“Yes,” she murmured back between kisses, well aware of him swelling inside her again. “But not for what’s in that basket.”
“Nor I.” Cian pulled her dress over her head and tossed it aside. She unclipped her bra and relished the way he took her in. How incredibly desirable he made her feel.
“Because you are.” He trailed his fingers down her throat, over her collarbone, then down the side of her breast and belly, sending all sorts of delicious sensations through her. When he touched her breast, then pulled a nipple into his warm mouth, she moaned and rolled her hips, so turned on that mini-climaxes pulsed through her.
After that, he took over, and she lost herself in everything he made her feel. In fact, she was so lost that she didn’t realize he’d laid her by the fire and removed his clothes until he was over her. Inside her again.
She marveled at the feel of him. The sensation of his muscular body against hers. The feel of him thrusting. Taking her. Owning her in a way that only intensified her pleasure. She ran her hands up his strong, straining arms. Over his broad shoulders. Down his sweat-slicked back as he moved faster, then slower, drawing out the pleasure.
This time was less frantic and more loving. Again and again, he drove her to near peak, then pulled her back and kissed her. Long, never-ending kisses while he held himself still in her, only rolling his hips every so often to stir her up again.
Eventually, the sensations became too much for them both, and he moved faster. Drove deeper. Took her harder. She wrapped her legs around him and dug her heels into his ass. Moved with him. Raked her nails down his back. In. Out. Again and again, until such exquisite pleasure slammed into them that he locked up and roared while she cried out.
They stayed that way for a time, so immersed in each other that she didn’t see the changes around them until he rolled off her, pulled her into his arms, and wrapped a fur over them.
“What the?” she whispered when she realized what had happened to the tree. Starting from near the base, tendrils of soft emerald light spiraled up the trunk and ignited the leaves in a subtle glow. It was beautiful. Like nothing she had ever seen.
Or had she?
“’Twas your inner druidess.” Cian marveled at it as well and pointed at where it started on the trunk. “That’s where you touched it when we came together the first time.” His gaze rose to the enchanting canopy overhead. “The tree feels your pleasure. Mirrors your love.”
“Wow,” she whispered in awe. “I didn’t feel my magic igniting when we were together.”
“Your magic is always igniting.” He gestured at the leaves. “Nature, above all, senses it. Especially when your emotions are intensified. When you feel things strongly.”
“Safe to say that happened.” She cozied against him, loving the scent of his skin. The welcoming heat of his body. Adrift in the way he made her feel. “Again and again and again.”
“Ta,” he murmured.
That was the last thing she heard before she drifted off, only to wake at some point in the night to him spooning her. Touching her. Stroking her here and there. She had never felt so loved or worshiped as his fingers roamed. As he eventually rubbed the pad of his thumb over her clit and slid into her from behind.
He might have taken her slow and easy, but he did it so well, and it felt so good that she was clenching the fur in no time. Soaring toward a release that, when it came, had her sobbing in pleasure. Caught in her release, he pressed deep and let go as well.
Soon after, immersed in bliss, she was gone.
Lost to sleep and dreams that came and went so fast, she never quite caught them. Understood them. Until everything slowed down and Cian was there. Standing in the distance in front of his ruined castle.
She called out to him and waved, but he didn’t hear her. So she headed across the meadow, through the tall grass, and kept calling out. Wanted him to glance her way just one time.
To see her.
Remember her.
“That’s all you need to do,” she urged. “See that I’m here, and remember me.”
Once he did that, all would be as it should be.
His castle.
Him.
Them.
“Cian,” she cried, picking up her pace. Running when it seemed he and his castle only grew farther away. “Look at me.Hearme.”
Panic rose. Cloying heartache. Everything blurred through her tears as he grew further and further away.
“Please don’t leave me,” she wailed, only to snap awake to Cian’s concerned face basked in early morning light.
