The First Spell Weaver of Airendell: Book Two of the Airendell Chronicles (48 page)

He rises up her body, raining kisses as he goes.  He finds her lips again and shares a gentle, lingering kiss with his beloved.  He wraps his arms around her and pulls her over on top of him.  He moans in pleasure as she strokes his manhood and then effortlessly takes him into her body with a small shudder of pleasure.  Luca sits up to wrap his arms around her as she starts to move slowly up and down his shaft.  The lovers quickly settle into their perfect rhythm, gently driving each other to the brink of ecstasy.  They exchange caresses and kisses, and cherish each other’s bodies.  All too soon they reach their mutual orgasm.  Morna collapses breathless into her mate’s arms, and he lies back onto the bed to hold her in his arms as her heart rate calms and her breathing slows to normal.

After a minute or two she whispers, “See my love.  That loving was just as intensely satisfying without being wild.  Our loving is perfect, no matter what.”  Luca continues to stroke her back gently as she drifts off to sleep again.  He wonders fleetingly if she deliberately made love with him so gently this time just to prove her point.  Regardless, she is right.  He makes sure she is sleeping soundly before he rolls over and gently loosens her grip on his body and tucks the covers around her.  He kisses her lips gently and she murmurs, “Love you.” 

“And I will always love and adore you Morna Glynn Michaels.”  He vows quietly.  He stealthily slips out of their bed and showers before dressing to go help prepare breakfast.  It is nearly 8:00 and he knows the children are already up and about.  He finds them in the kitchen.  Breena and Nora are sitting at the breakfast nook, bent intently over a sketch pad.  Luca smiles happily at the sketch they are working on and kisses both girls on top of their heads. 

Kyle is showing Aiden how to make oatmeal.  Aiden looks up and smiles at Luca.  “Mom still sleeping?” 

Luca smiles back and says, “Yeah, pregnant ladies need a lot of sleep.”  Damian laughs at that, and Breena throws an orange at him.  Which he catches and peels to chop up for the bowl of mixed fruit he is preparing.  Auggie is keeping an eye on her biscuits in the oven and scrambling a huge pan of eggs.  George and Skjarr are frying potatoes and bacon.  After Luca greets everyone he joins Tena in the dining room to help her set up the buffet line and the tables.  Other weavers are pouring into the dining room and pitching in. 

When everyone sits down to eat and Morna still has not arrived, Luca excuses himself to go check on her.  He prepares another cup of blood for her and makes his way to their suite.  He finds her soaking in the tub again.  “Another hot bath my love?”

“Yes, my hips and pelvis are really sore.”  Morna admits reluctantly.

“Morna maybe we should take it easy, you know not make love for a few days.”  Luca says as he starts to massage her low back and hips.

“No way, Darling.”  Morna says firmly.  “We can tone it down a little, but I don’t want to do without you.  Besides, it always loosens up as the day goes by.”

“Fine, you stubborn woman.”  Luca says with a chuckle and then kisses her tenderly.  “At least let me send for Rinda.”

“I already have,” says Morna.  “She should be here anytime.  Is that cup for me?” she asks pointing to the cup he set on the vanity when he entered the bathroom.

Luca laughs and hands it to her.  He watches her drink it, and asks, “Do you want me to bring a plate of food to you?”

“Please do, my love.  I am starving.  I can’t believe how tired, hungry and thirsty I am lately.”  Morna finishes with the cup and hands it to her mate. 

Luca kisses her again and takes the cup with him.  “I’ll be back in a bit.  Take it easy until Rinda gets here.”

“Bring me a coke too!”  Morna calls after him.

Luca meets Rinda in the hall.  She kisses him hello, as is her habit, before asking, “Our girl is hurting again?”

“Yes, I am afraid so.  Her hormones are making her extra frisky and I am afraid we are putting too much stress on those loose ligaments.” Luca admits to his dear friend.

Rinda laughs and says, “Well don’t expect her to stop.  You know she won’t.  Her physical connection to you is far too important to her.”

“I know Rinda, I just want her to take it easier.  Could you tell her she should wait?”  Luca asks.

“Why?  She won’t listen to me either.  She won’t do any lasting harm to herself, it is just rather painful.  Plus your son is growing at an incredible rate.  That blossoming belly is putting a lot of pressure on the area.  She will be okay, just uncomfortable.”  Rinda assures her friend.  “What is really bothering you?”

“Just what I told you,” Luca tells her evasively.  “Well, I was going to get some food for her.  Go work your magic on her, please.” Luca says as he kisses her forehead before heading for the dining hall.

Rinda enters the suite without knocking.  She finds Morna coming out of her closet wearing a hot pink bra and panty set.  “Damn baby!  You look glorious.”  Rinda says with a chuckle.

Morna laughs, “Yeah sure, blossoming belly and all, huh?”

“Eavesdropper!” Rinda chides playfully.  “He’s just worried about you.  It’s his job, and he is damned good at it.”  Rinda quips with a giggle.  She goes up to her friend and caresses her growing belly.  “Man oh man.  This baby is growing fast isn’t he?”

“Gullveig says he grows about a week’s worth in a day.  That’s pretty fast.” Morna admits and stretches her aching back.

“Come on kiddo, let’s get ya on the floor and try to ease some of that for you.  That bed is too soft.  I am going to have Heimdall transport a hydraulic Chiropractor’s table up here for you.  You need regular adjustments, and as that belly gets bigger it will be harder and harder to do on a flat surface.”  Rinda says thoughtfully as she examines her friend.  “Wow, this hip really slides out of place.  What have you two been doing?”  Morna chuckles but doesn’t answer.  “Seriously Morna.  Something about your sex life has him troubled.”

“It’s nothing.  He worries too much.”  Morna says gruffly.

“Okay, okay.  You obviously don’t want to talk about this with me, but perhaps you should talk to someone about it.  He is really worried.”  Rinda says trying to act as though her feelings aren’t hurt.

Morna sits up and strokes her friend’s face.  “Love, it’s not that I don’t want to talk to you about it, I just really don’t think it’s an issue.”  Morna sighs and says, “Ever since I started craving blood… sometimes, we are rather aggressive.  More me than him.  But this morning he got caught up in my animalistic lust.  He just controls himself better than I do.  He always has.  But I honestly don’t see it as a problem.  I will, however, back off because I think he is bothered by it.”

“That makes you sad, doesn’t it?” Rinda asks gently.

“A little,” Morna admits.  “He has always controlled himself so admirably with me.  But I don’t always want to control myself.  I have always liked rough sex and now I am physically able to really get aggressive.”  Morna blushes and bites her lip.  “I am not sure if he is shocked by my behavior or just worried for me.  It leaves me feeling uncertain of myself.  But enough about this.  I shouldn’t be talking about it.”

“Especially not with me?” Rinda asks quietly.

“With anyone besides my mate.” Says Morna gently as she strokes Rinda’s face lovingly.  “Why are you so sensitive around me these days?  Or am I just being callous towards you?”

“I don’t know, Morna.  I am really conflicted lately.  You know I have never had a sexual relationship with any woman besides you, but lately I have been having those old urges around you.”  Rinda notices that Morna tenses at her words and holds up her hand to stop her from talking.  “I am not saying I want you that way.  That part of our relationship is long, long gone.  But I am thinking that I am drawn to your physical type.  Does that make sense?”

“Does Heimdall know this?”  Morna asks quietly.

“Yes, we talk about everything.  We are not like you and Luca.  We love each other, but we aren’t in love with each other.  We have a very fulfilling sexual relationship, but it is not exclusive.  It’s a very different relationship than I had with you, or you have with Luca.  We will always be there for each other, but we aren’t tied to each other.  I am explaining it badly.”  Rinda says and then shrugs uncertainly.

“Not really.  I think I understand.  I don’t know if I should say this or not, but I am going to… Have you spent much time with Annie?  She is built much like I am, and she is truly lovely.  I have seen her watching you, I think she is interested.” Morna says tentatively.

Rinda laughs and says, “Geesh Morna, how weird is this?  You, my former lover and best friend are encouraging me to consider a sexual relationship with your niece?”

Morna laughs and says, “Probably not weirder than you helping me remove memories of my sexual relationship with my nephew.  Ewwww!  I still get the willies when those memories sneak into my conscious thoughts.”  Morna shivers and rubs her arms.  “Sorry, I shouldn’t have suggested it.”

“No, no not at all.  Actually, I am intrigued.”  Rinda admits with a laugh and then she gets serious.  “I wish we could remove your memories of Lou.”

“Me too,” says Morna sadly.  “Those memories make me feel dirty.”  Morna looks away from Rinda.  “Let’s change the subject.  Luca is coming back with my breakfast.  Let‘s finish this adjustment so that I can eat.  I am always starving.”

Rinda rubs her rapidly growing belly and says, “Gee love, I wonder why?”

Both women are laughing heartily when Luca enters the suite.  He feels guilty for eavesdropping, but he desperately wants to know what’s on Morna’s mind, so he kept tabs on their conversation.  He hates to admit to himself how relieved he was to hear that Rinda has moved past her sexual infatuation with his wife.  But he aches deeply for his mate to know that she is so ashamed of her former connection to her nephew.  It is not like she knew he was related to her, or even that they truly biologically connected.  But he understands how that makes little difference in the end. 

But mostly, he feels bad that he is making her feel uncertain about herself because he has been concerned about how rough their sexual encounters are at times.  Now he wonders why he is concerned about it.  What she said about always liking it a little rough is true.  And he had always found it exciting in the past, even though he always worried about hurting her before and after his conversion.  Now he doesn’t have to worry about that so much so he should just relax and let his mate be herself.

He watches Rinda adjust his wife’s spine and weave a healing spell, and another spell that reduces inflammation and pain.  “Rinda, I want you to teach me how to do that.  Not that I am wanting to take over for you, but I would like to be able to help her if it starts hurting in the middle of the night.”

“No problem, bro.  Come here.”  Rinda walks him through the steps of aligning her hips and spine. And teaches him the spells in about twenty minutes.  Morna gets up to go eat while they are going over the techniques and spells.  “These same techniques and spells might come in handy for Aiden.  His body will be under a lot of stress for a while, maybe forever.  Gullveig basically reconstructed his legs, hips and part of his spine.  She is amazing!  I want to study with her sometime.”

Luca and Rinda discuss chiropractic techniques and spells for a little while longer.  Morna wanders back into the room, leans against a wall and watches them for a bit.  She is delighted that they are so comfortable with each other.  She feels guilty for her reaction to Luca’s jealousy the other day.  Rinda is so dear to her and she can’t believe she would have so easily cut her out of their lives to make her mate happy.  Mostly she is horrified that she even fleetingly considered harming her best friend.  She is grateful that Luca is truly a better person than she is. 

Rinda finally gets up to go.  “I need to throw some things in a bag before we go to Airendell.  Morna, go soak in a hot tub again to keep you from getting stiff, and don’t worry Luca, she can be as active as she wants.  It will do no lasting damage.  At most she will ache some.”  Rinda kisses them both and leaves. 

Morna continues to watch her mate thoughtfully until Luca asks, “What is the matter my love?”

“Many things and nothing.”  Morna says cryptically.  “Sorry, hormones, I think.  I should go find the kids.  I can’t believe I haven’t checked on them yet.  I bet they think Mom has become very selfish.”

“No, they don’t.  They are glad you are taking care of yourself, for a change.”  Luca comes up to her and kisses her.  He backs her into the wall and says, “I have to confess, I kept tabs on your conversation with Rinda.”

“That’s fine, Darling.  If I wasn’t okay with that I would have put up a buffer spell.”  Morna says as she wraps her arms around him.

“I am not a prude, Morna.  You do not shock me or offend me or anything even remotely like that.  I have just worried about hurting you for so many years, it is a hard habit to break.  Plus I can’t help but feel that what I am has corrupted you somehow.” Luca says honestly.

“Well I don’t feel corrupted.”  Morna can’t’ help it, she giggles like a girl.  “Luca, I have always had a wild side.  Battle exhilarates me, and I sometimes like to play rough.  You know that.  I just feel freer in it now.  More natural.  I honestly feel like I am exactly what I want to be, what I am meant to be.  I should want to be less selfish and more altruistic, but I like what I have become.  Does that make me a selfish or bad person?” Morna asks earnestly.

“Not a chance!” Luca says assertively.

“Good!” Morna says and kisses him passionately.  “I am sorry that this morning bothered you, but I am not sorry we did it.  I thought it was amazing, and would happily do it again, anytime.  But if you don’t want that, I am fine with that too.  Now I should get dressed and go find the kids so we can go to Airendell.” 

She considers the matter closed and starts to walk past him to the bathroom.  He blocks her way and pushes her back against the wall.  “Dammit Morna, you know how much I liked it.  I just don’t want my venom to cause you pain.”

She laughs and says, “No problem.” And nips her left shoulder before he realizes what she intends.  “There’s an easy fix.  I don’t want to do it all the time, darling, I just want to feel free to do whatever feels good to both of us.  It excites me beyond description that you were actually able to taste my blood today.  I know exactly how invigorating it is.  And I know how much the scent of my blood, in particular, has tortured you for centuries.  I am finally your physical equal.  And mating with you in that equal standing stimulates me more than I can express.” 

Luca growls low in his throat he leans down and licks the oozing blood and moans in deep satisfaction.  Morna twists her fingers of her right hand roughly in his hair as he gently sucks at the tiny, oozing wound.  She eagerly pulls his face towards hers and they kiss deeply.  Morna strokes his cheek tenderly and their kiss turns gentle. Morna breaks the kiss and looks her mate in the eyes as she continues to stroke his cheek lovingly.  “You see?  Neither one of us are out of control.”  She kisses him again gently and says, “I need to get dressed.  I want to fix my hair and dress nicely to go before the Guild elders.  We can pick this up at a later time or never.  It’s entirely up to you Luca.”

CHAPTER 12 - THE FIRST SPELL WEAVER OF AIRENDELL

Luca laughs heartily and allows her to pass.  “Well played my love.  You proved your point.  Now let me heal that scratch on your shoulder.”

“No need love, it is already healed.  But thank you.”  Morna saunters into the bathroom.  Luca follows to watch her.  She quickly applies her make-up and starts taming her hair.  She looks into the mirror and meets Luca’s eye.  “Would you mind getting that black pantsuit out of the closet for me?”

“I will, but I think the grey Chanel will suit the occasion better.”  Luca says softly.

“Sounds fine to me.  You are certainly better at dressing me than I am.”  Morna says with a laugh.  Luca brings the pantsuit back.  Morna is amazed that he changed while he was in the closet.  He is now wearing a dark gray pair of slacks, and a pale blue linen shirt.  He has rolled the sleeves of his shirt to ¾ length.  He is wearing a pair of black Italian leather loafers.  Morna thinks he looks good enough to eat.  But more importantly, he looks just as strong, capable and level headed as he is.

Morna is pleased with the way the grey suit looks on her.  “Good choice, my love.”

Luca chuckles and kisses her gently.  “You wear it well.”  Luca leads the way to join the rest of their group.  Everyone is assembled in the main hall.  Morna makes her way to her children.  She is nearly brought to tears at the sight of Aiden.  He stands tall and straight.  Looking so handsome in his navy slacks and light grey sweater.  He meets his mother and hugs her tightly.  “You look totally awesome, Mom!”