The Duke and the Dryad (Elemental Series) (13 page)

His mouth brought her to peaks as his hand slipped down her chest to her stomach, settling atop her womanhood. Just the heat of his ha
nd against her body had her vibrating beneath him.

“Now what?” she asked, curious to know what else was to be encountered in
the act of human mating.

“Shhhh,
. . . patience,” he said, claiming her mouth with his own and letting his fingers work magick and he slipped one inside her. She moaned against his mouth and arched beneath him once again. She felt what he meant and knew her body was ready, and he must have known as well.

With one hand he parted her legs and mounted her,
slipping his manhood inside. She welcomed him into her body, spreading her legs further and arching to encompass all of him. Then the rhythm of the forest flowed through her body as they did the mating dance, joining their two bodies as one.

His breathing became more pronounced as he moved his hips to meet hers. Over and over they joined as one, each thrust brin
ging a newfound jubilation to her soul. She saw the ethers around them light up, the energy spiraling in crazy circles. She wondered if he could see it too, but noticed his eyes were nearly closed.

Then, his low male mating call came from deep in his chest, joining in a bea
utiful chorus of her own – a singsong voice spilling forth from her lips which she knew was definitely fae and not human. Together they made glorious love and sang the song of nature. ’Twas better than she’d ever imagined, and when their bodies slowed, she felt a part of her was finally satisfied. The human part – and the companionship she found with this wonderful man named Wolfe.

Then s
pent, they lay in each other’s arms, holding one another until they finally fell asleep. She knew now what it felt like to be not only fae, but also human!

Chapter 10

Rae woke with a jolt, the trees crying out to her that she needed to rise as daybreak was here. She took a minute to remember just what had happened last night. It had been amazing, and she had hoped to awake
n and repeat the action once again with Wolfe. She was happy he decided to stay the night, even though his large frame extended half off her small bed as he slept. She turned now to face him and sat up quickly, realizing he was not there.

She spied him
at the opposite end of the room, donning his clothes.

“Must you leave so soon?” she asked, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. Her body was nak
ed, and suddenly she felt embarrassed as he was fully dressed. She gathered the coverlet around her, and scooted off the bed.

“I have ov
erslept,” he told her, sitting on the chair to put on his boots. “I am to leave for battle at first light, and as it is, I’ll be lucky to get back in time to lead my army anywhere.”

“Then let them leave without you,” she begged, walking over to join him. “Stay with me instead of going to war, Wolf
e. Please.”

He reached out and cradled her face in one hand. Then he ran his thumb over her bottom lip and she could already feel her body starting to vibrate.

“I can’t do that, my little sprite,” he said in a low, groggy morning voice. “’Tis my duty to protect the lands, and if another lord needs my help defending his castle, then I must go.”

“How long will you be gone?” she asked.

He got to his feet as he answered. “I am not sure.” He leaned over and kissed her then. Her head tilted back slightly and her eyes closed. How she wanted a repeat of last night’s intimacy. But to her dismay, he released her and stepped away. He fastened his belt low on his waist, and checked that his weapons were secure. “But while I’m gone I want you to stay in the forest. I would come to get you upon my return.”

“But I feel at home at the castle now during the day. Surely I could wait there a
mong the others for your return? Mayhap in my new garden.”

“Nay. I don’t want you anywhere near the castle unless I am with you.” He looked over to her and scanned her body with his eyes. “
My, you certainly are shy. You don’t need to cover up in front of me, Rae. We’ve already lain together.”

True, they had, but he had not seen her
naked in the daylight. As one of the fae people, her body had imprints of the vines and plants of the forest on her skin. Though it looked to be painted on, ’twas not removable. She’d been born that way. She felt uncomfortable about it, since she didn’t know how he’d react to it. He’d already seemed to have a hard time accepting the etching on the side of her face. So instead of dropping the coverlet to the ground, tempting him to stay as she wanted to do, she just pulled the covering around her tighter.

“Promise me you’ll come back – alive,” she said, feeling she was about to be abandoned once again, just like with her father.

“I cannot promise that,” he said, his face solemn. “But I can promise you that I’ll never forget you.”

She wanted him to pull her in
to his arms again. She longed for his touch and one last kiss before he left for war. But instead, like the true emotionless warrior he was, he just turned and headed out the door. She ran after him, watching him mount his horse quickly. The vision of him sitting high atop his steed, prepared to go to battle and die if need be, would be engraved upon her mind forever. She didn’t feel good about this. Anxiety coursed through her, and she suddenly felt vulnerable and very lonely. So unlike the strength and security she’d felt while wrapped in his strong but gentle hold last night.

He turned his horse in a
full circle, then looked down to where she stood. He didn’t say a word. Just held his mouth firm and his gaze steady, as he looked first at her and then out to the rising sun on the horizon. Then just like that, he urged his horse forward and took off quickly through the forest. Her heart sank and she felt a shiver run up her spine. She knew what she was seeing was the warrior emerging, preparing for battle. She wasn’t watching Lord Wolfe ride away right now. Nay, instead she was watching
Duke the Destroyer.

Wolfe rode furiously through the forest, willing the wind that was whipping through his hair to blow away his thoughts of last night with Rae as well. He couldn’t be distracted when he went to battle or it could prove deadly. He had to stay focused – no distractions, just like he’d told his men.

But damn if he could stop thinking of the glorious night he’d spent with his exotic sprite. ’Twas the best bedding he’d ever had, tho the girl swore she’d never done it before. He’d felt those vibrations she’d been talking about, and unless he was going mad, he swore he saw little swirling
circles of flashing lights around them as they climaxed together.

He didn’t know how to explain any of this, but all he knew was that he couldn’t wait to get back from this senseless battle and experience the whole mating ritual with Rae once again. Her
sing-song sated cry of ecstasy still echoed in his mind, calling him back to her much like the song of a siren.

He had half a mind to turn the damn horse right now and go back to the little oake
n hut hidden in the woods. But ’twas already past first light and he knew he’d have hell to pay with his uncle. He wasn’t looking forward to trying to explain to the unreasonable man where he’d been all night.

“Faster,” he shouted to his steed, racing through the forest and back to the castle, feeling like he was running from no one other than himself.

* * *

Lord Clive
stood at the ready in the courtyard, not at all pleased by the fact his nephew was nowhere to be found. He’d told the man they were to leave at first light. His own men as well as Wolfe’s whole army was dressed in their armor, weapons donned, and warhorses ready. The men were restless and he knew they needed to head out at once in order to get to the lowlands in time.

“Sir Braden,” he called to Wolf
e’s captain of the guard, “where is your mighty duke?”

Sir Braden joined him, a concerned look upon his f
ace. “I – I am not sure, Earl Clive.”

He could tell the man was lying. He reached out and grabbed him roughly b
y the arm and pulled him close to his face.

“You are lying, though I don’t know why. Now we have a battle to fight, so tell me where he is.”

“He – should be back soon, my lord. He never stays out this long.” His eyes darted toward the front gate.

“So he goes out often at night, does he?”

“I – he – likes to go riding through the forest at night. It helps him to sleep.”

He released the man, and studied his fa
ce. He was a horrible liar. There was something he didn’t want him to know. But he would find out once they returned from this battle. He wanted to find out where the almighty
Duke the Destroyer
was spending his nights. And somehow, he had the feeling he already knew.

He’d noticed
the odd girl with the pointed ears and the pink hair when he arrived last night. He’d only seen her briefly, as she’d disappeared quickly as soon as he’d entered the hall. But if he wasn’t mistaken, she was one of those forest nymphs. She reminded him of the one he’d captured years ago. The only problem was, the damned odd girl he’d captured had died before he’d had a chance to dip into her pleasures. He’d heard it said the forest nymphs were insatiably sexual creatures and that they were the best bedding a man would ever want.

Aye, he
would find out, and if there were another of these creatures in the forest, he would have her. And if Wolfe was already mating with the girl, then he’d just have to make sure his nephew did not come back alive from this battle, because he wanted the girl for himself.

“Here he is now,” said Sir Braden, pulling him from his thoughts.

He surveyed Wolfe riding over the bridge and through the gate. He stopped in front of him, and by the glow that encompassed him and the satisfied look upon his face, he knew his suspicions were confirmed.

“So nice of you to arrive, Lord Wolf
e,” he ground out. “Now let’s go! And keep in mind, all of you that this is a dangerous battle.” He looked directly at the duke. “And some of you may not return.”

Chapter 11

Wolfe couldn’t help but notice that Lord Clive was acting strangely ever since he’d returned from the forest this morning. Sir Braden had taken him aside and told him that he’d been forced to tell the man of his whereabouts, however, he thankfully had not mentioned a thing about Rae.

They’d rode in silence most the morn
ing, and as they approached the lowlands he could hear a battle taking place in the distance. He knew both Lord James, leader of the Dolmars and Lord Solomon, ruler of the lowlands. He truly hated to get in the middle, as he had no qualms with either of them.

But once again, he found himself following his surrogate father’s orders.
Duke the
Destroyer
was always ready for a fight, but lately, since he’d met Rae-Nyst, he’d started having doubts as to his actions. Especially when they were as unwarranted as this.

Rae had spoken of feeling the connection with all life. About feeling the vibrations running through the earth
, and nature as well. She cherished life, as had her own mother. But Wolfe had been raised to disregard life and cherish the victory that came from winning a war and causing deaths instead.

“We’re approaching the battle ground,” said Lord Clive, coming to his side. “I want you up front. Go in first with your men, and I
will follow with my soldiers.”

Normally, Wolf
e would have jumped at that opportunity. Of drawing first blood. But the battle was already in motion, and he could hear the swords clashing and the cries of men as they fell to their deaths. He’d returned so late to the castle this morning, that he wasn’t even properly dressed for battle. His squire had brought him his armor, but his uncle insisted they had no time to wait for him to don it. So, he’d grabbed a chain mail hauberk and pulled that over his head instead. Normally,
Duke the Destroyer
was reckless and bold. His reputation preceded him that he often went to battle unprotected and still returned alive.

But he’d started questioning his reckless ways, now that he’d met
Rae. Before he had no regard for life – not even his own. ’Twas a stupid thing to do, but he liked the excitement of not knowing his fate, and actually had a death wish before he’d met Rae. Ironic, that he’d just started to appreciate life, and now went to battle feeling insecure and unprotected, fearing death for the first time.

“Why is this battle in progress
at all?” he asked. “Was there some sort of dispute?”

“It d
oes not matter,” Clive growled. “Now just get in there and do as I say.”

“Of course, my lord,” he found him
self replying, feeling like someone else’s voice came from his lips instead. “Men, follow me!” he said, raising his sword like he’d done so many times before when his soldiers followed him into battle. But in the past, he’d felt excitement coursing through him at the thought of a fight. Now, he felt a knot in the pit of his stomach instead.