Chapter 25

Chapter Twenty-Five

S howered, dressed, and full of steak and salad, I feel human once more. All of my mates, except Kirk, stand and gather the dishes.

"We talked and decided after dinner we'd each reconnect with you."

"Did you forget what tomorrow is?" I circle a flower on my black dress with a floral pattern.

"That's why we need to do it." Cadoc rattles the plate in his hand. "We've become more than a group with a common goal. We're a clan. Part of keeping us healthy is removing ourselves from stressful situations and recharging."

"We should be planning, researching and?—"

Kirk reaches across the table and covers my hand with his. "It's time to take time to ourselves. No more worrying for the rest of the evening. Doctor's orders."

"Okay, that's cheating." I sink into the chair, outnumbered, and taxed.

"That right there." Bo gestures to me. "Is why we're pressing pause."

"Let us take care of you tonight, Ylva." Fell pleads with his eyes.

The green orbs should be illegal. I can't resist him after what we've learned today. Sighing, I nod.

"I'm up first." Kirk stands, walks around the table and offers his hand.

I take it, allowing him to help me up as my excitement grows. What did they set up on such short notice? Having them care for me as a group heals the abandoned inner child used to being alone.

"Join me for an evening stroll?" Kirk tucks my hand into the crook of his arm.

I smile at his manners. "Yes." I admire the French doors that swing open to a stunning new world. "Oh."

Tiny white fairy lights help create a magical space. Large white blooms tilt up toward the moonlight. Peebles line the path like a classic English Garden. A weeping willow hangs down, creating a private oasis in the distance. I glimpse a cozy table for two hiding behind the leaves of its swaying branches. Rows of white flowers mix with taller green plants, creating a striking contrast.

"It's a moon garden," I whisper.

"Yes." Kirk smiles. "I explored it after my shower. It buts up to the edge of her herb garden a few acres down."

He moves the branches, revealing a mini picnic laid on a green flannel blanket. "I thought we deserved dessert." The heart shape wicker basket makes me giggle.

"I've never experienced anything like this," I whisper.

"Then you're overdue." He helps me sink onto the blanket.

"How did you manage this?"

"Cal helped." He grins. I love seeing him so open and relaxed.

"Of course she'd have this lying around." I shake my head.

Opening the basket, Kirk dishes up whipped cream and strawberries on green heart plates. He sits behind me, surrounding me with his body.

I haven't been alone with him since Sanctuary. Relaxing, I rest my back to his front.

He releases a deep breath. "Open wide." Running a ripe berry through the cream, he feeds me. I take a bite, moaning when the juice explodes on my tongue, sweet and tart. Eyes drifting closed, I embrace the moment. Bracketed by his muscular arms, I'm safe and adored. "Delicious isn't it?" He brings the next bite to his mouth.

Turning my head, I admire his full lips. It sure is.

"More?"

"Yes, please."

Smiling, he shows his dimple and grabs another fat berry. Tracing my mouth with the tip, he teases me. I part my lips.

"So polite." His husky voice runs down my spine like a finger. I shiver. He gathers more cream and continues to offer bites.

"This is almost as sweet as you." He kisses my neck. "Being with you has made me feel human again. You make me believe I can find happiness amidst the storm. I want the future we're building." His lips caress the shell of my ear.

I lean further into him. He tightens his arms around me and kisses my cheek.

"I'm falling for you, Ylva."

I tilt my head, jaw dropped.

He smiles. "Took me by surprise, too. I haven't allowed myself to want anything in a long time." Massaging my thigh, he works away my tension. "Then you came with your light, laughter, and strength."

He gathers my dress in his first, pulling it up my legs. His warm fingers brush the inside of my thighs. Lost in his dark gaze, I part my legs.

"My sweetness." He kisses the corner of my mouth. I turn, seeking full contact.

Past be damned. This man is my mate. The sweet, thoughtful, brave man who's worked to right wrongs for years.

His lips connect with mine. Our bond hums happily. Our tongues tangle. I taste sweetness, fruit, and man. I cup the back of his head, deepening the kiss.

He strokes higher, avoiding the area I want him most. I roll my hips and he chuckles.

"Does my mate want more?"

"Yes." I nip his swollen bottom lip.

Growling, he palms my pussy. "You're soaked."

My body vibrates with arousal. He presses his thumb to my clit through my underwear. I thrust against it.

"Take what you need."

Spearing my legs wider, I circle my hips, mimicking his rhythm.

"So beautiful when you chase your pleasure. Let me see you cum, beautiful." Peppering my jawline with kisses, he moves my panties to the side and slips two fingers inside.

Legs trembling, and lips parted, I pant. "Kirk." His name echoes into the night as I grip his thighs.

His chest rumbles against my back. "That's right, sweet girl. I'm the one who made you feel so good."

Gushing, I flood my panties, going limp against him. He sucks his fingers into his mouth. I whimper.

"You ready for my cock now?"

I nod, and he laughs. "Scoot up."

The clank of his belt opening and the sound of the zipper pulling down makes my heart race. He shoves his pants down. "Ride me."

Pushing my panties aside, I straddle him and ease down the hard length he's fisting. Head thrown back, I wiggle my hips as I work myself down. Coating him with my wetness, I groan as he fills me.

Bottoming out, I grip my ankles. He leans back and I rock. Gripping my hips, he drives up. I tighten my walls as I grind into him. He brushes against my front walls, and I flex involuntarily as he hits a spot inside me that steals my breath.

"That's it. Ride me just like that."

Leaning forward, I move faster. The muscles in my lower belly draw taut. "I'm close."

"Bring me with you."

Shaking, I lock down on him, pushing us both over the edge. A bright light explodes behind my lids. He explodes in me.

Breathing hard, I collapse back against him as he holds me close. "Thank you."

I blow strands of my hair away from my face. Struggling to catch my breath, I snicker. "For what? We both enjoyed that."

"Giving me a second chance."

"We all owe you an apology. You did the best you could given the circumstances, Kirk. I won't judge you for surviving. Just. No more secrets, please."

"No more," he agrees.

The strange rift between us pulls closer together. Humming, I bask in the high.

"Enjoy yourselves?" Fell walks toward us with a knowing smile on his lips.

"A lot of it." Kirk eases out, covering my pussy back up with my panties. Smoothing down my dress, he gives me a last lingering kiss. "Thank you for an amazing evening."

"You're welcome." I grin wickedly as he zips up his pants and stands.

"Enjoy your date." He winks at Fell as he walks out from under the weeping willow branches.

"I figured you might need this." Fell hands me a cold bottle of water.

I bark a laugh. Grateful, I unscrew the cap and down half the bottle. "Thank you. I needed that."

Shifting his weight, he peers down at me. "Do you remember when we were younger how we'd look at the stars and talk about our dreams? I thought we could do that again."

"Okay," I stand, and he moves the blanket outside of the shelter. He lays down and I join him, snuggling against the warmth of his body. Head propped on his shoulder, I inhale rosemary, lemon and salt.

"I learned some new things since then."

"Show me?" Slipping back into our hobby feels good.

"The Norse had different stories for the constellations." He points to Orion's belt.

"They called this Fiskikelar, the fisherman. For them, it was the side of a Viking ship. When I missed you at night, I'd stare at this one and wonder what you were doing. I'd pray for you success and safety."

"Fell." It's the last thing I expected him to say. My stomach knots.

"Shh. Let me tell my story." He kisses my cheek.

"The Big Dipper." He traces it out with his pointer finger.

"Was Karlavagen, the Chariot of Karl. For them, it was a wagon. I'd dream about going to you, making amends and getting you back."

"Why didn't you?" I whisper, chest aching.

"Something always stopped me. Fear of rejection or the feeling that too much time had passed. I know now it was the spell. It prevented me from bridging the distance between us. I was terrified my family would be hurt if I left. It was so deep-rooted, I had violet nightmares daily until we moved. I knew it was linked to you, but I couldn't figure out why. I distanced myself from them and told them to avoid any connection with you. She wanted me isolated and paranoid. Her hex did more than keep me silent. It clouded my thinking. I hate how she asked after all of us."

Remaining quiet, I let him purge. He'd suffered right alongside me, and it was all her fault.

"I knew she was a monster. But I underestimated how dangerous she was."

"None of us knew that. She played the game well." I place a hand over his heart.

"I should've been stronger."

"No." I place two fingers over his lips. "This isn't on you." I temper my anger. It's not what Fell needs.

"I let you think I never loved you."

"Show me now." I brush my lips over his.

He fixes his smoldering gaze on me. Rolling us over, he presses his body to mine. Parting my legs, I cradle his body, savoring the feeling of his body, guilt free.

I run my hand up to his neck and pull his mouth to mine. We kiss slowly. He's thorough, leaving no part of my mouth unexplored. Our tongues twine. His hardness presses against me.

Moving my head, I deepen the kiss and roll my hips. Moaning, he teases me with his bulge. Breath hitching at the friction, I surface for air.

"Make love to me, Fell. Knot me."

His eyes widen.

"She stole that from us. I want to take it back."

"Okay, baby." Lifting, he fumbles with his belt while I unbutton his jeans and pull down the zipper.

We shove his pants down. He kicks off his shoes and kicks the puddle of clothing free.

I yank up my dress, and he rips my panties away.

"Already slick and ready for me." Voice distorted, he pushes Kirk's spend back inside me and I whimper. Taking a knot outside of mating takes powerful emotion or a deep connection. We have plenty of both.

Gripping the head of his dick, he eases inside me. I gasp, arching as he bottoms out. Slow and languid, we kiss sloppily. My nipples strain against my bra. The sensation makes me whimper.

"I love you, Ylva."

Tears roll down my face. "I love you too."

Moving faster, he holds my hips tight. The pressure builds inside me. My heart races.

"Get there for me, baby," he coaxes.

Toes curling, I shake through completion, flexing around him. He grunts, swelling. I whimper as his knot presses against my entrance.

"Let me in, baby."

I gasp as he locks into place with a pop. Our eyes lock as he breaks apart, pumping me full of his seed.

Burying his face into my neck, he rests his body over mine. I clutch him close, embracing our history. No one is going to take him away from me again. I climb up from sleep as Fell pulls free.

"Time to clean you up, brat." Cadoc wraps me in a blanket and lifts me into his arms.

"Hmm." I nuzzle his neck, waking in small increments as he enters the house and takes the stairs to our room.

In the bathroom, he removes my clothes, and places me into the whirlpool tub, and I groan. Jacuzzi jets massage my back. Kneeling beside me, he lathers a washcloth with lavender scented soap.

"Better?"

"This feels amazing." I sigh.

"Good." He starts with my hand, cleaning between each finger. Seeing the large man humbling himself to worship me so completely is mind blowing.

Working his thumbs into the fleshy meat of my palms. A conductor; he plays my body beautifully, wringing every bit of tension from me.

Lifting me out of the water, he dries me off with a towel and leads me to the bed where Bo is waiting with wine.

"What about you?" I ask sleepily.

"All I needed was to make sure you were okay." He kisses my forehead.

"Every surrender you give me is beautiful, brat. It doesn't need to be sexual." He finishes drying me off and pulls a nightgown from my suitcase.

"Arms up." I comply. He pulls the pajamas over my head.

"Enjoy your time with Bo. We'll all be back to sleep soon."

"Okay, Daddy." The words slip free. My cheeks flame with embarrassment. "I don't know where that came from," I whisper.

"Later," he promises, eyes blazing.

I nod as Bo chuckles.

"Well, aren't you full of surprises, princess?" He offers me a glass of red. "This is a Merlot. It'll help you sleep because of the melatonin." He swirls his glass. "Shall we toast to us?"

"What about?" I ask coyly, studying him from under my lashes.

"To new friendships leading to more." His sly expression makes me snicker.

"To us," I agree, ready to move forward together.

A bright, full smile spreads across his lips. His eyes crinkle in the corners and my tummy flips. He's showing me an unknown part of himself. Guard down, he looks so much younger.

The silence between us is pleasant as we finish our night cap. Body's resting against each other, there's nothing that needs to be said.

Eyes drooping, I set the empty glass on the nightstand. Bo folds back the sheets.

"In you go. The others will be here shortly. It's Fell and Kirk's turn to sleep beside you tonight, but I'll hold you for now." He kisses my forehead sweetly, and I melt into a puddle. His chest rumbles. The vibration lulls me into a sound sleep.