Epilogue

Happy Again

One Year Later

Jerrick

My boots are caked in mud from my trek to the front of my home from the stables. Approaching the entrance, I diligently drag each footstep, hoping to remove as much mud as possible prior to stepping over the threshold. If I leave tracks throughout the castle, my wife will scold me.

My wife.

Her eyes, her smile, and her sweet scent linger in the air.

Fuck, two weeks away on business for Axidoria was long enough. I left to inspect the progress of the revised borders and trade routes we had created a year after Nikolaj, the fucking bastard, tried to invade our lands.

I grind my teeth in irritation at the memory of that day, the countless number of men I slaughtered without a second thought because they were dividing themselves amongst Yadir and my home, trying to create as much carnage as possible in their wake.

They all deserve to be stuck and trapped in Letum's Oblivion.

Since then, Axidoria and Palaena have made strides on uniting. Of course, there were complaints from the other kingdoms, angered our marriage had increased our lands and resources. But we grouped together, calling a meeting of all six kingdoms, and revamped the kingdom's borders to showcase five instead of six.

I remember the group breaking for a meal during the day, and I was earnestly trying to find a solution for each of them. It was enraging how no one was willing to offer new ideas aside from their own selfish desires to protect their borders.

My fists remained tight knuckled that entire morning through early afternoon, and my magic sensed my frustration.

A humming, buzzing suggestion cooed and tried to lure me into touching someone, any one of them, to persuade them.

But Tove was quick to catch on to my struggles that day, taking my hand and squeezing it twice before a little spark of her own magic distracted mine. It caught me off guard, and my cunning Frostbite only smiled as if it was our own secret to share.

And indeed, it was.

None of them knew of my gifts, and I wanted to keep it that way. I didn't need any more attention drawn to Palaena or Tove.

I only wanted us to enjoy life with the happy we found again.

When everyone eventually compromised, we began the draft for a declaration of new borders.

With two castles in our lands, we decided it was in our best interest to pick one as a permanent home. I'll never understand why Tove chose here instead of Axidoria.

After we successfully removed the winter from her lands, the soil and grass that bloomed the following spring was lush, rich, and plentiful. A valuable resource, all the more reason why we had to divide and somewhat dissolve Axidoria.

She even agreed to use her gifts during the colder season to make it a little longer than a month, allowing the earth extra time to rejuvenate and improve the quality of crops.

Tove is not even fully trained, and I know her power will be one of the greatest.

Deities, the magnitude of her gifts is still unfathomable to me.

Watching her remove the winter the first time with my help was a sight to behold, and the reunion of her with her friend Betina and the joy and worship exclaimed by her people were inspiring.

And this last winter, when we did it again, the joy on her face only made my love grow.

The image of her lighting up my world envelops me, carving deep into my heart and etching itself into my soul.

I never believed love would happen to me. I never believed I would meet someone who took me by surprise and peeled away the layers I buried myself under for so long.

My magic stirs at the emotion in my throat, the absence of my wife hurrying my stride into a sprint.

Heading to the far alcove of home, I wave off anyone acknowledging me. Everyone knows where I'm going. Everyone also knows it is in their best interests to leave the entire floor and section of the castle because, when I finally see her—my cock twitches at the thought.

I take the stairs two at a time, bouncing off each one as music echoes down, filling the stairwell. I smirk at the soft, strenuous ballad my wife plays, wondering if it is one she has composed or one she learned.

My lungs focus on evening my breathing, my stomach flipping the closer I get to Tove's second favorite place in our home.

The song builds momentum as I reach the doorway.

My wife's back is to me, but I can't help but stop and lean against the threshold to admire her.

She sways, fully absorbed in the moment.

The peace and vulnerability she releases when she plays is fierce and wonderful, another quality of hers that takes my breath away. Seeing her here, with me, and happy, is something I never thought was possible.

But our comfortable silences, our discussions while reading, our shared stories and passion are a craving I have to indulge in every day.

My heart and cock jolt in tandem as the air whooshes from me, the love I have for her constantly growing and fortifying itself.

The scar on the side of my face pinches against my skin. Smiling is not new to me, but it is a norm I am growing used to whenever I am in her presence.

Tove finishes the song, her hands lifting from the keys, letting the final note string itself upward and bounce around the marbled acoustic walls. She shifts her foot off one of the pedals, and her posture slackens at the song ending. She waits momentarily before jumping back in. This time, the melody is one I recognize.

It is one she has been working on for a while.

I use this as a chance to close the door quietly behind me and enter, approaching and sitting beside her. As much as I expect her to stop and give me her undivided attention, I know her too well.

She keeps her focus on the melody, playing it softly as a smile dances along her features.

Deities, even the side of her face is beautiful. I cannot help but scoot closer, looping my arm along her backside.

She leans into me, and I rest my head on hers. She pauses mid-playing, snickering and lifting her hand, holding my cheek. Tove bites her lip in a stupidly adorable way.

"What?" I chuckle, wanting to be part of whatever it is she is thinking.

She simply shakes her head, still smiling. When she faces me, her ice-blue eyes brighten, illuminating my world every time I look at them.

"It's nothing," she beams, guiding her lips to me.

I take my wife in, kissing her slow and sweet before pulling away, skepticism furrowing my brow. "That's not nothing," I tell her, always wanting to know what is on her mind.

A lustful smirk plays across her face, and it makes me want more.

Tove leans in, resuming our kiss, whispering some of my favorite words. "I love you."

I pounce, moving her to straddle me as I push the bench away from the piano, ensuring my mouth remains on hers. Fuck, two weeks is too long without savoring every part of my wife's body. I've craved her, and being here sends me into a needy frenzy.

Tove hums her approval, feeding into my desire and grinding against me. She usually wears gowns for meetings and special occasions, and I thank the Makers she is wearing one now instead of pants.

While she prefers wearing trousers, I prefer when she wears dresses.

Easier access.

"I missed you," I murmur lazily.

She drags her hands up the base of my skull, combing through my hair and massaging my scalp. Tove yanks my head back, flirtation filling her lustful gaze.

"You did?"

I groan, reaching under her dress and seeking her perfect, round ass and find her completely bare.

All for me.

"Your nakedness tells me you feel the same," I say, squeezing her backside tightly, earning a gasp from her.

Deities, the hitching of her breath undoes me.

I smack her ass, my growing need to be inside of her has me covering the piano keys and lifting Tove to perch her ass against the piano as our mouths clash. I squeeze her hips as my wife's arms spread across to the sides of the instrument, holding herself in place as I kiss down her neck.

I trail my lips down to her chest, her bodice loose and begging to be removed. Hunching over, I use my teeth to drag her top to her stomach.

Tove's full breasts fill my line of vision, and my mouth waters.

My wife's eyes study me, her breathing ragged and skin flush.

I smirk mischievously, needing to hear what she wants. "Tell me what you want, my love."

My eyes remain fixed on Tove as my hands run along her thighs. I have been starved for too long without her. I offer a few glimpses into suggestions that allow me to thoroughly relish being home and here with her.

"Do you want my mouth on your breasts?" I ask, bringing her nipple into my mouth and sucking hard.

Tove moans, convulsing in pleasure.

I pull her breast out of my mouth, running a hand down the outside of her leg, circling back to her core. I lightly drag my finger through the center of her clit.

"Do you want my hands or my mouth to feast on your pretty pussy?" I draw her breast into my mouth again, unable to control myself.

Tove whimpers and fastens her hold on me, keeping me in place.

I study her, admiring her in exaltation as her heated gaze and desire keep me under her spell.

"I want your dirty mouth to suck and bite my nipple so hard it leaves a mark," she pants.

Her grip on my hair loosens, and I remove my mouth, still gazing at her with a smirk.

Tove hunches forward, keeping me focused on hearing her every wish and desire. "And I want you to fuck me against this piano. Hard."

Her words barely leave her mouth before I spring up to kiss her, fumbling for her skirts as she reaches for my trousers. She frees my cock faster than I can remove her clothing, and Sweet Makers, when she takes me in her hand.

"Fuuuck," I rasp.

Tove nips at my lip in response, her hand twisting my dick in her grasp as I help her out of the dress and remove my tunic.

I return to her breasts the second her dress is discarded, one hand dragging along her sex and rubbing her pussy. My cock pulses at the thought of driving into her when I feel how aroused she is.

"Are you wet for me?" I ask, kissing her breast before latching my teeth along her nipple.

I suck her breast and pinch her clit in tandem, Tove rewarding me with another whimpered moan as her head falls back, her hands gripping the piano for support.

My own need takes hold, seeking to achieve my wife's desire of being fucked hard. I lift her legs around my waist, bracing her further against the piano and thrusting my dick inside of her without a second thought.

We both gasp, Tove's eyes widening with pleasure. Her cunt is so tight, its begging me to fuck her harder.

"So fucking wet for me, my wife."

Her features warm at my acknowledgment. "Always, my husband," she breathes.

I kiss her deeply, thrusting hard and deep, my hand rubbing her clit.

Tove arches against the piano, her hips grinding. Each of us holds one side of the instrument, and Tove's legs flex, her nails digging into my hip.

"More," she pleads greedily.

I am happy to oblige. I drive deeper, savoring each thrust as it pleases her flawless body.

She arches further back, almost laying on the top of the piano, allowing me the perfect chance to savor her.

I suck the tip of her nipple, and I rub her clit faster. The tension of her walls tighten around my cock, and I take her in, loving the sounds escaping her and the tightness in her face when she gets closer and closer to her climax.

Her chest rises and falls with mine, her gorgeous body displayed for only me to revel in.

"I'll never get tired of this," I promise her as I trail kisses along her skin. "Seeing you writhe as your pretty little cunt takes me makes me harder."

Her eyes meet mine as I increase my pace, moving my hand and cock in tandem with her breaths, watching her reactions and making sure her needs are thoroughly met. She moans with the change in rhythm.

I praise her, knowing it unravels her in the best of ways. "The moans escaping your lips are my own composition I play through in my mind every second of every day."

"Jer—" she pants.

Tove's body convulses, tightening around my cock.

She is so close.

I lean in and kiss her with passion and love, keeping my momentum steady and true, ensuring she reaches ecstasy.

"Watching you completely shatter," I breathe into her through grunted thrusts, "that is what undoes me."

I kiss her again, calling forth my magic to send a wave of heat into her.

She senses it within seconds, drawing her own power to meet and join mine.

We breathe our magic into the other, a soothing chill kissing up my spine.

I know it does the same for her from the countless times we have done this, using it for our pleasure.

"I-I'm—" she stutters, releasing another delicious moan I am going to repeat over and over in my head.

I keep her close.

"That's it, My Queen." I grind into her.

She mewls, biting her lip as our foreheads press together.

"That's it, my wife."

"I'm going to—" Tove pants, her words replaced with a guttural groan.

I go deeper and harder, applying added pressure to her clit.

She moves, her rhythm shifting, and I stay in tune with it, in tune with her. I meet her rhythm, conducting her to shatter to the perfect melody of our love.

"Come, my love." I finish for her, fully sheathing myself inside of her. The insatiable need to feel her coming on my dick has me begging. "Come for me, Tove."

Her mouth slackens, the cusp of her orgasm so close.

I press my thumb hard against her clit, rubbing frantically to hear her screams. Tove's walls clench around me, and she cries out my name.

It sends me over the edge. A harsh moan escapes, the two of us coming apart in rapture as we seal it with a fevered kiss.

I slow my thrusts, aware of her exhaustion through staggered breaths.

She loosens her legs from my waist, but I pull my wife close, helping her off the piano. I keep a hold of her, easing us to the ground, choosing to lay down on our clothes instead of the cold floor.

Facing each other on our sides, she still trembles.

I draw on my magic once more, hovering closer as I kiss warmth into her skin. Peering up at her, she beams, reaching for me as her breathing evens out.

She holds the sides of my face and kisses me passionately.

I wrap my arm under her, drawing our bodies close. Having Tove here in my arms is like reuniting my soul to its missing half.

I don't know how my soul existed for so long without her. And I don't know what I ever did to earn her trust, her kindness, her love. It was something we both believed impossible, given our pasts, our traumas, and our perception of each other.

But I would not change anything about our story, no matter how much I still, to this day, cannot fathom what I did to deserve her.

Tove pulls away from our kiss. "What is it, my love?"

The keen awareness we have of one another has only grown since we've been married, the ease of conversation and being vulnerable with each other strengthening our bond. But I defer to teasing, always seeking new ways to make her laugh.

I mock the giggle she gave me earlier.

"It's nothing," I tease with a wink.

Tove rolls her eyes, her smile contradicting her annoyance. She playfully smacks the side of my arm, earning a chuckle. She huffs her own amusement.

I kiss her brow, murmuring the only words perfect for this moment. "I love you, Frostbite."

She beams at the nickname I use for her and only her. A blush breaks out against her cheeks before she drags me back into our sweet, perfect bubble, kissing me senselessly through my smile.

We remain entangled with one another, safely tucked away from tomorrow's problems and today's stresses, enjoying the discovery of our happy again with each other.

Thank you for reading!