Page 6 of Simon Says

He grew serious as he looked at her. It was hours before sunset. That far north the sun would shine until after ten o’clock in September. Stray beams filtering through clouds occasionally shone like spotlights on her hair picking up a hint of red mixed with the blonde.

“Much more,” he said.

“What if I said I feel the same?” Simon looked surprised before he caught himself. “You can no’ be so unused to bein’ pursued. You’re put together very well for a human.”

Unsure whether that was a genuine compliment or not, he said, “Thanks?”

She laughed her throaty, seductive laugh that made him grow hard as an ancient standing stone.

Simon had heard that elves and fae were promiscuous before mating. They did not contract venereal diseases and there were no cultural mores that discouraged sexual encounters with whomever was attractive in that way. Still, it was his first experience with the phenomenon and he was feeling very lucky that he’d happened to choose a wild camping leave in the Orkneys.

“You’re a verygood cook, Simon. Some woman is goin’ to be lucky to have you for a mate.”

“I don’t know. I think perhaps on balance my less desirable qualities might outweigh my cooking skills.”

“What are your less desirable qualities?” Simon opened his mouth to answer, but she changed her mind. “Never mind. I do no’ want to know. For tonight I want to believe that you’re perfect. A god fallen to Earth from that star,” she looked up in the sky and pointed, “right there.”

“Suit yourself.” He smiled.

“How old are you?”

“Twenty-three. How old are you?”

“Twenty-nine. You seem much older. I would’ve guessed that you’re closer to my age.”

He smirked. “Vampire hunting ages a person.”

“You’re stickin’ with that vampire huntin’ business, are you?”

“That’s my story.” His casual nonchalance would never be taken as cover for the truth.

She rolled her eyes. “How long are you on holiday?”

“I’m not exactly on holiday. A friend died. He was a close friend, more like family really. So I’m out here to…”

Watching him struggle to find the right words, she offered, “Clear your head and free your heart?”

If Simon had spent a year contemplating how best to answer why he was there, he would not have been able to come up with a more perfect and concise description of his reasons. He didn’t answer, just reached over and pulled Sorcha close enough to him so that he could kiss her the way he’d been thinking all through dinner. With the firelight reflecting on her face, she had him believing that she was the goddess who likely fell to Earth from the brightest star in the heavens above.

It took little urging to get her to scoot near, a look of sensual anticipation on her face.

“You done this before, human?”

Simon smiled sardonically. “Couple of times,” he said just before he pressed a soft kiss to her mouth. When she deepened the kiss, with an unmistakable flavor of demand and insistence, he chuckled. He’d been thinking sweet and slow. She was apparently thinking eager and faster. He was just as cool with eager and faster. So he let her set the pace.

Flanked by the Atlantic to the west and North Sea to the east, the Orkneys enjoyed a surprisingly mild climate. At least that was what the travel brochures said. But forties didn’t feel mild if a wet wind whipped up after the sun finally set and sleeping arrangements were outside on the ground.

It took a few minutes to figure out how to reconfigure the sleeping bag zippers so that they could take advantage of the combination of modern fiber technology and body heat.

“How can it be so hard?” She laughed.

“It’s like a puzzle,” he replied. “We’re both reasonably bright, well-educated persons. We’ll figure it out. Just be patient.”

She growled. “I’m no’ feelin’ patient. I’m feelin’ eager to have you inside me.”

Simon froze for a second before saying, “Why in the name of tarnation does this have to be so hard?” He grinned. “Looks like I’m earning my chocolate.”

“Oh, aye,” she said. “You will.”

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