5
LOKKEN
My skin tingled from the warm press of her lips on my arm and chest. I could feel exactly where her mouth had been, as if she’d burned a brand on my flesh forever. Though I couldn’t help but scan her bond continually, afraid I would accidentally harm her. Ice still crackled inside the dark river of her power winding through my head.
Her fangs scraped lightly, jerking my attention from her inner bond back to her face. Her eyes gleamed, heavy and sultry with hunger as she lifted her head toward me. Automatically, I slid my forearm beneath her neck and bent lower, tipping my head aside to offer my throat.
“I want that too,” she whispered, trailing her mouth over my shoulder to my throat. “But first, I want you inside me.”
I fought the urge to shoot to my feet so I could drag off my pants. Too bad I couldn’t sprout claws like her dark alfar and simply cut my way out of the denim. “With your permission, my queen, I’ll rise a moment to remove the rest of my clothes.”
Arching a brow, she scooted deeper into the mattress and lay back against her alpha’s chest, using him as a pillow. “You don’thave to ask my permission, Lokken. Is that something other queens demand from their Blood?”
Unbuttoning my pants and toeing off my shoes, I paused for a moment, surprised by the question. “I can’t say, since I’ve never served a queen before. Perhaps my former House was stricter and more proper than others. Queen Ylva’s Blood didn’t sneeze without asking for her leave to do so.”
“Well, I’m certainly not going to be a stickler for propriety.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle as I pushed my jeans off. “Which I should have realized after you allowed Gunnarr to sit down at your table in his underwear.”
“I honestly didn’t mind.” Her voice thickened as she looked at me. “In fact, I’m starting to think he was on to something pretty brilliant. Especially when I can look at you.”
Standing nude before her with such raw, open desire blazing in her eyes, I was horrified to feel my throat tighten with emotion. I tried to hide it, but she immediately sat up and reached for me.
“What’s wrong? I’m sorry. Was it something I said?”
“No,” I whispered hoarsely, shaking my head vigorously. “Nothing’s wrong. I love the way you look at me, my queen. I would gladly stand guard day and night clothed in absolutely nothing at all as long as you would look at me with such heat in your eyes.”
She threaded her fingers through mine and pulled me toward her. “You’re a gorgeous man. Why on earth would you feel such shock that I enjoy looking at you?”
I clenched my jaws, shaking my head. “Skathi are descended from jötnar, my queen. We’re giants, generally larger than other Aima. Most consider us slow, stubborn, and, quite frankly, stupid. Difficult to Call, and not suitable for court life. A stupid ogre fighting over a piece of swamp, or in my case, fighting to preserve some ice that isn’t even habitable. I’m overwhelmedand honored you Called me to serve, let alone find me attractive enough to want me in your bed.”
Her alpha made a rough noise I finally realized was amusement, though it sounded more like a warning growl from a wounded bear. “If she were to be repulsed by any of her Blood, she’d certainly reject dark alfar over you, ice man. You’re at least a child of a goddess. I’m a nightmare creature of pure Darkness.”
“I couldn’t possibly love you any more than I already do, even if you were Aima.” She gave him a firm look and tugged insistently on my hand until I joined her on the mattress. “And now it’s time for me to love you as well.”
My heart thudded so loudly I wasn’t sure I’d heard her correctly. Did I dare hope she would actuallyloveme? Even a little?
Finally, a queen had Called me to be Blood. A queen who’d already been generous with her blood while we sailed to her new nest. A queen taking me to her bed with heavy, smoldering eyes. Eager hands sliding over my arms and shoulders as she pulled me down to her. Who wasn’t afraid of my ice or my hulking size.
If she loved me…
Then Draumstafir had already fired its magic, and my deepest, most secret desire was right here in my arms.
HELAYNA
Closing my eyes,I breathed in his scent, and an image filled my mind. A campfire ringed with round gray stones in the middle of a snowy forest. Pine branches smoked faintly on the crackling flames. But it was more than just the smoky scent of pine—it wasthe feeling of being in a wintry forest, surrounded by pristine snow and silent woods, wrapped in warm woolen blankets and sipping a hot drink while I looked up at the swirling green lights dancing across the midnight sky.
An intense wave of longing filled me.:I want to have a place outside for a fire.:
Braced on his forearms, Lokken stared down at me with soft wonder shining in his eyes.:You saw my home where I grew up. We often had bonfires to watch the Northern Lights.:
:It was beautiful.:I stroked my fingers over the strong, chiseled lines of his cheekbones. How could anyone not find him attractive? A big, gorgeous man striding out of a blizzard in a beautiful suit. Now stripped naked in my bed, all tawny skin and muscle gliding beneath my hands. Yet he barely touched me, hovering carefully above me.:As beautiful as you.:
The campfire I’d seen in my head crackled into a burning inferno in his bond.:How would you like me, my queen?:
Bracing myself for another shot of ice to pierce our bond, I pressed my mouth on the design over his heart. But all I felt was the blazing heat of his skin. I arched my back, tipping my pelvis up, but he was too far away for me to press against him.:As fast and deep as the river flowing in our bond.:
He grunted softly as if I’d punched him in the gut. His fingers fisted in the bedding. Eyes locked to mine, he slowly lowered his body against mine. So hot, his skin spread flames, meeting the ice still flowing in my veins with a vicious hiss. I shivered, unable to distinguish whether I was too hot or too cold.
