Chapter 19

19

A islinn woke in an unfamiliar bed, under unfamiliar blankets, surrounded by an unfamiliar but deliciously warm scent. An equally delicious set of lips pressed warm kisses to her cheek and the corner of her mouth.

"Good morning, vinya. "

Reluctantly, Aislinn peeled back an eyelid to behold the devastatingly handsome face of her blacksmith. He looked soft and warm in the morning, his hair mussed from his pillow—and her clutching hands.

A blush overtook her, and Aislinn curled up under the blankets in shock and delight. Fates, she'd gotten her answer. A decadent soreness accompanied her memories of the previous night, of his ferociousness and devotion. The slap of their bodies echoed in her ears, an answering throb low in her belly a telltale sign that she wanted more. Much more.

"Good morning," she replied, smiling up at him.

It was only then that she realized she was actually alone in the bed. He knelt beside it, dressed already for the day.

She tried to ignore the shard of disappointment that lodged in her chest. She couldn't quite decide what was her favorite part of the previous night—having that monstrous cock buried inside her or falling asleep with her cheek squished to his hard chest. She'd actually…looked forward to waking up with him. Seeing what he looked like in sleep. Maybe even kissing him awake.

"You're up," she said, trying to keep her tone light. She sat up in the bed, holding the blankets to her chest.

"The day starts early for blacksmiths." He leaned back to reach for something on the trunk then set a tray of food in her lap. "And I wanted to fetch your breakfast."

Aislinn stared in surprise. "You brought me breakfast?"

"Of course." Leaning in, he kissed her brow before standing to his full towering height. "You have to keep your strength up."

"For what?"

He smiled wickedly, and Aislinn realized he was flirting.

Bending at the waist, he placed his lips just beside her ear to whisper, "For rutting."

Her heart kicked in her chest with excitement, and her cunt gave another throb of desire. "O-oh?"

His grin was insufferably male and had her whole body blushing. "Indeed. I mean to keep you captive today. You aren't to leave this room."

She blinked in confusion. "But…what am I to do all day?"

"You'll eat your fill. You'll take your rest. And you'll think about what the night will bring."

Aislinn thought steam rose from her cheeks, her blush was so hot at his words. She squirmed in the bed, rattling the utensils on the tray.

"I-I have much to do. I can come back—"

"No." Holding her chin with a finger and thumb, his gaze was sure, hungry, and set her alight. "You're my captive, remember? And I say you take the day off."

She swiped her tongue across her bottom lip as she considered, and his eyes tracked the movement. That deep, rumbling purr rattled to life in his chest, and Aislinn nearly choked to feel how quickly she ran slick at the sound.

The guilt of wasting an entire day sat heavily on her shoulders, but was there anything else to say but, "All right."

"Good." His smile was her reward, as was the long kiss he bestowed, his tongue teasing and playing with hers.

She'd raised a hand to clutch his tunic, nearly forgetting the tray of food, when he pulled back. She wasn't proud of the mewl of disappointment she made, but she stood by it.

"I know, vinya. The day will be even longer for me, thinking of you here, warm and naked in my bed."

"Well, at least we're in it together."

His smile was wide and happy and took Aislinn's breath away. It stayed with her even as he left her to eat and start his day.

The memory of that smile alleviated some of her shame at taking such an indulgence. She ate her breakfast at a leisurely pace and ate it all, her appetite large after the previous night.

She could still hardly believe it, and when she finished her food, set the tray aside to lay in the depression Hakon had left in the bed. Everything smelled of him—and of their lovemaking.

He'd been so gentle as he cleaned them both before rejoining her in bed, but the blankets tangled around her still held the scent of their exploits. She wouldn't normally, but there was something thrilling about laying about late into the morning in the blankets that smelled of them. It was a visceral, primeval sort of pleasure, and Aislinn decided she enjoyed it immensely.

She managed to doze for about an hour, but before long, she inevitably grew bored. Never good at sitting still, her mind turned over everything she should be doing. Fates, Brenna was probably hunting for her. Aislinn thought she was likely safe ensconced in Hakon's bedchamber; Brenna might think to look in the smithy but wouldn't check his room.

Still, the illicitness of not only laying the day away but doing so naked in the blacksmith's bed held its own pleasure. Although she was bored, she nevertheless delighted in the slowness of the day—and promise of the night.

Curiosity was a sharp complement to her desire to finally see what this rutting was all about. She thought she'd heard Sorcha mention something similar, that orcs often sequestered themselves away with their partner and didn't emerge for days.

She squeezed her thighs in anticipation. Aislinn couldn't fathom days of lovemaking, let alone staying in bed that long. She hadn't spent so long in repose since the last time she was ill.

As the morning waned, Aislinn pushed out of bed, not sure she could lay down any longer. She wanted to honor her promise, but there was nothing to do. It was a bit of a conundrum—she could dress in her nightclothes again, but there was no chance of sneaking back to her own bedchamber without being caught. Late morning and early afternoon was the busiest time of day within the castle, and even waiting for the midday meal, she risked being seen.

The staff had seen her in odder attire, to be sure, but nightclothes would garner questions. Inquiries she wasn't sure how to answer.

She wasn't ashamed of Hakon, nor of what they did—or would do. Now that she'd had her curiosity sated, Aislinn was determined to have more of him. He wasn't just a curiosity or craving; she wanted to spend her time with him, her nights with him. Fates, she didn't sit around bored for just anyone!

None of that answered what to do about this new thing between them. Their friendship had been one thing. She was friendly with all the staff to varying degrees—mostly determined by the other person. She could confide in Fia, joke with Morwen and Hugh, but wouldn't dream of that with Captain Aodhan, who insisted on a level of decorum in their exchanges.

Aislinn and Hakon were far beyond friendly now.

Her past liaisons had been kept secret, too. The fear of being found out with Brenden had had its own kind of thrill, and she and Sir Alaisdair had eventually been found out. Both had felt good in their own ways, but eventually it was the romance itself that withered.

Do I just like the secrecy? she had to wonder. Aislinn couldn't deny that three made a pattern, nor that she found the secret nature of the relationships stimulating.

Yet, she didn't like reducing Hakon to that. If she wanted a secret romance with staff, she had many to choose from, all of whom she'd known before Hakon.

Logically, then, Hakon was special.

Yes, she liked that much better.

He was special—in his own right and to her. She liked how his mind worked, and his hands, too.

The memory of how his fingers ran circles over her clitoris had her holding her heated cheeks in her hands.

Fates, focus!

She'd burn away to coals at this rate.

She liked how talented he was and how devoted, too. It took both to be successful, and Hakon rose to every challenge. He was kind, good-natured, and had a sense of humor. She could list so many excellent qualities—but he was more than them and their sum. He was Hakon, and right then, he was hers.

Aislinn could think herself in circles over the question of what their futures held. Her stomach clenched with nerves over it in a way it hadn't with Brenden or Alaisdair. Somehow, even in the throes of early, passionate love, she'd never considered that she had a long future with either of them. When the end of their romance came, she hadn't been surprised nor overly hurt.

It was different with Hakon. She couldn't say she envisioned anything specific, nor that she suddenly longed for marriage and children. This new, beautiful thing with Hakon didn't change who she was fundamentally.

But she was willing to give it room to grow. She wanted to be with him, in whatever way she could.

And perhaps that was best done in secret. She didn't need furtive glances and malicious comments poisoning what they had before it even had time to develop.

Hands on her hips, Aislinn nodded to herself, decided. She would—

"I knew it! "

Jumping in surprise, Aislinn threw her hands over her breasts and whipped toward the narrow window. Two hands clung to the outer side of the sill, and Fia's copper hair glinted in the daylight. Just her arching brows and wide eyes were visible over the stone of the sill.

Heart sinking, Aislinn didn't know what to do with herself as her maid dropped back down into the bailey and out of sight.

Fumbling, she grabbed her nightgown and tugged it over her head. She'd just gotten her arms through the sleeves of the dressing gown when Fia came marching through the door with all the confidence of a conquering general.

Closing the door quickly behind her, Fia took a long look at Aislinn.

Aislinn held perfectly still, as if Fia wouldn't see her if she didn't move.

After a terribly long moment, a smile broke across Fia's face. Insufferable and smug, she waggled her brows before handing Aislinn a bundle of things.

She took them numbly, waiting for Fia to say something.

"Brenna has the maids searching the castle top to bottom for you," said Fia, "but I had a feeling I'd find you here."

Aislinn cleared her throat, although she didn't know what to say.

Nodding at the bundle in Aislinn's arms, Fia said, "I brought one of your work kirtles, a book, and your notebook. I figured you'd be bored by now."

Deflating with relief, Aislinn finally looked at the items in her arms. Just as Fia said, one of her worn kirtles sat atop the book she'd been reading on the bridges and other maritime structures of the seaside city of Adrigoll, as well as her notebook with a portable pen stuck in the spine.

"Thank you, Fia."

Throwing her a wink, the maid said, "I know you aren't one for laying about."

Aislinn nodded absently, teeth chewing at her lower lip. "Fia…"

"I won't tell anyone," her maid assured her. "Besides, you deserve this. The laying about and the handsome blacksmith."

Aislinn looked up in surprise. "I do?"

"Of course." Fia patted her arm. "He makes you happy."

So happy. Hearing that put into words, the acknowledgement of it, touched something deep inside Aislinn. She was happy. Despite the added responsibilities and worries.

The happiness he gave her outweighed the despair that always lurked on the fringes of her spirit.

"Look at you, eyes twinkling." Smiling, Fia pulled a small bottle from her kirtle pocket. "One last thing."

Her blush only worsened to see the bottle of silphium powder.

"I thought you'd want to be safe. Unless you wanted a little green heir."

Aislinn stuck her tongue out, and Fia matched it. Soon, they devolved into making faces at each other, which was what Hakon walked into when he entered with luncheon.

Fia snorted with laughter seeing his crestfallen face as he looked sheepishly between them.

"Your secret is safe with me," she said, patting Hakon's arm as she practically skipped out the door. "I'll tell Brenna I saw you leave for town. That ought to keep her occupied." Fia pulled the door behind her, but before it closed, she leveled Hakon with a serious look. "And blacksmith? You make her happy or I'll chop you up and feed you to the pigs. There won't be anything left to find of you."

The door shut behind her in a deafening silence.

Hakon turned back to Aislinn slowly, face slack with shock.

Aislinn could only shrug. "Unfortunately, she's not exaggerating."

Hakon grinned ruefully, setting her tray of luncheon on the bed. "Oh, I agree with her. A male who doesn't please his woman should be fed to the beasts."

With her book and a little work, Aislinn spent the afternoon in a pleasant frenzy of ideas. She drafted more of the bridge, and for the first time, she didn't worry about not being prepared for her meeting with the guild-masters in a few days.

She was actually excited for it.

At least her temporary authority had a few benefits. She looked forward to breaking ground and at least getting scaffolding up before winter, to show the people of Dundúran that the Darrows were committed to improvements and the higher dues hadn't been for nothing.

The afternoon passed by quicker than she thought possible. Left alone with her book, she let her mind wander and play, and the drafts flowed freely across the pages of her notebook. By the time night fell, her heart was full, her spirit satisfied. It hadn't been a waste of a day as she'd feared, and taking the time to sit still and do something she enjoyed nourished her in a way that she unfortunately often took for granted.

Still, by the time night followed Hakon in with their dinner, she was more than ready to set aside her book.

They shared the tray of food Hakon brought from the kitchen. Prepared to eat whatever he didn't want, Aislinn was surprised to find everything was one of her preferred foods.

"Don't you prefer more meat?" she asked.

"Yes, but I'm not feeding myself."

He wouldn't hear her protests, nor of leaving again to find himself more. He only ate what she didn't, finishing off the tureen of pea soup and hunk of bread and platter of spiced carrots and beets.

She listened happily as he told her of his day, turning away maids looking for her as he and Fearghas prepared a large order from Captain Aodhan for new spearpoints. Brenna would no doubt have her suspicions but smoothing them over could wait for tomorrow.

As their meal settled, Hakon took up a comb and brushed her hair. Aislinn sat still, too amazed to contribute much to the conversation. Only Fia and sometimes Brenna brushed out her hair in the evenings. Having a man do it, having Hakon do it, was…divine.

Her lids slipped closed as she soaked up the care and comfort, the comb rasping pleasantly on her scalp. She fell into something of a trance listening to his deep baritone, surrounded by his warmth and scent.

She'd relaxed, almost gone boneless when she heard the comb being set down. His lips tickled at her ear, and flames licked through her body when he whispered, "Are you ready?"

Without opening her eyes, Aislinn leaned back into him, her head falling onto his shoulder. She reached an arm back to bury her fingers in his hair.

Aislinn hummed in pleasure. "And what does my captor intend to do with me?"

"Anything he wants." Hot kisses fell along the curve from her neck to shoulder. "It's not every day he has a beautiful lady caught in his arms."

His hands came to clasp her upper arms, and he began to slide the sleeves from her shoulders.

"First, I want you naked."

The kirtle fell away from her chest, exposing her breasts to his waiting, greedy hands. He filled his palms with them, plumping the soft flesh to tease the callused pads of his thumbs over her nipples.

Aislinn arched against him, her grip tightening in his hair.

"And second?" she asked breathlessly.

"Second—" Without warning, he whirled her around to face him and took handfuls of her kirtle, pulling it down until it pooled at her feet. "I want to fuck you all night long."

Aislinn choked on her gasp, reeling with delight as she was picked up by the waist and set back on the bed. She bounced amongst the blankets, biting back her giggling.

He quickly took her breath away, pulling his tunic over his head and unlacing his trou. He threw his clothing aside without dropping her gaze, his eyes intense as he watched her watch him take his cock in hand and pump once, twice.

She shuddered with lust, her legs falling open in welcome. "Do you intend to finally make good on your many, many promises?"

"Very good," he rumbled.

Aislinn nearly quivered to see the animalistic way he stalked toward her. The power of him, the strength suspended above her, sent a wicked thrill through her that had her cunt clenching with desire. Fates, she needed him badly. More than she needed him the night before.

She suspected she'd need him even more tomorrow.

He loomed above her, and for a moment, he kept her in delicious suspense, that hot gaze devouring her from head to toe. Finally, his hands came up to grip her knees. He pushed her even wider, opening her to him, and she shivered at the cool air whispering against her weeping cunt.

With deliberate movements, he got on his knees and lowered his mouth to exactly where she needed him. Aislinn watched on, holding her breath, not sure if she could bear to feel his hot mouth and teasing tongue there or if she could survive another moment without it.

Keeping her gaze captive with his, he spread her with his fingers and lapped at her with the flat of his tongue. Nearly arching off the bed, Aislinn saw stars, body quaking as his mouth began to move. His lips nipped and teased, his tongue coming after to soothe.

He lavished everywhere but her clitoris with attention, tasting and suckling until she whined and throbbed. Raking her fingers through his hair, she tried to pull him closer, to where she needed him, but he only smiled against her slick flesh and pressed lazy kisses to her inner thighs.

Aislinn didn't know how long he kept her there, on the edge of the bed and knife's blade of oblivion. His tongue speared inside her, making her cry out, filling the room with her sobs and pleas for release. He took no mercy on her, swirling that wicked tongue and running a finger teasingly along the edge of her mons.

"Hakon—!"

Gripping her thighs, his mouth finally fell on her clitoris. He wrapped his tongue around it and nearly felled her with a single pull.

Aislinn's hips rolled, but she found no relief. Her cunt clenched around nothing, and she growled at him with desperation.

He bared his small tusks at her in return. "I need you at least half as desperate for me as I am for you."

She opened her mouth to retort, but then she was on her front, her legs being spread wide and her knees pushed up under her.

"Yesyesyes," she sang when his cockhead teased her entrance.

His great chest seared her back when he fell over her. Caged by his bulging arms, Aislinn did everything she could to push her hips back to meet his.

"Once I start, I won't stop." The words fell hotly against her ear.

" Good, " she growled, setting her teeth in the meat of his forearm.

With a rumbling growl, he breached her. Aislinn's mouth fell open around a moan of agonizing pleasure. Her arms gave out, dropping her front to the bed, and Hakon's cock slid home in one thrust.

Stretched wide, full to the brim, pinned beneath him, Aislinn could only lay there. Her ears rang, her mind struggled to form a thought other than— more, move, please!

Her hips twitched and then pushed back as much as she could. It was less than an inch perhaps, but it was more than enough.

A growl buzzed in her ear, and then one of his hands was holding both of hers in front of her, stretching her torso, while the other delved beneath them to find her clitoris. That merciless finger ran circles around the sensitive flesh with every thrust, drowning her in sensation.

She didn't know where to focus or what to think. Reduced to only movement, she could do nothing but receive his brutal lovemaking.

His cock pistoned inside her, his hips crashing against her in a maelstrom. Slick dripped onto the bed between them and soaked his hand, his fingers sliding through her folds in a frenetic rhythm. He reached inside her with every stroke, emptying her of all that came before. She cried out when he retreated, only to cry out in ecstasy with his return.

She didn't know how many times she climaxed or if she ever stopped. She lost time, she lost all sense. Her body was a single exposed nerve, surrounded by Hakon. He bore down on her, unrelenting, unforgiving.

He bit the blankets beside her as he filled her with spend, the hot ropes burning her from the inside out. Aislinn shuddered, and his arms closed around her tight. His hips lost their rhythm, and as he snarled with release, she thought she finally understood what it meant to be rutted.

She had no idea, though.

For it was only a moment later that he reared up and rolled her onto her back. His cock glistened with their fluids and dripped with spend, and although it'd gone a bit soft, he wasted no time spreading her legs and burying himself to the hilt.

Aislinn gasped, flesh oversensitive and overwhelmed. When he lowered himself to her, she grabbed him in her arms, their mouths seeking and desperate. Their tongues mimicked the rhythm of their hips, slick and smacking.

It wasn't long before Aislinn found release again, her pleasure bordering on pain as her muscles clenched greedily around his cock. Her body never wanted to give him up, never wanted to let go. She wrapped arms and legs around him, refusing to part.

She'd hardly caught her breath before he rolled both of them this time, putting her above him. Still buried inside her, he guided her hips with those big hands to find a rhythm. Aislinn could hardly hold herself up, but she splayed her hands across that glorious chest and moved, chasing down another searing climax.

He had a little mercy on her near midnight, ensuring she ate and drank. But when she expected to be taken into his arms and fall asleep again listening to his heartbeat, she was instead pulled down the bed and her legs thrown over his shoulder. Her mouth opened wide around a silent scream, her throat already sore from her cries and moans.

His cock sank inside, and he told her in a rumbling growl to play with her breasts. She did mindlessly, her limbs boneless, her breasts overstimulated. He watched her avariciously, thrusting harder whenever she kneaded or played with herself.

The sight of him watching her somehow drew another climax out of her. She didn't think it possible, nor the next one or the next. He wrung pleasure out of her she didn't think herself capable of. The night sank into the wee hours and still he was hungry for her.

It wasn't until the gray light of predawn filtered through the small window that he relented. Aislinn fell exhausted into the blankets and let him arrange her how he wanted, spread over him like another blanket.

A tender kiss was pressed into her forehead before she fell into the deepest sleep of her life.

My mate. My beautiful, perfect mate, echoed in her dreams.