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  Kian opened the door of his tree house and stopped. “Emma, my love, once we step across this threshold together, we will never be parted,” he said solemnly. “Will you be entering in, will you be mine forever?”

  “I will,” she said.

  They stepped across the threshold into the tree house and he shut the door behind them. Candlelight turned everything from silver gilt to gold. Slowly he pulled her into his arms and touched his lips to hers.

  Icy coolness washed over her, followed by a flooding warmth, and she tightened her grip on him as her knees started to buckle.

  Kian swept her up into his arms and carried her to the lace-hung cupboard bed, pulling the deep green velvet counterpane back and laying her down on the ivory silk sheets. The cool softness of the bedclothes sent a shiver of pleasure through her. Somehow her clothes had disappeared again and she smiled, pulling Kian down against her.

  “What do you do with my clothes?” she whispered softly in his ear.

  He smiled slyly. “I send them elsewhere, my treasure, for they’re a hindrance and a trial.”

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  Emma smiled and kissed his ear. “I want my T-shirt back,” she whispered.

  “I’ll try,” he said. He moved over her, loving her, loving giving her pleasure. His heart swelled to overflowing that she would give herself to him. “Ahh, Emma, my true love, I’m unworthy of one such as you,” he said breathlessly, holding tight rein on his passion.

  Unable to speak, Emma gasped and answered him the only way she could. He was so much more than she had ever dreamed of, a lover and protector, and at the same time he needed her so much it took her breath away.

  He was moving with her, melting into her, her every cell being turned inside out one at a time. The emotions crashing through her left her speechless, bereft of so much as a small moan. Kian slowed, each motion becoming a languid expression of pleasure.

  He moved slower, still finally resting against her fitting arms and legs together matching his breath to hers. Emma sighed deeply and he relaxed with an odd shiver. It was too much, she gasped, opening her mouth against his in a silent cry. She held her breath as she shattered into millions of slivers reforming only to shatter again and then once more with him until she no longer knew where she ended and he began.

  Kian lifted his head and looked into her passion-black eyes for a long quiet moment. Slowly he rested his forehead against hers, closing his eyes. “Wife,” he said, barely a whisper.

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  Emma played with Kian’s sweat-damp hair and smiled. He lay with his head on her chest and brushed his hand over her belly. Suddenly he lifted his head and looked at her, his eyes glowing green with excitement. “And what will we be naming the wee ones we’ve made this night?”

  “Wee ones?”

  “Oh, aye, twins, my love.” He smiled at her, his eyes sparkling.

  “Well, it’s a bit early to be choosing names, I may not be pregnant,” Emma said cautiously.

  “Oh, you are, my treasure, you are, I’m certain of it. I’ve given you two fine children. You’ll see.” He smiled slyly at her.

  * * * * * *

  The sun streamed in through etched and cut glass windows, scattering tiny rainbows of color everywhere. Emma reached out to find the Puca gone.

  Slowly she sat up, clutching the soft silk sheet to her chest and looked around the room. The furniture was brightly painted with scenes of otherworldly places and the walls were a pale blond rubbed wood. She wondered where Kian had gone; she could feel his presence around her like a warm velvet quilt.

  With a deep breath of honeysuckle-scented air, Emma got up to do a bit of exploring. She needed a bathroom. The tree house was like a fantasy cottage, colorful and exotic. She found the shower in a far corner of the house. It reminded her of a forest 245

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  waterfall, and she stepped in to find the water hot and the cinnamon-scented soap plentiful.

  Wrapped in the sheet once more, Emma went in search of her clothes and the Puca. When neither could be found, she went back to the small bedroom to wait. Kian, where are you, sweetheart, and where are my clothes? The sound of heels on the polished wood floor caught her attention and she looked toward the arched doorway just as her new husband walked through.

  “Ah, it’s awake you are at last,” he said with a grin.

  He came toward her, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

  “Come, I’ve something for you.” He held out his hand.

  Emma smiled. “And what would that be?” She asked, leaning back against the pillows. He looked so adorable in his black velvet tailcoat and knee breeches, the top hat set back on his head.

  Kian swallowed hard and took a deep breath.

  “Don’t be practicing your distracting ways on me, my girl. It won’t be working, so it won’t. I am impervious,” he said with a slight tremor in his voice.

  She raised her eyebrows and sat up, leaning toward where he stood at the side of the bed. The sheet slid down her body and she rose to her knees.

  Kian took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

  “Woman,” he said hoarsely, holding up his hands to fend her off. Her soft hands took his and placed them on her shoulders. “Emma, my love, we’ll be la-ate.”

  His voice cracked.

  “Mm-hmm,” Emma said, moving closer and 246

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  sliding her hands over the white silk shirt and down over the velvet of his pants.

  With a sharp gasp, he caught her hands and brought them to his lips. “Emma, my sweet, we mustn’t be late to our own wedding.”

  Emma sighed. “I suppose you’re right,” she said and smiled at him.

  “Come into the front room, my love, I’ve something special for you.” He pulled her along with him.

  Emma followed along, snatching up the sheet. Kian led her over to an ornate gilded chest and she watched as he slowly opened it. Soft rays of light and swirls of golden sparkles spilled from the chest. He reached in and reverently lifted the pale ivory silk and lace dress from its storage place.

  The Puca turned and held the dress toward Emma.

  She caught her breath, he had never looked more otherworldly and magical as he did holding out the dress toward her. “Emma, my sweet, it is tradition for a new wife to wear the dress of her new husband’s mother on her wedding day,” he said quietly.

  Emma reached out and took the wispy garment from him and held it up against herself. Suddenly with a shower of sparks, the dress was on her, softly caressing her skin.

  Kian held his hand out and she took it looking into his hazel green eyes. He grinned at her and tilted his head to one side. “Emma, my girl, you are a treasure,”

  he said. “Let’s be going to greet the wedding guests.”

  He led her outside and down the tree house steps 247

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  to the meadow beside the old oak. They stopped at the edge of the grass and looked over the assembled crowd of creatures. Emma saw Pin and Kian’s younger brother Aiden standing beside his father Mahon. Tilly was standing near a long table loaded down with food.

  Kian raised his hand, and a hush fell over the crowd. He looked at his assembled family and solemnly bowed. “Mother, Father, I’ve brought you a daughter. Brother, I’ve brought you a sister,” he said, pulling Emma forward.

  “Kian Sean Puca, you have chosen a human,” his father said in a stern voice.

  Emma glanced at Kian who glared at his father. He squeezed her hand in warning, and she waited.

  Mahon looked Emma over and was silent for a long tense moment. Finally he looked back at his son.

  “I approve,” he said, and smiled.

  Cheers went up from the assembled creatures and Kian swept Emma up into his arms, spinning her around before setting her gently down again and taking her lips in a soft kiss that spoke of deep contentment.

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  fter spending
many years traveling the world, A Penny Ash currently lives in the Puca's Forest, deep in the magical land of Texas where she spends her time writing, dabbling in computer graphics, and arguing with friends online.

  A big fan of Fantasy and Science Fiction as well as History, she began writing seriously a few years ago when she couldn’t find the stories she wanted to read anywhere else.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three