Lost in Cian’s gaze, drowning in how he made her feel, she didn’t realize she had cupped his cheek and brought his mouth to hers until their lips touched. Until kissing became so much more than she knew it could be. It started off soft and gentle but soon became something full of heart and desire.
That was the last coherent thought she had before his mouth closed more firmly over hers, and everything faded away. Her churning emotions. Sadness. Fear. All of it. Rather, all she felt was him when his tongue slipped into her mouth, and the kiss deepened. Brought her somewhere she had only ever felt in a dream.
Someplace she couldn’t get enough of.
The world and all its problems faded away as their tongues tangled and they tasted each other. Knew each other. Because that’s what it felt like. As though she had known him since the beginning of time, and their lips were designed to fit together. Designed to bring them pleasure.
Hungry, eager, needing more, their kiss only deepened before someone cleared their throat. “M’Lord?”
“Ta, Bécc?” Cian murmured against her lips before he pulled away reluctantly and acknowledged his second-in-command. “What is it?”
“Your people are asking after ye m’Lord,” Bécc said tentatively, clearly unsettled by intruding on such an intimate moment. “Especially in light of recent events.” He nodded at Madison, then sank to a knee and lowered his head. “They also ask after ye,na cinn gan ainm,Unnamed One, for word has traveled fast, and they are eager.” He peeked up at her, then lowered his head promptly. “Eager to meet someone so revered.”
“I’m just me,” she argued instinctually for no other reason than it was true. Yet she saw how serious Bécc was. How important she had become in such a short time. So she said what felt right. “We’ll be right down. Thank you, Bécc.”
He beamed at her and dropped his head, then beamed at her again before backing away as though she were some sort of royalty.
“Because you are.” Cian stood and set her down. “Far more than you realize.”
“I guess, but it feels weird.” She wished they could go back to what they were doing. “Up until a few hours ago, I was just a woman running from the world for their own good.” She gave him a pointed look. “Now I’m this.” She swallowed hard and shook her head. “Something that doesn’t feel like me...but is me all at once.”
“’Twill come more naturally in time.” When he manifested some wildflowers, she noticed one or two disappeared before he stepped behind her. “Until then, I can’t help but think some flowers in your hair would suit you.”
“They’re lovely.” She felt him tuck them into the pieces Deirdre had pinned back. “What was that, Cian? Why did some vanish?”
“Because my magic is not at its best.” He sighed. “It grew stronger on my recent adventures, but whatever’s happening here in Ireland is making me and my brothers’ magic fluctuate.”
“I’m sorry,” she managed, overly aware of how close he stood. The feel of his warm breath on her neck. “That must be difficult.”
“’Tis what it is for now.” His voice dropped an octave, and his accent thickened when he murmured in her ear, “Ye remembered kissing me in a dream, didn’t ye?”
“I did.” Her eyes drifted shut, and her breathing grew choppy when he peppered kisses down the side of her neck. “I remember the feeling...and it was recently. In my last dream.” She opened her eyes when other flashes came. “It was years ago, too...when you were younger.”
“’Twould have been impossible.” He dropped a few more kisses on her neck. “Not only was I cast under Raven’s spell until recently, but I’m what's considered a Keeper of Memories, so ‘twould be impossible to forget such a thing. Forget you.”
“What does that mean exactly?” She looked at him over her shoulder. “A Keeper of Memories?”
“’Tis much how it sounds.” He shrugged. “I can hold memories for others if need be. ‘Twas what I must have done for you even though it took touching you before I realized you were a druidess.”
“Which is strange, right?” She narrowed her eyes a little. “You held a memory for me that even you didn't recall? Has that ever happened before?”
“Nay.” He shook his head. “But then, I've never dealt with an Unnamed One.”
“Nevertheless.” Madison turned before she lost herself in the feel of him. “Wehavekissed before. And Ihaveseen you when you were younger.” She thought about her familiarity with this place. “I’ve been here before as well. Been to many places around here...with you.”
His brows pulled together. “Are you sure?”
“Very.” She thought about it. Tried to get a sense of the images that flashed through her mind, however brief. “I don’t get the feeling others knew about me, though. At least, I don't think so.”
“Which might imply you came in dreams?”
“Maybe.” She shook her head. “But even that doesn’t seem quite right.”
“Well, I’m sure ‘tis just a matter of time before we understand more.” He held out the crook of his elbow. “Until then, are you ready to get to know your people?”
“My people?”
“I can only hope.”
