The Scottish Selkie (23 page)

As her mouth moved over his in deep, heady kisses, she twined her long legs around his waist. The rock-hard bulge of his desire rubbed against her.

Slowly, she ran her hand down to the juncture of Malcolm's muscular thighs. Airily, her fingers brushed against the swollen bulge. He gasped. She spread her slender fingers and gently rolled them around his hard, throbbing shaft. But Malcolm covered her hand with his palm to stop her. 

“Not yet,” Malcolm whispered before he pressed his lips to hers. 

His tongue dove into her mouth as they bobbed weightless in the water. Bethoc quivered from the soldering heat of the kiss. As he slid his moist tongue in and out of her mouth, she leaned her neck back in response. His hot tongue stroked her mouth until she moaned and quivered.

Bethoc arched her back as his hand dove under and probed the folds of her need. She wanted him to take her. He eased his finger inside her, then drew it out. Briny water slipped in. 

His finger descended, pulled out, then plunged in again. Her longing rose to the surface as his fingers moved in and out, probing deeper and deeper with every thrust.

Now, Malcolm. Come inside me, now
. Opening her mouth wide, Bethoc sucked in a long, slow gulp of air then tumbled underwater with Malcolm. Her hair floated up like an aura around her head. In the weightlessness of the blue sea, her body was buoyant and free. Her knees bent naturally, her lower body tilted up, open to him, afire with want. 

Malcolm wrapped his hands around her legs, binding him to her, so she couldn't drift away. His hand outlined the circle of her breast and slid across her flat belly. Her skin tingled. His fingers skimmed her hips and thighs. From the chill of the water and her burning need, Bethoc’s body reeled with the sensations of both ice and flame.

When he shifted, his hard bulge rubbed against the center of her fire. It hit her like a bolt of lightning. Bethoc gasped as he slid his cock into her warm wet center. Her tight pussy stretched around his hard-as-a-rock erection. Malcolm pulled all the way out. She let out a hiss of breath. He jerked his head back and drove inside her. His powerful rod rushed in and out with the rocking motion of torrent waves. 

The ebb and flow of his hard, searing flesh flooded her with liquid heat. He rode her to the crest. Filled to the brim, her inner muscles clamped down, capturing Malcolm's fire. With all her might, she reeled him in deeper and deeper. Her body rocked from an inner explosion as they plunged together to the depth of ecstasy. She trembled spasmodically. A flurry of bubbles burst from her mouth. 

Sated, yet still clinging to Malcolm, the two soared to the surface together. Lustily, they gulped for air. 

“Malcolm, I want to change. To transform, now,” Bethoc said in a breathy whisper. 

As Malcolm held her, he tread water for both of them. “Bethoc, I cannot believe the sacrifice you make for me. Are you sure this is what you want?” 

“Yes, I have never wanted anything more.” 

“Bethoc, if you have regrets, we can always return to land. Selkies can live on land, as I have.” 

“Yes. We shall return each Samhain, will we not?” 

“Indeed, we must keep an eye on Kenneth.” 

Bethoc let out a soft chortle of laughter. 

Malcolm chuckled, then pulled her to him, claiming a tender kiss. 

Bethoc looked into his dark eyes, gleaming with love. “I am ready.” 

“Come then.” With Malcolm's hand in hers, he led her to shore where his pelt lay hidden.

* * * *

“I want to watch your transformation.” She rubbed her toes in the sand.

“You will, to give you another chance to decide if you want to go with me. Watching a selkie change afore their eyes would scare most humans.” 

She spread her bare feet in a warrior stance, bold as ever. “Not I.”

He laughed. “I doubt anything can scare you, my wild Pict princess.” He crushed her to him, reclaiming her lips. Her mouth was so warm and moist. Malcolm didn't want the kiss to end, but he had to let go. 

He stepped back, smiled at her, then took a deep breath, ready for the transformation. His gaze lingered on Bethoc. Just having her at his side made shape-shifting easier. Malcolm pulled his pelt from under the rock where he had hidden it. Loosely, he covered his nude body with the skin. 

Taking heavy breaths, he plunged into the change. His muscles rippled, bugled, pumped, and squeezed. Malcolm's body pulsated with an inner heat which spread to every joint and bone as he fell into a wild spasm. Molten heat flowed through him, then cooled to a warm, glowing sensation. His
usual long, brawn body now stood before her as a heavy bull seal.
 

“
Beautiful.” Bethoc dropped to her knees in the sand, and wrapped her arms around his sleek, muscular body. Her flesh tingled from the warmth of his touch as he patted her smooth back with his velvet-soft flipper. 

He barked, calling out to her. Bethoc released Malcolm and followed him into the sea. She splashed in the water until it was deep enough to dive. Rather than plunging under, she climbed onto Malcolm's back. Straddling him, she laid down with her breast against his slick back. He breathed in the sweet scent of her and relished the sensation of her warm, soft flesh against his pelt as she rode him. With her smooth, slender arms wrapped around him, he glided through the salty waves, heading out to the deep.

Malcolm's heart pulsated with love for this wild, spirited woman. He barked to let her know it was time—time for Bethoc to hark to the call of the sea. The land would loosen its hold upon her. Like Malcolm, she would walk between two worlds as one of the blessed fey, moving in and out of the realms of earth and water.

 “Yes, I am ready Malcolm.” Her knees jabbed into his side as her body braced for the descent. 

He took a long breath. She clung to his back as he dove deep into the dark sea. Thrusting his body forward, Malcolm lunged deeper into the ocean. When he felt her body fall limp across his back, a jab of grief cut through him. She was at the juncture. 

Bethoc could not stop now. Her body would transform and change, awakening animal instincts within her as she embarked on a wild and exotic lifestyle. A new beginning. 

Large, dark selkies swam to them and circled the couple. Glowing white auras encircled their bulky bodies. Malcolm was filled with joy at the power and love they granted his wife, the boon of life as a selkie. He turned
over so Bethoc faced him as he held her still body in his flippers. 

He whispered soft, mewing sounds in her ear as the shape-shifting began. Bethoc's flesh rippled as the bones and muscles pulled and pushed. She writhed in an uncontrollable spasm. Then with one last inner thrust her body relaxed.

She was a fully formed seal. Malcolm gazed at her long, sleek body so soft and warm in his flippers. At that instant, Bethoc was filled with life once more. She blinked open her large onyx eyes.

* * * *

She recalled clinging to Malcolm's neck as he plunged into the deep sea. Her whole body had tingled, then gone numb. Her insides had constricted as if the breath had been squeezed out of her. She had quivered from an inner chill. But when she opened her eyes, her entire body pulsated with rapt joy.

A warm glow of heat began inside her chest and spread to every pore of her being. She gazed up into Malcolm's dark eyes. He was holding her. She didn't want to leave his embrace. She belonged with him. Bethoc pressed her nose to his. Then they rubbed their whiskered faces against each other.

A group of dark seals, selkies, Bethoc thought, who had gathered around them, now swam away, gliding off into the sea to give Malcolm and her the privacy they needed. 

Malcolm and Bethoc's bellies rubbed against each other as they shot through the water. They breached the surface with a large splash. Gazing into each other's eyes, they sucked in the salt scented air. Bethoc let out a raspy growl of unbridled pleasure. 

Bethoc and Malcolm ducked their dark heads under the waves and swam away, side by side.

Chapter Seventeen

Eight months later On Samhain, 844 AD 

The moon rose over the sea as two seals darted through the water, side by side. Dusk fell and moonlight rippled on the waves as they slunk onto the rock-strewn shore. Each let out a rasping bark and lovingly rubbed their wet noses together. 

Lying side-by-side on the sand, still and quiet, their liquid, onyx eyes held a glazed, trance-like look. Their dark bodies began to quiver. The seals’ black fur puckered and bugled. From tail-fin to head, they shook in an uncontrollable spasm. Slowly, the bones and muscles fell into place. They changed before each other's eyes into their human forms. 

Malcolm rubbed his face. “Glad I am to be rid of those whiskers.” Turning toward Bethoc, he raked his eyes down her long, nude body. The sleek curve of her thigh enthralled him still, with the blue tattoos of beast pricked on her smooth skin in the way of the Picts, but the round swell of her stomach mesmerized him the most. This is where his gaze lingered. “Fare you well?” Malcolm asked as he wrapped his arm around her and gently patted her belly. 

“Yes. I am but tired after the long swim.” She pressed her lips to his in a warm, sweet kiss. 

He raised his mouth and gazed at her with an expression of wonderment. After sharing a smile, she eased out of his arms. Her hair blew about her face, lightly slapping her cheeks and tickling her skin. 

“Why does Samhain have to fall so near winter? It is as cold on land as it is in the sea.” Hugging her arms to her, Bethoc rubbed her shoulders to lessen the chill of the coastal breeze. 

“In truth. But we are here now.” 

“Yes. It has been a long time since we walked on shore.” Bethoc wiggled her toes in the soft sand. 

“But tonight we come for more than the wild, free merriment of Samhain.” 

“Yes, much more.” She gazed down at her belly as a warm glow flowed through her. 

“Bethoc, you have made me so happy.” Malcolm's smile widened as he gazed into her green eyes. “My lady wife.” 

She reached up and lovingly brushed a strand of dark auburn hair away from his face. “In truth, I am a wee bit fearful.” 

Cupping her hands in his, Malcolm leaned his head down and softly kissed her puffy fingers. “I shall not leave your side.” 

Bethoc sighed. “It will not be long.” 

“No.” He wrapped his arm over her shoulder. “But first I need to find us some clothes.” 

“Yes. We cannot walk into Scone bare as newborn babes.”

“Not the parents to be.” Malcolm let out a soft chuckle. 

After burying their skins under a black boulder, they walked across the sand, taking care to avoid the scattered rocks. Malcolm brushed away a wad of seaweed with this toes. Upon hearing a man's voice, they came to a sudden
stop. 

“I thought you might need these.” 

“Bethoc, hasten, hide behind me,” Malcolm whispered. 

To cover her nudeness, she slid behind him. 

“Donald, is that you?” Malcolm peered into the dark of night, trying to make out the shadowy form approaching them. 

“Hail cousin.” Donald stepped out of the shadows and into the moonlight. “I have garments for you.” 

“And I have garb for Lady Bethoc,” Riona said as she walked up behind Donald. 

“Did you follow me, lass?” Donald asked the steward’s daughter. 

“Mayhaps.” Riona's mouth curved into a bemused smile. 

“Riona, it is you.” Bethoc's head peaked out from behind Malcolm. “Malcolm is not dressed. Close your eyes.”

Riona's cheeks flushed to a dark, rosy tone as she shut her eyes.   

“Donald, toss me my braies.” Malcolm caught them in his hand and pulled them on. Then he joined Donald, politely turning his back to the ladies. 

“Riona, you can open your eyes now.” Bethoc strode up to her friend. 

She turned her gaze on Bethoc. Her brows arched and her lips parted in shock. She sucked in a swoosh of breath. “M'lady!” 

Bethoc placed one finger on her lips, gesturing her to be quiet. “We want Kenneth to be the first or at least to think he is the first to know.”