AN ETERNAL LOVE

CHAPTER: 38

Damien kissed Adira as she had never been kissed by another. He kissed her as she had been kissed

only once by him, aboard 'The Golden Witch,' when both the fever and ale had mingled in his blood.

She had thought, in secret, that he would not have touched her had he been sober and well.

But he was sober now. And healthy. And strong. He swept her away there on the cliffs. His hands in her

hair, touching it in wonder as if he had never felt anything so strong. His lips brushing her neck and

caressing her ear as he whispered sweet words of love in his soft, Scottish lilt.

Adira had told him she desired him. She dared not feel anything more. And yet she was not certain she

could resist. He was like the sea, hurling its waves against the rocky shore below them, steadily

eroding the solid rock away. Bit by bit. He wooed her gently and softly as water. And her heart that she

thought was of stone began softening beneath his touch.

"I have dreamed of this," Adira whispered. "Of you."

"And I too, dear, night after endless night," he whispered.

His hands deftly untied her cloak, and it fell to the ground. Then his hands touched the robe she wore,

trembling as if he knew there was nothing underneath. And perhaps he did know, for she had sensed

him watching at the window, glimpsed movement there as she bathed. One moment certain he had

come to her, the next convinced she was only imagining what her mind told her.

Slowly, hesitantly, Damien parted her robe, pushing it wide so it flew behind her like a cape. His gaze

burned on her body, sliding up and down her as if he was glimpsing Divinity itself.

"You are almost too beautiful to touch, Adira," he whispered. Then he met her eyes. "And far too

beautiful not to."

His hands, tender and careful, came to her. Slid slowly down the column of her neck, and to the front.

She held her breath. At last, he touched her breasts, his palms brushing over them, pausing there as

he closed his eyes.

"It is heaven I touch," he murmured.

"No, Damien, it's the earth itself." She pressed herself closer. "And I will not break at your caresses."

And then he pulled her to him for kisses, and his hands slipped around to the small of her back, and

then much lower, stroking her naked butts, and her thighs. She shoved her hands between their bodies

to tug at the laces of his shirt and breeches. He had come to her tonight without the protection of his

Priestly robes. He had come to her as a man.

And she knew it even more so when she had undressed him fully and looked upon him. His chest

seemed to have broadened, and his shoulders seemed capable of bearing any weight. His abdomen

was tight and hard, hips lean. He was aroused. Fully so, and the sight of him made her heart tremble.

She touched him. Closed her hand around him, and understood, she thought, the incredible magical

power of the mating of man and woman. She had heard of it. But never had it made sense to her. She

saw it now, though. How he would fill her, complete her. She then lay down on her cloak and opened

herself to him. "Come, Damien. I can wait no longer."

For an endless moment, he stared at her lying there wantonly. The sea wind blowing harsher.

Adira then lifted one hand to him, and he knelt. "I have never..." he began.

"Nor I," she whispered.

"We have been waiting for each other, I think." He looked into her eyes, expecting her agreement, but

she said nothing. "Don't tell me you do not believe it, Adira, for I know you do. I know you as I know

myself... somehow. We were meant to be, you and I."

"Perhaps," she whispered, but she could tell him no more. To let herself believe in his romantic

sentiments would only lead to heartbreak.

He kissed her again, so slowly, so deeply. "I will never harm you for the world, Adira."

"I know. You won't," she replied.

He nodded, bent to nibble her ear, taste her neck. "My best friend says, it is easier if the woman...

made ready."

She smiled, eager only to be on with it. She wanted him so much she could barely lie still. "How will

you make me ready, Damien?"

And then he kissed her, and touched her, exploring her, giving her immense pleasure. Slowly he

rubbed, exploring, watching her face so intently she thought he was trying to read her thoughts. When

he pressed inside her, she cried out in delight and arched her hips off the ground. Oh! how she wanted

him. Tears filled her eyes at the intensity of what he did to her, and she moved against him, pressing

closer, losing herself to utter physical sensation as he probed and licked and tasted every part of her.

Her hands clenched in his hair as the tension in her tightened unbearably. Finally, he moved up,

suckling at her breast. And then he settled atop her. She then felt him pressing inside her, it was as if

lightning struck. She arched against him, and then there was a brief stab of pain, but she was so

enraptured in pleasure that it felt good to her. And then they both took care of each other's needs. He

drove her nearer and nearer to something she had never known. And finally, the stars seemed to

explode around her and she screamed his name, even as he pushed deeper than before.

He then held her, slowly relaxing in her arms, kissing her hair, her face, and asked her if she were all

right, and whether he had hurt her.

"I am more than all right," she said running her hands over the wonderful expanse of his back, his

shoulders. "I never knew, Damien. I never understood..."

"Understand this, dear Adira." Framing her face with his hands, staring down at her he whispered, "I

love you. I love you from the very depths of my soul. I would die for you, Adira Thompson, and never

regret it for a moment."

A/N: To be continued...