Page 104 of Queen of the Shadow

He grinned. “Your nursemaid sea monsters?”

She mirrored his grin. “Well, yes. But in addition, I had a mother filled with wisdom she shared with me rather than hoarded. And I cannot fail to mention that I have a very wise daughter whose viewpoint I value and a savvy, opinionated second-in-command.”

He nodded. “That’s an excellent way to describe Tabiti.”

Scáthach met his gaze. “I also had a father who taught me that sometimes love isn’t enough to keep someone with you. I learned early not to take anyone who touches my life for granted.”

He held out his hand and she took it. “I don’t know how long you and I will have together, but I want you to know, were the choice mine, I would never leave your side.”

She lifted their joined hands and kissed his. “While we’re in the Underworld, let’s only consider the here and now. The future will take care of itself when we return to the mortal realm.”

“But for now it’s just us? Together?” he asked.

She touched his cheek. “For now it is just us. Together.” Their lips met, gently at first, and then the kiss deepened. The cloak slid from their shoulders as Cuchulainn stood, lifting her in his arms as if she weighed nothing. He carried her to their bed of fur, adding her cloak to his before he put her down.

As he stood over her, Scáthach got to her knees. She captured his gaze as her hands moved up his strong calves and thighs to his cock, which was already hardening. Still meeting his gaze, she stroked his length. His breath caught on a moan. His eyes began to close. She leaned forward and licked the tip of him. But she paused then, asking, “May I?”

Eyes still closed, he nodded. “Yes.”

She took him fully into her mouth then, swallowing his thickening length. Her hand followed her mouth, working his shaft—and Cuchulainn’s body froze. His eyes opened, and with a gasp, he suddenly lurched back several steps, almost stumbling into the fire.

“I-I can’t!” he exclaimed.

Scáthach stood and went to him. She wanted to wrap him in her arms, but the wild, frightened look in his glassy eyes told her that would not be helpful. Instead she took his hand, twining their fingers together as his breath came in short, panicked gasps, and he stared past her.

“Sentanta, look at me.”

He blinked several times and then turned his gaze to her. “I’m sorry!” he blurted. “I want you! I want your mouth on me. I’m—I’m so frustrated and angry at myself while also being filled with rage at Aife. She did this to me—to us.” He shook his head. “I don’t want to be like this. I don’t want to remember her mouth on me when it’syourmouth. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to defeat this.”

“Sssh,” she soothed. “There’s nothing to defeat. Just something to overcome. I have an idea. Will you try it with me?”

“I’ll try anything you want. I—I just don’t know if I’ll be successful,” he said miserably.

“Oh, love,” she told him. “It isn’t aboutyouovercoming and succeeding. It’s aboutus.”

“Us,” he repeated, clutching her hand. “Yes.Us.”

She nodded. “That’s right. You’re not in this alone. And there is no rush. In this realm time is much more fluid.” She kissed his lips very gently. “We can make this night last weeks, even months.”

“But the sea monster Curruid—” he began.

She pressed her finger to his lips. “Is dead and will remain dead. He isn’t going anywhere. Here we have time and solitude.”

He gazed at her and then cupped her face between his hands. “Did you call me your love?”

She smiled. “Yes.”

His face blazed with joy. “I am the man whom Scáthach, the mighty Queen of Shadow, loves!” he shouted into the seemingly endless night. “I can do anything!”

“Exactly,” she said. “You trust me?”

“With my mind, body, and spirit, which is exactly how I love you,” he said. “With all of me.”

She took his hand again and led him back to their bed. Scáthach faced him and, holding his gaze, went to her knees before him. When her hands lifted to his legs, she could feel the iron-like tension in his body. She drew lazy circles over the sensitive skin of his muscular thighs before she reached up and caught both of his hands, which she guided to her head.

Scáthach held his gaze. “When Aife used you, she was in control. Tonightyouare in control. Completely. If you don’t find pleasure in this, I stop. If you do, it will be becauseyouwant to continue.Youset the pace. Show me what pleases you and if this doesn’t please you, then we will try something new.”

He nodded a little sharply, but when Scáthach made no move to take his cock in her hands or her mouth, Cuchulainn began to relax. His fingers moved in the thickness of her hair, caressing her scalp much as she had his. Her eyes closed and she sighed in pleasure.