Chapter 51 – Priodas

I watch the door shut behind Gwion, still shocked at his offer for a threesome. I probably shouldn't have been so surprised. Myrnin had said they shared partners in the past. I just didn't realize he meant at the same time. I shook my head, chasing that mental picture right out of my mind.

I had more pressing matters to consider. I tilted my head toward Myrnin. The expression on his face caused me to inhale sharply. Happiness positively radiated out of him. My heart soared to see him this way. Once again, I was thankful for whatever healing he had accomplished between us during the night. Which led me to my first question, "Myrnin, what exactly happened last night?"

He kissed me lightly on my forehead and began to get out of the bed. "We need to get up and get ready," he murmured.

Oh hell no, that wasn't happening. I pushed his chest back down to the bed and climbed on top of him, reveling again in my newfound strength. I held his gaze and stated firmly, "I am going to ask questions…And you are going to give me answers."

His hands immediately sought out my breasts. I batted them away. "No, no time to play… Answers."

His eyes lit up mischievously and he purred, "Okay, I will answer any question you have…As long as I am inside of you."

Damn him.

He was good…But I was determined.

I whined petulantly, "But I won't be able to concentrate on my questions…let alone, your answers."

He shook his head resolutely and grinned, "Nope…That's my offer. Take it or leave it."

I narrowed my eyes. He wanted to play. Okay, I would play. I clarified sweetly, "So, you're one condition is that you be inside of me? And then you will answer any question I ask?"

He looked at me suspiciously but nodded his head in agreement.

I didn't have to ask if he was 'ready' – he was always ready. And if my knowledge of his stamina were not confirmation enough, I could feel that he was now rock hard beneath me. I shivered as I lifted and then slowly slid back down around him. Insane pleasure shot through me, all of the way down to my toes. Holy hell! I had to be crazy to think I could remain cognizant while he was inside of me.

But dammit, I was going to try.

Immediately, his hands grasped my hips.

"No! No moving!" I gasped and barely held on to a shred of logical thought. "We only agreed you would be inside, but nothing more," I panted.

His smile widened in acknowledgement as he purred, "Okay…Well played…But, let's see who lasts longer."

My eyes automatically squeezed shut tightly and I willed myself to think. I began breathily, "The time…When we came on each stroke…What was that?"

He answered softly, "While exceptionally pleasurable, that process also creates a connection so intense, that it binds and allows for healing. Basically, it made it exponentially more difficult for you to walk away now," he explained and then added wryly, "Not that it couldn't be done…Knowing how stubborn you are."

I opened my eyes and asked curiously, "How was that different…From when you first made me yours? Wasn't I bound to you then?"

"You were, and that cannot be undone. But, last night was not an irrevocable connection. It just strengthened our bond. And it was an equal-opportunity experience – it bound me to you with the same measure, Cariad," he added lovingly, lightly brushing a stray strand of hair away from my face.

I listened to his words, but the gentle contentment in his eyes told me so much more. It made him happy to be tied to me like that. Deep satisfaction wound through my belly.

Without warning, he suddenly shifted beneath me, causing sparks to cascade up and down my spine.

My eyes urgently snapped shut again. I chanted to myself, Breath…Just breathe. When I could finally open them again, Myrnin stared back at me with an overly innocent expression and looked completely unbothered by my glare. If anything, I suspected he was working to contain his laughter.

My eyes narrowed. Two could play that game. Let's see if he could take as much as he dished out. With a naughty smirk, I contracted my pelvic muscles hard, fiercely clamping down around him.

His body jolted and he hissed, "Fuck!" His hands were like steel against my hips as he warned, "If you do that again, all bets are off and you are going to ride me hard and fast."

Oh!

I inhaled sharply, a high-pitched whine releasing from the back of my throat. My entire body trembled. Myrnin's pupils were pitch-black with desire. It was abundantly clear that our restraint was quickly coming to an end. I nodded slowly, not really trusting any part of my body to move, and shockingly refocused to the topic at hand as I squeaked, "And the healing…"

It took Myrnin a moment to respond as he worked to keep his own raging desire in check. Finally he continued, "Yes…Somehow the connection is such that it allows us to heal each other."

He silently appraised me for a moment and then suggested, "I think you should conjure it next time."

"Next time…" I considered quietly to myself, not sure how quickly I would be ready for that again and then stopped. "Wait, what?! Me conjure it? What do you mean?"

"It is not possible unless both vampires have the innate ability; however either vampire can create it," he clarified.

My breath came out in a woosh as I understood what he was saying. "So, you think I will have this power outside of Amelie's?"

"I am almost certain of it. I believe you are going to be very powerful," he replied, a tangible note of pride in his tone.

I flushed warmly and wondered, "Is there a name for it?"

Myrnin waited before he answered, "It is called Priodas."

My eyebrow rose, curious why he hesitated, but then quickly moved on, as I tasted the word on my tongue, "Priodas… What does it mean?"

Myrnin hesitated for much longer this time and finally replied carefully, "It is the Welsh word for marriage."

"Marriage?" I whispered, struggling to understand. "Does that mean we are married?" My world seemed to be spinning. Surely, he wouldn't have done that without asking me first.

"No, Cariad, we are not married. The word is used because it most defines the intensity of that connection," he assured me softly. I believed him. Otherwise, Gwion would never have wanted to engage in it with me.

However, now the word had been released into the air. We had never talked about marriage and the topic loomed heavy. I looked at Myrnin almost shyly. Neither of us spoke. But a host of communication flowed from Myrnin's dark liquid gaze. Silent promises for the future. He wanted it. With me. That much was obvious.

I didn't know how I felt about it. A part of me didn't really see the point, given how tightly we were already connected. But I could see that it meant something to him. It was also obvious that he was okay with not discussing it for now.

I was thankful to leave the topic for another day as well and leaned down. Tasting his lips with my tongue, I murmured provocatively, "I think I'm ready for that hard and fast ride now."

A low growl of desire vibrated from his chest as he began to move my hips.

…

Two blissful climaxes later, I finally found the willpower to get out of the bed. I headed toward the shower and asked, "Myrnin, when you forced me to control Amelie's powers and then bit me, what happened there?"

He followed me into the shower and selected the shampoo bottle for my hair. "That answer is not quite as cut and dried, because I had never attempted it before. The obvious first reason was to teach you how to control it. If you can remain in control when her powers spring to life, you may be able to resist the physical temptation. However, I suspect you might continue to find her power uncontrollable, if it hits you suddenly, which unfortunately, has been how it presented in the past."

I thought about his words. I desperately wanted Amelie to take her power back, so assumed the less Gwion knew about my control, the better. I murmured my thoughts out loud to get Myrnin's take on it, "So, I probably shouldn't tell Gwion that I am working on controlling it?"

Myrnin turned me to face him and spoke wryly, "Gwion knows me. He knows you are working on controlling it."

I nodded. He was right. "What else? What have you never tried before last night?"

"I wondered if it would give me some measure of control when her powers are active in you," he responded contemplatively.

I looked at him questioningly, "Like Clāmāre?"

"No, Clāmāre involves giving power away. The bite I inflicted last night was more similar to what Gwion did in securing control over Amelie."

I gasped and put a firm palm against his chest, backing up as far as I could in the small confines of the shower.

He looked at me in confusion.

Panic flowed through me as I hissed angrily, "Is that what you did to me?! Take away my ability to choose and make me subject to your every whim?!"

Myrnin held my gaze and replied, "I won't lie to you. I could have. But I didn't. I value the fire inside of you and want to keep it fully lit. It is what makes you who you are. It is the person I fell in love with…Even though that fire causes me to want to strangle you at times," he added drily.

I exhaled in relief and snuggled my body against his again. Both of us seemed so broken yesterday, but all of that was gone now. I murmured, "Thank you…For fixing us."

"Cariad, when you gave yourself to me, it wasn't so that I could have a new toy. I know I was harsh and demanding with you last night in relationship to this bond. But you must know; I bear great responsibility. I will protect and cherish every tiny piece you, with my life. And not just the good parts – all of you."

I stared at him with wide eyes. His words reminded me of wedding vows. I purposefully inhaled and let it out slowly. I needed to put that thought out of my mind. Right now.

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Hello Peaches! So sorry it has taken a bit longer for an update. Thanks SCOD for again giving me the push I needed to break through the writers block. I think I might have another chapter coming sooner rather than later. Fingers crossed...

Much love - T