Page 6 of Wind and Water (Reign of the Witch Queen #2)

Chapter Three

Wren

W hy did I tell him that I want him? Sometimes my mouth outruns all good sense. I’ve known Liam for eight days, and suddenly I’m considering going with him to some portal into another world with elves and dragons.

“You’re angry,” Liam says while we wait for Momma to get our tickets to the distillery tour.

“Not angry, no. I’m embarrassed and scared. I don’t know what made me behave as I did last night. I hardly know you.” I close my eyes and take a deep breath before I say something else better kept to myself.

“You have nothing to be uneasy about. As you said, sometimes people need to be held.” He has the most beautiful lips, and when they hint at a smile, he’s stunningly handsome. In fact, several women stare as they walk by our bench in the park across the street from the ticket office.

“Do women always gape at you?” I’m stupidly jealous, and I don’t like it one bit.

“No.” He crosses his leg over his knee and makes a growling sound. “Why didn’t you marry?”

My attention is still on the three women who unabashedly stare over their shoulders long after they’ve passed us. I’m shocked by the change of subject. “What? Why are we talking about my broken engagement?”

“We’re not. I just wondered why, if you were betrothed, you did not marry.” He has his arms crossed, and his muscles bulge like the best arm candy I’ve ever seen.

“Cam couldn’t keep it in his pants.” I roll my eyes at myself. Why can’t I say anything gently?

Liam’s eyes narrow, and he cocks his head. I can practically see him translating what I’ve said into something he understands. “This Cam was unfaithful? Unfaithful to you?”

“You say that as if it’s impossible.” I can’t help laughing at how incredulous he sounds.

He mumbles something.

“What?”

“For any man lucky enough to secure your hand, it should be impossible.”

I would swear he’s blushing, but I must be losing my mind. After all, it’s ten in the morning and Momma has talked me into a scotch whiskey tour. “Thank you.” What else can I say? It’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.

After an uncomfortable moment, he asks, “This whiskey they make here is famous, I gather?”

“Yes. Honestly, I’ve never really liked scotch as much as our American bourbon, but Momma said we can’t come to Scotland and not have a tour.

” Despite the strangeness of having an elf want me to go to his world, I’ve had a wonderful time on this vacation, and I’m not at all sorry to know Liam.

He’s perfect in many ways. “You don’t have to come along.

I mean, you’re welcome, but we’re not going to run off while on the tour. ”

“I’d find you.” The matter-of-fact way he says it should be creepy, but instead, it’s comforting.

“This is a big world. How would you find me?” I fuss with the little hem of my pink t-shirt. It’s sunny but cooler today, so I’m back in my jeans.

“I can hear the song of your soul. The oracle gave it to me before I left so that the portal would track to you.” He closes his eyes, and his expression softens.

“What is that? Are you listening to it now?” Great-grandma always said there are more things in heaven and earth than one woman can learn in a lifetime. I guess this is what she meant.

“Do you want to hear it?” He opens his hand, palm up.

I stare for a long moment before sliding my hand into his. “Why am I nervous?”

He draws a deep breath. “There’s no need. Close your eyes and trust me, Wren.”

I look around the park. No one is paying us any mind. Doing as he says, I close my eyes and try to trust him, but I’m not certain what that means. Then I feel the nudge of his thoughts at the base of my skull. It’s a gentle prod to gain entry.

“Relax. I’ll never harm you.” His voice is soft and full of warmth and promise.

Swallowing down the moan that tries to eke out, I take a long, slow, deep breath and relax.

Like a breeze, the soft hum begins inside my head.

A moment later, I feel it everywhere; the hum mingles with a higher sound that weaves and dips.

It’s beautiful, filled with joy, and intricacies. “This is me?”

“This is you. It’s the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard.”

Connected as we are, and with my ability to sense feelings, I know he didn’t mean to tell me that. “What does your soul sound like?”

Our internal link opens even more, and I feel his heart beating as if I were listening through a stethoscope. It’s fast and strong, but then it evens out. A deep bass hum with a tenor melody mixing with my song.

“Oh my.” Our songs together are like a dream of what heaven would sound like. We’re in perfect harmony. “Liam.”

He lets out a shuddering breath and releases my hand.

Without our songs, there is silence for a few heartbeats before the noise of Edinburgh fills the gap. I turn toward him. “That was amazing.”

“It was.” He pushes a wayward curl out of my eyes and tucks it behind my ear.

As his fingers meet my cheek, my skin heats. “Do you always hear your soul?”

“Only when I listen, which is rare.” His gaze is intense and sends a thrill through me.

“If I could hear that, I would waste away, spending all my time listening.” I already miss the music.

“I can teach you to hear your soul.” His pupils are wide as he stares at me like I’m more than the woman he’s assigned to bring home.

“I finally got them.” Momma steps off the sidewalk into the grassy area where we’re sitting. She’s waving the tickets in her hand. “We need to get a move on. The tour starts in fifteen minutes. I swear the lines in that place were a mile long. I thought we’d have to wait for the afternoon tour.”

The moment gone, I laugh, as does Liam.

Momma looks at her phone, where she’s tracking us on her map of Edinburgh, and we dutifully follow her the few blocks to the distillery.

Even though it was only a mile from our rental, we had to hail a taxi because Momma was three sheets to the wind after two shots of whiskey and a cocktail on an empty stomach.

I could have used the walk since I feel a touch of a buzz from the morning tour.

Meanwhile, one wouldn’t know Liam had the same, as he easily lifts Momma from the cab and carries her up the steps to the rental.

I get the door and run to the kitchen for some water. “Momma, you need to drink this down or you’ll be sorry when you wake up.”

Liam carries her to the bed, and I manage to get her to drink the water before she passes out. I refill the glass and leave it on the bedside table. Liam uses magic to gently lift Momma and move the blankets out from under her. Then he tucks her in as if she were his own.

My heart does a bumpity bump. “We should let her sleep it off. She’s put a shame on Texas women today. Most of us can hold our liquor.”

“Your cheeks are pink, as is the tip of your nose.” Liam gets two glasses and fills them with water. Handing one to me, he grins.

“Do you know how handsome you are when you smile? Is that why you’re so stingy with them?” I take the water and drink half of it down before placing the glass on the coffee table and flopping on the couch.

He lifts my feet, then sits with them on his lap.

“Elves are well-made by nature, and so I’ve never thought about my looks.

” He stares at me. “I won’t deny that it gives me pleasure to hear you say such things.

I’m a soldier and rarely have occasion for levity.

I’m also the son of the rightful queen, and I take that duty seriously. ”

“Being a son is a duty? I’ve always thought of my mother as a blessing.” It makes me sad to think his experience was something else.

“Where is your father?” His eyebrows draw together, making him look stern.

I sit up and pull my feet out of his lap. “He left before I was born. I never met him, and Momma hardly ever brings him up. I know he lives in Louisiana and works on oil rigs. They were only married for a year.”

For a military man, he shows more emotions than he thinks. His eyes fill with anger and sorrow, and his lips pull into a thin line. “He lost a grand life, in my opinion. Birdie is a treasure, as are you.”

“Thank you.” I ease forward and cup his cheek. “I’m going to kiss you.”

His gaze shifts from my mouth to my eyes.

Scooching closer, I press my leg to his thigh, then tilt my head and press my lips to his. A flash of warmth smothers my entire body from just the kiss. I gasp.

Liam cups my head, brushes his thumb over my cheekbone, and makes love to my mouth. A long groan erupts from deep in his chest.

Sliding my tongue along his, I am on fire. I would crawl inside his skin if I could, just to be closer to him.

With one arm, he pulls me across his lap so that I’m facing him with my knees on either side of his hips. Leaning back, he takes me with him. He caresses from my upper back to the top of my jeans, then his fingers slip under my shirt and trace a path back the way they came.

I press my hips forward until I feel the hard ridge of his shaft straining against his jeans. My pussy aches for more of him and less material between us. Still, I’m hesitant to rush this kiss, which is rocking my world.

Breaking the kiss, he breathes fast and ragged. “You and I have a destiny, and I’m not sure this is part of that path. As much as I enjoy and desire you, Wren, I wouldn’t wish to compromise you when you’re not clearheaded.”

This is the first time a man has stopped sex with me over my state of sobriety. I’m not sure if I should be upset or flattered. “So, if I were sober as a judge, you’d say yes?”

He pushes my curls back and groans as his cock jerks. Clearly, that part of him is as disappointed as I am. He closes his eyes for a moment. When he opens them, he is resolved. “I’ll wait and see if you’d make such an offer without half a head.”

Sitting up so that my breasts are at his eye level, I say, “Momma says a drunk man’s words are a sober man’s thoughts.”