“No child can take the place of our son, but I pray more children will join our family one day.” Strian infused his with tenderness, and Gressa welcomed the love they exchanged. When Strian pulled away, she offered him a watery smile.
“We’ve certainly been trying enough that something should take sooner rather than later.”
Gressa’s smile withered as a look of horror crossed Strian’s face. It was not the reaction she had expected when she tried to lighten their mood.
“Do you think you’re already with child?” Strian croaked. “You’re not leaving the boat, Gressa. I’m serious. Once we’re there, you’re staying on the boat. I’m not risking losing you or our child.”
Gressa shook her head, understanding Strian’s protectiveness.
“It’s too soon to know. And I can’t hide just in case something might go wrong. Strian, we both have a duty to fight, and I need to. I need to avenge what Grímr forced me to do and the threats he made against you.”
“But what if you’re carrying already? And if you’re injured again? You could lose another child.”
“And you could die with me left wondering where you are.” Gressa pushed against Strian and sat up. She stormed into the water until it was knee deep before turning around. Strian could see the red staining her cheeks and the cords of her throat straining as she bit out, “You’re not leaving me behind again.”
Gressa continued to wade in as Strian stalked into the water behind her. She did not try to get away when he pulled her to a stop. His chest felt twice as broad as hers when he held her against him. His hand once more resting on her belly.
“Do you think we’ll ever stop being so protective of one another?”
“I pray that we don’t even if it makes life complicated.”
Gressa leaned her head back against Strian’s chest and pulled his other arm around her. She placed his hand over her breast, and she arched as he massaged the flesh. She swayed her hips as she felt him harden. The hand on her belly traveled down to the apex of her thighs, and she widened her stance, granting his entrance.
“Why can’t I get enough of you?” she murmured.
“Because you are as much a drug to me as I am to you.”
“How can my body crave you, feel so empty without you, when we joined only minutes ago?”
“Because we aren’t joined anymore.”
Gressa took Strian’s hand and pulled him back to the shore. Neither spoke another word as Gressa pressed her front against the boulder, lifting one leg and tilting her hips back. Strian slid into her, teasing her as much as himself. She pushed back so that her sheath engulfed his sword, and they were once more a single entity. They rocked together, their movements slow and drawn out. Strian draped his body over hers, lacing their fingers together. Gressa reveled at his much larger form covering hers, his size dominating her while her body controlled his need.
“You’re mine, Gressa.” His possessive words eliciting a moan from her.
“Show me.” She looked back over her shoulder. “Show me, and I’ll do anything you ask.”
Strian’s eyes slid shut, overwhelmed by the feelings Gressa created in him. Her resilience and tenacity to overcome any challenge drew his respect and his pride, but her willingness to concede control to him in moments like this made him feel stronger and more manly than any battle ever had. It was her implicit trust and his conviction to protect it, and to nurture their love that gave him strength.
His fingers found the hidden button that controlled her pleasure. He rubbed slowly and firmly until he felt her urgency grow as she sought release. He pulled his hand away, eliciting a whimper from Gressa. His other hand found her nipple, and he pinched until he knew she felt pain, but the way her hips thrust back told him she also felt pleasure. He released her nipple. Her mewls of need along with the faster rocking of her hips told him she understood the game they played. He once more toyed with her nub, bringing her close to release then pulling away, this time with a shark spank to her backside. They continued this pattern until they both were insensate. When she was certain she could support her own weight, Gressa pushed back from the rock and turned to face him. She dropped to her knees, cupping her breasts around his cock as she sucked his tip. With her eyes closed, Strian watched the happiness at pleasuring him blossom across her face. When he could feel himself leaking onto her tongue and saw his seed on her breast, he lifted her and turned her to face the boulder. He gripped her hips and thrust into her as hard as he could, seating himself to the hilt. He gave her a sharp spank before pinching both her nipple and her nub. She exploded around him, words and curses tumbling from her lips as she demanded more. Strian was only too happy to oblige as his hips continued to pound into her until she once again climaxed and squeezed the seed from his cock.
Strian slid his hands along her body and arms until they interlaced their fingers again, and he dropped kisses on her shoulder. With his body draped over her, only her legs and fingers were visible. Strian paused, sensing they were not alone. His eyes scanned their surroundings as he tried not to alert Gressa to his concern.
“Who’s there?” her voice barely loud enough for him to hear.
“I don’t know,” he exhaled. He would not move until her was sure there was no danger to Gressa, his body shielding her from anyone’s sight or their weapon.
Gressa looked around, too, as best as her position pinned against the rock allowed.
“There,” she murmured as she squeezed his fingers and adjusted them to point to their left. “Betje.”
Strian began to pull away, thinking Betje posed little harm, but the threats she hissed at him as he forced her onto Tyra’s longboat came back to him. He had underestimated her as Gressa predicted. The venom of her words had shocked him as she stepped across the plank joining his boat to Tyra’s. She had threatened to kill Gressa, to rip any unborn babe from Gressa’s womb, and to trick him into coupling with her while Gressa watched. Now he saw the calculating look on the woman’s face as she continued to stare at the couple. Strian leaned close to Gressa’s face so they could whisper.
“She watched us,” Gressa whispered. “I wonder for how long.”
“Too long,” Strian hissed.
“Now what? Do we just wait her out?”
