Elfin Delights

Elfin Delights Alice Gaines All rights reserved.

Copyright ©2009 Alice Gaines

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Elfin Delights Alice Gaines When Marla Roberts gets lost in the Northern California redwood forest, she doesn’t expect to find a gingerbread cottage inhabited by two hunky males with pointy ears and flaming red hair. They’re elves, they tell her, and so is she. She soon discovers that an elfin ménage offers sensual treats she’d never find in the human world. What’s more… if she passes all their tests, they have an even bigger reward for her.

Chapter One Somewhere about a mile back, Marla Roberts had taken a left turn into LaLa Land. Her cell phone and GPS didn’t work in this part of the woods. She knew that much, even if she didn’t have the first clue where she was. And now, it appeared she was driving in circles. She passed the same gingerbread-y cottage three times now. Even if there were more than one example of post-Grimm architecture in the northern California forest, they wouldn’t all stand snuggled up to the base of that particularly huge redwood. No, she’d been this way before -- more than once. She might as well admit the truth. She’d never find her way back to Mendocino without asking for help. She got out of her car, opened the gate in the gingerbread-y fence, and followed the gravel path to the tiny porch. Something made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up as she went. A feeling that someone was watching her. How utterly clichéd and patently bogus at the same time. What did she expect -- a witch with a wicked-big oven? She’d knock on the door. Someone would answer. She’d get directions and head back to civilization. End of story. She climbed the step and crossed the porch. Before she could knock, the door opened. A man stood on the other side of the threshold. And, what a man. He was as unusual as he was drop-dead gorgeous. He had hair so red it must have glowed in the dark. Orange-red, red-red. Screaming red. Match that with moss green eyes and… what the heck?… pointy ears, and he looked like a creature that might hide under a toadstool, except for one thing. He stood well over six feet and had shoulders so broad they nearly touched the doorjamb on both sides. His gaze traveled over her, and he smiled. “Nice.” “I’m sorry. I know I’m staring.”

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He shrugged. “I’m used to it.” “I’m lost,” she said. “Can you tell me how to get back to the main highway?” “You’re not lost. You’re right where you’re supposed to be.” He turned and went back into the cottage. “Excuse me?” “Come on in,” he called from inside. She stuck her head over the threshold and looked around. If she’d expected the witch’s cottage, she could have thought again. This was more like a bachelor pad. Very neat but a bachelor pad, nevertheless. One end served as the kitchen with a butcherblock workspace, six burner gas range, and gleaming stainless steel appliances. A sitting area filled the other end, dominated by a huge flat-screen television. The center section held nothing but an enormous bed. All of this stuff would hardly fit in her house. How could a tiny cottage hold it all? She ducked outside and glanced from one end of the structure to the other. Tiny. She checked out the interior again. Not tiny. “Are you going to stand out there all day?” the man said. She crossed the threshold and took a few steps inside. “How did you do that?” “Do what?” The man opened the refrigerator and stared inside. She started to say something, but nothing that came to mind made any sense. Everything about this guy and his place was strange, but she could hardly say that without insulting him. “Never mind.” “You want a brew?” “No thanks.” He closed the refrigerator, unscrewed the top of a bottle of beer, and took a long drag. After a moment, he belched. “You might as well. You’re going to be here for a long time.” She stepped farther inside. “So, can you tell me how to get to the highway?” He tossed the cap of his bottle into the sink. “Nope.” “Why not?”

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“Can’t. I’ve never been there.”

Oooo-kay. Never been on the highway. Did he drop out of the sky in front of the

cottage? “Can I use your phone?” “Don’t have one. There’s no one out there I want to talk to.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “So, you don’t drive.” “Cars pollute.” “How do you get supplies?” she asked. “Delivery.” “But, you don’t have a phone to call for them.” His eyes twinkled. Really twinkled, light flashing from them for a split second. “I have standing orders for things.” “Then, I imagine one of your delivery people can tell me how to get to the highway.” “I imagine.” He flashed her a self-satisfied grin. “They’re due out next Wednesday.” “Well, thanks for nothing.” She turned on her heel, and her nose almost connected with a chest. She backed up and found herself staring at the first man’s blueeyed twin. Also tall, identical red hair and weird ears, and the same big, hard body. “Where are you going?” the new one asked.

“Anywhere away from here.” She stepped around him, went outside, and

started down the path. “You won’t get far without your keys,” one of them called after her. She stopped in her tracks and fished through her purse. She’d put the keys in there when she left the car. She searched all the contents and didn’t find them. She patted all her pockets and then reached inside. Nothing. She turned back. “What did you do with them?” Green eyes winked at her. “Come on back inside.” “Come on, love,” the other one said. “We don’t bite.” “Unless you want us to,” the first man added.

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“My brother thinks he’s a comedian,” Blue Eyes said. “He gives the family a bad name.” “I’ll say,” she answered. “Look, you don’t have your car keys. You’re not going anywhere,” he said. “Even if you were, you’d end up going around in circles again.” “How did you know I was doing that?” “Happens to everyone in these woods,” Green Eyes said. “Come on inside, and we’ll sort things out.” “Free dinner if you stay,” the blue-eyed one added. Both of them stood there looking handsome but otherwise non-threatening. What the heck? She wasn’t getting anywhere her way. “I guess I’ll take that beer, after all,” she answered.

*** Green Eyes turned out to be named Liam and his twin, Andy. While Andy cooked dinner, Liam sat in a recliner watching a football game on the flat-screen television. Marla perched on a stool at the kitchen counter that served as a dining area and sipped some wine Andy had offered instead of beer. Neither of the men seemed to find it odd that they had a visitor. In fact, they both acted as if they’d expected her. “So, love,” Andy said. “What brings you to our neck of the woods?” “I always wanted to see the north coast,” she answered. Liam wandered through, got himself another beer from the refrigerator and tossed another cap into the sink. “We both know why she’s here, Andy.” Andy retrieved the cap and threw it in a trash bin under the sink. “I’m being polite. You might try it some time.” “Later. The Niners are winning.” Liam went back to the couch and sat down. “Don’t mind him. He’ll grow up someday.” Just then, Liam let out a growl. “Fuck! What do you mean pass interference?” “Language,” Andy shouted back. “There’s a lady present.”

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“Do you know why I’m here?” Marla asked. Andy stopped in the process of spreading garlic butter onto sourdough bread. “There are a couple of possibilities.” “Want to share?” He wrapped the bread in foil and put it into the oven. Then, he walked slowly toward her, put his fists on the counter, and bent to stare into her eyes. Something really strange happened. She fell into those blue irises, or her spirit did. Suddenly, she was floating across a membrane of some kind. When she came out on the other side, she found herself in a foreign landscape but one she knew. She’d been here in her dreams. The whole place felt like something from a fairy tale. A green meadow, dotted here and there with wildflowers. In the distance, a waterfall coursed over a cliff. Puffy clouds skipped overhead. It was the sort of magical place where you expected a unicorn to bound out from behind some trees. Her body had the usual and totally inappropriate reaction. She got all hot and bothered, just as she did whenever she had this dream. Her breasts felt heavy and sensitive, and her clit started to throb. She could hardly get breath into her lungs. Right. The other part of her nightly travels. The lover she always found here if she stayed in her dream world long enough. The tall, regal fellow with the huge, rigid cock. He usually accompanied her, offering sex beyond anything she could have in her real life. She never quite got enough of him, though, and she always woke up so excited she had to take care of herself before she could get back to sleep. She stayed in that world -- hot and hungry -- for what felt like a minute or two before the world went back to normal. She came back to reality to find both men across the counter looking as if they’d like to eat her up. “Holy shit,” Liam said. “I have the boner of a lifetime.” Andy pounded him on the shoulder. “Don’t scare her, fool.” Liam glanced at the front of Andy’s pants. “You’re just as hard as I am.” “She’s very powerful.”

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Sitting here listening to them talk about their erections ought to feel more than weird. It ought to feel pornographic, if not outright stalky. But, given the state of her own body, it made sense. Though they hadn’t touched, they’d made some kind of sexual connection through her vision. Instead of scary, it felt damned good. “Would you two like to explain what just happened?” Her voice came out low and breathless. “The universe sent you here, love,” Andy said. “We only need to discover if you’re one of us or the one.” “I don’t know what that means.” “Tell us about your mother,” Liam said. “Oh, Mom.” What could you say about her mother? Rita had been a true love child. New Age. Crystals, auras, all that nonsense. “She was an original.” “She probably got around, huh?” Liam said. Andy glared at him for a moment. “What my brother means is that she was attractive to men.” Was she ever? “After a while, I stopped counting the boyfriends.” “She was a natural,” Liam said. “What about your father?” “I never met him,” she said. “Mom said he was charmed or something. She was into all kinds of mysticism and other rot.” “It’s not rot, love,” Andy said. “You could have magic on both sides -- a double dose.” “You two aren’t making any sense,” she said. Although they did, in a weird sort of way. The place and its occupants had charm. The guys themselves were pointyeared, but otherwise, very easy on the eyes. Andy’s stew smelled good, and the wine went down real easy. Andy leaned on the counter, bringing his face near to hers. This time, she didn’t disappear into his eyes again, but she did get a dose of his body heat. And a scent of heather that seemed to cling to him.

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He let out a little groan of approval. “Oh, yes. You’re going to do better in the tests than any of the others.” “This is going to be fun,” Liam said. Andy glared at him. “This is serious business.” Liam grinned. “I take fun very seriously.” “Hey, wait a minute,” she said. “I agreed to stay for dinner. You didn’t say anything about tests.” “Don’t worry, love. You’ll enjoy it.” Andy turned back to the stove and lifted the lid off the large pot there. The scent of his stew filled the kitchen area. Marla’s stomach rumbled with hunger. Not only had she missed lunch, but that stuff smelled so damned good. “What did you put in there, anyway?” she asked.

“Beef, vegetables, wine,” he answered.

“That’s what I use to make stew, but mine never smells like that,” she said.

Liam sat on the stool next to her. “Andy has a special recipe. You’ll like it.”

“I know I’ll like it. I want to know what’s in it.”

The two men exchanged a glance. The message between them didn’t take long. If

she’d looked away, she would have missed it. They knew something they weren’t telling her, and suddenly, she got that funny feeling at the back of her neck again. The one that had made the hairs there stand up as she approached the cottage for the first time. “What are you two up to?” she asked.

Liam did his best to look like innocence personified. It didn’t work very well

coming from him. “Just waiting for dinner,” he said. The timer went off. Andy turned to the oven. “Garlic bread’s done.” “Don’t you mean saved by the bell?” she said.

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“Now, love. There’s no cause for suspicion.” Andy plunked the foil-wrapped loaf into a basket and set it in front of her and Liam, who opened the package. A perfumed cloud wafted out of it. “What’s in that?” she said. “And don’t tell me bread and garlic butter.” “And my special herb,” Andy answered. “Why does that sound like something the colonel would say to the chicken?” Andy put his palm over his heart. “You wound me, darlin’.” Great. Now he was starting to sound like a leprechaun. A six-foot leprechaun in snug, faded jeans. Liam grabbed a paper napkin from the holder and handed it to her. Then, he broke off a hunk of the bread and held it up to her mouth. Instead of letting him feed her, she took the offering from his hand and bit into it. It crunched and oozed garlic butter onto her tongue. Perfectly delicious with a complex flavor she couldn’t put her finger on. She chewed and swallowed. “Aren’t you eating any?” “You bet.” Liam helped himself and ate as if he was half-starved. Andy served them all bowls of stew and sat on the stool on her other side. The three of them ate in silence for a while, shoveling food into their mouths at a ridiculous speed. Whatever the secret herb was, it made the mixture of meat and vegetables into something the angels might dine on in heaven. Besides the tender beef and deep, rich sauce, the dish had something else going for it. The same sort of something else she’d tasted in the bread. The word heather kept popping into her head the same way it did when she’d tried to understand the pleasant scent of the man who’d cooked it. Come to think of it, Liam gave off the same earthy smell. Wait, that didn’t make any sense. He hadn’t smelled like that before. In fact, the whole room seemed full of a cloud of heather. It surrounded everything, making her head light. She set her spoon down and raised her fingers to her forehead. “Is it getting warm in here?”

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“That it is, love,” Andy said. “It’ll be downright hot in a minute,” Liam added. “You put something in the food. You’ve drugged me.” “Just my special herb,” Andy said. “She’s especially susceptible.” Liam lifted her chin and stared into her face. “A very good sign.” She ought to slap him. She ought to scream. She ought to run out of this place as fast as her legs would take her and find her way back to civilization on foot. But, honestly, he’d suddenly become the most tempting tower of male flesh she’d ever seen. The pointed ears were cute once you got used to them, and his hair had all the radiance of a sunset. Why hadn’t she noticed his lips before? The top one curled in the most fascinating way, perking upward at the corners. The bottom had a fullness to it that promised soft kisses, lingering in all the right places. She put her hand against his chest for balance, and leaned over to sample him with the tip of her tongue. Soft, so soft, like velvet. His mouth carried the same herbal taste that made the food so delicious so she took more. And more and more until her head swam. “Right,” Andy said behind her. “We’d better get her to the bed.” Liam pulled back from her kiss, his breath coming hard. “Never mind her. We’d better get me to the bed.” “Patience, little brother.” Marla turned and stared into Andy’s eyes. “Dear heaven, you’re as sexy as he is.” “We’re a pair, we are. Come on, love. There’s something we need to show you.” Andy rose and helped her up. He put an arm around her ribs to steady her, but he needn’t have bothered. She felt fine. In fact, she felt so wonderful she could have broken into song. His touch gave her an excuse, though, so she turned and ran her arms around his neck to pull herself upward. She brought her lips to his for a kiss that curled her toes. He growled in the back of his throat and eased her away. “Potent little thing.” “We may have found the real deal this time,” Liam said.

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She gazed up at his handsome face. “Did you really have a boner before?” “I did,” Andy said. “I do again.” “Let me feel it.” She pressed her palm to the front of his pants and found his cock. It was as hard as steel, fat and long. “Lord!” he cried. “Easy, darlin’. No need to rush.” Liam placed his lips against her ear. “You can play with mine. It never got completely soft.” “You’ll have us both in good time,” Andy added. “On the bed.” Ah yes, the bed. The enormous bed that dominated the center of the room. The three of them fairly floated there. The guys helped her to stretch out on top and then went to work liberating her from her clothing. They moved quickly, as if they’d practiced the most efficient way to get a woman naked. She might have wondered at that except for the fact that her body itched to get free of its restraints. She closed her eyes -- the better to savor the feel of hands all over her. Her shoes hit the floor, and fingers worked her socks off her feet. Who would have guessed that the ankles were an erogenous zone? Hers seemed to have grown new nerve endings because each touch sent zingers along her skin to her knees and above. In the meantime, other hands worked on her blouse, undoing the buttons quickly and parting the sides so that air played over her shoulders and chest. He lifted her, whisked the garment away, and unhooked her bra in one fluid motion. When he laid her down again, he made fast work of removing that, too, so that she lay exposed from the waist up. “Sweet little titties,” he murmured. She opened her eyes to see which of the men had said that, but he’d already closed his eyes and taken one nipple into his mouth. Shards of pleasure rushed through her, stealing her breath, and she lay watching his cheeks move as he sucked. She stroked his hair in encouragement and then his ears. His adorable, pointy ears. The other man hadn’t stopped his efforts, but already had the zipper of her pants undone and had started pulling them and her panties down her legs. Soon she was

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completely nude, and he stroked her inner thigh from the knee to where her pussy ached for his touch. The first man switched to the second breast, but continued rubbing the original nipple between thumb and forefinger. It stood stiff, glistening from the moisture from his mouth just as her sex sent liquid into the juncture of her thighs. She had a hotblooded nature, as some of her lovers had commented on in the past, but she’d never responded like this before. Her body was a humming, throbbing thing, and they knew all the right places to touch. So, when the man at her crotch parted the lips there and stroked her clit, her hips jerked upward. “Easy, love,” he said. “We’ll get you what you need.” Andy. Good. She’d taken the measure of his tool, and she’d soon feel it filling her. “Fuck me,” she whispered. Liam released her nipple. “Damn, she’s hot.” “Keep to your job, and we’ll find out how hot,” Andy said. “Do your thing, big brother.” Andy kept stroking her, back and forth, back and forth. He had a wicked way with his fingers, applying just the right pressure with each pass to take her to the edge without putting her over. She moaned in frustration and moved her pelvis, seeking more friction. “Poor thing.” Liam stretched out beside her and pulled her against him. “Not much longer.” Andy parted her legs and crouched down between them. After separating her pussy lips, he put his mouth over her sex. The minute his tongue found her clit, she tensed and climaxed. He didn’t let up but pushed her even higher as the tremors wracked her body. Liam held her the entire time as she flew apart and then came floating back to Earth.

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Andy lay on her other side, so both of them warmed her and surrounded her with the scent of heather or whatever Andy used in his herbal concoction. If he bottled and sold the stuff, he could make a million. “She’s the best one yet,” Liam said.

“Definitely passed the test,” Andy answered.

She’d make sense of that later. She’d demand they explain themselves. Right

now, she could only bask in the afterglow of that amazing orgasm. And, unless something really strange had happened in the last few minutes, she had two amazing lovers with even more amazing cocks ready to give her more. She ought to get lost in the woods more often. “How’re you doing, love?” Andy murmured into her ear.

“Oh, my,” she said. “Oh, my. Oh, my.”

Liam pushed his pelvis forward, grinding his cock against her outer thigh. “Man,

I’m turned on. Want some of this?” Andy took her hand and placed it on his own erection. “The herbs work on us, too, you see.” “Believe me, I see.” She curled her fingers around his member and pumped. It was almost too thick at the base for her to circle completely. “What’s the lovely herb called?” He groaned. “Elfsbane, and if you keep doing that, I’ll come in your hand.”

She released him. “I wouldn’t want that.”

“What do you want?” Liam asked.

She thought for a moment. So many possibilities. With two well-hung studs, she

could enjoy any number of combinations and permutations. The elfsbane sang in her blood, leaving a tingle in her most sensitive places. The nape of her neck, her breasts, even the hollows at the backs of her knees. Sated only a minute before, her clit came to life again, and the walls of her pussy contracted, begging for something to fill her. She only had to ask, and she could have either one of them deep inside her. “I’d like one cock in my pussy and the other in my mouth,” she said.

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“Hot damn,” Liam crowed. “Doggie style.” Oh, yeah. She got onto her hands and knees, legs spread wide. Liam made the decision of who would do what by taking his place at her back and easing his cock into her. Because of his impressive size, he went slowly -- inch by inch until he’d embedded himself fully inside her. “Holy shit, she feels good,” Liam said. He pulled back and pushed into her again, setting a slow rhythm. “Elfin more than any of the others.” Andy rose on his knees at her front, grasped his cock by the base, and guided the tip to her mouth. The same flavors she’d sampled in his cooking danced on her tongue now. Lordy, even his member tasted good. She swirled her tongue around the rim of the head and then slid her lips along his shaft, taking as much of his bulk as she could. “Full-blooded elfin,” Liam said as he picked up the pace of his thrusts. “I haven’t fucked like this since we left Meaghim’s Realm.” Meaghim’s Realm. Wherever the hell that was. The name Meaghim resonated, though. She’d heard it before. She’d have to ask later because this sex was too good to interrupt for a memory search. Right now, she couldn’t wrap her mind around much more than the male flesh stroking her inner walls and the luscious man meat filling her mouth. Andy took her head in his hands and made his own movements -- an even inand-out, just deep enough to let her savor the feel and taste of him but not so deep as to choke her. This was fucking of the first order. Two masters, each devoted to her enjoyment. She’d come again soon. Already, she’d started the climb to the magical plateau where nothing mattered but the way their bodies fit together. Both men were breathing hard and punctuating their thrusts with grunts and moans of arousal. Liam seemed to swell inside her as he stroked her inner muscles. She’d grown so wet, she took him with no trouble, and their bodies made slapping sounds as she strained backward to meet his movements. “Shi-it,” he groaned. “Oh, yeah. Here it comes.”

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“Hold on, lad,” Andy said. “Hold on yourself,” Liam answered. “You’re not buried in her pussy.” “She’s sucking my cock, man. If I can last, so can you.” “Can’t.” Liam dug his fingers into her hips and went wild, slamming into her. “Too good.” Her own lust flared out of control. She floated in it, hanging in that perfect place where orgasm waited, ready to crash over her. As good as fucking always felt, she’d never had anything like this. She fought off the inevitable, making the heaven last. She increased the pressure on Andy’s cock, sucking as hard as she could manage. He trembled and continued pumping. “Ahhhh. Right, lad, now. Finish her, so we can all come at once.” “About fucking time.” Liam’s arms went around her as he bent and his hands slid over her belly to her sex. He stroked the swollen lips between her legs and then parted them in search of her hot button. When he found it, he rubbed. Hard circles that pushed it up against the bone. She lost the last thread of control as the climax built. Then, it claimed her, massive contractions starting at her womb and coursing along the solid flesh inside her. Andy moved his cock from her mouth and pulled on it as if he’d like to throttle the life from it. As Liam thrust into her and howled with his own orgasm, Andy gripped his member by the base and sent a stream of hot come onto her shoulder. She kept coming and coming until both men had spent themselves and went limp against the mattress, pulling her into a pile with them. Even after all of that, even when she had no strength to lift a finger, her pussy continued fluttering with the aftermath of her climax. The scent of heather hung in the air around them. Holy cannoli. If elves had sex like this all the time, where did she sign up?

Chapter Two The scrambled eggs the next morning tasted just as good as the stew. Marla took just a nibble and washed it down with some orange juice. She wiped her lips with the paper napkin. “Any elfsbane in this?” Andy took a sip of his coffee, and his blue eyes twinkled over the rim of his mug. “You seemed to enjoy the herb last night.” Sitting beside her, Liam whistled between his teeth and went back to eating his sausage and eggs. “I did enjoy it,” she said. “I just like to know what I’m getting into.” “Basil and chives and good cheese,” Andy said. “But, I can get you some elfsbane if you want.” “Maybe later.” She ate some more and let herself enjoy it. Even using normal ingredients, Andy sure could cook. The sun had burned off the early morning fog, and now, light streaked in the open window, bringing with it the scents and sounds of the redwood forest. Jays squawked, and insects buzzed. The woods smelled warm and green. Exactly the sort of paradise she’d come looking for in this part of California. She hadn’t expected the sensuous treat these two men had given her, but they still had a lot to explain. “So, what did you mean when you called me full-blooded, Liam?” He tapped her on the tip of her nose. “You’re elfin on both sides, girlfriend.” “I don’t have ears like yours,” she said. “Not everyone does,” Andy said. “But, you’re elfin, sure enough.” “And you know that how?” she said. “You responded to the herb,” Andy said. “You sure did,” Liam added. “You nearly took the top of my head off.”

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“You’re pretty good yourself,” she said. “Both of you.” She hadn’t had Andy’s cock inside her, but he’d been so considerate. A selfish man would have tried to push too far into her mouth, and he wouldn’t have pulled out before he came. She hadn’t had to do anything to control him. Even in the throes of his own orgasm, he’d made sure he treated her well. With his physical endowments, he’d make a lover at least the equal of his brother. And, she had them both all to herself. “You said something about a test,” she said. “The first was to see if you were full-blooded elfin. The strength of your reaction to the elfsbane told us you are,” Andy answered. “But, how could that be? My parents are human.” “You never knew your father,” Andy said. “True, but my mother…” Liam finished his food and pushed his plate away. “She sounds elfin to me.” Mom was pretty weird, she had to admit. And, she sure got around, lover-wise. Marla, herself, had a strong sexual drive and had to hold herself in check so she wouldn’t get her mother’s speckled reputation. Maybe, maybe… Oh, hell, no. How could she be an elf and not even know it? “You see, love, hundreds of years ago, the McLeigh clan broke away. Some had become fascinated with humans, and the whole lot of them left Meaghim’s Realm for Earth.” “You mentioned Meaghim’s Realm last night. What is it?” she asked. “It’s where we come from, love,” Andy said. “You, too, going back some generations.” That name again. Meaghim. With her brain clearer, more of the memory came to her. Something her mother had told her about a lover who waited for her in a magical place. Mom had said a lot of things, though, and some had no connection to reality. Andy and Liam knew about Meaghim and his realm. Maybe Mom had been onto something, after all.

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“You’ve been to Meaghim’s Realm,” Andy said softly. “You saw it in my eyes last night.” She couldn’t help but gasp. “That place?” “Our home,” Liam said. That magical world that haunted her sleep. The valley so green and perfect it couldn’t possibly exist in the real world. And the lover too good to be merely human. “I’ve only dreamed about it.” Andy leaned on the counter, much as he had that night. She avoided looking into his eyes for fear of losing herself again. After a moment, he sighed and straightened. “Meaghim’s Realm lies on a different plane from the human world, but they intersect. What you thought was a dream was really a trip home.” “No. That can’t be. You’re making it up.” Andy and Liam exchanged a glance. After a heartbeat or two, Liam shrugged. “You convince her, big brother. You’re the one with the gift of the tongue.” Was he ever. Marla’s skin got hot remembering exactly how good he was with that tongue. “So, what you’re telling me is I’m a McLeigh,” she said. “Not just a McLeigh,” Andy said. “You may be the McLeigh.” Her head swam with all of this. She’d always felt different from other girls -more sexual. Oh, hell, hornier. From the moment she’d become aware of the differences between boys and girls, those foreign little creatures had fascinated her. How they moved, what they felt, how they saw the world. Of course, she’d heard the sounds coming out of her mother’s room when she had “friends” over. She’d tried touching Jimmy Scott the same way her mother touched men and had gotten a split lip for her trouble. Yeah, she’d definitely been different. Andy lifted her chin so she had to look into his face. “You know the truth of what I’m saying, don’t you?”

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“I have dreamed about that place my whole life.” And the man. What a man. “Finish your breakfast, love, and we’ll take a walk and see what we find,” Andy said.

*** The three of them tromped through the woods hand in hand. When the path narrowed, they let Marla lead for some reason, but both elves helped with a hand at her elbow or at the small of her back. Both of them helped her scramble over rocks and downed trees, even though she could have managed very well on her own. The attentions felt protective, as if she were some kind of treasure. Elves were pretty cute, when you got right down to it. Especially tall ones with big cocks and talented mouths. Amazing. Even on an innocent walk among the redwoods, she couldn’t get thoughts of sex with these two out of her mind. “I hope you guys know where we’re going,” she said. “We’ll find our way back, love,” Andy said. “We always do,” Liam added. The northern California redwood groves lived up to their reputation for beauty. The huge trees blocked out most of the sun’s light, leaving cool darkness underneath. With so little illumination, little more than ferns could survive on the forest floor, and so the place took on the look of a cathedral as the lowest branches stood high above the ground. A humble mortal hardly dared to speak above a hush on this holy ground, and even the birds seemed to mute their calls out of respect. Eventually, they left the woods and emerged into what looked for all the world like a moor. Gentle slopes rolled off into the distance without a tree of any kind in sight. A beautiful landscape. You might even say enchanted -- but desolate, too. Nothing moved, not even a bird. She stared up at Andy. “What is this place?” He swiped at his nose and cleared his throat. “It’s home.” “Or, what’s left of it,” Liam said. “This is Meaghim’s Realm.”

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“I thought you said the valley in my dreams was Meaghim’s Realm.” This place had no flowers and no waterfall. Just the short, grey-green vegetation. “You dreamed of the old home,” Andy said. “How things are supposed to be.” “And, they will be again,” Liam said. Whatever that meant. “Look!” Liam pointed to a distant hill. A ring of stones appeared on the summit. That hadn’t been there before, and it surely didn’t belong in northern California. Meaghim’s Realm or no, they weren’t in the ordinary world anymore. “Come on,” Liam said.

*** The air grew warmer deep inside the mountain where the currents of an ancient stream had hollowed out the rock and then retreated. For centuries, the king had lain in the frigid underground. Waiting while the planets made their orderly journeys above in the night sky and the moon waxed and waned. So many cycles. Far too many to count. Now, this thaw -- as insignificant as it was -- might signal the end to endlessness. The finish of infinity. A sound penetrated his slumber. Far away in a corner of his mind, ice shattered against stone and then water splashed freely. The rock beneath him still chilled his bones, but now the cloak covering him caught a spark of his body heat. It seeped into his heart, making it beat with a regular rhythm. Still slow like the moon -- like the passing of the seasons -- but stronger than before. Images collected on the backs of his eyelids. Blurs at first in shades of grey. Now patterns of light and dark. A voice sounded. Distant and drowned out by the falling water. Whispers he couldn’t make out, but the meaning came through, nevertheless. The McLeigh. His mate. Would she return? Could she find him in this cave?

*** Marla and the two elves headed off along a footpath that seemed cleared of vegetation by centuries of travelers who’d come before them. The circle of stones seemed to rush to meet them, and sooner than should have been possible, they stood at

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the base of the hillock staring up at the upright rocks. Probably ancient, each had lichens growing here and there. As they climbed upward, the stones seemed to welcome them with a soft hum full of energy. So quiet, the sound always seemed behind her, but when she turned her head to search for the source, it moved with her, always out of reach. She pressed her palm against a stone. It vibrated with power, and she pulled her hand back. “Is it alive?” “That depends on what you mean by alive,” Andy answered. “The olden folk built it. Some say their spirits still live inside the stones.” “Weird.” She crossed the threshold and walked to the center of the circle. Tilting her head backward, she spread her arms and made a slow circle. The rocks towered over her, pointing to a perfectly clear, blue sky. The sun warmed her shoulders, and a spring breeze ruffled her hair. If she’d never believed in magic before, this place might just change her mind. “Shhh.” Liam’s voice. She glanced at him. He’d placed his finger over his lips and tipped his head in one direction and then another. Andy seemed on full alert, his hands clutched into fists by his side. “Do you hear it?” “I’m not sure,” Liam answered. “What are you guys talking about?” she said. Liam shushed her, so she stood and waited for whatever they thought would come next. A moment later, a large animal walked between the stones and approached her slowly. A huge doe, as white as snow with eyes the light blue of the sky. It went to within a foot of her and sniffed the air. Then, it fixed her with a gaze that held a very un-deer-like intelligence. “The banfeiah,” one of the men whispered behind her. Banfeiah. The word struck a familiar cord in her mind. Somehow, this remarkable creature recognized her. Somehow, they’d encountered each other before, maybe within this same circle of stones. In her dreams. Although, those dreams seemed more and

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more real with every passing second. The deer walked slowly around her. She stood, facing forward, and let the animal make its inspection. Finally, the banfeiah nudged her arm with its nose. When Marla didn’t respond, the doe repeated the action, firmer this time. “I don’t know what you want.” Marla glanced over her shoulder at the two men. “What does she want?” Liam’s eyes got wide, and he lunged, grabbed her elbow, and pulled her back between him and Andy. “Hey, what are you doing?” she demanded. Instead of answering, Andy took her chin and turned her head to face another passageway between the stones. An even bigger deer had entered the enclosure -- a buck with branched antlers and a coat as white as the doe’s. “I don’t believe it,” Andy gasped. “I never thought to see the like.” “What is it?” she said. “The king of the moor. The bandoch. The doe’s mate,” Andy answered. “The original unicorn,” Liam added. “The legend’s based on him, but no one’s seen him since ancient times, so the story got garbled.” He was a creature that would inspire myths. He held his head high and proud above a broad chest and graceful legs. He snorted and stamped the ground with his hoof a few times. The doe answered with a soft, snuffling sound then turned and offered the buck her rump. Andy muttered something under his breath -- words in a language she couldn’t understand. His expression spoke volumes, though. Utter astonishment and wonder with a soft look of affection around his eyes. Liam mirrored his brother exactly, and the two of them looked as if they were about to witness something sacred. The deer ignored all three of them, as the buck shook his head, showing off his virility with the display of his antlers. The doe stood waiting for him, and after a moment, the male reared up on his hind legs and mounted his mate. He brayed his pleasure as he took her with powerful thrusts.

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Marla’s clothing fell away -- just disappeared, leaving her naked and barefoot under the warm sun. The two men also lost their clothes, but they’d changed as well. Satyrs, if she remembered her mythology correctly. They’d turned into satyrs. They’d grown small horns, and their feet had become cloven hooves. Reddish fur covered their legs but did nothing to cover their erections. Both cocks stood out and upward. Swollen and ruddy and exquisitely tempting. Whichever deity had proclaimed this time and place for the rut had invited them to join. She walked to Andy first and put her arms around his neck. His member pressed against her belly as she kissed him. His fur felt soft against the skin of her legs, not wiry as she’d expected. Instead of his normal gentleness, he growled and clutched her to him as he ravished her mouth with his lips and tongue and even his teeth. A beast, and a magnificent one. The sort of creature who would take you on a wild ride and leave you gently bruised but happy. She returned his ferocity kiss for kiss, bite for bite. Encouraging him. With the sounds of the deer mating nearby as a backdrop, she and Andy came together driven by their own primitive natures. While their mouths battled for dominance -- demanding more, taking and giving -- Liam joined them and embraced her from behind. Now, fur slid over her lower body and limbs as two rigid members branded her skin with their heat. Arms and hands went everywhere, and they tangled together, writhing with need. While she kissed Andy’s velvet lips, Liam’s hands covered her breasts and rubbed the sensitive tips. When she turned to sample his mouth, Andy nibbled at her shoulder and then slid his fingers between her and his brother. Past her ribs, over her belly, and down to the hairs that covered her sex. He pumped his hips as he stroked her pussy, reminding her of the rock-solid state of his instrument. Promising that she’d feel it inside her, and soon, and yet denying her the penetration her inner muscles craved. His touch came close to her clit, and she held her breath, waiting for the contact. Her blood pounded in her ears, nearly blotting out the snorts and grunts of the buck and the soft huffs of delight of his doe. Her body caught fire -- every nerve ending

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surging electric with need. At least, the deer had her mate between her legs, giving her the full measure of his maleness. She had hands and lips on her, setting her ablaze but not quenching the flames. Just when she would have screamed and demanded that one of them take her -now! -- Liam lowered himself along her body. He sucked at each nipple briefly and then ran his tongue along the center of her torso. When he reached her belly, he covered it with little kisses and then went lower and lower. Finally, he rested on his knees before her. Andy urged her pussy lips apart, and Liam found her distended clit and sucked it into his mouth. A keening sound escaped from her chest and floated upward. Her voice twined with the doe’s as the two of them climbed toward the ultimate. Suddenly, she was the deer and the huge buck had mounted her. In her mind, he’d taken her as his possession. This wild coupling had no gentleness to it. The male simply plowed his mate, demanding total surrender. She could feel his hot breath on her back, sense his cock stretching her as wide as she would go. The more she gave in, the more animal she became until her mind could hold nothing but the sheer carnality of his pounding, pounding, pounding. The suction on her clit ended, and hands lowered her onto the grass. Both men helped her onto her back. Liam immediately took his position between her thighs and plunged his cock deep inside her. He’d grown so big and hard he might have hurt her if she hadn’t become ready for the invasion. With a low growl of conquest, he pulled nearly out of her and moved forward again. He fucked her as if driven by a demon. Long, deep thrusts that reached all the way to her core. Andy knelt nearby, stroking his cock slowly. Fully engorged, it had turned the deep color that signaled near loss of control. A drop of pearly color appeared at the tip, and he rubbed that into his shaft. His eyes closed, and he clenched his jaw tight, clearly fighting off his climax. The sight of one lover so aroused while the other kept moving inside her sent her own excitement into an upward spiral. She wouldn’t come with Liam, though. She

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needed both of them. Once Liam had pushed her to the brink, Andy would finish her with his mammoth tool. Soon now, very soon. The doe’s noises turned to whinnies and rose higher in pitch. The sound of a female at the peak. Liam, too, had reached his end, as he plunged into her a few more times and then stiffened and shouted. He came for several seconds as his cock sent semen deep inside her. Andy waited, tense and ready to strike, until his brother finished. Then, he shoved Liam aside, almost throwing him bodily off her, took his place, and drove himself home inside her. He let out a cry of victory and held himself above her as her sheath stretched even more to accept all of him. He filled her so perfectly, as if he’d been designed to give her maximum stimulation. Then, he moved, stroking her inner walls all the way to the entrance of her womb. By everything holy, she’d never had anything like this before. Each pass not only thrust him inside her but brought his pelvis against her clit. She brought her hips up to meet him, moving one way and then another until she discovered maximum contact. She kept doing that, now faster and harder as his rhythm grew to a crescendo. Yes, yes, yes. Oh, there. Now. More. Please, please more. Yessss! The orgasm wound tight in her belly and then exploded into spasms. Every contraction met hardness that sent her higher, and she came with a heat that melted her bones. Andy threw back his head and bellowed, just as the buck brayed loud enough to split the stones. Andy’s member shot a stream of lust into her as the three of them came in the same instant. The moment had magic in it. And heaven and music, and everything else wonderful in the world. Too soon, it ended, but the peace that came afterward held its own bliss. She lay cradled in it as darkness washed over her and her mind settled into sweet oblivion.

***

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The sounds went away again, and the cold returned. Whatever had caused the thaw had ended. The chill settled in around his heart again as he lapsed into the deep, deep rest that saved him for the future. For his mate. She’d reached for him now, though, and she would again. His love might touch her now and feel her love return, even through the stone walls of this cave. He’d waited so long. So damned long. He could wait a bit longer. And when she came, she’d save him and their people. If only he could know when.

*** “Hot fucking damn,” Liam whispered after a moment. Now with enough strength to move, Marla reached out and found his solid chest nearby. The texture of cotton had replaced the feel of grass beneath her, and she opened her eyes to discover they’d all ended up back on the bed in the cottage. Liam lay on one side of her, and Andy was curled up on the other. None of them wore a stitch of clothing, but at least, the guys had returned to their usual form. Andy threw an arm over her and nuzzled her shoulder. “I have to agree, little brother. Hot fucking damn.” “That was incredible,” Liam said. “I came again just watching the two of you.” “And the bandoch and his mate.” Andy’s eyes shot open and he sat up. “Did we really see that?” “I don’t know.” Liam ran his fingers through his hair. “Could we have imagined it?” “The sex was real,” Marla said. Her pussy had a well-loved feel. A pleasant ache from vigorous use. “Do either of you see my clothes?” Liam glanced around. “Nope. Nor ours, either.” She sat up next to Andy. “What am I going to wear?” “I’ll get you one of my shirts,” Andy answered. “But, we have more to think about than that.” “I guess so,” she said. “Do you want to tell me what happened back there?”

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“I think I want a drink for this.” Liam got up and padded, buck naked, into the kitchen area. While he searched a cabinet, Andy went to a dresser, pulled out a T-shirt and tossed it to her. Though their walk had started right after breakfast, the sun had started to set outside. By rights, no more than a couple of hours should have passed, but early evening shadows stretched across the room. Andy turned on a floor lamp in the living room area and sat on the couch, his fingers steepled together at his lips. Marla went to him and sat, watching him think. After a moment, Liam joined them and set a bottle and three snifters on the coffee table. He poured some brandy for her and then served himself. “Why so serious, big brother?” “You know very well why.” “Well, I don’t,” she said. “I think you should tell me.” “Today was your second test. You did much better than pass,” Andy said. Liam drained his glass and helped himself to more brandy. “I’ll say.” “We wanted to see if you could take us to Meaghim’s Realm,” Andy said. “You did that.” “Maybe you took me,” she said. “We let you choose the path,” Andy answered. Actually, they had, although at the time she’d thought the three of them together set the route. And though they’d helped her over obstacles, they’d all been barriers that someone familiar with the forest would have avoided. “You not only took us to Meaghim’s Realm, but to the most sacred place in the land,” Liam added. She took a sip of her drink and let this knowledge roll around in her head for a minute. They seemed to think she had some kind of elfin power, first in the strength of her reaction to elfsbane and then in her ability to take them to their holy place. Could they be right?

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“The banfeiah only appears to a chosen few,” Andy said. “She clearly came for you, not us.” “No one alive for centuries has seen the bandoch,” Liam added. “And, no one… ever… has seen them mate.” “I’ll have some of that brandy,” Andy said. They drank for a while without speaking as everything outside the circle of light from the floor lamp went dark. The liquor tasted expensive, even to her untrained palate. It didn’t have the heathery perfume of elfsbane, but it created a warm glow inside her, nevertheless. Neither of the guys had a hard-on now, but they were such gorgeous male specimens, once you got used to the ears and the color of their hair. She didn’t have any clothes now and would have to wear their shirts. With no bra, her nipples would always rub against the fabric, and her pussy would have to do without panties. Not only would that create more stimulation in her sensitive regions than normal, but it would make her more fuckable. Just a lift of a hem would expose her sex and make her ready for penetration. Dear heaven, she could have sex with them all over again. Right now, so soon after that amazing sex at the circle of stones. What had they done to her? They both seemed innocent right this minute. In fact, they appeared oblivious to the effect they had on her body. Liam smiled and stared off into darkness as he sipped at his brandy. Andy rolled the snifter around in his hands as if that helped him think.

*** Who knew elves snored? This pair sure did. Just when one of them rolled onto his side and stopped, the other one picked up where his brother had left off. This close to her ear, he sounded like a jackhammer. She punched his arm. He twitched but didn’t wake up then let out a loud snort and went right back to his guttural serenade. Good grief. She scooted herself toward the head of the bed and sat up. She didn’t have to get up early, so she didn’t have to worry about missing sleep. She could take the

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bedspread and sleep on the couch. But what was the point of having two warm, male bodies if you couldn’t bask your naked skin in their heat? She rubbed her hands over her face. They hadn’t made this racket the night before. Or, if they had, she’d slept through it. Sex enhanced with elfsbane could do that for you. Hey, wait a minute… elfsbane. If these two were going to keep their traps open, she could drop some elfsbane in. She could take a bit herself, they’d fuck each other’s brains out, and she’d get back to sleep. All her problems solved. She only needed to find Andy’s stash. If he put it into food, he must keep it in the kitchen. Now, she needed them to stay asleep so she could search the kitchen and then drop a dose of the herb into their mouths. She crept out of the bed, disturbing them as little as possible. With the lights out and no ambient illumination out here in the forest, she had nothing more than flickering lights from various electronics to guide her through the pitch darkness. She went slowly, feeling with her outstretched arms for obstacles. Her toe connected with something hard -- one of Liam’s dumbbells. He would leave them in the middle of the room. She bent and rolled it aside then searched for its mate and got that out of her way, too. That ought to leave a clear path to the kitchen. After a few more steps, her hand hit one of the high stools at the counter. It tipped over, luckily onto carpet, but it made some noise, anyway. She stood perfectly still, holding her breath. She needn’t have worried about waking them up. Both of them were snoring now -- an operatic duet of male wheezes and grunts, more Shostakovich than Mozart. Charming. She made her way around the counter and felt her way to the stove. When she turned on one of the burners, it gave her enough light to find the candles nearby. She tipped one to the flame to light the wick and turned off the gas. Now, she could see well enough to find the drawer where Andy kept his herbs and spices.

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He had them organized in alphabetical order and labeled on the top so he wouldn’t have to fumble through a couple dozen jars. There was no space between cardamom and fenugreek. Fenugreek? No matter. But no elfsbane, either. She closed the drawer and looked around. There, next to the coffee pot, stood a small, earthenware pot. It looked primitive and quirky and… well… elfin. The sort of container you’d keep something like a magical herb in. She set the candle down and picked it up. When she lifted the lid, the smell of heather wafted out. Bingo. She took a pinch and put it into her mouth then waited to see if it had the right effect eaten this way. Did it ever. Her pulse raced, and her head got light as the room seemed to fill with the scent of the herb. She might have taken too much because a sexual rush zipped through her, nearly buckling her knees. All the sensitive spots ached with it -- lips, nipples, pussy. Even her hair hurt. She’d better give the guys a dose so they’d give her some relief. She put a bit more elfsbane into her palm and set the jar on the counter. Now more needy than careful, she made her way back to the bed. She tiptoed around it and waited for the guy on that side to roll onto his back. Sure enough, his mouth hung open, so she put a little elfsbane in there and went to his brother. He was snoring up a symphony, too, so she gave him the rest of the herb and then scrambled back between them.

Chapter Three The elf on her right woke up first. He sat straight up. “What the fuck?”

Liam. She could tell their voices apart now. Besides, Andy didn’t swear.

“You got that right,” she said.

“Elfsbane,” Andy said. “She’s slipped us some elfsbane while we slept.”

“While you snored, you mean,” she said.

“Why, you little stinker,” Liam said.

“You two did it to me.”

“We had a good reason,” Andy said.

“I had a reason, too,” she countered. “If you wake me up, you’d better make it

worth my while.” Liam hooted a laugh. “She has a point.” “And I have an erection that feels like a crowbar.” Andy threw his arm around her and pulled her back against his front. He hadn’t exaggerated the state of his cock one little bit. His size and hardness wouldn’t be any problem for a pussy as wet and eager as hers had become. She lifted her leg over him, parting her legs so he could enter her. He eased the head of his member into her and then gave her the rest of him in a smooth slide. Oh, yeah. Her body was made for this. They rocked together, Andy pumping his hips and she straining back against him. Liam wrapped himself around them both -arms and legs as he pressed his tool into her belly with the same hip movements his brother made behind her. Over-stimulated with the elfsbane, she could only concentrate on her own pleasure. The muscles of Liam’s chest grazed against her nipples while Andy’s amazing

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tool plundered her depths. Her breath came in gasps now, and her lovers sang a chorus of moans. The music of fully aroused men. Sexy, well-endowed, and all hers. The three of them merged into one writhing, grasping creature. Moving faster now. Thrust, slide, groan, sigh. The world turned red with lust and then white hot as Andy’s thrusts turned frantic. “Make her come, Liam,” he gritted. “I want to feel her.” “I’ll come,” she cried. She would, too. Just a little faster, harder, deeper, and she’d fly over the top. “Do it!” Andy shouted. “Her clit, man. Now.” “You owe me, brother.” Liam pulled away enough to get his hand between their bodies. When he touched her hot button, she shouted. It felt so incredible. “That’s it, love,” Andy whispered. “Come for me.” “Oh, God!” The sensations stole her sanity, leaving her blind and breathless. Liam kept rubbing and pressing, making her powerless to fight the inevitable. “I need to feel you,” Andy called. “Come around my cock.” “Yes,” she screamed as all hell broke loose inside her. Her muscles clenched down on his hard length -- squeezing, reaching for maximum friction -- and then burst into contractions. He shouted as his own orgasm took him. They clung together, their climaxes feeding off each other for long seconds. Her mind seemed to merge with his as semen flew from him and bathed the entrance to her womb. When he finished, he rested his head on her shoulder and fought for breath. “I hope you haven’t forgotten me,” Liam said. “Never.” She opened her eyes. In the dark room, she could hardly make out his face, but she found his lips and kissed them. He took her hand and put it against his cock. “You did this to me. You need to take care of it.” “I will.” She wrapped her fingers around his shaft and stroked him. After a few passes, she rubbed her thumb over the tip. He let out a hiss. “Oh, shit, you’ve got me excited.”

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“That’s the general idea.” Andy pulled out of her body and put his lips to her ear. “Take good care of my little brother.” “You bet.” She snuggled up to Liam. Their bodies fit together like a hand and a glove. Though he was taller, she could still press her breasts against his chest and tip her head up to run her lips over his. He rocked his hips, pushing his member against her as he had before. Though she’d just had Andy, her body went into high gear again. Such an embarrassment of riches. One man to satisfy her, and another to stoke her hunger again. In a mirror image of what she’d done with Andy, she wrapped a leg around him, bringing the lips of her pussy in contact with his shaft. Now, his movements brought his hardness against her still-sensitive clit. It throbbed back to life, so she held on and thrust to meet him. “Ready again?” he said.

“Um…” She moved and moved. There. Just the right spot. “Oh. Oh, yes.”

“You on top.” He rolled onto his back and reached for her.

He didn’t have to ask twice. Unbelievable that she could be so needy so soon

after making love with Andy. The elfsbane might have done this to her, but honestly, with two hunks like these, who needed an aphrodisiac? She positioned herself over him, took his glorious cock in her hand, and guided herself down onto him. In this position, every inch of him left its mark as she sank lower, finally taking all of him. She held still for a bit. This was far too wonderful to rush. “Oh, baby,” Liam said. “You’re tight this way.”

“You’re big.” She rose upward and back down, letting him stretch her. “Really,

really big.” “Am I hurting you?” “You feel fantastic.”

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She moved again, and he responded this time. Thrusting upward as she slid down. If they’d rehearsed this dance, they couldn’t have made it any better. As she continued riding him, he reached up and cupped her breasts. A whole new set of sensations joined the rising arousal in her sex. Her nipples rasped against his palms, and the shock went all the way to her core. They went faster now, both of them racing to the ultimate release. Their breath came hard and fast in rhythm with their thrusts. This couldn’t last forever, but it would end with a blazing moment of perfection. For now, she could only keep leaning into his hands as they massaged her breasts and keep taking his sex inside her. Something rubbed her clit. She glanced down to find that Andy had reached between her body and Liam’s. Holy shit, what a feeling. She made a strangled sound in the back of her throat. “There?” Andy said. “Don’t stop. Please don’t stop.” “I thought you’d like that.” She closed her eyes again and concentrated on the pressure at that most sensitive spot. He had a wicked touch -- just firm enough to make her crazy but not so hard he finished her quickly. She did her best to breathe as the world shrank to the cock plunging into her and the fingers playing over her clit. No use fighting off her climax. It had come too close, become too powerful. She could only give in and let it claim her. The wave built inside her and crested, tossing her into another reality. She stiffened all around him and came, shuddering and grasping at his hardness. He grabbed her hips and slammed up into her. Once, twice, and again as he joined her. When they finished, she rested against his chest to catch her breath and then slid off him and took her place between the two men. Andy pulled the covers up and over all three of them, and she rested surrounded by warmth and the scent of heather.

*** Andy must have hidden the elfsbane before Marla got up because the earthenware jar no longer stood in its usual place next to the coffee pot. The candle had

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burned down during the night, leaving nothing but a puddle of dried wax in its holder. Those were the only outward signs that anything had changed since the day before. Her insides told a different story. Now covered with nothing more than Andy’s shirt, her body had taken on a new life. Her senses seemed unusually acute. Even indoors, she could make out the smells of the forest. Bird calls that sounded muffled and distant the day before came through clearly now. The sun was brighter, the shadows darker. She finished the last scrap of the egg-rich French toast Andy had made for breakfast and let the flavors of maple and butter linger on her tongue before picking up her mug and sipping at her coffee. “Is this your regular brew?” she asked.

“Same as you had yesterday,” Andy answered.

“Why do you ask?” Liam said.

She shrugged. “Just tastes better.”

The two brothers looked at each other as if passing a silent message between

them. “Elfsbane?” she asked. “We don’t need that now.” Andy waved a finger at her. “You stay out of it, too.” “You don’t have to scold. I thought last night was great.” Andy didn’t say anything but took her plate and walked away. She turned to Liam. “You liked it, didn’t you?” “Sure. My brother did, too.” “So, why’s he giving me the cold shoulder?” The dish clattered into the sink. Andy stood there with his fists clutched on the edge of the counter. Tension almost rolled off his shoulders. “What’s wrong?” she asked. “Andy’s okay,” Liam said. “Don’t worry about it.” “There’s something going on here, and I deserve to know what it is,” she said. “It’s nothing,” Andy grumbled. “I don’t believe you,” she said. “Talk to me.”

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“I’m going for a walk.” Andy stalked past her to the cottage door and went outside. Slamming was a bit extreme for how he closed it behind him, but he used more force than necessary. “Come on, Liam. What gives?” He took a sip of his coffee and sat for a moment. “He’s starting to get the willies about going home.” “Why should going home upset him?” Assuming he was going home, which was another question entirely. “He’s going to have to face his wife.” She put down her mug so hard it sloshed coffee. “He’s married?” “Sweet thing she is, too. When he got this assignment, she insisted he go for the sake of everyone in Meaghim’s Realm.” “Wow. What a sacrifice.” “She told him she’d wait for him, but elves are no different than humans with long separations.” Oh, my goodness. The poor woman. Imagine being married to a sexy devil like Andy and having to do without him for all this time. Poor Andy, too. He’d made beautiful love to her since she’d been here, but he must really want the woman he’d given his heart to. What if he went home and found out she’d given up on him? “I’m so sorry. I hope things work out for them.” “It’s been a trial for both of them, but it’ll be worth it if we succeed,” Liam said. “We’ll both be rewarded for our work.” “Your work,” she said. “Did you say you’d been sent here to find a woman?” “The tests are to see if you’re the one,” he answered. “And, so far I’ve passed.” “Oh, yeah.” For once, he looked serious. The color of his eyes went from moss to deep emerald. “You must feel different from when you first got here.” She couldn’t deny it. The night before, she’d thought her heightened sexuality came from the fact that she had nothing on underneath a man’s shirt. Now, it seemed

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more like part of a bigger whole. She’d become part of this place. She shared magic with it. “This forest, this house… they’re not part of the regular world, are they?” she said. “Yes and no. The tree outside is so old it remembers when people and elves passed freely from Earth to Meaghim’s Realm. We’re at an outpost, neither here nor there.” “So that’s why my GPS and cell phone didn’t work,” she said. “That’s why I couldn’t get back to the highway.” “That’s pretty much it.” She picked up her mug and took it to the sink to rinse it out. A restless feeling bubbled up in the pit of her stomach. A sensation that she ought to be doing something else. But, what? She set down the mug and gripped the counter, much as Andy had done before, but the ache inside got worse. “You don’t even know what you do to us, do you?” Liam said softly behind her. “Do?” The word came out like a throaty sigh. Deep and seductive, even to her own ears. “It’s as if you’ve gone into heat. I can’t get the smell of you out of my brain.” “Elfsbane?” she asked. “Just you, baby. You don’t need enhancement.” She hung onto the counter, white-knuckled, and did her best not to tremble. “Oh, man… do you know what you’re doing to me?” He groaned. “I think with my cock, and it’s doing some heavy arithmetic right now.” “Like what?” She held her breath and waited for the answer. “Like, if I bent you over the sink, would your ass be high enough for me to plow into you?” “Oh.”

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Behind her, the stool moved over the carpet. Then, footsteps sounded as he walked up behind her. When he got close, he lifted the hem of Andy’s T-shirt with one hand and slid his other between her legs. She let out a yip of pleasure and surprise as he parted her nether lips and plunged two fingers inside her. “You’re already wet,” he said. She should have recognized the restlessness inside her. Sexual arousal. She never fully came down now, it seemed. A primitive hunger gnawed at her every moment now. She always needed something inside her. “What do you think?” she said. “Will we fit in this position?” “You’ll have to bend over. I’ll have to crouch. We can make it work.” “Do it,” she gasped. “In a minute.” He kept pressing his fingers into her, finding sensitive spots and working them. “Spread your legs.” She did as he ordered, and his fingers probed more deeply. She wiggled her butt to feel the contact everywhere inside her. As good as this felt, he could do much more for her. She’d surely lost her mind. After all the incredible sex she’d had in the last couple of days, she shouldn’t crave so much more. He was right -- she’d come into heat, and no amount of fucking could satisfy her now. Hell, even the word sounded good to her now. Fucking. Down and nasty, steelcocked fucking. Pussy pounding. Who cared what she called it as long as he kept giving it to her? She gripped the base of the faucet and held on. “Come on, Liam. You know what I need.” He used his free hand to slap her buttock. “I’ll screw you when I’m ready.” “Don’t tell me you’re not hard. I know you too well.” “Hard and ready aren’t the same thing.” He swatted her again. “I like watching you squirm.” His blows smarted but didn’t really hurt. They created a pleasant heat, so she kept squiggling in hopes he’d keep it up. While he kept probing with his fingers, he

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smacked her a few more times, now giving the other buttock the same attention he’d given the first. She couldn’t hold back a low moan of approval. What a wicked, talented man. “You’re enjoying this,” he said. “You’re a bad, bad man… um, elf.” “I’m man enough to fuck you until you come,” he answered. “Prove it.” “Oh, no. You’ll get your spanking first.” He gave her another sharp slap. Her butt burned sooo good. She arched her back, sticking her ass up at him. “Don’t you want to put your prick inside me?” “Hey, that gives me an idea.” He pulled his fingers from her and moved his hands from her ass. Whatever kind of idea he thought that was, it wasn’t her idea of a good idea. “Hey, what are you doing back there?” “You’ll see.” He unzipped his fly. No mistaking that sound. Okay, maybe they were getting somewhere after all. Her sex ached, waiting for him to put his big, bad boy inside her, and not a moment too soon. He didn’t put the tip between her lips, though. He rubbed it over her buttocks as if soothing the places where his fingers had swatted her. “Are you going to do anything real with that thing?” she asked. “Yup.” He laid his dick along the crease between her butt cheeks and squeezed her flesh around his shaft. He moved, thrusting up and down. “Hot damn, that’s good.” “For you, maybe.” Actually, it wasn’t all that bad -- kind of perverted in a nice way. Maybe she could add to his excitement and get him to put his cock where it could do the maximum for her. She reached around to the small of her back and lower until she found where the head of his cock emerged on his upward swings. Whenever she could get her fingers on it, she squeezed gently. “Ah, jeez,” he groaned. “That feels amazing.” “Are you ready to fuck me now?”

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“Wow. Wow, oh, wow.”

“I’m going to move my hand,” she said. “As soon as I do, I want you inside me.”

“Baby, whatever you say. I’m so turned on.”

She put her hand back on the faucet and held on. “Okay, now.”

He only took a couple of seconds to release her buttocks, find the entrance to her

pussy, and shove all of himself into her. The movement was so fast and savage, he pushed her hard into the edge of the counter, but she held on and accepted his bulk into her sheath. He immediately started rocking them both into hyperdrive. Whenever that wasn’t enough, he dug his fingernails into her hips and pulled her back to meet him. Their bodies slapped together with each pass. Amazing how much force he could deliver and how much she could take. Amazing how the violence translated into pure, sexual pleasure. He possessed her completely as she gripped him to beg for more. “God, I need it,” she cried. “Fuck me. Fuck me hard.”

“Take it all, baby.”

“Yes!”

“All for you,” he growled. “All. For. You.”

“Liam, please. Make me come.”

He kept stroking her inner walls, harder and faster. In this position, with the

ferocity of his movements, he went deeper than she’d ever had before. It triggered her orgasm. She flew out of control, and her mind went blank to everything but the building storm. It crashed over her, claiming her. As her muscles went crazy around him, he stiffened with his own climax. They joined together in release, their voices floating upward. They stayed that way for several heartbeats before it ended, leaving them joined as they drifted back to reality. “Oh, yeah, baby,” Liam murmured into her ear. “You have definitely hit your stride.”

***

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She found Andy sitting on a fallen redwood staring at the saplings that reached for the sunshine in the hole in the forest canopy. His hair flamed red in this bright oasis in the forest. He stiffened as she approached but didn’t turn around to greet her. “Hi,” she said softly.

“Hi, yourself.”

She walked to the trunk, climbed over it, and sat down next to him. Neither of

them spoke for a bit but sat and watched a Stellar’s jay hop about in the fine redwood duff that coated the ground. “You and Liam had sex after I left, didn’t you?” he said after a few minutes. “Yeah. Does that bother you?” He shrugged. “That’s what you were sent here for.” “He told me you’re married.” She put her hand on his knee. “I’m sorry.” He smiled but still didn’t look at her. “What are you sorry for?” “I wouldn’t want to come between a husband and wife.” “Thanks.” He covered her hand with his own. “You’re an amazing temptation, love, and a joy in bed. If I didn’t love Colleen, I would you.” “You two must miss each other terribly.” “Would you like to see her?” Before she could answer, he reached inside his shirt and removed a locket. He opened it and handed it to her. “I’ve never seen you wear this,” she said. “I couldn’t bear to look at it until now. We’ll be going home soon.” She glanced at the portrait -- a tiny painting of a lovely woman with blonde hair and eyes as blue as her husband’s. “She’s beautiful.” “She is.” He took the locket back and draped the chain around his neck. “I hope she’ll take me back.” “Of course she will. How could she not?” “It’s been a long time. Liam and I have lived in this forest for almost one hundred years.” “A hundred years?” she repeated.

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“Elves age very slowly.” He took her chin in his hand and stared into her face. “If I’m right, your body’s already begun to make that change.” “Wow.” Semi-eternal youth. Could that be possible? “The Council of Elders of Meaghim’s Realm selected us to wait in the forest until the new McLeigh appeared,” he said. “And you think that’s me,” she said. “I’m almost certain of it.” The tests. She’d responded to the elfsbane and found the way through the redwoods to Meaghim’s Realm. She’d even drawn that pair of white deer into the circle of stones to mate. “There’s one more thing you have to do to prove who you are,” he said. “I have no doubt you’ll accomplish it.” “What’s that?” she asked. He sighed. “Leave me one more surprise for you.” “I like surprises.” And, she did. Usually. “Why do you have to find the McLeigh?” “The realm has two major clans -- Meaghim and McLeigh. They always mate to form the royal pair. Always.” “But, you told me the McLeighs left Meaghim’s Realm hundreds of years ago,” she said. “They did, and we kept waiting for them to return on their own. We even cast a spell on the oldest Meaghim male when he reached adulthood so he’d be young when his consort appeared.” “I take it she hasn’t.” He took her hand again and toyed with her fingers. “Not until you.” “Are you telling me I’m queen of the elves or something?” she asked. “More or less.” “I can’t be.” “Why not?” he said.

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“I can’t go play royal family in Wonderland,” she said. “I have friends. A job. An apartment. A life.” “Is your life really so great you couldn’t give it up to save an ancient folk?” “Oh, no. This is silly.” She got up and paced a bit in front of where he sat on the downed tree. “I’m not the queen type, and I’m certainly no savior.” “You could be both for us.” “You know, this whole thing has been a lot of fun. You make great food, and both of you can cook in the bedroom.” And on the moors and over the kitchen sink. “But all good things come to an end. I think you ought to let me go home.” “I’m disappointed in you.” His brow furrowed. “Haven’t you learned anything with us?” “I’ve learned that guys with pointy ears and red hair make the best lovers. What else is there to learn?” He got up and stopped her mid-pace by grabbing her upper arms and holding on. “What about the elfsbane?” “A really nifty aphrodisiac.” “It didn’t work on the other women who came here,” he said. “Some had a weak reaction. They probably had some elf blood but watered down with lots of human DNA.” Great. Now a man who claimed to be a member of another species was giving her a science lecture. “Even those women got the second test,” he went on. “We followed them around the forest for hours and never accomplished anything more than a roll in the ferns.” Her head started to spin. “This isn’t getting us anywhere.” “All right.” He took a deep breath. “It must be a shock for you to learn you belong in a different world where you’re royalty.” “That’s putting it mildly.” “But, we need our king and queen. Without them, our lands and our people are barren.”

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“Does that mean no one’s having sex in Meaghim’s Realm?” That’d be hard to picture. “They make love, but the women don’t conceive. The animals do, but their offspring are sickly. The crops don’t fare much better.” “That’s been going on for a hundred years?” she said. “Longer,” he answered. “We need the McLeigh, or we may not survive.” “Holy…” She went back to the log and sat down. If he was right, she had to help. She couldn’t deny the reality of what she’d seen and done here. She had led the way to that magical place and summoned two mythical creatures -- the basis of the unicorn legend, no less. Was her own life so great that she could abandon a whole race of beings? Anyone could do her job at the health food store. Someone else would rent the apartment. Her friendships never went too deep, and she’d never loved a man very deeply. Heck, she didn’t even have a dog. If what Andy was telling her was true… if she could really travel to that green valley… if she really might find the man who’d haunted her dreams, she could find what she’d given up on -- perfect love. Possibly, they’d discover the whole thing had been a mistake, but she needed to explore the possibility. “Okay,” she said finally. “If I’m this McLeigh you’ve been waiting for, I’ll do whatever I can.” “That’s my girl,” he said, but his voice held a note of sadness.

Chapter Four Lovemaking that night had a feeling of finality to it. She’d have considered sleeping on the couch if her body didn’t crave these two men so much. Andy worked methodically to bring her pleasure and succeeded as he did with everything he put his hand to. Right now, that hand had found her clit and rubbed it with an expertise that made her croon with approval. As he did that, Liam sucked a nipple deep into his mouth. These two knew how to play her, and soon, she’d become dizzy with arousal. She sent her hand searching over Andy’s body and found his already erect cock. She hefted its weight against her palm, savoring the feel of velvet. She could play with this for a really long time and never tire of all the wonderful things it could do. He moaned and pumped his hips but never lost the rhythm of his strokes over the sensitive nub. “Take over for me, little brother,” Andy said. Liam released her breast and moved his hand to her pussy. Now, he rubbed her clit with the same pressure his brother had used. Did they practice how to send her into orbit? If not, it came naturally to them because they always pushed all her right buttons. Andy eased her thighs apart and got between them. Liam’s hand didn’t move but stayed sandwiched between her body and his brother’s. When Andy eased his rod inside her, his hips pressed against Liam’s hand, pushing his finger against her clit. What a creative pair. Now, each of Andy’s thrusts brought a firm stroke of Liam’s finger against all those supersensitive nerve endings. “Wow,” she whispered. “Wow, wow, wow.” “Enjoy, baby,” Liam murmured into her ear. “You deserve something really special for this,” she said. “You never disappoint.”

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Andy gave her no rest but rocked faster. He stayed buried in her to the hilt while the constant rub, rub, rub on her clit made her crazy. “You like this?” he asked. “Um… oh, yeah.” “I’m going to come, love. Do it with me.” “Make me.” Silly to dare him. She’d climax soon enough whether he wanted her to or not. “You think I can’t?” he said. “I know you can. I want you to do it.” “Okay, how about this?” He pushed into her harder, deep thrusts, in and out. Liam’s hand conveyed the force of Andy’s thrusts until her clit thrummed. Oh, man, oh, man. That did it. She couldn’t fight anymore. Andy lost control of his body as he pounded her. “Here it comes. Oh, shit.” “Yes,” she shouted. “Do it with me.” “Yes!” They climaxed together so perfectly she couldn’t tell which explosions were hers and which his. He kept moving, holding onto the ecstasy until the last tremor rushed through her. Then he eased out of her and rolled onto his side next to her. She gave herself just a moment to recover because another lover lay on her opposite side, and she’d promised him a reward. “I haven’t forgotten you, Liam,” she mumbled. “I hope not,” he said. “Because I’m pretty hot and hard here.” “Really?” She wrapped her fist around his shaft and pumped. “I hadn’t noticed.” “Be careful with that thing. It’s going to blow.” “I plan to be very careful,” she said. “And, blow is the right word.” “Damn, you’ll kill me.”

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“Just a small death.” She scooted herself downward until she lay face-to-face with his member. Once there, she grasped it and brought the head to her mouth. As she slid her lips down over his hard flesh, he stroked her face and let out a happy sigh. He tasted just like his brother and like no man she’d ever given head to before she’d arrived here. Like heather and sunlight. Yet another reason elves rocked her world. She lapped at him with her tongue and swallowed him deeper. “You’re making me crazy,” he gritted. She squeezed him at the base and raised her head. “I hope I’m making you happy.” “Hoo boy.” She licked the tip of his member. A tang of salt mixed with his normal, pleasant flavor. Pre-come. He’d neared his limit. What would he taste like if she took him the whole way? Men said they loved that, and he’d certainly earned it. This could be her last night with him. Why not give him a treat? She set to sucking on him again and worked her fingers around what wouldn’t fit in her mouth. With her other hand, she cupped his sac and gently -- oh, so gently -massaged his balls. He breathed in ragged gasps now, and his hips rose and fell as they did when he screwed her. “You’d better stop,” he said. “Damn, I’m so close.” She didn’t answer and didn’t release him but kept loving his cock, sucking as hard as her cheeks would work. “Oh, baby. You’re not…” He growled -- the sound of a man at the edge. “Oh, jeez, you are. Holy shit. Holy fucking shit.” A hand at her back told her Andy was watching and listening. He stroked her slowly. Approving what she was doing for his brother. Finally, Liam could take no more. She had to hang on with a firm grip to keep him from pushing too far as his pelvis bucked in orgasm. He emptied his lust into her

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mouth, and she swallowed quickly, gulping to take it all. Salty and sweet. Herbal and not at all unpleasant. Her chest swelled with pride that she could do this for him. When he went limp, she removed her mouth and moved upward to fit her body between theirs. Each man threw an arm over her, and the three of them fell into a deep sleep.

*** The next morning, they all made a little procession through the forest. None of them spoke as they trudged along, giving the trek a decided solemn feeling -- as if it had been planned a century. They stopped in front of something that didn’t belong in this part of California. A cave. She looked inside but couldn’t find a back end in the darkness. A tunnel seemed to run into the hillside. “This is it,” Andy said.

“This?” she said. “It’s just a hole in the rock.”

“You have more imagination than that,” Andy answered.

She looked at Liam. “Is he telling the truth?”

“My brother doesn’t lie,” Liam replied.

“The last test. You’ll either fail and go home, or we’ll meet again in Meaghim’s

Realm.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out her car keys. “You may need these. Your purse is in the car.” She took the keys and stuffed them into the pocket of the jacket he’d given her. A few days ago, she’d been dead set on finding her way back to her “real” life. That seemed like a pale shadow to the living she’d done since she met these two. “If I pass the test, we will see each other again.” Andy took her chin in his hand and lifted it to gaze into her eyes. “You’ll be Meaghim’s wife. You’ll belong to him.” “We can be friends.” “Friends only.” Liam lifted his hands in surrender. “Even I don’t mess around with Meaghim’s queen.”

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Meaghim -- possibly the man who’d offered the promise of out-of-this-world sex in her dreams. The man who ruled in the beautiful land she’d visited so often. He might be an unknown. He might not even be meant for her, but if they belonged together, what marvels could he show her? “So, what’s the test?” she asked. “The king’s in there.” Andy inclined his head toward the cave entrance. “If you can wake him, he’ll take you as his mate. If you can’t, this whole place will disappear. You’ll find yourself back at your car. You’ll drive back to human civilization.” “End of story,” Liam added. Back to her job and her apartment, sans pet. It sounded pretty dismal. Even a dog or two wouldn’t make much of an improvement. Meaghim or bust. “Do you want to give me some pointers?” “You have everything you need, baby.” Liam took her hands and turned her to face him. “Remember what I said about you coming into heat?” “I do feel very different, and it’s not the elfsbane.” She still had the heightened senses, the carnal drive that went into high gear with the slightest urging. “You’ve blossomed in your time with us,” Andy said. “We weren’t even aware of that part of our job,” Liam said. “Call it a perk of office.” “You’ll need every charm you have to release Meaghim from his enchantment. We have faith in you,” Andy said. She touched his cheek. “That means a lot.” “I have faith in you,” he said so softly the words were barely audible. Thank you, she mouthed silently. He slipped his backpack off his shoulder and unzipped it. After fishing inside for a bit, he pulled out one of those big flashlights police officers used. He handed it to her. “You’ll need this.” “Right.” She stood there for a minute until things got awkward. “I guess this is it.”

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Liam pressed a quick peck to her lips. “See you on the other side, baby.” “You bet.” Andy took her face between his palms and bent to kiss her more slowly. She took her last taste of him and did her best to memorize it. When he straightened again, she smiled at him. “See you.” He nodded and released her. Before she could get really sappy, she turned and entered the cave. Not looking back, she walked toward the rear. When darkness surrounded her, she stopped and turned on the flashlight. The men were gone. She didn’t have to look to know that because that zing she’d felt the first day as she’d approached the cottage had disappeared. Not to worry. She would see them again. She’d passed the other tests. She’d even surprised them with her power. She wouldn’t fail now. At the very back of the cave, she found a passageway, kind of narrow, but she’d get through it. She’d do well not to think about what might be hanging from the ceiling or walls or scurrying underfoot. This cave was probably part of Meaghim’s Realm rather than human Earth. A storybook place like that would have cute little critters, right? Nothing creepy or crawly. The elves wouldn’t stick their king in a hellhole. She kept going and didn’t encounter any branches in the pathway, so she had to be going in the right direction. After a while, she stepped over a threshold. In the next instant, light flared, bouncing off the rock walls and blinding her. She jumped and dropped the flashlight. It made a metal clang as it landed and then rolled around, but she couldn’t see it or anything else because of the glare. Finally, her eyes adapted, and she discovered a series of torches set in holders in the wall. They’d somehow lighted when she entered. Another sign she belonged here. So far, so good. Water splashed nearby. A tiny fountain in an alcove in one wall. A large wooden trunk sat on the floor nearby. Interesting. The main feature of the chamber, though, was a stone table in the center. The sort of structure you could picture in human sacrifices. A body lay on it, covered with a cloth that looked like purple silk. Okay, she’d been here before. In her dreams. She

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hadn’t remembered it as clearly as the green valley. But it was all familiar, as if she’d find her fate here, waiting for her. The king lay under that cloth, no doubt. Meaghim, her fantasy lover. She walked to it and gently lifted the cover. First, dark hair emerged. The locks were shot through with white, giving them a salt-and-pepper appearance. How old was he? As she lowered the fabric, his face came into view. The skin had a youthful sheen and fit snugly on remarkable features. High cheekbones, bushy eyebrows in a midnight color. She pushed aside some hair to study his ears. No points. The guys had told her not everyone had Mr. Spock points, not that she would have minded that at this point. She studied him some more. Despite the white hairs, this was no old man. He might have rested here under a spell for decades, but he had the broad chest and firm muscles of a male in his prime. His large hands and powerful arms marked him a warrior king, someone who could carry the responsibility for all his people on his shoulders. He must have made quite a sacrifice to submit to such a long sleep to improve the fertility of his realm. And to think… she might stand beside him as his mate and queen. She might lie beside him at night. Long nights, full of unbelievable sex. She edged the silk lower, exposing his pelvis and legs. Now, she could study his cock. It lay flaccid against one thigh but still impressive in size and beauty. Perfectly shaped with a thick shaft and symmetrical head. When she tossed the cloth aside and could view the totality of him, her breath caught at his beauty. Michelangelo could hardly have carved a more perfect specimen. Even his bare feet were sexy. He only waited for the McLeigh to rouse him. Andy had felt sure she was that woman. After seeing him, she could scarcely have wanted anything more. One way or another, she had to wake him up, and she might as well start with what men enjoyed most. But first, she’d make herself as naked as he was so that when they came together, nothing would separate them. She removed the jacket the guys had given her. Underneath, she only wore Andy’s T-shirt, so when she removed that and tossed it aside, she stood nude in the cool air. Now ready for anything, she bent to him slowly -- with reverence for his

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royalty and his perfection. She lifted his cock away from his body and took the head between her lips. The heather scent of him filled her brain, richer and more complex than that of the elves who’d brought her here. His flesh swelled and stiffened in her mouth, and she swallowed more of him. As he grew harder, thicker, longer, she slid her fist up and down, grasping him firmly with each pass. He tasted so wonderful, she would have taken all of him if he weren’t so blessed large. She did the best she could, though. Sucking, pumping, grazing his sac with her fingernails. Soon, he’d come fully erect and throbbed against her tongue. Her sex moistened in anticipation of having him. A sexual hunger claimed her, making her dizzy with need. Even asleep, he could make her want him between her legs as she eased his bulk inside her. If nothing else, she’d climb on top of him and ride his cock while he slumbered, but how much nicer to have all of him with her so he could share the orgasm. She’d concentrated so completely on his member that when he grabbed her, she gasped in surprise. His hand went under her armpits, and he hauled her upward so she had to stare into his eyes. They were an impossibly dark blue. Royal blue with golden flecks. He looked deep inside her for a long moment and then twisted and tossed her onto the stone altar as if she weighed nothing at all. He followed her down, crushing her with his weight, and wrapped his fingers around her throat as he continued to study her like an animal he’d trapped but didn’t fully understand. Good heaven, was the man crazy? Had his years of solitude and sleep driven him mad? Had she gone through all this, left her world and traveled here, finally found the man she was destined to share the rest of her life with, only to find he’d lost his mind? He stared at her as if she were his prey, not his mate. He could kill her easily -strangle her with his huge hands -- and no one would ever find her body. What danger had she gotten herself into? Then, he took a deep breath, nostrils flaring. He burrowed his nose into the hair at her temple and followed the line of her jaw to the space beneath her chin, sniffing. He resembled a dog, drawn to the pheromones of a female in heat. But then, she was in

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heat, so that made some sense. Liam had used that exact word. She couldn’t detect anything unusual about her scent, but maybe this man could. Sure enough, when he lifted his head above hers, his expression had softened. His eyes had taken on the hazy, unfocussed look of a man consumed by lust. He still wanted to devour her, but sexually. He shifted, parting her legs with his hips, and then drove his cock inside her all the way to the base. Her ass pressed into the hard rock beneath her, and as he withdrew and slammed into her, her whole body moved with the force of his blows. She wrapped her legs around him and hung onto his shoulders to steady herself, but the stone still scraped the skin of her back. Clearly, he wasn’t taking her pleasure into account. Still, the ferocity of his thrusts touched something primitive inside her. This was the most primal fucking, minus all the niceties. Cock and pussy, slamming together as if nothing else existed in the world. The more he thrust, the farther her other senses retreated. No pain, no touch, no smell. Just the fire building at her core. The flames raced through her, burning away everything but the feel of him as he possessed her body with his own. So pure, so basic, so real. When he climaxed, she could have wept with frustration. He thrust into her one last time and released a stream of hot come into her, but didn’t take her with him. “More,” she said. “You can’t stop now.” He pulled out of her and rolled onto his back. “Hey, don’t leave me like this,” she cried. He made a sound in the back of his throat. Not a word, exactly. His voice creaked when he tried again. He made a growl of frustration and cleared his throat. “Mac…” “You’re Meaghim.” At least, he ought to be. How could she think with her pussy still throbbing and needy? “Mac.” He swallowed. “Lee. McLeigh.” “You’re Meaghim. I’m McLeigh. We can talk about it later.” “Hurt you.”

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“Maybe. I don’t know. It doesn’t matter.” She reached for his cock. Still large, but it was getting soft. Damn it! Damn it all to hell. He caught her hand, curled his own around it, and brought it to his chest. “Mate.” “God yes. I gave up my life. I ate the freaking elfsbane. I let your friends put me in heat. You owe me, dammit.” “Ahhh.” He released her fingers and rolled onto his side. His expression held more intelligence now, more comprehension of what went on around him. After a short hesitation, he put his hand between her legs, parted the lips there, and rubbed her clit with the pad of his thumb. “You want.” She almost jerked off the altar at the shock of his touch where she most needed it. “Yes. Oh, yes, that’s it.” “And this.” He bent to place his mouth over her breast and run his tongue around the nipple. She closed her eyes and gave in to the sensations he could pluck from her body. A trail of liquid fire connected the places where his mouth and his fingers worked. He’d mastered her. Now fully conscious, he seemed to know exactly how much pressure to use to take her to a world of heat and keep her there. Soon, she felt as if she were floating upward, trapped in a body she no longer owned. He controlled her now, and she could only trust he’d finish what he’d started. “You’ll come now,” he said. More a command than a question. “Yes,” she breathed. “Take me again. On top.” Her eyes still closed, she fumbled for his sex and found it. Hard and swollen again. Thank heaven. She opened her eyes, and he helped her to swing a leg over him. She settled herself onto the pole of his flesh and sank down until her pelvis met his. She’d taken every hard inch of him and didn’t need more, he filled her so fully. Her bones went limp with pleasure, and he had to grasp her hips to help her to move up and down.

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So good, she couldn’t speak. She could only make groans of lust as she slid along him. She arched her back for a different angle, creating more friction against her inner walls. He increased the rhythm and pushed his hips upward until he did most of the moving and she only had to hold herself steady and let him plunder her depths. Already, her muscles tensed around him, preparing to let loose a tsunami when she came. Any moment now, she’d snap. One more thrust from him, one more passage of his cock inside her. Just out of reach but soon. One of his hands drifted over her belly to the place where they’d joined. He found her hot spot again and stroked it. Just one touch on that sensitive nub, and she hit orgasm. Screaming with the power of her release, she let the mammoth wave crash over her. Her sex went wild, grasping at him with contractions along the length of her sheath. He shouted, too, and shot more cream inside her as they came together. But his strokes against her clit didn’t stop until he’d wrung every second of response from her. In the end, she fell -- boneless -- against his chest, listening to the racing of his heart. “Mate,” he whispered. “My queen and love.” “Yes, oh yes.” Love. The word seemed to swell in her chest, warming her heart and making her throat close tight. Everything about him felt right. His heart beat in rhythm with her. His scent enveloped her in a cocoon of warmth. His arms created a haven. Safety, comfort, peace. How could she not call all that love? “I love you.” The words crept out of her before she could stop them, but she wouldn’t have taken them back if she could. They felt the rightest of all. “I’ve waited so long,” he said, as he stroked her back. “I have, too, although I didn’t know it at the time.” “You’ll never leave me,” he said. “Never.” She sighed and stretched. “Never.” He rolled them onto their sides and kissed her for the first time. Soft and sweet. Just the way she liked it.

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“Time for us to go home,” he said. “Already?” she said. “I could glow a little longer.” He swatted her behind. “Wench. You have duties now.” “I like the wifely ones the best.” He laughed. “Then, we’d better have a wedding.” He pulled out of her and got up. Now, she could watch the grace of his body as he moved. He went to the chest, crouched next to it, and lifted the lid. “One thing, husband-to-be,” she said. “Can you do that all the time?” He glanced over his shoulder at her. “What thing.” “Have an orgasm and then get hard and do it all over again.” He gave her a wicked smile. “I can with you.” She groaned. “I’ve died and gone to heaven.” “Not quite heaven, but we like it.” “So, what now?” “There are cuts on your back.” He pulled a cloth out of the chest, walked to the fountain, and dipped it under the spray. “Come here.” She sat up and twisted to work out a kink. He had done a number on her when he’d first awakened, plunging into her as if he’d like to nail her to the stone with his cock. What a magnificent beast. She joined him at the fountain and turned to present her rear. He tsked. “I was rough.” He pressed the cloth against one scrape and then another. The water felt cool, easing the pain. “I can’t promise I’ll never do this again,” he said. “You affect me too powerfully.” If he made love like that and fixed her boo-boos later, she could put up with a little rough-and-tumble. He dropped the cloth and went to his knees behind her, his palms skimming down her sides as he went. His hands belonged on her in a way that no other man’s

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had. She’d truly mated with him. Her mother had always told her to expect magic from this man in her future. Now, she believed. Then, he did the most amazing thing. He gripped her hips and kissed her ass. She couldn’t help but giggle. “What are you doing back there?” “You’re prime,” he said and caressed the other butt cheek. “Who prepared you?” “Two elves. Brothers.” “I’ll make them knights.” “Um, Meaghim.” She searched for the right words to tell him what she’d done with his two new knights. “We… that is, they and I… the three of us…” He rose and turned her to face him. “They’ve known you. They’d have to to prepare you.” She gazed up into his deep blue eyes. “You really don’t mind that they fucked me?” “I’d be astonished if they hadn’t.” He kissed her forehead. “From now on, though, you’re mine alone.” “I can handle that.” “Then let’s go meet our people.” He went to the chest again and pulled out a garment the same color as his eyes. She approached and touched the fabric. It was as smooth and warm as the cloth that had covered Meaghim as he’d slept. Golden embroidery adorned the hems, and here and there jewels glistened in intricate patterns. He lifted the gown over her head and helped her to get her arms through the sleeves. When he released the hem, it cascaded to the floor. “A bit long,” she said. “With the belt it will fall perfectly.” He reached into the chest again and produced something that looked like a web spun by a golden spider. The strands were fine threads that shimmered in the light of the torches. When he wrapped it around her waist and tied it, the hem of her gown floated just above her toes. Exactly right. So, when he knelt to help her step into soft, blue slippers, the silk of her gown grazed the tops.

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He went on to dress himself in a long robe of crimson, trimmed with ermine at the collar and cuffs. He used a belt of solid gold links to circle his waist and added a sword in a jeweled scabbard. Then, he stepped into his own shoes and stood before her fully clothed. “You dress up nice,” she said, although “nice” had to be the understatement of the century. He looked every inch the king and warrior and a man she’d happily wake up with for the rest of her life. “You say odd things,” he said. She shrugged. “I’ll try to straighten up and fly right.” His brow furrowed. “That is, I’ll try to do better,” she said. “Shall we go now?” “One more thing.” This time, he produced a small crown from the chest. He held it aloft for a moment so she could admire the circle of diamonds with the prominent ruby at the front. He placed it on her head, where it fit as if it had been waiting for her. His own crown resembled something from medieval times -- a thick band of gold with prongs of jewels at the corners. Rubies and sapphires as big as her thumbs. He put it on his head and he offered her his arm. She’d never had queen lessons, but she’d seen enough movies to fake this. She rested her hand on top of his and lifted her chin in a regal gesture. She hoped. She couldn’t have done too badly because he smiled and led her from the chamber. More torches lit the passageway as they went. She could have used the help going in, but whatever. Instead of emerging into the cave, they stepped outside into the sunlight. She stared around at the scene before her. The exact landscape of her dreams. A lush valley, filled with flowers. Mountains and a waterfall in the distance. This time, a unicorn did appear. Rather, two of them. The bandoch and his mate stepped from behind some trees and walked into the clearing. Nothing could have been more perfect, except for one thing.

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The first elf appeared. A young man, herding a few scrawny goats in front of him. He might have been a younger version of Liam with his red hair, green eyes, and pointed ears. He spotted them and let out a whoop, then pulled a horn from under his cape and sounded a high, clear note with it. More folks appeared, singly and in pairs. After that, whole family groups joined them, and a buzz of excitement went up. Soon, a crowd stood before them, shouting and dancing for joy. After a bit, she spotted the two elves who’d made all this possible. Liam and Andy wore identical clothing -- the leggings and jerkins of a peasant. If Meaghim kept his word, they’d be knights soon. A woman stood tucked under Andy’s arm. Colleen, and every bit as beautiful as her portrait. Both of them were grinning and a little flushed. No doubt they’d been doing the same thing she had with Meaghim in the cave. Maybe now they’d have a baby. Already, the valley had started turning a deeper green than she’d seen when she’d visited the circle of stones with Andy and Liam. The moor had given way to grasses, and trees sported slender limbs with buds of new leaves. She’d succeeded, with Liam and Andy’s help, and now Meaghim’s Realm would restore itself. That would be miracle enough, but she’d also found her mate. She mirrored Colleen’s posture, slipping herself under Meaghim’s arm. He tugged her close. “I present my lady wife, Queen…”

“Marla,” she said.

“Queen Marla,” he repeated.

“Long live Queen Marla!” the crowd answered.

Meaghim turned her and placed a kiss on her lips, and the crowd cheered.

“To long life and fertility,” Liam added.

Her skin heated. She’d be blushing now. She pulled out of Meaghim’s caress and

turned to face her new people. “The king and queen,” the crowd repeated. Andy smiled at her, and Colleen waved.

Alice Gaines Award winning author Alice Gaines has published several sensuous and erotic works. She prefers stories that stretch the imagination, highlighting the power of love and sex. Alice has a Ph.D. in psychology from U. C. Berkeley and lives in Oakland, California, with her collection of orchids and two pet corn snakes, Casper and Sheikh Yerbouti. Visit her website at http://home.pacbell.net/halice/.