By the time the harvest party came around, Killian was feeling much more himself. Intense therapy with a Tii-su helped him begin to move past the trauma, and Shiloh’s unwavering love and acceptance was a balm for his spirit he didn’t know how he’d live without. Daeanara visited twice more, but only when they were alone. Killian discovered his ancestress was a funny woman, and he and Shiloh enjoyed her visits, although they understood why Daeanara hid herself away. Too much contact with people caused her pain because she saw too much about them and the things they might go through.
The masquerade had been put off until the next year; his tenants insisted there wasn’t enough time for people to find or make the perfect costumes, but Killian was fairly certain it was so he would be more comfortable this year, knowing for certain who was who. He said nothing, though. He just went along with the story, grateful his tenants cared so much about him. They truly were wonderful people. Two days before the party, the men stormed the house, sending Killian and Shiloh to William and Carys to stay while they cleaned the house from top to bottom; for those who came to the party and wouldn’t be in any condition to leave and many of the rooms hadn’t been used in over a year.
The harvest party was the huge blowout it was promised to be, with everybody in the enclave coming. Children ran amuck, chasing each other everywhere; young adults flirted under amused, watchful, older eyes; and full adults indulged in a little excess, knowing their children were safe. Everyone ate, drank, and were very merry. Friendships were created or renewed, and life celebrated.
Never far from each other, Killian and Shiloh danced most of the night.
Showering together later that night—or early the next morning—Killian watched Shiloh. They hadn’t made love since the attack. Killian would have assumed Shiloh didn’t want him anymore, but he caught too many instances of frustrated, suppressed lust, images of the things they had done in the past and that Shiloh wanted to do again. As his body responded to Shiloh’s unsuccessfully suppressed interest, he knew he could finally give his husband what they both needed. He gently turned Shiloh around after washing his back for him and tipped Shiloh’s face up, tenderly kissing his Sprite.
Surprise, then need, poured through their bondlink as Shiloh kissed him back hungrily. Please.
Oh yes, Sprite, I want, too, Killian replied.
Shiloh turned the shower off, grabbed towels for both of them, quickly drying Killian, then himself. Then he took Killian’s hand and led him to bed.
Killian climbed up on the bed, as Shiloh rummaged around in the nightstand for the lube. Shiloh crawled up beside Killian, drawing him closer until he was on top, kissing him thoroughly.
When they came up for air, Shiloh looked into Killian’s blue eyes. “Trust me, love?”
“Always, Sprite,” Killian replied softly. He kissed Shiloh again, needing the taste of his husband.
“Then lay on your stomach,” Shiloh said softly. Killian hesitated, knowing what Shiloh was going to do. He was still self-conscious about the scars on his back. All of his scars, actually, but most of the worst ones were on his back. Shiloh had used a smartphone and taken a picture of his back to reassure Killian that Anan’s name had been removed. Until then, Killian hadn’t been able to really accept it, despite the fact he knew you couldn’t lie when speaking mind-to-mind. Dr. Flynn assured him most of the scars would fade in time. However, some of them would be permanent.
Shiloh watched him, waiting patiently. Killian could refuse or he could agree, it was up to him. As Killian lay down on his stomach, he heard Shiloh’s sigh of relief and felt the emotion in his mind.
What Shiloh did first surprised him. He moved so he covered as much of Killian’s body as possible, laying his head between Killian’s shoulder blades to drop a soft kiss on the skin and caressing Killian’s arms and shoulders, encouraging Killian to relax, to let everything go. Killian could feel Shiloh’s erection against his legs but Shiloh did nothing about it. He just lay there, slowly massaging Killian’s arms and shoulders, leaving his head pillowed between Killian’s shoulder blades. Killian gradually relaxed, enjoying the feel of Shiloh’s weight and warmth at his back. He could also feel Shiloh’s relief at being so close to Killian: Shiloh had needed to touch his husband for so long, and finally he could. Killian tried to apologize but Shiloh shushed him, telling him it was okay, Killian was worth any wait, worth everything.
Slowly, Shiloh began to rub his cheek over Killian’s back, gradually lifting himself in order to move, gently nudging Killian to spread his legs to give Shiloh room to kneel between them. Feeling exposed, Killian held still as Shiloh leaned over him, dragging his loose hair over Killian’s skin, drawing a shiver from him. Shiloh inched down so he could start at Killian’s feet, slowly working his way up, covering every inch of Killian’s body with kisses—even between his butt cheeks, taking a quick swipe with his tongue at Killian’s hole—before moving farther upwards.
Killian began to moan and move restlessly. Pleasure fogged his mind, until all that existed was Shiloh and the pleasure he gave so generously. Shiloh nudged him over onto his back, and began at his feet again, kissing everywhere. Killian reached for his husband only to have his hands kissed and returned to the bed. Shhh, just feel, love. That’s what I want you to do, just enjoy.
Sprite…
Shhh, Killian, I love you, love this, love exploring you head to toe. Shiloh slowly sucked Killian’s cock into his mouth, giving that aching length a few teasing sucks before moving lower to nuzzle the heavy balls hanging beneath, licking them, sucking first the right one, then the left, reveling in the small cries Killian made, the helpless movements. Then he reached for the lube, slicking his fingers.
Killian’s mind was a haze of pleasure as a slim, callused finger pressed gently into him. He moaned and moved his hips, wanting more. Which he got when a second finger began to thrust inside him, grazing his gland, zinging him with electric bolts of lightning. Killian began to beg, vocally and through their bondlink, for more.
Please Sprite, I need you inside me. That plea earned him a third finger and Shiloh licking his rock hard cock with the same maddeningly slow deliberation he’d displayed all night. Killian reached down to flick Shiloh’s nipple rings, knowing how good it felt to Shiloh. Now. Shiloh, please, love, husband. Please…
Oh, yes, husband mine, now. Shiloh slicked his cock and pressed it into Killian slowly, never stopping until he was balls deep. They stared into each other’s eyes as they kissed tenderly.
Yess… The ecstatic thought was shared as they moved together slowly, Killian’s hips meeting Shiloh’s, Killian groaning as every thrust pegged his gland. He ran his hands over Shiloh’s back, his ass, into his hair, down his chest, flicking the hard nubs of his nipples. Everywhere he could reach, he touched. Killian was rewarded by Shiloh’s hips moving faster, driving him higher and higher, closer and closer to the cliff.
Harder, more, Sprite. Please, harder. Killian begged and pleaded, mewling as Shiloh obeyed, moving faster until he was slamming into Killian’s ass. Killian began to cry out with every thrust and reached for himself with Shiloh’s encouragement. He stroked in time to Shiloh’s thrusts and his whole body convulsed as he came, shooting hot seed between them. He was so lost in his pleasure, and Shiloh’s as Shiloh came, he completely lost touch with reality, floating in a haze where nothing existed but the two of them. He could have stayed floating forever, and felt Shiloh’s agreement that this was the only way to be.
A cold, damp object on his foot brought him abruptly back to reality, making him yelp as he yanked his foot back from the wet, inquisitive nose of one of Shiloh’s girls. Shiloh began to laugh as all three dogs, who had been lying quietly on the floor, jumped up on the bed, wriggling, snuffling, and licking both Killian and Shiloh. Killian stared up into Shiloh’s beautiful face and joined in his laughter.
Thank Deity for his Sprite.
And for snuffly puppies.
Epilogue
Twenty-six-year-old Killian L
arrestes Zahirris walked into his study to find his husband of eight years asleep in his favorite chair, their tiny, year-old daughter on his chest. Genetically, little Daeanara was Shiloh’s daughter because they chose to fulfill the Zahirris Clan’s need for an heir first, but it didn’t matter to them. She was perfect. Shiloh had announced that next time, they should see what Killian came up with, and after that, if they wanted more children, just leave it up to nature. Killian had repeated Daeanara’s prediction to Shiloh, and while they were scared for that child, they were determined to protect her.
Killian smiled as he looked down at his family. They had decided to go with an egg donor and a separate surrogate for the pregnancy, just to avoid any attempted claims on the child by another Clan.
Jaden and Jimmy were quite settled, fully healed from their initial ordeal, although they were still inseparable. They had reached a point where they were trying to learn to at least be in different rooms. Jimmy had blossomed in Jaden’s care and his ability to function increased, improving his diagnosis. He would always be slow, but he was happy.
Rylie had been found to be severely brain-damaged, which they already knew, but more than capable of learning, given the proper training and support. Gregorio, as her Miisen, had been given guardianship of her when he turned fourteen, it being unheard of for lifemates to abuse one another. Killian made sure Rylie received the help she needed, which Lady Vallamei insisted on helping to pay for, and Rylie had grown by leaps and bounds. She and Gregorio lived happily together, and Gregorio’s fiancée got along quite well with Rylie, much to his relief, since he was madly in love with his fiancée. If Rylie hadn’t liked the woman, there would have been problems.
Killian knelt in front of Shiloh and ran his hand up the inside of Shiloh’s leg. Hey, Sprite, what’cha got there?
A Spritelet, was Shiloh’s sleepy response. Spritelet was Killian’s pet name for their daughter, a happy, winsome baby with Shiloh’s green eyes and thick, bright red curls that had to have come from the egg donor. Shiloh opened his eyes as Killian tenderly lifted their sleeping daughter into his arms, cradling her close.
“Come with me, Sprite, I have a surprise for you,” Killian said softly with a smile. He kissed his daughter as he led the way out of the study. The years had taken their toll on Shiloh’s girls. One had been hit in the head several years ago while defending Jaden and Jimmy and had been so badly hurt Shiloh had decided it was best to put her down rather than make her suffer. Less than a year later, another had died of cancer. Then, three months ago, Jenny, had gone to sleep with them one night and never woke up. The girls lived good, happy lives, but each loss had torn at Shiloh and he refused to get another dog. Thanks to the bondlink, Killian knew it was fear making that decision. He and Shiloh both missed playing with the girls and spending evenings petting them while cuddling on the couch.
Killian led Shiloh out of the house to where Keith, his wife and husband—a Miisen pair—and a very pregnant Sherry stood holding wriggling puppies. Shiloh gasped when he saw the pups and Killian smiled as he felt Shiloh’s pleasure. The pups were set down as Shiloh knelt, and they swarmed him, as dogs everywhere did. There was just something about Shiloh dogs were drawn to. Rescues from the local pound, only Deity knew what they were because no one else had a clue, but they had already been declared healthy, happy pups by the vet. Then Sherry’s husband stepped forward with two kittens in his arms.
Shiloh laughed. “Pups and kittens?”
“Well,” Killian said with an embarrassed shrug, “the kittens were on their last week of death row. I couldn’t leave them there, could I?”
“You’re such a soft touch,” Shiloh said with a smile. He stood and reached for the kittens, who were quite happy to go to him, and weren’t in the least concerned about the happy, yappy pups swirling around them. He drew Killian in for a kiss. “Thank you, love. You’re right. It’ll be good to have pups again.”
Killian smiled. “Don’t forget our little kitties. How much do you want to bet the cats rule the house within a week?”
Shiloh laughed and they all began to play with the new animals. When Daeanara woke, she was carefully introduced, then set down on the front lawn to play.
Shiloh snuggled under Killian’s arm as they watched the menagerie. I love you, husband mine.
I love you too, Sprite.
About the Author
TN Tarrant is a hard-working single mom living in the wilds of Wyoming, who enjoys embarrassing her child with bright red lipstick prints to the forehead. When she isn’t embarrassing her child, or hunting, killing and dragging groceries home through the snow, she loves to write romantic stories with hot lovers. She suffers from a love of extremely bad jokes and has a tendency to inflict them on innocent bystanders. She has recently been accused of developing an unhealthy yarn addiction, merely because she has bought enough of the stuff to start her own store. She notes that this does not keep her child and others from enjoying the products of that yarn addiction in the form of scarves and blankets. Other issues facing this poor soul are the continuing threats of books and nail polish overtaking the entire household and burying her amongst themselves. We won’t get into her child’s rocks…
You can contact her at [email protected]
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