Prince of Desire (9 page)

There was no doubt she couldn't get enough of his body and the pleasure he gave her, but was it enough to give up her life and travel with him to a kingdom made up with the same magic that put the mark on her arm?

She stood back a moment and watched as Lucian used steady, smooth movements to brush his mount.
 
It was obvious the time he spent with her had taken a toll on him.
 
He hid it well, but there was no denying he was meant to be in his kingdom.
 
He didn't belong with her, but could she let him go?

She knew the moment he realized she was there. Their eyes met over Elad's back.
 
His black eyes were warm, welcoming.
 
There was a small smile pulling up the corners of his sexy mouth.
 
Her fingers longed to delve into his black locks and pull his head down for a kiss.

But the time for pleasure was over. He’d been honest with her.
 
She could do no less for him.

“I promised you a decision,” she said, her tongue thick in her mouth. How she longed to return to the night before and their exquisite lovemaking with the decision hours away.
 

Lucian set down the brush and walked around the horse.
 
“You did.”

Hope – and doubt – filled his beautiful black eyes, making her heart clench.
 
He was a warrior, a prince.
 
He was strong, confident, and amazing.
 
She had put that worry in his gaze.
 
She’s the one who had put the lines of strain that bracketed his mouth.

He had done so much for her.
 
What had she done for him?
 
She might have welcomed his touch, but she hadn’t believed his story, had pushed him away when he spoke of magic.
 
And still he remained by her side.

That's when she realized she needed to stop asking herself what she could do and ask what she
couldn't
do.

Could she allow Lucian and his kingdom to die? Could she allow him to walk out of her life with the knowledge that she would never see him again? Could she live without him?

The answer was a resounding nay.

A huge weight lifted off her shoulders as she acknowledged her answer.
 
What a fool she’d been.
 
Yes, he asked the impossible, but in return she would be his.
 
She wanted to dance around and shout her answer to the world.
 

Instead, she smiled, her heart trembling with elation and happiness.
 
“Will you take me with you?”

His lips parted as he simply stared at her.
 
Lucian took a step toward her.
 
“Really?” he asked, his voice breathless, as if he expected her to change her mind again.

She nodded and found herself enveloped in his arms as he swung her around and around. He stopped and buried his head in her neck.

“Thank you,” he whispered.

She smiled up at the sky at his words, and she could have sworn the mark on her arm sizzled.

* * * *

Lucian secured a horse for Isabelle, one that was surefooted and steady. He wanted to leave immediately, fearing she might change her mind once more.
 
But every time he asked, she just laughed and kissed him.

His heart was lighter than it had been in years.
 
He was going home.
 
With his mate.
 
Isabelle had made the impossible, possible.
 
He couldn’t imagine the anxiety within her, but he was going to be beside her forever.
 
He would help her through it all.

He smiled at his mate, his Isabelle, as she stood with Mr. and Mrs. MacDonald.
 
That morning he’d combed her hair, hearing her sighs of pleasure.
 
The long strands of her hair were soft as down and cool to the touch.
 
Never had he imagined himself combing a woman’s hair, but he’d found he quite enjoyed it.
 
It was definitely something he planned to do often.

One of many things he looked forward to once they were settled in Drahcir.
 

He finished tying off the bag holding Isabelle’s possessions to her horse.
 
It took everything he had to stop himself from dragging her away from the MacDonalds. They were the only family she knew, and she needed to say her farewells.

“I'm going to miss you, dearling,” Mrs. MacDonald said as she hugged Isabelle for the third time.

Lucian saw the moisture in Isabelle's eyes as she kissed Mrs. MacDonald's weathered cheek before turning to Mr. MacDonald.
 

“You were the daughter we never had, lass. I hate to see you leave, but know 'tis something you need to do,” Mr. MacDonald said. “We'll be here if you ever need us. Take care of yourself.”

“I will,” she said.

Lucian was surprised to find Mr. MacDonald walk to him. “I better no’ hear of you mistreating her.”
 

“Never. I pledge my soul on it,” Lucian answered solemnly.

Mr. MacDonald seemed satisfied with the answer as he returned to his wife and pulled her into his arms as she cried. Lucian helped Isabelle on her horse before he mounted Elad.
 
At long last, he was finally returning home.
 
He couldn’t wait to see the gates of the kingdom or his family.

But more than that, he couldn’t wait to show Isabelle her new home.

“Ready?” he turned his head and asked.

Her eyes were bright from unshed tears, but her smile was wide.
 
“Ready.”

With one last wave to the MacDonalds, Lucian nudged his horse into a walk.
 

* * * *

The weeks of travel had been decidedly hard on Isabelle, though she made a point to never complain. Lucian made sure to travel slowly, but it was obvious he was more than eager to reach his home. She was just as anxious about meeting his family.

She heard tales of his childhood and his family, of the antics between him and his brothers.
 
Those stories kept her laughing as she came to learn about his brothers through the stories, as well as more about him.

Isabelle had a growing respect for his parents to put up with such unruly lads.
 
It was apparent by the way his parents disciplined the boys and the wisdom they tried to pass down that they were good people.
 

Lucian spoke often of how his father would spend time alone with each of the brothers riding through their small kingdom, hunting, fishing, or just walking through the village.
 
All the while imparting some knowledge the boys needed to know about the kingdom, family, or life in general.
 

The king wasn’t the only one to spend time alone with the boys.
 
The queen did as well.
 
She also had things to impart to her sons, specifically how to properly woo a woman.
 
Isabelle knew she would have to thank the queen for that.

After another hard day of travel in the mountains, she reclined in Lucian's arms as they stared at the fire in the coziness of a cave. Her gaze was drawn to his bare arm and the intricate symbol that graced his skin.
 

The more time they spent together, the more she realized they had always been meant for each other.
 
It wasn't something she could explain to anyone, more of a feeling deep within, and it was all somehow connected to the symbols. She moved her left arm near his and looked at the marks. The firelight played across their arms, but her eyes only saw the markings.

“Do they bother you?” Lucian's deep voice asked near her ear.

She smiled though he couldn't see her face. “Nay. At first they seemed strange, but now…now it’s as if they have always been there.”

“They have. They just needed to be awakened and brought to life.”

Isabelle leaned her head back to look into his black eyes. “Like me.”

His smile was devastating as he hugged her to his chest. “Just like you, my love.”

“I have to admit, I'm more than a little frightened of when we reach Drahcir.”

“Why is that?” he asked as he smoothed back her hair loosened from the braid and kissed her neck.

“You're royalty, Lucian,” she said as she sat up and turned to face him. “I'm a commoner.”

“There is nothing common about you.” His eyes narrowed and he asked, “Are you afraid my family willna accept you?”

Isabelle eyes fell to the ground. “That thought has crossed my mind.”

She felt his fingers under her chin and allowed him to raise her face until she looked him in the eye.
 
“Doona,” he said softly. “We doona hold to the convictions that have plagued the rest of Scotland. Royalty or commoner, it’s the same in my kingdom. No one will look down upon you. You’re my mate, destined to be a princess of Drahcir.”

“Destiny or not, people still view outsiders as threats, and regardless of what you say, people will look at me differently because I'm not royalty.”

He chuckled and ran a thumb across her cheek. “Ah, Isabelle. None of my words will ease your fears, but I’ll tell you that my kingdom has had to accept outsiders every generation. It’s part of our life. Believe me when I tell you the people of Drahcir will be thrilled to see you because it means they are that much closer to seeing their lives continue.”

As his words sunk in, she realized just how foolish she had been. She turned and resumed her place against his chest and threaded her fingers through his. “Thank you.”

“It’ll be all right,” he said as he nuzzled her ear.
 

She sighed and closed her eyes as he found a particularly sensitive spot just behind her ear. Her entire body melted against him.
 
His hands moved to hold her breasts and soon his fingers had her nipples hard and aching. While his hands caressed and kneaded her breasts, his mouth left a trail of fire that blazed right to her core. She burned for him as she did every night and as with each time their bodies joined, the need for him grew.

Isabelle pulled out of his embrace and turned to face him as she straddled his hips. Her hand found his arousal, thick and hard, as she guided him inside her.

“By the heavens,” Lucian moaned and took hold of her hips. “I want to taste you.”

She barely had time to register what his words said before she was on her back, and he knelt between her legs, licking her stomach. His hot tongue trailed from hip to hip, stopping to dip lightly into her belly button before nipping the inside of her thigh. Isabelle's lungs seized when she felt his hot breath on her sex.

Could it be? Did he really mean to kiss her…there?

No sooner did she ask herself that question than his tongue licked her sex, slow and soft.

She sighed and fisted her hands in the blankets as he settled between her legs and parted her woman's lips. She opened her eyes to see him staring at her.

“Lucian?”

“You have no idea how beautiful you are,” he said before his tongue snaked out and lightly brushed back and froth over her clit.

Isabelle bit her lip as hot, molten desire licked their wicked flames around her. Instinctively, she opened her legs wider, giving Lucian more access to her sex. Almost immediately, his tongue delved deeper, tasting her as no one ever had. Her passion was growing so fast that she knew she couldn't hold back her climax, and she wasn't ready for it to end yet.

Not until I taste him
.

With great effort, she managed to sit up. At Lucian's look, she merely smiled and rolled him onto his back.

“My turn,” she said and loved the way her stomach clenched when she saw the desire in his eyes.

She gripped his cock gently, loving the feel of its heat and softness. A bead of liquid formed at his tip, and Isabelle leaned down and licked it off. Lucian's breath hissed from between his lips, but it only urged her on. The taste of him was delicious, and she wanted more.

Much more.

Growing bolder by the moment, Isabelle brought him into her mouth as she moved her hand up and down his shaft. With her free hand, she reached down and cupped his sac. She was just beginning to take him deeper when Lucian's hands gripped her waist.

Isabelle raised her head to tell him to stop when he said, “Wait.”

She trusted him completely and loved anything new he showed her, so she eagerly waited as he positioned her on top of him with her legs straddling his face and her face mere inches from his rod.

Without being told what to do, she once more brought him to her mouth, licking him from bottom to tip. She had just taken him in her mouth again when she felt his tongue moving across her clit. For a moment she couldn't move as the pleasure poured through her. To be able to receive such pleasure as she was giving it was a wonderful experience, one she intended to make sure they repeated often.

Lucian bit back a groan as Isabelle took him into her hot, wet mouth. Her sweet hands knew just were to touch and how hard or soft as she cupped his sac and moved her hand up and down his shaft. It wanted release right then but he could tell she was fighting her own climax. He would hold off as long as she did, no matter how much it nearly killed him to do it.