Hello Pretties! Don't let the title fool you...this chapter is not at all calm, sweet and easy. Instead, its going to get quite steamy (did you think anything otherwise after the way the last chapter ended? he he). So, you've been warned, if you want to skip the naughty bits. Otherwise, enjoy!
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Chapter 52 –Claire's POV– Memory Lane
Claire trembled, a sure sign of her waning control, as he advanced on her. Keep it together, she told herself harshly. She needed to think. With something other than her hormones. If she was going to make the right decision.
Myrnin's eyes glittered wickedly, almost black pupils speckled with white hot intention. His physique was lithe as he stole the distance between them. Muscles rippling fluidly through his sleek gait, more like a feral tiger, than a man. He licked his lips. A hungry tiger, Claire noted. But all man.
Anticipation lapped at her thighs, knowing every inch of what his clothing kept hidden. Shit. Now she was picturing him naked. She had to stop! Before it was too late. Claire tried to keep her chest from heaving as adrenaline pushed with seductive violence through her veins, causing her heartbeat to echo slightly in her head, perfectly timed with her throbbing pulse.
He stopped within inches of her, his eyes dancing as he waited. She knew he was listening. Listening and tasting the unspoken needs and desires her body was telling him. Probably more like shouting at him, Claire thought, chagrined that she could never hide from him. Never keep her emotions secret. Instead she knew she was laid bare to him. His soft chuckled confirmed it as he reached up to stroke her cheek.
Claire braced herself as she felt small fireworks collide inside her belly at his touch.
This was getting dangerous.
Who was she kidding? It had become lethal the moment he had stepped through the time portal. She fought to gather every scrap of strength she could muster, to refocus her attention away from his chest... And his stomach… And his… Claire felt her wayward mind traveling down his aggressive figure. And was shocked when a small whine escaped from the back of her throat. Shit, shit, shit! There was no way he missed that. If she didn't get a grip and get it quickly, she was going to be begging him to take her.
"I'm not ready," she stuttered, "To decide."
"I know," he murmured, bringing his head down to nuzzle along her neck. His sure hands slipped under the hem of her shirt, teasing lightly along her waist. His touch was impossibly gentle, but at the same time, it seared a path along her skin as his fingertips pulled the heat from inside of her to the surface.
"Close your eyes," he commanded huskily. His tone left no room for disagreement. Claire's eyelids fluttered shut.
Myrnin's hypnotic voice began again, "Ask me what I'm thinking."
"What…are you thinking?" she breathed.
"Stars…" he murmured.
Claire's heartbeat began to race as vivid memories coursed through her. Walking through the night with him to Hotel Elysium. Gazing out of the glass ceiling of the Theatre of Blood while he danced and chattered with unrestrained excitement and love for his long lost city. Swimming in the moonlight. His marriage proposal.
"Very good," he encouraged her silkily.
"Oh," she gasped as she felt him enter her mind, replacing her thoughts and memories with his own, and suddenly she saw herself through his eyes. Felt what he felt, that night, as he watched her lift completely naked from the glorious marble tub. Her belly tightened as she relived his moments when he had memorized the shape of her breasts and the gentle contour of her hips, seeing her creamy skin through the crystal clarity of his eyes. She inhaled sharply as he revealed the fantasies that had overcome him in that moment - picking up her naked wet body and sliding into her, kissing her hungrily while he carried her back to the bed.
Claire felt her knees go weak. Exhaustion and desire overtaking her. Myrnin's arms came around her, lifting her off of her feet, to cradle her in his arms. He traveled past the light switch to extinguish the already dim light, on his way back to the couch. Her pupils dilated, adjusting to the new darkness that enveloped them. She stared at the outline of him with wide eyes as he laid her down and sat next to her, lifting one of her legs to let it rest across his lap and bending her other leg at the knee so that he could slide closer, opening her body up to him.
Before she even had time to speak, he was present in her mind again and a new image crystalized. Once again, he replayed the events from his perspective, as though she were inside of him, looking out from his eyes and feeling what he felt. He had stared at her, her chocolate brown eyes wide, hair pulled away from her face, dripping wet from the rain that had crashed down on them. She gasped as she felt the almost painful joy that ripped through him as he recognized she was finally looking back at him with love in her eyes. The memory fast-forwarded to that moment….when he entered her for the first time. Claire's heart raced, rocked by the way her body felt to him, as he moved inside of her – love, animalistic lust and feral satisfaction. She belonged to him. Claire stared in fascination at the image of her face looking back at him, her eyes speaking everything that her body was feeling.
Somewhere in the depths of the subconscious part of her brain, Claire knew she shouldn't do this and struggled to pull out of the beautiful images. "You can't. We can't. Do this... You know I can't tell you no…" she accused, panting.
"I haven't asked for anything…" he replied innocently; his velvety tone seemed to caress the words as they left his mouth.
"But…the memories…the visions of making love to me… Isn't that to get me to sleep with you?" she asked in confusion. And a touch of hopefulness.
"On the contrary, my dear. I most definitely want you," a growl rumbled through his chest. "But, I have no intention to bed you. Tonight. I'm just enjoying our trip together down memory lane." Claire could hear the smile in his voice as she squirmed, trying to rub her body intimately against his leg.
The visions began again.
Claire inhaled in sharp anticipation, recognizing this moment. She watched the image of herself tease him, beckoning him to swim with her, before diving away under the water toward the waterfall. Claire was shocked as she felt the ferocity of his arousal as he dove under after her, intent on getting what we wanted. What he had to have. The nerves on Claire's arms tingled as she felt his hypersensitive skin glide through the water, bringing his body perfectly in line with hers. She felt his arms lock onto her body in an inescapable grip, as he lifted them both to the surface and pushed inside of her in one smooth movement.
That was it. She couldn't take it anymore. "Myrnin…please…" her voice was hoarse with need.
"Yes, my dear?" he questioned softly.
"Please…touch me…" she whimpered, the ache between her legs now screaming to be released.
"Not tonight, love…" he denied her softly.
Claire whimpered in frustration. Her fingers twitched, all she had to do was reach down…
"Go ahead, Cariad. Make it feel better," he murmured. Claire eagerly slid her hand down over her stomach. Her fingers trembled in anticipation as she lifted her skirt, whimpering at the restriction of her underwear.
"Would you like that gone?" he growled low.
"Ye…yes," she breathed.
Claire gasped as Myrnin leaned his head down and gently cut through the silky fabric of her underwear with his teeth, letting his fangs scrape along the inside of her thigh.
He lifted his head and she quickly moved her hand the rest of the way. She moaned loudly as she felt the soft folds of her skin, dipping inside lightly to coat her fingers, before gliding back up and settling intently in place. Her breathing came in short gasps as she writhed against the urgent force of her fingers, her lower back rising as the electricity began to build in her.
Myrnin lightly traced his fingertips along the skin between her legs. "You're doing beautifully, Cariad," he murmured as he watched her.
Claire knew the second his compulsion began. A searing heat spiraled through her, licking at the edges of her skin, bringing her right over the edge. "Myrnin! Oh yes! Yes! Yes!" she cried out, shuddering as her body contracted rhythmically in pleasure. Twitching slightly, she exhaled in relief, sighing in contentment.
Myrnin smoothed her skirt back down and pulled a blanket from the back of the couch. He shifted their bodies so that he was lying behind her. "I love you," he murmured.
Claire's heart constricted but she didn't say anything. Words just didn't seem to be enough for what she was feeling, held securely in his arms. "I…" she tried, but he stopped her.
"Shh…you don't have to say anything. Not tonight."
Claire felt her eyes begin to drift shut when suddenly his body tensed and he sat straight up, hissing a stream of profanities.
Her blood froze in her veins as fear strangled her in its relentless grip.
Myrnin's eyes were distant, as though he were somewhere else entirely. He didn't speak. Instead a feral vibration coursed through him, his chest rumbled with adrenaline. He swiped a hand through his hair and hissed again, "No!"
"What?!" Claire choked out, "What's happening?!" Claire knew there was only one person he could be watching – 1409 Myrnin.
Myrnin spoke in clipped words, "He just broke out of jail."
"What?! How?! Is he coming here?" she whispered, panicking at the thought of another conflict between the two of them.
Shock crossed Myrnin's face, before he whispered in horror, "No. He's... hunting Anwyn."
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I know...much shorter than my normal chapters, but I thought you'd like to have something before the weekend. Darling Bob is headed to grab a drink now, so will chat with you later... of course, he still asks you to review, review, review...itsy bitsy spider box below... :) :)
