Portals Of Time (4 page)

The priest had wasted no time leaving once he performed his duties. Lucian had followed him to the door bolting it behind him. He would stand for no interruptions this eve.

His emerald eyes studied his new wife appreciatively. She lay in his massive bed, sheets pulled up to her chin as her eyes darted nervously about the chamber. Candlelight danced playfully over her fiery hair, shooting sparks of gold and red across the pool of locks spread about her quivering body.

He removed his weapons casually as he drew nearer, placing them on a table next to the bed.

“Do ye wish for more wine, lass?”

Arianna shook her head. “No thank you. I’m not sure it would stay down.”

“There is naught ta fear, wife. I would nae hurt ye.”

A nervous giggle escaped. “I know...but I can’t help but be a bit frightened. I have always feared the unknown.”

He grunted then pulled off his tunic.
Arianna gasped at the
many
scar
s criss-crossing his torso.

“You have been injured
countless
times.
How horrible for you.”

Lucian gave her a startled glance. His scars were a fact of life for a warrior. No one had ever felt empathy for them...they were a badge of honor.

“Twould be difficult ta find any man without at least one battle scar in this age if he be worth calling a man. Tis naught.”
He shrugged his muscular shoulders indifferently.

“Where I came from, most scars were caused by accidents...unless they were soldiers.”

“I am surprised that there were so few men in your time. How were the women protected then?” He stretched out on the bed beside her toying with her hair.
She is relaxing...tis good.

Arianna settled her head on his large bicep as she pondered the question. How do you explain to a twelfth century man about a police force?

Sighing, she tried.

“We had what was called ‘policemen’...sheriffs, I think you would call them. They arrested people after they committed a crime.”

“After? The damage has been done by then! Who
protected
ye, Arianna?” he growled.

“I...I never thought about it before but...I guess I just learned how to protect myself. I was careful to avoid danger whenever possible
. I used my head I guess.”

Lucian’s ire was up!
What manner of world has she been struggling through? Nae one ta protect her at all?
For the first time since she had arrived he was glad that her world had been destroyed! That world had no honor, no values, no integrity in it. What would be the point of living if these things did not exist? He shook his head in disgust.

“It sounds as if there were nae real men in that world.”

She peered at him thoughtfully. “I never considered that before but looking back...I guess that’s a pretty accurate assessment of the times.
” A tear rolled down her cheek. “Everyone was so shallow. It was difficult to find anyone with real character although there were a few.”

“Och, lass. I didnae mean ta dampen your spirits. Tis our wedding night. Tis a joyful time. Let us forget about your past...for now.”
Wiping away the tear, he kissed her brow.

“Don’t worry, Lucian, I’m not going to get all maudlin on you. It just makes me sad to think of the waste. Centuries of advancement simply thrown away in a split second.”

He nodded thoughtfully. “Aye. Tis truly wasteful
.”

Reaching up, she stroked his jaw.

“Thank you, Lucian.”

“Why? What for?”

“Believing me...letting me speak honestly with you...and protecting me. No one’s ever done that for me before.”

Her sultry voice rippled through his senses as desire stirred his shaft.

“Och, Arianna. I would have ye speak truth ta me always
but on this subject...tis best nae ta do so...even in private. This eve I allow it but beware, even the walls have ears in this castle. I would nae have ye come ta harm, so we will nae speak of it again. I can and will protect ye from all harm always but ken that we would both die if this truth be known.”

“Your right, of course. I learned that in school. Fear of the unknown is a powerful motivator.”

“Aye. Although there is a cure for some unknowns.” His eyes darkened
with the heat building in his body. He nibbled his way from her ear to her delicate chin.

“What is the cure...and for what ‘unknowns’?” Her body grew restless beside him as he ran his fingers down her side with a feathery touch.

“For instance...the mystery of the bedding. That fear can be conquered by making the ‘unknown’ known.” He captured her moist lips with his own
. His calloused hand held her head in place as his passion grew. Slanting his mouth, he gently pried her lips open and gained entrance for his hot tongue.

Moist heat gathered in her lower body as
she responded to his caresses.

“Ahh lass, ye make m
e
blood boil!” He murmured in her ear. She gasped, then moaned as his rough thumb stroked her breast causing it to harden.
Lucian latched onto it, suckling deeply, his fingers moving further down her body to entangle themselves in the hair between her legs.

Arianna wimpered,
the assault on her senses almost too much to bear. The lioness tattoo grew warmer the more that she responded to his touch
, glowing ever brighter with every stroke of his fingers betwixt her thighs.

He glanced up at her for a moment, a bit stunned at her glowing tat. His burned as well, he realized in that moment of clarity.
She truly is my mate! There can be nae doubt now.

“Open to me wife!” he growled.

Instinctively she knew what he meant and spread her thighs in response. She wanted him
. The need to be joined with him...possessed by him was overwhelming! Arianna clawed at his back, pulling him closer as he covered her with his powerful body.

Prodding gently, he entered her expanding sheath until he reached the barrier. His neck was on fire as he commanded her to open her eyes.

“Look at me, Anna! I would have ye see who ye belong ta as I claim ye ta be mine!”
Submitting, s
he fell into the vivid green stare, mesmerized by his eyes as he thrust deeply into her body.

Fused
as one, he lowered his frame till their
tattoos
touch
ed while he waited for her body to adjust to his invasion.

There was an explosion of light as electricity shot through both of them at that instant. Emotions surged
through them that neither had ever felt before!
There was caring, tenderness...a feeling of rightness that engulfed them
at
that
moment
.

Arianna knew that this was where she was meant to be...in this place...in his arms. It was her destiny.

Lucian had felt it as well. He did not understand it but he didn’t question the Fates. As he
moved his hips, relishing the silkiness of her sheath encompassing his swollen shaft, his neck cooled to a normal temperature.

An inferno began to build in her body at the same time her tattoo cooled. She thrust her hips harder and faster, losing all control over it as she climaxed. She cried out in ecstasy and was soon joined by her husband.

They were speechless as they peered into each other’s eyes. Something had changed between them. They both felt it.

“Wh-what happened?” She stroked his neck tenderly.

“I do nae ken
...but it was a wonderment ta be sure!” With a gentle kiss he pulled her into his arms. “Ye should rest, Anna. We can sort it out in the morn.”

She yawned, snuggling closer into his warm embrace.

“You were right about one thing, Lucian.
In this case, it was better to make the ‘unknown’ known. I don’t fear it anymore
.
”

He chuckled deeply. “Go ta sleep, wife.”

He woke to the sound of someone crying out his name in terror. Instantly awake, he realized that it was Arianna as she thrashed about at his side.
Taking her into his arms, Lucian gently roused her.

“Anna...mo gradh, tis a dream ye be having. Wake now and calm your fears.”

Blinking, Arianna looked about her with bewildered eyes.

“What happened?”

“Ye called ta me in your sleep. Ye sounded frightened, lass.
Can ye tell me why? What was your dream about?”

She shook her head as she relaxed against his broad chest. “I never remember much about the details...only the emotions.”
She shuddered reflexively. “I felt danger around me and I could
n’t
find you anywhere.
I had a sense of
vulnerability, Lucian. I hate that feeling!
Malcolm was there but I did
n’t
feel any fear of him. Someone else scared me
...
but I don’t know who it was.”

He listened attent
ively
to her tale. He knew dreams could be deceptive but Arianna’s should be well heeded. He stroked her hair absently as he considered her words. He knew he was going nowhere
but perhaps, in her dream she believed him to be lost.
The important part ta remember is that it was someone else that she feared...nae Malcolm. But who could it be?
He was about to tell her to rest when he noticed that she had already dozed off. Kissing her brow, he settled back down for the night.

“Time ta rise, wee wife.”

“Go away,” she mumbled. Early rising was not her forte.

He chuckled, then jerked the blankets off of her, exposing her bare skin to the chilled room. Arianna screeched as she made a grab for the warm coverings. He stayed her with his arm then rolled atop her, sharing his warmth.

“Mmmm, you feel good.” Her eyes opened a crack to peer at him.
“I was hoping to catch up on some sleep today.”

He shook his dark head as he grinned at her.

“Nae this day, lass. Your bath awaits y
e and the sheets must be hung
for all the clan ta see that ye came here pure.”

“What! I thought they had made that up when I read about it! Must you embar
ra
ss me?”

Lucian appeared stricken. What foolishness was this?

“
T
is ta honor ye that I do this! It says much about your chastity and in doing so, our children will never be questioned.
Ye should walk with your head held high...nae be
shamed!
”

Arianna stared at him
,
blushing. “Oh. I didn’t realize that
’s wha
t
it
meant. I’m sorry, Lucian.
It’s still embarassing though,” she muttered beneath her breath.

Satisfied, he gave her a quick kiss before rising. He will have to coach her on the way she speaks of things. Some people might question what she had just said
about ‘reading’ of such.