It’s Ulf.
The scent of pine and raw masculinity swamps my senses, and his warmth engulfs me in stability and protection.
“I’m here,” he whispers, gripping the back of my neck tightly as his other arm becomes a steel band around my waist. “I’ve got you, little deer.”
That’s when I break. I can’t control it. It’s all I’ve been longing for since that night he came to my place and held me while I cried—maybe even since the first time I saw him. Tears trail down my cheeks, wetting his shirt as I press myself into him, and ugly sobs rip from my throat. I clutch onto his shirt, wanting to beg him to never let me go. But I know saying the words out loud would only cause more hurt when he couldn’t promise to stay.
“I’ve got you,” he repeats, kissing the top of my head. “No more. You’ve had enough.”
I’m not sure exactly what he means, but I think he’s referring to more than the cane. No matter what it is, he’s right. I’ve had enough of whatever this is.
Asbjörn leans in to release my left hand, and I immediately latch onto Ulf’s shirt with this one too. He keeps his grip on me tight as Asbjörn releases my legs. Then he hoists me into his arms and carries me to a private room, where he closes the door and sinks onto a bed with me in his arms.
He doesn’t say anything; he just sits there holding me tight, rocking me slowly, and pressing tiny kisses all over my hair while I cry.
It takes a long while before I calm down. Once I finally do, a ton of questions are swirling in my head, but it’s not because I’m not supposed to address him that I don’t ask them. I simply don’t have it in me to voice them. I can’t bear the disappointment of the answers I know I’ll get.
“I’ll take you home,” Ulf finally says and carries me out of the room.
The club has gone quiet. Only Asbjörn is here.
“Is she okay?” he asks.
I feel Ulf make a brief shake of his head. “I’m taking her home. We’ll talk later, when I get back to the farm.”
I lift my head again, casting Asbjörn a concerned look. I hate to leave him like this. He’s so incredibly caring, and I know he’s worried about me. I can tell it from the frown that has settled deep between his brows.
“It’s okay,” he assures me, stepping closer to stroke my cheek. “Let Ulf take you home. We’ll talk soon.”
I nod, and then Ulf carries me out, gathers my things, and drives me home.
I expect him to leave once he’s followed me upstairs to my apartment, so I’m a little surprised when he takes off his boots and crawls into bed with me. Once again, silence descends between us. But like the last time we were here, words seem superfluous. The energy crackles between us, hot and potent, as he wraps his arms and legs around me, consuming everything I am and feel.
He starts humming, and then he begins to sing. It’s a soft, gentle song in Old Norse that reminds me of the music they play at the club. Maybe it’s even by one of those bands. I don’t understand much except something about flower fields with buzzing bees, dreams of honey, and a bear crawling into hibernation.
His voice has a raw but calm quality steeped in deep emotion. It lulls me, and I almost fall asleep as he rocks me in time to the song.
Once he’s finished, he lifts a hand to stroke his fingertips along my hairline. “It’s a lullaby for the bear. ‘Hibjørnen,’” he says.
“It’s beautiful,” I whisper, sinking deeper into him and tightening my grip on his arm. I wish he would never leave, but when he props his head on his elbow and gently turns my face toward him, I sense the end drawing near. And not just the end of the night. Something more final.
I swallow hard to rid my throat of the growing knot, but it lodges there, holding me on the edge of another breakdown.
A serious expression that worries me settles over his brow. “Can you be patient for me?” he asks, pressing his hand to my cheek, big and warm. “Just a little while longer.”
“Patient? For what?” I lift my shoulders, utterly lost.
“You’ll see soon enough. For now, I want you to stay with Asbjörn; let him take care of you.”
“Why?”
“No questions. Just trust me that everything will work out in the end. I’ll make sure of it.”
I shake my head and part my lips, wanting to ask how. But I can’t get the words out.
“Can you do that for me, Elina? Be patient and let Asbjörn take care of you.”
Part of me doesn’t want to agree, but another part of me will do anything Ulf asks of me. And that’s the part that wins out. So I nod. “Okay.”
