MIASMIC Place Of Pendants 1

Chapter Thirty Three

The Joining

Conall’s face took a look of raw need pulling me to him kissing me with more passion than I thought possible. His hands glided over my shoulders and down my back. The feel of his hands and lips intoxicating increasing the need for more, to be closer to him. To drown in him never wanting to resurface.

He brought his hand up to my breast and circled a nipple with his finger. It instantly became hard; oh mercy give me strength. A fire lit inside my body. Lifting me in his arms he laid me gently down on the blanket. Settling beside me, his hands roamed my body while he kissed me into breathlessness.

As his head bent down to capture a nipple in his mouth his hand slowly moving down my body to between my thighs. I moaned to the sensation.

Suddenly the wolf was next to us, his face an inch from Conall’s teeth bared, a low snarl emanating. Conall froze.

“Silver! Stop!” I yelled. The wolf ceased snarling but continued to face off with Conall.

“Wolf I told ye last night ye will no share our bed again.” Conall growled back. “Be off with you now, I am no hurting tha lass. I need ye to stand guard.”

The wolf took a step back, slackening his mouth as he looked at me.

“It’s ok Silver he is not hurting me, go.”

The wolf backed up a few more paces before turning around to walk back to the cave entrance. He turned once to give Conall a yellow eyed glare, as if to say, I am watching you human. This put a damper on what we were doing. I broke into a laugh.

“You told the wolf last night?” I managed to get out between giggles.

“Aye I did.” Conall broke into laughter himself. He laid beside me propped on his left elbow. When he stopped laughing he leaned down kissing me softly, until I broke into a new round of giggles.

“Lass are ye going to giggle all tha way through our joining?”

I shook my head clamping my lips hard together straining to hold back more giggles.

“God’s blood.” Conall said in frustration, as he shifted to lay on his back an arm under his head. I could tell though he was endeavouring to hold back his own mirth at the situation.

I turned on my side towards him kissing his shoulder. He lay still. I ran my hand slowly drawing my fingers down his chest to his stomach, feeling his muscles twitch again. Still, he didn’t move. I shimmied closer. He brought his arm up and around me but continued to look at the space above, his face devoid of emotion. I leaned further over raining soft kisses and nips on his skin down his chest. My kisses and bites grew in intensity as the stronger the need for him rose, the fire had begun again.

Suddenly he swooped over me pushing me to my back his hands holding my wrist down beside my head. He kissed me with intensity, plunging his tongue into my mouth. I groaned. Oh, sweet mercy! I was melting beneath his kisses, his body, his scent.

Without breaking the kiss, he moved my hands above my head and held them with one hand, while the other hand caressed my face, my neck, my breast, my stomach, and down between my thighs.

If it was cold in the cave, or the floor beneath me was hard I wouldn’t have known. I was consumed only by the rising fire of need for him.

He let go of my wrists moving his body over the top of me whispering. “I’m sorry Lass it will hurt but fer a moment, if you want me to stop tell me or I will no be able to stop once we start.”

I sought his lips and murmured. “Don’t you dare stop.”

When I felt the spark of pain it only lasted a few moments. Conall held still at my intake of breath, but as soon as I began to move to adjust to him he also moved slowly pulling back and thrusting further into my body. As his thrusts increased my body strained at the seams wanting to burst. There was some pain, but it added to the need the fire building for him.

I opened my eyes not realizing I had shut them to find Conall staring at me through his grunts and groans.

“Conall I want…”

“What do you want love, tell me.” His voice hoarse and low.

I dropped my eyes to his lips. “Your mouth.”

With that Conall took me in a hard-grinding kiss, thrusting his body faster and harder, my hips pushing to meet his.

Suddenly a lightning rod of electricity surged through our bodies from nowhere and everywhere. It was like I had been plugged into a power socket with the switch on. Conall held still as a simultaneous release, powerful, electrifying exploded from toes to head in unison.

I felt it through my body, but I also felt his. An overpowering web of electricity shot through us, between us as we merged into one. Every nerve was tingling, our bodies shaking in unison. Holding each other not wanting to let go as surge after surge swooped through our bodies, each one becoming softer as we rode the currents of pleasure. Both shuddering and twitching with each hit as it emanated to every nerve and cell.

When it began to recede Conall collapsed on top of me drenched in sweat. Although I bore his full weight, neither of us could move.

He rolled to his side and finally I could take a deeper breath. “Wow, wow, wow.” Was all I could utter. My body was still buzzing every nerve pulsating. “Is it like that every time?” I said between pants, somehow knowing it wasn’t. Nothing in the movies coming close to what had just happened.

The stunned look on his face answered the question.

“Nay. God’s blood…ne’er did that happen before.”

“You have laid with other’s before, have you not?” I asked not wanting to know the details propping myself up on my elbow. Our joining in no uncertain terms was beyond expectation, not that I had any. I did not think for one minute though it would be like what had just happened.

“Aye lass I have. But ne’er…anything…like this. The power of it was….”

“Mind blowing?”

“Aye, as ye say, mind blowing.” Conall laughed as he pulled me to cradled my head on his chest, his arm about me.

“Tha first time I went to yer time.

Sloane was showing me some of ye machines. While we were in tha kitchen tha light blew, an so he took the bulb out. While he was gone to get a new one I didnae ken touching it would send me flying across tha room.”

“You got an electric shock?” I laughed.

“Aye it would seem so. What just happened sort of felt tha same. Except in that kitchen it hurt like the devil, this was…I cannae find tha words to say exactly.”

I had to agree with him. The nerves in my body were still pulsating, it feels amazing. “If that happens every time you are definitely a keeper.” I laughed.

“Aye so ye intend to keep me then do ye.” He slapped me squarely on the bum causing me to squeak and the wolf to come running to stand over Conall.

I reached up and patted silver telling him all was well and to go and guard the entrance. The wolf did as I asked. I laughed silently at the soft snores suddenly coming from Conall. He had fallen to sleep fast, not realizing the wolf had stood over him a moment ago. Eventually listening to the soft snores of Conall I also slipped into a sated slumber.

Waking to the feel of a plaid over me and the familiar scent of oats cooking wafted through the air. I smiled to see him leaning over a pot with just his shirt on.

“Ah ye are awake. Would ye like ye wedding breakfast tha noo my beautiful wife?” His grin my beautiful sight.

“Isn’t it the middle of the day?” Blinking at the amount of light coming into the cave I would judge it to be close to midday.

“It’s the middle of the afternoon lass. Ye slept fer a while.”

“That was your fault.” I laughed to his raised brows and a wicked smile crossing his face.

We sat on the blanket eating porridge sitting in our shirts. I had not seen the wolf since I awoke. “Conall the words you said to me in Gaelic this morning, what were they?”

He stopped eating.

I give you my heart and soul in this life and the next

Heart of my heart

Soul of my soul

I give you my life, my blood

Fer only with you, am I whole

My husband was a poet. “Oh, Conall that is beautiful.”

“I thought what ye said was also verra pleasing. Did ye write it lass?”

“No, it was a poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, I think however I might have desecrated her words a bit.”

“Regardless I verra much liked it. Lass do ye ken what happened? I mean when we…”

“I don’t really know but it felt like I, we received a massive charge of electricity.”

“Aye, did ye think that we…for a moment shared tha same body?”

“Hmmm, I felt like we melded together so I guess that is the same. Has that never happened to you before?”

“Nay but I think ye ken that. Did ye like it?”

I raised my hand to his face. “Oh, Conall how could I not, it was the most amazing thing I have ever felt.”

He pulled me in his arms. “I love ye with my heart and soul my leannan. I could nay have a life without ye.” He whispered just before he kissed me thoroughly.

Coming up for air I had to ask. “Was it as good as riding your dragon. Perhaps one day I will get to ride your red dragon.”

“Riding tha dragon pales to what we did, an tha only dragon ye’ll be riding is tha Dragon Blade.” With that he seized me in another hungry kiss. Oh sweet mercy can this man kiss.

As we lay gasping after another round of love making I was staggered at how wonderful it felt to join with Conall. The same electrical spasms happened again. Oh, I could positively get used to this. I was however a little tender after our second time, as he put it joining. Stripping my shirt, I sunk into the waterfall bath. It was exceedingly cold. Conall stripped too joining me.

I was right about there being enough room for two, but only just.

By the time we had bathed and dressed, the sun was descending into early evening. The wolf entered the cave with Dougall behind.

“Glad to see ye both dressed.” A wicked grin across his face.

“Dougall did ye get the Druid home well?” Conall asked ignoring his comments.

“Aye. Conall we need to be leaving soon. I think daybreak would be best. I dare say we will have less trouble from the Brollachans, though I fear what may be waiting fer us when we arrive at tha stones.”

“I have to agree bràthair. We will need to protect Morgan while she sends tha box home. We need tae be ready.”

“Will tha wolf be coming with us?” Dougall asked.

“I dinnae ken but he’s welcome if’n he chooses to.” Conall regarded me in hopes I knew the answer. I didn’t so I just shrugged. I was very appreciative the wolf had stuck around as long as he had done. Whether he would continue the journey with us, we would just have to wait and see.

At daybreak, we left the sanctuary of the cave and headed back down to where we had parted from our horses. It took less time to get down than it did days ago getting up. Reaching the area we had left the saddles Conall whistled for the horses. They came running in no time, happy to see us as we were to see them. Cantering on the road it was a hard ride to what Conall called the Summer Isles, mostly hills. Many of which were rock-strewn causing the ride to slow at times.

We stopped very briefly to water the horses before arriving at a small inn at Ardmair on the shores of Loch Kanaird.

Dismounting Dougall pointed to an island not far from land. “That be the Isle of Martin. Tha monastery was built a thousand years ago. There’s no much of it left though. Nay one lives there anymore, well no I am aware of.” Dougall informed us to the shake of Conall’s head.

I gripped my cloak closed with Abbey in one hand and my tapestry bag in the other. Two young stable boys no older than seven or eight came to collect the horses.

Entering the inn the same ale, unwashed bodies and candle tapers assaulting our senses. The only customer was an old man sitting to the side crying over a tankard of ale.

Whether he was drunk from ale, or he had just lost the love of his life there was no telling. The keeper strode forward. A tall skinny man with a thin lock of white hair, his beard reminded me of a goat.

“Would ye be Conall Sutherland then?” He asked to our surprise.

“Aye tha be me.” Conall replied a little weary as to how the man would know who he was.

“Word came a sennight ago tha ye be headin’ this way. A ship awaits ye ta take ye ta tha Lewis.” The keeper stated whilst scratching different areas of his body.

“Oh Aye, an who sent tha message?” Conall narrowed his eyes at the man’s profuse scratching.

Dougall interrupted taking a step back, a look of disdain on his face. “What ales ye man. Do ye have fleas?”

The inn keeper ignored Dougall, continuing to address Conall. I took a small step back myself.

“A messenger stopped ere. Said he be from Laird Sutherland, an I was ta see ye an tha lady’s comfort until ye sailed. One o’ crew a McKenzie stops in each nigh ta see if ye arrived. I be expecting him soon.” The inn keeper continued to scratch profusely.

Dougall leaned forward to whisper in Conall’s ear. “Are ye sure ye want ta stay ere. The beds are surely flea infested.”

Conall ignored his brother. “We will need two rooms. One fer me an my wife and one fer me bràthair.”

“I think I might sleep with tha horses. I dinnae want to wake bitten to pieces o’er fleas.” Dougall huffed.

A small very stout woman came to stand next to the inn keeper. Hands on her hips her face set into a scowl much like a bulldog.

“He no ha fleas, he ha allergy. We run a clean hoose here, an I’ll thank ye ta mind ye manners.” She barked more at Dougall than Conall and I.

“Now lass I take no heed. No need gettin’ yer ire up tha noo.” The keeper uttered to the woman patting her on the shoulder.

The woman raised an eyebrow giving Dougall a derisive sneer as she snorted and strode back to the bar.

“I’m sorry milord Maggie can be a wee bit protective, she no means nay harm.”

Dougall went to say something but before he could Conall slapped him across the back of the head.

“If ye take a seat I’ll bring ye something tae eat.” The keeper interjected.

The three of us sat at a table towards the back so I could lean Abbey, my bag and the saddlebags up against the wall, as we had done at the last inn. I was curious as to how Haig had known where we were going to be and who the McKenzie was. When I set these questions to Conall it was Dougall who answered.

“When I left ye at tha cave to seek the Druid. I went to where I thought he may be but he was no there. So, I went to da to let him ken tha situation before going back in time again to another place.

That’s where I found tha Druid, that’s why it took so long to find him. Da must ha sent a messenger to tha McKenzie.”

“The McKenzie is the Laird of tha Western Isles” Conall added.

“We have an alliance with them. I’m right happy they offered a boat. I was a might worried how we were going to get one.”

Dougall said, “We could ha just used tha pendant.”

“And what about Silver” I interjected. I would rather have the wolf with us if he was willing to come than just leaving him here.

“Sorry sis, forgot about ye hairy beast.” Dougall smiled.

Maggie brought three bowls and a plate of bannocks to the table.

As she put them down she gave Dougall another contemptuous sneer. Dougall was about to say something, but Conall’s look was enough to stop him. Dougall kept quiet moving his chair further away from his brother. No doubt to avoid another slap in the head.

The keeper was right behind him dropping two tankards of ale down with a smaller one of wine.

“Err..can I ask what this is?” I asked Maggie. Her face changed from the sneer she was giving Dougall to a relaxed smile when she looked at me.

“Milady tha be Cullen Skink. It’s verra tasty. I made it meself.”

I sat over the bowl with eyes wide thinking why would you add a lizard to a stew. Conall learned towards me and whispered.

“Fish stew it dosnae need a name.”

I shot him a questioning look. I did however try a little. It was quite nice, very fishy. I noticed Conall, while shoving food into his mouth had a smile on his face.

Dougall simply looked puzzled. I was surprised that Conall had not told him about bugs the poor rabbit, seeing as he never failed to mention it.