Chapter 22

Jakob

I just have to go slowly. No matter how much she begs me to go hard.

"More."

"I don't want to hurt you."

"We did fine last night. I'm ready for more. Please."

I push in gently, slowly, letting Jo adapt once again to my girth.

"Oh…"

"Am I hurting you?"

I'm halfway in, and it takes every fiber of my being to keep things under control, to keep my hips from rocking into her too quickly.

"No. It's…so good, Jakob."

"Relax your muscles, just like before…just like that…good girl…you're such a good fucking girl, Jo."

She sucks in a breath and gives a shuddering exhale, her muscles adjusting, taking in more of me.

She's so fucking tight. So perfect. So…meant for me.

"You feel so good, Jakob. Do what you need to do. I want it. I love it. I love us together like this."

Jo reaches up to cup my face, and my heart squeezes at her glassy-eyed expression.

She winces as I press on until I'm sheathed to the hilt inside her warm cunt.

"Baby?"

"Good…I'm so good, Jakob." She wraps her legs around me, hooking her feet together at the small of my back. Our fingers are clasped, our forearms locked together above her head.

Jo's gaze transforms from that faraway look to fierceness, She's fully present with me now. Her hips start to move.

"I'm not gonna last long. It's just…all day…being near you…I?—"

"You're perfect," she breathes. "You feel amazing."

Slowly, I rock into her. Our movements are erratic and awkward at first, but eventually, we find our rhythm.

"Fuck me, Jakob!"

My mouth descends on hers in a devouring kiss one second before I try one firm, powerful thrust. I feel connected to her on all levels. Physical. Emotional. I'm going to take care of her for the rest of our lives. I made a promise when we were children, and I meant it. If anything, I'm more serious about that now than before. She's mine. I was made for her.

I feast on her as we move together, lavishing the soft skin of her throat and her breasts with the attention she deserves. I nip and suck, leaving my marks on her, twitching inside her as she squeezes and moans. She bites my shoulder, setting my insides on fire.

She could swallow me whole. I need nothing but her for the rest of my life.

My release comes without warning, making me slam into her. She gasps but tightens the grip of her legs around me. "Yes, Jakob!"

A ferocious groan rips from my throat, my face buried into the damp, heated skin of her throat, her fiery pulse racing against my cheek.

"Jakob," she gasps, meeting my thrusts with her own. "My Jakob!"

I growl and abruptly adjust my hands so they cage her hips. "Faster," she heaves.

I rush into her in quick bursts, filling her with my seed.

Her arms go around my middle, forcing me down on top of her, covering me with the kind of love I've never experienced in my life, ever.

"There you are. You're mine, Jo."

"Yours," she rasps.

I roll her on top of me before I pull out, to which she squeaks out a surprised laugh.

"I can't have you on the ground. I'm your bed now."

She sighs, still shuddering from her release. "I hope that was good for you."

It takes a moment to comprehend what Jo is saying, as my temporary orgasm-induced blackout dissipates.

"Was…was that good for you?" She's breathless and wrung out and still worried about me. "Did I do good?"

God, she's so fucking sweet. But that's not what she wants to hear.

I wrap my arms around her and tuck her against me, nestling her head under my chin. I stroke up and down her spine. "Good? You're asking me if you were good?"

I look down at her, and she looks up at me with tension in her brow, biting her bottom lip. "Yes," she says meekly.

I cup her face and tip her chin up for a soft kiss. "Do you have any idea how lost I am in you? Jo, you were fucking spectacular."

"I was?"

"Absolutely. We're going to do that again later. And the next day. And the next."

"You want to stay?"

"Let's make it clear once and for all so there's no question. I'm staying. You have no say in the matter. You're stuck with me no matter where you go from here on out."

She smiles and nuzzles against me, and I lose myself in the warm glow under the full moon.

The autumn evening grows cold, but neither of us seems willing to head indoors. Our shared body heat keeps us warm throughout the night.

My arm is cramped by morning from cradling her against me, and my back is already threatening to spasm if I make any sudden moves.

Jo wakes from her slumber with a jolt.

"Yuck!"

I open one eye to find her removing small leaves and branches from her hair.

"What's wrong, princess?"

She snorts. "I'm a mess."

Pressing a kiss to her cool forehead, I admire the way her skin glows in the early morning light. "You make that look good."

She laughs, and I help her remove foliage from her hair.

"Let's go inside. You want to shower while I cook breakfast?"

"Nah. Let's do it together."

She stares at me with a small, hesitant smile. "What is it?"

"Never showered with anyone before," she says shyly.

"If you don't want to…" I start.

"No, let's do it. Just showering though. No shenanigans. I'm feeling a little…sore?" Jo blushes when she says this, and I press a kiss to her nose.

"It's normal."

"Okay. Well, maybe later I'll feel ready to read that romance novel with you and we can try some new scenarios."

I throw my head back and bark a laugh, squeezing her close. Her sweet curves are warm against me, and if I wasn't so cramped up from lying flat on my back on the deck all night, I'd be happy to lie here with her forever. "My little princess is already wanting to try new positions."

She shrugs. "What can I say? You woke up something in me."

"You're going to wear me out."

"I'll do my best."

"Nothing could make me happier."

And that's the gods' honest truth.