When the Heart Calls

Chapter Four

Mistletoe and Whiskey

Life moved quickly after the sickness rolled through Lallybroch, for some reason saving Fergus from certain death made our clandestine relationship palatable to Jamie and even Jenny to some extent. Christmas was fast approaching and after it would come Hogmanay only a week or so after. Time was moving far too quickly for my liking. Since the snow fall it'd been too cold to meet in the barn, so Fergus came to my room at night, and we sat on a blanket before the fire drinking our wine.

"I don't think I've been happier," I whispered as I laid with my head on Fergus's chest, listening to him breathe slowly as the fire crackled and he played in my hair. "I could lay here listening to you breathe until the end of time and want for nothing."

"Maybe Milord will let me go to France with you as a manservant," he offered trailing his thumb over my cheek.

"Could you watch me have another man's child?"

He smirked and it was purely infectious, "After the bedding who's to say you don't find your way into my bed?" Raising a dark brow he chuckled.

I giggled and wet my lips, "And that is why you can't come to France with me. You have a very pretty head; it would be a shame for you to lose it." I reached up and threaded my fingers back through his dark loose curls. He took a drink of wine and then took another mouthful but didn't swallow, instead he leaned down and kissed me, passing the wine into my mouth and lazily licking the stray drops from my lips when he broke the kiss.

"It would be a death for a good cause, no?"

Sitting up I tilted my head from side to side and reached up to grab the velvet pouch with the tarot cards in it from the foot of the bed.

"Let's see what the cards say?" I shuffled the deck and held them out, "Put your hand over it."

He nodded and placed his hand in mine and I covered his with the other.

"Every time I touch your hands their softness astounds me." He played his long fingers over my palm making me shiver.

"Shh, we need to focus on our energy."

"Of course, how do I do that?" He chuckled and I kissed him, biting his bottom lip. His tongue snaked out and licked where I'd bit him. "Ow, what a vicious little dame blanche you are. Do I not worship at the altar of your beauty sufficiently?"

"Shh, breathe with me. Don't think, just look into my eyes and breathe." As I stared into those drowning blue eyes and we breathed together I felt like I was drawing a part of him into me that I'd never lose. We were bound together, and no matter what happened I knew we'd never fully part. Though I'd leave I'd take that piece with me, and a piece of me would be left behind. "Now draw the first three cards." I took my hand off his, and he placed the three cards down. The Lovers, the Devil and the two of cups. I blushed and set my teeth into my bottom lip, "You're in love, Claudel. A deep, powerful unshakeable love, full of unbridled decadent passion."

"What a pity to waste your gifts, I don't need cards to tell me this," he kissed me again, his tongue slowly searching my mouth as he drew it out, leaving me flustered as we parted with things low in my body tensing as my cheeks burned.

I cleared my throat, "Now for your future." Keeping his eyes locked with mine he drew three more. The ace of cups, the hierophant and the ten of cups, all upright. "You'll find a new love, and get married. There will be an emotional connection between the two of you and you'll be happy." I swallowed and sighed. As I picked up the ace of cups, I heard Marsali whispered in my mind as clear as if Fergus whispered it. Sniffling I shuffled the deck again. I put down the cards for my present and had the same three as Fergus, and then I placed my future. The six of cups and...