Finding his palm, I press my tear streaked face into his hand. With the bow and Jorvik leaving me for dead, nothing will ever be the same. I will not wake up in the morning ready to accept apologies or excuses. Moments ago, I drowned. But now, I am holding Skadi’s bow in one hand and this man I’ve come to adore in the other. I was so sure I could wield the bow for my people, but can I wield it for myself?
We lay, slowly falling asleep, watching the purple and pink lights flow like a dam broke open over the stars. The Northern Lights were the highlight of my parents’ fireside stories, but I have never seen them until tonight.
Shaw doesn’t say a word, and for that, I am thankful. He’s right here, solid and secure, with his arms keeping me warm. Maybe that is more than enough for right now. Listening to his breathing and Aslaug snoring, I finally fall asleep.
20
SHAW
The sight of Rasha under the ice, sinking with the weight of her dress and the chains, rattles me awake. Reaching under the blankets, I find the curve of her hip and grip her warm skin.
She’s safe.
A moan slips from her lips, driving all my blood into my cock. I’ll never admit it out loud, but laying here with her in the security of my arms is my vice. For once the morning sky is bright and blue, drenched in sunlight and the clarity of a new day.
My thick length sits against her ass, and she sleepily grinds into me. Arching her back in the layers of blankets, she gives me space to slip my arm underneath her shoulders to bring her closer.
“You are naked,” she murmurs, trying to move to see me, but I keep her spine flush to my chest.
“We were about to freeze to death,” I reply.
“Thank you for coming for me. I was ready to die, Shaw.”
Shushing her admission, I can’t think about losing her today when we are finally ourselves and alone.
“Do you want to get dressed?” I painfully ask, knowing if she gets up, I’ll be content with how far we’ve come.
“No, this is nice.” She squirms against me. I can feel her smile in the crook of my arm.
“Rasha,” I growl, and she uses more strength to push away and lie on her back. Her body takes my breath away. While I try to regain my patience, she traces each dip and groove of my torso, moving lower beneath the blankets. I want to tell her to stop, but I groan instead.
Taking her hand before she touches my cock, I kiss her bruised knuckles, and she catches me staring at her exposed breasts. She covers herself with her other arm and starts to pull the blanket up, but I stop her.
“You must have me mistaken for a man who isn’t dying to etch the curves of your body into my eternal memory.” It’s my turn to touch her alabaster skin as her breath becomes erratic. I mold my hand to her breast, watching her fight the urge to close her eyes. “Where did all that bravery go?” I ask. She leans up, and I give in, just a little, letting her pull me into our first real, unbound kiss. “There you are. I thought you grew shy.”
She kisses me harder, and I love it. Goading her into showing me what she wants, I feel her drag her nails down my back and can’t help it when my hand finds her soaking wet cunt.
“Shaw.” My name out of her mouth warrants a pause. She lays back again, skin to skin, and reaches over. I don’t have it in me to stop her hand from encircling my throbbing cock.
“You’ll stay a virgin this morning unless you tie me up and use me, which I’m not against,” I say, and her face breaks into a blushing smile.
Stroking up and down my shaft, she asks, “Where is the fun in that for you?” Her inexperience makes me take a levelheaded breath. I want to show her how this is supposed to be. Sitting up, I take her arms and gently hold her wrists to either side of her head and trail my lips against her neck. The feeling of her body underneath me is enough to make me lose control.
“Seeing you come is what I want. And you might want to hold on to that virtue now that you have the bow.” Holding myself above her, I memorize the swell of her breasts.
“I meant what I said before. That I’d give myself to you.” She fights my grip, leaning up to nip my lower lip.
“Let me give you this, please. I love your stubbornness, but I need to touch you,” I plead. She doesn’t move when I release her wrists this time. Stroking up and down her soft legs, I guide her thighs apart till I can see all of her. Rasha stays quiet, intently watching as I run my knuckles through the outer edges of her cunt.
“Do you touch yourself?” I ask. She hums a yes, which piques my curiosity. “When did you last?” At that question, her piercing blue eyes widen, and I push two fingers inside her; I can guess when. Her cunt flutters around the new intrusion, and I push further, feeling how beautifully wet she becomes with every stroke.
“After the bath in the forge,” she admits. Her mouth stays open, and I withdraw my fingers, dragging them over her chin.
“Did you think about my cock?” I ask. Feeling the absence of my hand, she reaches between her legs and touches herself. I put my fingers in her mouth, and her tongue swirls over the calloused pads of my fingertips. My cock pulses a drop of pre-come on her leg.
“Fuck, Rasha, tell me what you thought of.” I work my fingers back inside her as she bows her legs wider, as if I need the encouragement
“Riding you,” she says, and I slip a third finger in. Instantly, her body turns rigid, and she squeezes her eyes shut. “Too much.”
