The plans for today were to go to my parents’ property. Whereas I thought we’d just be able to head out, after discussing it with Odhran, I didn’t want to just go on another journey without having plans in motion.
And although I knew Odhran would have followed me anywhere, done anything I’d asked, I did see the relief on his face that we’d make plans first. And I knew it was because he was worried about keeping me safe.
Although the Assembly wouldn’t be taken fully out for quite some time, after what Odhran had said, and overhearing him on the telephone with his king about all the things that had been set in motion to finally end that awful organization.
And I felt confident that it could actually happen. These men were fearsome and had their rage on their side backing them.
Species of the Otherworld were organizing and banding together; they were working as one unit to take out a common threat. I wasn’t old enough to know if this had ever been done before, but I was glad to see things were moving in that direction.
I randomly picked a book in English and walked over to the oversized, distressed leather chair that was positioned by the large window in the corner.
For a long time, I just rested my head on the chair and stared out the window. The sun was bright, the Highlands a glorious sight with the rolling green hills and the dots of fluff from the sheep I could see in the distance.
The woods were thick on three sides of the property, and I stared into the forest, the darkness stretching out the deeper it went back. A flock of birds got startled and flew overhead in a dark swarm, and I watched them swoop and turn in unison before flying off, the sound of their chirping fading.
The longer I sat there, the more I just took in the sights outside. It had been so long since I’d seen such open, natural beauty. And it was incredible.
I must’ve fallen asleep because I felt a light touch across my cheek, rousing me. I blinked my eyes open and stared out the window at the horizon that was painted orange and red pinks. The sun was setting, the dusky glow painting the grounds of Odhran’s estate as if an artist had rendered the image.
I turned my head and looked at my mate, who was crouched beside me, his blond hair ruffled and hanging over his forehead as if he’d been running his fingers through it from stress.
“I didn’t realize I slept so long,” I said with a sleepy voice. He didn’t respond, just kept staring at me so intently it was as if he saw every single part of me that I tried to hide.
Finally, he gave me a small smile as he stroked my cheek again. “I was having the most incredible dream,” I said, and thought back to right before I woke up.
He leaned in and brushed his lips against mine, the touch soft, tentative. But I was tired of being careful. I wanted him. I wanted to taste his flavor on my tongue, down the back of my throat. I want to feel him inside of me, his hands on my body, his lips at my throat. And I knew he could sense that, could smell my need for him; the arousal that was slick between my thighs would make it easy for him to work himself inside of me.
I felt myself flush as the memory of that erotic dream jumped to the forefront of my mind. I lifted my hand and placed it over his, which still rested on my cheek. I gently scraped my nails along the backs of his fingers, and his nostrils flared, his pupils dilating. I slowly licked my lips, and in that moment I felt nothing but the hazy cloud of sleep and arousal still clinging to me.
And the longer I stared at him, the more I wanted him, the more I wanted to stay in this moment and see how much it could grow.
“Did they all leave?” I breathed out those words, hoping he knew I meant all the Lycans that had shown up earlier today… hoping he knew why I was asking.
“Aye.” That one word was a husky growl from him. “I sent the staff home too. They’d prepared dinner but we are alone.”
Alone.
That thought, coupled with my desire from the dream, had me so wet between my legs that I clenched them together, and felt tingles race to the tips of my toes all the way to the top of my head.
“I have something for ye.” He stayed crouched on his haunches before me as he reached behind his neck. A second later, he was pulling his arm back around and holding out something in his hand, a gold chain hanging loosely over his fingers.
I was confused for just a second before he opened his hand, and I was staring at something I never thought I’d see again. Sitting delicately in the center of his big palm was the smallest piece of silver that had my heart lurching in my chest.
I lifted a hand to cover my mouth, so many emotions filling me. Was that actually… Could that really be…
“My necklace.” I lifted my focus to his face and saw he was intently watching me, his expression guarded. “How?” My hand slid down to curl gently around my throat as a memory of the last time I wore it played through my mind.
“After I’d woken up… after ye’d been taken…” He cleared his throat and looked down at the floor for a second as if he wanted to compose himself before continuing. “I saw it on the ground.” He looked into my eyes once more. “I picked it up and I’ve worn it ever since, telling myself I’d give it back to ye when ye were in my arms once more.” His jaw clenched as he looked back at me. “Then that bastard, the one called D, stole it from me after I was captured.” His nostrils flared and his anger saturated the air around him. “So I took it back right before tearing out his throat after we escaped.”
A soft, strangled sound left me at his words. He’d been wearing my anchor necklace this whole time.
“I would’ve given it tae ye right away, but with making sure ye were healed, then everything happening after, I didn’t want tae overwhelm ye.” He took each end of the necklace and held it up to me. I lifted the hair off my neck and shifted on the chair so he could clasp it around my throat.
His fingers gently brushed my nape, and once the necklace was secured, I looked down at the tiny anchor, the sun catching the curve of it. Tears flowed down my cheeks, and I was shocked that something so small and materialistic could mean so much.
I looked back at Odhran and smiled, knowing it was watery; not even caring that I could’ve started sobbing, I just broke right down in that moment. “You have no idea how much this means to me.” When I glanced back up at him, there was this gentle expression on his face. “I’m glad you waited to give it to me. I don’t think I would’ve been in the right mind frame earlier.”
He leaned in and kissed me, and I closed my eyes, just absorbing the wonderful feeling that consumed me.