The Thing About Elves

The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal, and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. The Thing About Elves ISBN: 1-55410-746-6 Santa’s Elves Series: Book 2 Copyright © 2006 Lynn Crain Cover Art by Martine Hardin All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher. Published by eXtasy Books 2006 Look for us online at www.extasybooks.com

Dedication All the Christmas Elves out there…you know who you are…and should be proud of the fact. You spread your cheer throughout the year, letting us all know what is important in life. All the critique partners past and present… you guys are and were great. Angie Waters… you pushed in all the right places at all the right times… I’m forever grateful. And as always to the boys, Gordon, Tom and Kyle… you’re the best.

Glossary of Terms

Loinnir—literal translation is shining glade; the area where elven magic exerts the most influence. In this area, elves are undetectable. Nor’ahkeem—process of bonding together lovemates for all eternity. Once the process is completed the lovers will have eyes only for each other with a love that transcends beyond forever. Heart—cridhe, criodhe, croí Mouth—beul, gionach; bél, béal Darling—àilleagan, cagaran Beloved—muileach Love—bàidh, gaol, gràdh, liobh, seirc; báidhe Good Morning—Dia dhuit ar maìdin I’m sorry—Tha mi duilich I love you—Tha gaol agam ort. May all your days be happy ones—A h-uile là sona dhuibh's gun là idir dona dhuibh

Scathach—(Scau-ahch) The Celtic goddess of healing, magic, martial arts and of prophecy. She is also known as the Shadowy One and She Who Strikes Fear. She was a woman warrior who lived in Albion and possibly on the Isle of Skye who taught those with the need to defend themselves using martial arts.

Lynn Crain

Prologue

T

hat human woman drove him crazy. Just what would he have to do to get her off his back? True, Angie was Tessa’s best friend and might prove to be a valuable asset in the delivery room due to her nursing background, but her incessant chatter would surely kill him. Sighing to himself, Ardan looked over the delivery room one last time. All was ready. This was a room he could be proud of and he knew it. He had built up the medical program for the elves and the rest of Santa’s helpers from the floor up. He had gone to the best schools and had a flawless education. But still…he knew something was missing…and right now he didn’t have time to figure out what it might be. His parents kept telling him the something missing was love. However, he knew to the contrary that wasn’t the case. He could live 1

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series without that type of love… and sex… well sex could be had for a smile and without promise with women found in the human towns. And he didn’t want to bed an elf woman. That would cause more problems than he needed even though he was certain he could force himself to fall in love with one of them. The community was so small, everyone would know in a flash if he bedded a local woman. So love right now was just out of the question. Besides the human woman called Angie gave him more than enough to handle at the moment. Not that he thought of her in a sexual manner at all… well… that wasn’t quite true, even though he didn’t want to admit it to himself. It certainly didn’t help that she was the most attractive woman he had ever seen in his life. She was small…almost as small as an elf woman…and her hair was long and the color of midnight, which was such a contrast to his blonde locks. Her body was made for sin… at least that’s what she tried to tell him… and he had to totally agree in silence. The things he could do with a body like that…the things he wanted to do…shaking his head, he realized those thoughts would have to be banished from his mind forever. Human women were totally off limits. Ardan swallowed hard. He had never been affected by a human woman except…and that was 2

Lynn Crain one experience he could do without remembering… he would never fall for a common mortal woman again. Unexpectedly, an exotic scent wafted around him like a sensual summer’s day. He closed his eyes to brace himself for the impact. Did just her smell have to affect him so much? His body responded in ways he couldn’t control. He swallowed hard again. “What’s the matter now?” he practically barked out. “My, my…aren’t we sensitive today?” She clucked her tongue and stepped back to look at him. “You are trying my patience,” he growled and turned to her. She barely came to his shoulders and just one look told him he should consider devouring her rather than pushing her away. God, did she have to stand so close to him? He wanted so badly to lean into her. And he knew what leaning into her would cause. “I just wanted you to know that Jedrick called. Apparently, Tessa isn’t feeling well today and he’s sure they will be in later.” “How many times is that now?” Ardan shook his head. “They just need to be patient.” “This hasn’t been the easiest pregnancy. Carrying twins is difficult at best and even minor problems can quickly turn into major ones.” “I understand that and Tessa has received the 3

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series best of care.” “I know.” Ardan watched as Angie turned and surveyed the room, taking in each and every detail. His heart began to beat faster. “You know you can be proud of the health care system you’ve brought to Santa and the community living here.” “I know,” Ardan began and sighed. The overwhelming sense that he missed something pressed on him. “I hear a ‘but’ in there somewhere. Just what’s the problem, Ardan? Am I finally getting on your nerves?” She winked at him. Stepping back he looked down at her. Was he that transparent? He drew himself up to tower over her. “Your incessant chatter does put me on edge sometimes.” He could almost feel the deep chuckle in her throat. It was as if a cat were purring. “Are you sure it’s that? Maybe it’s my quick wit or sexy body that’s thrown you off?” She leaned into him. “Surely, you can’t resist me forever.” Ardan snorted. Resist, indeed. “Madam, I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “Sure you do. You just don’t want to admit it, big boy. You want me.” She closed her eyes as if breathing in his scent just like he had done moments before when he had his back turned to 4

Lynn Crain her. “And I want you.” Slowly, she slid a finger up his leg and under his lab coat. If that hand or finger went an inch higher, she would know that he lied. Still, he tried to will his body to obey his commands. Human women were off limits. Angie’s hand continued its journey up his leg and he knew he was lost. How was he going to explain this? She leaned back, looked up and chuckled. “What do we have here?” Ardan almost felt physically sick. He hadn’t let a human woman touch him since college and here this one was practically in his pants. He cleared his throat. “I don’t know what you mean.” “And you call yourself a doctor?” She stood on tiptoes and pulled him down to her. “Maybe I’ll have to teach you,” she whispered in his ear as her tongue snaked out and gently caressed the flesh. It was all Ardan could do to not take her on the gurney this very moment. For some reason, his ears were extremely sensitive to her touch. “I’d rather you not do that,” he said dryly, trying not to let any emotion slip through even though it took every bit of elven magic to prevent it. “And what would you rather I do, my elf prince?” she murmured, her hand continuing to caress the growing bulge in his pants. Elf prince? He grabbed her hand and pushed her gently away. “I’m not one of your heroes in 5

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series your fantasy books, Angie.” The tone of his voice brooked no argument She swallowed hard and moved away. “I know that,” she said quietly. “Is it my fault that you have a regal bearing and presence?” He had heard that before. “I’m sorry if you think I act just like one of those characters. I’ve told you it would never work between us.” “It works for Tessa and Jedrick.” “And frankly, I’m not sure why.” “Why are you a doctor if you don’t understand the very basics of human or humanoid behavior?” She looked at him and started to tap her small foot on the floor just like Eggther. Soon her arms were crossed in a defensive pose. “I’m waiting.” “I don’t personally think that one needs love to have a fulfilling life. I’ve told you this before.” He turned away from her and tried to subtly adjust his body. A small hand caressed his elbow. “You are wrong.” Turning, he smiled at her broadly. “I am never wrong.” “You are about this. Love is one of the most miraculous things in the world and you’ve totally closed yourself off to it.” She shook her head and looked forlorn, confused. “I don’t understand. You come from one of the most loving families and you’re just so…so…” 6

Lynn Crain “Different?” he supplied. “I just don’t have any illusions about what can and cannot be.” He looked down at her heart shaped face and patted her hand. “I’m sorry to shatter yours.” The front door buzzer sounded. “I guess that’s my queue.” Angie walked to the swing doors. “Someday you’ll see I’m right.” She kept her back to him and went into the outer foyer. Ardan rubbed his forehead. Why did he feel like such a heel? He couldn’t string her along. It wasn’t in him to drag someone through the motions when there could be nothing for them. Sex for sex’s sake was something he could never do again if he cared even one iota for the woman. The last time had almost killed him. The woman might be attractive but in the long run, she would tire of him and set him aside for another. He had had that experience once and had vowed never again. He didn’t care if it were the most attractive woman in the universe or not. Angie rushed in, her face flushed. “Doctor, you need to come right now.” “What is it?” “Tessa and Jedrick are here.” Ardan felt that sense of impending doom. “And?” “She’s having contractions and has been bleeding since this morning.” 7

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series No time to think about himself. He needed to do what he loved best…being a doctor.

8

Lynn Crain

Chapter 1

A

ngie sat down hard and pulled off her surgical cap, her hair in wild disarray, regardless of the fact that it had been braided earlier. She had to resolve this within herself before she could ever help Ardan. And Ardan definitely needed help with this one. The almighty doctor had a hard fall. It was probably the first time he had even been faced with possible failure. The delivery had been difficult…very difficult in fact…at one point, even she felt they could lose Tessa. But Ardan’s quick thinking and using what she could only surmise was elven magic preserved Tessa’s and the twins’ lives. The twins were beautiful though they were a couple of weeks early. Both were a healthy weight, the little girl being seven pounds, five ounces and the little boy being an even eight pounds. They were very large babies for twins. The delivery had started out normal with Tessa’s contractions coming nice and steady, even though she had 9

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series been bleeding since early morning. Sometime after the second hour, one of the twins’ heartbeats became erratic and continued to do so each time a contraction occurred. Then Tessa started to bleed really badly. They had only moments to prep and get her into surgery for an emergency C-section. And it hadn’t been a moment too soon. One of the placentas had started to detach from the uterine wall prematurely and then one of the twins had their cord wrapped around their neck. “Placenta previa and the umbilical cord too. Shit,” Angie said to no one but herself. Damn she was tired. They hadn’t seen it coming at all. Everything had indicated the whole process should run as smooth as glass even though it was a double birth. Still, she had to get in there to reassure her friends that all would be well. Slowly, she stood and made her way back to Tessa’s room. Entering, she hovered near the wall as Ardan looked at the monitors attached to her friend. Turning to Jedrick, she smiled slightly and tried to give him what encouragement she could. Tessa may not be out of the woods just yet but Angie knew they weren’t going to lose her. “Your vital signs are normal. And the babies are doing great.” He turned to hover over his niece and nephew, stethoscope in hand. “Don’t you dare wake those children,” Tessa 10

Lynn Crain stated quietly, her tiredness creeping into her voice. “I do need some rest, you know.” Ardan turned to face her. “I wouldn’t dream of disturbing their peaceful sleep.” He gazed across the room to Angie. “I think Angie and I probably need some rest too. You don’t mind if I leave some of the elven nurses to check you during the night, do you?” “Not at all,” Jedrick said. “Thank you, Ardan.” Angie watched him closely and could tell he swallowed hard before he answered. “You’re welcome.” It almost came out like a whisper. Nodding his head toward Tessa, he turned and fled the room. Angie sighed. This might be harder than she thought. She went and sat on the side of the bed across from Jedrick. Sitting there, she just quietly held her best friend’s hand. “Hey, lady. I’m sorry it was so rough.” Tessa squeezed her hand. “All I can think is that it’s got to get better, right? It can’t happen again, can it?” Jedrick glanced at Angie. “I’m not sure I’m going to allow a next time.” “You will if I have something to say about it, buster. Have you seen just how precious your children are?” Smiling, Angie allowed tears to glaze her eyes. “I’ll be honest, Tessa, I just don’t know if there can 11

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series be another time. But I think it will be a while before you have to think about it...” She sighed and bit her lip hard. “You used to do that when we were younger. It helped you not to burst out in tears.” “What?” Angie questioned. She realized she had been biting her bottom lip and winced. “Yeah.” “Well…don’t…because if you do, I will. And I think that will be bad for my stitches.” Angie wiped her nose with a tissue she pulled from her pocket. “I guess you’re right.” She smiled down at her pale friend. “I can’t hide anything from you, can I?” “Not usually. But tell me true…is everything really going to be okay?” “I believe it is. Ardan is a wonderful doctor. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone so dedicated.” “It probably didn’t help that it was his sister-inlaw, either.” Jedrick chuckled, looking the most relaxed he had in a while. Angie smiled back. “I’m sure it didn’t. But I can tell his feelings run deep… and this has affected him deeply… I hope he’ll be okay.” “I think it helps that you’re here. He’s never had someone who shared his passion for medicine before.” “Surely, Jedrick, there were people in school.” Angie watched him to gage his answer. Just 12

Lynn Crain looking at him made her suddenly realize just what her friend saw in the man. “Not any who wanted to give up their world and possible fame and fortune to help at a clinic that no one knows about, in a place no one knows even exists.” “Oh. I guess I never thought about that before.” She sighed again and looked at Jedrick once again. “Well…I got into medicine for the right reasons…I want to help people.” Tessa looked up at her. “Really? I thought it was always the money that motivated you.” “I have to admit that at first it did because money is really an important aspect of any career.” She sat more firmly on the edge of the bed. “Remember a couple of years ago when I went along with a group of doctors to Africa?” “Doctors without Borders, or some such group, if I remember correctly.” Tessa nodded her head slightly. “Yes…those guys…I discovered on the trip that I could really make a difference in people’s lives. I’ve been saving my money to do something like that ever since.” “But you just took that promotion last year,” Tessa said looking confused. “I did. And it was to enable me to save more money and get more vacation time to do the things that I really want to do.” 13

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series “And here I’m having you use some of your precious vacation time.” “Don’t worry…I have almost six months…and I’m taking six weeks.” She squeezed her friend’s hand once again. “I would be at your side even if I had to quit my job. And you know that.” Tessa sighed. “I know…we’re the only family we have…aren’t we?” “Yup.” “You can just stop biting that lip of yours now,” Tessa chuckled. Ardan popped his head in. “Angie, I think it’s time to go. You can come and check on her later. She, Jedrick and both of us need a long rest.” Angie turned toward the sound of his voice. In the few minutes he had been gone, he seemed to have regained his composure. “Sure.” Turning to Tessa, she sighed and squeezed her hand. “The boss has spoken, so I better go. I’ll come back as soon as I can.” She slowly got up and walked to the door. “You call us if you need us for anything, right?” Jedrick got up and gently pushed her toward the door. “We’ll be fine. Go to bed.” Angie allowed him to force her out and heard the gentle click of the door. She put her hand on the wall and leaned her head toward it. She really had to get a grip on herself. She felt gentle arms clasp her shoulders. 14

Lynn Crain “It’s alright to cry, you know,” Ardan whispered gently in her ear and leaned over her. “I know. I just don’t want to do it here.” She pushed herself away from the wall and from him. Sighing deeply, she turned to look at the man she had dreamed about for almost a year. True, the man did resemble one of the popular actors of a recent epic film but there were subtle differences too. Ardan’s lips were fuller and his face leaner. Not only did he still have the flush of youth, but the look of a more mature man as well. There was something definitely raw about him that she couldn’t quite place. And he had the look of someone who knew exactly what he wanted and where he was going. “I’ll just go back to my room. That way I’ll be close in case I’m needed.” “Not tonight,” he stated firmly, and started to rub her neck gently. “What do you mean?” “If I leave you here tonight, you will likely bring your blanket and sleep in the hall. And that won’t help either one of us.” He stopped moving his hands and looked deeply into her eyes as if willing her to do what he wanted. “Why not?” Angie looked at him skeptically, wondering just what he could say that would make her want to leave. “I think the best place for you to go would be somewhere other than the hospital.” 15

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series She shook her head tiredly. “No shit, Sherlock. But I really don’t have anywhere to go now do I, thank you very much. If you’d just get out of my way, I’ll manage to fall into my bed somehow.” “Come home with me.” Angie stopped in mid-track and swallowed hard. Rubbing her hands in front of her face, she contemplated her options. If she didn’t go with him tonight, he would never ask her again, of this she could be sure. If she did go, she wouldn’t or couldn’t be responsible for her actions. And from past history, she knew that those actions could get her into hot water. No matter what choice she made it wouldn’t necessarily be the right one for her. The air suddenly sparked with sexual tension. Again, she knew this would probably be the last chance she would get and she was never one to allow a chance slip by. She swallowed hard and turned back to face Ardan. “Alright, I’ll go. Just let me get a few things.” She ran down the hall and into the dormitory style room. She wasn’t going to give him time to change his mind. She rapidly threw off her scrubs into the bin, redid her heavy braid and pulled on her clothes that had been sitting on the bed. Angie didn’t care that she needed a shower; she was going home with Ardan. Grabbing a small duffle, she threw in another pair of jeans, sweater and underwear. Reaching for her coat, she was out the 16

Lynn Crain door in less than five minutes. Upon her return, Ardan, who had been leaning against the wall, stood up and gaped. “What?” “You just went at warp speed. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you move that fast.” Breathing heavily, she tried to answer coherently. “I’ve always been able to move fast when I wanted to.” “I see.” Slowing her breathing down, Angie rolled her neck, trying to relax. “Just a minute, buster,” she finally said, “I’m not sure you see anything.” Reaching for her arm, Ardan put her hand in the crook of his elbow. “I see enough to know that both of us are dead tired and need to get some sleep. I see enough to know that your devotion to Tessa is such that if I left you here you wouldn’t get any sleep at all. Is that good enough?” She couldn’t deny his logic if she tried. “So?” “I also see that you will never admit I’m right if you can help it.” Smiling more to herself than anything else, she chuckled. “I’m glad you see so much. I guess I’m just not one of those ‘yes, doctor’ nurses. Couldn’t ever stand kowtowing, no matter what or who wanted me to do so.” “I’m glad that you still have a sense of humor and I’m glad that you didn’t kowtow to those who 17

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series were less superior than you.” “Well…I’m not sure about that…but sometimes I definitely knew they didn’t deserve the honor.” “I find few in the human world who have honor, much less deserve the devotion that is sometimes thrust upon them.” “Ah…a philosopher…did you study that at school too?” she asked as she walked along side him, hand tucked in neatly against his body. “A little…not enough to imbibe great wisdom on anyone, mind you…just enough to want to figure things out for myself.” “And just what are you trying to figure out, doctor?” “Things.” He turned her and looked deep into her eyes, pressing his body the whole length of hers. Angie felt her heart stop and her crotch clench. “What things?” she whispered, trying to keep the emotion from her voice. “Things that I can’t show you here. Things that I need to work out of my system.” She tried to breathe steadily but it got harder with each breath. She could feel every muscle in his leg and his abdomen seemed to be caressing hers. “Am I one of those things?” “We’ll just have to see, won’t we? I’ll be just a minute.” He pulled himself from her and walked into the men’s changing room, not affording her 18

Lynn Crain even a backward glance. It was everything that Angie could do not to just melt into the floor. She just knew that she was going to die from sexual tension if she weren’t careful. Still, she could be hopeful for something. Soon she tapped her foot as she knew he deliberately tortured her by making her wait. **** What the hell was he doing? Ardan leaned against the door and breathed deeply. Every nerve ending in his body was on fire because of that woman. And this time it had gone too far. He had to have her. He didn’t care what the outcome would be; he had to have her luscious body. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t been offering it to him for a year now. He walked over to the locker and jerked off his lab coat. Slamming open the door, he wasn’t sure this was the wisest thing to do, given the situation. But then again with the sexual tension running through his body he wasn’t sure what the wisest thing would be. His elven magic continued to be on high alert, first with Tessa in the operating room and now with Angie. He didn’t want to care for the woman but after tonight something had crept into his heart and that something was caring. Clenching and unclenching his fists, he walked 19

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series around the room several times. He had to get a hold of himself before he went back out to her. Leaning his head against the door, he strained to hear her breathing. With his elven magic, he could discern the slow beat of her heart and the rhythmic feel of her breath. Putting out a tendril of magic, he realized her heart beat faster with just that small touch. Could she actually feel him and his magic? Was it possible this human woman could be his match? Shaking his head, he pushed away from the door. He couldn’t do this. He calmed himself down through some breathing exercises and gained control over his errant emotions. He was just a little stressed from the hard delivery. That had to be it because it couldn’t be anything else. Oh…but he wanted her so badly…and when she had touched his ears earlier in the day he thought he would burst. Her very touch could send him zinging and he wasn’t quite sure why…or at least he didn’t want to admit it to himself. He would just go out there and tell her that nothing was going to happen. Nothing at all. All he had to do was to convince himself it was true. **** He had touched her with the magic. Angie stood 20

Lynn Crain straighter. She felt it…a light brush against her already hot skin…it had set her pulses to racing even more. What the hell was the man doing? Testing her? She nearly jumped through the roof when the door opened and she turned wide eyes his direction. Ardan stood there in silhouette. She couldn’t have wanted him more if she tried. “I want to make it clear that nothing will happen tonight.” She blinked her eyes and sighed deeply. “Whatever. I need to get some sleep.” She grabbed her bag and headed for the door. She was in no mood to try and decipher what had happened in the time he had been away from her. He happened to be moodier than any woman she knew and in her current state of mind, it had a numbing sensation. Angie shoved her way through the front door and set down her bag. Pulling on her coat, she watched as the snow swirled around her and into the night. This truly was a winter wonderland and she was one of the privileged few who were accepted into this realm. “It’s really beautiful here,” she stated quietly, not sure if Ardan had even caught up with her. “You think it’s beautiful?” She didn’t have to look at him to know he was surprised by her observation. She could hear it in his voice. “Yes, I do.” She turned to look up at him 21

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series and pulled her parka hood closer to her head. “It might not be the conventional beauty of a land with four seasons, but there’s something stark and raw about it that makes it beautiful.” “Yes… it does have a harsh beauty… but most women never see it.” “Ardan… I’m not most women… and like you’ve told me many times, you are not most men.” Anything else she had to say could wait. The sleigh had arrived with Eggther driving. “Hello, Eggther,” Angie said. “Hello, Angie Hudson. And how do you do on this cold winter’s night?” Angie smiled at the elf. He was Santa’s beck and call elf, doing anything the jolly fellow needed him to do. He was one of the smallest elves she had ever seen and he dressed in the traditional little green or red suit, whichever matched his mood of the day. One of the lucky few who were allowed to wear both colors, Angie could tell Eggther considered himself one special elf. She didn’t get into elf politics, but she knew that they did have some rules and standards. Rules and standards that had been broken when Santa arrived with Tessa over a year ago. From what she recalled of the tale, Eggther had hardly been happy when Santa told him they were taking the human woman home with them. But something had changed during the past year, and 22

Lynn Crain he was now one of Tessa’s most ardent admirers. And he had taken a shine to her as well. “Other than cold, Eggie, I think I’m just really tired.” The small elf got a really sad look on his face. “Are they going to be okay?” “Absolutely. They had the best medical team around. For now, they just need rest and recuperation time,” Ardan stated emphatically. “And we need rest too, Eggie.” “Where are you going, Ardan? I thought you always stayed at the hospital. And I don’t think Angie has been assigned any place beyond what you gave her here.” “Eggie, we’re going to my house.” The elf blinked at them once then twice. “Oh.” There was a great deal of wonder in that one little word. “It’s not what you think,” Ardan began, stopping almost immediately as if realizing some mistake. “And just what do you think I think?” the small elf questioned, hands on hips. Angie had never seen Ardan blush or be uncomfortable in any way. “I know exactly what you think…and you don’t need to be telling my parents anything…got that?” The small man stared at him for a few moments. “You, young man, have a very dirty 23

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series mind if you think I was thinking that.” Angie did her best not to chuckle. Soon she shook in soundless mirth. That would teach the arrogant bastard. One of his own got the better of him. “It’s not funny.” Ardan scowled down at her. Wiping the laughter off her face, she looked at him with wide, innocent eyes. “Did I say it was?” Ardan rubbed his forehead. “This is going to be a mess.” Angie placed her hand in his arm. “I’ve always found that honesty is the best policy. We’ll tell everyone the truth. We were tired and needed to get away from the hospital. What could be misconstrued from that?” “My parents will wonder why I didn’t bring you to their house.” “At two in the morning?” “You don’t know my mother.” He rolled his eyes. “Nor the elven community.” “I’ve got a pretty good idea from Tessa how things work around here. I’ll tell them I refused to let you wake them up and you refused to leave me here. It’ll take care of everything.” Ardan seemed to breathe a sigh or relief. “That sounds plausible.” “Good. Let’s get to your house before I fall over.” They climbed into the sled, settling in by 24

Lynn Crain pulling the blanket around them both and instructed Eggther to make haste to Ardan’s home.

25

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series

Chapter 2

A

ngie slowly walked around the living room for what must have been the millionth time. She stood, amazed at what she saw in the room. It certainly wasn’t what she expected from the stuffy elf. She had expected something darker and while most of the greens were dark, they weren’t overbearing. They were quite inviting and something she would expect of a woodland elf if she could define furniture that way. The room definitely had the feel of being outside in nature. Not the nature found here at the North Pole but elsewhere in the world where it would be dominated by forest. The room had a similar layout to that of Jedrick’s and Tessa’s with a large fireplace which almost took up the whole room. But that’s where the similarity ended. The mantle here was a polished dark wood, almost black upon closer inspection, and the roaring fire added to the sheen of the wood. The chairs seemed to be more 26

Lynn Crain minimalist with lots of wood showing. The pillows brought a splash of color to an otherwise dark room with their blues and greens. The couch looked comfortable and efficient without the benefit of many of the overstuffed pillows so many designers used today. All in all it made a good impression. Sighing, she turned and looked at the window. The snow still swirled in graceful eddies at the front of the house. Rubbing her arms, she wondered just why she was here. He had explained at the hospital there could be nothing between them; still, she harbored hope in her heart. A hope that would not die slowly, that she knew. No, it would take a long time for her to get over this man. Swallowing hard, she felt the man enter the room. Was this what it was like for Jedrick and Tessa? Could they sense each other? If she didn’t know better she would swear he had transferred some of that elven magic to her when she had felt his tentative touch through the wall. “I wasn’t sure what you wanted, so I made hot chocolate, hot tea and coffee. Then of course there’s the scotch to liven it up.” She turned toward Ardan. “Scotch?” “You don’t like scotch?” “I didn’t say that. It is an acquired taste.” Angie stood by the window and watched him set the 27

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series tray on the low table in the middle of the room. His hair shimmered in the firelight, dancing around his head and shoulders like a waterfall against a cliff. His long limbs called to her to be touched. She kept her arms tightly crossed. She couldn’t yield unto this temptation no matter how much she wanted to do so at the moment. Ardan sat on the couch and indicated one of the chairs to her. “What do you like?” “Tequila’s always good.” A horrified look crossed his face. “You’ve got to be kidding…right?” “You don’t like tequila?” “I don’t like what it does to me.” She smiled and moved forward. “That I can understand.” Frowning, she looked over the contents of the tray. “Did you make these cookies too?” “Since no one is waiting at home for me, I have to bake everything myself. I’m not the best chef or baker, but I’m adequate.” Crossing in front of the chair, she slowly folded herself into the square space. “I guess I’ll have some hot chocolate with some whiskey. That’ll feed my chocolate craving.” “Good choice.” He leaned forward picking up one of the cups and poured from one of the ceramic pitchers. “So you’re craving other things?” Ardan looked at her pointedly as if trying 28

Lynn Crain to see within her soul. Angie blinked back at him slowly. Well two could play this game. “I suppose you could say that,” she practically purred. She didn’t know just how far she could push this game. If she could push it all the way, she would. But at this moment, Ardan was almost playing a practical cat and mouse game. Thing was she didn’t know just who happened to be the mouse. “Ah.” Ardan stirred the whiskey into the hot chocolate before handing her the toasty mug. “Just ‘ah’ and nothing else? How unlike you.” She reached for the mug and almost dropped it when his fingers grazed her. The electric shock was felt throughout her whole body. Looking looked through lazy eyes at Ardan, she wanted to smile. He was not unaffected by the quick touch. She could almost swear that he paled for just bare a moment. Ardan cleared his throat and sat back on the couch, mug in hand. “So you’ve seen Tessa and Jedrick’s house and you know they’re basically the same, but what do you think of mine?” This was unexpected. Angie arched her eyebrow in surprise. “You want me to tell you what I think about the decorating? Or would you like my comment on the house itself?” “The decorating…if you don’t mind, that is.” She snorted. “Sorry. But that isn’t what I 29

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series expected you to ask.” She looked at him, trying to gauge the reason he asked. “Well…since you ask…I didn’t expect this at all.” “Really?” “Really.” “And just what did you expect, Angie?” He gazed at her quizzically. “I certainly didn’t expect it to be like a woodland area. It reminds me of being in Scotland or England or something like that. It’s all green and light, yet with the darker woods…it’s like being in an ancient forest. I expected bigger windows on everyone’s houses and I guess much brighter colors.” “Why’s that?’ She sighed and pondered the question for a few moments before answering. “You’re in a place that has eternal night for almost six months of the year. The sun is fleeting when it does arrive and the summer is very short. I would think that you’d want to maximize the light within the rooms and you would need bigger windows to allow all the light to shine in.” Angie stopped to emphasize her point. “But I come in here and it’s like taking a walk in the forest, regardless of the windows. It even smells that way, for goodness sake.” “You know it’s not completely dark during the winter.” “Why do you say that?” 30

Lynn Crain “Let’s see, what time is it?” Ardan looked at his watch and stood up. “Come on, I’ll show you.” “Are you kidding? We’ll freeze out there!” “Look,” he pointed to the window, “the snow stopped a little bit ago. And I’d bet you that the night air is clear and crisp. I promise you’ll be warm.” He stood up and held a hand toward her. Angie sat and looked at his hand for a moment before taking it. The charged feelings rose quickly to the surface but she pushed them back down. She had to keep her emotions in check. Right now it was enough to be close to the man. Slowly, he walked to the door with her in tow. Grabbing a blanket from the basket next to the door, he whisked it around both of them. “We won’t be out there long enough to freeze but we might take a slight chill.” He opened the door and pulled her along to edge of the front porch. “I think we’re just in time.” Ardan looked at the night sky. Angie shivered. “What?” Little by little, she turned her head in the general direction where he looked. At first, she caught a glimpse and then she fully turned her face upward. The sky was awash with a pale greenish light. In spirals and waves, it appeared to be moving, sometimes fast and sometimes slow, but always with brilliant brightness. For a few moments she stood and 31

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series watched before another shiver caught her off guard. “Sorry. But just what is that?” Ardan pulled her tighter. “It’s the northern lights, the Aurora Borealis.” “You mean the thing caused by the Earth’s magnetic field?” She looked at him through hooded lashes. He had to know just how much he affected her with his closeness. All her senses were on high sexual alert. It took everything in her to keep her heart from not beating out of her chest. He continued to look at the light show for a few more minutes. “Yes, it’s caused by the magnetic field. But we tell another story about them.” “And that is?” He looked down at her then with troubled eyes. “We artic elves have a legend about lost lovers. Or maybe you would call them found.” She grinned then. “What’s the legend?” “In the realm of the first Earth, there were two elves. One always wanted to stay home and do everything he was told while his mate loved to help people. She would do whatever was necessary so her people could thrive and prosper. One day she was called away and while she was gone the eternal night that you mentioned had begun and she couldn’t find her way home. Her mate was so lost without her that he prayed for seven days and seven nights to the gods to bring her home. At the end of the seventh day, the night 32

Lynn Crain sky lit up with what we call the Aurora Borealis and she was able to find her way home by its light.” “That’s a nice legend. It’s great that they got back together.” “I suppose.” He reached up and gently caressed the side of her face. “You suppose?” Angie leaned into his hand and rubbed her check tenderly in his palm. “If you like that sort of thing,” he whispered and tilted her face upward. “The Celts had a whole different legend. And if I recall it correctly, it had a lot to do with war.” Angie almost panicked. This was the very thing they said they wouldn’t do. But she couldn’t help herself. Her body was meant for sin and this was the man she wanted to perform the act with right now. Unhurriedly, he leaned in until his lips were almost touching hers. “I really shouldn’t you know,” he breathed, his breath caressing her lips and face. “I know.” Firm lips pressed against hers and it wasn’t long till his warm tongue sought entrance to her mouth. She could feel every muscle in his body and the bulge caressing her stomach got larger with each thrust of his tongue. Grabbing his tongue gently with her teeth, she sucked on it before allowing him to take it back. Reaching her 33

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series hand out of the warmth of the blanket, she gently rolled her fingers around his ear relishing the feel of the pointy top. Ardan pulled back. “Do you know what that does to an elf?” he whispered, and touched his forehead to hers while clasping her face with one hand. “I have some idea. I asked Jedrick to show me once.” She didn’t hedge. Her reply was strong and confident. Angie knew what she wanted and she planned to get it. He breathed in her scent for a moment or two longer. “Leave it to my brother. Let’s go back inside.” He opened the door and practically dragged her behind him. Shutting the door with a slam, he guided her to the couch. “If we start this there will be no turning back.” She bit at her lips and licked them nervously. “I know.” Pushing her onto the couch, he sat down beside her heavily. Sighing, he slowly turned to face her. Reaching out his hand, he lifted her braid from her shoulder. “May I?” Not trusting herself to speak, Angie could only nod. His hands were so gentle, she didn’t even wince when he pulled the rubber band from her hair that she had so hastily put in what seemed like hours ago. Her hair was long, but she had never really considered just how long. She was 34

Lynn Crain able to watch his hands unwind the braid ever so easily. Once completed, he ran his long fingers through her hair. “Beautiful,” he breathed, “just beautiful.” He buried his face into the ebony tresses for a few seconds before lifting them and pressing his lips against her neck. She shivered with delight and pulled his head close. Leaning back onto the couch, she drew him with her. Tugging his head away from her neck, she forced him to take her lips. Returning kiss for kiss, she opened her mouth to allow him easy access to all she had to offer. Caressing wherever her hands touched, she was amazed at how soft and warm his skin felt to her fingertips. This was what she had yearned for; this was what she had wanted. All her nerve endings tingled with desire. Gently, she pulled his bottom lip into her mouth and gently sucked on it. His weight shifted until he lay fully on top of her. She could feel his unrestrained desire pressing against her leg. As if to show her intention, she moved his hand over her lips and tugged one of his digits into her mouth, sucking on it voraciously without control. And she knew exactly what she did to him. “Touch me,” he whispered, “really touch me.” The simple request surprised her. “Alright.” Pulling his shirt out of his pants, she lovingly 35

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series caressed each new section of exposed skin. He was very smooth and his abdominal muscles very tight. Slipping her hands down the back of his jeans, she gently squeezed his derrière. She felt him tremble under her touch and knew that she was his first in a long time. But still, it was as if he were a master at self-control. “I won’t break.” He looked down at her with hooded eyes. “I know that,” he answered. Smiling, she reached up again and ran one fingertip around his ear. She was rewarded with a deep groan. “Be careful,” he warned, “you’ll have to accept the consequences if you continue to do that.” “Consequences?” she quipped. “I crave them.” Grabbing her hair, he pulled her head back roughly. “Again, be very sure this is what you want to do. Soon there will be no turning back.” “I don’t want another chance to say no. I want you to take me…any way you want…any way you need.” As if the dam had burst, Ardan began pulling at her clothes, seeming not to care if he ripped them as he pulled them away from her body. “This will be about both of us, give and take.” “Good.” She tugged at his shirt to get it completely off. She may not have his strength in removing the fabric quickly, but her need was just 36

Lynn Crain as great. Sitting back on his knees, he hovered over her as he removed his shirt and slid to the floor in front of the couch. Reaching up, he pulled her jeans from her body and positioned himself between her knees. Angie swallowed hard. While she knew all the particulars of lovemaking, this was one area where she had never had a successful outcome. “Ardan…please,” she whispered, “I don’t think…” “Don’t think, Angie,” he answered and looked up at her with eyes darkened with passion. As if watching her reactions, he dipped his head and nuzzled her through her underwear. She wanted to scream in frustration as his face slid over the silkiness. Maybe this was what all the girls had been excited about when she was in school, the almost mindless need and sensation. Pushing the fabric aside, he thrust his tongue into the lips of her labia, dropping into the creaminess she knew lingered there. Stroking her, he continued to watch her until she didn’t care anymore, her head lolling back on the couch. Stroking her inner recesses, he ripped the last shred of fabric covering her. “Sorry.” All she could do was grunt and caress his head, Angie was so lost in sensation. She felt her hips lifted to pull the material out of the way. She was 37

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series held there for a minute and she watched him through slit eyes. He was magnificent and looked at her as if trying to remember every detail. Leaning his head in, she watched his tongue stroke her hard nub once again. “Move your ass to the edge of the couch.” Swallowing hard, she didn’t hesitate and did what she was told. Almost immediately, her body was assaulted with new sensations as Ardan’s fingers began to caress her along with his tongue. Being a doctor, he knew exactly where to touch a woman and how. Angie would never question his skill again, knowing just how complete his touch could be. One long finger slid into her vagina, reaching as far as it could and caressing her inside hot spot with vigor. Each stroke elicited another moan from her as her body writhed in response. He used his thumb to lay her bare to his eyes once again. Rubbing her nub with that thumb, it felt as if her clit were growing under his ministrations. Still, she bucked into him wanting more. Slowly, he tongued her from top to bottom, pumping his finger in and out. Soon, he put another finger inside dragging more wetness from her, rubbing it into the tight rosette of her ass. “Have you ever had anal sex?” he asked and stopped to watch her. Closing her eyes, she shuddered. “Once. It wasn’t very pleasant.” 38

Lynn Crain Chuckling, she felt him in her cunt, the tiny vibrations heightening her already susceptible senses even more. “Of course, it probably wasn’t. Human men are jerks when it comes to that part of the anatomy. It can and will be very pleasurable when we do it, I assure you.” “If you say so,” she murmured. “I can’t promise I won’t take you there tonight, but I will take you to new territory all the same.” Making her wetter, he began working her ass tenderly, rubbing his finger to and fro, up and down, until she was a wiggling mass. She had never felt anything like this before. No one had ever touched her in this way, with this much respect and feeling. Soon, Angie moaned for something she didn’t understand or ever think she would want. “Please…,” she breathed, “…please…” Slowly, his finger penetrated her ass and she almost exploded. Not moving, he allowed her to adjust to the new sensations. And what sensations they were. This was nothing like what had happened before, this left her craving for more and she found herself pushing hard against his hand. “That’s right. Push down,” he encouraged. Soon she had engulfed his whole finger. Now she had one in her cunt and one in her ass, and each brought such pleasure she thought she 39

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series would die before she ever got off. But he still had more surprises in store. Leisurely, he began to move both fingers, in and out, fast and slow. Pushing. Pulling. Tugging. Giving. To the point where she was one massive, quivering piece of flesh. Leaning down, he blew on her clit and she knew that within a matter of moments she would be lost. Alternating between thumb and tongue, he laved her body with wetness then hardness. Sensations came and went. He brought her up to a peak and let her down gently, never allowing her to go over the edge. Her pussy throbbed in ways she had only imagined were possible. Moaning out loud, she began to pump her hips up and down, grateful that he followed her every move. He continued to finger and tongue-fuck her until she felt she couldn’t stand another minute. Hot pleasure began to rain down on her in molten globs. Her breath came in shorter and shorter pants. And then, he gently bit on her clit and she went tumbling over the edge. “Ardan,” she cried and pulled his head even closer to her. Wave after wave of spasms wracked her body as he continued licking and caressing her with his fingers. Without realizing it she crested the heights again, plunging once more into the depths of pleasure, her body clenching and unclenching 40

Lynn Crain in unrestrained ecstasy. Quickly, pulling his fingers out of her, he pushed the rest of his clothes out of the way and lifted her knees apart. “I’ll try not to hurt you.” She couldn’t even rouse herself out of the daze her orgasm had caused when she felt a burning sensation spread through her loins. Gasping, she spread herself even wider. The man was huge and filled her completely. Never before had she felt this full, this whole. Ardan didn’t move for a few moments. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. Angie opened wide eyes to him. “Whatever for?” “I’ve hurt you.” “You’ve filled me,” she stated and reached for his face. “And that will never hurt.” Color began to swirl in the depths of his eyes and she knew it was magic. Gradually, he began to move and the colors that she had seen began to swirl around them. Soon, they were dancing around them, embracing them like a galaxy out of control. Angie opened herself more to him, allowing him greater access and depth. Soon, she panted as much as he while watching the colors flow around and through them. His cock did a slow dance inside her, making her feel even different than before. “Beautiful,” she breathed, “and magical.” 41

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series “There’s more.” His thrusts became longer and deeper as the color invaded her very soul. She arched her hips even more and felt him grow another notch, rubbing her inner core with conviction. Soon she shuddered in delight. Reaching behind her, he pulled her head to his, touching her forehead, releasing yet another stream of color. The colors began to merge and as each one coalesced into another, the tug on her cunt was undeniable, overshadowing everything, until the nova burst. The colors scattered as the release came from her very depths, making her cunt muscles squeeze tightly as she came as never before. Almost immediately, she heard Ardan’s cry of release as he pressed his jism deep within her spasming body, the magic leaving them both in its ebony glow. **** Tessa was instantly awake. She’d been around elf magic enough to know the release of sexual tension. “Jedrick,” she called gently to her husband to wake him up. “What?” he looked around dazed. Shaking his head he sat straight up. “Holy crap.” Tessa chuckled. “That bad, huh?” “Come on, Tessa, I don’t think we’ve ever released that much energy.” 42

Lynn Crain Arching her eyebrows in mock surprise, she looked at him. “You just wait, buster, you just wait.” “This must have been his first time in a long time,” Jedrick whispered, careful not to waken the twins. “You know this isn’t just a fling for Angie, don’t you?” Tessa frowned. “I know and I just don’t see what she sees in Ardan. He’s so arrogant.” “But she loves him. I know she does, even if she won’t admit it to herself yet. Do you think she can make it work?” “If anyone has a chance, that woman has. She came in and everything in this place has had her touch. Ardan would be a fool not to see how special she is.” Tessa reached out and gently squeezed her husband’s hand. “Let’s just hope he knows it now.” **** Santa looked up from his desk. Any moment now Eggther or Janice or both would be bursting in. The mother won in the end, knocking the tiny elf out of the way. “Another one?” she asked incredulously. “I can assure you, madam; I had nothing to do with this one.” 43

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series “Well…you had something to do with the first one…and she brought this second one!” Janice cried. The small woman stood there defiantly, arms crossed over her chest. “I thought we’d decided that whatever our children did had nothing to do with Santa or him bringing Tessa home in the first place?” a calm voice questioned from the door. “You might have.” She turned and faced the man standing in the doorway of Santa’s office. “Our children have their own lives, Janice. And that includes sex. We always knew and hoped that each of them would find a mate one day.” Janice rubbed her head. “God…why does elf sex have to be so magical?” “Would you want it any other way, wife?” Looking at her husband, a slow smile spread across her face. “Absolutely not.” She stood there for a moment. “But that still doesn’t change what’s happened.” Bevan stood looking at his wife. “We don’t know what has happened, Janice,” he finally said in an exasperated voice. “He’s been badly hurt before.” Her eyes pleaded with her husband. “Have you seen how she looks at him? She worships the ground he walks on. It’s my hope that he doesn’t shatter her heart.” Bevan scowled at his wife. 44

Lynn Crain Janice blinked quickly as her eyes misted up. Bevan had the right of things. Angie would be the one needing protecting.

45

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series

Chapter 3

M

y god, what had I done? Lying in bed, wrapped around the woman he had made gloriously love to for most of the night, Ardan doubted his wisdom. This would be worse than before. This time there had been magic…strong elven magic…whereas last time it had been weak, almost nonexistent. This was different and he knew it. This was something he could never forget. He vaguely remembered thinking that last night as he carried her to his bed. Trying to move slightly, he was surprised that Angie moved closer and snuggled to him even more. Pulling back the covers, he decided the least he could do was inspect his prize. Last night he had been too wrapped up in the sex to appreciate her body. He was amazed. Skin like alabaster, he noted and then he marveled that while she was tiny, her limbs appeared long and lean. Luscious globes with mauve aureoles lay across her chest. 46

Lynn Crain He would definitely have to pay more attention to those today. Reaching down, he gently caressed the curve of one breast, swirling a finger around its peak. As if feeling his adoration, the aureole tightened in response and his hand slipped lower. He breathed in sharply watching her body react to him. His sharp intake of breath threatened to arouse her and he didn’t want that to happen just yet He wanted to admire her for just a little longer. Turning her gently away from him, he rolled her completely to her back. The tiny thatch in the v at the top of her legs was trimmed and neat. Her belly had the gentle swell of womanhood, not the flatness that so many women tried to achieve. But his eyes were soon drawn to her face, with the pouty mouth, finely arched brows and high cheekbones. He knew that under those closed eyelids lay the most impressive violet eyes he had ever seen and they were natural. And he was sure he had seen the magic reflected in them last night. Slipping his arm under her upper body, he began to gently caress her face. “Angie. Angie, wake up.” While he wasn’t sure that this was going to last forever, he’d make damn sure he took advantage of the situation as long as he could. **** 47

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series

The dream was beautiful and she didn’t want to wake up. Ardan held her in his arms and told her that…. She awoke suddenly. And found that her dream was partially true. Stretching her neck, she was not sure how she was supposed to react. Licking her parched lips, she watched him carefully through slit eyes. The magic had snuck up on them both last night. The feelings had been so intense; she knew she was going to burst at the time. Now she just didn’t know what was going to happen. “Hi,” she whispered and blinked slowly. “Hello to you too. I hope you don’t mind that I woke you up.” He smiled a dazzling smile then and the tension left the room. Smiling back, she answered, “I guess it would depend why.” “Well…two reasons…really. One is that we do have to get to the hospital this morning. I know that they are all okay but it would be best if we could look in on them. Second is…” “Yes?” She lifted her head in anticipation. “This.” Leaning down, he kissed her lips. “Ummm. That seems like a good reason,” she murmured and began kissing him back. This time though, she was determined to give back some of what she had received last night. 48

Lynn Crain Reaching out her small hand, she began to caress his chest. Pulling her fingers back to her own mouth she licked them then gently swirled them around his nipples. She saw the surprise in his eyes as he jerked under her hands. “Didn’t know your nipples were an erogenous zone, did you?” “Why…no…I didn’t even think about it.” He rapidly sucked in a breath. “I hoped they were.” Moving over him, she lapped out her tongue to caress his flesh, replacing fingers with quick flicks. Slowly, she kissed and licked his whole chest before moving lower. “Angie.” His tone was one of warning. “I know what I’m doing. Trust me.” She grinned. Moving between his legs, she took his semirigid member into her hands. Rubbing gently, she soon replaced her hand with her lips. Glimpsing him for the first time, she realized just how large he was. Licking her hand, she took the purple head into her mouth while pumping her hand along the huge shaft. On closer inspection, she was surprised that her body accommodated him at all. But fit he did and she couldn’t wait to have him inside her once again. But this time she would control the pace. Rolling her tongue along the underside of his penis, she gently sucked on him while reaching up 49

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series to pinch his nipple. She was rewarded with a taut groan of pleasure. With her other hand, she caressed his balls and rubbed his anus with gentle fingers. When he made a sound of possible protest, she murmured, “All’s fair.” She let her response sink in a moment before continuing her onslaught of his testes and anus while swirling her tongue along his dick. Stopping momentarily, she licked her finger and pressed in to his rectum just the barest fraction. He was almost immediately rock hard. Groaning with pleasure, he rocked back and forth in her mouth and on her hand. “Angie,” he breathed, “that feels wonderful.” Smiling to herself, she continued to please him, rubbing her tongue across the taut purple head and easing in to his ass fraction by fraction. “Bring yourself over me,” he murmured, tugging at her. “We can both get pleasure.” Angie slowly lifted herself and positioned herself over him while managing to maintain her hold on him. However, before long it was hard to concentrate on the task at hand. His tongue caressed her top to bottom, while his fingers were doing much the same to her. She felt him push her up with his elbow and she lifted her bottom into the air, allowing him even greater access. She felt the slow invasion of her rectum and pushed her finger even more inside him. Each groaned in 50

Lynn Crain pleasure and it brought her senses even closer to the edge. Leaning over his body, she slowly took in more and more of his length, until almost all of him was exposed to her oral cavity. Groaning, he arched his body into her slowly in an apparent attempt to not cut off her air. Pushing his fingers deeper, he licked her again and Angie shuddered in response. While she didn’t want him to climax this way, she wanted him as close as possible. Spreading his legs wider with her elbows, she pushed her finger even deeper in his anus and his dick hardened once again in response. Taking him as deep as she could, she rocked and pushed until she heard one continuous moan of pleasure. “Angie, turn around.” Slowly, she retreated from his crotch and turned to face him. Smiling slyly, she impaled herself on him. “Not quite what I had in mind, but it will do for the moment.” Leaning over him, she brought her chest into contact with him. Rocking back and forth, she felt him grow even more as she rode him. Concentrating on what she was doing, she slowly sat up and tossed back her head. Gently, rolling her hips in small circles, she sat on him as his penis caressed her inner g-spot. “Angie, look at me.” 51

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series She opened passion-filled eyes as her breaths came in quick little pants. “I want more today. I told you that I would take you in your ass and I’d like it to be now.” She was so filled with passion that she couldn’t deny him or what he wanted. “Alright,” she gasped. “There are two ways we could do it.” She thought for just a moment. “The easiest would be best the first time between us, don’t you think?” “Yes. Now if you’ll move off me.” He gently pushed her up and off him. “I’ll need you to turn around.” “Doggy style?” “Yes.” Swallowing hard, she turned to where she presented herself to him. “I’ll first prepare you to accept me.” Gently, he reached around her body and started to finger her clit. Rubbing up and down, he soon had her juices flowing freely into his hand. Pushing two fingers into her wet cunt, he pulled the liquid from her and spread it over her tight anus. Softly, he began to rub it into the rosette that she had presented him. Soon she relaxed and opened to his touch. All the while, he continued to caress her clit bringing her to almost orgasm more than once. 52

Lynn Crain Soon, her body opened to him and he slid two fingers into her rectum. She quivered in anticipation. The fingers felt good…really good…and she knew that his penis would feel the same. Wiggling her ass back on his hand, she pumped him for all it was worth, bringing herself again to near climax. “Why don’t you just do it?” she murmured, moving against his hand. “Do you think you’re ready?” “I don’t see why not,” she gasped. And pulled herself off his hand. She had felt his penis jump in response to her request. “Alright.” He lined himself up and pushed against her ass. “You’ll feel some pressure but try to relax. It will be better if you lean into me, so that you control the pace, not me.” “Okay.” Angie felt the large head of his penis against her anus. She was amazed at how the wetness still covered her body. Unhurriedly, she pushed herself back while he strained slowly forward. He stopped once he had cleared the ring of muscle at her anal entrance. Leaning over her, he began to finger her clit. “I’ll try not to hurt you.” “Hurt?” She was bewildered, breathless. “It’s the most amazing feeling.” Slowly, he circled her clit, allowing the feeling 53

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series to build before pressing the issue home. She could feel her muscles and orifice being stretched to pain…almost. Instead, it was slowly being replaced with a deep pleasure building in her very core. The overall pleasure of the experience outweighed any discomfort. Finally, she realized that he had slid himself halfway into her body. “Angie, I’m going to move a little. I know you can take all of me. You’re so hot and wet.” She shuddered and waited before pushing herself the rest of the way onto him. The feeling was the most amazing thing she had ever felt. She stayed still for a moment, reaching around a hand to caress his shoulders and upper back. “Ardan…god…that feels so good.” Reaching back, she continued to caress his back and moved to pull his ass even closer. Tenderly, he pulled out and pushed himself back in, all the while caressing her hard nub. The waves built up even quicker than they had before. “Angie, open your eyes.” Ardan pulled her up nearly straight, supporting her body with his hands. The colors began to swirl around them once again and this time it was easy to tell that each stroke pushed the colors to new heights. “Magic, pure magic,” she whispered and reached back to caress his ass once more. Soon he pushed her forward on the bed. He 54

Lynn Crain continued to fill her and caress her as the miasma of color swirled around them, tighter and tighter. He pushed into her one more time and reached for her hands, spreading them wide, burying himself in her body and in her hair. Thrusting, giving and taking, pushing them both to higher heights as the elven magic grew tighter around them till it burst in an array of color as pleasure filled each in equal measure before they both groaned their final release and collapsed on the bed. How long they stayed there, Angie had no idea. She just knew that they needed to get to their daily routine at the hospital. “Wow.” She breathed deeply and tried to make some sense of the world around her. This was much, much more than what she had ever planned. **** How she had gotten through the early morning, she couldn’t quite remember. Now being at the hospital, with Tessa throwing suspicious looks her way, made her want to blush. And it had been a long time since she had blushed about anything. “Well,” Tessa whispered the moment the men were out of hearing range. “Well what?” “Don’t look so smug with me. I know what you 55

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series did and you did it more than once. God, everyone knew…the magic flowed in ways I’ve never seen in this place before…it must have been spectacular.” Angie smiled. “It was.” “And?” “I’m not sure there’s going to be an ‘and’, Tessa. I think we need to see what develops. I mean, I know we’re sexually compatible at least. I just don’t about anything else.” “I know you, Angie, girl. And you don’t have sex just to have sex. We’ve both been through that before and didn’t like it at all. There’s more to this…you can’t fool me…young lady.” “Listen to you. A mother for a day and you think you’re an expert!” “Well, someone has got to be the expert here. You certainly don’t want it to be his mother.” Angie blushed again. She never even thought about his family. “You mean his family felt it too?” “Honey, every elf in the North Pole within a hundred miles felt it.” She swallowed hard and sat in the chair next to Tessa’s bed. “You never told me that everyone could feel it. I just thought…well, heck…I don’t know what I thought.” “I most certainly did. I tried to warn you about what happened. About what could happen if you were with an elf. I’m sure it’s just a matter of time 56

Lynn Crain before Janice wants a little talk with you.” Tessa stared at her best friend. All Angie could do was grimace. “Did she do that with you?” “Well…kinda…I mean we were asked over to dinner. While we were there, everyone came to meet me. I could tell that she sized me up and asked herself if I was good enough for her son. And then when Aingeal came in commenting about the sexual energy, I nearly died.” “Really? So she commented on the sexual energy? They really all can feel it, huh?” Angie laughed, yet all the while dreading the answer. “Yes, they all can…unless the elf does a simple shielding technique. I know that Bevan told Jedrick what needed to be done right after that dinner.” Angie thought about that for a moment. “Do you think that Ardan knows about it?” “I’m not sure. You’d have to ask Ardan about that, Ang.” She sighed and reached over to touch Angie’s hand. “Personally, I would be a little worried about Janice. You’ll need to convince her that you really do care for her son. She’s very protective and with good reason I might add.” “Why do you say that?” “Think about it, Angie. There are thousands of women in the world out there who would love to go to bed with an elf. Not a one of them would 57

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series care about the person at all. All they would care about is the feather in their cap. They slept with an elf and it was an amazing experience. And personally, I think that is part of the reason for Ardan’s total dislike of things human.” She sat and thought for a few moments. Suddenly, everything was so very clear about Ardan and how he acted. “You think that a human woman hurt him before?” “I imagine that someone has…and chances are… it was human. After all, he did do a large part of his schooling in human universities.” “That would explain a lot now, wouldn’t it?” “I would think so. You know Ardan even tried to warn me away from Jedrick because he didn’t want him to be hurt. And I’m sure that Janice feels the same about all her children.” “Do you think she’s asking herself that now?” “Asking herself what?” another voice asked from the door. Both young women turned eyes toward the voice. There stood the object of their speculation. Janice Locklin. Angie took a deep sigh. Now wasn’t the time to hedge…she never backed down from something she wanted…and Ardan was something she wanted with all her heart. “We were talking about Ardan,” Angie replied. “And why he dislikes humans so much.” “I would say that wasn’t an issue last night, 58

Lynn Crain don’t you agree?” Angie felt her cheeks get pink. While she wasn’t embarrassed for her actions, she was a little selfconscious in front of the man’s mother. “I guess I would have to concur.” “And I’m sure that Tessa is telling you that I am very protective of my children.” Angie looked down at her hands. “Yes, ma’am.” Janice sighed and waved her hand. “Oh, please, that makes me feel ancient. Just call me Janice.” “Alright.” “Young woman, look at me.” Angie raised her eyes and swallowed hard. She didn’t know what to expect but knew she was ready to fight for what she wanted. “Actually, in this situation, I think I would rather protect you from Ardan.” “What?” Angie and Tessa both stated almost simultaneously. “You both heard me.” Janice took off her coat and hung it in the closet. “Ardan isn’t the most loving of men. And I do believe that you are right, Tessa, when you say that you think Ardan was hurt very badly by a human woman.” “I’ve heard what Tessa thinks but why do you say that?” Angie questioned. “Because when he came home from medical school he was different. Almost hard and 59

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series definitely more reserved than when he went.” “Medical school isn’t easy, Janice.” She looked at Angie with a wry look. “For him it was. But the social interaction wasn’t. Ardan was never really a social creature. Which always led me to wonder why he decided on medical school. You have to have some basic social skills in order to be a good doctor.” “He is a good doctor,” Angie began, almost defensively. “And I’m not sure it was that easy for him.” Janice put up her hand. “Angie, hear me out.” “Sure. But I’m not sure you have anything to say that I would agree with at the moment.” Angie folded her arms defensively in front of her. “You can have your opinion. But the reality of the matter is that Ardan will never be a great doctor until he loses a little bit of the control that he has on his emotions. Whether they want to admit it or not in the halls of medicine, doctors need to have an emotional base from which to draw on and Ardan is just not as socially adept as some in the emotion area.” Angie sat there for a moment. She thought back to all the doctors she loved and all those that she hated. The woman was right. The ones that she had the most respect for were those who not only loved what they did but loved their patients as well. “I—I can see what you mean. Doctors must 60

Lynn Crain be empathetic as well as sympathetic. They occasionally need to let those emotions in that they seem to keep at bay. And I know that doesn’t mean all the time. If that were the case, they would go crazy within a month.” “I knew you’d understand. You are a smart young woman. So… the million dollar question…just what are your intentions for my son?”

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Chapter 4

A

ngie had been saved by Ardan and Jedrick entering the room but still she knew that Janice would want an answer and soon. And that soon seemed to be a scheduled dinner sometime in the future. Somehow, she managed to get through the day even though the question weighed heavily on her mind. Sighing, while she really didn’t want to broach the subject just yet, she needed to…after all, would loving Ardan be enough for her if he didn’t love her in return? Slowly she shut her locker. Ardan hadn’t mentioned anything about the evening to her at all. Maybe he had already tired of her and didn’t want her to come home with him. Closing her eyes, she refused to think about it. She was already completely and utterly in love with the man. And there was nothing that was ever going to change the fact. Angie heard the door open behind her. She tried her hardest not to feel his presence, to no 62

Lynn Crain avail. He was close…so close…it took everything she had in her not to turn around and throw herself in his arms. His scent wafted around her and embraced her like a physical entity. The sexual tension was thick with unrepentant desire as it hovered around them. “Angie,” he whispered, close enough that she could feel his warm breath on her skin. “Turn around.” Leisurely, as if she had all the time in the world, she turned. Smiling tentatively, she knew she saw unrestrained passion in his eyes. “Yes?” “Do you realize that it has taken every bit of my restraint to keep my hands off of you today?” Her low laughter resounded in the room. “Really? I had no idea.” “You should.” He slipped his large hand around her neck and placed his thumb under her jaw. Gently, he pushed her face up to gaze into his eyes. “You need to realize just what you do to me.” “And what is that?” she whispered. “Damn, woman, you have a hold on me, a hold I can’t deny, a hold that I don’t want to deny.” Angie could barely breathe; her heart was beating so fast. “And this is a problem?” “Not at the moment…but it could be,” he answered and leaned forward to caress her lips with his, teasing her with his tongue. “You should 63

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series really tell me what you want, what you expect.” Angie tempered her answer. She could not yet truly tell him what she wanted. She wanted it all and it almost made her angry that he couldn’t see it. “What on earth for?” “So I can fulfill your every fantasy and then some.” She melted. Wrapping her arms around his middle, she pulled herself as close as she could to him. She fit so nice and neat with him. There was no awkwardness in their bodies, just a blending as if they were part of the same person. Soon their kisses became more urgent. “Stop…we’ve got to stop.” Angie pulled away. “I—I—what’s happening here? Am I going home with you?” Ardan allowed himself to be pushed away slightly. “Of course you’re going home with me. Where else would you go?” “You’re right in stating that I don’t really have anywhere to go. But if you don’t really want me there, I’ll find someplace else.” “Not want you? Good god, woman, how could a man not want you?” He frowned down at her. “I may never be able to work you out of my system.” Not quite the romantic endearment she had hoped to hear, but one that gave her true hope at least. Angie stood on tiptoes and kissed him gently. 64

Lynn Crain "Remember… you’re an elf-man… something that you continually remind me of constantly. I suppose that gives you an edge on getting me out of your system.” “Alright, you win. Still…I want you…will you please come home with me?” She jerked her eyes to his. His voice had sounded so vulnerable, so unlike the elf-man she had come to know. Gazing at him, she realized that his defenses had slammed down the moment he grasped his mistake. Breathing deeply, no matter what her decision, one of them might get hurt. True, she wanted him more than anything she had ever wanted in her life. She just wasn’t sure how long it would take to make him want more than just her body. “I’ve a body made for sin,” she quipped. “At least, that’s what they tell me.” “But what does that tell me, exactly? Can you explain it to me?” She pursed her lips for a moment and watched him. If she retreated now, she would lose all the ground she had gained in the past twenty-four hours. “I’ll be here as long as you want me, Ardan.” There. she had said it and meant it with all her heart. She only hoped the man noticed that it was with her heart and not any biased sense of untrustworthiness. She wanted more than just the sex…even though that was a fantastic selling 65

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series point…she needed him to notice what she offered. And she offered more than just the standard one night stand. She offered him a lifetime filled with love and happiness. He stroked the side of her face. “You won’t be sorry.” She shook her head in the affirmative. She wanted to mutter that she was already sorry but she couldn’t. She had to ride this train to the end, no matter what that end might bring. “I want to say good night to Tessa and the babies. Do you mind?” “No. I’ll meet you at the front door.” His hand fell away and he was gone. Angie wanted to bury her head in her hands but she knew that wasn’t going to make her problem go away. She needed to talk to Tessa. Grabbing her bag, she slowly made her way up the hall to her friend’s room. “You look like something the cat dragged in,” Tessa murmured, looking up from the book she was reading. “What’s up?” “Tell me I haven’t made a mistake.” The book closed slowly and her best friend crossed her arms over her chest. “Mistake about what?” Swallowing hard, this was the one person she could never fool. “About being with Ardan.” “Oh, I see. You want me to tell you it’s going to 66

Lynn Crain be easy. That the wonderful sex will make up for everything.” Tessa unfolded her arms and laid her hands in her lap. “I can’t, Angie.” “Then I made a mistake.” She sat down hard. She had been fooling herself. This would to be one of the hardest things she had ever done in her life. And having to leave him would be even worse. “Angie, have you ever known anything you’ve wanted in life to be easy? Well?” “No.” “Then why did you want this to be?” “Well—I—I just thought…” “Angie…Angie…being with an elf is hard. First, you have to relocate to the North Pole, away from everything and everyone you thought you loved in the real world. Then, you’re forced to deal with a loving family who wants to know everything, and I mean everything.” She stopped and pointed looked at Angie. “Everything?” she croaked and shifted nervously in her seat. “Everything. And then you have to try and figure out just what it is about your lovemaking that keeps leaking around the shield setup. Then you get pregnant…then your best friend comes up to stay with you through the pregnancy…and before you know it, you have two wonderful children to love and to hold.” “Kids…wow…and I’m an aunt.” 67

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series “Yup.” Tessa tugged at her hand. “And if you love him like I think you do, nothing I’ve said will even remotely begin to change your mind.” “That obvious, huh?” “Does Ardan know?” “I can’t tell him…not yet…I just fully realized it myself.” She lowered her head. “Actually, I’ve known for a long time. I just never really thought he would look my way. I mean, with everything you told me about him, and he’s always been so distant.” “Angie, you’re beautiful. And if that man doesn’t see how much you love him, he’s a fool.” “It feels like I’ve loved him forever. How is that possible?” “I know what you mean. I’d never felt so loved or comfortable with anyone else like I did with Jedrick.” “I still think I’ve made a mistake, Tess.” “He’ll notice…trust me…it’s just all so new to him. He’s never really had someone like you. You love medicine as much as he does. You seem to like it here in the North Pole or at least not mind it as much as some women would. And I don’t think he’s ever really had any long term relationship. You two have been dancing around each other for months. I’m glad you finally got together.” Tessa stared hard at her for a moment. “I just hope it will be a permanent situation.” 68

Lynn Crain “I’m not sure he has really noticed me at all. I wonder sometimes if it wasn’t an act to get sex.” “I’m sure.” Two sets of eyes turned toward the door. “Jedrick.” Tessa sat up straighter and beamed. Angie could tell by the way her friend looked at her husband just how much she loved him. “How much did you hear?” Jedrick took off his coat and laid it on the back of the chair closest to the bed. “Most of it. Angie, my brother can be an arrogant jerk a lot of times. But when it comes to you, I do think he’ll come around. I know that he has definitely noticed you. Just don’t push him.” “I’m trying hard not to but after the conversation we had with your mother today, I guess I’m just curious as to where I stand.” “If it’s any consolation, Ardan has never taken anyone to his home. He’s never brought anyone to the North Pole, not even for a joy ride when he was in college.” “I didn’t know you did that.” Tessa peered at her husband. “I didn’t but Cuinn did and boy, did that cause a ruckus. I don’t know who was madder…my Mom…or Santa.” Angie laughed. “That must have been good.” “If you weren’t Cuinn, it was.” “Poor Cuinn. I hope that’s not the cause of him 69

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series thinking he’s a nerd.” Jedrick frowned toward his wife. “I really don’t think so.” He turned back to Angie and scrutinized her for a moment. “Just don’t let Ardan bully you. He always thinks he’s right. And for some reason he doesn’t think elves and humans can mix. He even tried to talk Tessa out of being with me.” Her eyes flew to her friend. “I remember you saying something like that but I just can’t fathom why he thinks humans and elves don’t mix.” “I know but he did and for a moment I almost believed him. Then a very wise woman made me touch a piece of jewelry and my life changed forever.” “I don’t think you have any regrets.” “And you won’t either.” “Hey…let’s get a move on…I want to get home before the weather gets any worse.” A voice boomed outside the room and then Ardan stuck his head in the door. “Jedrick, I didn’t see you come in.” “I came in through the back.” “Oh. Hope I didn’t interrupt anything.” He looked first at Angie then his brother. “We need to go. The weather seems to be getting worse.” “Worse? Is that going to be a problem later? I mean…we will be able to get back here tomorrow…right?” Angie turned concerned eyes 70

Lynn Crain toward Tessa. “I just don’t think you’re quite ready to go home yet.” Ardan came fully into the room. “Don’t worry…even if we can’t get here…they’ll be fine for a short time, just like right after the delivery. There are other people working at this clinic, you know. Besides, the reindeer can get through anything.” Tessa cocked her head slightly. “Ardan, you have to remember that Angie is used to relatively mild winters. It is totally different here. It’s amazing that she hasn’t turned tail and run, in all honesty.” “That isn’t true.” She pouted only for a second before continuing. “I love snow.” “Sure you do…as long as you’re inside…and it’s out.” Angie really began to frown. What was Tessa doing? This surely wouldn’t endear her to Ardan in any way, shape or form. “Okay…so I’m a weenie for the cold…I still love snow and everything winter brings.” Tessa chuckled. “Alright. I’ll give you that much. Our house was always beautiful at Christmas and during the winter months. It was as if you went into overdrive to make it more homey. The decorations were absolutely gorgeous.” “Homey is good…especially if you have hot chocolate…and a roaring fire.” Angie beamed, 71

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series remembering the little house they had shared in Reno. Squeezing Tessa’s hand once more, she winked. She knew what she was going to do. She’d be the one thing he couldn’t do without in or out of the clinic. “I’m ready.” Ardan looked at her skeptically but said nothing. She only wished she knew what was happening inside that head of his. He remained quite for almost the whole ride home which made Angie know that something was wrong. “Do you really hate snow so much?” he finally asked quietly. She had to lean in to hear him, his breath warm upon her ear. “No…I really don’t…I am a weenie for the cold but I’ve always been that way. My favorite thing is to wrap up in a blanket on a cold day with a book in front of a fireplace. What do you like to do on a cold winter day?” “Well…it used to be spent working at the clinic…but I think I can find some better things to do now, don’t you?” She beamed. Angie only hoped that she was one of those things. “I can think of a million and one things…some you might like…and others I totally know you’d hate.” “That’s the difference between men and women. There are things women love and there are things men love. But most of those differences are glorious indeed.” 72

Lynn Crain She smiled. Yes, the differences between them were wonderful and magical. But would that magic help in the area of love? She could only hope for the best and give it her all in trying to convince the man that he was the one for her. Soon they were inside the door in the warm living room. “I’m—I’m real—ly cold, Ardan,” she stammered, shivering. “Let me light a fire.” He went over to the fireplace and put some logs in, turning back to her. He quickly grabbed a blanket from the couch and took it to her. Wrapping her up gently in its warm folds, he snapped his fingers and the fire blazed immediately. Angie’s eyes went wide. “I didn’t know you could do that,” she exclaimed and looked at him. “What? The fire?” Smiling down at her, he continued to rub her extremities. “We can do basic magic, you know. Just little stuff, like turn on lights and light fires. There are those of us elsewhere in the world where magic plays a big part of their daily lives. They can exert a lot of influence on the natural world. We just chose to do things differently here.” “It must be fascinating to be an elf. How do you do things like that?” **** 73

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The moment of truth had arrived. Ardan wanted to tell her everything but for some reason held back for just a second. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to,” she whispered, the hurt evident in her voice. Looking down into the violet eyes, he realized that he wanted to tell this woman everything. He felt compelled to link with her in such a way that she would be his forever. He just wanted to make sure everything was as perfect as he could make it, even though he knew in the back of his mind that nothing remained perfect for long. “I’ll tell you what I think you should know. That is, until I get bored. My life is really boring, you know.” “Boring? You have got to be kidding. Your life seems absolutely fascinating in ways that I can only imagine.” “Not kidding. But why don’t you sit down in front of the fire and I’ll go get some hot chocolate?” “Do you have something besides whiskey to put in the cocoa?” she questioned tentatively. Half frowning at her, he chuckled. “Don’t like the whiskey?” “I’m not so sure about it. The combination tasted funny to me. I do know I like some kinds of whiskey but definitely not what you have. And obviously not in hot cocoa but I do love 74

Lynn Crain peppermint schnapps with hot cocoa.” She smiled at him and the whole world brightened. He knew he was in trouble and for some reason, he really didn’t mind at all. She got under his skin but good. “I’ll see what I can find.” Placing her in front of the fireplace, he went to the kitchen and put the water on to boil. He could have heated the water immediately with just a wave of his hand but his parents had taught him that his magic was special and should only be used when absolutely necessary. He wondered what he tried to prove starting the fire the way he had. It had been one of the first things he had ever learned about…fire…and he had had a few mishaps but of all his brothers and sisters, he was the only one who could control it easily. Frowning to himself, he couldn’t understand just what had gotten into him. Why did he do something that as far as he could see was totally irresponsible? His parents would have given him a severe tongue lashing if they had thought he had abused his power in any way. Somehow, he felt that he tried to live up to Angie’s expectations of what an elf really was. After all, she only knew what the movies and books had told her. She had no idea what he or any elf could or couldn’t do in real life. But then again, just what was real life for him? He sighed heavily because he had no easy 75

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series answer. He had basically been cloistered here in the North Pole for all his life except for med school. He knew it was something he had to get a grip on if he were to stay with this woman…this human woman…forever. There…he had thought the forbidden…or at least in his mind forbidden. There was nothing anywhere that said he couldn’t fall in love with a human. He sat the spoon down quickly. He had thought the “L” word…not just any “L” word…but the big one. Sitting down on the stool in the kitchen hard, he wondered if he had gone crazy. He was in love with the wacky human woman who had been driving him crazy since the moment they met. But how could that be? He couldn’t even stand her. True, she was very good in bed and brought out the best in him in almost every situation. But would the sex be enough? He had been down that road before and the sex by itself was definitely not enough. Still, she sat in his home right this moment and that was something he had never thought about before. And he wasn’t the one who had brought her to the North Pole; she came because of Jedrick and Tessa. He didn’t have to coerce her in any manner. She had come of her own accord, for her own reasons. All along, she had made it very clear that she would like a relationship with him. Any relationship would do according to her. 76

Lynn Crain But would just any relationship do for him? She was more than great in bed, she was a partner in the medical field he loved so much, and her extreme intelligence made it delightful to be around her. And beautiful, if truth be told, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever come in contact with, including the one who had almost broken his heart. Plus, Angie had thoughts and ideas on everything. Sometimes he felt that she talked too much but at other times she was thoughtful and retrospective at just the right moment. From his point of view, she was the best of all worlds. She really was everything he had ever wanted in a woman. Why couldn’t he admit it to her? He knew why. He had just barely admitted it to himself and it was going to take him some time to get himself around the concept of love and everything it entailed. Then there was the past. No one ever really let go of the past because there was always some part of it that remained. He had been hurt badly and even though he knew deep inside that Angie would never purposely hurt him, he had to make very sure about this for himself. And if that meant waiting a little longer to tell her, then wait he would. Looking in his liquor cabinet, he was happy to find peppermint schnapps. If he would have thought about it, he would have remembered that 77

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series he had put in an order so that Tessa could have some in her hot chocolate. They really were alike. He had been completely wrong about Tess and he supposed now he was also completely wrong about Angie. He rarely made mistakes in anything medical. But he was learning that he didn’t know enough about human nature to understand when a person spoke the truth or not. Aingeal had told him once he better learn how to read people, human people, or he’d never make a good doctor. Even his mother had told him to loosen up now and then. He wondered briefly if both were correct in their assessment. He was a good doctor, that much he knew his sister had been wrong at, but the part about human nature could be a very true assessment about him. That first relationship had soured him totally against love in any form. He had almost ruined his relationship with his parents and siblings till his father had showed him the error of his ways. Could it be that he had been wrong about learning to understand humans? Or that loving this one human could be everything he ever dreamed about? And what about his mother’s thought? Did he really need to loosen up and relax even more? He thought he handled the stress of being a doctor well. He knew the birth of the twins had been a 78

Lynn Crain test for him. A test he thought he had passed with flying colors. Maybe he needed to look at the scenario more closely. Sighing, he knew he had a lot of things to work out. But there would be time enough for all that later. Now he needed to be with Angie.

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Chapter 5

A

ngie could have kicked herself. She hadn’t meant to put Ardan on the spot like that and for some reason it pinched at her heart when he didn’t answer he right away. Deep down she knew that winning him was going to be a long process and not something that would happen in a day. She had tried to be around Tessa and Jedrick as much as possible. She wanted the man to see that she wasn’t afraid of him or his lifestyle. She had made Tessa see that the North Pole wasn’t the end of the world at all. Angie had even had to convince her best friend that wherever the man she loved lived was where she wanted to be. It had taken some ingenuity on her part, but Angie had brought Tessa around and she just had to bring Ardan around. If that meant sex every day for weeks at a time, she would make the sacrifice. Laughing to herself, she knew that wouldn’t be much of a sacrifice. Suddenly, she realized she was quite warm and started to shed some clothes. 80

Lynn Crain By the time Ardan returned to the room with their hot chocolate, she was down to her lingerie. And what lingerie it was. She decided that morning on simple things…a cami with some lace and buttons…and some briefs instead of bikini underwear. She would tell by the appreciative look in his eyes she had made the right choice. “A little warm?” “A little.” “Here’s your drink. And I did manage to find the schnapps as requested. I was amazed I had the stuff at all and then I remembered that it was something Tessa liked too.” Rolling her eyes, she tried not to frown as she took the cup. She and Tessa were a lot alike and had a lot of the same interests. “Sorry we’re so much a like.” “What’s there to be sorry about? You two grew up together like sisters, did you not?” “Yes, we did. Her parents took me in when my family couldn’t care for me anymore.” “What happened to them that they couldn’t care for you?” Angie sighed. This was one part of her life story that she could do without. “My parents were very poor hicks, basically. They really didn’t understand me or my intelligence. They had come to Reno to find jobs and all they found was heartache. More and more I stayed with Tessa and 81

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series her parents, finally her parents asked if I could stay there permanently when it became apparent to them that I wasn’t getting the proper care.” She hung her head and fingered her glass. “Where are they?” “They were in the same car accident when Tessa’s parents died.” “How?” “We were never sure but we think that her parents took them out and tried to get them to sign some papers or something. I had wanted to change my name since I was sixteen. That was when I went to live with them. But we could never get my parents to agree.” Ardan looked concerned. “Do you think they argued about it?” Sighing deeply, Angie thought for a moment and took another drink. “It’s one of my biggest fears that they caused the accident. We’ll never know for sure and Tessa never did blame me. I just always thought…” Ardan set down his cocoa and lifted his hand to her face. “You shouldn’t think ill of the dead. Even though there might be a chance they wronged you greatly. You must always remember they are your parents.” She cocked her head slightly. “Wisdom from the elf. Imagine that.” Looking down again at her hands and cup, she slowly raised tear-filled eyes 82

Lynn Crain to him. “I know, I need to be a little more respectful. It’s just hard not knowing for sure. The accident ruined a lot of things for both Tessa and I. And then there’s the fact they are all gone. Not just my parents, but hers, as well.” “Well…you seem to be well adjusted now.” “We were a mess after the accident. You have no idea.” “If it’s anything like what we see after a car accident in a hospital, I can understand about the devastation.” Thankful that he had changed the subject, she raised her eyes. “Where all did you work? And where did you do your internship?” “I went to pre-med in Alaska and med school was actually in Washington state. I did most of my internship in Alaska too, with a few months here and there in other hospitals located in Washington and I even requested some places in Canada and Scotland.” “Why Canada and Scotland?” “Because Canada has places that are even more remote than Alaska. The hospitals they put me in in Alaska were Anchorage and Juneau. Those are really small metropolitan areas. In Canada, I got the remoteness that I knew I would find here. Our nearest neighbors were an Eskimo village about two hundred miles away. I believe that it’s a research village too for some global warming 83

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series indicators. I went to Scotland because I wanted to have some experience in the old world. That’s where they say all elves originated. Or so they say.” Angie shook her head. “Ah…about Scotland, that is…it certainly seems like one of the places elves would have begun. The Canada thing makes total sense too. You really have to be on your toes to work in a remote clinic like this one. You never know what you can come up against.” “Yeah…it’s not like I can consult a specialist and bring him or her here regarding any little thing…I have to make sure it’s necessary. But I do have a few that I consult with from time to time.” “What type of specialists?” “The one thing I did while in school was take courses in Trauma Medicine, as well as Obstetrics and Neurology. I figured if I ever got into bad situations it would be in one of those three areas. So I made sure I cultivated those relationships while I was in school, just in case I would need to consult with anyone at a later date.” “Yup…those would be the ones I would want to bone up on myself…seeing that they are really specialized areas. I can totally understand why you decided to get some extra training there.” “Where did you go to school?” He reached his hand out and began to caress her neck. It wouldn’t take much to turn her away 84

Lynn Crain from the conversation but Angie knew she was really making some headway in learning more about Ardan. She felt sure he had never really talked to anyone about this before…how, she wasn’t sure…but she just knew it. “University of Nevada, Reno. I started at the Community College there when I was a junior in high school. I had most of my basic classes taken by the time I was ready to go to college. Then I really pushed and was out in two and a half years. Since I was only seventeen when I graduated, I was barely twenty when I got my Bachelor’s degree.” “Wow. I know I wasn’t that fast with school.” Ardan looked at her with surprise and a measure of respect she hadn’t seen before in his eyes. Her heart swelled as she realized she had surprised him with her studies and how quickly she finished school. “Well…I had some things I really wanted to do…and staying in school any longer wouldn’t help me to reach my goals.” “And just what was your goal?” She smiled. That one was easy. “I wanted to help people. And I really didn’t care where those people were located. I’ve made arrangements with the hospital I work at to volunteer for Doctors without Borders at least six weeks a year.” Ardan shook his head. “I understand why 85

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series you’re doing something like that. If I could do something like that I probably would but then this place would be without any medical care. Do you know, until I decided to be a doctor, this place had no medical care?” “I don’t understand why you don’t think you could do some volunteer work. Starting a clinic seems kinda risky to me, no matter where it’s located. How big is this community? I know I haven’t seen very much of it. I’ve never even seen the building where Tessa works. She told me about it though…she was really amazed with the atrium…and everything else there.” “Well…she should be…it’s an engineer’s dream. And that includes someone who’s a computer scientist. It has all the latest toys for them.” His low laughter reverberated through his very skin. “What made you want to be a doctor at all?” Setting down her cup, she leaned more into his hand. She really loved the feel of his skin next to hers. “It wasn’t any one thing. I had always helped with the animals. They had to be treated special because of their magical abilities.” He moved his hand down the front of her cami, slowly unbuttoning the top button. “Then there was the time that Mom had to leave to have the twins. My eyes were opened then and there.” He leaned 86

Lynn Crain forward and gently kissed the pulse at the base of her neck while pushing his hand lower in her shirt to cup her breast. “There was no one here to do what needed to be done. I’ve never known for sure, but I think my father almost lost my mother. I swore then that if I had the chance, I would change all of that.” His breath was warm on her skin. Where she had been cold before, now she sat warmed by the fire with a wonderful man sitting beside her, and she felt more secure and cherished than she had ever before. “Can you feel my heart beating?” she whispered, knowing that it created a slow, steady thump against his hand. His hand moved to cup her left breast and caressed the nipple gently. “Umm…yes…I do. It’s just a little faster than it was a moment before.” He scooted closer to her, his hand moving down the front of her lingerie to rest on her stomach. “You’re so soft here,” he murmured and continued to rub the sensitive area. Breathing deeply, Angie leaned closer to him. She loved the way he smelled and the way his hair fell around them when he leaned over her. She bent closer and let her lips brush his. Lifting her hands, she placed them both on his face and drew it to her. Tentatively, she kissed him and nipped at his bottom lip. This time she wanted to be in charge of everything. Her hands continued to 87

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series caress his face and slowly crept toward his ears. Jedrick had never really been able to show her what happened when a woman caressed an elf’s ears. He told her that she would have to find out for herself because it was something very special between an elf and the one they loved. Tenderly, she ran her fingers over the lobe of his ears and up to the points. His rapid intake of breath and slight pulling away only increased her need to continue. Straddling him, she deepened her kiss and continued to stroke his ears slowly. Soon his hands encircled her waist and she felt his bulge straining against her crotch. Breaking the kiss, Ardan leaned into her. “Do you know what you’re doing to me?” He moaned as she continued the light touch on his ears. “I think so,” she whispered. “I’ve wanted to do this since Tessa told me about it. And when Jedrick allowed me to touch his ears and I had no effect, I could only think that she had exaggerated. I still wasn’t convinced last night when you warned me as I touched your ear. Now I see I was wrong.” Snuggling her neck, he tried to duck away from her hands to no avail. Running his tongue up the side of her neck, he leisurely explored her ear. “I’m hoping this does the same to you,” he whispered hotly. 88

Lynn Crain His hands continued their exploration of her breasts, stomach and back, each touch sending a thrill through her. Unhurriedly, he worked his way to her ass and cupped each cheek, kneading and fondling each one as if it were a precious object. “I just love your ass. It’s so round and smooth and the skin is as fine as porcelain.” He rubbed and squeezed her for a few more moments before moving one hand toward her cunt. “God…you are so wet for me…your body shows me just how much it wants what I have to give.” Angie breathed deeply and forced him to look at her. “You bet…this is what I’ve waited for all day…I’ll want this forever.” She didn’t care if she had made a major mistake by telling him, he needed to know how she felt. Opening her mouth, she moaned softly and leaned back slightly. Still her one hand moved on his ears and with the other, she reached for his chest, loving the feel beneath her fingers. His fingers brought her new sensations that she had never experienced as he began to rub and finger her clit. Straining forward, she kissed him savagely, thrusting her tongue into his mouth to war with his but only briefly before she broke contact. Pushing him to his back, she slid to one side while keeping one leg across him. Jerking his pants open, she pressed the fabric to the side, exposing his now burgeoning penis. The large 89

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series purple head engorged and she saw a drop of precum on the end. Leaning down, she rubbed her tongue over him, taking in the slightly salty taste of the liquid. “I won’t ever get enough of looking at you and your body. You are huge,” she said softly, taking in his size once again. “I believe I made that comment last night.” His breathing was labored. “I know…I could feel you…and when I saw you this morning I couldn’t believe it. But no matter, you are still a sight to behold.” “As are you,” he stated as pushed her cami out of the way. “I want this off.” Stripping off her top, he also made short order of her bottoms. “I hope I’m allowed the same request. Considering you have more clothes on than I do, I hope I won’t inconvenience you too much.” Without much difficulty, she leisurely unbuttoned his shirt and pushed it off his body and enjoyed what she saw. Since she already had his pants undone, it was just a matter of getting them out of the way. Soon, she had a better look at him than she had even this morning, long of limb, with just the right amount of muscle and a rock hard penis pointing right at her. He had very little body hair which she found very intriguing. That trait seemed to be much like the Indians and Eskimos. Leaning over, she began to caress his chest and body with both hands and mouth. Laving his 90

Lynn Crain nipples, she chuckled when she heard his sharp intake of breath. She wanted to know every one of his erogenous zones. Angie reveled in the fact Ardan softly moaned with each and every touch. She wanted him more than moaning, she wanted him writhing from her very touch. A slow heat stirred in her and she wanted to share it with him. Briefly, she wished she had been the one with the magic qualities because she would be using them right now to heighten his pleasure. Still, she had qualities of her own she wanted to use, like knowing just where to touch a man, her elf-man, in all the right places. She lifted his balls and leaned over to taste him. The skin had a slightly musky odor and salty taste as she laved first one then the other of his testes. Gently sucking, she pulled one of the almondshaped balls into her mouth, rolling it along her tongue and lightly across her teeth then continued on the other. Ardan lifted up his body and moaned. She continued to stroke him with her lips, amazed when a thin coat of sweat appeared on his stiff and tension-filled body. The aroma he gave off tantalized her senses, making her want to do more. Somehow she managed to stay out of his grasping hands and continued to tongue-fuck him until she felt he was going to burst. Finally, he grabbed her hair and pulled her to him before 91

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series pushing her to her back. “I need to be in you… now,” he breathed heavily before taking her mouth, tongue thrusting in to the warm recesses. Lifting her knees with his arms, he rammed himself to the hilt in one fluid motion. Breathless, Angie arched to meet him, the tip of his penis touching her cervix and causing almost unbearable pleasure. Reaching up, she licked one hand then the other and began to caress his nipples, plucking them to tight nubs as she had done the night before. Plunging into her again, he released one leg and reached for her breast, rubbing one nipple with his thumb. She could feel it swell in response as the aureole tightened in his hand while his fingers circled the rose colored flesh. Slowly, he leaned forward to grind his pelvis into hers. Not only was his penis touching her throbbing inner spot, his body now rubbed furiously against her clit in a slow dance of erotic pleasure. Quickly, he rolled them until she was on top. Placing both hands upon her breasts, he began to work the nipples. “Your breasts are so beautiful.” Pulling her down to him, he placed his hot tongue on her gingerly, as if testing just how sensitive her nipples were at this very moment. Moaning, she tossed back her head and presented herself even further to him. The euphoric pleasure 92

Lynn Crain began to build in her. “Touch my clit,” she moaned. Moving one hand from her breast, she felt his thumb push aside her labia and pull some of the wetness from where they were joined. Dragging his wet fingers back, he began to apply pressure with his thumb, strumming slowly up one side and down the other as he brought her to the brink without ever letting her fall over the edge. “Not yet,” he murmured. “There is still more to come.” Angie’s breathing came faster. The man turned her on so much. “I know.” He continued to rub this thumb along her clit. Suddenly he flipped her on her back once again, pulled out of her and went down on her, quickly replacing his fingers with his tongue. The new sensation left Angie nearly undone as his fingers and mouth worked her already sensitive areas. The heat in Angie’s crotch reached inferno proportions as he continued to stroke her hot body. Even though she wanted to savor every moment with the man she loved, she wanted this exquisite torture to end. “Please,” she whispered, “harder… I need more… please.” For the second time that night, she could feel his laughter reverberate through her body. And she knew he was going to make her wait. Arching 93

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series her neck, she sighed deeply. She didn’t know how much more she could take. Soon, he took her with his fingers, in and out of her body. And all too soon, Ardan again had her a writhing, moaning being with just one thought on her mind. Climax. **** Ardan watched the firelight play off her body a thousand different ways. Her skin was so soft and her crotch so ready for him that he didn’t want to spoil her pleasure with his own. He wanted to unwrap her pleasure layer by layer, each building upon the other until there was nowhere to go except orgasm. And then the magic would really begin. Slowly, his tongue rasped her clit once again and he pulled back slightly. He gently pressed her labia apart and blew on her. He was rewarded with one long moan as her body arched into him. “What are you doing?” “What does it feel like?” he practically purred. This woman was perfection and he knew she was ready to explode. “Like you’re torturing me, that’s what,” she groaned, still breathing hard. Leisurely, he ran his hands over her ribcage and caressed her breasts again, swirling his fingers around each hard nipple. Glancing up, he saw 94

Lynn Crain each stand at attention, responding to his touch. He wanted to make her feel as if she could explode just from him manipulating her breasts. Massaging her breasts, he lifted himself and brought his lips into contact with one then the other. Slowly, his tongue glided across each peaked surface before it returned to the nipple to flick it and blow on it gently. Seeing the surprise in her eyes, he bit down lightly and then took her nipple into his mouth once again. Continuing for a few more moments on her other breast, he finally returned his hands to her crotch and dipped into her silky, slickness making her moan even louder than before. “Torturing you, huh?” Ardan lifted his face to look at her. “Yeah…that’s what I would call it…” She watched him through slit eyes. “Tell me what you want.” “Everything you want to give me.” Moving to sit on the floor in front of her, he pulled her to the edge of the couch. Stretching her labia apart once more, he blew on her engorged flesh and pushed his fingers into her, feeling her jerk in response. Smoothly, he licked her from her clit to her anus, paying special attention to her puckered rosette. Sliding his fingers in and out of her vagina, he spread her wetness over her entire crotch. “Relax,” he murmured. “It’s going to be 95

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series even better than before.” Soon her legs began to tremble as he worked his magic with his hands and fingers. In and out, they pushed and tugged each stroke in both her vagina and her anus even more mind-blowing than before. The erotic fires burned hotter with each stroke of his hand. The wet sounds of him stroking her flesh brought renewed trembling in her body. He continued to stroke every sweet spot he could find with skilled precision. “Please,” she whispered again, tossing under his machinations. “You know, there’s a fine line between pleasure and pain. If I take you this way, it’s still going to hurt a little.” “I don’t give a damn. Just put your cock in me somewhere.” As if proving her point, she jerked him up to her and shoved her hips to him, slowly grinding her cunt into his penis. He was nearly undone. Pulling her legs wide apart, he shoved himself into her vagina hard and retreated. Rubbing the head around her tight rosette, he pushed slowly until he cleared the muscle ring. She was so tight and hot. It took everything he had not to shove himself in to the hilt. He wanted this to be as pleasurable for her as it was for him. “I’m trying to go slow.” He watched her emotions play across her beautiful face. 96

Lynn Crain “Screw slow,” she breathed and pushed herself onto his hard shaft. He shuddered in response. “Hardly fair.” “Don’t care…touch me…touch me hard.” Placing her legs on his shoulders, he once again spread her labia, rubbing the hard nub with his thumbs. With each stroke of his penis, he rubbed her a little harder than the previous time. First with one thumb, then the other, he never gave her clit a moments rest. The air changed and the hair bristled on him. The magic came in such a rush, he didn’t know if he would be able to contain himself or it. His cock surged into her body again as his control waivered. “Angie,” he moaned. “I don’t think I can stop myself.” “I’m close,” she breathed and bucked onto him again. The moisture slid from her body as he fondled her sensitive flesh. The color began to swirl around them in ever frantic patterns, dispersing and coalescing again and again as the sexual energy built up even more. The savage strength of what was building between them scared the crap out of him. Angie jerked once, then again as her orgasm began to overtake her. Slamming into her, he moved his hands and leaned into her, forehead to forehead. Grabbing her hands in a near death grip, 97

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series he grunted as he bucked into her over and over before the cataclysmic orgasm overtook him as the magical firestorm hurled toward them. Much later, curled together in his bed, drifting to sleep, he could have sworn she told him she loved him.

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Lynn Crain

Chapter 6

I

t had been over a month since the twins were born and Angie and Ardan had fallen into a schedule of sorts. Every day, they worked at the clinic and every night, they made fantastic love, each time better than the last. Earlier in the month she had made the mistake of whispering her love and hearing no response, she remained mute on the point. So when his mother came into the clinic to invite them to dinner because Jedrick and Tessa had finally named the twins, she felt relieved. She didn’t know how much longer she could be in the same room with the man and not blurt out her feelings. She didn’t want to be pushy but she had known all along what her feelings would develop into and that was a deep, ever-biding love. Angie had worshipped him from afar for a long time and now that she had him in her bed every night, she poured out her feelings with her body so she would not speak it aloud. 99

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series Now, Angie stood nervously in the foyer of Ardan’s parents’ home. From the look of the front entrance, she could tell that it was a much larger home than where he currently lived. Briefly, she wondered if there were different size homes for the elf families residing in the village with Santa. She had never really been anywhere in the village except the clinic, Ardan’s home, Tessa’s place and now here. Sighing, she had to concentrate on the events at hand. They had been invited to a family dinner welcoming the twins into the world. She didn’t know whether she should be extremely happy or cautious. Tessa had warned her that she would be “summoned” to the family domicile sometime while she was there, especially since it seemed as if she were with Ardan. But this was no ordinary family dinner. This event would be the one where Tessa and Jedrick would tell everyone what they decided to name the twins. So Angie felt she had little to do with it at all even though his mother had made it a big deal when she stopped at the clinic yesterday. “Nervous?” Angie turned to look at his handsome face. “Kinda. You?” “Only because of my mother. She can really put people on edge. She wants to know every aspect of our lives.” 100

Lynn Crain She chuckled and placed her hand on his arm. “I’m sure she’s not that bad. The few times we talked, I realized just how important her family is to her. And that’s very special in my book, if you ask me.” “If you say so.” He smiled down at her and her heart skipped a beat. Standing on tiptoes, she gently kissed his lips. “She’s your mother and she only wants what’s best for you.” Ardan’s arms crushed her to him and he deepened the kiss. Angie was lost to the world when she heard someone clear their throat behind them. Breaking the kiss, she turned to greet whoever was behind them. Two of Ardan’s siblings stood there. Aingeal had her arms crossed over her chest and a slight frown on her face while Cuinn grinned from ear to ear. “I told you they were swapping spit,” he said triumphantly. Aingeal glared at him. “And they say you’re the older one.” Grabbing Angie’s arm, she tugged her out of her brother’s embrace. “Come on, let’s get away from these adolescent boys.” Angie smiled back at Ardan and let herself be pulled away by Aingeal who dragged her to the middle of what appeared to be a game room. A pool table dominated the center of the space. 101

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series Gathered round its main attraction, the rest of the Locklin clan were in various states of play. She vaguely remembered being introduced to everyone when she attended the wedding. When one young dark-haired woman approached her, she immediately placed a name with the face. “I don’t know if you remember me…,” the young woman began. “Merna, right?” “Yeah…you remembered.” “Well…since there are only two girls in this family…it was easy to remember.” “You have beautiful eyes. They’re—they’re violet!” “Thank you. And violet they are. You know, only one other person I ever knew had violet eyes and that was Elizabeth Taylor. So I think we’re rather unique…neither one of us wore contacts…I don’t even think color contacts were that much in vogue during her heyday or even used except in the movies.” “Great actress,” said Maddox, Merna’s twin. “I really love her old movies. She was one sexy babe in her day.” “Watch it,” warned Aingeal. “Old movies? Did I hear someone say something about old movies?” Cuinn came up behind them “Yeah, Angie was talking about Elizabeth 102

Lynn Crain Taylor’s violet eyes.” “That’s right—they were that color—and absolutely amazing.” “And just think—I get to gaze in them everyday.” Ardan walked up to stand behind her. “I think we need to go help Jedrick and Tessa.” “I just got her,” said Aingeal. “You can’t take her away already!” Ardan stopped and looked at his sister. Angie couldn’t tell by his look what he thought. “Don’t worry,” he said finally, “I will bring her back as long as you promise not to torture her.” “What?” Aingeal questioned. “Honestly, brother, I would think I should tell you that. Angie is wonderful and you’re just the big, bad wolf.” His rich laughter filled the room. “You think so?” he quipped and reached out to ruffle her hair. “Hardly. You should be protecting me from her and her womanly ways. It’s hard to tell what she’ll get me to do.” “Hey…I’m not a kid anymore…so don’t do that.” Aingeal fluffed her hair back in place. “Does that look okay?” Angie watched the sibling banter and for a quick moment felt a twinge of jealousy. She had never had anything like that at all. Even though she and Tessa had always been close, she knew this was different. “You look wonderful,” she said to Ardan’s 103

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series sister after a moment. “And you…,” turning to Ardan to poke in his abdomen with her index finger, “…you need to stay in your lane. Now, what did you say about Jedrick and Tessa?” “My own lane, huh? You’ll pay for that one,” he stated quietly, laughter dancing around the fringes. “Promises, promises.” “Really, we need to get to the front door.” Ardan grabbed her arm and gently pulled her in the direction of the front door. “You really shouldn’t encourage Aingeal.” Angie frowned. “Encourage her to what? Be herself?” “Is that what you call it?” “That’s your sister we’re talking about.” “My very flawed sister you mean.” “Why? Because she doesn’t conform to your sensibilities?” The man made her downright angry sometimes, she thought, as she stomped into the foyer. “Hey…,” Ardan stopped her in her tracks, “I don’t want to argue about my sister and how she manipulates people. Or apparently has sex too much, if there is such a thing.” He began to rub his hands up and down her almost bare arms, making them tingle. “I have much better things to do.” Leaning down he planted a tender kiss firmly on her mouth. She softened a little. Taking quick 104

Lynn Crain nibbles of her bottom lip, he expertly slid his tongue into her mouth. She melted into him, clasping her arms tightly around his middle and pulling him to her. “See…I told you they would be swapping spit again. I think it’s all they ever do.” Ardan lifted his head. “I don’t think I’ve had this much attention since you guys were under five.” Lowering his arms, he gazed at Angie for another moment before turning to his siblings. “Get your coats, folks. They’re here.” He opened the door to the winter wonderland that they had just been in recently. The rush of cold air made Angie shiver in her parka. Once completely outside, they could see three more sleighs pull up, each with occupants wrapped in colorful blankets. The largest sleigh held the jolly man himself, Santa and his wife. Santa quickly got out and held his hand out for his wife while the reindeer stood somewhat at attention. Next in line were Ardan’s grandparents, Bowen and Alys Locklin. Angie had met them briefly at the wedding and admired then just how handsome a couple they made. Finally, Jedrick and Tessa’s sleigh pulled up and Angie rushed to its side. “Hi,” she said as her breath made a cloud of fog. “Can I help get the babies inside?” “You sure can. It’s still taking a little effort on 105

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series my part to get around so I appreciate the help.” Tessa handed one precious bundle to her. Angie kept the baby completely covered until they went inside the house. Once there, she gingerly peeled back the blanket to see the most amazing little face with two dark blue eyes looking up at her. “You’re holding my daughter there, so please be careful,” Jedrick chided as he came in the door right behind her. “You don’t have the tell me to be careful,” Angie answered back. “I wouldn’t ever hurt my niece.” “I know. But it’s my parental right to remind everyone.” Jedrick beamed. Angie couldn’t remember a time she had seen him happier. She knew that he had not displayed this much joy, even at the wedding. Becoming a parent had certainly brought something more to his life than she had ever thought imaginable. She was very glad that Tessa had a part of this very special life. Angie followed everyone into what appeared to be a living room. Finding Tessa, she walked over to her. “Do you still want me to hold her? Just what’s going on?” Angie held the baby and swayed a little to keep her comfortable. “Well,” Tessa began as she sat down, motioning Angie to do the same. “I’m not sure. We can let 106

Lynn Crain Janice decide.” Right on queue, the woman walked into the room. “Well…now that everyone is here…do we want to eat first or do you want to tell everyone your choice of names?” Janice asked coming in from the kitchen. “Janice…I thought we would leave it up to you.” “Me?” “Yes, Mother. You.” Jedrick arched an eyebrow. “Is there a problem?” “No, no.” Janice wiped her hands on a dish towel. “You’re right, the suspense is killing me.” Walking over to the large couch she sat by her handsome husband, Bevan. “Everything will be fine, Janice.” He patted her hand gently. “You know it will be.” Jedrick stood. “As everyone knows, Tessa and I became the proud parents of twins just last month.” He smiled to his wife. “It wasn’t an easy process and she’s only been home for a couple of weeks, as have the babies. During the time she’s been home, we’ve tossed around about a thousand names before we finally decided. Tessa, would you please explain our thinking on this?” “Well…as Jedrick has said…we tossed a lot of names about.” She looked around the room. “We feel that every child needs to have a sense of where they came from and where they’re going. 107

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series We wanted each of them to have something from the past, something of the present and something of their own.” She inclined her head toward Jedrick so he could continue. “We looked at our family history long and hard. We think we’ve come up with something that is both unique and special for each of them.” “Well…hurry up…we’re all waiting.” A look of impatience crossed Janice’s face. “Patience, Mother, patience.” Bevan patted his wife’s hand once again. “Thanks, Dad.” Jedrick smiled at him. “After much discussion, we’ve decided to name our daughter Angela Catherine Ilysa Locklin.” “And our son, Kincaid Ardan Bowen Locklin,” finished Tessa. Angie sat there stunned. She looked across the room to see an equally as stunned look on Ardan’s face who held his nephew. “Me? And Ardan?” she asked Tessa. “I know Angela isn’t your favorite name. But I knew you’d understand right away.” “You named her after my mother too.” Janice sniffed and brought the towel to her face. “Yes…Janice…we did. We thought it only appropriate. Like I said, each child has their own name, one from the present and someone from the past. But in Kincaid’s case, he has his greatgrandfather and grandfather’s name. Ilysa is 108

Lynn Crain named for her great-grandmother and her godmother. I’ve never asked you properly…you will be their godmother, won’t you?” Angie could feel the tears well up in her eyes. “Of course, silly.” She somehow managed to squeak out the positive answer. She didn’t know what to say and if truth be told, she couldn’t say anything. Looking down at her charge, she smiled. “Promise me you’ll never be anything like me,” she whispered. “I hope she’s exactly like you,” Tessa whispered back and hugged her best friend. “You’re like a sister to me and the only family I have left. I hope you’re okay with this.” “Okay?” Angie sniffled, trying hard not to burst out crying. “I am definitely okay with this.” She looked up and saw Ardan coming toward her. He stopped momentarily at Jedrick and handed him the baby, hugging them both slightly before coming to stand before them. “Tessa, thank you. I’m sure it was hard to come up with something that would please everyone.” Kneeling down, he gazed at the baby’s face as it lay serenely in Angie’s arms. “She’s beautiful.” Angie watched Ardan as he looked at the baby and her heart nearly exploded with love for the man. She could not imagine having his children but she wanted desperately to do so. Finally, he looked at her and she could see that something 109

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series was wrong. “Are you alright?” “We need to talk,” he whispered into her ear as he dropped a small kiss there. Turning concerned eyes to him, she wondered what was happening. “Now?” His eyes darted around the room. “Soon.” **** Ardan felt trapped. Maybe it was the fact that Jedrick and Tessa had forever linked him and Angie together by naming the children after them. He knew that his brother and his wife had not intentionally tried to make him feel this way but nonetheless, they had. Maybe if he just got away from Angie for a while the feelings would go away. Then again, maybe not. Somehow he managed to get through dinner and the required family gathering, each moment becoming more and more a slow torture. He wanted to love Angie, he really did. But for some reason, now that this had happened, he just couldn’t get himself to admit what he wanted or that he actually already loved her. What was wrong with him? They were so right for each other, so perfect. Still, he held back for some reason. There was nothing that made him believe she would ever willingly leave him. And he knew that she had told him she loved him when she 110

Lynn Crain thought he slept. The woman was perfect in mind and body and perfect in bed. It was too good to be true. He wondered when the other shoe would drop. The process of nor’ahkeem had begun shortly after they met and it had started in earnest the moment he bedded her even though he still did not want to admit it to himself. Looking across the game room he caught Angie’s eye as she sent him a tentative smile. She knew something was wrong, he could tell as he tried his best to smile back. His heart skipped a beat. How could he tell her he needed to make sure she was the one without breaking her heart? Or without breaking his own? He needed to make love to her, not have sex. Sex was what he thought he had been having with her for the last few weeks. Maybe he had been wrong. When he thought about it in that manner, his stomach churned. It felt like he did when he had been in college. This was no college fling, this was something built to last a lifetime and he knew it. It broke through him and almost released some magic. Slowly, he started to make his way to Angie when he felt a hand on his arm. Turning, he recognized his father. “Come have a talk with me, son.” Even though it came out as a request, Ardan knew it to be a summons. His father may be small 111

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series and look like he didn’t have a chance with someone twice his size, but looks were deceiving. Bevan had twice the magic as any of his sons and he knew how to use it in ways his sons never learned. Entering his father’s den, he recalled the few times he had been here. The first had been the time he had tried to best Jedrick with a lightening bolt. He thought for sure he was going to get it when he realized that wasn’t what his father had in mind at all. That time, his father had showed him how to conquer his anger and use it for better things. The second time was when he went away to college. His father wanted to make sure he had a good grasp of the human world. Many an elf had lost their way while trying to do good for humans and Bevan wanted to make sure his son wasn’t one of them. The talk had worked and Ardan came through the experience relatively unscathed, except for his broken heart and total disgust for humans. Angie had cured that particular problem through her gentle and loving ways, of that he was sure. And now, here he was again, in his father’s office. “Is everything alright, Ardan? You really haven’t seemed yourself for days now. Your control on your magic has been slipping. I could feel it when I approached you in the den.” He indicated the chair closest to his desk. Reaching 112

Lynn Crain over he got his pipe and started to light the aromatic contents. “Great inventions, pipes. I just wish humans could figure out the way to make the leaf not be lethal to themselves.” He sighed then and gazed at his son. “I suppose that’s all in good time. Well?” “I’m not sure what you mean, Father.” Ardan knew his statement was cautious at best but as he wasn’t quite sure what his father alluded to so he thought tact was the best policy. “You know what I mean.” Bevan stared at him so long that he felt like a kid again, caught at something he shouldn’t be doing. “You love that young woman and nothing you do or say will change the fact, Ardan. You love her so much that the ironclad control you’ve always had isn’t so ironclad anymore.” He looked down at his clenched hands, practically feeling the magic rise from them. “What if she doesn’t love me, Father?” Bevan arched an eyebrow. “Do you know so little of human nature that you can’t tell by the way she looks at you? Or how she acts?” Ardan looked at his father, his restraint almost shattering to mere threads. “I don’t want her to do anything she doesn’t feel ready for and I’m not sure about us.” Bevan closed his eyes briefly before returning his gaze to his son. “That woman is so much in 113

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series love with you she’d follow you to the ends of the earth, Ardan. She would live anywhere you want just because she needs to be near you. How much more obvious does she need to make it, son?” “Da, I’ve got to give her the choice. It wouldn’t be fair to either one of us if we weren’t sure.” “It’s been years since you called me Da. There must be something else.” The concern, evident in his eyes, made his son look away. “What if this doesn’t last?” Ardan finally questioned after a few minutes. “Elves don’t just fall in love, son, they fall in love forever. When you find the right person, there can never be anyone else. I taught you that point so long ago. That’s why you have the process of Nor’ahkeem. There can be no mistakes. Nor’ahkeem won’t allow it.” Ardan swallowed hard. That’s what he had been afraid of all along…not that he would change is mind…but that the human object of his affection would. “It’s not me I’m worried about.” “Why do you think…no, why are you adamant… she’ll change her mind?” Ardan felt miserable. He felt so sure about his feelings, now his father wanted him to put it in words before he could say them to Angie. “I don’t know. I just know that I don’t want her to miss out on anything in life. And if she stays here, she won’t have those opportunities.” 114

Lynn Crain Bevan sighed. “That will need to be her decision, not yours. Sometimes those opportunities come in unexpected ways.” He got up and walked around the desk to stand in front of his son, leaning . “Have you ever watched her with the other elves? If you haven’t, you need to. Every time I have seen her in your clinic I’ve watched her. She has a rapport with them that I don’t even think you have. It’s like whoever she’s with has her undivided attention and they are the only person in the world at that moment. She knows people, Ardan. It doesn’t matter if they are elf or human.” “Maybe she should be the doctor,” Ardan muttered. His father chuckled. “Maybe she should.” “That’s just it, Father. If I have her stay here, she will miss that opportunity. Do you understand what I am saying?” Bevan sighed deeply. “Yes, I do. But I really think you should ask her. After all, it is her life we’re talking about. I do have one question for you.” “Yes?” “Did you ever miss any opportunity?” Bevan stopped and looked at his son. Ardan shook his head slowly, wondering just where his dad was going to go with this. “Why do you think she would? Why can’t you 115

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series just accept the fact you may be the best thing that ever happened to her? Why do you overanalyze everything? Sometimes the things in life aren’t meant to be analyzed. They are the way they are for a reason. And the reason here is that you are supposed to love that girl forever, son. Just accept it and enjoy the ride. It just may surprise you.”

116

Lynn Crain

Chapter 7

A

ngie snuggled deeper into the blankets and cast a look toward Ardan. He had been so quiet since they had left his parents’ house. She knew something was wrong but she certainly didn’t know what it could be. Take that back…she knew exactly what part of it was…and while naming the babies after them was wonderful, it obviously bothered him. She just couldn’t understand why. It was so special to have someone named in one’s honor, she couldn’t imagine why he might be upset. He had disappeared in his father’s study for what seemed like forever. And when he emerged, he looked strained and tense. The situation hadn’t gotten better on the way home at all. Even with her snuggling up to him and trying to capture his attention, he seemed withdrawn and out of reach. “I think it was wonderful what Tessa did.” “Yeah, wonderful,” Ardan muttered. She tilted her head in his direction. “Is 117

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series something wrong?” “I don’t know. You tell me.” The gap between them suddenly seemed more distance than it had ever been. “I—I don’t think so.” She knew that the confusion she felt must be written all over her face. “You aren’t happy,” she stated simply. “I’m not happy.” The tone of his voice spoke eons in regards to what he was really feeling. Swallowing hard, Angie wanted to burst out in tears. “Okay. Is there anything you want me to do?” “I want you to go home, Angie.” He turned to her then. “I need you to go home.” “Why?” she whispered. “Did I do something wrong?” “No…you’re perfect…and therein lay the crux of the problem.” “Wh—What?” she asked. “I don’t understand.” “We’re almost home. Let’s finish this conversation there,” he said, effectively cutting her off. Angie rode the rest of the way home in miserable silence. If she hadn’t done anything wrong, what was the problem then? Forcing herself to be calm, she reasoned it wasn’t as bad as she envisioned. Maybe it was something his father said. But no matter how she sliced it, she knew he would be sending her away. And soon. 118

Lynn Crain Slowly, she got out of the sleigh when it pulled up in front of the house. Walking in front of the reindeer, she reached up and patted each beautiful face. “I guess I’ll see you around, Dasher and Prancer. I loved how you two came whenever I needed you. You just seemed to know.” Each nuzzled her head and hands with what seemed to be a confused look on their faces. “Come on. Let’s go in before you freeze out here.” Grabbing her arm, Ardan pulled her toward the house. Practically shoving her in the door, he pulled her coat off. Reaching up, he began to unbutton her top. “I’m going to have sex with you one more time and then I’m putting you on that sleigh. And you’re going to go home.” He stopped and looked at her, shaking her slightly. “Do you hear me?” Angie glanced at him, rapidly blinking her eyes to keep the tears from flowing. “Alright—but— can I ask why?” She really hated it when her nose started to drip. “Not yet.” His mouth swooped to hers and savagely kissed her. “Got to get you out of my system,” he murmured and kissed her neck then her shoulders as he pulled her sweater off her body. Crying now, she ran her fingers up his body. He was burning up. “Ardan…please…stop this. 119

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series You’re burning up.” “Yes, I am. For you.” His hands came up and plucked her nipples fiercely, as if he wanted her to associate his touch with pain. But slowly, the tone changed and he began caressing what he had moments before been tormenting. “Beautiful. So beautiful.” Leaning down he replaced his fingers with his mouth. And loving him the way she did, all Angie could do was respond. Her body arched toward him of its own accord, wanting…no, needing his touch. Running her hands over his shoulders, it didn’t take long for the heat that invaded him to infuse her with its hot, burning desire. Still, it bothered her that he was so warm. It was as if he were coming down with some type of illness or fever. “Ardan, please. You need to stop,” she murmured. Pulling back, his eyes nearly glowed with the heat of passion. “Stop? I can’t stop, Angie. It’s nor’ahkeem…it’s something that can’t be stopped…muileach.” He sighed and pulled her into the bed room. Frowning, she allowed herself to be pulled along. “What did you just say?” “Nothing.” He continued to remove her clothes. “Yes you did and it sounded like it was in a different language.” 120

Lynn Crain “Tha gaol agam ort.” The words were so mystical and lyrical; Angie realized she could hear them forever. Still, that didn’t solve the problem at hand. “Ardan, please, are you ill?’ He looked at her, his eyes glazed. “Only with passion for you,” he murmured. When he couldn’t remove her panties, he ripped them off her body. His hands moved along her hips, caressing each nook and cranny he found. “Undress me and then spread your legs for me.” Angie gasped. This wasn’t the Ardan she knew. He was much more refined and standoffish when it came right down to it. This man was almost crude in his gestures. Something was going on here and she would have to figure it out but right this very moment was not the time to do so. Lifting gentle hands, she pulled up his sweater over his head. Slowly, she unbuttoned each button of his shirt and languished in his moans as her hands touched is bear flesh. “Hurry up for the god’s sake, woman. I’m burning alive here.” She chuckled deep in her throat. “You once told me that good things came to those who wait. Is it any different now?” Ardan groaned. “Unfortunately, it is. Please, please hurry,” he begged. Confused, Angie continued at her task. What 121

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series was going on? “Alright…I’ll be quick…please push off your shoes.” Finally, she got the shirt off him as she heard two thunks from his shoes. Quickly, she made short order of his pants and started when his penis sprang from its confinement. The head was the largest she had ever seen and looked somewhat painful. “Spread your legs,” he growled. Swallowing hard, she did as requested. Instead of being penetrated, she was surprised to feel gentle caresses on her groin. “I’m going to do this right, no matter what I’m feeling,” he ground out and pushed her completely to her back into the soft pillows on the bed. Slowly, he slid back down her body till he was even with her stomach. Briefly, he laid his head on there and breathed in deeply. “Do you know that the smell of your sex is driving me almost insane? If I don’t have you soon, I don’t know what will happen.” Leisurely, as if he had never made that last comment, he spread the lips of her labia to expose her clit and the soft piece of flesh covering it. Leaning down, he tongued her gently, rolling the hard nub between his teeth, his mouth firmly entrenched on her body. Angie groaned with intense pleasure. This was new…and different…and oh so sinful. Whatever this Nor’ahkeem was it certainly increased the 122

Lynn Crain sexual tension in elves to a fever pitch. Arching her hips, she met his mouth time after time. Ardan devoured her like a starved man, the heat from his mouth searing its feel into her very flesh. He lavishly licked and nipped her into a frenzy which could only end in one way. And she wanted that more than anything. She nearly came undone when he gently slid his fingers into her body, pumping them in and out of her gently. “Please…please,” she moaned. “Please what, Ang? What is it you want me to do?” The old, teasing Ardan seemed to be back. But she knew it was much more than that…this was something so special…she didn’t even want to try and analyze what happened or why. “I want to come and I want you to have me any way you want,” she whispered. Still, he held something back as he stroked her body. She didn’t know what it was. Her orgasm was right there and he knew it as he kept her hovering over the edge. “This is different, Ang. I can’t let you come just yet…but I need you close…can you do that for me? I promise it will be the most intense experience you have ever had.” She felt ready to explode. Yet she knew that if he promised something, he would fulfill that promise. “I’ll try. I don’t think I can promise you.” 123

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series “That’s good enough.” Ardan continued stoking her body with a fever pitch. He moved to his side next to her and spread her legs even further. Gently, he pulled her cream from her clit to her anus, working it into her until she was silky smooth and his fingers just glided over her most sensitive areas. Slipping a hand under her bottom he touched her anus with his fingers, causing her to shiver in anticipation. Never in a million years had she ever thought she would want anal sex and now all she could do was quiver at the mere thought of it. Slowly, he started to work the tight muscles until his fingers slipped inside with ease. He groaned with each stroke of her body. “I’ve got to have you.” Slipping his arms under her legs, he spread her wide, his fingers caressing her clit and bringing her to the brink yet again. “I’ll try not to hurt you.” Angie didn’t even have time to ponder his comment when he buried himself to the hilt in her body. She felt like she was going to be split asunder. Ardan had never been this large before and it was almost uncomfortable. Still, she willed herself to relax so that her body could accommodate his. With each slow thrust, he rubbed her inner spot and began a slow sexual build-up that had her quivering in seconds. He 124

Lynn Crain had been right; this was going to be much more intense. “Ardan, please...” She didn’t know how she even managed to say anything, the feeling was so—so—she didn’t know how to describe it because it was so new. She felt like she was on fire. “Angie…not yet…please, not yet,” he breathed. Taking one of his hands, he began to rub her clit in a slow circular motion, always moving but never lingering long enough for her to get a real grasp of the sensation. With the other, he worked her anus, moving in and out, pushing her to new heights but never allowing her fall over the edge. Her body began to move of its own accord. She no longer had control. Ardan had the control of her body in a way she couldn’t understand. She knew that it was only a matter of moments before she would spontaneously combust, at this rate. Still, he tried to push her higher. The head of his penis brushed up against her cervix with every motion, until her insides were burning for release. “Ardan…I can’t wait…,” she breathed and began to thrust wildly against him. Pushing and straining, she felt him grow even larger and wondered incoherently just how much more she could take when the dam burst. She was being filled with liquid fire and she screamed as the orgasm took her to a place she had never once imagined. 125

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series “Arghhh,” Ardan cried. “I can’t stop it.” The elven magic swirled around them. The colors were more intense than ever before as the magic enveloped them in its almost painful grippe. It pulled them higher and higher before shoving both of them over the abyss in a vortex of sexual energy so tight they would never escape. The magic pulled their breath away and somehow they both tumbled into an uneasy slumber. **** Janice closed her eyes and began to rub her forehead. This was bad, very bad. She had never felt such power before and she didn’t know why it happened. Bevan walked into the room two cups of hot cocoa in hand. “Pretty intense, huh?” He sat down next to her and handed her a cup. “Bevan, what is going on?” He looked at his wife, an almost sad feeling reflected in his face. “Sometimes when a person tries to deny Nor’ahkeem, the magic takes on a life of its own. It can’t be denied. Ardan has tried to shut himself off from his magic and love for a long time. Angie brought out the best and worst in him. But elven magic is so very special. It’s attuned to each elf and knows what that elf needs.” “You knew this would happen.” 126

Lynn Crain Bevan took a sip of his warm drink. “I knew this could happen. Didn’t you ever wonder why I never really tried to stop our relationship? After all, it isn’t everyday that a human falls for an elf.” Snuggling up against her husband, she pulled her legs under her and took a drink. “I guess I never really thought about it. I just knew I wanted you. Once I had you, I loved you so much I never could imagine a life without you.” He smiled and gently kissed her. “Now imagine trying to suppress that feeling.” Janice sighed. “So it’s like a champagne bottle.” “It’s like a champagne bottle. Things will be better for them now that the bottle is uncorked. Ardan still has a few things to work out. But the magic won’t allow them to be apart without feeling great heartache and some physical discomfort.” He reached up and touched her face. “I was lucky enough at a very young age to understand my magic. The moment I saw you, I knew I was going to love you forever. I didn’t know what would happen. I just knew I couldn’t stop it and didn’t even try. I went with it. And look what I received in return.” Leaning into his hand, she gazed at him. “If they have half of what we have, their life will be very full.” “Yes, it will be.” Sitting down his mug, he moved closer to his wife. “Ardan just needs to 127

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series realize that. He still might send her away.” “Why?” Bevan arched an eyebrow. “Oh, I don’t know. He seems to have a stubborn streak. It maybe genetic.” Janice frowned. “Funny. True, but funny.” Slowly, she licked her lips. “So what do we do?” He took her face in his hands. “Darling, this one he has to work out on his own. They’ll find their way. Trust me.” Leaning in, his mouth took hers in a searing kiss. “I do,” she breathed. “Good. Now shut up.” Kissing her again, he deepened the kiss. Soon they had their own magic to worry about. **** The poke of a sharp object woke Angie from her deep sleep. “What?” Pushing her hair out of her eyes, she pulled the sheet with her as she sat up because something told her it wasn’t Ardan. It was as if her senses were on high alert. Holding her aching head in her hands, she tried to clear the cobwebs. What the hell was that? She tried to gather her wits about her. “I’m really sorry to disturb you, Angie Hudson, but we have a medical problem that needs 128

Lynn Crain attention.” “Eggther?” She shook her head again. “It is I, Angie Hudson. Your expertise is desperately needed.” Sighing, she cleared her vision and looked at the small elf. “What’s the problem?” “An elf has fallen into an ice pond.” Frowning, she stared at him for a quick moment. “I didn’t know there were any ice ponds around here at all.” “It’s not here. It’s some distance away. It will take us a few minutes to get there by sleigh.” “Okay.” She shook her head one more time and looked at the sleeping form of Ardan. He was dead to the world. She hesitated for just a moment before she answered. “Let me get dressed.” “Do I need to wake Ardan?” “No…I think he needs his sleep…we had a late night.” “I would say.” Angie stared at him. “Oh, great.” “It is nothing to be ashamed of, Angie Hudson. It was the process of Nor’ahkeem.” She smiled wryly. “I believe I’ve heard of it before. And I don’t think Ardan will relish the fact that we started it at all.” “Angie Hudson, he has no choice. It is something that is predestined for each elf. The joy of love is felt by the whole community.” 129

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series “I’ll take your word on it. Now let me get dressed.” She bit her lip as she watched the small man leave the room. Standing up, she let the sheet fall from her body. She had new and different aches from last night’s lovemaking. She realized that it was lovemaking for the very first time. All the other times had been mainly sex but last night was different. Really different. Quickly, she got on her jeans and a warm sweater. She hadn’t asked but assumed that the elf who had fallen into the cold water was pulled out quickly. In years past, the person would have been written off as many were in the Titanic disaster. But with today’s medical technologies, they could save many people whose core temperature had fallen dramatically. Plus the elves seemed to have some resistance to the extreme cold. She only hoped that worked in this elf’s favor. Angie stood over Ardan for a few moments, knowing that she would love this man for the rest of her life. Leaning down, she gently kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll be back before you know it,” she whispered. Turning on her heel, she headed to the living room. Pulling her coat and hat from the rack by the door, she was happy to find her cashmere gloves in her pocket. They would definitely be the best when treating a patient in the frigid air. She would need her hands to be as limber as possible. Finally, she had everything on to keep her warm. 130

Lynn Crain She turned to Eggther. “Let’s go. I’d like to be back before Ardan gets up.” **** Something was wrong. Ardan sat up with a start only to find that Angie wasn’t next to him. Suddenly, he felt sick, very sick. Something terrible had happened and he couldn’t even begin to know how he knew. Standing up, he realized that the process of Nor’ahkeem was nearly complete. Otherwise, he wouldn’t feel this way. There would be a few other things that they would have to do to complete the process but as far as he could tell it was a done deal. Slowly, he got up and looked around the room. Her clothes were gone but he could sense she wasn’t too far away. But still, far enough that it caused him physical pain. Until the process was completed, they would feel this way. Now he was committed and he wasn’t exactly sure how he felt about that at all. He hadn’t wanted to commit to Angie, hadn’t wanted to commit to anyone for that matter. But somehow she had wormed her way into his heart and made them linked forever. Getting up, he looked for his clothes. He needed to find her. God, the sex had been 131

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series fantastic. He couldn’t believe how fantastic because he now understood the difference between sex and making love. Pulling on his pants, he walked into the living room to find her coat gone too. The sinking feeling in his stomach suddenly got more intense. It wasn’t just that she wasn’t in the house. It was something more. Walking back into their room, he slowly pulled the rest of his clothes on in quiet desperation. He didn’t know what was going on, but something told him it wasn’t good. Trying to keep calm, he wondered briefly if he should try to contact Tessa to see if she knew where Angie might be. Heating up water, he stood in front of his stove and made some hot chocolate. He hoped he hadn’t scared her away last night. Something had just taken over him, making it seem as if he were on a desperate mission. He had been single-minded in his intention. Sipping his chocolate, he realized what a mistake he had made in not listening to his father about Nor’ahkeem. He couldn’t even been sure that what had happened here was even normal. Walking back into the living room, he could sense someone coming before they even opened the door. Sighing, he hoped that he wouldn’t have to listen to another tirade. “Hello, Mother.” “Ardan, get your shoes on and I mean now.” 132

Lynn Crain The worried look on his mother’s face registered like a blow to the gut. “Angie,” he whispered. Grabbing his coat, Janice scowled. “I said now, young man. We don’t have a moment to lose.” Shrugging into his coat, he quickly slid his boots on. “I have scrubs at the clinic. What’s going on?” “Can’t you feel that something isn’t right?” His mother appeared to be searching his face, for what, he couldn’t even imagine. “I know something is wrong. I just don’t know what.” “Nor’ahkeem gives you almost a sixth sense where your spouse is concerned.” Ardan swallowed hard and followed his mother to the sleigh. “Does it get stronger over time?” “Actually, it’s worse in the beginning and seems to mellow with time. According to your father, that is.” Tugging on the reins, she set the reindeer in motion. “What happened?” he said quietly, dreading the worst. He tried very hard to get the medical mask on he would have to wear while treating her. This was the worst situation in the world that could happen to a doctor. “Angie fell into Fallen Leaf Pond.” “What the hell was she doing there?” Arden didn’t know whether to cry or be blazing mad. No 133

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series one went to Fallen Leaf Pond. “Saving another elf who had fallen in.” “What were they doing there? Hell…forget that…why didn’t she wake me?” “Probably because you were sleeping like the dead. Your father didn’t wake up for almost eighteen hours once we bonded sexually. It takes more out of elves than it does humans. It’s almost as if you have to align your magic or something. I never could figure it out.” She patted his hand gently. “I have to prepare you. It doesn’t look good. They brought her back once and it seems as if she’s slipped into a coma. She was under the ice for a long time. And they have her on a respirator now.” His heart stopped. Ardan could physically feel the pain grip the most important muscle in his body. How could this have happened? How could he lose her when he had only just found her?

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Chapter 8

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rying to remain calm, Ardan ran into the clinic. He wasn’t surprised to see the efficient hustle and bustle of the elves. Even though it had been a long time since they had two critical patients, it was evident he had trained them well. Going into the locker room, he started stripping immediately. He needed to get into his scrubs and next to her. Jerking the locker door open, he realized before he even put his clothes on he would need to center himself. This wasn’t a normal situation at the best, but he didn’t need to make it worse. Pulling his clothes on, he did a series of breathing exercises they had been taught in med school. At first he had thought them hokey but once he used them and his own magic, he realized he could face anything. Breathing in slowly, he focused his intention on the task at hand. As much as he loved Angie, he did have two patients to deal with at the moment. Finally calm, he left the room and walked down 135

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series the corridor. “Ardan?” “Yes?” He turned and faced Tessa. She sat alone so he could only assume that Jedrick stayed at home to care for the children. “How bad is it?” Looking at her tearstained face, he could tell that she had been crying for a while. “How long have you been here?” “I was here when they brought her in. I came in for my checkup and you were late.” Taking her hands in his he hunkered down to look into her eyes and rubbed her small hands gently. “I know you felt what happened last night. Everyone did. But right now I have to forget that ever happened and concentrate on pulling her and the other elf out of this. I just got here. Can you bear with me for a little while so I can figure out what’s going on?” She shook her head and sniffed. “She’s all I have in the world for family, you know.” “I know.” He couldn’t say another word. Ardan had to see her for himself. “I’ll come and talk to you in a little while.” Pushing open the door, he entered into the largest of the four clinc rooms. He had set each up with a special purpose and this was what would be considered the critical care area. On one side of the room was a bed with every imaginable piece 136

Lynn Crain of medical equipment available. He knew that to be Angie. The other side of the room, while it had quite a few pieces of equipment around the bed it was nowhere near what Angie had. “Aingeal, could you please give me an update on this situation?” It didn’t help his heart that his sister turned around with the same tear-streaked face Tessa had. He gently grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her. “I need you at your best this time. I know you help the Eskimos and Inuits all the time. You are a medical intuitive. I need you to help me now in every way you can.” She shook her head in the affirmative and licked her lips. “I’ll tell you everything I know. And we actually have three patients not two. Eggther wouldn’t stay in here because he knew these two were in worse condition than he was.” “Eggther was with them?” “He tried to pull Angie out by himself first. He then put a line on himself and the reindeer pulled them both out. I don’t know how long he was in there but he told me he had to search for a while to find Angie. The other elf, Angie managed to pull out herself and push him to the edge before the ice broke under her. I can’t understand just why the ice was so thin there. It should have been rock solid.” Ardan let out a long drawn out sigh. “I’m not concerned with that. Right now I have some 137

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series questions. Who’s the first elf?” “Cormac.” “What was he doing there?” “Ice fishing, I think.” “That shouldn’t cause enough melt for the ice to break like you said.” Aingeal looked at him. “I could check with everyone to see if something might have happened to make the ice thinner.” “Okay. But let’s leave that for later. What else do you know about our patients?” She straightened up before she spoke. “I’ll leave Angie for last. Eggther, I believe, is hypothermic only. He’s been pacing since they returned, so I can assume that his temperature is returning to normal. He won’t let me check him.” “I’ll take care of it.” “Cormac is on a ventilator and I started an IV. His core temperature is now about ninety-five. The only reason we put him on the ventilator is that he was still unconscious when he arrived and seemed to have some problems breathing. I don’t know how much water he had in his lungs, if any. I imagine you’ll want to start him on some antibiotics.” “I agree. Let’s do that immediately.” He looked at his sister as steadily as he could. “Now, tell me about Angie.” “She’s on a vent and I have her on an IV also. 138

Lynn Crain Her core temperature is still only eighty-nine, which is a couple of degrees higher than when she came in. I didn’t know if you wanted me to start the warm compresses to her trunk or not. We had to code her the moment she first came in. I’m not sure why. I don’t know if she was too cold or perhaps she drowned. She did have a lot of water come out of her lungs. I’m really sorry, Ardan. I did what I knew how to do.” He patted her hand that she had put on his arm. “I know. Get her on antibiotics as well and I think we’re going to have to be a little more aggressive on the temperature. Heat the antibiotics and the IV to a couple of degrees over room temperature and let’s see if that has any effect. And start warm compresses right away. Do that for about fifteen minutes. Then change her bed and put on warm sheets and blanket. We don’t want to put her into shock. She coded when she was cold?” “Yes.” “Well…that’s the one good thing that’s happened so far.” “Why do you say that?” Smiling at his sister, he was very thankful for all those years in medical school. “Hypothermia is a totally reversible situation. The one saying is that ‘no one is dead until warm and dead.’ I don’t know why she coded but she’s still in there. We just have to get her back. You need to be ready for 139

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series her to start shivering, possibly violently, as she heats up. We’ll have to prevent any seizures and keep a really close eye on her. If she seizes at all it could cause some brain damage if we don’t stop it very quickly.” “Alright.” Aingeal turned to do the tasks he had given her. He grabbed her hand, forcing her to look at him. “And thanks, sis. It’s going to be a long night. I’ll go check Eggther.” She slowly smiled. “You do that.” He slowly walked toward the waiting room. He could see the small elf pacing back and forth. Once he arrived, he leaned against the door and surveyed the room. Santa and Mrs. Claus were there, as were his parents. Tessa huddled miserably between the two of them. He could tell she had been crying by the slight shakes seen in her shoulders. His mother leaned over and whispered something in her ear which seemed to comfort her. “Eggther, I need to examine you.” The small elf looked up. “I’ve killed Angie Hudson.” “Eggther…,” Ardan got on one knee to look him directly in the eye, “…you’ve done no such thing. She would have been lost to us all if you hadn’t gone in after her. You and the reindeer did everything that you could. How long were you in 140

Lynn Crain the water?” He looked confused. “I do not know. Time was all weird. It was like it slowed down. I wanted it to slow down and it did.” The elf looked at Ardan. “Does that make sense?” Ardan turned to look at his father. “What’s he talking about?” “There are elven ways to slow time. However, time can only slow for the ones closest to the event. Meaning that we would never really feel it here because we were so far away from the actual happening.” Bevan came and stood beside them. “Are you saying that you tried to slow down time, Eggther?” “I tried. Do not think I was powerful enough. I have caused Angie Hudson great harm. I should have woken you too. I wanted to do so but she would not allow it. She felt that you needed your sleep.” “Eggther, I’ve come to find that if Angie wants to do something, nothing will stop her. I just need to get you well or she will never forgive herself when she wakes.” “Eggther is fine. Just cold.” Ardan touched the small man’s ice cold hand. “You are really cold. I would like to start a heated IV on you with some antibiotics just in case. We don’t want you getting pneumonia or another infection. You should be out of here before this 141

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series evening.” “Eggther, we need you well,” Santa murmured. “I will do it.” He hung his head as if ashamed. “Everything will be alright. Please don’t worry.” His head popped up to stared at him. “Angie Hudson will live?” “Angie Hudson will live.” **** The mists swirled around her in waves. Swallowing hard, Angie tried to focus but it was near impossible. She had no idea where she was or how she had gotten here. The last thing she remembered was the ice breaking around her and the horrible cold. Shivering, she rubbed her arms to generate some heat. “Hello?” she yelled. “Anyone here?” “What is a human woman doing in the hall of the elders?” a voice boomed. “Wh—wh—what are you talking about?” “Young lady, you have somehow ended up in the Hall of the Elven Elders. Would you like to tell me just how you got here?” “Whoa.” Angie sat down hard. Looking behind her in confusion, she was surprised that a chair had miraculously appeared under her. “You got me. The last thing I remember was that I tried to 142

Lynn Crain help an elf get out of a frozen lake when the ice broke.” “You know of the elves.” She chuckled wryly. “I’m in love with one.” “Ah—that explains it then. You are in Nor’ahkeem. Still I don’t quite understand how you ended up here.” “Because her parents asked me to bring her here to allow her to chose,” another voice boomed. Angie squirmed uncomfortably. “I don’t have any parents.” “Everyone has parents, my dear. Yours were special to us.” “The only people that I could classify as parents were those of my best friend, Tessa. They took me in when my biological parents could no longer care for me. I believe they even tried to adopt me but it never happened because they and my biological parents died in a car accident.” “You can consider the Winstons your true parents, I am sure. They knew all about us, Angie Hudson. And we knew about them.” “How about you show yourselves so I can see some of you guys?” Angie peered into the grayness around her. Suddenly, she was surrounded by giants in what appeared to be thrones. All of them looked like renditions of someone in Ardan’s family. There were both male and females, all beautiful and handsome, but each 143

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series in a fierce way. “Whoa.” Angie had never felt so dwarfed in her life. She knew she was small but this made her feel infinitesimal. “Are you impressed with what you see, Miss Hudson?” She turned to see a man close to her. The man was almost an exact duplicate of Ardan. “You look like the man I love. How can that be?” “That would be understandable. I am his ancestor.” “Ah.” She sat there and licked her lips. If she were with the ancestors there would be only one reason. “I’m dead.” “Not yet, Angie Hudson. Not yet.” “And just what does that mean?” She looked at him, frowning. “We can help you on your journey forward or your journey back. It’s yours to choose.” “Mine to choose? I don’t understand.” “You ended up here because you have fallen in love with an elf. Because of Nor’ahkeem you actually have a choice. Elves have some say over death.” “We didn’t say that at all of course. Everyone would want to find us if they knew.” Another elf came forward to stand close to her. Angie thought the woman very beautiful but she reminded her of someone. It took her only a moment to figure out just who. “You remind me 144

Lynn Crain of Bevan, Ardan’s father.” “That’s because I am his fraternal great-greatgreat grandmother.” “I—I don’t understand this. All of you are here and then you said that my adoptive parents were important to you. How?” “They were important because they had accidentally discovered us years before their deaths. They found a Loinnir.” “But I thought you were totally undetectable there. Isn’t that what the North Pole is?” “That should be true. However, there are some humans that are more intuitive than others. They can just sense our presence.” “And even more, some of those who are intuitive have a small drop of elven blood.” “How did they find you?” She sighed. “I know so little about my adoptive parents.” “Why do you not ask them yourself? Their spirit resides on this plain with us.” “Wh—what?” “Angie, darling!” A joyous couple ran toward her. “Mom? Dad?” She gulped in air. “I don’t know what to say.” “You don’t have to say anything. Just let us enjoy looking at you.” Mr. Winston beamed as proudly as any biological father at her before he engulfed her in his embrace. “I never told you just 145

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series how proud we really were of you. Everything just happened so fast.” “I know,” she whispered quietly. “I’m so glad that you allowed me into your lives and your home. Tessa has missed you terribly.” Her mother sat down beside her. “We were proud to have you as part of our family. We had always wanted more children but were never able to. We are so happy that you chose us as your family. You had such a rough time there for a while. We would be honored to have you change your name to Winston. It is important in the living world to have a sense of family and belonging.” Angie lifted her head, tears streaming down. “Really?” “Yes…really.” Her mother stroked her hair for a few minutes. “Now it is time for you to make a decision. You must decide if you are going back or staying here with us and the Elders.” “I can’t.” She wiped her nose with the back of her hand when miraculously a handkerchief appeared. “I’ve just found you and I don’t understand why you are here. Or even why I am here.” “I know.” Her father smiled at here. “We will explain what we can but you don’t have much time in which to decide. If you stay here too long your fate will be chosen for you.” “What do you mean?” 146

Lynn Crain “A person…a human person, that is…can only be here for a short time before the pull is too great.” “I still don’t understand.” “Angie, this is paradise. This is the other lands that are spoken of in the fiction books. We had always hoped it existed but were never sure. Somehow we had managed to show the elves are intention was pure. And because of that, they have allowed us to reside here with them.” “I understand what you mean about intention. I really wish I could really prove to Ardan that I truly love him.” “He knows dear, he knows.” “Really?” “Really. But now you have to decide if you want to stay here or go back to him.” Suddenly it was all very clear to Angie exactly what she must do. **** Ardan sat by Angie’s bed. There was nothing more that he could do. It had been almost twentyfour hours and she hadn’t stirred at all. He had failed. For the first time in his life he had failed himself and the people he loved. But most of all he had failed Angie Hudson. Taking her hand in his, he looked at the small 147

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series hand. In all the time he had her, he never really looked at her hands. They were tiny, like the rest of her. The nails were trimmed neat. And within those hands were a power he never thought possible. Those hands could heal with just one touch. Why hadn’t he realized how powerful they were from the start? He didn’t want to in the beginning, he knew. He tried to deny the hold that she had over him but he couldn’t. And now he would never get the chance to explain to her just how wrong he had been. Caressing her hand gently, he knew that the last sense to leave the body was one’s hearing. “I am so sorry for everything, muileach,” he whispered. “Tha mi duilach. I understand that you are probably in a far better place. I just wish now that I had realized what a jewel I had in my grasp. I was so wrong for pushing you away, for not allowing you in. I don’t know the consequence of us just starting Nor’ahkeem. I just know that I will love you forever. You are my cridhe. Tha gaol agam ort. I beseech Scathach for your very soul.” He gulped hard. “Maybe if I tell you about how I envision our life you’ll come back to me. We both love helping people and will continue to do so until we die. And that should be a very long time from now. I kinda thought that we could do some of the Doctors without Borders thing you seem to like so much. Plus, we don’t have to stay here all 148

Lynn Crain the time. I know that there are some ancient elven lands in Scotland and other European places for us to visit. I know that you would love to see some of those places.” Clutching her hand, he tried hard to keep it together. “And I want children. Lots of children. I want children with you and now…” Ardan leaned his head on the bed, clutching her hand and began to sob heartwrenching, deep sobs. They came from the very depths of his soul. **** Angie could feel the tug on her heart. While it was wonderful to be here talking to her parents and learning the secrets of the elves, she knew there were too many things left in the physical world. “I love you…all of you…but I really need to get back to Ardan. He will suffer greatly if I don’t. He is so afraid to love anyone and if I leave him now, I don’t think he’d survive it.” “I agree. He needs you more than we do.” Her mother gave her a fierce hug. “I know that we will see you again.” “Angie, I think we’ve told you everything you need to know. The rest, you’ll have to figure it out for yourself.” Her father gently kissed her on the forehead. She smiled at them all and slowly stood. “I 149

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series must thank you all for allowing me to be here. Even if it was just for a very short while.” “You are very welcome. Please give our greetings to everyone.” “It will surely amaze them that you were brought here.” “I’m sure it will.” “Please use the wisdom we have given you wisely. Elven magic is never to be trifled with.” “I’m beginning to understand that aspect of my new life. Thank you all again very much. How do I…” Before she could even finish her thought she was shoved back into her physical body. And she was cold, so very cold. Groaning slightly, she was slapped with the sound of deep sobbing. Ardan cried so loudly he hadn’t even heard her. Slowly, she lifted her other hand and gently touched his head. “Hey,” she whispered. His head jerked up immediately, his face streaked with tears. “Angie?” “Hi.” She stared at him. This was the man that she would spend her life with forever. Literally. “You know, I think I need a warm blanket. Or better yet, why don’t you crawl into bed with me?” “I don’t want to hurt you.” She chuckled quietly. “I’m cold, dammit.” Gently, he climbed into bed with her. “I thought I had lost you.” 150

Lynn Crain “I know.” “I…I…” Angie placed a finger across his lips. “You don’t have to say a thing. I really do understand.” “You don’t understand this.” He took her hand and kissed her fingers. “I love you more than anything. I can’t live without you.” She leveled a look at his handsome face. Traces of the tears he had cried for her were still evident there and in his eyes. “I know and I missed you.” “Missed me?” “I should have woken you up. I didn’t realize just how dangerous it would be. I just saw you sleeping there so peacefully and I couldn’t bring myself to wake you.” “It’s alright. I am just so happy to have you back.” He gently caressed her head and face. Angie could see that her return brought a wonderful light to his eyes that she had never seen. “I had to come back.” Leaning in Ardan gently kissed her on her lips. “Had to?” “Yes…had to,” she leaned in to meet him. “I was in the Hall of the Elven Elders. I saw my parents or rather Tessa’s parents, and met some of your ancestors.” He leaned back and looked at her amazed. “The Hall of the Elven Elders?” “Yes. They told me I had to make the choice. I 151

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series could stay with them or come back to you.” “That is an amazing gift. I don’t think I have ever known a human to be invited to stay with the Elders.” “I was told that it was very special. Tessa’s parents had endeared themselves to your people a long time ago. At least that’s what they told me. That’s probably one of the reasons why always I believed in elves and other things. From the moment I entered their house, it was as if I were in another world. Now, I understand why Tessa’s parents were always talking about elves and the like. But Tessa…Tessa just couldn’t get herself to believe…and I told her so when Jedrick appeared on the scene.” He continued to stroke her face and hold her tight. “I should have known that you were more special than what I could see. Elders do not choose their human friends lightly.” “I guess not. It was very enlightening while I was there.” “It sounds like it.” They lay there silently for a moment, each enjoying the other’s company. “I want you to marry me.” “I—I —“ “You don’t have to say anything right away. I want you to be happy with your decision. I don’t want you to ever regret being with me.” 152

Lynn Crain “Ardan Locklin, if you would just let me finish.” She gave him a stern look. “The choice was made the moment I decided to come back.” He looked at her amazed. “You chose me over a life in paradise.” “A life without you would not be paradise to me. I know we’ll end up there together someday. And it’s a wonderful thing to look forward to when we pass.” She took his face in her hands. “The thing about elves is that once their magic takes hold of you, you are in paradise. It’s you I need to be with right now, Ardan. Not even death could change that.” The door opened quietly and Tessa, face tearstreaked, appeared. “How’s it—hey, wait a minute.” Angie scooted up. “Hi, Tess. I just woke up.” Tessa came and stood by the bed. “So everything is going to be okay?” She looked at her friend, smiling. “Everything is going to be wonderful.”

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Epilogue

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ingeal tried her best not to look bored stiff but she couldn’t help herself. This was the second brother to wed a human for love. She felt really relieved that Ardan had finally found someone to love and share his passion of medicine. Glancing at those gathered, she caught her mother’s disapproving eye. Did that woman ever give up? Slowly, she let her eyes wander back to the loving couple. Ardan looked so tall and handsome in his dark tux and seeing Angie dressed in a beautiful winter wedding gown complete with fur, she knew they were going to have a wonderful life together. After all, they had weathered some of the most trying of circumstances—namely Ardan’s disdain of humans—and then there was Angie’s near fatal accident. If they could survive that, they could survive anything. Aingeal remembered when she got the call to return home because Angie had been hurt and 154

Lynn Crain was in a coma. Ardan was devastated and it took a lot of elven magic to make everything right again. Sighing softly, she wondered about her future and if she would ever find love at all. It was going to be hard to keep up her act forever. “Do you, Angela Gayle Hudson-Winston take Ardan Douglas Locklin for your lawfully wedded husband?” The minister’s voice seemed to drone on. Aingeal smiled to herself at Angie’s name. Tessa had insisted that Angie change her name before the ceremony. As far as Tessa was concerned, Angie should have been a Winston all along. And if Angie’s fantastic story about the Hall of the Elven Elders was to be believed, so did Tessa’s parents. Her mind was pulled back to the minister. Why would any woman want to repeat the archaic vows of the wedding ceremony? Even in the ancient elven ceremonies, there was something about obeying in it. Aingeal would certainly have something to say about it if she ever got the chance. And right now her chances didn’t look good at all. She had thought at one time she would find someone in the human world. But so far, no one measured up to her brothers and she doubted anyone ever would. She wondered briefly if they knew just how much of an influence they had over her. 155

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series Jerked out of her daydream by Angie pushing the bridal bouquet into her hand, she murmured a quick, “Sorry.” She really hated these things as they reminded her of what she didn’t have and what she desperately wanted. Good God, she sounded almost pathetic, even to herself. Aingeal knew that Ardan had been surprised when Angie asked her to be in Maid of Honor instead of Tessa. But Tessa and Angie agreed there would be lots more weddings and they would each have their chance to be in all of them. Plus Tessa felt she needed to be at the end of the line so if the twins needed anything, she could quietly attend to their needs. Again, she allowed her gaze to roam the small chapel. A lot of her father’s cousins from the homeland had decided to come to this event. Most woodland elves shied away from the harsh winter at the North Pole but Bevan’s relatives came occasionally especially when the event suited them. And weddings always suited them. Her eyes were drawn to a man with black hair, stark blue eyes and the most gorgeous smile she had ever seen. He must be the scruffiest looking elf ever and reminded her of the current trend seen in the fashion magazines. Aingeal had never seen him before in her life but felt drawn to him in an almost magical way. She knew he wasn’t a cousin, but she had no clue who he was. She 156

Lynn Crain didn’t know about sex with another elf and wondered briefly what all elven mating would even entail. Hell, she didn’t know about sex at all when it came right down to it, human or elf kind. Sure, she knew all the moves and had released her sexual magic before but it hadn’t been with a man at all but rather herself alone in her bed in the Eskimo village and occasionally here at home. The fact was pure and simple…Aingeal Locklin was still a virgin…and looking across the church, she realized she had finally found an elven man to change that aspect of her life. **** Fearghas Brodie finally saw the woman he investigated for the first time at the wedding of Ardan Lochlin and Angie Winston. The elven counsel had requested he come to check out why there was so much sexual energy floating in the new world without being held in check. True, an elf had to be taught about their sexual energy and how to control it. Humans were totally lax in that area. But some humans had been fully accepted into the elven world and knew about magic, regular or sexual. But this was different. It was almost as if…well…he didn’t want to speculate just what was happening. But the fact it happened at all meant that an untrained elf had 157

The Thing About Elves—Book 2 Santa’s Elves Series the potential to expose unaware humans to magic. And in the eyes of the counsel, that was a very big problem. He had come under the guise of being a distant relative who wanted to see the new world. Frankly, he thought this land was cold and stark and had no redeeming qualities. He knew this was the northernmost portion of the new world and that is was like no other place on earth. Still, he had been given a task and he would complete it as quick as he could because he wanted to go home to the lush green lands of Scotland. Watching the young woman, Aingeal Locklin, practically broadcast sexual energy from her spot on the dais, he wondered what her issue might be. The woman exuded magic and he didn’t think she even knew it. It could be that she was much more powerful than her family realized. If that were the case, he would suggest to her that they go back to his homeland to train her properly. He wondered just how far he would have to go to bring this woman into check. Just how much he would have to give of himself to this new world elf to make her see the error of her ways. For some reason, he just didn’t think he was going to like the answer at all.

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About the Author

L

ynn Crain realized at an early age she wanted to weave fantastic tales as a career. She took the long way to that goal by doing a variety of things like nursing, geologist, technical writer and computer manager. Lynn studied natural medicine and remedies for years and is currently getting her Ph.D. in natural medicine with an emphasis on modern and historical medicine which she uses in many of her books. During her free time she writes hot to erotic fantasy, futuristic and paranormal tales for various publishers. She lives in the very hot southwest with her husband, son, one dog, three cats and a snake named Sandune. She is a past board member of the Romance Writers of America, past VP of EPIC and current EPPIEs Chairman for EPIC. She has sold seven books to e-Publisher eXtasy Books and as a result of those books was recently offered representation by the prestigious Brown Literary Agency and Roberta Brown. You can visit her at www.lynncrain.com and she loves hearing from her readers at [email protected].