Page 56 of A Celtic Vow
Yet the gods or her god had returned her from whatever living-dead spell she’d been under, only for her to want to come here. While he could admit it was his second favorite spot only to King’s Fall and his castle, he hadn’t wanted to come yet. Rather, he’d wanted to sweep her off her feet and find a cozy, intimate spot to consummate their vows.
To make herhisin all ways possible.
To becomehersin all ways imaginable.
“What things have you long thought were one way but are another?” Constance prompted, bringing him back to the present.
“That.” He gestured at the area of the waterfall their dragons had vanished into as he pulled her after him toward the pond. Knew she wasn’t going to like what came next. What it was going to take to get where they needed to go. “I think there’s more back there than I ever realized.”
“Good, then we need to go,” she replied. “Now.”
“Soon.” He pulled her along a side path between boulders to a grassy knoll on a part of the shore close to the waterfall but still protected from most of its icy spray. “In a few more hours. Once the winds die down some.”
“I don’t understand.” She shook her head and looked from the monstrous waterfall to him. “Why not now?”
“Because this isn’t like King’s Fall.” He manifested a fur and laid it where they could still see the cascade. One far more intense and violent when seen up close. “There’s no way for a person to walk up a path and get behind it.”
Sensing his brothers knew of it and had been there, she blinked in confusion before she understood. “Your brothers and now me are the only ones who can get there. Me because I’m a dragon. Them, because your dragon brought them there.”
“Ta.”He urged her to sit beside him and manifested not skins of whiskey but ale. “Mayhap something a wee bit weaker to drink whilst we wait?”
He didn’t need to elaborate why. She understood.
The only way to get to the cave behind this waterfall was as a dragon or with help from his dragon. Not even wizardly magic could penetrate it. That meant facing her monster once again, whether she was married to him now or not.
“Are you sure there isn’t any—”
“I’m sure.” He handed her a skin when she sank down beside him. “The only way into that cave is via my dragon unless you shift.” He gestured at the trees swaying in the wind. “And the only way for it to be less terrifying for your human is if my dragon gets you there once the winds die down. Otherwise, ‘twill be rather treacherous.”
“Why, when I can’t imagine you’d need to fly.” She swallowed hard and eyed the dizzying heights of the waterfall. “I remember how huge your dragon is.”
“Because the wind off the waterfall alone will make it a trying climb for your human half.” He remained painfully blunt. “If there’s a heavy wind sheer from both directions, I won’t be able to remain stable enough for anyone to climb, period.” He shook his head. “If I could place you there with one of my talons, I would but ‘tis a sloppy affair not to be trusted. Using my wings is best.”
“You mean to tell me,” she began, then shook her head. “Surely, you’re not telling me the only way for us to get there is if I climb your dragon?” He felt her flash of fear. “The size it is now...inside you.”
“’Tis exactly what I’m telling you.” He shrugged. “I know of no other way to do it unless you embrace your dragon then shift back quickly when entering the cave, for ‘tis not a large area. If you would like me to teach you, then—”
“No.” Constance shook her head and shivered a little despite growing fonder of her inner dragon by the moment. “I’m not ready for that.” She pressed her lips together and gave him an apologetic look. “I’m so sorry. I’m just not there yet.”
“’Tis not something you need to be sorry for.” He flicked a fire to life in a small pit on the shore and took a swig of ale, wondering if what she hoped to accomplish would even be possible if he shifted. If she would be able to find the courage.
“I’ll be able to,” she murmured, following his thoughts. She frowned a little. “But cut me some slack, okay? After all, itisgoing to take facing my worst fear to get there.”
“But ‘twouldnotbe yer worst fear.” He tilted her chin until their eyes were aligned. Could not help his thickening accent as he clarified what she would be facing. “’Twill be yer husband, lass. The man ye just married. The dragon who saved ye...lovesye.” He caressed her cheek and allowed his dragon eyes to flare. “Loves ye every bit as much as his human half.” He shook his head. “Wouldneverharm ye.”
“I know,” she whispered, her voice choppy as her dragon eyes flared in response. “Both sides of me do.”
He searched her gaze. Her inner dragon. Inner human. Needed to be sure.“Ta?”
“Ta.”She leaned into his touch. “I’ll be okay when you,he, gets me there. Getsusthere.”
“Good.” He brushed his lips across hers. “Because ‘twould be his honor.” He kissed her again. “Myhonor.”
While he thought she might want to resume talking and mentally bracing herself for seeing his dragon in a few short hours, she surprised him when she lifted her skirts and straddled him. When she wrapped her hands around either side of his neck, and her gaze roamed his face with unmistakable desire.
“Why does this surprise you?” she murmured, rubbing herself against his rock-hard but clothed erection. Soaking the material so fast, he knew she craved it every bit as much as him. Drenched him in a scent that made everything else seem trivial. Non-existent. “When we still need to consummate our marriage?”
The look in her eyes made his dragon scream to the surface more than it already had. Made him growl with promise. With so much pent-up need, he dug his hand into her hair and kissed her hard. Harshly. With so much hunger, he feared his kisses might have hurt her had she not kissed him back just as vigorously.
