Dreaming his mate was kissing him, Brian scowled at the interruption. Determined to feel his mate’s lips on him again, he reached out, pulling his mate toward him, he sought the warmth of those soft, sensuous, lips again.Ahhh, yes, justperfect.
Shocked at what was happening, Logan struggled to escape Brian’s arms before…oh, shit,too late…his lips met the sea serpent’s. Pushing back hard against the chest beneath him, Logan couldn’t believe how strong Brian was. Finally breaking free, Logan jumped up and away from the reach of those devilishly iron arms. Glancing at his mate, he saw Kieran and Fionn hanging onto each other, overcome with laughter.
“Very funny,” Logan growled. “Instead of enjoying it, why don’t you come up with an idea about how to wake him up?”
“Maybeyoushould kiss him this time…you know, like sleeping beauty?” smirked Fionn.
“Hey, I don’t want him kissing anyone else but me,” Kieran said, placing his hands on his hips. “Macushla,take his shoe off and tickle his foot.”
Shaking his head, Logan said, “I don’t think that’s a good idea. What if he kicks me in the balls?”
“I don’t think Brian would do that,” replied Kieran.
“Yeah, well I didn’t think he’d kiss me either,” Logan growled.
“Good point. Hmm, maybe you should throw some cold water on him,” suggested Kieran.
“That’s a good idea, Ki,” Fionn agreed.
Logan tried to open the cabin door to go below for a glass, but it was locked. “Babe, see if you and Fionn can find something that will hold some water.”
“Okay, be right back,” Kieran said.
Waiting for them to return, Logan sat down as far away from Brian as he could, hoping he’d wake up before they got back. He tried calling to him in a loud voice. “Hey Brian, wake up! C’mon, wake up!” A hatch opened on the boat next to Brian’s and, unwilling to create a problem for the sea serpent with his neighbors, Logan stopped. Sitting there quietly, watching Brian sleeping, he was amazed he still hadn’t awakened during all the commotion. Logan wondered if he should call Ian to make sure nothing else other than tiredness might be the cause of Brian’s deep sleep, but decided against it whenhe remembered the sea serpent had just spent a week of sleepless nights.
Finally, Kieran and Fionn returned with a small bucket, handing it to Logan. Bending over the side, he filled it with cold water from the loch. Then, backing far enough away from Brian so the rude awaking wouldn’t get him kicked in the balls, he slowly raised the bucket, took aim and closed his eyes to avoid seeing the results. Then he let it fly.
Chapter 10
Brian fought to stay in his dream, ignoring the voices around him, until he sensed what was about to happen. Opening one eye, he saw the raised bucket and knew he was about to get soaked. Jackknifing off the bench, he shouted, “What the fuck are ye doin’?”
Opening his eyes, Logan saw a wet empty bench and Brian standing to his left. “Fuck! Brian! Oh, shit! Just trying to wake you cause everyone’s in place waiting.”
“With a bucket of cold water?”
Fionn piped up, grinning, “He tried shaking you, but you kissed him.”
Rolling his eyes at Fionn for broadcasting that bit of news, Logan set the bucket down and, averting his eyes from the sea serpent, jumped off the boat. “Uhhh, Brian, we’ll be heading out now to where we need to be, so when you’re ready, just go ahead.” Taking his mate’s hand, Logan walked briskly back toward the marina office, heading for the path that would take them to a place he and Fionn could shift unseen.
Kissed Logan?Shaking his head, Brian didn’t believe it.Naw, I was kissing my mate. Wait, my mate?Touching his lips, he felt the imprint left there, left by his…MATE? My mate was on my boat and fucking kissed me? Without wakin’ me?Closing his eyes, Brian leaned back against the cabin, pulling at the strands of his dream in his mind and, as they came together, the full impact of his mate’s kiss caused him to slump to the deck.
His face was awash in misery at the discovery he’d been claimed without his agreement. Leaning his head against the cabin, the realization of what that selfish act had done to him, sent a tear trickling down his cheek.What did Iever do to ye? Why? Because ye want my loch? So fucking bad yer willing to kill me for it?Brian could draw no other conclusion about his mate’s kiss and the resulting bond they now had.
Massaging the pain he felt in his chest at the unfinished claiming, he wondered if his mate was feeling it, too. Somehow, he doubted it; his mate had completed his part and now Brian had only three days to claim him or…Or I’ll die! And how can I claim ye if ye won’t even stay around and introduce yersel’?If he’d had any doubt about his mate’s intentions, it was now gone—Brian had been rejected in the most vile manner, ever.
Never had he thought his life would end so soon. He had no illusions left that he would ever find his mate, even with the Shaman’s help.Three fucking days! Impossible! Three days…that’s it. How am I supposed to wrap up everything in the time I have left…I must call Angus and figure a way he can get supplies for his pack after I’m dead…maybe Morgan can step in…he can sell my boat and use the money for that…or maybe the King can help.
The enormity of what he had to do in those precious few days left sunk in as he tried to think about what to do first. The unfairness of what his mate did to him finally broke through the tangle of thoughts in his mind, making him furious. Opening his eyes, Brian stared up into the night sky, searching for the gods he thought were merciful, that is, until tonight.Why? What did I ever do to ye to deserve this?Not hearing a reply, he closed his eyes, praying when he opened them again, he’d find it was all a dream.
~/~/~/~/~
Arriving at the clearing, Logan turned to Fionn, “There isn’t room for both of us to shift here so you go first, then circle above that stand of trees over there, Okay?”
“Sure,” Fionn replied, walking to the center and calling on his dragon to shift. When it burst forth, Fionn marveled at its power. Since promising his mother never to let his father see him shift, Fionn’s dragon was rarely free, but his father’s death would now change that. Looking from side to side, he stretched his wings to make sure he had the room to lift off. Then, pumping them vigorously, he rose into the darkness, gleaming like a beacon.
“Fucking hell!” spat Logan.
Kieran gasped after he saw his friend shift. “Macushla, Fionn is awhite dragon!” he exclaimed, awestruck.
