Through the Fairy Ring

Chapter Twenty-Three

"No." Misery dampened Arden's eyes to a dreary brown. He slid one hand into the hair on the back of my head and wrapped the other around my waist. "I can't let you go."

He caressed my cheek with his thumb, smoothing a trail of electricity across my cheekbone, and touched his lips to mine. A delicious tingle crept along my lips and ignited the spark of desire that I had fought against for so long. I entwined my arms around his neck.

"Do that again." I lifted my face to him. Since we'd parted ways so many months ago, I'd tried to ignore my feelings for Arden, hoping they'd go away, but as we spent more time together they only grew stronger. When the sun came up, I was leaving to enter a profane relationship with Edlark. Quite frankly, I didn't care if kissing Arden was appropriate or not. I only wanted to experience the intimacy I'd been denied so that when I could no longer see Arden, I would have the memory of right now to hold on to.

Arden pressed his lips against mine in a demanding kiss that took my breath away. Each kiss deepened the electric buzz between us, growing into an audible wave of energy, similar to the thrumming of a Tibetan singing bowl. I pulled him tighter, attacking him with my lips. Provoked by the desire for more, I slipped my hands beneath his tunic, running them over the rippling muscles of his back. The sound swelled around us, not just growing louder, but enriched in tone.

Arden moved his attention to my jawline, leaving a hot trail along my skin as he worked his way down my neck.

"We have to..." A wave of desire rushed over me as he pulled the collar of my shirt away to kiss the skin below. I shook my head to clear it of the fuzzy warmth. "We have to go out. The kids..."

He paused a millisecond, his breath warm on my chest. "I know where."

Taking me by the hand, he pulled me through the connecting door, past the tub and into the other bedroom. He shut the door quietly, but then grabbed me up so I stood on my tip-toes,kissing me hard. I stumbled backward and fell back onto the bed with a happy squeak, pulling him over on top of me. His weight pressed on me in all the right places. I caressed down the side of his face and ran my fingertips along the soft skin of his lips.

He caught my hand and kissed the palm before bringing both of my arms over my head. He stared into my eyes. The gold flecks in his iris's burned a bright, animalistic flame. He kept my arms controlled by one hand and slid the other down my side, allowing his thumb to caress my breast. I gasped at the tingle, enhanced by the fact I couldn't move my arms.

Arden chuckled and shifted his weight so he could bring his hand under my skirt, caressing the inside of my thigh.

"God, Arden." I closed my eyes to enjoy the sensation of warmth of his hands on my skin spreading to other more intimate areas. His lips stroked mine in feathery kisses. I leaned up as far as I could, but he pulled back, just out of my reach, and grinned a roguish smile.

The sound of the singing bowl developed a pulsing drumbeat, and my chest rose and fell in time to it. I yanked my hands free and rolled Arden onto to his back. Straddling his hips, I crushed my lips against his. His hands cupped the back of my thighs, his fingers hot on my skin. He opened his mouth wider to receive my tongue. We shared a deep, probing kiss, and suddenly my awareness shifted like it had that night we danced at Odus's house. The love of the forest wrapped like a soft blanket around me, and the pain of my leaving him stabbed into my heart, tearing me out the experience.

I blinked and realized my tears were falling onto Arden's face.

"I'm... I'm so sorry." I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my head in his shoulder. "I don't know what else to do."

"Shhh. I know." He stroked the back of my head and rolled onto his side, taking me with him. He covered us with a blanket and cuddled me to him. "I'll be all right."

I knew he was lying, and I knew I wasn't going to be all right, either. But the kids would be. And that was most important. I snuggled closer to Arden so most of my body touched his, and let the tears run. Every once in a while I'd sniffle, and Arden would hold me tighter. Eventually the crying stopped, and worn out, I fell asleep.

A knock at the door, followed by Jax's hushed yet urgent voice, woke me.

"Sir. The Lady Breeju is downstairs and is threatening to come up if you are not available soon."

"I changed my mind." Breeju's voice joined Jax's on the other side of the door.

I bolted upright, my eyes wide at the thought of how very bad things looked right now.

Arden covered his face with his hand. "The gods be damned I ever laid eyes on that woman."

He pushed off the bed and motioned for me to pass through the connecting bathroom, back to the room that held Meara and Garron. The moment I shut the door between us, I heard him open the other.

"Can't I sleep without fear of you walking in on me?" he said.

"Sleeping? Why aren't you in your room, then? Why are you sleeping here?" Breeju asked, her words tinged with suspicion.

"Why do you question me?" Arden's voice was hard.

"Why haven't you been honest with me?"

Arden let out a gritty laugh. "You accuse me of not being honest? When have you been honest?"

"I have never lied to you." Her voice rose an octave.

"Never? I highly doubt that."

"What are you trying to say?"

The silence was so heavy, it seemed to push against the door. I held my breath, waiting for the answer. Poor Jax. He was right in the middle of the fight. Unless he discreetly left, which I probably should do, but I needed to know.

"I find it odd that you show up on the day that Hazel's children are attacked by Fairies."

"I had nothing to do with that. I even helped her. I helped your mistress."

My eyes narrowed. How dare she accuse him of cheating?

"Hazel has never done anything improper, no matter what you or your brother think. And neither have I, even though I wanted to."

Holy cow, Arden.

"So this is what our marriage has come to?"

"We've never had a marriage. We had a ceremony."

A long silence made me hold my breath.

I heard the rustle of clothing, and then Breeju spoke. Her voice was soft and cajoling and very near the door. Near Arden.

"I've told you. I want to be your wife - not just in name, but in relationship. I have always loved you, and I want for us to work this difficulty out."

A tiny pause, and then the smack of an ended kiss. My blood pressure skyrocketed, and I barely kept myself from throwing the door open and telling the Fairy-fatale to keep her pouty lips off Arden.

What if he liked it? Not being able to see his reaction, and him not responding, drove an icicle of fear through my heart. I might not be able to have him, but I didn't want her to, either.

"I would be a fool to believe you. You need to go, and I don't want you in this house again. What I do believe is that you're involved in this...plot...surrounding the children's illness. When I have proof, you will be banished from Darag-Leigh. And our marriage will be over."

I didn't hear anymore, because I slipped into the children's room, elated and horrified. Elated because I knew that Breeju had no place in Arden's heart, and horrified because I had to leave Arden just when it seemed there was a chance we could be together.

Life was so unfair.