Chapter 21

Spencer watched as the woman he loved performed her ritual. She'd lent him her book, her grimoire, she'd explained. Hand written, 'recipes', basically, Reid thought of them as, for teas, creams, scents and charms. He looked through it, followed the concepts of the rites and found it quite detailed.

She'd promised to answer questions afterward, so he sat quietly, as to not disturb her. He'd had to promise not to interrupt, touch her, or break the circle she'd cast. He'd been clear on those details, agreeing, because he'd wanted her to share this part of her with him. She'd told him she had never, ever, allowed anyone to watch her practice before him. He wanted the chance.

Promises scattered somewhere in his mind, when, after she cast the circle, she dropped her white robes and continued 'sky-clad'. He hadn't realized that meant nude.

His mouth dried, his blood pounded in his ears as he watched.

Scarlett moved through the circle she'd cast in the room. She'd set about performing the ritual, placing herbs, lighting candles, saying the words that were second nature to her, just as she had any other time. Except she had an audience. It made her nervous and she worked hard to ignore him. Doubling her efforts, she continued on, even as his presence heated the room.

After the ritual was completed, she closed the circle, taking the herbs to her altar and setting them there for blessing. Tomorrow she'd make the tea and give it to Penelope. She braided a hemp rope into a charm for Amanda as an added 'bump' and set it with the drying herbs.

She'd done what she could, the rest would be up to the gods and nature.

Scarlett pulled her robe back over her shoulders, snuffed out the candles and looked over her shoulder at Spencer.

"Do you have any questions, farm boy?" she asked with a slight smile. His face was still watching in rapt attention and she figured he hadn't missed a detail.

"Um, probably?" he answered thickly, clearing his throat. "I can't think of a single one right now, though..." he told her honestly. "That was, uh, intense..."

She cocked her head to the side and looked him over. "It's really not so different from other religious rituals, when you break it down," she told him.

"For me, it was..." he stated. She could see the gleam in his eyes.

"Well," she bit her lip nervously. "It was a fertility ritual... it's meant to have sexual overtones," she explained.

"Scarlett..." his voice caught her attention and she met his gaze once again.

"Yes?"

"Can I touch you yet?" he asked, jamming his hands in his pockets in case the answer was 'no'.

Scarlett laughed. "Yes, boy... I'm finished..." she stepped away from the altar, moving closer to him.

He caught her waist and pulled her against him, leaning in to kiss her.

"No questions then?" she giggled, as he growled lightly in her ear.

"Not at the moment..." he answered, his breath heavy on her neck.

He pulled her up into his arms, lifting her against his body.

"I want you in bed..." he mumbled, pressing his lips over her skin. He pulled away a moment to look into her eyes. "Is that disrespectful?" he asked cautiously.

"No, Spence," she shook her head. "I think after a fertility ritual, it's expected," she teased. "The goddess would be pleased..."

He hiked her up onto his hips, carrying her out of the room towards their bedroom. When he stopped by the front door to slide the lock into place she laughed.

"No interruptions," he told her, nuzzling her hair. "Not this time..."

When he lay her down on the bed, he pulled the robe from her shoulders, baring her skin once again. His eyes looked her over, making her blush.

Scarlett covered herself, shying away slightly from the intensity in his eyes.

Reid shook his head, pulling her hands to her side. "Sky-clad," he said huskily.

He trailed his fingers along her skin, watching her sensitive flesh jump. He followed with his mouth, heat searing through her body under his touch. She arched against him, allowing a whimper to escape her throat.

The sound spurred him, coiling a thread of lust through his system. He felt her skin heat, and blew a breath across her breasts, watched chills raise on her flesh. He grinned, teasing her with his mouth until she moaned.

Raising himself above her, he drew her to him, connecting them.

Her immediate response took him by surprise. She wrapped her legs behind his waist, pulling him deeper, as she came.

Spencer held himself in check, filling her, as she bowed against him. Breathing heavily, he moved slowly, drawing out the pleasure until he couldn't help but follow her.

Spent, he collapsed on shaky arms to lay against her. When he tried to move off her, she held him tight.

"No, don't move," she mumbled.

He shifted slightly and felt her teeth nip into his shoulder.

"Stay..." she demanded and felt him laugh.

Scarlett breathed in his scent, stretching against him. He lay over her, reaching over the bed with his long arms.

"Where are you going, Spence?" she complained.

"I'm not 'going' anywhere, beautiful," he told her dropping a kiss to her nose. "I'm reaching for something," he told her.

"What?" she narrowed her gaze, turning her head back to look.

"Nope," he laughed, watching her eyes glitter in the filtering light. "Not yet, crazy girl..." he kept her head blocked with his arms.

"What are you up to, farm boy?" she asked, feigning annoyance.

"It's a surprise... something I wanted to give you before we got called away to Alaska," he told her. He leaned up on his elbows, showing her his hands. She saw they were empty.

Scarlett arched a brow.

"Nothing up my sleeve," he teased and nuzzled her cheek when she rolled her eyes.

"You aren't wearing any sleeves, Reid..." she countered. "Or anything else..." she gave him a smirk as she ran her hand down to his ass and smacked him lightly.

He grinned and pulled his hand from the side of her hair.

"Then where was this hiding?" he smiled, pulling out the ring he'd bought in Chicago.

Spencer watched her eyes round as she looked from the ring to his face.

"Spence..." her voice was cautious.

He moved to the side and pulled her to him.

"You know what, Scarlett?" he asked in a light tone, cuddling her close and kissing her temple. "You look adorable when you get scared..."

His words earned him a scathing look.

"I'm not scared of a ring, Reid..." she scowled.

Spencer scooted up to angle a look directly in her eyes. "And..." he continued blithely, "One day, I am going to ask you to marry me..." he watched as her eyes closed and she huffed out a breath at the words.

"But not today..." he said, leaning closer to press a kiss to the furrows between her brows. "One day, when you aren't afraid of even hearing the words, but not now," he shook his head. Spencer didn't want her closing up on him, so he kept his tone light.

He held the ring up in front of her.

"This, instead, is a promise," he turned the ring to show the engraving along the inside of the band.

"Pour tous les temps..."she read, leaning her head back against his chest.

"You can't promise me forever, Spence," she stated quietly. He heard the sadness in her voice.

"For all time, Scarlett. That's what I promise... I will love you for all time..." he held the ring out to her.

"Can you accept that?" he asked, pressing his cheek to hers and wrapping his arm around her chest. He could feel her heart pounding against her ribs.

She lifted her hand to his and he slid the ring onto her finger.

"It fits..." he said, his voice thick with emotion. Spencer took her hand, curling his fingers around hers and brought it to his lips.

"Did you doubt it would?" she asked. "You knew, the minute you saw it, that it would be mine... didn't you?"

Reid nodded, meeting her lips when she turned her head to him.

"Yeah, I did..."

Scarlett turned, sitting up on her knees before him and took his face in her hands.

"I love you Spencer, and I am yours... for all time..." she promised, kissing him softly.

"As I love you Katy," he responded, returning the kiss. "My tomorrows are yours, along with my heart- Pour tous les temps..."