Hi-lo all you little readers! (though I have a cheek calling anyone little!)

Here is my next chapter and there is a bit more typical ooey-gooey. I'm too hungover to write a good authors note for you and so I am going to stop rambleing about nothing and let you get on with reading the actual chapter and I will save my energy for writing the next one, which I will start after I have had food and a nap!

Read and Review, they make me smile!

love

KeroaucinaHackney

Colm was unconscious on my hall floor, Hunter stood over him glowering hands clenched. It really was Colm's fault that Hunter punched him but I had at least expected some restraint from him! "Did you have to punch him?" I asked, glaring at him.

"Yes." He said matter of factly and I knew I couldn't make him feel bad about it yet. I sighed and took his hand in both of mine to inspect it. It was a little red and had a tiny bit of swelling but nothing serious, he didn't even wince as I ran my fingers across his knuckles. Was it possible that Hunter hadn't punched him that hard and that Colm was just quite a weakling? Or was Hunter just that good a punch.

Hunter wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed my temple, "I'm sorry. You didn't need this tonight." I sighed once again, I didn't need this tonight. Tonight I needed Hunter, a box of tissues and my bed. But I suppose nothing was ever going to go smoothly, I really should be used to it by now.

"He kissed you." Hunter's voice was tight and I knew that he was restraining himself from actually murdering Colm.

I buried my head in the nook between his shoulder and arm, tracing my fingers down his arm, "You remember that I was invited over there for dinner tonight?" I tilted my head up to see him as he nodded. "Well it was actually Colm inviting me to dinner. I yelled at him, he yelled back. I started to storm out when he grabbed me and kissed me. It was horrible and didn't last five seconds before I kicked him and ran out." I took a breath burying my head in the little nook again, clinging a little to him before he threw me away in disgust. Every part of him was tensed and I shut my eyes against the onslaught.

"The stupid bloody bastard! What the hell did he think he was doing grabbing you! And why the hell did he think he could ask you out! Did he think I was a figment of his imagination! This actually may be possible because he is obviously quite deluded!" His voice was so controlled that I knew he was barely restraining from yelling. His arms pulled me closer and he kissed the top of my head over and over. I relaxed into him, the clean Hunterish smell of him soothing me.

Colm mumbled from the floor, I looked down at his rather crumpled form. His eyes flickered open and he looked more dazed than in pain. I'll bet that he was seeing quite a few purple dancing monkeys. Hunter growled when Colm mumbled my name and I had to hold on to him to stop him from launching on Colm again. "Help him to the couch," I told him, ignoring the incredulous look I was getting from him, "I have to go and get some things from the bathroom to sort him out."

"An axe." Hunter said darkly and I whacked him, merely pointing at the collapsed mass of flesh at our feet, daring him to disagree with me. He huffed and bent down to grab Colm under the arms and pulled him up a little roughly. I went into the bathroom to gather my things and had to suppress a laugh when I heard the thump and groan of Colm being dumped on my couch.

Hunter was standing over him glowering like an angry pit bull, while nonsense words fell from Colm's mouth. I winced when I realised that they were mostly about me.

"I'm going to kill him." Hunter said in a very low and malicious voice.

"No you aren't, I have to fix his nose, you have probably broken it you know." I was trying to scold him but I had neither the energy nor the heart to. I really just wanted to go to bed.

"Serves him bloody right the little wanker. Thinking about my fiancée in that way." He was growling again, "I should do a lot worse, like beat him into a bloody pulp and feed him to the seagulls."

"You will not. You are going to go into the kitchen and soak a cloth with cold water for me." I pushed him towards the kitchen, while he grumbled. I turned my attention back to Colm who was looking at me like the cat who got the cream. "See you wouldn't have to keep me from hurting people." A loud crash came from the kitchen. It was my turn to growl at Colm, was he really so stupid that he would believe I would dump Hunter because he had punched him.

"To be honest Colm I don't really mind that he punched you, frankly you deserved it and you're lucky he didn't do a lot worse."

If I had ever doubted that Colm wasn't right for me, tonight would've put those doubts to rest. I think he was actually snivelling like a puppy, it was quite off putting. I was strapping up his nose which was now around a centimetre off centre, with a little bit more force than was strictly necessary. Hunter came out of the kitchen and handed me the cloth, he looked murderous towards Colm, who at least had the decency to look scared. Then again maybe he had just remembered that Hunter was a trained seeker.

"Hunter go over there." I pointed towards the opposite side of the room, knowing that the proximity would make him less likely to control the need to be violent.

"Nope. I'm not leaving you alone with him."

"Hunter go to the corner!"

"But ..."

"Corner!"

He went glowering to the corner where I had sent him, arms folded, legs crossed, lest he cause anymore damage. His eyes never leaving us, watching for signs of Colm's advance. Even a hint of contact and Colm would go flying out of my window. He was seething at Colm I could feel that so I kept him at a distance that would keep him from becoming a convicted murder. I felt more pity towards him than anything else. The most important thing in his life was a forced kiss that lasted no more than five seconds. Five seconds I wanted erased from my memory. Colm was still a child and had to grow up, had to learn that wanting something won't make it happen, you have to work for it. Colm had the decency not to talk to me while I worked on him, his nose had been broken and he would have two of the biggest black eyes. It was quite astounding the damage that Hunter had caused. A few times he opened his mouth to say something but shut it again, I could sense his guilt but more apparent was his pain, his anguish. I had broken his heart by not being in love with him and while I felt sorry for him I couldn't bring myself to really forgive him.

"Morgan," Colm's voice was very low, hoping, I suppose, that Hunter wouldn't hear him.

I sighed for what felt like the millionth time that night and hoped that I could do this properly; I had never had to turn down a guy before. "Yes, Colm."

"Why won't you just be with me?" his voice was soft and full of hope that the dream he had created was going to come true. "We would be good together; we are both from the coven, and have the same magic flowing in our veins. Life would be easy with us, easy as breathing."

"I don't love you the right way, Colm. You are like a brother, family to me but I'm not in love with you. I'm so much in love with Hunter and life may not always be easy but loving him is. It's a part of me and I don't think that even you could be satisfied with having me while I really belonged to another."

"And I'm not letting her go Colm." Hunter's voice came clearly across the room, no one could doubt what he was saying, not even Colm who hated him.

I had much more important things than the pangs of love in a boy to deal with, like the death of my biological father and explaining to my fiancé why one of the members of my coven kissed me. Right now Hunter was just plain mad, but it was all focused on Colm. Normally Hunter could control his anger very well, but every now and again it flared out and it normally got ugly. Blood would be shed, glass was not safe, holes in places were there shouldn't be holes would be created. I knew that tonight he would be utterly tested; he was probably already pissed about Ciaran's death and now with Colm confessing his unyielding love for me that his self control would be hanging by a thread.

I had to get Colm out of here and I needed to fall asleep with Hunter and forget about all that had happened in the past twelve hours. I would have to deal with Ciaran's death, the only way I would believe that it was true is if I went to the funeral. I needed calm, collected, strong Hunter by my side. Not blindingly angry Hunter.

I finished bandaging up Colm's nose and helped him up, "Go home, Colm, and sleep." I told him as he walked woozily to the door, and turned with a sad little smile at me then shut with a bang behind him. Hunter pushed out of his corner jail and came to stand behind me, arms wrapped around my torso. He buried his head in my neck, inhaling deeply. He placed one kiss in the crook of my neck; he was trying to comfort me. I sighed and turned around to face him. I held his face in my hands, tracing over the planes of his Greek statue appearance. Goddess, I loved him. He was beautiful, calm and solid, when he wasn't punching people. Well actually I tell a lie I quite liked him when he punched people. He was brave and strong yet gentle and teasing. Rational to the point of infuriation and completely trusting. How on earth could Colm believe that I would leave him?

The reserve of energy that I had been using ended and I sagged deliriously into Hunter's arms. He easily supported all my weight and peppered kisses all over my face. For a moment, just a moment, it all faded away. Hunter scooping me into his arms and carrying me to bed was all that I could comprehend. The comforting weight of our love and sleepiness pulling me under into the cosiness of sleep and long before I was laid gently on the bed I was fast asleep.

The morning was strangely bright and calm, which I found utterly absurd. I was completely melancholy, glum. I remembered Ciaran when he had taken me for dinner in Widow's Vale with Killian. He had seemed confident then, utterly charismatic and strong, it was easy to see why people followed him so easily. I had even agreed with his politics because of the way he had put them across. That had been the only time I had spent with him that he had seemed normal. He wasn't the most wanted witch in the world; he wasn't the man who had murdered my biological mother. He was a man, who happened to be my father and wanted to get to know his daughter. I wondered if he was with Maeve now. Would she welcome him or attack him? He had killed her and I hoped that she was not going to give into him. But on the other hand Ciaran was her Mùrin beatha dàn, her other half, she would love him forever despite the fact that he was a heinous man. If I was in her position, if Hunter was like Ciaran and done unspeakable things would I be able to stop myself from running towards him and never letting him go? The man in question lay before me, his pale golden head buried in the pillow fast asleep aglow in the morning sun. Hunter was light itself, he could never do what Ciaran did but even if by some event of fate and he was changed dramatically. I would still love him, I would still pine for him and fall into him whenever I saw him. Would Maeve be stronger than I was? I hoped so.

But thankfully my Hunter was good, always good and light, even in the past when his actions could have been deemed evil; his intentions behind those actions had been wholly good. Those actions made it possible for him to be good now, he could rightly say that light was more fulfilling than the dark because he had been immersed in both. I brushed the soft hair out of his eyes devoutly thankful that he was for me. His eyes fluttered open and I floundered in the depths of the green eyes that looked up me. His hands came up from my back to trace over my face, "How are you feeling?" he asked, his voice soft and low. He kissed the tip of my nose.

"Sad." I replied, cowering into his strong warm arms. He kissed a trail down my face and neck to my collar bone. My heart quickened from the pursuit even though I knew the gesture was more to do with comfort than lust. He kissed back up and rested his forehead on mine. "I'm sorry." He said, pulling me closer. It was strange to feel so happy and at peace while I knew that my biological father was dead. Such a strange out of body experience that I knew in some part of my being I was grieving but right now I was normal girl completely in love with her fiancé who desperately needed him to kiss her properly.

He picked up on my shift in mood; he creased his brow, "Morgan?" his voice was tentative and slow. He wanted to make sure that I was okay, I wasn't breaking my heart. I was still sad over Ciaran but I wasn't completely crushed over. My need for Hunter greatly outweighed it. I grabbed his face in my hands and kissed him forcefully and surely, not even bothering about the morning stubble and sleepiness. His mouth was still gentle against mine though and I could tell he was battling within himself. I had learned though that perseverance paid off. I shifted closer to him, kissing harder and wanted to rejoice when his arms pulled me closer, his hands skirting down my side resting at my knee, curling his fingers round it hitching my leg around his hip. I knew I had won the battle then. His lips moved furiously against mine and I had the distinct feeling that he was showing me how a kiss should be. Not that I needed to be reconciled to the idea of kissing Hunter, he always made my toes curl. I pressed closer to him, feeling the outline of his muscles through the shirt he had worn to bed. He groaned slipping his hands up my shirt; I shivered deliciously as his strong hands covered every inch of me. My breathing hitched as his tongue slid into my mouth caressing my own. My hands twisted into his hair and I pulled myself up to get closer.

He rolled us over, his body settling perfectly between my legs our hips perfectly matched. If it had been ever doubted that we were made for each other, the jigsaw pieces that our bodies formed would have driven all those doubts skittering away with their tails between their legs. I moaned in protest as his mouth left mine only to moan in pleasure as his mouth sucked lightly on my pulse point. He was driving me over the edge and there was still a layer of clothing between us. I shifted my hips desperately needing friction, needing Hunter closer. My head was spinning as his mouth descended lower, I was losing it quickly and he wasn't going fast enough!

His body reached up, bringing us face to face and I frowned, why were we stopping? He chuckled at my expression and he leaned down and kissed me lightly, then again and again, "I love you." He whispered.

"I love you too, now get back here!" I whined, grabbing his shoulder to pull him back.

But he resisted and I pouted, he tipped his head into the crook of my neck, "I'm not going anywhere," he murmured, "I just thought we had rather too many clothes on." I flicked my eyes between us both still covered with t-shirts and he was right. I grabbed the hem of his shirt pulling it to expose every glorious inch of his skin, with a little more haste than normal, and he laughed at me while he kissed down my neck. His fingers ghosted along the strip of skin exposed to him then he pushed up the cotton of my shirt causing my brain to turn to mush. I moaned as he kissed me again, fully, brilliantly on the mouth. His hands were everywhere at once and I fought desperately to stay above the water not out of hesitance or reluctance but because if I sank I would never want to get out of bed with him, I would happily spend the rest of my life within these four walls.

I fought against the rapids yet pulled him closer all the while, my slim modicum of rationality flying out the window when his hands reached where I wanted them most. And I gave into the rapids whole heartedly and willingly. Not really caring is I ever recovered from this.

He lay next to me, wrapped around me unimaginable aeons later. His fingers still blazing a path down my stomach. I couldn't physically say anything and I didn't particularly want to right now at this moment it was to perfect to waste with words. I didn't know how to describe it, but everything in my body was completely relaxed yet humming with energy. With every slow breath I took I could smell Hunter and his hands were the only thing I was really aware of. "We have to move," His voice came from above me.

"Why?" I rolled onto my side trailing kisses along his chest. He groaned and pulled me up to him kissing me quickly causing a river of desire to erupt in me.

"Because we have a few things to take care of." His lips barely moving away from mine.

I sighed, "Always so eager to be proper."

"Believe me," He kissed me, "I would much rather stay right here." He pulled me closer, "but we have lives that unfortunately get in the way." His lips trailed down my neck causing my heart to pump furiously.

"Life? I don't have a life, I'm perfectly happy here." I told him, then my stomach grumbled and I wanted to growl at the fact that I was merely human and I needed other sources of sustenance then just Hunter. He wrapped me up in the sheet off of my bed and scooped me up into his arms, normally I would protest, I can walk perfectly well on my own, but right now I just needed him close to me for as long as possible. He placed me on the kitchen counter, kissing me lightly on the lips. "Stay" he whispered and I nodded, content to just watch him making us breakfast: naked. All thoughts of Ciaran left my head and I just revelled in fact that I was so happy. I knew the he was dead and I knew that I was still hurting over it. But it wouldn't consume my life; Ciaran had been evil and then nothing. I had been to visit him in the rehab centre and he was a shell, a shadow and it hurt me to no end to think of my father like that and that I had help to put him in that state. But in betraying my father I had saved my families lives, saved the lives of unknown people in the future whom he would hurt. That fact had never really eased my guilt, especially since I had visited him. He was skeletal and haunted and his life literally seemed to have drained out of him. I had never told Hunter I had went to see him; I was too ashamed to tell him. But Ciaran was at peace now, I hoped that I could let go of the guilt.

Hunter placed two plates of steaming yummy omelettes on the bare wooden table and came back to get me, "Come on pensive, let's get you some food," he scooped me into his arms again and carried me to the table. I wolfed down the mouth watering omelettes, trying not to groan in satisfaction. Hunter's comfort food was the best, if I wasn't already completely in love with him, this would have sealed the deal. I finished and stretched myself out completely resting my legs in Hunters lap. His hands traced along the bare skin of my legs. "How are you feeling?" he asked, bring a hand up to cradle my neck, fingers brushing the skin there.

I laced my hand in his, tracing the pattern of veins and bones, "I'm okay, I think I'm more relieved than anything today. Ciaran is at peace and I no longer have to feel guilty for ruining his life, I almost feel like a burden had been lifted from me, does that make me a terrible person?" I asked shyly afraid that he would think I was a loathsome creature.

"It doesn't make you terrible, it makes you human. You didn't want your father to suffer and now he is at rest, relief is a good thing to feel, Love. You would be a monster if you wanted it to continue." He looked me deep in my eyes and I didn't believe that I could be bad if someone like Hunter could love me that much. I closed my eyes, resting my head against his and committing every single second of this to my long term memory.

Then his phone rang jolting us out of the peace. "Life." I sighed and he chuckled kissing me before going to answer it. I relaxed back, knowing that he had to get to work but not really wanting him to leave; I was still a little raw. But I couldn't keep him here. He stood with his back to me, his voice tense as he talked to whoever was on the phone. I trailed my eyes down, taking in the broad shoulders with the dotted freckles, the muscles in his back tensed and I was desperate to trace my fingers down them. His achingly cute but was the most adorable thing I had ever seen and his strong legs seemed to go on forever and I shivered remembering what they felt like wrapped around me. He turned his face round towards me, giving me a wicked grin as he picked up on my emotions. He snapped his phone shut coming back over to me, a look on his face handsome face that told me he had a plan.

He leaned over me resting his hands on the arms of my chair. He kissed me hungrily then broke away, "I have to get to work." I had been dreading that, I really wanted him to stay with me but others needed him and I couldn't be selfish.

I reached up to kiss him, "When do you have to do?" I mumbled.

"Soon." He wrapped his arms around my waist pulling me up. "But I want you to come with me."

I thought I had dreamed the last, my ears making me think I had heard what I wanted. "What?" I asked, wanting him to clarify.

"Come with me to Dublin, I don't want to leave you alone but I have to work and I think it would be for you to get out of Cobh for a little while." I knew he just wanted to keep me close in case I got really upset again; he didn't want to let me out of his sight. I could go for a few days, no one would miss me here and I didn't want Hunter to leave me. I nodded and he swooped down to kiss me, pulling me back towards the bedroom. "We can leave in a wee while," he grinned down at me, pulling the sheet off of my body. I grinned, wickedly up at him kissing him soundly as we tumbled on to the bed.