Chapter 10

Roxanna

Varkaan made short work of his kilt, spreading the woolen plaid out over the grass. Eagerly I reached for his erect cock, but he captured my wrists and pulled me flush against him. Breathless I tipped my head back to hold his gaze.

"Ye feel that, my pretty little human?" he rumbled. "Ye feel how much I want ye?"

"Och, Mate…" I leaned forward and brushed my lips over his chest, the highest I could reach. "I can feel your cock. I want your cock. I want you to claim me." Another kiss. "Do you want that?"

He was unamused by my teasing. "Malla the Beginner kens how badly I want to make ye mine, Roxanna. Are ye certain ‘tis what ye want? To be mine, to stay with me?"

"Varkaan…" Another teasing kiss, against his nipple this time, to make him squirm. "I already am yours. Gelma explained ‘tis what this knowing is, the way I feel about you. We are Mated, and you are my future."

His brows had drawn down in what seemed like a wince. "Ye want that, Roxanna? For certes?"

"For certes, Varkaan," I whispered, pushing myself up on my toes to brush a kiss over his chin. "I love you."

He reared back. "How can ye ken that? I left ye in the village…"

"I know you ." The words spilled from me, from someplace deep within me, a certainty I could not explain. "I learned all about you, and what I know, I love. I want to be yours…if you will have me."

" Fook , Roxanna," he growled, moments before his lips lowered to capture mine.

Fook Roxanna, aye ! The joy threatened to overwhelm me again, and then we were lowering ourselves to the plaid.

He rolled to his back and pulled me over his chest. It was natural to straddle him, to press the tip of his cock against my still-weeping entrance. Just being this close to my Mate was pushing my pleasure to heights I had not expected.

The Clinging Vine , I suddenly remembered. That's what A Harlot's Guide had called this position, with the woman on top while the man lay supine. I couldn't help my grin; I wondered if the author of that book had ever straddled a male quite like my Varkaan.

His hands closed around my thighs. "Ye are certain, firebrand? I'm a large male."

I had had his cock in my mouth. "I know," I smirked, pressing backward until his cock spread my cunny lips. "I can handle you."

He was breathing heavily. "Then get ready."

"For what?" I asked, even as I slid down atop the length of his cock.

His cock was large, larger than I had had in the past, wider than I thought possible. But thanks to his earlier ministrations, I was well-lubricated, and I took each of his ridges with gasps and moans of pleasure as he stretched me.

But to my surprise, as soon as I was fully seated upon him, another climax burst over me. I gasped again and arched atop him, legs stretched impossibly wide.

"For that," Varkaan murmured .

When my breathing returned to normal, and I could focus once more, I saw him smirking. "What was that?"

"That, my pretty little Mate, was for ye." His hands slid up my sides to cup my breasts. "To prepare ye to take my cock."

God's Wounds . As Varkaan rolled my nipples, I moaned and squirmed against his cock, still unable to believe I could take him so deeply. "I am prepared."

"Ye are."

And he began to move.

At first, ‘twas slow. He bounced his pelvis up and then down, the movements minute, as his hands continued to enflame my skin. I loved it when he pinched and squeezed my nipples this way, as if he knew they could take his abuse.

Emboldened, I began to rock, forward and backward, sliding my wet lips over his cock, until his breathing began to stutter and his fingers squeezed me harshly.

"Varkaan?" I moaned, my own desperation making it difficult for me to focus.

"Torvor's Hammer, love, I need ye. I need to claim ye."

Oh, thank God! I leaned forward, bracing my palms against his shoulders, and stared into the green of his eyes.

"Then take me, Mate."

‘Twas the word Mate which triggered my orc. With a muted roar, Varkaan's hands closed around my hips, his claws springing free just enough to dimple my skin as he planted his feet and began to thrust up into my wetness.

I have no idea how long either of us lasted as I felt yet another climax building. This had naught to do with his pace or my arousal anymore…this was about the connection we shared, and what was possible between us.

What would be possible between us, in the years to come.

Varkaan's hand crept to my core, his knuckles brushing my curls. I lifted my weight on my knees, inviting him in, and as I did, I saw the mark he'd made on my upper thigh.

Where he had claimed me.

Forever .

"Roxanna," he panted, and I lifted my gaze to his.

His knuckles found my clitoris, and he pinched, giving me the pressure I needed to come .

As my inner muscles spasmed for the third time, my eyes widened and my mouth opened. "Varkaan," I breathed in wonder, my bliss spilling over me.

He was grinning when he thrust up into me twice, thrice… And with a mighty groan, he spilled deep, deep within me.

I held his gaze, the sensation truly miraculous. His smile widened as he pumped into me, each movement releasing another flood against my womb…and I smiled in return.

God help me, I wanted to smile for the rest of my days. With this male.

Long moments passed before the pair of us sank, sated, together, but we had yet to release one another's gazes. Panting, I let my head drop now, my hair forming a curtain around us.

"I love you," I whispered, the only thing I could think to say at that moment.

Varkaan's arms came around me, and he pressed me against him. This pulled his cock free, and I felt a twinge of sadness as he slid from my body. But then he was rolling, so the cool plaid was at my back and his hard body covered me.

His weight rested on his forearms and I wrapped my arms around his waist as far as I could as his hands cupped the top of my head.

"Ye understand what it means to be Mated, Roxanna?" he asked, uncharacteristically serious. "'Tis taken me this long to figure out what these feelings in me meant. I was an idiot for not realizing you were mine—I thought I was protecting ye by leaving. Being away from ye these last days…" He flinched, making a disgusted noise. "I dinnae want to repeat them. But now I ken ye're my Mate…"

I squeezed him. "There is naught for me in my father's world. He hoped sending me with my sister would find me a husband, and I could have told him I would do naught the easy way. I found my own husband, one of my choosing."

Varkaan's lips slowly curled. "My wee firebrand."

"I want to be a part of your village," I told him somberly, truthfully. "I want to be part of your life and the Bladesedge Clan. Sorcha will be the Chieftess, and I want to be the wife of the clan's hunter."

He lowered his lips to brush against my forehead. "Wife. Husband. These are human words."

"I know." I did know. "Here, I will be your Mate. And you will be mine?"

His hands moved to cup my head, and he lifted me toward him. "I'll never give ye cause to doubt that. My Mate. My forever ," he vowed, as his lips claimed mine.

Rejoicing, I curled myself around him and returned the kiss.

Forever .