The women’s easy acceptance of me, and my silence regarding the run-in with the Kelpie that night, had almost brought me to tears several times in the last few days. Now I just had to tell Luch about the magick at the castle. I hadn’t brought it up, not yet, as I still hadn’t told him about the Order of Caledonia. I planned to do it tonight, over dinner, because it was time I stopped hiding any secrets of what I was from him.
I still had one challenge to pass.
This puzzled me, because I’d been certain I’d see another band of diamonds ringing the handle after I’d healed Malarky, but there had been no change. That made it even more confusing what the Stone wanted from me. Was putting myself through severe pain to heal a young horse not enough? What more did it need? Since that day, I’d been careful to not use my magick, only very lightly ifneeded, and luckily I hadn’t been faced with anything too serious that required me to do so.
It had actually been fairly quiet. Or maybe it was just that I was enjoying my bubble of bliss. But I hadn’t been waking up at the witching hour, there had been no more Kelpies shrieking in the night, and no majorly traumatic catastrophes at work. In fact, I’d gotten into a good routine—as much as one can when dealing with animals—and I was close to being ready to hire someone to help me at the clinic, which would be a huge win for me and my practice.
I’d even purchased colorful cushions for my couch, ridiculous little things with beaded tassels, and I didn’t let myself think about having to pack them up. Luch had brought me several more vases, and bundles of flowers continued to show up at my doorstep. I always had a fresh bunch in the waiting room in my clinic, and several around the photo of Eriska on the windowsill. I loved having the flowers crowd the frame, as though we really were still sitting among the flowers together, stealing a moment of laughter on a sunny day. Sentimental, I walked over and picked up the picture, smiling down at it.
“Och, I wish you could see me now, Mum. I’ve finally got it all.”
Even as I said it, a shiver ran down my back, and I nestled the frame back among the flowers. My gaze went out to the waters of Loch Mirren, placid on a calm day, no breeze to rough the surface. It was meant to storm later, and I couldn’t help note how serene everything looked. Living this close to the loch had taught me the water constantly changed, its moods as mercurial as the Scottish weather.
But now? I got the sense it was waiting.
A knock at the door shook me from my thoughts, and I raced across the room, and flung the door open, even though I still had to do my hair and makeup.
“Pretend you didn’t see this!” I gasped to Luch, whirling to run away from him. His hands were around my waist in seconds, his mouth at my neck.
“And why am I pretending I don’t see this delicious snack right in front of me?” Luch growled at my neck, and I giggled, struggling to get away.
“Because I still have to do my hair and makeup. I want to properly present myself for a reaction.”
“I’ll give you a reaction.”
Cool air hit my backside as Luch made use of the zip, and I gasped as his hands streaked down my sides, pulling my underwear to the floor.
“Luch. If you mess up this dress I swear Willow will kill you…” I ended on a moan as he dropped to his knees behind me, widening my legs, his mouth finding me. I bent over the table, with zero shame, and bared myself to his tongue.
“It’s a stunning dress, Faelan, one I’ll admire even more knowing how I bent you over and took you in it.” I grinned against the tabletop as I heard him unzip his trousers and then he slid deep inside me, his hands at my waist.
“Oh. My.” I bit back a scream as he took me, hard and fast, and exploded around him, pleasure rushing through me in hard sharp waves.
“There she is. My gorgeous woman. All mine.” Luch’s breath was hot at my ear, and I moaned as he slid even deeper. It was always like this between us. Not the way he was taking me right now, but always this sharp, hot need. Itwas like we were meant for each other, our bodies recognizing each other, and he loved to say over and over how he claimed me as his. Normally, the overbearing nature of someone “claiming” me would have annoyed me, but for some reason I just ate it right up when it came to Luch.
Maybe it was because it was so unlike his gentle nature in every other aspect of his life. He was kind with animals, understanding with his patients, and endlessly patient with his family. So if he needed a space to be demanding and a little rough around the edges, I loved that he could have that with me.
I loved a lot about him actually.
Just the thought of that made me clench hard around him, and he laughed at my ear.
“Keep that up, darling, and we’ll never make it to dinner.”
“At this rate we’ll be late,” I grumbled as I straightened and slipped the dress carefully off and hung it over the back of the chair. Turning, I held up my hands when Luch’s eyes heated at the sight of the sexy bra I wore. “Nope. I need a quick shower now and have to do hair and makeup. You do not get to touch again.”
“That’s just fine, love. I’ll just bide my time thinking about all the decadent things I’ll be doing to you in that bra later.”
Heat flashed through my body and I held a finger of warning up to him.
“Wheesht! I mean it. I have to get ready.”
Dashing into the bathroom, I raced through a quick shower, piled my hair on my head as instructed by Willow, and rubbed some smokey shadow across my eyes. Afterslicking on the only lip gloss I had, I donned a simple pair of silver hoop earrings, and then I slid my feet into a pair of strappy flat sandals. Even Willow wouldn’t be able to convince me to wear heels. Walking back out into the main room, I grabbed the dress, giggled as I dodged Luch’s lunge, and ran back into the bedroom.
“No! Stop! I get to make an entrance.” I was whining, I knew that, but he needed to be patient.This dress is too gorgeousnotto wear on a date.Naturally, his chuckle was hearty as it came through the door.
“Fine, but if we don’t leave in three minutes, I’m breaking down this door.”
“Damn it.” How the hell was I supposed to zip up this dress from bottom to top? Turning, I sighed into the mirror.
