“Meant to be sounds a lot like being pre-destined by the gods.”
Yet did not mean they would share a whole life together.
“’Tis not necessarily pre-destined by the gods,” Oran said vaguely before focusing on what he clearly felt more important at the moment. “’Tis time to celebrate and enjoy yer union, for the tree will allow such.”
They understood what he didn’t say. Music was allowed. They need not remain overly quiet but could enjoy themselves. So they did well into the evening. One of the men had a fiddle, or viella as they called it, so they danced, laughed, and enjoyed freshly roasted venison. Several women of the night drifted into the encampment, to provide comfort to some of Cian’s men.
“This is perfect,” she said at one point when Cian pulled her onto his lap in front of the fire. As promised, the tree had protected everyone, and they remained dry. “Better than perfect.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” He fed her a piece of meat. “But then I married the perfect lassie.”
“At least the perfect one for you.” She smiled and kissed him after she swallowed her bite. Then kissed him again and again. Where before she might have been uncomfortable making out in front of so many men, now she didn’t care. It felt too right. Too hard to resist.
As always, they lost themselves in each other as the night wore on. Sometimes they danced, other times exchanged stories with everyone around the fire, but mostly they were lost in their own little world until he clearly couldn’t wait any longer and carried her to their tent amid many cheers.
Like they had when they first made love, tiny firefly-sized lights flickered around, creating a magical oasis. He laid her on the bed of furs and cupped her cheek. “’Tis good to actually have ye here in person this time,mo dhraoi.”
She couldn’t agree more and made that clear when she brought his lips down to hers. When she kissed him with all the passion and love she felt. Every ounce of emotion. On and on, until, with a flick of his wrist, their clothes were gone, and he caressed her flesh. Learned her body. Kissed her everywhere.
And she did the same.
He was beautifully made, and she enjoyed every inch of him. Explored him as he explored her. Made love in a way they hadn’t yet. Sometimes there was a sense of urgency, but mostly, just a deep, untouchable passion. Even him going down on her felt incredibly romantic.
It also made her orgasm too many times to count.
By the time he finally entered her, she was weak-limbed and hyper-sensitive. So sensitive that she climaxed before he even moved. Something he seemed to enjoy a great deal because he merely watched her with tenderness and let her ride it out.
“’Tis a beautiful thing to witness.” He ran his fingers down her cheek and cupped the side of her neck. “I could spend my life doing this.”
Neither mentioned that they might not have that life because it was irrelevant at the moment. Not part of their sphere. Not part of where they took each other when he finally moved, and she wrapped her legs around him.
She lost all sense of time as he built her up over and over. As they climaxed again and again. Limbs slid along limbs. Sweat slicked their bodies. She had no idea if she groaned or cried out half the time. All she knew was she couldn’t get enough. No matter how many times she peaked, she always wanted more.
Eventually, they must have dozed off because a forest from back home rose up in her mind. One she had played in often as a child. She wore her favorite green dress. How had she forgotten it? It wasn’t fancy because her foster parents didn’t have much money, but she adored it nonetheless.
“Are ye coming this time, Madison?” a little boy called out. “Will ye finally show yerself?”
“It’s you who needs to show yourself,” she called back, racing through the trees. She knew he was close but could never quite see him. Never catch up with him. Or was it the other way around? Because sometimes it felt like he was trying to catch up with her.
“Nay, ‘tis ye who is just out of sight.”
He sounded closer than he ever had before. She looked around, certain she would finally see him. Convinced of it. Yet the more he called out, the further away he sounded, and she knew it saddened him. And the sadder he grew, the sadder she became.
She didn’t want him to vanish again. Didn’t want to wander these woods day in and day out, forever wondering when she might hear him again. Yet he was fading, and it hurt this time. More than ever. So much that she sank down against the nearest tree, hung her head, and cried.
“Ye’re there...really there...I see ye.”
She sniffled and blinked, only to find a boy crouching in front of her. He had hair as black as night and the saddest blue eyes she had ever seen.
“Sad because I did not want to lose ye again,” he said, as though responding to her thoughts. “Are ye okay?”
“Cian?”
“Ta, ‘tis me.” He nodded and smiled. “I thought ye were leaving me again, but then ye appeared like a ghost...then ye appeared all the way.” He cocked his head. “Are ye a god then? For ye came from King’s Heart.”
Madison glanced up and gasped when she realized she sat beneath the mighty oak. When she looked back at Cian, he had vanished, and she jolted awake only to realize she wasn't in the tent anymore but actually sitting against King’s Heart.
Not in a dream but in the here and now.
