Blood And Breath

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It was the most euphoric, perfect moment of my existence, and it was growing. Building. Cascading like an avalanche down a mountain, I was no match for this force of nature. Fen swirled his tongue around my swollen nub with a guttural growl, and the vibrations sent me hurdling over the edge. Pleasure tore from my throat in an unabashed cry like a tea kettle billowing with steam. The release was so overpowering that it shook and pulsed through my body. I could do nothing but drift on the blissful waves until the perfect chaos settled. Fen continued to gently lap at my center until he’d drawn out every ounce of the orgasm from my quaking body. “That was just as breathtaking as I had imagined.” He licked my essence from his lips and moved back up the bed to pull my languid body against his. When I recovered enough to hear over the ringing in my ears, I let my hand drift down to his tented pants and pressed my palm against him. He took my hand in his, placed a tender kiss on my palm, then set it back on his chest. I raised my head so that I could see his face. “What about you, Fen? I want to make you feel good, too.” He squeezed my hand, his gaze warm and content. “Trust me, that was for me just as much as it was for you.” I wasn’t fully convinced, but I wasn’t going to force the issue, so I returned my cheek to his chest and nestled against him. “I am so sorry about your family,” he murmured into my hair. “I wish I could do more to protect you from the hurt they are causing, but I doubt there is much anyone can do that will ease that ache.” My situation was somewhat easier to think about in the aftermath of so much pleasure. I drifted my hand back and forth across his chest as my thoughts wandered. “I never imagined that I would need anyone to protect me from my own family. All my life, I’ve been taught ways to stay safe and protect myself from the Fae. But as it turned out, my mother hurt me in ways deeper than any Fae could have. She’s the one person who was supposed to be on my side, no matter what.” My voice cracked on the last words, emotion finally getting the better of me. Before I could travel any farther down that dark road, the mention of protection had me lifting my head and smiling softly at Fen. “Actually, that reminds me of something I brought for you.” I slid from the bed and crossed to where I had dropped my bag on the floor. Fen sat up cross-legged on the bed, and I bounded back over to sit across from him, our knees just touching. “I made this for you.” I held out my open palm to display a dark leather band embellished with detailed markings. “The protection rune,” he said under his breath as he lifted the strap from my hand and brought it up to examine more closely. “I made one for Rebecca a while back, and it helped her in a battle against some Red Caps. There’s not a ton of power to it, but it might help if you find yourself in a struggle. I want to keep you safe, too.” My eyes dropped to my hands as my insecurities resurfaced. “Cat, this is stunning. You truly do have an artistic gift.” He placed a hand behind my neck to pull me closer before pressing his lips against my forehead. “Thank you, my little Cat. You are a gift to me in more ways than you could ever know.” OceanofPDF.com Chapter Twelve CAT The pieces of my new life were falling into place. Days after the devastating fight with my mother, I’d secretly lined up a new place to live. I hadn’t told Mom my specific plans, but she would find out soon enough. Once she told the elders about my rejection of their mandates, I could safely assume I would no longer be welcome among them. It was only a matter of time before I would be cast out of the only family I’d ever known. Considering what I’d learned about recent leadership changes among the Druid elders, severing ties might have been inevitable. The more I learned about the Fae, the harder it was to align myself with people like Daeglan and their zealot teachings of fear and hatred. I just wished that group didn’t include my mother. Breaking away from her would be the most painful part, but I saw no way around it. Fortunately, not every Druid saw life in terms of black and white. Fergus was a prime example and one of the few Druids I hoped I would still be able to call a friend after I walked away. I had even considered keeping my job at the museum because of him but had decided I would need to make a clean break. Living my new life in the shadow of my old one would be that much harder on everyone involved. With that in mind, I lined up a job at a local clothing store that would help me get by until I figured out a long-term plan. Knowing my life would soon be turned upside down, I was more inclined than ever to seek out the pockets of happiness I found in Strabane. In Belfast, I was constantly confronted with the reality of my problems. When I was with Fen, it was like the two of us were marooned on an island where nothing could touch us. Being with him on an intimate level just days before had only intensified my need for him. I hadn’t even lasted a whole week before I gave in to the incessant pull and called in sick from work.