Author's note: A big thank you to Tom for all his help and excellent suggestions that got me through the next two chapters.
Chapter 74
During the run back to the camp, all she could think about was what a fool she'd been. How could she have been so wrong about him - and her, for that matter? Back at the ruin, she was sure he'd still been interested, but she'd obviously been way off the mark about that too. In fact, she was beginning to think that she just had extremely poor taste in men because this was the second time something like this had happened to her. Although, the first time hadn't been so painful, or that much of a surprise, considering their relationship had been going downhill anyway. It had been more of a shock to walk in on him screwing a woman she'd considered to be her friend. She grimaced at the memory of herself walking out of the room, and her so-called friend laughing at Emma's retreat, spitefully pointing out that she'd only been friendly to her in order to get close to her boyfriend. After that, she'd shied away from attempting any further relationships or friendships, until she'd ended up in Thedas and met Aedan. God, she really was an idiot! Perhaps this whole thing with Leliana had been the reason he'd initially broken up with her, and he'd just used her circumstances as an excuse!
She slowed to a walk as she neared the camp, and made her way to her tent as quickly as possible. Kicking off her shoes, she grabbed her boots and yanked them on, quickly tying the laces. Then, picking up her bag and her staff she walked out, keeping her head down as she headed for the road. "Where are you going, child?" Emma stopped and spoke without looking back. "I have a few things I need to take care of, Wynne. I'll be back when it's time."
"You're leaving?" she asked as she moved in front of Emma.
"I have to. But like I said, I'll return when I'm needed."
"Emma!" Aedan's deep voice reached across the camp and ice-cold fingers of panic crept over her skin, causing her fight-or-flight instinct to kick in. She went with flight and ran. However, with her pack and staff on her back, she wasn't making as much progress as before. Damn it! She should have learnt how to shape-shift instead of healing, then she could really have taken flight. The sound of running footsteps drew closer and she knew she wasn't going to outrun him without some help. She turned and faced him, ready to stop him with her magic, except he was closer than she'd realised, and he tackled her to the ground. She gasped as the air was knocked from her lungs.
"Let me explain, damn it!" Aedan growled as he stood up. He offered her a hand, but, childishly, she ignored it and struggled to her feet on her own. He turned her around and pulled off her bag and staff and dropped them to the floor. "Someone else will pick those up. As you said, we need to have a talk!" He bent and lifted her onto his shoulder, then walked off into the trees.
"I can walk perfectly fine on my own," she muttered.
He huffed. "I'm well aware of that, but seeing as you've recently developed a habit of running away from me, I'm keeping a hold on you."
After ten minutes of walking, they came to a small clearing and he put her down on her feet then took a few steps away before turning and facing her. "After everything we've been through together, why did you immediately assume I was having a fling with Leliana? Don't you trust me?" Emma's eyes widened at the accusatory tone and she glared at him. "It's got nothing to do with trust! We're not together any more, so you can sleep with whomever you like." The words tasted bitter on her tongue, but it seemed that the sooner she accepted it was over, then the better it would be for both of them.
He strode towards her, his eyes burning with anger and hurt, and grabbed the front of her top; with a rough tug he pulled her to him and covered her mouth in a hard, bruising kiss, demanding a response. Instinctively she opened up to him before she remembered the situation and pulled away, gasping. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"You said I could sleep with whoever I want to, well, I want you!" He cupped the back of her head, holding her to him as he ravaged her mouth once more. Her nails dug into his biceps as she tried to decide whether to push him away or pull him closer. His teeth nipped at her swollen bottom lip, and she broke the kiss, her eyes flaring with anger and arousal. "Fuck you!"
He grinned. "Maybe another time, but not today." He lifted her off the ground, backing her up against the trunk of a tree. His hands reached under her skirt and she inhaled sharply as her knickers were torn off with one hard yank. She didn't want this, she couldn't want this! He'd betrayed her, broken her heart, not once, but twice now, and she should hate him for it, despise him with every fibre of her being. And she did. But when his fingers pressed between her legs, all hatred for this man vanished and a desperate hunger for him raced through her veins. He found her pussy slick with arousal, her legs spreading apart and growled in response, Feeling his hands on her body, Emma realised that all she wanted, more than anything in the world, was to feel him inside of her again.
His long fingers slipped into her wet sex and the heel of his hand pressed against her clitoris. She arched up into his rough touch, rubbing herself against his calloused palm as she gripped his hair with clenching hands. At some point, he'd freed his cock, and she felt the heated length against her hip. Then, without warning, he grabbed her ass and lifted her; immediately, she wrapped her legs around his waist and the head of his penis slipped between her slick lips. She cried out as he plunged inside of her, filling her with hot, hard flesh. Her head fell back against the tree as incredible pleasure raced through her body, making her pant and gasp with the intensity of it. He dipped towards her slender neck and nibbled at the soft skin as he thrust, fast and deep. In response, she tightened her thighs around his hips and pulled his body closer while grinding her swollen clitoris against his pelvic bone. "Fuck! I've missed you so much, Angel," he whispered in a husky voice. A broken sob from Emma was lost as his lips sealed over hers and he kissed her feverishly; their mouths crushed together, teeth grazing against soft lips and tongues twisting in a carnal dance.
"That's it, Angel, come for me." Her body quivered at his words, and then the orgasm hit her with the force of an explosion. Her mouth opened in a silent scream as her channel convulsed around his cock. Her head dropped forward to find Aedan's lips waiting to tease her further with licks and bites. His hips worked furiously to prolong her orgasm, and she moaned, her clitoris pulsating in time with the frantic beat of her heart. As her breathing became more regulated, he nibbled at her earlobe and whispered, "Put your legs down, Angel." Dazed and shaken, she did as he asked, moaning as his still-swollen penis slid out of her. She felt his warmth leave the front of her body and opened her eyes to see him kneeling between her legs.
He pressed a kiss to the satin skin of her inner thighs, working his way upwards to his ultimate goal. The delicious scent of her arousal teased his senses, making his mouth water until he could resist no longer. He lifted her skirt and pressed his open mouth over her clitoris, sliding his tongue out to taste the evidence of her climax. Her legs trembled as the tip probed at her entrance and lapped at her juices. "Oh, shit! Oh God! Yes!" She leaned forward to rest one hand on his shoulder, while her other grabbed his hair and pressed his clever mouth to her throbbing sex. The flat of his tongue licked a long line from her vulva to her clitoris and his lips nibbled and laved the plump lips; this time she screamed her pleasure to the heavens as her second climax hit.
In a flash, Aedan stood and lifted her onto his aching cock, thrusting furiously into her tight clenching channel. His head dropped to rest in the crook of her neck and his breath whispered across her skin in short gasps. She embraced him with all her strength, never wanting this moment to end, but already she could feel his muscles tightening, his hips jerking as his rhythm deserted him. His penis thickened, and he lifted his head slightly, placing his lips to her ear. "I love you, Emma." His words trailed off into a deep groan, and his body curled over hers with the force of his release as his hips pumped frenetically with each warm spurt of cum.
His legs gave way and he fell backwards, taking her with him. His arms came around her, holding her tightly so that she wouldn't get hurt. "Are you all right?" she asked, unable to keep the concern out of her voice as he dragged in a painful breath.
He coughed and nodded. "Yeah, just a bit winded." He smiled up at her. "Hi, do you come here often?" She chuckled, happy to be in his arms again until the reason for their tussle came to mind and she started to move away, but his arms were secure in their hold on her. "No, Emma! We are going to talk about this."
