The weather was cold and gray outside, but it mattered not to Sarina—she was bursting with sunshine. She felt radiant and wonderfully warm. She had quietly slipped out of Dagon’s bed early this morning, leaving him to sleep soundly.
She on the other hand was much too excited and feeling much too grand to spend another moment in bed. She had hurried to her room and taken a hasty shower, dressing in her usual uniform of black skirt and white blouse, and planned to join Margaret in the kitchen for early tea.
She chose to ignore the tenderness that had remained and continued to cause her some discomfort. It was a small price to pay for a loving evening and would heal with time and care. She had applied an herbal cream that helped ease the soreness and refused to allow the minor discomfort to spoil her day.
She entered the kitchen with a huge smile and a warm greeting. “A wonderful morning to you, Margaret.”
Sarina’s happy smile was contagious, and Margaret’s face broke out in a large grin. “And a good morning to you, Sarina.”
“It’s a wonderful morning, Margaret,” she said, eagerly hugging the woman before proceeding to the stove to pour a cup of tea from the hot kettle. “Simply wonderful.”
Margaret had to ask. “A good night?”
Sarina giggled like a young girl revealing secrets. “A great night.”
“I am pleased for you.”
Sarina disregarded the tea and rushed over to Margaret, who welcomed her with open arms. They hugged and shared tears until Sarina finally returned to the kettle.
“I have no regrets. I am happy in my decision.”
“Then it was a good decision,” Margaret said with a nod.
“The best one I’ve made in a long, long time.”
“What is?”
Both women looked up to see Ali standing in the kitchen doorway dressed in white knit pants and a white soft cable knit sweater that fell past her hips. Her long blond hair was pinned up in a messy mass that as usual looked stunning on her. She yawned, her hand going to her mouth as she entered the kitchen.
“I barely got any sleep, though I did enjoy the night,” she said with a smile. “And of course my husband sleeps while I ache for a cup of hot tea.” She pointed to the kettle as she headed to the table. “Now tell me, what is this best one you made in a long, long time?”
Sarina laughed; she simply adored Ali. The woman was positively outrageous and unpredictable. She filled a teapot with hot water and added Earl Grey teabags and then took three mugs from the hanging rack and carried them to where Margaret sliced warm apple spiced bread at the table.
Sarina spoke while pouring the tea. “I made a good decision last night.”
Ali squealed with delight, jumped up from her seat, and rushed around the table to hug Sarina. “I’m so happy and pleased for you. It is what you and Dagon needed.”
“I couldn’t agree with you more,” Sydney said from the doorway. She looked elegant as usual dressed in a soft gray knit dress, her slim waist accented with a silver belt and her long hair twisted artfully and pinned to the top of her head.
Sarina collected another mug, and Margaret cut extra slices of bread.
Sydney gave Sarina a gentle yet loving hug before sitting at the head of the table. “Tell us everything.” She quickly amended her remark to “Almost everything.”
The women laughed and incessant chatter soon filled the air.
“Love makes intimacy all the more natural and so perfectly right,” Sarina said. “It was as if we were meant to be.”
Ali shared her feelings. “I know what you mean. I never once doubted that I wanted to be intimate with Sebastian.”
“You were downright eager, dear,” Sydney teased.
Ali agreed wholeheartedly. “Eager and impatient. I thought the man would never get around to surrendering himself to me.”
“Bernard was putty in my hands,” Margaret said with a satisfied grin.
Sarina looked surprised.
“He’s not as staunch and stubborn as he seems, my dear,” Margaret said and laughed. “He’s actually quite romantic. Often after a busy day I’ll return to our quarters to find he’s run a steaming bath for me filled with glorious bubbles, and the bathroom itself is glowing with numerous scented candles. He’ll massage my back and... well, the rest I’ll leave to your imaginations.”
“Sebastian is romantic,” Ali said, reaching for another slice of apple spice bread. “He prepares candlelight dinners for me and takes me to small, quiet restaurants.”
“That’s because he wants to keep you out of the kitchen, dear,” Sydney said.
Ali sighed. “It’s so wonderful not being able to cook.”
The women laughed.
“The important point,” Sydney said, “is that all three of you love your mates and would do for them as they would do for you. You share love, not demand it or expect it, but share it and that is important to remember.”
Doubt nudged at Sarina, but she chose not to acknowledge it. She promised herself that the choice was hers and she would accept the consequences of her actions no matter the outcome. And while she felt Dagon’s love as strongly as her love for him, he had yet to admit his feelings. That choice was his.
Margaret looked to Sarina. “Did Dagon say you were to continue your duties?”
Sarina shrugged. “We never discussed my duties. I merely assumed I would continue working here.”
Sydney shook her head. “I don’t think he will allow you to continue on in your current position.”
Sarina grew worried. “But it’s my job and he has made no mention of other arrangements, nor do I know if I’ll agree to them.”
Ali clapped her hands. “Oh, this is simply wonderful. Dagon has finally met his match.”
“His powers far surpass mine,” Sarina reminded.
Ali laughed slowly. “No, no, dear, you have more power than you think. You just must use it wisely.”
Sydney patted Ali’s hand. “I don’t think you should give Sarina advice on using powers wisely.”
“I’m not talking about magical powers; I’m talking about womanly powers.”
Sydney nodded. “Then by all means, dear, give her advice, and, Sarina, by all means, listen to Ali. She’s exceptionally talented at using her womanly wiles to her advantage.”
Ali smiled, pleased by the compliment.
Sarina caught the time on the cow clock and hurried out of her seat, the quick movement causing her to wince.
“Are you all right?” all three women asked with concern.
“I’m fine,” she said, embarrassed to admit anything more. “I promised Janey I would tend to her duties in the small receiving parlor today so that she could meet with the young man she has been seeing.”
“Dagon doesn’t know you’re gone from his bed, does he?” Ali asked.
Sarina shook her head. “No, he doesn’t.”
“Let me help you,” Ali said to Sarina’s surprise and stood.
“A good idea,” Sydney said, pouring herself another cup of Earl Grey. “Margaret and I are going to discuss recipes for the coming holiday.”
Ali hooked her arm in Sarina’s before any objections could be made, and together they left the room.
Ali sat on the small couch while the feather duster she instructed with her finger saw to dusting the furniture. Sarina, however, was busy manually polishing all the glass pieces in the room.
“Let me tell you something about Dagon,” Ali said, and Sarina listened, anxious to learn all she could about him.
“He can be demanding, irritatingly so at times, but he means well and he cares deeply. He would never intentionally hurt anyone. He respects our ways and lives by our code, never harming a soul, though he does threaten when he feels it necessary. But it is his intelligence he resorts to when a problem needs dealing with.”
“I’ve learned that,” Sarina admitted, remembering all the times he dealt with her dilemmas.
“He growls and stomps around like a beast at times, but regains control quickly, of course,” she said with a huge grin. “He’s never been truly in love.”
Sarina stopped polishing and joined Ali on the sofa. “You believe he truly loves me?”
Ali took her hand. “You do yourself or you would have never surrendered yourself to him or him to you.”
“We haven’t spoken of love.”
“Love announces itself in many strange ways.”
Sarina smiled. “Yes, that it does and I suppose when love is ready, it spills willingly from lovers’ lips.”
“Very willingly,” Ali assured her and reached for her hand, squeezing it gently. “Trust Dagon with your heart, he will never hurt you.”
Sarina already knew that and was about to tell Ali when they both jumped at the shout of her name echoing down the staircase and through the hall.
Ali patted her hand. “Stay right here and let him find you.”
“But—”
Ali would hear no protest. “Right here. He has no business shouting for you.”
“He’s upset,” Sarina said, sensing his concern.
“Upset because you weren’t there when he turned over in bed ready to make love again.”
The two women jumped again when this time Ali’s name echoed through the castle.
“Oh, Sebastian’s in for it now,” Ali said with a smirk, and Sarina laughed.
“We both remain here?” Sarina asked.
“You’re damned right we do. Those two beasts better turn into gentle men before they reach this room or else.”
Sarina was encouraged by Ali’s courage and stayed put.
Dagon flew into the room first, and he actually looked as if he flew, he entered the room so suddenly and stopped just as abruptly. He wore his silver robe and nothing else. Sarina was sure of it when she caught sight of his bare feet, though his hair did appear combed, although he probably raked his fingers through it a dozen times or more in aggravation before leaving his room.
Sebastian entered next with equal speed and almost crashed into Dagon if it was not for the sharp wit of his wife, who with the crook of her finger altered their near physical altercation.
He, too, wore a robe, though it was dark blue and his feet were bare, which meant—
Sarina and Ali grinned at each other.
“Something we can help you with, gentlemen,” Ali said calmly.
“Oh, no, no,” Sebastian said, coming to stand in front of the sofa with his hands on his hips. “No, you’re not going to make this look like it’s my fault.”
“What’s your fault?” Ali asked sweetly.
Dagon walked around the sofa to stand in front of Sarina while Sebastian answered, “Nothing is my fault.”
“Of course it’s not,” Ali assured him.
Sebastian shook his head and looked to Dagon. “She’s your wife, mortal, not mine.”
“True enough,” Sebastian admitted, “but since you’re also standing here in your robe, I’d say you’re having the same problem, wife or not.”
“Not for long,” Dagon said and reached down, grabbing Sarina’s wrist and yanking her to her feet.
She cried out from the discomfort the sudden jolting caused.
All eyes turned to her misty ones.
“You’re in pain,” Dagon said with concern.
Ali tugged at her husband’s hand, and he quietly helped her up, and with soft silent steps they left the room.
“A little discomfort,” she admitted, knowing it was senseless to hide the truth from him.
He glanced around the room. “You’re working?”
Before she could respond, he shook his head and with a growling mumble scooped her up into his arms. Unfortunately he was not as gentle as he should have been, and his quick actions brought a sting of pain and a rush of tears.
She simply buried her face against his chest where his robe had fallen open.
He felt her tears tickle his chest and swore beneath his breath. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s all right,” she said. “It’s not your fault.”
“Damned if it isn’t. In my unrelenting hunger for you I did not consider consequences,” he said and walked slowly out of the room and up the stairs. “My intentions were to love you, not hurt you.”
She slipped her arm around his neck. “And you did love me and I loved you with just as much eagerness.”
“Still, it was my responsibility to see to your care.”
She sighed with the pleasurable memories. “You certainly did that.”
“About your absence from my bed, you left my bed to see to your duties?” he asked, seeking confirmation of what he already knew.
“Yes, I made a promise to Janey to help her out today. I could not go back on my word.”
“I’ll see that her duties are seen to, but you will cease all duties until I say otherwise. Is that clear?”
Her protest died on her lips. There was no point in arguing with him now. He would have his way regardless of how much she objected. She would wait and speak to him when he was in a more reasonable mood.
He entered his bedroom, the bedcovering rumpled from last night’s activities. He kicked the door shut and gently sat her down on the bed. He walked to the phone and picked it up, pressing a button.
“Bernard,” he said, “Sarina is relieved of her duties until further notice and please see to it that Janey’s chores are seen to by someone else today.” He remained silent listening to Bernard’s response. “Yes, have breakfast for two sent to my room, but not for at least an hour.”
After hanging up the phone he returned to stand in front of her. “Get undressed, I’m going to run a tepid bath for you.”
She attempted what she knew would be a useless protest. “It isn’t necessary.”
“It is very necessary,” he insisted and reached down to unbutton her blouse.
She covered his hand with hers. “I’ll do it.”
He nodded. “Join me in the bathroom when you’re done.”
The sky outside had turned a darker gray and rain began to patter on the windowpanes as Sarina removed the last traces of her garments. A chill rushed over her even though fresh logs had been added to the blazing fire that spread its warmth throughout the room.
She couldn’t be nervous. She had been intimate in so many ways with Dagon last night that there was no reason to feel nervous around him and yet she did. Why? Perhaps she felt vulnerable, perhaps she was more uncertain of their future than she cared to admit, or perhaps she loved him so much that the thought of a future without him upset her terribly.
She walked with cautious steps to the bathroom. The water ran in a steady flow into the tub, the lights were dim, and the pattering of rain had turned incessant against the windowpane.
Dagon stood with his back to her, his naked back. He had discarded his robe and was busy lighting candles along the vanity. She admired his firm round backside and long sturdy legs, and then there was the width of his shoulders. She sighed, enjoying the view.
He turned and smiled. “You do like looking at me naked, don’t you?”
She answered honestly. “Very much.”
“Then I shall not deny you your pleasure, look to your heart’s content.”
She did, hugging her chilled body as she explored him with her eyes slow and steady. She retreated a step when her glance connected with the affects of her lingering perusal. He was hard, magnificently hard. And she was tender, not a good combination.
His voice was gentle. “It’s obvious that I want you—actually you might as well get used to seeing me aroused, since in your presence I’m in a constant state of arousal.”
“Really?” She wanted to laugh with the joy of that knowledge.
“Really,” he confirmed and walked to the tub, extending his hand out to her. “While I would love at this moment to be intimate with you, your present needs prohibit our joining, so instead I will see to your care. I added an herbal mixture that should help soothe your discomfort.”
She didn’t hesitate in walking to his side and taking his hand. He reached down and turned off the faucet and then helped her into the tub, following behind her. They eased down into the tepid water together, Dagon stretching out full length and spreading his legs for Sarina to nestle between them.
She relaxed back against him, his hard body remarkably comfortable as she stretched out along it, and the warm water was soothing as it rose up to settle just beneath her breasts.
Dagon wrapped his arms protectively around her, and she settled contentedly in his embrace, sighing with the pure pleasure of a perfect moment.
“Comfortable?” he asked.
“Extremely,” she admitted, another satisfied sigh confirming the truth of her response.
“I missed you this morning when I woke.”
“I was much too excited to sleep.”
He kissed her temple. “Then you should have awakened me.”
She lovingly stroked his forearm where it rested beneath her breasts. “You were sleeping so soundly, I didn’t wish to disturb you.”
“Never think you disturb me, Sarina. I will always be there for you, whenever you need me”—he paused and laughed softly—“and even when you don’t. You actually may find me a pest.”
“Never,” she said adamantly. “I like being with you and will stay—”
“—as long as I say,” he finished, deciding now was not the moment to tell her they would be spending a lifetime together. If he was truthful with himself, he would admit that he was concerned that she may have other plans for her life and that he was but a mere interlude. He chose to share more with her, and while he was almost certain she felt the same as he, there still remained that margin of doubt that could distress a budding relationship. He would not have it torment theirs.
He realized that she gave no response. Was her silence on purpose, and if so what did it mean? Would she willingly remain or did she have other plans she did not wish to share with him?
He sought a more definitive answer. “Have you made life plans, Sarina?”
She kept her mind clear and her answer brief. “No.”
He pursued his query. “You must have at least given it thought.”
“Now and again.”
“What then did you think?”
Again she chose brevity. “Not much.”
He sensed her unwillingness to talk on the subject, and her reluctance made him all the more curious. He decided to skirt the issue and see what he could discover. “Perhaps you wish to seek the knowledge that will help develop your skills.”
She smiled to herself. “My skills will come with time.”
“At least you know the value of patience.”
“I learned it many years ago.”
“Who taught you?”
She laughed. “Patience cannot be taught. It must be learned on one’s own, or one never benefits from its magic.”
“Prudent words for one so young,” he said as if questioning her age.
She immediately sought to change the subject. “Young witches sometimes are remarkably insightful, and the youngest witches are the most delightful, that’s why I want many children.”
Her words pleased him. “I feel the same way about children myself. I’d like to fill the castle with the laughter and joy they bring.”
“Children would grow and flourish here, and you would make a wonderful father.”
His hand moved down over her stomach. “And you a wonderful mother.”
Without thought she placed her hand over his. “I’ve thought often how magical it would be to create a child and feel it grow inside me.”
“Then you do have certain life plans,” he said, returning to the subject she preferred to ignore.
When she went to move her hand off his, he quickly slipped his hand over hers and kept it pressed against her stomach. “You wish for a baby inside you, so therefore you must wish for a lifemate.”
“Don’t we all wish to be part of another, to share a love so strong that it bonds two together as if they are one? And once that love is established, wouldn’t the two wish to create a child from the depths of their love? Isn’t that what the life cycle is all about? Love that continues on forever through every one of us, a love so rare yet so simple it unites the souls.”
He moved his hand off hers and gently grasped her chin to turn her face toward his. “You wish for a love that is rare.”
Her heart skipped several beats and her eyes fluttered closed and then drifted open. “Yes, I do.”
He kissed her lips softly and sweetly. “So do I.”
She settled once again into his firm embrace, and once again no words of their love passed their lips, yet they sensed without saying that they loved, and soon, very soon it would be time for them to openly admit their emotions.
Time once again to tempt fate.
o0o
Dagon ate his breakfast and read the paper while Sarina slept peacefully in his bed. She had grown sleepy in the tub, and he had wrapped her in a huge terry-cloth towel, dried her, and carried her to his bed, tucking her beneath the covers. Her eyes had drifted closed as soon as her head rested on the pillow. He then dressed in dark gray trousers and a white knit sweater, leaving his long hair free to dry as he slowly enjoyed his morning meal.
He liked this scene—Sarina asleep content in his bed, and he content watching her. In his search for a lifemate he had foolishly ignored the simple things that made life more pleasing. He had not given enough serious thought to how he would feel about sleeping and waking with a woman beside him every day. He was more intent on skills and power and failed to realize that love was a serious commitment that required serious consideration.
Did he wish to spend the remainder of his years with a powerful witch for the sake of creating powerful children, or did he wish to spend his years with an inept witch who smiled at the joy their joining brought her and who longed to create a child from their love?
The answer was not difficult, though he was grateful that he had asked the question. He had searched so hard for love that he had forgotten love’s true qualities and he had forgotten that love could never be found because it is never lost.
He looked to Sarina cuddled beneath the covers and whispered, “I love you, and soon, very soon, I will hear you admit the same.”
A soft knock at the door caught his attention, and he stood and walked over to open the door quietly. Bernard stood on the other side. “Sorry to disturb you, sir, but Lady Lily is completely uncontrollable in the kitchen and will allow no one near her. I assume she is concerned to her master’s whereabouts, and while I attempted to capture her and bring her here, she clawed and spit and refused any offer of help or comfort. And poor Margaret cannot get her work done.”
“I’ll come along and see to her,” Dagon said, and before he took a step out of the room, he glanced back to Sarina, smiled, and stepped out the door closing it behind him.