Dreams of a Wild Heart

by Danube Adele

“I’ll look foolish riding with a hard cock across the countryside.”

  I smiled against his back. “Where are we going?”

  “You’ll see. Enjoy the countryside.”

  We were following a side road out of town. Grasses and trees added color and texture to what was mainly a dry meadow. Houses were spread out for a few miles along this road. Some houses we passed looked derelict, but others appeared to be thriving. Just when my bottom was beginning to complain from the ride, we turned down a lane. In the distance was a modest structure, a home made from cobblestones that were contrasting colors. The stones were shaped into arches that had dark, wooden window shutters carved with a decorative patterning, but what really caught my attention was the archway that had a carved wooden door. There were rich decorative elements that surrounded what looked like a magnificent wolf image.

  It took my breath away it was so lovely.

  There was a short walkway around the house in a cobblestone fashion, and we followed this to the rear of the house where a fenced in lean-to had been built some distance from the house. At this point, he held his arm out to help me get down, and I carefully slid to the ground. While he took care of putting the horse inside his gate, I was surprised to see a patch of sunflowers next to a little garden structured in rows. It looked like a vegetable garden.

  “I’m still working on it,” Tabron stated with a frown, looking around as though seeing it through different eyes. “It’s not quite like the palace.”

  “This is your house?”

  “It is.” He was watching me closely for a reaction.

  “You built all of this?” I was amazed. It looked like a group of professionals had come in and set all the stones and carved all of the wood pieces. But that wasn’t what happened. Instead, this big Viking had had the patience to work on this one step at a time. Carefully. Thoughtfully.

  “It doesn’t look like much, but hauling all of the stones took time and the walkways needed to be dug out.”

  “It looks beautiful. I bet it took years.”

  “It has.” He motioned to the far side of the house. “There’s a toilet there. It’s not attached to the house. I also dug a well, so there’s water in the front. You might not have seen it.”

  “Can we see the inside?”

  He looked like he was having second thoughts, seeming to be reluctant about giving me a tour, but then he nodded, leading me around to the front. The moment we entered, I could see why he was suddenly unsure. It was a one-room cottage with a large bed taking up one side of the room, a small fireplace that was also a cook place, and a round table with two chairs, but what was really personal were the shelves lining one wall, filled with his carvings of different animals in various poses. There were large, predatory birds in midflight captured in gleaming dark wood and small, palm-sized mice that were looking up at me. A snake was coiled about to strike, and his horse was caught midprance, his mane dancing on a breeze. There was such attention to details, the scales of the snake, the talons on the bird, and each individual hair on the horse’s mane, that they looked real. There were dozens of them filling the shelves.

  “You did all of these?” I wanted to reach out and touch, but stopped myself just shy of one of the pieces. Tabron picked up the little mouse and handed it to me. The fur had been carved onto his back, his little feet nearly hidden under his body.

  “My father taught me, so it’s just what I’ve always done since I was a boy. I’d see a piece of wood on the ground, and it would remind me of something, so I’d pick it up and take it home with me.”

  “What beautiful talent.”

  There was a light flush to his cheeks as he surveyed his work, obviously pleased with my reaction, and still, he said, “I do all right. My father was really the master.”

  I wondered if I should ask, but couldn’t seem to stop the words from coming out of my mouth. “Can I see the piece you saved from the fire that was your father’s?”

  Reverently, he went to the shelves and carefully lifted a figure from the top. The size of a softball, it looked like a wolf with a magnificent coat, its head thrown back as though howling at the night. He put the figure in my hand, and immediately, I felt a low buzz of energy surge up my arm. I looked at him sharply.

  “You feel it?” He watched me intently.

  “What is that?” I looked back at the figure.

  “Something strange happened to me the day I left my house.”

  “When it was on fire?”

  He nodded. “No one in the village wanted anything to do with me. They didn’t know what disease had been in my home or if I had the disease, so no one would help me.”

  “Stupid,” I muttered darkly. “You were a young, scared boy who had no parents and no home.”

  “I didn’t blame them.” He shook his head. “We didn’t know, and they wanted to protect their families. So I was on my own, wandering for days in the woods. Hungry, thirsty, frightened of the creatures, colder than I’d ever been before, and completely lost. I didn’t have much left in me. I knew I was likely going to die, and even felt a sense of relief thinking that my father would be there waiting for me.”

  “What did you do to survive?”

  He looked at the figure in my hand. “He came to me.”

  “Who came to you?”

  Tabron took a deep breath and admitted, “The spirit of the wolfing.”

  It took a moment for me to process what he’d said, but when I did, I believed. “What happened?”

  “It was night. I had collapsed on the ground under a tree and all of my energy was gone. My stomach wasn’t even hurting anymore from hunger. I was lying on my back looking up at the moons and wondering what it was going to feel like to die. I remember feeling some fear, but not too much, just because I didn’t want to be lost anymore. Then I heard the wolfing howl. He was near.”

  “Were you afraid?”

  He shook his head. “I didn’t consider that he would come to me, but then I turned my head and saw him a short way off. He was surrounded by light. My eyes closed. I was too tired to open them anymore, but I know I felt the wolfing settle itself around my body. I felt warm again.”

  “It protected you through the night?”

  “He did. When I woke, there was a branch with berries on it.”

  My throat burned with the image of a beautiful animal spirit taking care of a little boy, keeping him warm through the night and giving him food.

  “After eating the berries, I felt strong enough to continue. I knew it was what my da wanted me to do, and I always did what my da thought was right. He was a great man.”

  “How did you get out of the forest?”

  “The wolfing led me out. I caught sight of him, flashes, really, and I knew I was supposed to follow. I slept another night in the forest and felt the warmth of soft fur surrounding me, but when I woke up, Ral’e was there.”

  I handed the figure back to Tabron, and after a moment of looking at the carving, he put it back in its place. “Thanks for telling me that story. It was so magical.”

  “I tell you this because you reminded me that above all things, I want to honor my father. He was a good man who believed in responsibility, in doing what was right, even if it’s hard. Your words last night made me consider what my father would think of my actions with you, and I felt shame.”

  Where was he going with this?

  “Bringing you here the way I did was wrong. Once you help the king, I’m going to take you back.”

  “Back home? To Earth?” The joy was indescribable. I was going to be able to get back home and take up my life again.

  “Yes.” His smile was grim.

  That would mean leaving here. Leaving him. Unless... “Would you consider coming with me?”

  He shook his head. “And do what? I have no skil
ls useful to Earth. Brausa is my home. This is where I’m needed. You’re right that the people are in need, and it’s time to help them. You have your life, your family, your relationships—”

  I should have been jumping for joy, and part of me was, but a greater part of me was suddenly realizing that I would be leaving Tabron behind. His beautiful, vibrant eyes were shuttered, keeping me and the rest of the world from seeing his personal pain. There was a part of me that yearned to wrap him in my arms and hold on to him, make him smile, make him happy. The choice was to stay and have a shot at keeping Tabron, or leave and go home to what? My family was wonderful, and I loved them beyond belief, but they weren’t going to make me satisfied with my life. My job? I could make that work here.

  Shit. What was I thinking? What was I saying? Tabron didn’t want a mate.

  Needing to sit, I backed up to his bed and sat on the edge of it. “Tabron, I wanted to explain about my dream last night.”

  He shook his head instantly, not wanting to hear it. “It’s your business.”

  “Please. Just listen.” When it seemed that he was going to concede, I moved over to the table and sat in one of the chairs. He followed and we sat facing each other. “You told your story. Here’s mine. There was never a time when I didn’t know Carlos. From the time we were in diapers, we played together. We grew up together. He was always there for me, and I was always there for him. My plan was to be with him forever, with no question.”

  He stood impatiently, his eyes snapping with his anger. “Why do I need to hear this?”

  “Because I want you to understand what you saw in my dream last night.”

  “That was real?” He looked confused. “How is that even possible? I thought I was dreaming.”

  “You think that blows your mind?” I smiled without humor. “Carlos died almost nine years ago.”

  “Carlos? The man in your dream?”

  “Yes.”

  “The one you told me you’d love forever?”

  I pursed my lips, remembering that little gem from the previous night. “That’s right.”

  “But he still comes to you in your dreams?”

  “He used to come regularly when he first died. I needed that. I felt a sense of responsibility for his death. Then I went on to medical school and he began to show up with messages. He would show me someone who would need special help, and I would wait for them to show up. The boy from the gorge was one he showed to me during a dream. But last night was different.”

  “Why?”

  I stood and walked up to him. He stared over my shoulder, obviously not wanting to share his emotions. “We both realized our dreams of the future had been childish and, given time, we would have learned that. We were both holding on because we were too afraid to let go until last night. That was Carlos saying goodbye.”

  “He’s not coming back?”

  “What was most telling to me—” I reached up to touch Tabron’s face, cupping his whiskered jaw. I didn’t think he realized that he leaned into me. “—was that when my best friend was leaving forever, I only wanted to find you.”

  “Oh, Ceci.” He turned his face to kiss my palm. “I would understand if you hated me after what I’ve done to you. I don’t deserve explanations.”

  “I wanted to give it to you.”

  Cupping his face, I pulled him down so I could run my lips over his own, gently, softly, teasing his lips open. I wanted to soothe the pain. He was struggling with the feelings I brought out in him, and he was still holding part of himself back from me, but I wanted all of him.

  His groan was deep, from the diaphragm, and he tried to take over the kiss, his strong arms nearly crushing me with his sudden surge of arousal, but I pulled back with a slight shake of my head. It was my turn to take charge.

  He was breathing harshly as he looked down at me, his eyes flaring with heat and excitement as he realized I wanted to do things my way. My own heart pounded as I traced fingers over his broad chest and reached for the bottom of his tunic. I pulled his shirt over his head and my eyes caressed the lean muscle and dark shadows of his abdomen before letting my fingers trace where my eyes had been. My nails flicked his nipples and muscles clenched in his stomach.

  “What are you doing to me?” he asked. I could see that he’d never let anyone else take care of him, be in charge of him before. I led him to the bed and pushed him back on it.

  “Take your boots off, Tabron.”

  Kneeling between his legs, I worked the buttons of his breeches, caressing the heat of his erection through the material of his pants as he bent to unbuckle his boots.

  “What now?” he asked, keeping his hands to himself and letting me lead, though I could see in his mind that he wanted to pull me up, sit me on his lap and bury himself inside me.

  When his cock sprang free, I grasped his length, ready to finally have a chance to do this. It was burning hot, and his hips jerked in reaction. With a coquettish grin, I leaned forward, and the first salty taste of pre-cum hit my tongue. He tasted so good. His breath hissed between his teeth as my mouth enclosed his tip. I sucked hard.

  “Oh, fuck.” There was a look of pained ecstasy on his face as he watched me move my mouth up and down his cock. “Just like that.”

  “Is this good?”

  “So fucking good.”

  “I love how you feel in my mouth.”

  I licked his length, amazed by how hard he was, how the vein running the length of his shaft throbbed, amazed that this lust was mine. It belonged to me. I’d created it. Feeling territorial about it, I covered the mushroom head again and sucked hard, bobbing my head.

  “Your mouth is so hot.” There was a sensual curl to his lip, and his eyes were almost mindless with need. His hips moved in time with my mouth and with another hit of desire, I realized how sexy I felt on my knees sucking the shaft of this big powerful man.

  “You’re going to make me come.” He tried to still my movements.

  “Isn’t that the point?”

  “Not like this.” With unsteady hands, he reached down to pull me up. Impatiently, he undid the button on the back and peeled my dress down, exposing all parts of me. His eyes were predatory, taking in my breasts and continuing down my stomach to the black triangle of curls that were covering my sex. It was already feeling swollen and hot.

  Even his voice was raw when he said, “Damn, Ceci. You’re so beautiful. I need you...” His lips caught mine in a rough kiss. His hands cupped my breasts, squeezing and manipulating my nipples while my hands reached down to rub his cock against my soft stomach.

  The bed hit the back of my knees. I lost my balance and toppled on it, not realizing he’d been walking us backwards. Then he was on me, his lips plucking my nipples, his fingers delving into my dripping core, and I cried out with the feel of it. I knew he was about to go downtown with his talented tongue, but I wanted to run this show.

  “Lay back, Viking,” I ordered breathlessly, pushing him off me with as much strength as I could muster. “I want to ride you.”

  His confused look turned into an excited gleam. As soon as he’d settled on his back, I was crawling over him, lifting up just long enough to position him and sink down so he was deep. Everything inside of me clenched with the superlative sensations that zinged me. With my hands on his pecs, I moved my hips experimentally, slowly, but then I got the right angle at the same time he thrust his hips.

  “Yes!” So good. I did it again, and again, our hips meeting, my clit grinding perfectly with each thrust, and a web of need began to tighten around us, the friction of our movements creating a spiraling blaze that just grew hotter and hotter.

  “Never been this good, never...” Tabron grunted through clenched teeth. His hands fell to my hips and the pace increased.

  “Tabron—”

  “Are you close?�
�

  “I’m close.”

  He suddenly turned us over so I was on my back and his hips were grinding into mine, his hand grabbing my ass to hold me in place. He pounded into me one, two, three more times, and the white heat of orgasm washed over me. My body jerked with the force of the pleasure as his own shout followed mine. He rolled us back over, still connected, where I was content to rest on his chest.

  After a moment, his voice, drowsy with satisfaction, he said, “Next time, I want to take you from behind. That’s a good way. Maybe tonight.”

  From behind? The image of that was absolutely wicked, and it was sexy enough to make my sheath spasm around his still semi-hard cock.

  His chuckle rumbled under my ear. “You like the sound of that?”

  “I want to try everything with you,” I whispered and took a teasing bite of his nipple. He flinched with a groan.

  “We’ll see what we can do. You won’t be here much longer.”

  The thought brought a moment of silent grief. Why were the choices so hard? Why couldn’t it just be easy? Hadn’t I earned that? I’d done my time.

  “What’s wrong?” His fingers feathered through strands of my hair that were spread across his chest.

  I took a deep breath. “What if I didn’t leave?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “What if I didn’t go? What would happen?”

  “But I thought you wanted to get back home?”

  “I do. I’m just saying, what if I stayed here. What would life look like?”

  “It’s dangerous for you to stay here. You know that.” He was using a no-nonsense tone.

  I propped my head up on my hands and looked at him. “I’m not saying I’ll do it. I was just trying to imagine what it might be like? Would I be required to remain in the palace, or would I be able to stay here with you?”

  “Here?” There was some surprise to his expression, like he hadn’t really thought about it. Maybe he hadn’t? “You’d want to stay here?”

  The lazy, mood of sexual satisfaction began to fade. This was purely hypothetical. I wasn’t exactly moving in, and yet, I’d chosen him. “If I stayed, they would expect me to join with you or something, right?”