Chapter 25

Fuck me.

Theywere shocking words, a shocking demand, ringing out bare between them, into this damned open room. Into where anyone could see it, still, and how had Louisa forgotten that, oh gods —

Butbeneath her, Ulfarr was smiling again, watching her with warm steady eyes, as his big hands gently drew her a little upwards. So she was kneeling straddled over his lap, oh hell — and Killik gave her one last cold, mocking look before shifting around… behind her. Behind her, so he could settle himself between Ulfarr's knees, and begin sliding up her skirts.

Louisawas already shivering, her heart pounding, her gaze darting sideways — toward where Polly and her orc had apparently finished their own activities, and were now curled up together, and casting curious glances toward them. Enough that Louisa froze again, the heat burning through her cheeks — but wait, oh, that was a gentle clamp of claws on her thigh, a silent but certain reprimand behind her.

"Eyes on Wolf, woman," Killik's low voice snapped. "You shall pay heed to naught else but us, whilst we plough you."

Itsent a furious shudder up Louisa's trembling body, as a low moan escaped her mouth — but somehow, she obeyed. Her gaze back on the safety of Ulfarr's face, the softness of his smile, the raw, shimmering hunger of his eyes. He wanted this, wanted her, his hand again rising, gently stroking at her hair…

"Good, Wolf," came Killik's voice, as his hands kept sliding up Louisa's skirts, his knees nudging hers wider apart. Exposing her, opening her, baring her for all this room to see…

AndLouisa was just… letting him. Just gasping and shivering and waiting for him, he still wouldn't, he wasn't, he —

There. A touch. Warm, firm, alive. Jutting just there, straight into Louisa's slick, swollen-feeling heat. And not holding, not waiting, just — sinking. Pressing. Taking. Fucking. The feel of it so hard, so hot, carving into her with such smooth, steady certainty, until —

"Fuck," Louisa gasped, as Killik's hips gently slapped hers, his cock already plunged fully inside, buried all the way into her slick clamping heat. "Oh, gods."

Itsounded like a whimper, a prayer, and behind her, Killik actually laughed, and gave her bare arse a light little slap. "Ach, you ought to pray, woman," he drawled, as he eased back again, drawing himself out, oh hell, oh please. "Ought to beg for your strong Skai ploughing."

Gods, the audacity of this utter prick, and Louisa somehow growled over her shoulder, her eyes narrowing at Killik's smug watching face. At where he just kept smirking back at her, mocking her, as he raised his brows, and snapped his hips forward. Again seating himself deep in one sharp, devastating stroke, while Louisa shuddered and moaned, and nearly collapsed onto Ulfarr beneath her.

Killik'slaugh rang into the air, hard and bright and gleeful, and this time he ground himself deep, made her feel it, made her clutch and spasm and writhe beneath it. And fuck, fuck, she wanted him, she hated him, he was mocking her and using her and — and punishing her, and —

"Look at me, Louisa," came a voice, Ulfarr's voice, so low and certain beneath her — and yes, yes, he was still here, he was still just calmly lying there and watching this, his big hand still caught in her hair. WhileLouisa could scarcely breathe, or move, or even focus her eyes on his face. "You must breathe, ach? Draw down deep from the air, from this strong bed beneath you."

Wait, what? It — it sounded like Killik, exactly like Killik, but if Killik was paying attention, he wasn't letting on. Just sliding himself out of Louisa again, almost all the way — and then slamming back inside, in another jolting, dizzying stroke. WhileUlfarr just kept watching, his eyes so steady, so patient, his other hand now stroking at Louisa's hot cheek. "Breathe with me, Louisa," he said, as his own breath slowly drew in, swelling his chest beneath her. "In, and out."

Right, right, and Louisa somehow, somehow, obeyed. Hauling in a gulping, shaky breath, heaving it out, as Ulfarr did the same beneath her, and kept stroking his steady hand at her face. "Good," he said. "Again. Breathe, and settle. Seek to be soft and steady, so you can welcome Killik's strong Skai ploughing."

Again, it was too close to Killik's own words, too strange and surreal on Ulfarr's mouth — but Louisa was still obeying, nodding, as she fought to hold his eyes, to follow his breaths. WhileKillik's thrusts just kept picking up speed, that rigid strength driving into her again and again and again. Hurling her full of sharp, staggering sensation, flaring it out from the deepest core of her, so intense and utterly overwhelming that it took every shred of her awareness to keep watching Ulfarr, keep finding that breath…

"Good," Ulfarr said, though his eyes on Louisa's were glittering now, and it looked like his breaths were taking more effort, too. "Ach, this is very good. It is not every woman who can bear such a strong Skai ploughing, ach? Most of all from a Skai" — his gaze flicked beyond Louisa's shoulder — "as fierce and lusty as Killik, bearing a prick just as sharp and true as his blades."

Oh, hell, Ulfarr was not saying such things, talking about Killik's vicious slamming prick with such astonishing eloquence, with such warm, genuine approval in his eyes. While he just kept breathing with Louisa, holding her through this, guiding her through this, please…

"You show us great honour, Louisa," he continued, through his own still-heaving breaths, "when you welcome this. When you open so sweetly for us, and allow us to fill you, and fuck you."

Itwas so much, too much, his soft filthy words, his gentle touching hands, his warm hungry eyes. Still in such shocking, stunning contrast to Killik's sharp, squelching plunges inside her, and — Louisa flinched all over — another firm slap of his clawed hand to her arse.

"So good," came Ulfarr's crooning voice, between his still-steady breaths. "And this shall be even better if you beg him, ach? If you ask for the great gift of his scent, and his strong Skai seed. I ken you shall both welcome this, ach?"

Oh, it was everything, they were everything, and Louisa was nodding, babbling, breaking apart, please. "P-please, Killik," she choked, her voice cracking, her eyes rolling back. "Please. Grant me. Your — your scent. Your — strong Skai seed."

Andwhat the hell was she saying, why was she doing this — but yes, yes, that was Killik's hiss, harsh and hot behind her, as his slamming hips drove deep one last time, and — and stayed. Stayed, held, as Louisa's slick, helpless heat clutched and convulsed at him, stroking his stabbing length in some obscene mockery of intimacy —

Untiloh, fuck, there it was. The raw, visceral sensation of that rigid cock swelling, locking, and — spraying. Blasting out into her, flooding Louisa with spurt after spurt of his hot slick seed. Pouring it inside her, Killik was emptying himself inside her, and he — he was even groaning as he did it, the sound low but unmistakable behind her. And with it, now, the lurid sounds of wetness, of slick slippery squelching, as he gave a few more brief, experimental little plunges, his shaft slowly softening inside her.

"Now you, Wolf," came his voice, mild and astonishingly even. "Quickly, to keep the seed within."

Thewords seemed to scrape past Louisa's reeling thoughts, her still-scrabbling craving, because how could Killik even speak like this, think like this, let alone guide her shaky body downwards like this, toward where — yes — Ulfarr's hard, leaking head was already nudging, guided by both his and Killik's hands. Shifting closer, pressing up easy and hungry against Killik's softening bulk, so they could —

Sothey could switch. SoKillik could slip out of her, just as Ulfarr's hot, fat, pulsing head could push in. Releasing only a small spurt of Killik's slick seed around it, and fuck, Louisa was again arching, shouting, shaking all over, as that huge jut of flesh stretched her wide open around its slick silken crown, and then began gently pressing its way up inside.

Itwas so much, so powerful, just as devastating as Killik had been, despite the comparative gentleness of its thrust. No slamming, no shoving, just that massive dizzying slide, that steady inexorable occupation. Ulfarr was going to fill her, he was going to stretch her to her absolute limit, and she was going to take it, to welcome it, just as she'd welcomed it with Killik, oh please —

"Good, Wolf?" came Killik's low voice behind Louisa, as his hard, sweaty body hitched closer behind her, his hands spreading on her hips beneath her skirts. Guiding her downwards, too, wanting her to do this, to take this, yes, oh gods, yes —

"A-ach," came Ulfarr's gasping moan, and when Louisa's hazy eyes focused on him again, she found his eyes squeezed shut, his head arching back, the cords tight and exposed in his scarred throat. "So — sweet. So — so tight."

Eventhe words had Louisa clamping harder against him, making his entire upper body curl up, his head whipping back and forth. "Ach," he gasped again. "Like a — a sweet perfect mouth, but with — no end. Like — naught — naught else. You are — wondrous, Louisa."

Oh, gods, oh please, Louisa was shivering all over again, her upper body skittering down heavy onto him, onto his frantic heaving chest. His previous steady breaths now lost in his own chaos, his own need, his own body still driving, pressing, deeper and deeper. And wait, Killik was touching him, touching them, his warm hand stroking between their legs, exploring against their taut locking bodies…

"Ach, I am glad I readied her as much as I did for you, then," came Killik's reply, his voice still impossibly smooth, even clinical. "Is my seed helping also, you ken?"

Ulfarr'snod was fervent, desperate, his hand now powerfully shaking against where it was still caught in Louisa's hair, and Killik huffed an amused laugh as he leaned forward, and carefully plucked the hand away. Settling it on Louisa's bare arse instead, oh gods, and Ulfarr moaned as he grasped her, as he sank deeper, tighter, fuller, just on that perfect quivering edge of pain. And oh, that was again Killik's hand, brazenly stroking against their joined bodies, caressing them, and then drawing back, and giving them a light, taunting slap.

"All the way," Killik said coolly. "She bore my ploughing, Wolf, and your rassja, so she can surely bear this, ach? Now breathe, woman, and welcome my wolf inside you."

Gods, Louisa loathed him, she loved him, she needed all of this, more of this, these deep dragging breaths, that firm stroking hand, this huge unyielding strength filling her, opening her, anchoring her upon it. Pressing just a little harder, a little deeper, she needed more, please, breathe, more. AndUlfarr did too, his eyes wild and frantic and shot with craving, with frenzied urgent need, more, breathe, more —

"Ach, sweet Louisa," he choked, between his dragging breaths. "You are — you feel — so good, so perfect, you cannot wish for — for —"

"More," Louisa finished for him, quivering and convulsing all over, drinking up his face, his longing, his beauty, the memory of his sweet filthy instructions from only moments ago. "Please, Ulfarr. Please, grant me — your strength. Your — scent. Your — your strong Skai seed. I — I need it, I need to have it, please —"

Andfuck, yes, the way his eyes rolled back, as his hips jolted up, finally burying himself all the way. Slamming her full of sharp, shattering sensation, pleasure and pain and more power than she'd ever held in her life. As this huge orc relented, released, obeyed. Spraying into her with a raw, disbelieving shout, his entire body arching and thrashing beneath her as he poured, flooding her full of him, swarming her with his strength and his seed —

Butsomehow, it was Killik's strong body holding her there, holding her safe — and that was Killik's hand, slipping swift and certain against her front, grinding just above where Ulfarr's spasming cock was jammed inside her, oh fuck. And now it was Louisa thrashing and screaming, her face buried into Ulfarr's hot throat, while the blasting barrelling bliss shot through her again and again, blacking out her sight and her breath, ravaging her whole beneath it.

Shedidn't know how long they rode it together, gasping and trembling and clutching one another — but when her awareness flickered back again, she was utterly slack, utterly spent. Collapsed heavy and sweaty on Ulfarr's hard heaving body, as streams of hot sticky wetness oozed out from between them, and pooled down toward the bed.

Butif either Killik or Ulfarr noticed, they didn't seem to care, and Ulfarr's huge shaking arms had tentatively curled around Louisa's back, cradling her closer against him. Wanting this, truly wanting her here like this, folding her so warm and safe into his embrace, into his rapidly beating heart.

Andoh, it was too much, too strong, escaping in a strange choking gasp from Louisa's mouth, as wetness squeezed hot and shameful from her eyes. As if — wait, she wasn't weeping, was she? Oh gods, oh gods, she was weeping over this, where they both could see it, and what was happening to her, she —

"Hush, woman," came Killik's drawling voice, too close beside her — and when Louisa blinked her leaking eyes open, he was here again, lying casually on the bed beside them, his head propped in his hand. "There is no shame in a Skai's bed. AndI ken" — he smirked at her — "any worthy woman ought to weep with joy, after gaining two strong Skai pricks in one night."

Itwas enough to slightly settle Louisa's shaky breaths, and she blinked her eyes, and made a halfhearted attempt at a snort. "You," she breathed, her voice a thick rasp. "You are such a — such a —"

Butthere were no words, nothing but bright swaying warmth, and something damnably like gratitude — and Killik barked a low, rolling laugh, and patted his hand at her sticky cheek. "Such a magnificent Skai bedmate, I ken," he crooned. "You ought to have witnessed how you quaked and squealed beneath my good strong ploughing."

Eventhe thought set Louisa shivering again, blatantly betraying her to Killik's keen watching eyes, and he laughed again, shook his head. "Or mayhap I ought to say," he continued lightly, "how you danced and wept beneath my command, until you collapsed upon my stage. And upon the sweet stabbing seat of my wolf's perfect prick."

Louisa'sshaky, helpless laugh escaped before she could stop it, even as Ulfarr's huge sticky body gave a curious little shudder beneath her. And when she shifted up to look, he was blinking back and forth between them, as flares of awe and longing and disbelief flashed across his eyes. As if he couldn't possibly fathom what this was, or how it had happened, and as Louisa blinked her prickling eyes back down at him, there was only more of that strange, stilted gratitude, quivering so strong it felt like it might break. Gods, he'd been so kind, so sweet, so — so wonderful, and —

"Fine, Killik, I'll give you that," she heard herself say, hoarse, though her eyes were still on Ulfarr's dazed face. "Your wolf does have a perfect prick, doesn't he? And he's such a perfect gentleman, too, and so damned handsome. With a perfect body, and a perfect smile, and" — she hauled in breath, gave a wobbly half-smile at Ulfarr's incredulous face — "and just… everything, sweetheart, everything."

Hervoice cracked, her head shaking, and oh, that was the water again, pooling behind her eyes. "This was so good," she whispered, and she meant it, meant it so much it ached. "So fucking good, sweetheart."

Andit — it was. It had been quite possibly the most meaningful, most powerful thing Louisa had ever, ever known. Strong enough that for a blessed, beautiful moment, LordScall finally felt like a vague, distant memory, overlaid with Ulfarr's kindness, his patience, his praise. His… peace.

But— wait. The way Ulfarr was looking back at her, blinking back at her, his mouth twisting, his head suddenly lurching back and forth. "N-no," he croaked, the word harsh in his throat. "No. N-not thus. Not."

Somethingcold streaked up Louisa's spine, recoiled her a little backwards — oh, gods, had this not been good for him, after all? — and Ulfarr blanched, betrayed a full-body flinch beneath her. Hard enough that his softened strength finally slipped out of her, releasing a surge of thick fluid between them, even as his hand frantically groped for hers, clasped it tight.

"Y-you do not," he gasped at her, "know the full truth of me. Of my — failings. Ought never — never — to bed you thus, bind you to me, for I will fail you. I will fail all of you, as I have always done —"

Ohno, no, it was this again, Louisa's thoughts flashing back to the other night in her room, when he'd been just like this. With this exact same wildness shimmering in his eyes, this visceral terrible fear. As if that calm, collected, commanding Ulfarr she'd glimpsed amidst all that pleasure was just a figment, a memory, a ghost…

Andwhat was Louisa supposed to do, what was she supposed to say, her wide eyes darting panicked toward Killik beside her. Toward where, for a breath, he looked just as startled as she felt — but Louisa could see him drawing in that breath, grounding himself into the bed, as his hand came up, and patted against Ulfarr's cheek.

"No, Wolf," he said, his voice impressively steady. "You can bleat upon failing everyone else if you wish, but you cannot ever say you failed me. Never. Notonce."

Ulfarrblinked blearily at him, shaking his head, but Killik gripped his stubbled chin, snapped it to stillness. "Mark me, Ulfarr of ClanSkai," he hissed. "You have stood beside me for the better part of my thirty-odd summers. You saw me. You guarded me. You destroyed my enemies. You heard my words, and honoured my truth. You tended me whenever I needed this, again and again. And not once did you ask for aught in return! For me, or all the other fatherless Skai you watched over, as the good Wolf's son you were! As the good Wolf you are!"

Hiswords struck into Louisa's chest, ringing through her skull, because — Ulfarr had done all that, for Killik? For years? For the better part of his thirty-odd summers, he'd said — and wait, Halthorr had said Killik had been part of Ulfarr's pack, right? And had this been part of that, too? Ulfarr had watched over fatherless Skai, as their Wolf?

"NotWolf," Ulfarr rasped back at Killik, his eyes flaring with urgency, with grief. "Wolf is dead. Simonkill him, break him, shame him before all the clan. Dead."

Wait, Simon had — what? Louisa couldn't suppress her flinch, the shocked gasp in her throat — but Killik growled and shook his head, his expression fierce, uncompromising. "No," he hissed, digging his claws into Ulfarr's cheek. "Not dead. Here. Helping kin. Building this camp. Caring for the fatherless. Making this pretty, hungry woman scream and beg and weep upon your perfect Skai prick."

Hisglance at Louisa was sharp, purposeful, and far too late, she drew in breath, dragged a smile to her mouth. "So perfect, sweetheart," she said, with only a faint hitch in her voice. "I've never had such a kind, generous lover in all my life. Gods, you even helped me so sweetly through that bludgeoning I just bore from Killik! Though why you think he's a good lover is still entirely beyond fathoming!"

Therewas an instant's stillness, in which Ulfarr blinked at her, his heavy brow furrowing — but beside him, Killik's eyes shifted, softened, into something almost… relieved. "Ungrateful harpy," he sneered at Louisa, though there was no real heat in his voice. "I should have liked to see you try to swallow my wolf's prick without my ploughing first! I was only readying you for him, as any good Skai should, when he knows his clanmate bears such a prick as his! What kind of bedmate should I be, to offer him only half a dry, tight womb to fuck? Rather than one that is soft and ready and open, and eager to suck him whole?"

Somethingcaught in Louisa's belly at even the thought — had that really been Killik's intent with all that? — and she had to fight for air, for conscious thought. "Well, you could have been a little gentler about it!" she shot back. "Or a little slower! Why did you need to resort to — to immediate stabbing!"

Killik'ssnort was incredulous, his glimmering eyes darting down to Ulfarr, as if seeking confirmation of Louisa's utter folly. "You would ken this woman has never met me, Wolf," he groused. "When have I ever shown the least wish for aught but immediate stabbing? Skai-kesh above, did she think I should cuddle her, or call her pretty names? Mayhap write her a fancy Ka-esh letter whilst I wait?"

Thederision on his voice was so sharp, so absolute, that Louisa's cursed mouth barked a short, helpless laugh — and oh, Ulfarr's mouth was quivering, too. His eyes a little clearer, a little calmer, and Louisa didn't even care when Killik poked her in the shoulder, his sharp claw digging into her skin. "And also, woman," he went on, as if warming to his theme, "what kind of bedmate should I be, to dawdle and fritter about with you, whilst my hungry wolf was watching, and waiting! I wished you for a gift for him, and not once did I dream you would be fool enough to bind me into this, also!"

Andcurse it, Louisa was still smiling at him, warm and damnably genuine, because he'd gone and brought that binding up again — and in truth, he didn't even look that angry about it. Especially when he glanced back down at Ulfarr, at where Ulfarr's face looked clearer, more focused than before, his eyes glimmering with something almost like… hope.

"But you are — sure you do not — mind, Killik," Ulfarr said, between his heaving breaths. "You shall not — miss your other — bedmates — too much."

ButKillik only scoffed, and waved it away. "Ach, I shall endure," he replied, with a too-casual shrug. "And it is only for five more nights, is it not?"

Right. Five more nights, now. Already halfway. AndLouisa had to fight to hide her disappointment, to swallow down the sudden rising lump in her throat, the prickling behind her eyes. Gods, she was already going to miss Ulfarr so much, and maybe even Killik, too. Especially after what they'd just done, even if it hadn't meant anything, especially on Killik's part — right? And there was the sudden, sinking realization that of course Killik hadn't wanted to be kind about it, or intimate about it, because this had only ever been for Ulfarr in the first place…

Butdamn it, now Ulfarr was slightly wilting beneath her too, that darkness weighing down his eyes, thinning his mouth. AndKillik caught it too, his body lurching closer, his hand again patting Ulfarr's cheek. "And now, Wolf," he added, "for these next five nights, I shall take great joy in further stabbing this woman, and watching her squirm and squawk and squeal upon me. You shall need to offer her much comfort, I ken. And much sweet relief with your fat Skai prick."

Andyes, that seemed to ease away the darkness, Ulfarr's mouth softening again, his eyes shining on Louisa's face. And she twitched a smile back, and even reached her hand up to mimic Killik's, patting against Ulfarr's other cheek. Almost as if cradling his face between them, both of them coming together to care for him, to comfort him.

"I can't wait, sweetheart," she told him, as she kept stroking his cheek, matching Killik's movements on the other side. "And maybe you can keep me from stealing Killik's daggers, and stabbing him straight back. Because it would be so damned satisfying to watch him squirm and squeal too, don't you think? Maybe even" — she raised her brows at Killik — "upon a perfect Skai prick?"

Killikinstantly balked, sputtering, while Ulfarr's eyes warmed even more as they flicked toward Killik's face. As if he wouldn't at all mind the idea, oh gods — but Killik certainly did, and in a flash of motion, he whipped his dagger out from his hair, and waved it dangerously close to Ulfarr and Louisa's noses. "No, you spiteful harpy," he hissed at Louisa. "This is my show. You dance for me!"

ButUlfarr was still almost smiling, and Louisa was grinning too. And maybe — maybe that was even a dimple, quivering in Killik's cheek, undermining his thunderous glare between them. "Out, meddlesome woman," he snapped, pointing his dagger toward the curtain. "Off with you. Before you provoke me to stab you again!"

Louisamade a face at him, but that shimmering warmth was still there, because he — he was again suggesting he might do that again. He would. And somehow it smoothed over that quiet, aching awareness that he was sending her away again, getting rid of her again, even after all that…

Butthen Ulfarr's big hand snapped up, circled tight around Killik's wrist. "But you shall yet walk Louisa back to her home," he said, "and be sure she is safe. Ach?"

Thecommand glinted in his eyes, rumbled deep in his voice, and for an instant, Killik again seemed caught in it, disconcerted. "Ach, ach," he replied, with a roll of his eyes, a too-dismissive wave of his hand. "But only if you rest, and stay."

He'dagain flipped the dagger in his fingers, pointing it imperiously down toward Ulfarr's nose. ButUlfarr's smile back was slow, grateful, his heavy gaze flicking to Louisa's face. "I thank you for such a great gift, Louisa," he murmured. "You have brought us both much joy, this night."

Louisa'sthroat convulsed, and she gave a short, shaky nod, and a small, true smile. "You too, sweetheart," she said. "It's been such a pleasure."

Ulfarrnodded back, again with such reverent gratefulness in his eyes — until he flinched, and hissed through his teeth. Because — because Killik had produced a large, clean-looking rag, and had lightly settled it over Ulfarr's exposed groin. And wait, the rag was already spreading with red, oh gods, and Ulfarr was —

WasUlfarr… injured? From… from that? From what they'd just done?

Butcurse it, Ulfarr was studiously looking away now, his jaw tight, and Killik's claws clamped at Louisa's arm, as his other hand shoved another clean rag toward her. And his glittering eyes on hers seemed to say, No. Don't you dare.

"Now come, woman, and clean up your own mess," Killik snapped. "BeforeI lose my patience, and lock you out in the dark alone."

Itwas probably more empty threats, or even more teasing, but suddenly Louisa couldn't seem to hold his eyes, couldn't even begin to find a reply. Could only nod, and try to obey, blocking off the seeping liquid as surreptitiously as she could. While fighting to ignore Ulfarr's ongoing stilted silence, his turned-away face, the ever-spreading redness pooling across that rag…

"Bye, then," she whispered at him, foolish, foolish. "Feel better soon, sweetheart."

Andwithout waiting for an answer, she spun toward the door, and fled.