Sweetest Fall Read online

  He nodded and walked into his house, turning a few corners until they were in a gallery that made the museum’s collection look aspirational.

  “Oh. Wow. This is amazing.”

  She checked her shoulder and blushed. “I have to go and grab my camera. I will be right back.”

  She wove her way back to the front of the house and got her camera. She returned to the gallery and started taking photos. “So, when I have these images, will you select the ones you are interested in loaning to the museum?”

  “I was going to make an outright donation.”

  She went past all kinds of silverwork, some beads woven into harnesses, and then, she froze. She lowered the camera, and the tiny chess piece held her attention. She swallowed and reached out to touch it, picking it up as memories ripped through her.

  Her knees buckled, and his voice came to her through the roaring in her ears. “Ms. Abelan?”

  She swallowed and set the knight down. Her eyes were crying again, and she looked at him. “Lugh, you look different.”

  He smiled and stepped toward her cautiously. “So do you. I hadn’t pegged you for a fan of leather.”

  “I find it comfortable.” She was frozen, her camera held between them.

  “Orla, I would like it if you set the camera down.” He stepped toward her again.

  She looked around and set the camera down on a display. The moment she turned back, he threaded his fingers in her hair and held her face as he kissed her so carefully she felt like porcelain. Apples.

  “Orla, it has been so long.”

  She whispered, “It has been a few weeks.”

  “For you; for me, it has been lifetimes. This is a moment I have been looking forward to.”

  He pulled her in for a hug, and she felt the muscle under his shirt and wrapped her arms around him.

  Holding him was wonderful, but her heart pounded, and her hands clutched at his back.

  “Orla, do I have to court you as a modern woman?”

  She chuckled. “No, I think we have gone a bit past dating apps and meeting over coffee.”

  He whispered, “Then, may I have you?”

  She looked up at him and gave him a considering look while she thought about her answer. There was only one thing that sprang to mind. “Yes.”

  His expression of relief preceded a flicker, and then, they were in a different room.

  She looked at the bed and smiled. “You brought it with you?”

  He peeled off his shirt and bent to remove his socks before walking over to her. “Of course, I brought it with me. I brought the hunt as well. They have been excited about your arrival.”

  His fingers opened each of the eight buttons on her blouse, and then, he peeled open the fabric. When he saw the black lace cupping her breasts, he groaned.

  She looked down. “Something wrong?”

  He shook his head. “No, everything is very right.”

  He eased the blouse from her shoulders and unzipped her skirt.

  “Um, if the bra upset you, I think I should warn you about...” Her skirt dropped. “Never mind.”

  He asked in a strangled tone. “Do you always dress like this when meeting strange men?”

  She shrugged. “Yes. The lingerie gives me a bit of a psychological boost, and I like it. Plus, I don’t really spend my money on anything else.”

  He ran his fingers from the garter belt to her panties to the bare thigh to the stockings.

  “You did say that women used to wear stockings in your day. Is it so different?”

  He picked her up and set her on the bed, kneeling in front of her as he parted her thighs. He murmured as he brushed his lips over the transition from flesh to silk. “Trust me, this is different.”

  She braced herself on her arms as he licked his way to her sex. He pulled her panties to one side, and when he saw that she was already slick, he gave her a hot glance and then bent his head to taste her.

  She flinched, and she dropped back, covering her face. She heard him laugh against her. “Don’t you enjoy watching?”

  “No, for me, it is feeling, and I can do that best with my eyes closed and my hands over my face.” She chuckled. “Everybody has their kinks.”

  “I look forward to learning all of yours.”

  She sighed and squirmed as his fingers delved into her, and he licked at her clit. Her hands clutched at the bedding, and her hips began to rise and fall in response to the long fingers moving inside her.

  He paused and lifted his head. “The thing inside you, it’s missing.”

  Orla blushed. “Yeah, it was gone after I got back. Well, after I got back, I had a regular appointment, and the doctor told me it was missing.”

  “Do you know what happened to it?” He was frowning.

  “No. My doc saw some bruising on my thighs and butt, but I didn’t even remember the horse riding.”

  “Would you like me to wear protection?”

  She wanted to say yes, but then, she thought that a tiny autumn king would be adorable, and her work was suited to her working with a child. “It isn’t necessary.”

  He paused and rose up on his knees between her thigh. “Are you sure?”

  “I am sure. I want you, all of you.” She flexed her leg and stroked it up his arm. “Soon, please.”

  He stripped out of his jeans and kicked them aside. She sat up to reach for her stockings, but he made a low growl, and she left his toys alone.

  When he crawled over to her, he pulled her toward the headboard and raised her hands over her head.

  “What are you...” she felt warm and snug wraps grip her hands and wrists. “You are kidding.”

  He settled a mask over her eyes. “I am not kidding.”

  She couldn’t see through the dark fabric, but as his mouth hovered over her neck, she shivered. He pried the cups of her bra aside and coaxed her breasts out of them.

  Orla focused on the pleasurable tension as he teased first one nipple and then the other. She shifted restlessly, and he nipped at her. She yelped.

  “I want to hear it. Every moan, every sigh, every whimper. I want it all.” He drew a pattern with his tongue. “You remember.”

  She licked her lips. “It is a little vague.”

  He slid two fingers into her. “I will just have to remind you.”

  He crooked his fingers upward and moved his fingers slowly as if searching for something. She breathed shallowly as he slid across something that made her flinch as her nerves overloaded. She squeaked and pulled on the restraints.

  “There’s the spot.” He chuckled and moved his fingers in a rapid, repetitive stroke.

  She arched and shrieked as her senses overloaded. He kept her on the edge with the strokes, slowing his fingers and then easing her back down.

  She was panting, moaning, and covered in sweat. He licked at her belly, and she could feel the smirk on his face.

  She grunted. “What. The. Hell. Was. That.”

  “That was your g-spot. The other side of your clit. It is amazing what modern medical journals and a search engine can teach a man in this day and age.” He was moving up her body and using her tongue to track his path.

  The nudge between her thighs was hot and insistent. She felt his fingers pulling her panties aside again, and then, he began to rock against her until he was inside her, and she was panting from the effort of holding still.

  “You know, I have been dreaming about this moment for over a hundred years.” He licked the edge of her ear, and when he got to the helix, she moaned.

  She would have clapped a hand over her mouth, but it wasn’t an option. He caught on immediately, and she squirmed with him still hard and throbbing inside her, but his weight pressed her hips down. Every time he sucked on the upper curve of her ear, she moaned and her muscles flexed around him. He chuckled, and she exhaled when he lifted his head away from her.

  Orla yelped when he turned her head and did t
he same to the other ear. He started slowly rocking his hips, and she moaned and tilted her hips. He undulated inside her, and she shivered as the nerves were revived and her body ached from how deep he was going.

  She wanted to hold him, but the cuffs were locked on tight.

  Time stretched, and she lost track of whether she was experiencing torture or pleasure. When the pleasurable tension in her snapped, she screamed, heard horses scream in the paddock, and he growled low as he held himself inside her while his hips jerked and stilled.

  Listening to their breathing took up her entire world. She could feel the slick of sweat on their skin, the scratch of her bra under her breasts, the ribbon holding her stockings up. Every part of her skin was sending her information, and she was in a position where she would take all the input she could.

  The restraints disappeared, and she slowly lowered her arms. She took off the mask, and he was propped up on his arms on either side of her, and there was a sated look in his eyes. He kissed her softly. “That was as fun as I imagined, but I missed your eyes.”

  She returned the kiss, and their meeting of soft lips reminded her that she was still wearing more than she preferred.

  She squirmed as they kissed.

  He raised his head. “What is wrong?”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Underwire.”

  The word was no sooner out of her mouth than her clothing had fogged up and dissipated.

  She mourned her expensive underwear for a moment, and then, she slid her thigh along his. “That’s better.”

  The kissing continued, and he rolled to his back, running his hands over the skin that had been restricted and rubbed. While he stroked her skin, she started to move and was happy that she had her memories back, or she never would have the nerve to get on top.

  Chapter Six

  Flattened was the only way that she could describe how she felt. Orla was curled up on her side, and Lugh was wrapped around her.

  “So, a horse farm?”

  He chuckled. “It helps me blend in with the local landscape. It gives the hunt something to do, and a few of the fey who were riders of the hunt have arrived to work here.”

  “Oh, that is who pointed me toward the main house.”

  “Probably.” He inhaled deeply and squeezed her. “I am very happy you are here.”

  Her fingers were woven with his. “I am glad that I remembered you as well. How did that work, anyway?”

  “It was seconds, yes?”

  Orla nodded. “It was. A dizzy rush and then I went to sit down. I started to cry and freaked out the vendor.”

  He sighed. “I am sorry you were crying. I will try and make it up to you.”

  “So, you didn’t answer what happened to my memory?”

  “It was compressed. Like a zip file.”

  “It is weird to hear you talk about that kind of stuff.”

  “I studied long and hard to be able to move in this realm with ease. I even made this charming glamour for the eyes of the local people.”

  She chuckled. “It is very charming. I didn’t recognize you at first.”

  He squeezed her until she squeaked. “Very funny.”

  “I thought it was amusing. So, you had to wait for me to remember myself?”

  Lugh kissed the top of her ear. “Something like that.”

  “What the hell is going on with my ears? That has not happened before. I mean, I brushed them once and nearly passed out, but pain has always been the response, not... what that is.”

  He chuckled against her ear. “Somewhere in your ancestry, there is a high court fey. Don’t worry, it isn’t me.”

  She blinked. “You are joking.”

  “I am not joking. Puck has realized that those are the only successful candidates. There were two other women ahead of you, and each of them passed out before leaving the area around the gingerbread house.” He chuckled. “They were not compatible with Underhill.”

  She enjoyed being held, but she had to ask. “So, what happens now?”

  He chuckled. “We break for lunch and then go again?”

  She smiled. “Sure. Are you still going to donate some items to the museum? You know, the reason I am out here?”

  He chuckled. “Of course. I am not trying to damage your workplace or other relationships. I do want to install a portal in your home so that we are not as far away from each other.”

  She smiled. “That sounds nice.”

  “Eventually, I hope that you will consider this as your home.”

  She blinked. “Oh. Right.”

  Lugh rolled her to her back and looked down at her, his expression struggling to put something into words. “When you were gone, my heart broke.”

  She released his hand and cupped his cheek. “Mine too, but I didn’t know why.”

  He blinked back the tears shining in his eyes and smiled. “Right. First, lunch. You grab a shower, and I will make something.”

  Orla smiled. “I will, but the clothes are going to be weird without underwear.”

  He winked. “Just wait until you exit the shower. I am just gonna rinse off.”

  She sat up and watched him go. She sighed and wrapped her arms around her knees. This was not how she thought her day would go, but she was overjoyed that she had seen him again.

  He came out, towelling his hair, with a short towel wrapped around his hips, and he smiled. “All yours.”

  She got to her feet, wobbled a little, and slowly made her way to the bathroom.

  “Would you like a hand?” He was amused.

  She held up a hand. “Nope. Nope. I just like to build the suspense.”

  She made it to the bathroom and closed the door. When she turned to the shower, its six spray heads made her a little nervous. Orla stepped into the shower and turned it on, gasping as the temperature started cool but warmed rapidly. It was hitting her from neck to ankle, and knowing that Lugh was a foot taller, it meant that he had adjusted it for her before she stepped in to keep her head from getting hosed.

  She washed up everything left behind and thought about the possibility of getting pregnant with Lugh’s child. Would the hair be red or brown, and would the ears be pointy?

  She shook her head and finished her shower, noting that the soap he used didn’t have any scent. His towels were grey, thick, and fluffy. She wiped her face, dried herself, and tucked the bath sheet around her.

  Orla eased the door open and went to look for her pile of clothing. It was distinctly missing. What was draped at the edge of the bed was a black and gold medieval-style gown. She grimaced. There was a silk undergown but no sign of her clothes.

  She slipped on the items on offer and noted that the slits on the front of the skirt lined up with the same slits on the silk gown. Dressed, or rather costumed, she exited the bedroom and went in search of Lugh and lunch.

  The bedroom was on the second floor. She had been able to figure out how to get downstairs by simply wandering around until she found steps. She made her way down to where the scent of lunch was coming from, and she focused on his cooking while she approached. It looked like linguine alfredo, and she smiled. He was back in a tight t-shirt and well-worn jeans.

  “You also appear to have gotten the hang of modern food.”

  He glanced at her and then did a double-take. “Oh. Wow.”

  His obvious appreciation caused her cheeks to heat. She sat near where the plates had been laid out, and she propped her hand on her chin. “So, what else can you cook?”

  Lugh smiled. “You don’t know if I can cook this properly yet.”

  He finished tossing the pasta in the sauce, and then, he came over and divided the pasta evenly between their two plates.

  She paused, and he waved her on. “Go ahead, Orla.”

  She picked up her fork and spun the pasta, opening her mouth and stuffing the noodles in. She should have waited a moment because it was hot, but she gave him a thumb’s up for her apprecia
tion of the hot meal.

  Working when you had to make calls across the country meant that she frequently had to settle for sandwiches. Anything hot was good.

  “You really like it? The other fey are flatterers.” Lugh tried it. “Wow. This did turn out well.”

  Orla smiled. “It is really good.”

  He grinned, and she indecorously slurped in a noodle that smacked her on the cheek.

  He tsked and rubbed his thumb across her cheek, wiping up the sauce. He popped his thumb in his mouth, and his eyes narrowed slightly. “I don’t think I got it all.”

  He leaned forward, and she clapped a hand over his mouth. “I can get it, and I am hungry now, so no fun and games.”

  He leaned back, and she freed his mouth. “Spoilsport.”

  She snorted. “I haven’t had anything to eat since six, and since my watch is missing, I am going to have to guess that we are somewhere after noon.”

  Lugh nodded. “Somewhere.”

  Orla kept eating, and she sighed. “I have to head home around four, or I will be driving in the dark. Not my favourite thing to do.”

  Her lunch companion’s face went flat and then sly. “Would you like to go for a ride after lunch?”

  She knew he was going to try and trick her into staying. She wasn’t averse, but she was curious as to his plan.

  “Sure.” She plucked at her dress. “In this?”

  He grinned. “It is suited for riding. We just need to get you some boots, and you will be all set.”

  “Are you having fun playing dress-up with me?” It was kind of fun as long as her normal clothing showed up later.

  He smiled and finished his plate. “Oh, the fun has only started. I have hundreds of years’ worth of fantasies to carry out.”

  She finished her food and sat back. “What happens when they have all run their course.”

  He picked up her plate and kissed her. “I think of new ones. I am very inventive. You can participate as well.”

  She smiled. “I am a staying in and having a quiet night kind of lady.”

  “That is where the plans come in.”

  She cleaned her face of all traces of cream sauce, much to his disappointment. Orla grinned and folded her napkin.