Dragon Witch Series - Dragon Witch Part 37

FORTY.

Tempest did not want to open her eyes. If felt absolutely delicious lying on the sweet-smelling bed with Adrian's arms encircling her, her head pillowed comfortably on his chest.

She felt so safe, so loved, so...powerful?

Nay, not powerful exactly, but something was definitely different. Her body felt lighter, stronger. In fact, she felt downright exhilarated.

"I know you are awake, wife." Adrian's deep voice rumbled in her ear.

"Mmmm..." She did not want to talk; she just wanted to feel. Adrian's hand stroked her neck, her back, her bottom.

"Mmmm," she repeated, snuggling closer to his warm body.

She felt his breath fan her hair, and his hand found her breast.

"Mmmm," he agreed.

Her giggles quickly died as she looked up into his smoldering blue eyes. "Adrian..." She could say no more as his lips claimed hers in a long, sultry kiss. His hands branded her as they roamed, searching, learning every part of her, leaving trails of fire and ice in their wake.

"Tempest," He groaned as he rose above her. "G.o.ds, how I love you." He entered her gently, determined not to hurt her again as he moved slowly, rhythmically inside her, savoring her sweetness.

She met his every thrust, urging him with her body to move faster. "Adrian," she gasped, her eyes closed tightly. "Please..."

"Nay, my love. There is time." The first time he had forgotten what Damien had told him. He would not forget again.

So many things to learn, so many things, he could not remember them all. "Count," Damien had said. Count? Count what?

Her tight, hot body was driving him to the brink of madness!

Count.

One. So sweet, so good...

Two. He could hardly breathe. His heart was pounding so much it hurt...

Three. He was on fire! His body felt as if he would burst into flames and burn to ashes...

Four.

"Tempest!"

"Adrian!"

Her soft wail of ecstasy sent him plummeting over the edge.

So much for counting, he thought, as his body joined hers in fulfillment. So much for counting...

"Hungry." Adrian exclaimed as he reached for the basket.

"Marriage makes me hungry!"

"Nay." Tempest was quick as she laid her hand on his.

"We cannot eat until we bathe."

"Bathe? You sound just like my mother. Is that all women ever think about?"

"Not all." She giggled as she patted his bare behind with her other hand.

"Mmmm." He released the basket, put his hands around her waist and lifted her onto his lap. "Food can wait." He was, indeed, ready for her.

"Ugh!"

"Ugh? Did you say 'ugh'?"

"Aye."

Adrian's lower lip quivered as he looked at her in shock.

"Was I that bad?"

"You were wonderful, my sweet, golden dragon; but you stink."

"Nay." He lifted his arm and sniffed under it. "'Tis but a little sweat."

"I do not sup with sweaty, smelly men-especially if they are my husbands."

"Husbands? You have not had more than one husband."

"Adrian." There was a warning in her tone. "You know

what I mean. We need to bathe."

"I love you, Tempest, and if you want to bathe," he stood with her cradled in his arms, "then bathe we shall."

Tempest enjoyed being carried in his strong arms and she snuggled her head in the hollow of his neck contentedly.

"My husband," she murmured, enjoying the sound and feel of the words. "My love."

"Adrian?"

"Aye?"

"Are you full yet?"

"I am full of food, aye." He looked appreciatively at her lush, naked body. He was glad they had decided not to don clothing while they were in their love nest. He did not think he would ever get his fill of gazing at her lovely curves. He reached out and stroked her thigh. It felt so soft and smooth, like silken velvet. His body responded instantly, and he grinned as his hand traveled slowly up her leg touching her love curls.

"Tempest?"

"Again?"

"Aye."

"But...You have eaten all our food. We must replenish our supplies."

"Food can wait...."

Damien was chopping wood and Lysira was was.h.i.+ng clothes when Tempest and Adrian rode into the clearing. Tristan and Marisa were nowhere in sight.

"Mother," called Adrian. "We ran out of food."

"I sent enough to last you for at least seven days." Lysira wiped her hands on her ap.r.o.n and rubbed her lower back as she stretched. "It has been only four. What did you do with all that food?"

Tempest slid from the horse and ran to give Lysira a hug.

"Your son ate most of it by the second day," she explained with a giggle. "He eats like a starving dragon. I had to gather berries and nuts and anything else I could find just to feed him.

He complained that I was spending too much time foraging, so

we came here. Besides, we missed you."

"I thought you would be too busy to miss us," Damien said with a smile as he walked toward them.

Tempest blushed and Adrian grinned, but they were spared any further comments as Tristan and Marisa came around the corner of the cottage.

"We ran out of food," announced Tristan.

"Good grief," Lysira exclaimed. "Have you children done nothing but eat for the past four days?"

Marisa hid her blus.h.i.+ng face in Tristan's shoulder, and Tempest giggled. "We bathed in the hot springs," she answered.

Damien roared with laughter. Wiping his eyes, he bade Tristan and Adrian follow him into the storage room to get meats for the next few days and Lysira led the blus.h.i.+ng brides into the cottage.

After they had packed the baskets, the women sat at the long trestle table to wait for their men.

"How do you feel, Tempest?" she asked, looking deep into the young woman's eyes.

"I feel wonderful. Why do you ask?"

"Have you tried your new powers yet?"

"New powers?"

"Your witch's powers, child." Lysira took Tempest's hand in hers, turned it over and traced the lifeline. "'Tis a full circle now."

Tempest looked fearfully at her hand. "Nay," she whispered, pulling away. "I cannot have powers. I promised my father."

"It does not matter what you promised, Tempest. You are a true witch now. There is nothing you can do to change that.

You knew before you mated with Adrian what would happen."

"Nay, I did not."

"I told you, right here at this table, what would happen.

Remember?"

Tempest hesitated, trying to recall that day. She remembered, remembered every detail of what Lysira had said.

"But I do not feel any different. How...What will my father say? Will he turn from me because I am now truly a witch?"

"Nay." Marisa reached for Tempest's hand. "He loves you.

It will not matter if you are different now. He will never turn from you." She took Tempest's hand in both of her hands and looked lovingly into her eyes.

Tempest felt the love radiating from her friend, and something else-something new, created with love and gentleness.

"Marisa?" Her power reached out, reached deep into Marisa's soul, and she knew the truth. "You are with child!"

Marisa turned pale. "But it has been only four days. How can you know?"

"The power," answered Lysira. "She knows it because of her power."

"Aye," Tempest agreed. "'Tis true."

"I must tell Tristan!" Marisa's face glowed and her eyes sparkled as she went to find her husband.

"Lysira?" Tempest watched the happy Marisa skip from the cottage. "'Tis not a bad thing being a witch if I can give such happiness. Mayhap my father was wrong. I cannot, no, will not, deny this wonderful thing any longer."

They watched Adrian and Tempest make their way slowly back to their love nest.