The Thing about Elves Page 9

  She nearly came undone when he gently slid his fingers into her body, pumping them in and out of her gently. “Please…please,” she moaned.

  “Please what, Ang? What is it you want me to do?”

  The old, teasing Ardan seemed to be back. But she knew it was much more than that…this was something so special…she didn’t even want to try and analyze what happened or why.

  “I want to come and I want you to have me any way you want,” she whispered.

  Still, he held something back as he stroked her body. She didn’t know what it was. Her orgasm was right there and he knew it as he kept her hovering over the edge.

  “This is different, Ang. I can’t let you come just yet…but I need you close…can you do that for me? I promise it will be the most intense experience you have ever had.”

  She felt ready to explode. Yet she knew that if he promised something, he would fulfill that promise. “I’ll try. I don’t think I can promise you.”

  “That’s good enough.”

  Ardan continued stoking her body with a fever pitch. He moved to his side next to her and spread her legs even further. Gently, he pulled her cream from her clit to her anus, working it into her until she was silky smooth and his fingers just glided over her most sensitive areas. Slipping a hand under her bottom he touched her anus with his fingers, causing her to shiver in anticipation. Never in a million years had she ever thought she would want anal sex and now all she could do was quiver at the mere thought of it.

  Slowly, he started to work the tight muscles until his fingers slipped inside with ease. He groaned with each stroke of her body. “I’ve got to have you.”

  Slipping his arms under her legs, he spread her wide, his fingers caressing her clit and bringing her to the brink yet again. “I’ll try not to hurt you.”

  Angie didn’t even have time to ponder his comment when he buried himself to the hilt in her body. She felt like she was going to be split asunder. Ardan had never been this large before and it was almost uncomfortable. Still, she willed herself to relax so that her body could accommodate his. With each slow thrust, he rubbed her inner spot and began a slow sexual build-up that had her quivering in seconds. He had been right; this was going to be much more intense.

  “Ardan, please...” She didn’t know how she even managed to say anything, the feeling was so—so—she didn’t know how to describe it because it was so new. She felt like she was on fire.

  “Angie…not yet…please, not yet,” he breathed.

  Taking one of his hands, he began to rub her clit in a slow circular motion, always moving but never lingering long enough for her to get a real grasp of the sensation. With the other, he worked her anus, moving in and out, pushing her to new heights but never allowing her fall over the edge. Her body began to move of its own accord. She no longer had control. Ardan had the control of her body in a way she couldn’t understand. She knew that it was only a matter of moments before she would spontaneously combust, at this rate. Still, he tried to push her higher. The head of his penis brushed up against her cervix with every motion, until her insides were burning for release.

  “Ardan…I can’t wait…,” she breathed and began to thrust wildly against him. Pushing and straining, she felt him grow even larger and wondered incoherently just how much more she could take when the dam burst. She was being filled with liquid fire and she screamed as the orgasm took her to a place she had never once imagined.

  “Arghhh,” Ardan cried. “I can’t stop it.”

  The elven magic swirled around them. The colors were more intense than ever before as the magic enveloped them in its almost painful grippe. It pulled them higher and higher before shoving both of them over the abyss in a vortex of sexual energy so tight they would never escape. The magic pulled their breath away and somehow they both tumbled into an uneasy slumber.

  * * * *

  Janice closed her eyes and began to rub her forehead. This was bad, very bad. She had never felt such power before and she didn’t know why it happened.

  Bevan walked into the room two cups of hot cocoa in hand. “Pretty intense, huh?” He sat down next to her and handed her a cup.

  “Bevan, what is going on?”

  He looked at his wife, an almost sad feeling reflected in his face. “Sometimes when a person tries to deny Nor’ahkeem, the magic takes on a life of its own. It can’t be denied. Ardan has tried to shut himself off from his magic and love for a long time. Angie brought out the best and worst in him. But elven magic is so very special. It’s attuned to each elf and knows what that elf needs.”

  “You knew this would happen.”

  Bevan took a sip of his warm drink. “I knew this could happen. Didn’t you ever wonder why I never really tried to stop our relationship? After all, it isn’t everyday that a human falls for an elf.”

  Snuggling up against her husband, she pulled her legs under her and took a drink. “I guess I never really thought about it. I just knew I wanted you. Once I had you, I loved you so much I never could imagine a life without you.”

  He smiled and gently kissed her. “Now imagine trying to suppress that feeling.”

  Janice sighed. “So it’s like a champagne bottle.”

  “It’s like a champagne bottle. Things will be better for them now that the bottle is uncorked. Ardan still has a few things to work out. But the magic won’t allow them to be apart without feeling great heartache and some physical discomfort.” He reached up and touched her face. “I was lucky enough at a very young age to understand my magic. The moment I saw you, I knew I was going to love you forever. I didn’t know what would happen. I just knew I couldn’t stop it and didn’t even try. I went with it. And look what I received in return.”

  Leaning into his hand, she gazed at him. “If they have half of what we have, their life will be very full.”

  “Yes, it will be.” Sitting down his mug, he moved closer to his wife. “Ardan just needs to realize that. He still might send her away.”

  “Why?”

  Bevan arched an eyebrow. “Oh, I don’t know. He seems to have a stubborn streak. It maybe genetic.”

  Janice frowned. “Funny. True, but funny.” Slowly, she licked her lips. “So what do we do?”

  He took her face in his hands. “Darling, this one he has to work out on his own. They’ll find their way. Trust me.” Leaning in, his mouth took hers in a searing kiss.

  “I do,” she breathed.

  “Good. Now shut up.”

  Kissing her again, he deepened the kiss. Soon they had their own magic to worry about.

  * * * *

  The poke of a sharp object woke Angie from her deep sleep.

  “What?” Pushing her hair out of her eyes, she pulled the sheet with her as she sat up because something told her it wasn’t Ardan. It was as if her senses were on high alert. Holding her aching head in her hands, she tried to clear the cobwebs. What the hell was that? She tried to gather her wits about her.

  “I’m really sorry to disturb you, Angie Hudson, but we have a medical problem that needs attention.”

  “Eggther?” She shook her head again.

  “It is I, Angie Hudson. Your expertise is desperately needed.”

  Sighing, she cleared her vision and looked at the small elf. “What’s the problem?”

  “An elf has fallen into an ice pond.”

  Frowning, she stared at him for a quick moment. “I didn’t know there were any ice ponds around here at all.”

  “It’s not here. It’s some distance away. It will take us a few minutes to get there by sleigh.”

  “Okay.” She shook her head one more time and looked at the sleeping form of Ardan. He was dead to the world. She hesitated for just a moment before she answered. “Let me get dressed.”

  “Do I need to wake Ardan?”

  “No…I think he needs his sleep…we had a late night.”

  “I would say.”

  Angie stared at him. “Oh, great.”

  “It is no
thing to be ashamed of, Angie Hudson. It was the process of Nor’ahkeem.”

  She smiled wryly. “I believe I’ve heard of it before. And I don’t think Ardan will relish the fact that we started it at all.”

  “Angie Hudson, he has no choice. It is something that is predestined for each elf. The joy of love is felt by the whole community.”

  “I’ll take your word on it. Now let me get dressed.” She bit her lip as she watched the small man leave the room. Standing up, she let the sheet fall from her body. She had new and different aches from last night’s lovemaking. She realized that it was lovemaking for the very first time. All the other times had been mainly sex but last night was different. Really different.

  Quickly, she got on her jeans and a warm sweater. She hadn’t asked but assumed that the elf who had fallen into the cold water was pulled out quickly. In years past, the person would have been written off as many were in the Titanic disaster. But with today’s medical technologies, they could save many people whose core temperature had fallen dramatically. Plus the elves seemed to have some resistance to the extreme cold. She only hoped that worked in this elf’s favor.

  Angie stood over Ardan for a few moments, knowing that she would love this man for the rest of her life. Leaning down, she gently kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll be back before you know it,” she whispered. Turning on her heel, she headed to the living room. Pulling her coat and hat from the rack by the door, she was happy to find her cashmere gloves in her pocket. They would definitely be the best when treating a patient in the frigid air. She would need her hands to be as limber as possible. Finally, she had everything on to keep her warm. She turned to Eggther.

  “Let’s go. I’d like to be back before Ardan gets up.”

  * * * *

  Something was wrong.

  Ardan sat up with a start only to find that Angie wasn’t next to him. Suddenly, he felt sick, very sick. Something terrible had happened and he couldn’t even begin to know how he knew. Standing up, he realized that the process of Nor’ahkeem was nearly complete. Otherwise, he wouldn’t feel this way. There would be a few other things that they would have to do to complete the process but as far as he could tell it was a done deal.

  Slowly, he got up and looked around the room. Her clothes were gone but he could sense she wasn’t too far away. But still, far enough that it caused him physical pain. Until the process was completed, they would feel this way. Now he was committed and he wasn’t exactly sure how he felt about that at all. He hadn’t wanted to commit to Angie, hadn’t wanted to commit to anyone for that matter. But somehow she had wormed her way into his heart and made them linked forever.

  Getting up, he looked for his clothes. He needed to find her. God, the sex had been fantastic. He couldn’t believe how fantastic because he now understood the difference between sex and making love. Pulling on his pants, he walked into the living room to find her coat gone too. The sinking feeling in his stomach suddenly got more intense. It wasn’t just that she wasn’t in the house. It was something more. Walking back into their room, he slowly pulled the rest of his clothes on in quiet desperation. He didn’t know what was going on, but something told him it wasn’t good.

  Trying to keep calm, he wondered briefly if he should try to contact Tessa to see if she knew where Angie might be. Heating up water, he stood in front of his stove and made some hot chocolate. He hoped he hadn’t scared her away last night. Something had just taken over him, making it seem as if he were on a desperate mission. He had been single-minded in his intention. Sipping his chocolate, he realized what a mistake he had made in not listening to his father about Nor’ahkeem. He couldn’t even been sure that what had happened here was even normal.

  Walking back into the living room, he could sense someone coming before they even opened the door.

  Sighing, he hoped that he wouldn’t have to listen to another tirade. “Hello, Mother.”

  “Ardan, get your shoes on and I mean now.”

  The worried look on his mother’s face registered like a blow to the gut. “Angie,” he whispered.

  Grabbing his coat, Janice scowled. “I said now, young man. We don’t have a moment to lose.”

  Shrugging into his coat, he quickly slid his boots on. “I have scrubs at the clinic. What’s going on?”

  “Can’t you feel that something isn’t right?”

  His mother appeared to be searching his face, for what, he couldn’t even imagine. “I know something is wrong. I just don’t know what.”

  “Nor’ahkeem gives you almost a sixth sense where your spouse is concerned.”

  Ardan swallowed hard and followed his mother to the sleigh. “Does it get stronger over time?”

  “Actually, it’s worse in the beginning and seems to mellow with time. According to your father, that is.” Tugging on the reins, she set the reindeer in motion.

  “What happened?” he said quietly, dreading the worst. He tried very hard to get the medical mask on he would have to wear while treating her. This was the worst situation in the world that could happen to a doctor.

  “Angie fell into Fallen Leaf Pond.”

  “What the hell was she doing there?” Arden didn’t know whether to cry or be blazing mad. No one went to Fallen Leaf Pond.

  “Saving another elf who had fallen in.”

  “What were they doing there? Hell…forget that…why didn’t she wake me?”

  “Probably because you were sleeping like the dead. Your father didn’t wake up for almost eighteen hours once we bonded sexually. It takes more out of elves than it does humans. It’s almost as if you have to align your magic or something. I never could figure it out.” She patted his hand gently. “I have to prepare you. It doesn’t look good. They brought her back once and it seems as if she’s slipped into a coma. She was under the ice for a long time. And they have her on a respirator now.”

  His heart stopped. Ardan could physically feel the pain grip the most important muscle in his body. How could this have happened? How could he lose her when he had only just found her?

  Chapter 8

  Trying to remain calm, Ardan ran into the clinic. He wasn’t surprised to see the efficient hustle and bustle of the elves. Even though it had been a long time since they had two critical patients, it was evident he had trained them well. Going into the locker room, he started stripping immediately. He needed to get into his scrubs and next to her. Jerking the locker door open, he realized before he even put his clothes on he would need to center himself. This wasn’t a normal situation at the best, but he didn’t need to make it worse.

  Pulling his clothes on, he did a series of breathing exercises they had been taught in med school. At first he had thought them hokey but once he used them and his own magic, he realized he could face anything. Breathing in slowly, he focused his intention on the task at hand. As much as he loved Angie, he did have two patients to deal with at the moment.

  Finally calm, he left the room and walked down the corridor.

  “Ardan?”

  “Yes?” He turned and faced Tessa. She sat alone so he could only assume that Jedrick stayed at home to care for the children.

  “How bad is it?”

  Looking at her tearstained face, he could tell that she had been crying for a while. “How long have you been here?”

  “I was here when they brought her in. I came in for my checkup and you were late.”

  Taking her hands in his he hunkered down to look into her eyes and rubbed her small hands gently. “I know you felt what happened last night. Everyone did. But right now I have to forget that ever happened and concentrate on pulling her and the other elf out of this. I just got here. Can you bear with me for a little while so I can figure out what’s going on?”

  She shook her head and sniffed. “She’s all I have in the world for family, you know.”

  “I know.” He couldn’t say another word. Ardan had to see her for himself. “I’ll come and talk to you in a little while.”

 
; Pushing open the door, he entered into the largest of the four clinc rooms. He had set each up with a special purpose and this was what would be considered the critical care area. On one side of the room was a bed with every imaginable piece of medical equipment available. He knew that to be Angie. The other side of the room, while it had quite a few pieces of equipment around the bed it was nowhere near what Angie had.

  “Aingeal, could you please give me an update on this situation?” It didn’t help his heart that his sister turned around with the same tear-streaked face Tessa had. He gently grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her. “I need you at your best this time. I know you help the Eskimos and Inuits all the time. You are a medical intuitive. I need you to help me now in every way you can.”

  She shook her head in the affirmative and licked her lips. “I’ll tell you everything I know. And we actually have three patients not two. Eggther wouldn’t stay in here because he knew these two were in worse condition than he was.”

  “Eggther was with them?”

  “He tried to pull Angie out by himself first. He then put a line on himself and the reindeer pulled them both out. I don’t know how long he was in there but he told me he had to search for a while to find Angie. The other elf, Angie managed to pull out herself and push him to the edge before the ice broke under her. I can’t understand just why the ice was so thin there. It should have been rock solid.”

  Ardan let out a long drawn out sigh. “I’m not concerned with that. Right now I have some questions. Who’s the first elf?”

  “Cormac.”

  “What was he doing there?”

  “Ice fishing, I think.”

  “That shouldn’t cause enough melt for the ice to break like you said.”

  Aingeal looked at him. “I could check with everyone to see if something might have happened to make the ice thinner.”

  “Okay. But let’s leave that for later. What else do you know about our patients?”