“Aye,” she said nodding. “I am happy for them.”
“And you, young one? Do you have someone you wish as your own?” The woman moved closer to her and whispered, “Have you dreamed of him yet?”
“Nay,” she said. “There is no one. I have too many tasks to complete for the gods before I think about marriage.”
“You are blessed, Aislinn of Cork. Yours is a special destiny. A difficult one. But you should pray to see him. The gods will be gracious to one who is in their favor.” Something fell at her feet and she bent to retrieve it.
A small carved horse lay there, one such as a child would play with. The woman must have dropped it. Turning to find her, Aislinn found the area around her empty. Brisbois stood his usual distance from her.
“Brisbois, where did that woman go?” she asked. He must have seen her. Their paths should have crossed.
“There was no woman, priestess. Only you.” He crossed his arms over his massive chest, signaling that he was done talking.
“You must have seen her—she dropped this toy. I would like to return it to her.” Brisbois simply let out an aggrieved breath and shrugged.
Only as she returned to her tent did she realize what the woman had called her.
Aislinn of Cork.
No one save Marcus knew of her birthplace. No one save Marcus knew her origins. No one could. It was too dangerous, he’d always told her.
She must have misunderstood the woman. According to Brisbois there was not even one. Mayhap her grief and exhaustion caused her to mistake the words? She prepared for sleep, but held on to the carved piece of wood.
And that night, for the first time, she dreamt of a man. A handsome young man of black hair and blue eyes who seemed to know her when he saw her. A man who was special, surrounded with a red aura as the other bloodlines were with the color of their gods. A man who called her by name before he disappeared.
He called her Aislinn of Cork.
Soren stole Ran away, taking her up the road to Brodgar’s Ring. He’d checked and made certain that the shelter he’d set up there for them that first night was still in good condition. It would be far enough away from the others for the privacy deserved on a wedding night. They would depart in the morning on ships on a journey that would take them away from the only home he’d ever known to a destination filled with danger. They would depart with the dozens and dozens of others on their shared quest and would, according to William and the others, meet more in the next place.
So, this night would be his last alone with her. As they reached the place and he slowed the horse, she leaned over and looked around him. Seeing the hut, she laughed.
“We have been here before,” she said, as he helped her down from the horse. “But it looks much more comfortable than I remember.” She walked up and he knew the moment she saw his preparations. Several thick blankets. A basket with food and ale. More blankets. “You did this?”
“Aye. I thought this would be the perfect place to consummate our wedding vows.”
She smiled and nodded. “I wanted you that night,” she admitted. “I was furious at you and angry that I could still want you.”
“But you did not recognize this place that night, did you? Do you now?” he asked, walking up behind her and standing close. He thought that might spark her memory.
When she shook her head, he reached out and took her hands in his. Leaning forward he placed them on the frame of the hut above her head. Then, he crouched down behind her and slid his hands up under her gown, following her long legs up and up. Her body reacted, pressing back against him. When he’d gathered her skirts in his hand, he tossed them up on her back, out of his way.
“Not yet?” he asked, sliding his hand between her legs.
“Nay,” she said on a gasp.
Her body arched, bringing the full flesh of her arse against his cock. He loosened the ties on his breeches and let them fall. Pressing his other hand on her lower back to open her for him, he slid his prick into her.
“Yet?” he asked, sliding his length slowly and completely into her flesh.
“Nay.” The word came out on her breath as he moved more forcefully against her. Holding her hips, he plunged in and drew back several times, feeling the muscles inside her grasp his cock, trying to milk it dry already.
“Not until you remember,” he warned. He slid one hand around and palmed her belly and mons. She moaned then. One finger then two moved deeper into her cleft and teased her there. One slight touch in that sensitive spot and she clenched her flesh together.
“I cannot believe you do not remember this place,” he said, stopping all movement. “I thought women were the maudlin ones.”
“Mayhap I remember and just want you to tease me this way?” she asked, pressing her arse against him, pushing him in deeper.
“Liar,” he whispered against her hair as he leaned over her. “You know I will draw this out for you. You know I would do anything you asked of me.”
