Highland Shift (Highland Destiny: 1) Page 18

  There were no worries, no regrets, only this moment, filled with their love and the sensation of being bound together for eternity. Their pace increased; faster, harder. Elena felt his leg muscles flex, gripping her tightly. Her hands reached for his hips, driving him faster, her own hips thrusting, meeting his. The sound of their breathing was loud in the night.

  “Elena,” he whispered.

  Faolan shifted his hips slightly, and the angle he entered her changed, rubbing against her clitoris. His thrusts were hard, even deeper in this new position. Elena felt him thicken inside her, and she looked up to meet his passion-filled gaze. They were the only two people left alive in a vacuum of love, the rest of the world had ceased to exist.

  They began to change. The walls around them shimmered, rippling outward. Every nerve, every cell in her body was connected to the spot where their bodies joined; alive, electric. Faolan’s stroke was strong and sure. He thrust and a roar filled her ears. He thrust again, deeper still, pressing against the mouth of her womb. All all her feelings pulled in from her edges, gathering in a storm of sensation.

  “Now, my love,” Faolan whispered.

  The earth didn’t just shift; it exploded with the power of their union. There was a flash of lightning from outside their window, then a loud crack of thunder rent the night, and the world changed yet again. They both cried out at the magnificence of their coming together, just as the moon crested the window and shone on Faolan’s back.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Their bodies were still in the throes of pleasure when Faolan’s spine arched. His mouth opened wide in a silent scream. Elena wrapped her legs around his hips keeping him tight inside her body while holding herself against his chest to keep as much of their skin-to-skin contact as possible.

  Faolan’s neck muscles corded as he strained, whether from the pain of transformation or the strain of resisting it, she couldn’t tell. An unerring sense of self-preservation warned her to keep silent.

  It can’t end like this!

  With a part of him still buried deep within her, Elena focused all of her newfound power, projecting her light into him, her energy flowing, eyes closed in concentration. The women from her earlier vision returned, and surrounded them. Their power joined Elena’s, and their light united with the moonlight, bathing Faolan, caressing him, soothing his pain.

  Outside, the sound of chanting joined the bubbling sound of the nearby stream. Another flash of lightning and simultaneous crack of thunder exploded from the clear sky. A tree began to burn, the flames fanned by a sudden gust of wind that swept the clearing.

  The earthy smell of nature’s compost filled the air. The speed of the wind increased and formed a small whirlwind, picking up leaves and dirt from the clearing, spinning faster until a cyclone formed. It circled the clearing, then dipped in through the open grate and swept into the cell. The sound of chanting grew louder.

  As it reached a crescendo, they were battered by debris from the swirling tempest as it twisted and turned, battering itself against the walls. Elena fought desperately against the scream that formed in her throat as her skin was pelted and her hair whipped wildly. Then as suddenly as the whirlwind had entered the cell, it swept back out into night.

  Elena looked at Faolan, still buried inside her, his hands on either side of her shoulders, and his back arched. His head was thrown back, eyes closed, his long hair spilled over his shoulders and down his back, tangled, wild. He was magnificent, and she had never loved him more than at this moment. He began to stiffen and move within her again, the tempo frenzied, and his body clenched with effort. Elena kept her legs wrapped around him, driving her hips up to meet his every thrust. Pounding, primitive, life-affirming.

  Faolan’s strokes reached a crescendo, his muscles jerked against Elena. With a shudder his seed filled her once again. His neck muscles were tight, the tendons stretched taut like thick cords. A wolf’s howl ripped from Faolan’s throat, inhuman, terrifying. Then a shadow of a wolf passed from him, racing out of the window carrying the howl with it into the night. Peace descended upon the clearing and they were alone.

  Faolan opened his eyes. “Elena,” he asked, eyes confused.

  “Faolan, are you okay?” she asked, reaching up to touch his face, Elena asked,

  “Aye, lass.” He turned them both on their sides, never breaking their bond. They said nothing further for a very long time, just held each other, testing the strength and boundaries of their new world.

  When they finally began to talk, Faolan asked Elena to tell him what happened.

  “I don’t know for sure. What do you remember?”

  “Och, lass, the last I remembered we had reached our climax together. Then I was pouring my seed again, and I dinna’ know how I got there. I doona’ remember what happened. Oh God, Elena, did I hurt you? Rape you?” he asked as his hands frantically began to search her body for injuries.

  “No, Faolan, don’t worry. I’ve never been better. Let me show you.” Elena said soothingly. Then she used her new powers to play her memories back through her mind, projecting it to him, watching his face as he experienced what she’d seen and felt.

  “Is it gone?” she asked, and then quickly rephrasing it, she confirmed what she already sensed. “The curse, it’s really gone. You are released.”

  He looked around the room at all the leaves and debris the wind had left behind. “Aye, lass, I am clear of it. We will have to find Red and Lilly to see if the entire clan is clear.” Shaking his head, he said, “Elena, I have called you my enchantress, but the power you have…you saved me. What are you?” He looked at her tenderly, lovingly, reverently.

  “I don’t know. Before I met you, I was just a woman. I’ve never had anything special around me at all. When I was little, my Grandda used to tell me stories from Scotia, of the fair folk, of magick. They were wonderful, but I always thought they were fanciful tales of an old man. Knowing you has awakened something deep within me. I don’t know if this is me or you making it happen.”

  Hesitantly, she began to tell him of the things she was beginning to remember about when she was locked in the chamber. “I had visions when I was lost, Faolan. The women I told you about, who cared for me in the chamber, they took me places and told me things. I still don’t remember all of it, but they changed me. They said I was supposed to do things in my life; they welcomed me to their sisterhood. Tonight, those same women came to help me pour light into you. They saved my life then, and I believe they helped to save my life tonight. I just know it. I’m supposed to start on something they called a learning path. What does all this mean?”

  “Och Elena, I doona’ know. When Brigid told me that it was time and gave me the words to say, I performed an ancient Druid spell, and the cloud of vision took me. I told you before that my clan was Druid. However, I have tried without success for centuries to call the ancestors. I had wondered if the power skipped me. This time, the ancient ones welcomed me to them, they showed me how to find my light, they led me to you. They also told me ‘twas time to start on my journey.”

  Elena’s throat became tight with emotion at his words. A journey…would he leave her, now After all this? With feigned casualness, she pulled away from his embrace and turned over to reach for a bottle of water. With her back to Faolan, sipped from her bottles, carefully hiding her thoughts and her face from him. Taking a deep breath, she asked in an offhand manner, “When will you be leaving? On your journey?”

  “I doona’ think you understand, lass. We have mated for life now. I willna be leaving you, and you willna be leaving me. Not ever.”

  “You don’t think it’s a journey that you have to go alone?” Elena asked, holding her breath, fearing his response.

  He answered her with action. He got to his knees behind her and pressed himself tight against her backside. Elena shivered with the feel of him. He was hard again. Still? He placed his hands on her waist and began to kiss her shoulders. He pulled her hair aside and nuzzled her neck, alter
nately biting and kissing. “I willna be letting you go, lass, not ever,” he growled low in his throat, sending a shiver of thrill through her at his possessive tone.

  Elena leaned back into him, molding herself against him. The feel of him pressed naked to her back, hard broad chest hot against her skin made it impossible to think. What was he saying, that he would always be with her? She could feel his powerful thighs tight against hers, his cock nestled between the cheeks of her ass.

  Faolan reached around her, and lifted her heavy breasts, massaging, and teasing her nipples into hard little buds. He trailed one hand lazily down her stomach, raising goose bumps, leaving a molten trail wherever he touched. His fingers found her soft curls and began to stroke. He reached between her legs, spreading her, softly exploring, seeking the wetness.

  Elena moaned and pressed back against him even harder. Correctly interpreting her sighs, he continued. He took one hand to her chin and tilted her head to the side, allowing him access to her sweet mouth. He held her jaw with his long fingers and kissed her deeply. Her tongue met his, and they took turns sucking, tasting each other’s lips, before he began a rhythmic thrust into her mouth.

  His other hand traced patterns feather light over her skin, scorching everywhere he touched. From one breast to the other, down to her waist, then lower, dipping to rub her clit before returning to her breasts. “Let me show you, Elena,” he murmured in her ear.

  Placing one arm around her waist, he murmured instructions, “Bend forward, love. Rest your weight on your forearms.” Faolan moaned as Elena’s ass was presented, he’d dreamed of taking her like this, her ass in the air, hair wild. His cock buried to the hilt inside her. His fingers spread her and with his other hand, he gently rubbed himself in the wetness between her legs, finding her hot opening.

  It took every ounce of restraint to enter her slowly, to ease her over the brief moments of discomfort from the newness of the experience. He knew in this position he would be deeper inside her than ever, he fought against his desire to ravage her, to take her hard and fast. That would come later.

  Once she had taken all he had to give, he began to rotate his hips, massaging her internal muscles, easing any lingering soreness. When she started to rock her hips back, he knew she was ready, the moments of discomfort eased for now. He began to teach her.

  “Tighten your muscles again, Elena. Squeeze me deep inside of you.”

  She tightened them as he moved, slowly withdrawing his cock, then pushing deep again. Elena gasped with the pleasure of it. He increased the tempo, and she met his thrusts. The heavy weight of his balls slapped against her as he pumped faster.

  He moaned, whispered, “Elena, my love.” He traced his fingers down her spine, then back up along her sides, gently touching her breasts. He leaned over her and pressed his fingers to her nub, rubbing faster, pumping harder.

  Elena never knew a man could be so deep inside a woman. With each thrust of his hips, his cock went deep inside her, to the lip of her womb. Her breath escaped in a small grunts, with each deep plunge. “Ah, ah, ah…”

  He took his hand from between her legs and laughed when she whimpered with disappointment. He buried his face in her neck and chuckled. “Did that feel good, love? Do you want some more?”

  “Touch me, Faolan, please don’t stop. So close,” she finished on a pant. He slid his hand down her arm, threaded his fingers through hers, and then brought her hand to join his. She was mortified and tried to resist. He never let go, just placed her fingers against her clit, holding them still. He stopped with his cock deep inside and began a different type of seduction. He moved his hips in slow sensuous circles and whispered in her ear “Feel how wet you are Elena.” She held her breath, suddenly embarrassed by her desire. “Reach farther back, Elena. Feel where we are joined.” He took her hand and placed it between them.

  He continued to whisper in her ear, “Open your hand, lay it palm up between us and spread your fingers. Can you feel it? Feel me slide in and out of you. I am so hard and you are so wet.”

  She could feel his cock, slippery and hard, sliding between her fingers and it sent a thrill through her to know she did that to him. Desire replaced embarrassment, as his shaft slid against their hands.

  Then he took her hand and placed her fingers between her folds. Once again, he pushed his cock as deep as it would go and then began to massage her internally with small movements of his hips. He brought her fingers to his lips and licked, sucked them into his mouth, then releasing them with a kiss, he put them to her mouth for her to taste. He put both their fingers against her clit, and began to rub.

  Suddenly, the desire in her flared hotter. The newness of the experience, the intimacy, the raw desire he felt for her fanned the flames. Her ears were ringing, sensation seemed to be leaving all of her but one spot, filled with him. She pushed herself harder against their fingers, and lost track of which of them was rubbing her.

  “Tell me, love, let me hear you,” Faolan coaxed, his whisper a velvety growl in her ear, breath hot against her cheek. "Does it feel good? Are you going to come?”

  “Yes, feels so good,” she gasped, then moaned. A few moments later she moaned again, deep in her throat, “I can feel it. I’m coming now, Faolan.” She exploded, his name on her lips, squeezing his shaft in spasm after spasm. He stilled their hands and his hips, as she continued to shudder against him. When she quieted, he held her close, and began to kiss her neck, running his tongue down from her ear, and then bit her neck. Elena gasped. He was still hard. He was insatiable.

  He put his hands on her hips pulling her close against him. Then he began slowly stroking in and out again, his shaft penetrating deeply. Elena continued to shiver and shudder around him. He finally pulled out completely and stretched out on his back next to her and said, “Elena, come, love. You on top this time. I want to watch you.”

  His words sent a new thrill of desire up her spine. She straddled him and he put her hand on his shaft, so that she could guide it herself. She took him in fast this time, in one single stroke, then holding him deep inside, she began to rotate her hips, pushing him even deeper, squeezing him. With Faolan’s hands on her hips, she moved up and down, discovering there were some advantages to being on top. Besides being able to control the pace, she could watch his face as he watched the joining of their bodies. She didn’t resist when he again brought her fingers to join his. This time they came together.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  “Worthington will be back in the morning. We need a plan.”

  “I know,” Elena agreed contentedly.

  Faolan was eating an apple and handed her a cracker with a piece of cheese. “Come on, sleepy one. We can rest once we get out of here.”

  “What if I want to go to bed instead of getting some rest when we get out?”

  Faolan laughed, and the sound warmed her heart. She sat up, completely sated from their lovemaking. She ate the cracker and drank water, trying to build up some strength. She slipped her thong back on, as it was the only underwear she had and redressed, moving like an old woman.

  “You’ve ruined me,” Elena accused. “I’ll never be able have sex again.”

  Faolan leaned in and kissed her deeply, put his hand to her breast, and she pressed toward him.

  “Liar.” He laughed again and pulled away. She smiled at his playfulness.

  Faolan’s face turned serious. “We have no more weapons in here than we had when he left us last night, save one. Us. When Worthington left, he believed you would be dead by morning, and I would be a broken man. He expects to find your body. I want to see what you can do with your projection powers, lass.”

  “You want me to think about what happened, show him you’re cured?” she asked, and heard the uncertainty in her own voice.

  “Nay, lass. I want him to think I am dead. Do you think you can show him something that hasn’t actually happened and make him believe it’s real?”

  It was an intriguing idea and she felt herself surr
endering to the thrill of using magick. Elena concentrated very hard and imagined Worthington instead of Faolan. She pictured him lying dead in the middle of the cell, his throat cut, blood oozing from his body. She projected the image to Faolan.

  Faolan sucked in his breath. His gazed fixed on the projected image of Worthington’s body lying dead on the floor. “You are positively terrifying, love.”

  Elena grinned. “I am, aren’t I?” She was beginning to really enjoy this power . She quit thinking about Worthington, and his image popped from sight. She’d had another idea. “Can you shield yourself, Faolan?”

  “What do you mean?” he asked.

  “I don’t exactly know. The phrase just popped into my head.” Elena sat quietly thinking for a minute. “It was something I saw in the spell book. There was an illustration showing a room full of people, it looked like a meeting. There was one person alone in the back of the room watching what was happening. Then the picture was repeated, only this time the person at the back of the room wasn’t visible, except his figure had been outlined with a dotted line, to show he was really still there.

  He thought about what she said for a minute. “I think you might need to shield your mind. No, maybe ‘tis my mind I need to shield? Your mind will be a shield because you will be projecting.” Then veering off track he began to worry again. “You canna let it slip, Elena. No matter what he says, doona’ respond, doona’ listen. He will try to get answers from you any way that he can. We need him to come inside. You will be the bait. I canna think of any way to get him to come in if he thinks I am alive. I will protect you.”

  Frustrated that she didn’t have better words to describe what she meant, Elena tried again. “I think everything you said is right, Faolan, but I still want you to try to shield. I don’t even know if you can, but I think Worthington might be able to sense if there are two people in the room. I think what I mean by shielding must be like when I project. Stand over there,” She pointed at the wall under the window. “Now examine it minutely. Memorize every brick and blemish. Imagine that’s what you look like, or that you’re standing behind it,” she explained.