Gathering Storm (34 page)

“I said I felt the call to him, I didn’t say I was willing to lost myself to someone who can’t explain to me what is happening”

“Well, that wasn’t the answer I was expecting” Shawn replied through a laugh “Siobhan, I believe you may be more of a challenge for Ash then even he realizes”

Laughing, Siobhan twins her arm through Shawn’s as they make their way back up the trail towards the house.

“Shawn, I believe you may be right”

Siobhan awoke to a bright blinding light shining on her face, turning her face towards the warmth, she kept her eyes closed as she felt the gently caress of the air around her. Sighing, Siobhan opened her eyes to see the sun shining brightly overhead. Climbing out of the bed, she stretched languidly as she walked towards the windows, gazing out into the open yard.

The previous night’s discussion with Ash tickled through her mind as she watched the sun dance playfully at the edge of the woods. He couldn’t walk away from her, he was bound to her, a small smile etched across her face as she remembered the fire in his eyes as he told her this. Stealing her breath as she heard the words fall from his lips, those same lips that brought shivers of pleasure through her. Touching her lips she could still feel the pressure of his lips against her.

Squaring her shoulders, she turned as she heard the light knocking on her door before Sarah opened it.

“What’s up Becky” Sarah asked as she walked in carrying two mugs of coffee. Sarah watched as Siobhan smiled as she took the cup raising it to her slightly swollen lips.

“Holy shit Becky! Who the hell have you been kissing?” Sarah gasped

“What are you talking about?” Siobhan asked as she swallowed the coffee feeling it burn her throat

“Don’t you dare play stupid with me” Sarah retorted hotly “You have suck face lips”

Stifling a laugh Siobhan touched her lips again, as she smiled widely “Promise not to say anything?”

“I hear nothing, I see nothing, now spill it Becky”

“I spoke to Ash last night”

“Bloody hell” Sarah hissed “Is he the one that gave you the suck face lips?”

Shaking her head Siobhan let the laughter billow out “Damn stop calling it that”

“Oh please I just call it what it is” Sarah laughs “Spill”

“We talked, he got angry, then he kissed me” Siobhan answered

“And?”

“And what Sarah?” Siobhan asked as she turned to pull out a pair of jeans and a sweater from her suitcase

“What the hell was the kiss like?” Sarah asked as she pulled Siobhan’s arm hard

“Ouch”

“Sorry, but you gotta tell me” Sarah squealed

“It was wonderful, sad, desperate, and sensual” Siobhan mumbled as she pulled her night shirt over her head

“Damn”

“I can still taste him Sarah” Siobhan quickly pulled her black cashmere sweater on to hide the blush creeping up her face

“Really, oh damn that’s intense as hell” Sarah shook her head as she pictured Ash standing at the door in the rain looking all moody sexy as the rain fell around him. A small sigh fell from her lips as she watched Siobhan’s blush turn crimson

“He also told me that I did something to his ring, because it zapped him last night as he kissed me”

“Shit, girl you were all kinds of whacky fucked up last night!” Sarah exclaimed “Your freaking eyes were black and your ears, god they were all pointy”

“My ears were what!” Siobhan cried

“I don’t know what the hell happened to you, but you were wicked last night. Your voice changed, your hair was flying around you and your eyes turned like completely black. Did I mention your ears got pointy?” Sarah answered a small smile playing across her lips

“Really?”

“Oh hell yeah, you scared the piss outta me. I literally almost peed in my damn pants you were like 4 inches off the couch”

“God” Siobhan moaned

“Did I mention you also pushed my man like eight feet away from you?”

“Jesus”

“You didn’t even recognize me, I don’t know what snapped you out of it, but god I swear if you ever do that again I’ll bitch slap you into next week” Sarah replied coolly

Closing her eyes Siobhan let Sarah’s words soak in. Sucking in a quick breath she opened her eyes whispering “I remember what brought me out of it”

“What”

“You, your tears actually”

“Wow” Sarah muttered “You do realize you have to tell Shawn and Claire about the ring”

“I know, I just need a few minutes to process everything”

“Take the few minutes, then get your ass downstairs, have some breakfast and then tell em” Sarah said as she rose off the bed and walked out the door

“Sarah” Siobhan called

“Yah Becky” Sarah replied

“I love you”

“Ah, I love you too”

Laughing Sarah went downstairs to leave Siobhan to her thoughts.

Siobhan could hear the voices muffled downstairs, she wanted to go down and share everything that had happened last night. There was just a little part of her that was yelling in her head to keep that meeting quiet from everyone else. A cool breeze swept into the room, encircling Siobhan pulling her breath from her. Staring out into the woods beyond her, she watched Ash step out of the shadows. His eyes glowing as he raised his fingers to his lips and blew a kiss towards Siobhan.

The wind wound around her seductively before landing a cool fire on her lips before disappearing. Lips tingling, Siobhan brought her own fingers to her scorched lips. Desire in unbidden waves enclosed over her, dizzying drawing her out of the protection of the house.

Turning, she raced downstairs and threw open the door, before taking a step out, strong arms encircled her. Anger flooded her as she fought to get out of Shawn’s tight grasp.

“Let me go”

“No”

“I want to talk to him”

“No, what you want is emanating off you in waves and it has nothing to do with talking”

“Dammit, don’t be an ass, Shawn” Sarah hissed behind them

“I’m not. I’m just stating fact”

“Let her go, Shawn” Claire’s voice calmly retorted

Dropping his arms, Siobhan started to raise her foot to step out the door.

“Just know that once you step outside this house, I can’t protect from what’s out there” Claire spoke quietly

Turning, Siobhan dropped her foot and looked at Claire. “Maybe, I don’t need your protection right at this moment”

“Oh, my dear you do, you just don’t realize it”

“But I have my own power” Siobhan retorted “Christ, we all saw it”

“Yes, it’s there, but do you know truly how to wield it yet?”

Opening her mouth to respond, Siobhan realized Claire was right and closed it. Turning back around to look at the woods, she could still see Ash standing slightly out of the shadows. He was still waiting for her, even knowing that she was planning something that may be truly awful to both of them this night, he still waited.

“I understand everyone’s concern, but I have to speak to him. He will not hurt me, that much I know, nor will he try anything. Please, understand, to everyone here this has been going on for so long, but to me it’s just a beginning.”

“No, it’s not your beginning” Shawn grumbled

“Shawn, please, it is for me and I need to speak to him, even it’s the last time I ever will. I need to understand why” Siobhan pleaded

“Let her go” Sarah calmly walked over to Shawn, embracing him she reached up and lightly kissed his lips. Her eyes searching his, she watched the chaos inside him slow as she smiled loving at him.

“Shawn, this boy has held her enthralled for reasons she can’t understand. To end this with no understanding, isn’t closure”

“She is right, Shawn.” Claire replied as she turned and headed back into the kitchen. “She will be back and we’ll talk then”

Expelling the breath she had been holding, Siobhan stepped out into the cloudy day. The air coolly wrapped around her as she quickly walked down the path towards Ash. Energy ran through her pushing her steps forward until she was running towards him.

Ash watched as his beloved ran towards him, a small smile playing against her lips. His heart clenched at the site of her, he wanted to run to her as well, but knew somewhere in these woods he was watched by a power that would strike them both. He couldn’t show the emotions that were bubbling to the surface uncontrollably. He wanted to touch her so badly, to kiss her, to run his hands through that glorious hair. He watched as jealously seeped through him as the wind played wickedly around her. He wanted to be that wind.

Breathless, Siobhan ran straight into his arms. She wrapped herself around him and breathed in the earthy scent that clung to him.

Ash, feeling Siobhan’s warmth enfold him, shivered as he kept from embracing her. Lifting his head, his whistle pierced the air around them.

Within seconds the air shimmered as the black stallion raced towards them. Baying before he stopped in front of them and snickered softly at his master.

Siobhan raised her head to see two black eyes staring warily at her. She watched as the stallion’s nostrils flared slightly as she raised her hand to him. Ash held his breath as he watched his ever faithful, but
temperamental
friend take in Siobhan’s scent. Would he know her? Would he remember that she is what his master has been searching for?

Those thoughts plagued his mind, as he continued to watch Siobhan slowly step away from him towards Storm. Cooing softly, Siobhan watched as the horse stepped from foot to foot as she approached. This stallion was familiar to her, she could feel the memory lurking just beneath the surface. Closing her eyes, she willed the memory to come. She felt the images flood her as she opened her eyes and stared wide eyed at the Stallion.

“Storm” Siobhan whispered

Storm stopped prancing and raised his head to her, just as Ash expelled the air from his lungs. Stepping towards the beast, she calmly laid her hand onto Storm’s nose and rubbed softly.

“Oh, I forgot how beautiful you are” Siobhan whispered as Storm lowered his head to her in loving submission.

Grabbing Siobhan, Ash climbed onto Storm’s back as he felt the chaos within the woods steadily growing closer.

“Storm, take us somewhere safe” Ash commanded as the stallion raised his head scented the chaos.

Turning quickly, Storm took off across the field carrying Ash and Siobhan away from the impending chaotic storm.

“Bloody hell, I thought you said he wouldn’t take her” Shawn boomed as he watched the Stallion disappear

“He didn’t, he took her away from that” Claire responded as she pointed towards the woods

Turning, Shawn, Sarah and Claire watched as a hooded figure emerged from the woods. The light disappeared with every step he took, the grass withered in his wake. He turned to face the direction the stallion was going, watching for a moment before turning back to the house. They watched as his hood tilted to the side with his head, before he raised his hand into the air, then disappeared.

Ash could feel every inch of Siobhan pressed against him as they rode Storm. Memories flooded his heart of the first time they had met. She had been slightly shorter, with redder hair then. She had been fearful of Storm, but now she had almost brought his stallion to his knees with her power.

Shuddering at the thought of Storm accepting her so quickly confirmed that Siobhan held a power that would either save them or tear them permanently apart.

Pulling on the reins, he felt Storms muscles quiver as the stallion fought the urge to push forward and defy his master. Raising a brow, he felt the horse tremor as he relented and came to a halt before a beautiful meadow. Dropping from the horse, he raised his arms to catch Siobhan. Ash’s eyes widened as she slowly slid down to the ground on her own. This was new flittered through his mind as he quickly assessed that she knew how to ride this time.

“I took lessons, since my grandparent’s had horses at one time, I wanted to ride with my grandpa” Siobhan answered the unspoken question

“Ah” Ash answered quietly “This grandpa, he means a lot to you?”

“Yes, he and my grandmother, they both mean the world to me”

“What about your parents?”

“Oh, I love them and would be lost without them, but my grandparents” looking wistfully into the distance a moment before turning back to Ash. “They are to me what love means”

Ash watched as the blush slowly rose across Siobhan’s cheeks, as she dropped her eyes from him.

Reaching out, Ash brought her chin back up to meet her gaze “Don’t ever be ashamed to love them, or admit their love for each other awes you”

Closing her eyes she let Ash’s lilting voice encircle her like a warm blanket on a cold evening. Shivering she opened her eyes and stared into his aquamarine eyes. She saw the raw emotions dancing in those emerald eyes just before he lowered his head towards her.