MacNachton Vampires: Born To Bite Part 10

Rowan s.h.i.+vered against him, and her tight sheath wrapped around him causing tortuous pleasure.

What could he do? No longer was she a virgin. And, she was his mate, his, forever. Emotions swept him. Mayhap forbidden to change her into a vampire, but he would give her a woman's pleasure. The issues of her being of the fey, he would consider later.

Aedan took her mouth in a long, slow kiss, then lifted his head. "Now," he said, his voice a low rumble, "I will finish making love to you." With each stroke slow, he cherished the spirals of heat shooting through him, tempting him to let go, to drive into her until he found his release. Aedan kept up a steady pace. This time, her first time, would be for her.

Rowan's head fell to the side. "Aedan," she whispered, her throaty voice thick with wonder. "I know not if I can take much more."

"You can," he said as he slid his full length inside and proved her wrong.

Against the burst of starlight flooding the heavens, the stone circle stood like a black mark on the earth. Without warning, striations of cloud severed the sky, wisps that for but a moment held the struggling s.h.i.+mmers, and then faded into night.

Restless, Aedan scanned the land outside the cave.

A soft clatter echoed from the northwest.

He focused on the sound, listened for voices, the sc.r.a.pe of steel against a leather scabbard, anything to alert him to another's presence.

Long moments pa.s.sed.

Naught.

With the foxglove still dulling his senses, he'd taken extra precautions, set extra wards. If anyone had tried to come near during the night, he would have known.

Over the hours past most of his weakness had diminished, his fast recovery due to Rowan's being fey. Known for its ability to heal, the powerful fey blood was restoring his health faster than he had believed possible.

"Aedan?"

At Rowan's sleepy voice, images of the hours they'd made love tangled within his mind. The way she'd responded to his every touch, her creative pa.s.sion as she'd caressed him as well.

With a tender smile, he returned and knelt beside her. He nudged a swath of wheat blond hair away from her cheek, where her skin was dusted with a star-edged glow. "You are beautiful when you awaken."

A tinge of red stained her cheeks. "I look awful."

"Nay." He gave her a gentle smile, amazed at the feelings Rowan stirred. "You look like a woman sated, a woman whom I adore, and a woman whom I will cherish always."

Hope flickered in her eyes and then faded. "You know little of me."

"I know your presence is a gift," he replied, needing her to understand the magnitude of her presence within his life.

She opened her mouth to speak, shook her head.

Aedan lifted her chin with his finger, caught the questions haunting her mind. "What is it?" At her hesitation, he stroked his thumb along the soft curve of her jaw. "Rowan, you can trust me."

She drew a slow breath, exhaled. "You said I was your mate."

"A fact you find difficult to accept."

"Difficult?" She gave a shaky laugh. "Until yesterday, vampires were but a legend, terrifying creatures of the night. Now, not only have I met one, but I have made love to one."

She turned away, but he caught the distress in her eyes. By the sword's blade, she loved him! Emotions stormed him: need, desperation, happiness.

In their meager time together, she'd given him a glimpse of their future. Except, with her humanness, her life would end too soon.

At the thought of losing her, an ache ripped through him. Sweat beaded his brow, and his fangs lengthened; he fought the urge to turn her so she could be with him forever. An act forbidden. Slamming his eyes shut, he struggled against his body's demand and the inherent need to claim Rowan with his every breath.

Within the quiet of the night, Aedan's lungs labored.

Concerned, Rowan turned. "Are you well?

Silence.

He lifted his lids. Under the sheen of moonlight, Aedan's scrutiny turned cold. A shudder wracked his muscled frame, and his fangs lengthened.

Tugging on her garb, she shoved to her feet, stumbled back. "No!" Regardless of what he made her feel, want, he was dangerous. She bolted for the entry.

"Rowan!"

Stones jabbed her feet as she ran faster. Without warning, strong hands caught her, turned her to face him.

"You will not leave me!"

Tears blurred her eyes as she pulled, twisted to break free.

Fingers tightened on her wrist.

Terror slammed her chest. "What do you want from me?!"

On a muttered curse, his hold gentled. "Rowan, never will I harm you."

Never would he harm her? He was a vampire. How could she have believed a relations.h.i.+p between them could exist?

Because they'd made love?

Merciful Mary, she'd made love with a vampire!

A violent s.h.i.+ver wracked her body. Her knees trembled, because she wanted him still.

"Rowan, listen to me."

Ashamed, she struggled to break free. "Let me go!"

"There is nothing to be ashamed of, nor to fear. Aye, I am dangerous, but never to you." He exhaled. His face relaxed, and his fangs withdrew.

Before Rowan stood the man she'd first seen, a stunning warrior who would make any woman want.

"Let me explain," Aedan said. Desperation trembled within his request, a raw plea that had her hesitating. Unsure, Rowan nodded.

On an exhale, he scanned their surroundings and then faced her. The strain across his forehead eased, but she caught the lines near his eyes, proof he wasn't as calm as he appeared.

" 'Tis normal for vampires to draw blood from our mates, but you are not a vampire. Neither will I convert you." He exhaled. "Our pairing is unique. More than your blood melding with mine, more than your wanting and being drawn to me. 'Twas destiny that we came together. A fate neither of us could expect ... nor understand." He paused. "I struggle with the acceptance of such a pairing as much as you."

"Because you are a ... vampire?"

His gaze grew intense. "Rowan, I am more than a common vampire."

"More?"

"Aye." His voice rumbled with authority. "I am the laird of the Highland Vampire Coven."

Astonished, she stared. "Their laird?"

"Aye. You found me naked, my garb and pendant with the clan seal stolen."

Nay, could not be true. 'Twas a poor joke. She'd watched his teeth lengthen, witnessed Aedan change into a ruthless killer.

He gave her a gentle shake. "Enough of those foolish thoughts! I am nae a killer, nor is this a joke. You are overwhelmed; how can you not be? But, hear my words, I speak the truth."

"I ..." Fighting for calm, she studied the strong lines of his face, remembered the confident way he held himself as he spoke, his regal bearing. A day ago she'd believed him a braggart, or a thief on the run.

Not ... a laird betrayed.

But, he'd promised to protect her from harm. He'd said she was his destiny. Yet she was but a commoner and he a laird, a man of tremendous responsibility and power. How was this conceivable? And if 'twas possible, did she want to live her life with him forever?

"You are my mate."

The calmness of his delivery changed naught. "People do not mate."

"I agree, but vampires are not human. Like wolves, when we find our life partner, we join forever."

"I am neither a vampire, nor a wolf."

"I am as confused as you," he agreed. "Such a bond should be impossible, yet you exist, and the moment I tasted your blood, I recognized you as my mate."

Torn, Rowan hesitated. Could she find happiness with this vampire, a fulfillment she'd believed unattainable because she'd been an outcast to the Highland clans? She could not forget the way they'd made love, the intensity, the pa.s.sion, as if they were truly meant to be together.

But mates?

"If I accept there can be such a bond between a human and a vampire, what does this mean for us?" Us. She loved the sound of belonging, of being with Aedan forever.

Black eyes glowed. "A life together forever."

"Aedan ..." Emotion swelled in her chest at the love she felt for him, at the dreams he made her dare to believe.

"Trust me."

"I do. Incredibly I do." She swallowed hard. "And I want you ... for always." Tears spilled onto her cheeks, and he wiped them away.

"What is wrong?"

The tenderness of his voice left her aching. "Do you not think we wish for the impossible?"

"Nay." With infinite gentleness Aedan claimed her mouth. As Rowan's taste poured through him, pressure built, and his fangs lengthened. For a moment he allowed himself the pleasure of sliding them along the velvet curve of her throat. She stiffened, and then slowly relaxed. At her sigh, the way her body pressed against his in an intimate plea, he hardened to a painful ache.

Humbled by her acceptance of him, however much he wanted to sink his teeth deep and convert her, he would not do so. But, with each hour the urge to change her was growing. Would there come a time when he couldn't resist? Nay, whatever it took, he would leave her untouched. To remain human.

And half fairy.

"What of your people?" she asked, breaking into his troubled musings. "As I am human, how can they accept me?"

"They will."

Amus.e.m.e.nt danced in her eyes. "Because you will demand it?"

"Because when they meet you they will be charmed."

Her throaty laugh slid through him like warm mead, and he longed to take her again, but having lost her virginity hours ago, she needed to heal. The oncoming night would be soon enough, and then, he still must be gentle.

"Aedan," she said, her voice serious, "your people may demand you claim a life partner of your own kind."

"You are my destiny."

She arched a doubtful brow. "And that is all they will need to hear to convince them?"

"There are challenges to face." An understatement. Never had a vampire discovered his mate was a human, much less one half fey. The uproar at exposing her grim and murky heritage to his clan would be formidable indeed, but his people would learn to accept Rowan. He would demand it of them for, above all, he refused to lose her.

"Challenges indeed." She hesitated. "And what of the person you await this night? If he does not return to make sure you are dead, how will you find him?"

A question he'd pondered. "If no one returns to check the stone circle this night, I must return to my coven under disguise so as not to alert them that I live."

"Why not put the ashes from a fire within the circle?" Rowan asked. "Then, if anyone comes once we are gone, he will believe the remains are you."

"Nay, my scent would not be among the ashes ..." Why had he not thought of it before? "But you are right. If I tossed a small length of my hair within the flames, whoever returns would detect my scent and be convinced I am dead." He touched her shoulder. "Wait here. I am going to retrieve wood."

A sudden mist swirled around him, and Rowan found herself staring into the night.

She scanned the sweep of trees beneath the moonlight.

Like a soft whisper, music flowed upon the breeze as if a person played upon a lute.

Impossible. And the song appeared to come from within the stone ring. Could this night become any stranger? Intrigued, she stepped forward.

With each step the music grew. Several paces before the ma.s.sive pillars, a gust swirled around her.

A chill swept her, and Rowan stopped. Nay, she must return- A deep tremor shook the ground. The earth inside the ring darkened. Like bony fingers, cracks split the turf, spiraling out from the center. Without warning, the wind rose, pulling her toward the gap between the stones.

Terrified, she fought to break free, but the force strengthened, dragging her body toward the towering pillars. No! Rowan opened her mouth to scream.

Then blackness.