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So, when the storm raged even stronger before we could exit the tunnel to a cottage that had been prepared for us, I reeled her into my arms and kissed her hard. Wanting her then and there, I was unwilling to wait out the heavy rain, and it seemed she felt the same way.

“Here, husband,” she murmured between hungry kisses, twisting her fists in my tunic, pleading, ordering, just as desperate as I. “Now.”

Needing no further prompting, I yanked up her dress, wrapped one hand over her firm backside, and lifted her against the wall, pleased when she wrapped her legs around me. Our gazes held. Lingered, as I freed myself, admiring the sight of her lovely face caught half in torchlight and half in lightning flashes.

Taking my time, I lowered her onto my arousal, pleased by the way her lips parted, and her eyes drifted in pleasure. Sinking deep inside her, I couldn’t help but groan at how good it felt. She felt. Hot and welcoming, her sheath gripped me tightly as I took her, loved her, thrusting slowly at first, wanting this moment to last.

“More,” she moaned, moving against me now, struggling to get closer. Wrapping her arms around me, she half-gasped, half murmured in my ear, “Faster, husband.” She breathed raggedly, flicking her tongue over the hammer on my neck. “Fill me as you promised. Give me all—”

Anything else she was going to say whooshed out of her mouth when I thrust harder, faster, and she groaned into the crook of my neck. Relentless, and driving, needing to feel her let go just as much as I needed to release, I thrust deep once, twice, my ballocks swelling, before thunder cracked and she cried out.

Right there with her, I locked up inside her and groaned deeply, pleasure tearing through me as I poured myself into her. Seized by her release for a moment, Tove went rigid against me, whimpering in pleasure before belting out a shuddering cry, and milking me.

Holding each other tightly afterward, I stayed there for a time, willing my seed to take root. Once we caught our breath, I adjusted my clothing, scooped my arm beneath her knees, and carried her to our cottage, relishing the icy rain on my heated skin. All the while, she nuzzled the crook of my neck and breathed deeply, as if pulling in my scent.

“Are you hungry?” I wondered, carrying her into the quaint cottage nestled in a thicket of trees overlooking the isle and sea below. A dwindling fire crackled on the hearth, and candles flickered here and there. A light fare of bread and cheeses, as well as a pitcher of ale, had been left on a small table. “Thirsty? We can—”

Tove put a finger to my lips, silencing me, shook her head, and gave me a look I was learning well and would never get enough of. “Just you, my husband.” She trailed her finger down the front of my throat, then traced my jaw. “Just more of you all night.”

Of the same mind, I carried her to the fur-covered cot, laid her down, and proceeded to spend my time undressing her, just as she had done for me the first night we lay together. Slowly, languishing in pleasuring her all over, I explored every soft curve on her long, lean, delectable body, savoring her taste.

She did the same to me, making clear just how much pleasure she was capable of bringing me. Pulling from me with her talented tongue, swallowing every drop with relish.

Even though the storm continued to rage, as if Thor himself rallied us on, I was only ever aware of her in my arms. The feel of her silky limbs against mine. Her soft moans and cries of pleasure. The way she moved her body against me, driving me mad with desire within moments of finding release.

Eventually, we ended up beneath the furs, cuddling, and dozing. I stirred awake sometime in the early morning hours before the sun peeked over the horizon to find her nuzzling my neck.

“Good morn, wife,” I murmured, liking the sound of that, and looking forward to years of saying it. Blood pounded in my cock for want of her already.

“Good morn, husband,” she murmured, steering my lips to hers, only to kiss me with so much fervor, I knew she was as desperate as I once more. Proving it, she straddled me beneath the fur and sank onto me, drawing groans of pleasure from us both.

I ran my hands up the back of her thighs and gripped her backside as she rode me slowly at first, languidly, teasing, until I couldn’t hold back any longer. Taking matters into my own hands, I flipped her beneath me. Pinning her wrists together over her head with one hand, I moved faster, enjoying her gasps of pleasure before she arched against me and let go.

This time, I slowed down and rode out her pleasure, only making it last longer. That is, until heat shot down my spine, my ballocks tightened almost painfully, and I had no choice but to thrust deep and let go, too, groaning how much I loved her.

“And I you,” she murmured drowsily, when I pulled her into my arms again, and we drifted off before rousing awake to a knock at our door.

“’Tis just me,” Helga called out. “The king wishes to leave within a few hours, so I wanted to give you time to ready yourselves.”

“Thank you, my friend,” I called out, so she knew we had heard her. “We will join everyone soon.”

“I wish we had more time here,” Tove mumbled from where she rested her cheek against my chest. “Far, far more time.”

“As do I.” I stroked her soft hair, having very much enjoyed digging my hands into her thick mane last night during lovemaking. “Yet we have peace to find and people who need us.” I traced my fingers down the delicate curve of her spine. “Duties and obligations we must see through.”

“Ja,” she murmured, the huskiness in her voice telling me she was aroused again, and I could well understand, given I felt the same.

So when she gave me a coy, teasing, and very sultry look, I flipped her on her belly and lifted her hips enough to slip inside her once more. Shuddering with pleasure, she pressed her cheek into the pillow and fisted the furs as I rode her.

Too desperate despite how often she’d satisfied me the night before, I didn’t last long, nor did she, as I pressed deep, released a ragged groan in her ear, and spilled my seed into her seconds before she went over the edge as well.

However tempted I was to linger there for as long as possible, I wanted to spend time with my grandmother before we left, so I kissed Tove’s temple, murmured in her ear how much she pleased me, and set to dressing.

“I’ll miss this place,” she said softly, doing the same. “Mayhap someday we will journey back and revisit it.”

“Mayhap,” I agreed, hoping such happened. It would be a shame if this were our final goodbye to those who had chosen to remain behind.

Putting the possibility from my mind as it served no purpose, Tove and I shared one last lingering kiss at the cottage’s threshold, then made our way to the community lodge to eat with the others.