Highland Dawn

by Donna Grant

  “I may have. Here,” he said and flipped through some pages, “it mentions the king and his court at a city called Caer Rhoemyr and we are in Dun Glamyr. And I even found a map that shows where the city is.”

  Moira turned her head and looked at the map. She followed his finger from where they were at to Caer Rhoemyr. “It doesn’t seem too far away.”

  “Nay, it doesn’t. There are two ways we can travel. We can go by river which might be quicker, or we can travel here,” he said and pointed to what looked like a road of sorts.

  She raised her eyes. “Since we have no idea how far the city is, it might be better if we travel by river, if there are boats that is.”

  He grinned. “I saw boats.”

  “Then we’ll travel by river,” she said and tried to hide her fear.

  “We’ll travel by the trail.”

  Her eyes jerked to his. “You said it would be faster by river.”

  “Aye, but I would rather not have you full of fear,” he said and reached up to brush her nose. “You have flour on your nose.”

  Her body came alive at his simple touch. She found herself gazing at his wide mouth and recalling how wonderful it felt to have his hot tongue move over her skin.

  A low growl reached her ears. She looked to find him staring at her lips. Could she affect him as he did her? Could he still want her?

  Suddenly his intense blue eyes met hers. His hand moved from her nose to her cheek to her neck. He trailed a finger down to the collar of her gown, leaving a path of heat in his wake.

  She closed her eyes and sighed. Pleasure pure and deep spread through her body making her sex ache to feel his rod fill her. The need to touch him was great, but she was afraid to break the fragile bond that held them.

  The scraping of a chair on the floor and her eyes fly open to find him leaning over the table. He took hold of her shoulders and lifted her out of the chair to lay her on top of the table. He leaned over and stopped short of touching her lips.

  “You’d tempt a saint,” he said huskily before lowering his head.

  Just as he was about to kiss her, the roar of a dragon sounded above their dwelling. They flew apart with Dartayous reaching for his sword, and Moira searching for a weapon of her own.

  “He’s gone,” Dartayous said after he had looked out the window.

  “I’m not used to having dragons roam the sky,” she said. She licked her dry lips and wanted to skin the dragon for stopping their kiss.

  She found Dartayous packing away the pages he had been studying. “We’ll take the map with us when we leave in the morn,” he said as he rolled it up.

  He left the kitchen to return the parchments, and she leaned against the table. She was going to need something stronger than water to go with their meal tonight.

  Chapter Eleven

  It didn’t take a long search of the kitchen for Moira to find the Fae’s version of wine. It was smoother than any she had ever tasted, and she just wished she had this in her world.

  She had begun to cut the bread when Dartayous returned to the kitchen. Once the bread, cheese and cold meat were on a platter, she handed him the bottle of wine and walked from the kitchen.

  “And where are we going?” he asked.

  She didn’t answer but walked into the master chamber that had a balcony which opened to the waterfall. She sat down the platter and opened the balcony doors.

  “I want to eat where I can see this beauty,” she said and began to drag the small table toward the balcony.

  He reached over and plucked the table from her hands. “Tell me where you want it.”

  She walked to the balcony and pointed. “Here.”

  He sat the table down and returned with two cushioned chairs while she retrieved the platter and wine. When she returned, he had already sat. She put the tray in the middle of the table and opened the bottle. It was then she realized she hadn’t looked for goblets.

  She opened her mouth to say something about the goblets but quickly closed it. The thought of sharing the bottle with him was a temptation she couldn’t resist.

  Once she had grabbed a slice of bread and a piece of cheese she sat and looked out over the beautiful scene before her. “I could really get used to living here.”

  “Hmmm,” was his only response.

  Out of the corner of her eye she watched as he ate and gazed at the waterfall. It must be something about this place that put everyone at ease.

  “How long do you think we have to find Aimery and the rest of the Fae?”

  “I don’t know,” Dartayous said and grabbed the wine. He took a drink and looked at her. “Time is different here. What seems like a day to us could be a week, a month or a year in our world.”

  Her heart plummeted to her stomach. “I hadn’t realized that. We shouldn’t have stopped here for the night.”

  He placed a hand on hers to keep her seated. “We had to. We had to find out where we were and where we are going. We don’t know this world. It will be better to travel during the day.”

  “You’re right.” And he was. She sat back and took the wine he handed her.

  “Drink.”

  She smiled and tilted the bottle to her lips. The smooth liquid ran past her lips and settled in her mouth to burst with flavor. She swallowed and let the wine fill her senses. Warmth spread through her as well as a feeling of tranquility.

  Could it be the wine...or Dartayous?

  She reached for a piece of the meat and accidentally touched his hand. He smiled and handed her the meat. She took it and tried not to notice how handsome he was in the fading light of the day.

  Her gaze fell to the candles around the room. “I suppose we should light those.” No sooner had the words left her mouth than the candles lit. “Well, I knew that this world was filled with magic, I just didn’t realize how much.”

  He chuckled, and she found her gaze drawn to his face as it was illuminated by candle light. A day’s growth of beard shadowed his jaw only making him more mysterious, more masculine. She shifted in her seat when her body pulsed with need, yet the throbbing did not end but grew with each beat of her heart.

  She took another drink of wine. When she lowered the bottle she found Dartayous’ eyes on her. “It wasn’t until you passed through the doorway that your eyes became as blue as the Fae’s.”

  “They’ve changed?” he asked, his brow furrowing slightly.

  She nodded and took another bite of bread and cheese. “They look like a Fae. Do they feel different?”

  “Not really. I’ve always had amazing eyesight.”

  “Every Fae I’ve ever seen has had blonde hair, yet yours isn’t. Could it be that one of your parents was human?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know. I would like to say that it doesn’t matter, but I want to know.”

  Her heart went out to him. “When we free the Fae maybe one of them will be able to tell you something.”

  “You are very confident in our mission,” he stated as he turned his head to gaze outside.

  “I am. I have the finest Druid Warrior by my side.” Her voice carried such conviction that it drew his gaze. She gave him a little smile and was happy to see his in return.

  “Then I suppose I better not fail,” he teased.

  She chuckled and drank more wine. The wine was making her uninhibited, but she didn’t care. For the first time in her life she was going to do what she wanted, act the way she wanted.

  “I don’t think you have ever teased me.”

  He picked up a piece of meat and held it out for her. She reached to take it but he pulled back. “Nay. Open your mouth.”

  Her breath left her lungs in a rush at his words. She opened her mouth and he placed the meat on her tongue and ran his thumb over lips.

  She drew his finger into her mouth and swirled her tongue around it. A soft smile pulled at his lips as he withdrew his finger.

  “What am I to do with you?” he asked softly.

  She shrugged one shoulder. �
�There are many things I can think of.”

  His right hand laid on the table, and she reached over and stroked the tattoo. She no longer cared where he had gotten them. It was enough that they were together.

  He took hold of her hand and pulled her from her chair. She rose and allowed him to draw her toward him. When she was near him he wrapped an arm around her waist and tugged her onto his lap.

  Thick, muscular thighs met her bottom, but it was the heat radiating from him that stole her breath. Her heart raced, and she wouldn’t have been able to stand on her legs now if asked. But he wanted her.

  She could see it clearly in his eyes.

  He lifted her hand and put it against his lips where he kissed each finger. Then he pulled her index finger into his mouth and began to suck.

  Moira nearly came off his lap at the sensations he caused. She gripped his shoulder with her free hand and let her eyes close as he gently sucked and then swirled his tongue around her finger. To her disappointment, he drew her finger from his mouth.

  Her eyes flew open when she felt his hands on her hair. She gave him a questioning look, but he just smiled.

  “I want to see this magnificent hair unbound.”

  A little thrill went through her. He thought her hair magnificent. She bit her lips to hide the smile of satisfaction, but it didn’t help.

  She ran her hands over his face, the pricking of his unshaved jaw tickling her palm. There were many places she wanted to touch him as he had touched her.

  And why can’t you?

  Indeed. Why couldn’t she?

  She knew it was the wine that made her bold, but she didn’t care. She rose to her feet as her hands traveled down to his neck. Although her hands shook, she managed to untie his vest and push it over his shoulders. She threw it behind him as his hands spread her hair over her shoulder.

  She went down on first one knee then the other. Her eyes soaked up the beauty of the sculptured chest and stomach before her. It wasn’t but a heartbeat later that her hands touched him.

  Smooth, warm, powerful. That’s what met her hands when she touched him. Yet it wasn’t enough. She licked her dry lips and leaned over to place kisses on his chest.

  He sucked in a breath when her tongue grazed his nipple. She hid her smile and repeated it on the other nipple. His hands clenched her shoulders, but he didn’t pull her away.

  She became bolder with each passing moment. Her mouth licked, sucked, kissed and nibbled every inch of his skin that was available to her. It wasn’t until she moved her hand to his thigh that she grazed his thick rod.

  Her body became weak with need. She placed her hand over his rod and felt it jump at her touch causing moisture to coat her sex. She wanted his pants off, but didn’t wish to end her exploration just yet. She kissed along his stomach until she came to the edge of his pants.

  She glanced up to find him watching her intently, his mouth open slightly and his breathing harsh. All the while she ran her hand over his rod as he swelled and leapt at her touch.

  Dartayous could take no more of her exquisite torture. He grabbed her shoulders and dragged her up to his mouth. He took her in a deep kiss. Her tongue dueled with his as she continued to rub her hands along his swollen staff.

  He groaned and wanted to plunge into her right then. Instead, he kissed her again with small kisses that teased her with his tongue and lips until she was begging him to take her mouth fully.

  “Please,” she pleaded when he eluded her mouth again.

  He placed his hands on either side of her face and took her in a kiss so fierce that he was sure her soul sighed. Or maybe it was his. As innocent as she was, she had the ability to take his breath away with a single kiss.

  To his surprise, her fingers began to unlace his pants. He quickly stood and brought her with him. They gazed at each for a moment. Her green eyes were full of passion and...something else.

  He wanted to give her pleasure like she had never known before. Her fingers distracted him as they ran over his arms and chest. He took one of her hands and led her to the bed where he sat her down.

  As she watched, he removed his boots and pants. Her eyes widened as his rod sprang free. She moved to stand beside him, and when he reached for the laces of her gown she stopped him.

  For a moment he thought she was going to refuse him. He watched as she lifted one foot to the bed and took off her shoe. She lifted her gown slowly until the top of her stocking was visible. Then she slowly rolled the stocking down to her ankle and pulled it from her foot.

  He swallowed as desire grew. She had no idea how enticing she was, and yet she was teasing him wickedly. He saw by the sparkle in her green eyes that she knew exactly what she was doing.

  She repeated the process on the other leg. Then, she stood straight and reached for the laces of her gown. She pulled her arms free and let it pool at her feet.

  He found his mouth dry as he gazed at her in nothing but her thin shift. Her hands began to gather the material slowly as it inched upwards. He took a step toward her, but she halted.

  “Nay.” It was spoken softly, but with enough force that he knew she really wanted to do this.

  He smiled, his eyes on the hem of the shift as it rose inch by heart wrenching inch to show her lovely body. The candles cast a warm glow on her skin as it was exposed to him. First he took in her long, lean legs, and then the juncture of her thighs and the flaxen curls that hid her sex.

  Next came the flare of her hips and the stomach he longed to kiss. And before he knew it she had thrown off the shift and stood as naked as he.

  He allowed his eyes to feast on her full breasts. Her pink nipples hardened before his eyes and it was all he could do not to throw her on the bed and sink into her.

  She took a step toward him and fell to her knees. Her hot mouth placed kisses on his thigh and grazed his sacs. Yet, the one place he wanted to feel her mouth she didn’t near.

  He was about to pick her up to put her on the bed when her hands cupped his sacs and her mouth lightly grazed his rod. He groaned and plunged his hands into her hair. She became bolder and ran her tongue the length of him before she took him into her mouth.

  Dartayous closed his eyes as pure pleasure poured through him. Her hot, slick mouth brought him to the edge of oblivion. He held himself back since she had yet to have any pleasure.

  As much as he wanted her to keep touching and kissing his throbbing rod, he knew he was holding onto his control by a thin thread. He pulled her up and took her into his arms where he placed her on the bed.

  Moira smiled as he put his full weight on her. “I love the feel of you on me.”

  “Do you? What else do you love?”

  “Your kisses. They make me forget everything but you.”

  He traced her mouth with his tongue. “Is that all.”

  “I love the way your hands and mouth have awoken the woman in me. But most of all I love touching you, feeling your power beneath my hands.”

  He moaned and kissed her collarbone. “All those things?”

  “And more.”

  “More?” he asked and raised his head. “I don’t think there is more.”

  She smiled and moved her legs until they wrapped around his waist. “There’s this,” she said when the tip of him entered her.

  “By the saints,” he hissed as she rocked her hips and pulled him deeper inside of her.

  “We’re good at this.”

  “We’re good at this together,” he corrected her.

  All she wanted was to feel him inside of her. No more fighting, no more secrets. Just the pleasure they brought to each other.

  “Give me heaven again,” she said into his ear as he began to thrust in and out of her.

  The tension built tighter and tighter within her with each thrust he made. Suddenly he pulled out of her and sat back. He took her hands and pulled her until she straddled him, his rod between them.

  She raised a brow wondering what he was about. His hands spanned her waist and
lifted her until his rod found her sex. Then ever so slowly he lowered her until she could feel him against her womb.

  Her breath lodged in her throat at the feel of him. When his hand moved from her waist to her breast, she sighed dropped her head back as his hand kneaded her breast before rolling the nipple between his fingers.

  Her sex throbbed and clenched, and she heard his sharp intake of breath. She rocked her hips, loving the sensations that poured through her.

  Before she could move again, Dartayous had locked his arms around her and began to thrust within her. The throbbing in her sex intensified as she built to her climax.

  “Come with me,” he said as he thrust harder.

  She opened her eyes when he cried out and felt his shudder. Her world erupted as

  her body exploded with tremors of pleasure. “Aye,” she agreed after her body was spent and they fell back on the bed. “We are good at this together.” He smiled and laid his head beside hers. She didn’t complain when he moved to his side and took her with him. She snuggled against him, his heart beneath her ear. Through the balcony she could see the night sky and the stars that twinkled. Every now and then she could see the shape of a dragon. * * * * Lugus smiled and looked at Theron and Rufina. He had moved them to either

  side of his throne. “She’s here.”

  “Who?” Rufina asked.

  His eyes flicked to his brother. He had released the hold on Rufina’s voice, but not Theron’s. “My queen. Your new queen.”

  Rufina’s eyes flashed with fury. “Who is she?”

  Lugus laughed. “You should know. She is one of your favored.”

  “I have no idea,” Rufina said and turned her gaze from him.

  “’Tis Moira.”

  Rufina’s eyes snapped to his. “You cannot be serious.”

  “Oh, but I am,” he said and stood in front of Rufina. He reached out and stroked her check. A glance out of the corner of his eye showed that Theron’s eyes flashed murder.

  “She’ll never turn. She has a pure heart.”

  “A heart that I can turn,” Lugus stated. “You forget I’ve been with her for many years. She’s been lonely and forgotten. I can give her everything she has ever wanted.”