Dark Alpha's Caress Page 11

  Her stomach trembled with excitement as heat smoldered in his gaze. He placed a quick kiss on her lips before he straightened and stared down at her.

  Nothing could ever compare to the sight of Sorcha naked. Cathal accepted this fact easily. He gazed down at the Halfling lying seductively on the bed and was awed, utterly overcome with emotion. Her pale skin shone blue in the moonlight coming through the slit in the curtains. Her breasts were large enough to fill his palms. Her pink-tipped nipples were hard, waiting for his touch.

  His gaze traveled down the indent of her waist to the flare of her hips. Then he paused to admire the junction of her thighs. The auburn curls there were neatly trimmed and glistening with her arousal. Her long legs brushed against each other before she opened for him. The sight of her sex made his cock jump, eager to be surrounded by her wet heat.

  Now that he had seen her, it was his time to touch her. Cathal stretched out beside her. With his free hand, he traced a line from her rapidly beating pulse down between her breasts before circling back to make a circuit around each delicate mound. Only then did he lean over and wrap his mouth around a turgid nipple.

  Her back arched as she sucked in a breath. Cathal smiled inwardly because he was just getting started.

  There was no way she’d last much longer. Sorcha was already teetering on the brink of an orgasm, and all Cathal had done was suckle her nipple.

  All thought ceased when his hand found her neglected peak and began to tease it. That, along with the pull from his mouth on her other breast, had her gripping the comforter as the pleasure poured mercilessly through her.

  As suddenly as it began, it ended. Sorcha took a moment and tried to catch her breath. As soon as she relaxed, he moved and settled himself between her legs. She barely had time to register that before his mouth was on her sex. His tongue was soft as it licked her then began to swirl around her clit.

  That’s all it took for the climax to claim her. She jerked from the force of it, a scream locked in her throat. Cathal never stopped licking her. The faster his tongue laved, the more intense the orgasm became. It seemed to go on forever, wringing her of everything.

  When she was finally able to open her eyes again, she realized that he had traded his hand for his mouth. In and out, his finger plunged, stroking her slowly, setting up a rhythm that she found herself rocking her hips in tempo with. To her shock, it didn’t take long for her body to begin building toward another climax.

  But she wanted him inside her. She wanted to feel his length, to have him stretch her. To experience his weight atop her.

  “I need you,” she told him.

  He looked into her eyes and gave a nod. As he shifted over her, Sorcha reached for his cock and stroked his hard length several times before guiding it into her body. The feel of the blunt head of his arousal made her hold her breath in anticipation. And with one thrust, he was seated inside her.

  She clutched him, her body sighing with contentment. When he began to move, she closed her eyes and gave herself to the pleasure.

  He was ruined for anyone else. Cathal knew and accepted the fact easily. Sorcha fit him to perfection. She was a sight to behold as she climaxed. The ecstasy on her face had humbled him and made him want to pleasure her again and again and again.

  Now that he was inside her, he knew true contentment. Her wet heat wrapped around him tightly. He began to move gradually, not wanting to hurt her. Then she locked her ankles around his waist. It was all he needed to begin rocking his hips. He thrust hard and deep, tumbling himself headlong into the type of pleasure that changed a man completely.

  He ground his teeth together, wanting to give her another orgasm before he gave in to his own. The moment he felt her body tense, he knew it was too late for him. The climax was swift, engulfing him in decadence that promised more delight than he had any right to.

  When he finally came back to himself once more, he felt Sorcha lightly running her hands up and down his back. He rose up and looked at her. She smiled at him and smoothed his hair away from his face. Once more, he wanted to share his feelings with her, but he didn’t even try to find the words.

  Instead, he pulled out of her and rolled onto his back, taking her with him. Her smile was still in place as she rested her cheek against his pec. He stared at the ceiling, still marveling at the bliss he’d just experienced. He hadn’t known anything like that existed. If he had, he’d have been searching for it all this time.

  But now that he’d found it? Cathal wasn’t sure… Sorcha was a Halfling, and he was a Reaper. If she wouldn’t do magic to save herself, he couldn’t imagine that she would ever leave her home to be with him.

  He let the moment pass without sharing his feelings, and knew that was probably for the best. They’d shared their bodies, and while the sex had been amazing, he didn’t want to ruin it by telling Sorcha that he was falling hard for her.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Without a doubt, she was falling for Cathal. Sorcha had known in the back of her mind that giving in to the desire would put her on such a path. But she hadn’t been able to say no. And she was glad she hadn’t. Even now, her body hummed with relaxation and satisfaction like never before.

  It felt nice to be held against him. In fact, it felt as close to perfection as anything she had imagined. And she had fantasized about quite a lot of things over the past decade. What it would be like to fall in love, to get married, to have children, to grow old with someone. She’d also thought about divorce, never finding anyone, and living alone.

  In all her imaginings, meeting a man like Cathal had never popped into her mind. Mainly because she’d never factored the Fae into anything. It was still difficult for her to accept that she was part Fae. She couldn’t understand why her mother hadn’t told her. Why was it such a secret?

  Cathal’s slowly wound one of her curls around his finger. She smiled because no one had ever played with her hair. And it felt so good.

  “You can do that forever,” she told him.

  He chuckled. “I gather you like it.”

  “I can’t begin to tell you how wonderful it feels.”

  “Better than sex?”

  She thought about that a moment. “Not better, different.”

  “I was beginning to wonder if you’d answer.”

  They shared a laugh. Then, she shifted her head to look at him. “The sex was incredible.”

  “Yes, it was,” he said as his red eyes met hers.

  She bit her lip. “Although, it’s probably because I’ve not had sex with anyone for ten years.” Sorcha cut her eyes to him, barely able to hold back her smile.

  Cathal flipped her onto her back and held himself over her with his arms all the while smiling. “Tease.”

  “Sorry. I couldn’t help it.” She wiped the smile away and touched his face reverently. “I wasn’t lying. What you did to me was marvelous, wonderful, astounding—”

  “Thank you,” he said, cutting her off. He lowered his head to place a soft kiss to her lips. “I can honestly say that I’ve never felt anything like what we shared tonight.”

  Before she could think of something to say, he returned to lying on his back. She rolled with him, resuming her spot. “Are you all right? You don’t regret it, do you?”

  “No,” he answered quickly. His arms came around her, holding her tightly. “Never.”

  “What happens now?”

  “I have no idea. You?”

  She shook her head. “Not a clue. I guess we’ll play it by ear.”

  “Sure.”

  But that didn’t sound like something he wanted to do. The problem was that she didn’t know what to do. She hadn’t dated in ages, and she wasn’t even sure if what they were doing was dating or just having sex. The adult thing to do would be to discuss it. That was if he wanted to have that conversation. For all she knew, this was his way of stopping any kind of talk before it got started.

  The heady feeling from before began to fade. Sorcha tried to hold onto i
t. This had the best thing to happen to her in years. A wee bit of guilt tried to worm its way in, but she stopped it before it could. She didn’t think about why she did it either.

  “This may not be the proper time to talk, but if you want to find out why the Fae are suddenly here for you, then we’ll come up with a plan.”

  She was so shocked by his words that, for a moment, she didn’t move. “I would like that. I’m not sure how to do it, or even if it would work, but it’s just all so strange.”

  “The more I think about it, the more I agree with you. Why now? And you’re sure you’ve never seen any Fae before near your property?”

  “Never. I do walk outside and tend to the gardens. I interact with the horses from the neighbor to my right and sometimes feed the baby cows. I leave the house. I just don’t normally leave the property,” she explained.

  He drew in a breath. “What about at night?”

  “I often sit outside by the firepit and look at the stars. Trust me, I would’ve noticed if someone was watching me.”

  “That’s what I thought.” Cathal rubbed his hand up and down her back. “What you want to do will be dangerous.”

  She lifted her head and rose up on her elbow to look at him. “I’m prepared for that. I did scale the side of a cliff in a storm not too long ago.”

  His red eyes held hers. “This will be different. The Fae will say and do anything to get you to go with them. You won’t be able to believe anything they say. I don’t care what coloring they show you. You can’t trust any of it or them.”

  “I trust you.”

  “You’ve no idea how much that means to me.” He reached up and touched her face before tucking her hair behind her ear.

  Sorcha licked her lips and studied Cathal. “You mentioned that you were once Dark, as if you aren’t now. Both you and Aisling kept saying the ward on my property would keep Fae out, but it didn’t stop either of you. Even if I ask, you won’t tell me what you are, will you?”

  He slowly shook his head, regret filling his face.

  “It’s all right,” she told him and kissed him. Then she lay back on his chest. “You once told me that everyone has secrets. You’re right. Everyone does. And no one has a right to ask what they are.”

  “But you told me yours.”

  She released a breath. “That was my decision. I won’t be angry at you if you never tell me yours. Sometimes, it’s better if secrets are never shared. There is a reason they’re called secrets.” Then, before he could reply, she said, “If we confront any of the Fae to find out what they really want, is there any way you can hide nearby?”

  “Of course.”

  She lay back on his chest. “That makes me feel better. I don’t want to put you and Aisling in any kind of danger.”

  “You don’t need to worry about us. Ever. We’ll be fine.”

  “I saw the two of you earlier after your fights with the Fae outside.”

  He made a sound in the back of his throat. “That was nothing.”

  The more he talked, the more she began to realize there was a lot about Cathal she didn’t know. And maybe it was better that way. When everything was said and done, he’d be gone and out of her life. Just thinking about everything that had to line up for them to meet boggled her mind. Then there was the fact that she didn’t deserve to find any kind of happiness.

  She had accepted her life and her Fate long ago. Just because Cathal was here now, and she was enjoying herself, didn’t mean that it was forever. That thought sobered her, wiping away any vestiges of bliss that still lingered. This time when she looked to the future, it was bleak and miserable. There was no way she could get through the days as she had been for the last decade. Not when everywhere she looked, she saw Cathal.

  Was that what had happened to her mum? Had she seen her husband everywhere after he died? And what of her Fae lover? If her mother had suffered, she’d never let it show. Not once. Even when Sorcha and Molly prodded her to date. Her mum continued saying that she didn’t need anyone in her life.

  Sorcha had believed it was because there was no one out there who matched her mother. After all, it had been years and years since her husband had died. Surely, her mum would’ve gotten over him by then. Now, Sorcha had begun to think it was because her mother’s heart had been taken. She had fallen in love, the kind that lasts lifetimes. When her mother couldn’t have her lover, she had given up any thoughts and hopes of finding happiness with someone else. She’d been content to spend her days with her daughters.

  The awareness of that hit Sorcha like a freight train. She struggled for breath, trying to get enough oxygen into her lungs, even as her mind bellowed at the truth. She closed her eyes, refusing to cry any more tears.

  Cathal’s arms tightened around her. He didn’t ask what was wrong, didn’t prod into her thoughts. He simply held her, which was precisely what she needed. Sorcha didn’t know how many minutes passed before she could breathe normally again. All she knew was that if she hadn’t met Cathal, if she hadn’t shared her body with him, she wouldn’t have any idea what her mum had gone through. She wouldn’t have any inkling about the silent pain her mother had hidden from everyone.

  All these years after her mother’s and sister’s deaths, Sorcha still carried her grief around for everyone to see. Her mother had been the strong one. It took courage and resilience and determination to know that the man she’d given her heart to would never return. And that their love would have to remain a secret.

  Cathal’s hand smoothed her hair back from her face as he kissed her brow. She sniffed, overcome with emotions. The day had been draining. First, she had gone to the cove, then the Fairy Pools. She’d discovered that she was a Halfling, read her mother’s journals, and uncovered many secrets. She’d learned that the Fae were after her to plant their seed within her, and then she had slept with Cathal.

  “Have you ever looked back at the past and realized that you were wrong—about so very much?” she asked him.

  He released a breath. “I have. It’s not an easy thing to accept.”

  “I wouldn’t have been able to do it without you.”

  He stilled for an instant. “I don’t understand.”

  “I thought my mum wanted to be on her own without a man. I thought she had gotten over the death of her husband and just couldn’t find a man who could match her.” Sorcha looked at Cathal. “All those years, she hid her grief, despair, and loneliness. I never had any sort of hint to any of it. She did it for me and for Molly.”

  “Because she loved you both.”

  Sorcha glanced away. “I’ve let everyone know I’m suffering for what happened. Mum didn’t. She put a smile on her face and waited until she was alone before she let her true emotions show. She was so strong.”

  Cathal turned onto his side to face her. “So are you.”

  “Thank you for saying that, but I’m not even close.”

  “You climbed a cliff face in a storm to spy on Druids. You want to face the Fae after you. You’re no slouch in the courage department.”

  His words made her smile. “I’m glad you found me. I’m glad you told me about my heritage. It’s opened my eyes to so many things. Thank you.”

  “I should be the one thanking you. No one has put their lives in my hands before.”

  “I find that hard to believe. Look at everything you’ve done for me.”

  He lifted one shoulder as his gaze darted away briefly. “My interactions aren’t usually with Halflings or mortals. Only Fae.”

  “And yet, you spoke with me.”

  “I couldn’t help myself.”

  Her grin widened. “You’ve changed my life.”

  “You’ve changed mine, as well.”

  “You’re a Fae. How in the world could I do that? I’m only a Halfling, who didn’t even realize that until today.”

  His gaze was intense, solemn. “You discount yourself. I’ve come across a great many people in my life, and you surpass all of them. You have no id
ea how special you are.”

  His words touched her. If only she could tell him that she wanted to be special to him. But she couldn’t get the sentiment past her lips. It was partly because she still believed she should be punished for the deaths of her mother and sister, but another part knew that she didn’t belong in Cathal’s world.

  And he didn’t belong in hers.

  Why then did she wish so much that they could be together?

  She reached for his hand, and their fingers twined together. They said nothing, just stared into each other’s eyes, both lost in thought. She didn’t think of the past or the future. Instead, she put every second they had together to memory so she could look back on it later, all the while, opening herself to him completely.

  Then, Cathal swallowed and wound one of her curls around his finger again. “I didn’t lie to you before. I was Dark, but my family raised me as a Light.”

  Now that surprised her. “How did they take you becoming Dark?”

  “My mother died when I was very young. For a while, it was just my dad and me. Then he met someone and remarried. She had a daughter from a previous marriage, and then they had two children together. Two more girls.”

  Sorcha watched him carefully. She didn’t know why he was telling her this, but she was glad that he was. “Sounds like a houseful.”

  “It was all right for a little while. My stepmother liked the fact my father had some pull in our community. She thought he could achieve more, though, so she pushed him to go after things he wouldn’t have before. Soon, he was spending a lot of time at the Light Castle and interacting with a ton of influential people. My stepmother saw that as a way to get her daughters married to some rich Fae. And it worked.”

  While the story sounded fine, Sorcha had a feeling it would not end well. She didn’t say anything, simply laid her hand against his chest, and waited for him to continue.