“Fuck, Lyall. Do that again,” Soren says, panting against my mouth.
I take his mouth hungrily, swallowing his moans and gasps as we grind against each other. The friction tips me over the edge, and his name spills from my lips. My seed smears our chests and stomachs as Soren thrusts against me, faster and faster, until he’s muffling his shout against my neck, spilling hot and wet between us.
We’ll smell like each other for hours, even after we’ve washed ourselves clean.
We catch our breath in the quiet. Our hearts settle and our breathing slows, but Soren never lets go of me. I couldlie here in his arms until Ragnarok. When Soren lifts his head at last and our eyes meet, I chuckle at the look of awe on his face. “Enjoy yourself?”
“Nah. No way. I’ve had better,” Soren says, his chest bucking against mine when he laughs.
I snort, giving his ass a slap. “The seed painted on my stomach tells a very different story.”
“Shit. That’s gonna suck to clean off if it dries. Stay here. I’ll get a towel.” Soren plants a hearty kiss on my collarbone, then swings his legs out of bed.
I stretch out with a groan, every limb loose and tingling. Gods, it’s been an age since I felt so good, so at peace.
When Soren returns, he brings a bottle of water and a cloth. Once we’re as clean as we can get, we lie close and take turns sipping from the bottle. Soren rests his cheek on my shoulder. “Today was great.”
I nuzzle my nose into his hair. “Aye, it was. Do you mind if I stay here for the night? I don’t wish to leave you anytime soon.”
He shrugs. “I guess.” When I catch his eye, he grins. “Was hoping you’d ask.”
When our lips meet, it’s tender and slow. I wind my arms around his waist and close my eyes. The gentle touch of his lips and the warmth of his body against mine guide me toward sleep.
“I love you,” I whisper. Soren’s breath catches. No doubt to him, it’s too soon to hear. For me, it feels asnatural as breathing. “Does that scare you?” I open my eyes and find him wide-eyed and blinking fast.
“No. Yes. A lot,” he admits.
“Why?” I brush sweat-damp hair from his forehead.
Soren looks away. “’Cause every time someone’s told me that, they’ve left. So I’ve learned not to trust it.”
My chest tightens. “Trust me.” I take his hand and guide his trembling fingers to my lips. “There is nowhere in this world I would rather be than at your side.”
Soren blinks fast, his heart racing in my ears. “I want to believe that. I just… I don’t know how.”
“You don’t have to do anything, Soren. I’ll prove it to you by showing up every day. Until there isn’t a doubt in your mind that there’s no one else in this world for me but you.”
“You really mean that? But how could you know for sure?”
I don’t know how to tell him that the Norns themselves brought us together. “We’re… destined for each other, Soren.”
He furrows his brow. “I don’t believe in soulmates.”
“Understandable. You felt the same way once. It wasn’t until you shifted and caught my scent that you understood what we were to each other.”
“I don’t get it.”
“You realized that we were mates. My people call bonds like ours fated. We are each other’s perfect match, Soren.Made for each other. It’s why none of your relationships have lasted.”
“Because they weren’t you…” Soren whispers.
I don’t like how deeply he’s frowning. “We should rest. You can ask me all your questions in the morning.”
“No you don’t.” Before I can roll onto my side, Soren straddles me and sits on my thighs. “You can’t just drop some big bombshell about soulmates and expect me to just go to bed.”
I sigh, wincing when he thunks his forehead against mine. “Very well. What do you want to know?”
Me and my big mouth…
