And so the journey to remember begins. Enjoy. . .
When they were spotted coming up the road that led to his castle, the servants rushed forward to see if he really had found his mate. His lead man-servant was standing in the courtyard with beast dog and when it saw its master it whined and then took off to greet him. It barked happily and made The Kurgan's horse snorted in acknowledgement. The lord of the castle grinned and welcomed his pet, Arielle smiled a little in curiosity because she had never seen a dog before and the creature fascinated her. When she was on the ground it even rubbed its head against her leg, it liked her.
She cautiously pet its head and it licked her hand, she gently laughed. The Kurgan watched her with a watchful expression and then grinned and gave the reigns of his stallion over to the groom who came to him. As it was lead away he put a guiding hand on Arielle's back and took her back into what he claimed was her home.
"This is where I brought you in the beginning," he said as she gazed about the place in awe.
"Brought me? Where did you find me if I wasn't a Hartmann?" She asked innocently without looking at him.
He knew she wouldn't understand in the least if he told her the truth and his mind quickly came up with a story of his own. "I was traveling afar and found you wandering the lands, no one knew anything about your past and when I came upon you not even you knew. I saved you from men who wanted you dead and you became devoted to me. I in turn was taken with you and took you as my mate. You wanted me willingly."
She sighed, "Oh how nice," he noticed the characteristic sarcasm. "How can I remember who I am if I never even knew who I was?"
"You knew your name; Arielle." He grabbed her by the waist and turned her to face him, pulling her close up against his body. "If you have a name to go by it doesn't matter if you remember your past or not. You live for the future then."
She mentally admitted that she was impressed by his insight. She looked up at him and he could see in her eyes that she was trying to remember but the disappointment that followed showed him she couldn't. But it was obvious she decided to accept his words and shrugged. He suddenly wrapped an arm around her lower back and lifted her the few inches off the ground to bring her nose to nose with him. He stared into her reddish brown orbs and grinned as he realized that even if the story he told her had been true that he would have kept this woman alive if he found her out in his world. No amount of amnesia could block out little traits that he desired in her. He set her back down and continued to re-introduce her to their home
As soon as she heard about her young mistress's, Mel rushed up to her and gushed with happiness about her return but Arielle only told her that she had no idea who the woman was. For days she wandered around the castle trying to get back her memories. Mel took her under her wing and The Kurgan watched her like a hawk, she was never alone and always watched. No matter what she did though, there was nothing, but to The Kurgan it seemed that his lover remembered something day by day. Little things that she didn't think would matter did. Like how she would sleep in one corner of the bed, how she loved sitting on the banks of the river in the courtyard behind the castle and sleep, how she would watch the stars at night.
As he was in his when he fought he was patient with Arielle. She didn't let him make love to her again after that first night and he let it pass. He wanted his Arielle back, not this woman who didn't know who she was. He thought and remembered how Arielle was pure woman who knew what she wanted and how she wanted him, not a virginal girl who was too frightened to enjoy their pleasures together. He would sleep soundly next to her at night and hold her body against him, she allowed it.
One night, nearly three weeks later The Kurgan decided to see if making love to her in their bed would help her to remember. It was night and she had just finished eating her dinner with Mel, something The Kurgan thought would help her. The woman entered their room and found the giant sitting hunched over on the edge of their bed. He had his black hair tied back and nothing but a loose shirt with the sleeves cut off and loose trousers on. When he turned to look at her she traced the scar by his right eye with her timid gaze. His look was dark and serious, and yet she could see deeper and saw the desire he had, the determination he had to make her remember.
He stood and walked over to her, reaching behind her to shut the door. She backed up against it and looked up at him with confusion. He lashed out and wrapped one hand around the back of her head, the other around her back, and then changed his motions completely and gently pressed her against him. He pressed his mouth to hers and worked his tongue between her lips. She reached out with hers and touched him back. Suddenly he broke away, he turned and walked back to the bed, pointing to a spot on the ground.
"Stand there," he commanded her.
She obeyed but didn't know why. She wore a thin green and brown dress with white thread embroidered along the bottom and her waist. She stood there shyly in front of him and looked at the ground. Something made her peek up and him and she did so respectfully, he was staring at her like she was prey to his hunting. He jerked his chin at her and she looked down at her dress, when she looked back up at him he nodded. He was asking her to remove her dress, and she did. She undid the belt around her waist and pulled the shoulder down, followed by the other and then shrugged. The dress fell to the ground in a heap by her feet, she moved it out of the way. She tried to cover herself but The Kurgan wasn't about to let her to that.
He shook his head again, "Put your arms down woman." His voice was low and gravely.
She blushed and closed her eyes as she did what he told her to. He looked over her body and saw that she also kept the ritual of keeping herself clean shaven. . .everywhere. She looked up at him and then, on an impulse, walked forward to him. Once she was in arms reach he took her slender waist in his hands and pulled her closer. He had her straddle his lap and then peeled off his shirt while he kissed her. He turned her around and kissed her along her shoulders and upper back.
He removed his pants and then sat back on his heels with her still in his lap. She felt him wanting to enter her, she moved her body down onto him and heard him gasp as he slowly slid into her. He grunted while she moved up and down on his length and the two felt the insane heat of each other. With both of their moaning and grunting echoing through the room they forgot about the world and focused on nothing but their breathing. In the night they howled with each other.
He laid her down beside him on the bed and kissing between her breasts before laying down and falling asleep with her. In their sleep Arielle turned over onto her side and her back was pressed against his body, he rested his chin on her neck in the space between her shoulder and jaw line. He was finally able to rest heavy for the first time in months and he enjoyed every second of it with his mate. He wouldn't know until morning if she remembered but he didn't care. She was his again and he was willing to wait for her full memory to come back to her.
Once again Arielle was dreaming too hard. She saw more of her past that she didn't understand. She saw herself living with him in a time she didn't remember, she looked happy and at home. She yearned for that again, she yearned for that to return. Despite everything her mind was still confused even if after that night with The Kurgan she felt that it was right to be with him. Laying in his arms was something she knew.
Early in the morning, while the man still slept, she got up and carefully wriggled out of bed, grabbing a night gown from her wardrobe as she did so. She slipped it over her head and sat in the window seat that over looked the back courtyard. She saw the servants going about their early morning work and she smiled. Suddenly, gently, things began making sense. She let herself believe her dreams and the memories came floating back down an imaginary river. Still, there was a little worm in the back of her head that told her otherwise. She chose to ignore it if it meant that her confused world would be right again.
When The Kurgan came out of sleep he sensed she was still in the room and simply turned over to see her with her back to him, sitting in the window seat. He propped up on his elbow and looked at her. Sometimes he just liked looking at her, his ultimate Prize to the ultimate game. She was all he wanted all that he desired in a woman, his woman.
She suddenly turned her head to look at him and felt the same. He was her man, her soul mate in any given time and space. His eyes penetrated her and made her think. She smiled.
"I remember everything Kurgan," she said softly.
He grinned maliciously and beckoned her to him with one finger. "Come," he said.
She obeyed and stood up, hurrying over to him and jumping into the bed. She stood on her knees and laughed softly as he sat up reaching for her. She taunted him and it was then that h believed she fully remembered everything. That spark he had seen in her had returned. He didn't want to do anything else besides grab her in his arms and have her beneath him. He smashed his lips possessively against hers, demanding that she give him what he wanted.
She relaxed her body and he pulled out his dagger, using it to cut her dress open and she didn't hide when he opened the fabric and fully looked down at her body. Her chest heaved in slight nervousness but she grinned and pulled his face down to hers. He had the little clothes he was wearing off in an instant and his mate wanted him without fear. He hooked his arms under her legs and rested her feet on his broad shoulders. When entered her he found her wanting him eagerly. He grunted as he moved and she responded with her moaning. They created such hot friction that Arielle was shouting his name and what she wanted him to do to her.
In the end her release was loud and vigorous. Afterwards she lay next to her mate panting for breath, he was like-wise. She looked over at him and carefully rolled over onto her stomach, her eyes meeting his like she used to. "Next time I don't think I'll go to you so easily," she said with a teasing smile. "I'll make you work for it." She closed her eyes and sighed in contentment.
A growl rumbled in his chest, she remembered how he would do that, and he tightened his arms around her shoulders. He drew her close and looked into her dark brown eyes with his blue ones.
"We'll see." He said, and that was all.
She raised an eyebrow and looked at him but he kept looking back seriously. She frowned and he smiled, his shoulders shook as his laugh rumbled in the room. He pressed her lips to his, pressing his palm against the back of her head.
A little worm of doubt can turn into a snake. A.k.a a big problem. Will it affect their future? Find out in all new upcoming episodes! *cough* I meant chapters ^_^ Thank you to everyone who reads and/or reviews! I write for you. Especially Cheese and AlmightyWarrior (Thanks you guys!)