They stumbled to their feet together, and Njord had half a mind to wrap the egg in its cloth and put it close to the fireplace before pulling Thori in by the neck and dragging him into another kiss. Thori melted into the touch, moaning softly. He clutched at Njord’s shoulders, kissing back with desperate enthusiasm. He tasted like honey and sunshine, and Njord never wanted to let him go.
“You reckless fool,” Njord said. “You should have stayed in Asgard.”
“I couldn’t.” Thori’s fingers combed through Njord’s hair. “I tried to break my word for Mother’s sake and for my siblings. I tried to pretend everything was good, that I could just go back to being the Prince of Asgard. But all I could think about was you, how I gave my word to you.”
“Life has been miserable without you,” Njord admitted, the words escaping before he could stop them. “Nóatún felt all wrong, and I’ve been brewing up winter storms like an angry child unable to control hisseiðr.”
Thori laughed, breathless and delighted. “Oh, I noticed the weather. Very dramatic. And all because you missed me?”
“Yes.” Njord kissed him again, harder this time, backing him toward the bed. “Now hush. You’re not leaving again. I forbid it.”
“Yes. Absolutely yes.”
He sounded so eager. Njord’s poor heart would never recover. He needed Thori in his bed. Now. In his haste, he shoved Thori forward, making him stumble and catch himself against the bedpost at the last second.
“Sorry!”
“Don’t apologize.” Thori crawled onto the bed, turning toward Njord with an inviting grin on his lips. “Just tell me what to do.”
Gods, Thori was really invested in this. But well, if his prince wanted to play it this way, Njord could play too.
“Off,” he growled. “Your pants. Take them off.”
Thori didn’t hesitate; he slipped the silken pants down his thighs gracefully, arranging himself seductively on his side.
Norns.
Njord went to the chest by his bed to retrieve silken bonds, because if he was allowed to do this, he was going to do it properly. Thori watched him with wide eyes, but he relaxedwhen Njord approached, putting his hands up above his head in a clear offering.
“You still sure about this?” Njord asked. “You want to be mine?”
“Yes,” Thori breathed. “Please.”
“Hold still then. I’m going to bind your hands.”
Thori went very still, allowing Njord to secure his wrists to the headboard. When Njord was done, Thori tugged experimentally at his bonds. They didn’t budge. A shiver ran through his body, and his cock was already half-hard against his stomach.
“You’re beautiful,” Njord murmured, trailing his fingers down Thori’s chest. “I can’t believe you came back to me, wearing the collar, the bracelet. How can you be so honorable? So good?”
Thori moaned. “I’m selfish. I needed to be with you.”
Tracing the golden line of the collar around Thori’s throat, Njord watched the dragon’s sapphire eyes gleam as if in response to his touch.
“I know what you need. Don’t worry, I need it too.”
He brushed across the golden bracelet on Thori’s wrist, feeling the familiar pull of hisseiðrwoven into the metal. The bracelet had been more than a gift after all; it had been a promise. A declaration of intent that Thori was his to protect, his to keep.
And Thori still wore it.
Gods, he was perfect.
Njord let his hand drift lower, across Thori’s chest and down his stomach, deliberately avoiding his cock. Thori writhed beneath the touch, hips rising in a silent plea.
“Patience,” Njord said.
He reached for the collar, letting hisseiðrflow into the enchanted metal. The effect was even better than he’d hoped for. The collar pulsed with power, and Thori gasped as it awakened fully. The magic wrapped around Thori’s trapped thunder, holding it in a careful embrace, connecting them in amore intimate way than ever before. Njord gave their connection another nudge, letting Thori feel his power, and Thori arched off the bed with a broken moan.
“Feel that?” Njord teased, sensing Thori’s thunder bubbling beneath the collar’s control. “Your power recognizes me. Responds to me. It knows who its master is.”
