CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN-THE DOCK

When Daniel misted the three men to the Gates at the North Woods, Ben turned to him and said, “Thank you for everything you’ve done for us.”

Daniel crossed his arms and gave a quick grin. “We’re family, Ben. There’s nothing I won’t do for my family. Remember the things I’ve shown you.”

Ben looked to the ground and nodded. “I’m not sure I could forget if I wanted to.”

As he glanced at him and chuckled to himself, Daniel held out his hand to Thorin. “I’ll be seeing you soon, Thorin Parker.”

Thorin swallowed hard as he shook Daniel’s hand. “Yes, of course, your Majesty.”

Daniel slapped his hand on Haldir’s shoulder. “See you soon, old friend.” Then, Daniel walked a few paces towards the woods and misted into the night.

Thorin looked at Haldir and asked, “What in the hell, Haldir? You didn’t think it was important to mention that my mate is Daniel Darke’s only daughter and a goddamn psychic?”

Haldir chuckled to himself as he pulled on his beard. “I had to make sure you wouldn’t try to run away.”

Thorin ran his hands through his hair. “Jesus! That was more terrifying than waiting for Selvin to show up. Oh my God, am I really going to live in an honest to goodness castle?”

Ben grabbed Thorin’s shoulder and pulled him towards the gates. He looked at Ben and said, “Holy shit, Ben. I’m a prince now. I’m going to be a proper ass prince.”

Ben smiled and nodded then said, “Yep, but he’s a psychic and every time you sleep with his daughter, he’s going to know what all you’re doing to her. What do you think about that?”

Thorin cringed and said, “Oh, sweet Jesus. He’s going to kill me.”

When they got to the other side, they came to the gate that Ben had seen in his dreams. They were met there by a tall man with long dark hair who said, “Hello Ben Logan. I am Lord Nicholas. Welcome to the North Woods.”

Ben grinned and held out his hand. “It’s good to see you again Nicholas.”

As the ancient sorcerer returned his knowing smile and shook Ben’s hand, he nodded towards the entrance. “I believe you’ll find her watching the ships leave. Would you like me to show you the way?”

Ben laughed out then bit his lip as his eyes teared over. He shook his head as he sniffed. “No. No, sir. I’ve been here so many times, I think I know where I’m going by now. Thanks anyhow.”

Nicholas stepped aside to let Ben through, then nodded his head to Haldir and Thorin. “If you follow me, I’ll show you to your rooms.”

When Ben reached the Great Hall, he pushed his lips together then looked up over the cliffs from his visions and closed his eyes as he inhaled deeply. As the faint smell of Imara filled his nose, Ben smiled and sighed. As much as the wolf in him wanted to be set free so he could track down his mate, Ben held it back.

With no more fear or danger lingering in his mind, Ben wanted to take his time and savor the first glimpse of Imara. In all their lifetimes, it was his favorite memory of all.

As he stepped out onto the cobblestone path, he looked right and saw the shimmering water beyond the hill. “I’m coming baby.”

Ben’s heart started to race and his hands became numb the stronger the scent became. When the smell of apple pie mixed with the salty sea air, Ben shook out his hands then rubbed his sweaty palms on his pants.

As he came to the downside of the last hill, he saw the fiery red glow of Imara’s hair bathed in the evening sun as she sat on the dock with her feet hanging over the side. The sound of Imara humming Greensleeves to herself hit Ben’s ears like a bolt of lightning as the reality of it all set in.

With trembling hands, Ben set his pack along the roadside then ran his hands through his dirty hair to push it off his face. When his foot met the wooden slat of the boardwalk, it creaked and caught Imara’s attention.

As a soft grin curled up on her lips, she heard Ben’s footsteps as he approached the dock. Without looking up, Imara stopped humming and sighed. “You wanted a cottage by the lake, do you suppose one by the sea will do?”

Sitting down crossed legged beside her, Ben knitted his brows together and curled his lips under as she looked over to him. He inhaled deeply through his nose as he looked out over the water and nodded. “Yeah, I reckon that’d be nice too.” As he laced his fingers in hers, he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. “Wherever you are is home, baby.”

Pulling her into his side, Ben wrapped his arm around Imara and kissed her forehead. “You like it here, baby?”

Imara lifted her hand and ran her fingers over his new beard. “Mmm-hmm. Everyone’s just so nice. You know there’s a lot of people waiting to see you.”

As he rubbed his lips against her soft, fragrant hair, Ben said, “Well, they’re going to have to wait a little bit.”

Imara looked back over her shoulder. “You ready to become a Daddy again?”

Ben looked down over her sweet face and kissed the bridge of her little nose. “Yes, ma’am. I can’t wait to see how things turn out this time.”

As they got to their cottage, Ben looked it over. The wood and stone construction was like the one Thorin lived in, but the intricate cravings were a touch that Ben really liked. He ran his fingers over the words above their door. “What do you reckon that says? You think it’s like a spell or something?”

Imara giggled then slid her pointer finger from right to left underneath it. “It says Ben and Imara’s Home.”

Ben chuckled through his nose. “Oh. It’s just so fancy looking, I thought it must be something really special.”

“It is special, Ben. It’s ours.”

Ben looked down to Imara and nodded. “Yeah. That is special.”

When he walked through the door, Ben took a deep breath. Imara’s scent filled the little house already and whatever doubts Ben may have had about living there disappeared.

Imara turned on the water taps to the garden tub while Ben undressed. “You going to get in here with me? It’s not like it’s not big enough.”

Imara filled a pitcher of water then put it on the table beside the tub. “No sir. I don’t want all that mess on me. You just get on in there.”

As she washed his hair, Ben leaned back and closed his eyes while her fingers massaged his scalp. “I could get used to this, baby.”

“You go right ahead. We got nothing but time now.” Imara poured the pitcher of warm water slowly over his head as he pushed the water out of his eyes.”

Holding out a towel for him, Imara wrapped it around him as he stepped out of the tub. She smacked his bottom and said, “Go get in bed while I take care of this.”

Ben sat on the edge of the bed as he dried his hair, he bounced up and down and chuckled to himself as it hit the wall. “You won’t last long.”

Walking through the door, Imara slid her dress over her head then threw it on the floor. Sliding her hands around the back of Ben’s neck, she leaned into him and pressed her lips against his. As her tongue fluttered against his gently, Ben scooted back the bed as Imara climbed in on top of him. As his hand entered the deep softness of her hair, he gripped it in his fist then rolled her over to her back.

As he laid on his side, his strong, calloused hand traveled down Imara’s body. When he took her chin in his mouth, Imara tilted her neck in submission. Smiling against her neck, Ben softly made circles on her clit as she shuddered underneath his fingers. While she swelled against the rough pads of his fingertips, Ben inhaled the warm scent drifting from her skin then took his hand back as he climbed on top of her.

Hovering above her, Ben watched Imara’s face as he gently pushed himself inside her. With his knees and his toes, he dug into the bed as he delivered his throbbing cock to her over and over again. As she gasped with each thrust, tears of joy and relief escaped her.

As the need enveloped Ben, he quickly buried himself into Imara’s thirsty spaces. Between shallow and deep thrusts, Imara closed her eyes and smiled the drunken grin of a woman walking down the path to bliss. When her cunt erupted into throbbing waves, Imara wailed loudly for her ancient lover. “Ah! Ben! Ah! Ah!”

Greedily watching Imara’s expressions of