Page 49 of Nyall

Delight swelled in her again as she saw the tautness of his expression, and reached down to gently stroke her fingers over his balls. She clasped them as they tightened, her own climax overtaking her as he jerked out of her and stroked his cock, spilling his seed over her breasts and belly in long, thick streams. It was such a primitive thing to do, as if he wanted to mark her with his scent and fluids as she shook with the pleasure he’d given her.

He stretched out beside her, and rubbed his hand over her body while she came down and quieted. When she turned to him he gave her a whisper of a kiss and then smiled.

“How long have you wanted to do that to me?” Caroline murmured.

He brushed his thumb along her jaw line. “Since you kissed me the first time, you brazen wench. Again when you fell asleep in my arms, and every time since you’ve looked upon me.” He moved his hand to her breast, caressing the dark pink patches his mouth had left on it. “I’ve never wanted a woman as much.”

“I almost jumped you when I woke up in your bed, you know,” she told him as she cuddled closer. “It’s why I was so crabby that day. I had you right where I wanted you, but you handed me off to Valerie again.”

He grunted. “’Tisnae seemly, to fack only an hour after meeting.”

“Who cares? Wait, you’re not leaving,” she said as he climbed off her and got to his feet, and then saw who was standing a few feet away. “Hello there, Commander. Did you enjoy the show?”

“Aye.” Jamaran stood leaning against the door, watching her with an enigmatic expression. “Shall I remain, or leave you two alone together?”

“Don’t you dare go,” Caroline said, just as Nyall said, “Stay.”

The commander nodded, and went to add some wood to the fire before he came to the bed side and looked down at her. “Mayhap you should rest a bit.”

“Mayhap you should get naked.” She glanced over at Nyall, who had pulled on his trews but left them unlaced, and smiled. “I think someone wants you to return the favor.”

Chapter Fifteen

Days stretched out into weeks as Caroline made a home for herself in the islet cottage, working in the mornings to collect shellfish, which she now used as barter with both Brochan and some of the local villagers. The clan’s healer, Duncan, asked her to bring to him any unusual objects she found in the shallows or on shore, as long as she didn’t touch them with her bare hands. She learned that he collected debris that the island apparently attracted, which he claimed were Fae-enchanted. Since she still wore the time-traveling ring, which despite her best efforts would not come off her finger, she always handled them with gloves on.

“What do you do with this junk?” she asked him after delivering seven etched stones she’d found glowing in the dark in a tide pool.

“I guard them from falling into the hands of our vassals,” Duncan said as he opened a black cabinet, and put the stones in a carved wooden box that briefly lit up from inside. “As I warned you, some may endanger mortals.”

She watched him close and lock the cabinet. “If they’re all magic, don’t you think it’s a bad idea to keep them all together in one place? Couldn’t they trigger each other, or something like that?”

He shook his head. “The cabinet belonged to my sire. He enchanted it to contain and null anything bespelled when he discovered that Caladh attracts objects created by the Fae. We’ve no’ discussed payment for your work. What may I offer you?”

Caroline didn’t need anything healed, and she was already growing her own herbs in the cottage garden. “For now I could use some medical advice, and maybe your help, but only if it stays between us.”

“Aye, ’twill,” Duncan told her.

She went over and closed the door to the infirmary before she asked, “If a mortal woman has sex with an aquatic, can he get her pregnant?”

“Mortal females dinnae take Finfolk lovers.” He sat down on the stool by his work table. “Do you now?”

Caroline considered deflecting that, but if she wanted help she had to level with someone. She also had heard from both Lark and Brochan that all the clan’s vassals trusted Duncan completely.

“Yes, but we haven’t had traditional sex yet. The kind of sex that makes a girl pregnant,” she added to clarify.

Duncan thought for a moment. “’Tis never been such a pairing on Caladh, for the Finfolk ever transform mortal females before they mate with them. Even then, ’tis difficult for their males, siring more than one bairn. Yet since the males, they’re no’ changed by transformation, then aye, I should reckon ’tis likely.” He met her gaze. “Do you wish bear your lover’s bairn?”

“Absolutely not.” She grimaced. “Sorry. I like kids, as long as they belong to someone else. I never intended to be a mother, and besides, childbirth is a much bigger risk in this time. Do you have anything I could use to prevent a pregnancy?”

“I’ve some herbs that bring on a female’s moon time, and end any bairn she carries. Ever they’re dangerous for the woman.” He studied her face. “I cannae advise you wed your lover, for Merrick shall expect him transform you and you bear him a son. ’Tis best refrain then from such that should make you conceive, as you’ve done.”

“Okay. I appreciate the advice. Let’s call it payment for what I’ve brought you so far.” Caroline nodded toward the cabinet. “As for future deliveries, maybe you could teach me how to make some simple medicines for my own use? Remedies for headaches, cleaning cuts, that sort of thing? It’s not always convenient for me to come over to the castle to see you.”

“Of course. Please ken I shall aid you, whatever you wish do. None but you and I shall ken what we do or speak of here.” The healer offered her his hand. “You’ve my word.”

Caroline wished there had been more men like him in her time as she clasped his hand. “Thank you.”

Jamaran came in the afternoons to spend an hour with her in the water on the far side of the islet, where he showed her how to fight, Selseus-style. Although she suspected she’d never be able to swim as fast or as fluidly as the commander, she quickly learned how to disable one of the aquatics, and the three places on their bodies that would cause them to immediately bleed out and die. Because they weren’t human they had some odd vulnerabilities, and their major arteries were also located in different spots.