes.
“Everything we need is stored at my apartment. Cooking utensils, pans… Just use logic.
Bring whatever you think is necessary to set up a base. I’m going to catch supper to eat at
our new home.”
Kynthelig had taught her to fish with a sharpened spear, shellfish were an easier target, but
Alex wanted a feast for supper. Waist deep in azure waters she managed to impale four
large specimens akin to red snapper. Using a hand held net she had wisely packed in the
camping gear to dredge the sea floor, it yielded clams and prawns the size of her hands.
With practised ease the fish were gutted and cleaned, the waste thrown back into the sea for
the Gulls to catch. All she needed now was a fire to cook them on.
Carrying the haul back to the valley, a soft cry left her lips. Teague was stripped to the waist
adding the final touches to the Tipi. A silver braid fell down his back to reach the waistband
of soft leather trousers. He was long and lean, ivory skin stretched taut over smooth muscle.
Alex dropped her cache at the side of the stream reaching his side in bounding strides.
Leaping into his arms, they landed in a pile of limbs on cushioning grass.
“I missed you too…” Teague laughed, easing them both upright.
Alex caught sight of the garment hanging from the tip of the Tipi, a black lace playsuit bought
in a fit of mindless desolation at being unattached, although surrounded by enough
testosterone to fuel an army. Pointing at the decorations, she pursed her lips.
“That is a necessary requirement?” Anger doesn’t work quite so well when you’re practically
naked.
Violet eyes raked her body, coming round for a repeat. “Aye… I thought so…”
Running the tip of one finger from chin to navel, Teague growled long and low, lifting the
downy hairs on her arms and legs in a rash of gooseflesh.
“Fine…” Alex backed off, before he pounced on her.
Supper was eaten with fingers, accompanied by a bottle of champagne Teague had liberated from
her fridge, kept cool in the bubbling stream. It tasted just as good in tin mugs as crystal flutes.
The air around the Sidhe Warrior thrummed with expectancy. A mere human would have to
be devoid of all senses not to notice he was on the edge of losing control.
Licking at her fingers Alex smiled smugly, she was going to push him right over that edge.
Violet eyes locked onto her mouth, the tip of his tongue ran over a full lower lip.
Oh boy, this is going to be hard and fast. The thought had just registered in her mind when
the Bard began to crawl around the fire pit, desire burning in dancing swirls of opaque mists,
that deepened pupils to midnight black.
Springing to her feet she made a run for the beach. The tiger was in front of her before Alex
had taken two steps. “Not fair…”
She gasped, shivers running down her spine as a prowling monster backed her into the Tipi.
Teague shifted mid-leap, dropping Alex onto fur rugs, growling all the while. Glowing with
pent up passion, the Bard bared his teeth in a snarl.
“Payment is due My Lady.” Bra and pants were stripped from her in a flash. Settling deep
into the embr
ace of his mate, Teague unleashed his animal to whisk her away to a dimension
filled with exquisite pangs of pleasure and a satisfying release of searing passion.
She was right, it had been fast and hard, but she had pushed the limits of Sidhe control way
beyond patience. Lying spent and utterly in love with a male who had thrown off diffidence
to finally give all to the female of his choice, Alex rejoiced at the change in the calm
composure of the Bard.
Passion and desire wreaked havoc on a scale she hadn’t expected from his serene highness.
Turi, she had envisioned as a ruthless predator. The male plastered across her stomach had
always appeared reserved, above the baser needs of body and soul.
It just shows how wrong you can be. In Teague she had found the best of both worlds, a
gracious man with the heart of the most ferocious of beasts. Atmospherics played no part in
this coupling. It had been basic, feral and ultimately needy in taking what was due.
He was out of it, gone, blown away.
Settling her back more comfortably on the fur rugs, Alex stroked the braid that lay across
her breast. Lulled by the sound of deep breathing and surf washing on the shore she drifted
off to sleep. The memory of Teague’s ferocious appetite followed her, glorious violet eyes
shining with satisfaction filled her dreams.
The smell of coffee brought Alex wide awake. Red tinged sunlight streamed through the
opening of the Tipi. A husky voice singing of fulfilment and love lifted her from the fur rugs.
Pulling on a swimsuit Alex crawled to the doorway. Laying full length she rested her chin on
clasped hands to listen in awe at the beautiful lilt of mesmerising words.
“Good morning Tiger.” She whispered as his song floated to a final heart rending note.
“Aingeal…” Teague whipped round to face her, anguish tightened the contours of his face
into harsh lines. Head dropping to his knees, back laid bare to the sun, he abased himself to
the Angel of Edanholme.
“You’re doing it again… For the Fates sake...” She swore on the one thing that would reach
past a fugue of guilt.
“I’m whole, I suffer no pain. In fact, if you want to do it all over again I won’t complain.
Teague what you did was as natural as breathing. I’m a woman, contrary, bitchy, also very
appreciative of a mate who can do what you do. If you want to be gentle fine, that’s good.
What you did for yourself last night was wake up the animal in your soul. The tiger has
waited far too long to be released.” Right that was it, she had said her piece. Life was too
short for Alex to be bound by the reserve of a mate who lived in fear of damaging her.
Scrambling to her feet, she raced towards the ocean diving deep to wash away a growing
anger at the Bard’s reluctance to accept who he was. Surfacing far from the shore, Alex
stroked out to burn off the tension building in her shoulders.
Waking to the realisation he had taken his female with no thought to her wishes, Teague
had been eaten up by guilt. He had expected her to repulse him, to cry craven on his soul.
No, Aingeal in her own way had made him feel guilty of diminishing their love by feeling
shame at the full power of Sidhe mating. She had survived, more vibrant, more acerbic
than ever. Stripping off leather trousers, he strode to the water’s edge. Translocating he
slipped into the subtle waves to arrive at his mates side. “I love thee Aingeal.”
“I know you do.” Running her arms round his neck, she laid her head on a wide shoulder.
“I want you to love me fully, no holding back, no pretence.” Raising her eyes to a perfect
face, Alex released the frustration she had bottled up.
“Last night you let go. Let loose the male you really are. Is that so wrong?” Under her hands
the muscle of the Bard’s neck tensed.
“I could have killed you with the intensity of my desires.” Dropping his head on hers
Teague translocated back to the solid ground of the beach, Alex clasped tightly in his arms.
“Rubbish… I’m here, standing in front of you. What does that say?”
Violet eyes glowed with an inner fire. “That you tormented me for that purpose?”
Lifting her lips to his, Alex breathed in Christmas. “Got it in one...”
Kissing him tenderly, she stroked the tight muscles of his back.
“Next time we can do gentle if you feel safer. To be honest I don’t care as long as you keep
on loving me.” Relaxing by degrees, the Bard scanned her face.
“In truth you feel no pain?” Cupping her face in a long fingered embrace, he returned her
kiss with less than his usual gentleness.
“It pains me more to know you have been holding back. Don’t do it again.” A slow smile
widened his lips in a beaming grin. “Yes M’lady…” He growled with a low bow.
“Bah… Don’t get all superior, you were the one who fell into a coma. A herd of elephants
crashing through the camp wouldn’t have made you twitch never mind wake up.” She snorted
derision at male who had been spent to the point of instantaneous unconsciousness.
Teague frowned, a sight seldom seen. Alex slipped from his arms, heading for the aroma of
coffee. Lifting both eyebrows, she poured them both a cup.
“I know that I felt refreshed on wakening. No nightmares marred my slumber.” A rueful little
smile twitched at his lips. “The nightmare began with the memory of pouncing on you.”
Taking the mug from Alex, he bent to kiss her cheek. “I wanted to devour you, scent mark
you so that no other male would try to tempt you from my side.” Violet eyes flashed with
deep amethyst flares. “I still want to devour thee Aingeal.”
Alex patted his arm, smiling sweetly. “Good… I would be so disappointed if you didn’t.”
Startled into laughter, the Bard took both mugs to the hearth, planting them so no liquid
would spill. Placing hands on hips Alex pouted.
“Don’t I get to have my breakfast first?” She was fixated on his face, the slow shake of a head
that set his braid swinging, the steady burn of misty tendrils wreathing deep black pupils.
“Later Aingeal, after I am fed…” The purr was deep throated, scorching her heart.
Backing up to the Tipi, she beat him through the doorway by seconds.
Breakfast was postponed to lunch.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Their days were set in a constant rhythm, both had agendas. Alex worked her two obligatory
days at the Optical Practice with consummate ease, a beaming smile fixed to her face. She
knew Teague would be waiting to whisk her back to their secret cove, to luxuriate in a privacy
unknown in Edanholme.
The laundry facilities were up and running, attached to the communications centre. Alex was
constantly in demand, her computer skills were needed to track down any sign of Fae, or rogue
vampire activity throughout the country, or beyond.
The ladies of the Sidhe were gracious in defeat, acknowledging the human in their midst as the
mate of one of the Queen’s enforcers. She had become in one swift move of retaliation the
Lady Alex. That acceptance had lightened the load on her shoulders, making her life a little
less complicated and much more enjoyable.
Alex lounged comfortably in the shade of a huge fruit tree, munching happily on its bounty.
Back leaning on the smooth trunk, one leg lay outstretched, the other bent at
the knee to rest
her note book on. It was a never ending task to supply the needs of a growing community,
her lists assumed the proportions of a novel on a daily basis.
Cat had called a conference for tomorrow. The Queen had sent out invitations to members
of the police force and government, to attend the meeting in sounding out the acceptance
or repugnance of a magical kingdom residing alongside the mortal world.
Ever optimistic, Cat had roped her in to film the conference. The only beings in the room to
be depicted clearly would be the human contingent. The rest would be so much mush.
Smiling wickedly her eyes soaked up the view. It was worth all the effort to accommodate
diverse requests for moments like this. A slight figure slipped round the bole of the tree,
trepidation on the face of a recently reformed vampire.
“Hi kid, come and join me.” Alex invited with a wave of one hand holding a half-eaten red
fruit. Curling up beside the Angel of Edanholme, Ameia fixed a wistful gaze on the fruit.
One was tossed to her without a word being spoken. The waif was filling out, but constant
hunger showed plainly in the hollow curves of her cheeks. Alex compared the ethereal beauty
of the young woman at her side to the half-crazed, starving vampire who’d crept into paradise
only a few weeks ago. The improvement was obvious, but there was a long way to go yet.
Wiping her mouth with the back of one hand, midnight blue eyes smiled shy thanks at Alex.
“May I ask why you sit here, when there are more comfortable places to relax?” The question
was hesitant, delivered in a deep voice, at odds with the fragile appearance of figure and face.
“Take a look around and tell me what you see?” The sly smile on Alex’s face would have
warned her friends she was in a mischievous mood. Ameia didn’t know her that well.
“I see warriors exercising, practising battle skills.” The tone was perplexed, as if the answer
was blatantly obvious.
“And, what are they wearing?” Pleasure was found in simple things. Alex was simply shameless
when it came to her pleasure.
“Leather pants, nothing else.” Ameia swallowed noisily.
“So, what else do you see?” A husky whisper goaded the young female to answer truthfully.
Eternal Bond (Edanholme Book 2) Page 17