"You have done this to me. I won't wait any longer. You tease and deny me every time. Not this time."
She held his stare, daring him to refuse. Instead he grinned. She continued to surprise him.
"Very well. Not this time." But he'd sleep with a crone before he gave her control. Wrapping his arms tight around her, he once more positioned her so she lay beneath him. Her embrace never loosened and when he slid his cock along the hot soaked folds of her sex, she jerked upward, trying to force him into her. A hand on her hip halted her motion.
"Patience," he warned, even as he nudged the tip of his cock toward her entrance. Once again, she tried to gain control, but his grip prevented most of her movement. Her eyes narrowed.
"You are still being cruel."
"I must be ready, silly girl."
"Well get ready!" Her fingers dug into his shoulders and he savored the tiny sting for it gave him control over his desire once more. Satisfied he wouldn't explode the moment he entered her, he gently eased himself into her, groaning at the way her slick tight sheath gripped him. He paused, then drove a little deeper, his fingers tight on her hips to hold her still.
With each forward glide, Thora's cries came closer together until he had finally filled her. For several moments, he remained engulfed in her warm body, her lips rising to meet his in a fiery kiss that left his head spinning.
Daring to move, he eased his hold on Thora and she met his gentle rhythm. A few moments of this delightful glory intensified when she quickened her movements, forcing him to move faster as well. Soon, he thrust hard and rough into her, her hips rising to meet each drive. Her nails scored his back and shoulders, her tongue dueling frantically with his, her cries reverberating through his body.
Lust hazed every one of his senses, Thora's scent surrounding him like the sweet aroma of ambrosia. Her feel and taste both around and within him drove him higher than ever before. A moment later, she pulled her mouth from his, a piercing howl near shattering his ears. Beneath him, her entire body bucked furiously and the feel of her sex tightening around him was enough to send him over the edge. He tumbled into the abyss, surrounded by her in ways he'd never thought possible. The pulsing, blinding lights of bliss seemed to last hours, his own hoarse shouts driven out by the force of the pleasure consuming him.
What seemed hours later, the roar in his head receded and his body calmed. Beneath him, Thora continued to periodically quiver, her pussy squeezing him again, gently this time. Almost soothing. Careful to remain joined with her, he eased himself to his back, arranging her carefully atop his chest.
Brushing her dark hair from her face, she lifted her head and met his stare. Softened by her climax, her eyes were dark and luminous, glowing in the firelight. Her tangy scent clung to him and he inhaled sharply, to take her essence in deep.
"Thank you. That was..."
He smiled and caught her chin in his fingers. "It was." He pulled her close and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. When he drew away, she snuggled against him.
"But you still owe me."
She stiffened and once more raised her head, her eyes now blazing with anger. The anger faded when he laughed.
"You are a vile beast!" But her usual sword-sharp tone was missing. In its place, he detected a hint of amusement tinged with sated weariness.
"Go to sleep, Thora." He pushed her head back to his chest. His soft cock remained only barely inside her. When she shifted against him, nudging him free, a strange sense of loss mingled into his fulfilled fatigue.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The thumping rhythm of hooves cut into Ari's slumber. He opened his eyes and blinked several times. Dawn pinkened the sky. He glanced down at Thora, nestled against him. While holding her, he'd once again slept deeper than he had in years. The thought roused alarm. These last days spent with her in easygoing camaraderie, and passion, had made him too comfortable, leading to carelessness. The consequences of that slammed into him.
His distraction endangered not only his life, but that of the woman sleeping against him. It threatened his chances of clearing his name, raising a very real fear he might be prevented from entering Valhalla when the time came to cross into the next life. He took a small measure of ease in the fact that surely the gods were well aware of how he had been blamed for another's deeds. That concern could wait, in light of approaching people. His gentle shake of Thora's shoulder grew more intense when the earth rumbled even louder. The riders neared faster than he'd first thought.
"Someone comes. Don your dress."
He disentangled himself from her embrace and reached for his trousers and sword. The horses grew closer still. How many? At least three, perhaps more. Travelers to The Thing? Likely, but even so, he'd take no chances and expect whoever approached to be hostile. Thankfully, he and Thora remained out of sight, but if the riders rounded the stand of trees to the left, they'd see Gyllir and know someone lingered nearby. Best be ready. He snapped his fingers toward Kati and the wolf was instantly alert.
"Why does he obey you so easily?"
The annoyance in her voice might normally have drawn a chuckle, but nothing about the coming moments contained any humor. His attention was torn between the two ways one could approach their cave, thankful the forest concealed it nearly completely from both directions. But it was that last realization that worried Ari. If only he could be sure from which direction the riders approached. If he knew that and how much time before they showed, he might attempt to bring Gyllir into the cave with them. Again, he silently cursed the contentment that appeared to sap his wits as well as his senses.
The rustling of the brush grew louder to his left and he turned. There they were, four men on horseback quickly approaching the cave. Though his vantage point of being higher off the forest floor made it easy to see further as well, ensuring the four were the only ones, he couldn't make out their faces, even though something seemed familiar about the leader poked at him, raising his alarm. For the moment, he and Thora, and their refuge, remained unseen, but he knew that wouldn't last much longer. Unlucky for them, the riders approached from the one direction that provided the weakest protection.
"Ari, who is it?"
"I don't know. Just stay back and let me handle it."
"But –"
"Do not argue with me now. Do as I say."
