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Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11

After they’d made it through the portal, Tyr looked at Celeste again. Something had happened right before, but he wasn’t sure what it had been. All he knew was he wanted to wipe the fear right off her face.

He took out his phone and hooked it to his car, turning on his Brothers of Metal playlist. A moment passed, and then another. Finally, Celeste’s shoulders relaxed, and she nodded her head in time with the music. The tension left her body as she closed her eyes and hummed along.

By the time they reached the mansion, her head leaned against the window, and light snores filled the air. She appeared so peaceful. Not like the fear he’d witnessed when he’d taken her hand after banishing the demon.

He’d forgotten what he must look like to her, and the thought that he’d scared her made him want to stab his own eyes out.

He parked the car, grabbed her shopping bag, and shoved the CD and shirt inside it before rounding the car and opening the door for her.

She gave a drowsy smile and a small curtsy. “Thank you, kind sir.”

Tyr couldn’t tell if she teased, so he stayed silent.

As they crossed the garage to the house, she rubbed her arm.

“Still hurting?” Tyr opened the door for her. The sounds of the television and the smell of popcorn hit Tyr before he stepped inside.

“A little. I think it was all the jumping around at the concert.”

They walked down the short hallway into the entertainment room.

“Concert?” Vid stood from one of the recliners and paused his movie.

He wore nothing but pajama bottoms, and it took everything in Tyr to not yell at him about being courteous with a female in the house. But wearing pajama pants was modest for Vid. Herm as well. Tyr would say something about that.

Celeste nodded. “Tyr took me to the Brothers of Metal concert.” She pulled her t-shirt out of the bag. “They signed it for me.”

A bemused expression spread across Vid’s face. “He took you to meet the band, huh?”

Tyr shot Vid a warning glare.

“They were amazing!” All traces of her earlier fear and tiredness vanished in an instant.

A wry smile spread across Vid’s face, and he crossed his huge arms over his bare chest, making his tattoos morph. “What was your favorite song?”

Tyr rolled his eyes. Brother was looking to get punched.

“There were so many amazing ones. Yggdrasil, Theft of the Hammer, Gods of War. I love them all. Rise above the mountains… Light a fire in the sky… For the blood is running still… From the roots of Yggdrasil.”

Vid chuckled and nodded. “Looks like you found someone who might like them more than you do. Too bad her favorite song isn’t the same as yours.”

Tyr growled.

“What is your favorite song?” She peered up at him earnestly.

Vid laughed. “Can’t you guess? It’s the one about him.”

“You’re just jealous you don’t have one about you.”

Vid nodded. “Yeah, that’s it for sure.”

Tyr shook his head. “Come on. Let’s get you upstairs to rest. It’s been a long day.”

Vid sat back in his seat and grabbed his popcorn.

“Is Herm here?”

“He went down to the races,” he called, picking up the remote.

Of course. It was Tuesday.

“What are the races?” Celeste walked to the top floor.

“A group of demons race cars for fun. Herm loves it. He goes about a few times a week.”

“Wow. I can’t imagine how intense that is. Is he any good?”

Tyr pushed the pin pad to open his bedroom door, then set the bag from Metamorphosis on his dresser by the wall. “He says he is. He’s only lost three cars, so he must be right.”

“They bet their cars?”

“Didn’t you notice the huge collection in the garage? Those are his winnings. He’s always liked to move fast. When he discovered the races, he became obsessed.”

Celeste rolled her shoulder and cracked her neck. Tyr rubbed his fingers together, wanting to touch her. To feel her soft flesh, pliable and willing, beneath his palms.

“Do you want some pain meds?”

“Nah, I don’t want to become dependent on them.”

“How about a little CBD lotion? It works well on my hand when it bothers me.”

Her eyebrows drew together. “CBD lotion works on your metal hand?”

“Not on the hand itself, but on the juncture where it connects to the skin. Sometimes, if I overdo things, it separates a bit. Hephaestus said he’d make me a new one that would connect better, but I’ve gotten used to this one.”

She nodded. “Sure. Why not?”

“Sit. I’ll get it.”

She pulled out her t-shirt and sniffed it before wrinkling her nose. “Maybe I should shower first. I kind of stink from all the dancing.”

Tyr laughed as he walked into his bathroom. “Trust me. Until you’ve lived in a war camp with thousands of Viking warriors, horses, dogs, and more through the heat of summer, you have no idea what the word stink can mean.” Besides, he’d smelled her the whole way back to the estate, and he liked her natural scent just fine.

He reached into a drawer and grabbed the bottle before looking at himself in the mirror.

You’re helping her, not yourself. Don’t do anything you’re gonna want to cut your balls off for later.

Unsure whether the pep talk had helped, he returned with the bottle and sat next to her. She’d removed the bandage and rolled up her sleeve, exposing her biceps. He shook the bottle, and she grabbed his hand.

He stopped. Did she want to do it herself? A pit grew in his stomach at the idea he may not get to touch her after all.

She looked at the partially melted leather glove and peeled it from his hand, sliding it off one finger at a time.

Tyr swallowed hard at her gentle touch.

“Did it hurt? The acid he spit at you.”

“I’ve had worse,” he choked out.

She turned his metal hand over and inspected his palm and the back of his hand again. She ran her fingers over the spot where the leather had disintegrated.

His body reacted to her touch despite himself.

Whelp… so much for the pep talk. Could he not control anything around her?

“There are small little pits in the metal that weren’t there this afternoon at Vali’s.”

She could tell that?

Concern crossed her features, and something bloomed inside him. Concern. Concern for his well-being. No one had ever been concerned for him before except Vid and Herm. No one.

“These won’t get worse, will they?”

She looked up at him, and he blinked several times.

“They shouldn’t.”

She nodded. “I hope you sent that bastard somewhere truly awful. Makes me sick to think I am half the same species he is.”

Tyr turned his palm up and gripped her hand. “You know I wasn’t talking about you back in the parking lot, right? When I said his kind, I didn’t mean you.”

She nodded.

“Just because you may share a scintilla of blood with that creature doesn’t make you anything like him. Humans share a great deal of DNA with apes, but apes don’t treat each other the way humans do.”

She smiled. “Thank you.”

They stared at each other for a long minute before Tyr asked, “Where would you like me to start? Your arm?”

Celeste nodded and turned around. “Then maybe my neck?” She pushed her hair to the side.

Tyr swallowed hard. “Of course.”

He squirted the lotion into his palm and rubbed his hands together. He paused only for a moment before setting his metal hand on her arm and lightly massaging it into her muscle. When the oil had seeped in, he poured more into his hands and then squeezed her shoulders, working his way up to her neck.

Her head fell forward, and she moaned.

Damn, if it wasn’t the most erotic sound he’d ever heard. Every particle of him wanted to hear her make that noise over and over as he buried himself inside her.

He hesitated.

He should stop. It wasn’t right. But even as he thought it, something deep inside disagreed. It was right. For the first time in his existence, it was right. She was right.

He ran his fingers over her neck and around the sides of her throat and back again. He slid his fingers under the collar of her t-shirt and rubbed her shoulder blades. She bent forward further and paused before lifting the hem of her shirt and sliding it up her back and over her shoulders. The lace of a peach-colored bra stared at him.

He placed his palms on her cool, damp skin and rubbed it upward. Goosebumps rose over her skin, and she shivered.

His gaze remained on the clasp of her bra. So small. So delicate. He could have the thing off her in less than a second. Then he’d slide his hands around to her breasts. Those undoubtedly beautiful globes that had teased him for days. He wondered what the color of her nipples was. If they matched the color of her full lips. Or if they were the color of?—

Tyr tore his hands away, realizing he’d slid them down around her waist to her belly.

“Uh…” He retreated from the bed and backed toward the door.

Celeste sat up and looked at him over her shoulder.

They stayed that way for a long minute, and he didn’t need to read her mind to tell what she thought.

“I should let you rest.”

He beelined for the door, but Yegret squawked in the corner. Tyr stopped and squeezed his eyes shut. He needed to let her out so she didn’t pester Celeste all night.

He strode to the enclosure, and the bird hopped up onto his shoulder and preened him. For the first time in longer than he remembered, the sensation grated on his nerves. He threw the window, but she didn’t stop.

“Go,” he commanded.

Yegret stopped and blinked at him.

He scratched her chin. “Go,” he said gentler. “Hunt.”

Yegret blinked once and then dove out the window into the darkness. Tyr turned without looking at Celeste. He couldn’t look at her. He couldn’t. If he did…

Celeste jumped from the bed and grabbed his hand.

Don’t. Don’t you do it. Don’t you dare look at her.

He turned but kept his gaze on the open window.

“I… I just wanted to thank you for today. It was exactly what I needed. I am feeling more myself than I think I ever have.”

“I’m glad I was able to help.”

Don’t look at her. Don’t?—

She reached up on her tiptoes and kissed him quickly.

Heat flooded his body. Stunned, he looked down at her.

Her cheeks flushed, and her lips parted, so soft. She bit her bottom lip and stepped away. “I… I’m sorry.”

He stared at her for half a second before every shred of control inside him snapped. He yanked her back to him and fisted his hands in her hair before slamming his lips down on hers.

He couldn’t hold back. Everything his body had wanted from her for days rushed to the forefront, and he parted her lips with his tongue.

He needed to taste her. To feel her. To claim her. He needed… her.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he lifted her off the floor, deepening the kiss. Backing her into the wall, he pressed against her as he kissed her harder. She moaned like earlier, and his manhood strained to be let free.

Her lips were hot and demanding, and he was more than happy to give her whatever she wanted to take from him.

He broke the kiss and continued to pin her against the wall as he kissed from her throat to the front of her shirt.

His hands traveled to her rear, and he pressed against her, the heat of her body melting into his.

She sucked in a breath as he kissed over her collarbone, and she raked her fingers through his hair.

“Tyr,” she panted.

He growled and nipped at her skin, tasting every salty inch. She rubbed against him, and the friction made every part of him jolt.

“Tyr,” she whispered into his ear before biting it. “Make love to me.”

He carried her to the bed and laid her on it. “As you command, my Fylgja .”

Celeste’s body thrummed with need. Her core throbbed, and her breasts ached for his touch. Slowly, he slid off her shoes and socks. He removed his jacket and t-shirt and then knelt on the floor and kissed the sole of her foot before continuing up to her ankle.

Celeste bucked on the bed and gripped the sheets as he pushed the leg of her jeans up and continued to press firm kisses up her calf.

She bit her lip and moaned as he reached the back of her knee. Every moment was an excruciating ecstasy she’d never experienced. Wanting him so badly, but not wanting to rush him.

He stopped kissing her skin. “Your jeans,” he commanded. “Unbutton them.”

She hesitated for a split second as a ripple of fear coursed over her.

“Lower your shield.”

She bit her lip.

“Lower it so you can see my intention. I’m not going to hurt you, Celeste.”

She unbuttoned her jeans. “I don’t need to read your mind to know you won’t hurt me. I just…”

“If you don’t want this?—”

“I do. Gods know I do, it’s just…” Embarrassment flooded her, and Tyr lifted her leg over his shoulder and kissed her calf again.

“Tell me, Fylgja .”

“You’ll need to guide me. I’ve only done this once before, and it wasn’t slow, and it wasn’t?—”

His eyes flashed red, and she stopped talking.

He crawled on top of her, caging her with his arms. “I promise you, Celeste, you’ve never done what we are about to do. And you never will again with anyone else. Do you understand?”

A thrill raced through Celeste, and she nodded as he loomed over her, his intensity raining down over her.

“Say it. I need to make sure you understand. If we do this, there is no going back. You are stuck with me. Forever. This isn’t going to be a one-time thing, Fylgja. I can’t do it. Not with you.” The caress of his words had her already on edge and ready for him to take her. Her nipples hardened under the lace of her bra.

“I understand,” she whispered.

He stared at her like he was trying to decide. She reached up and touched his cheek, and his eyes went from dark to red. Without another word, he swooped in and kissed her again, but not like before. Not heated. Not rushed. He kissed her tenderly. A promise of worship. As if he was giving into something he’d never given into before. He brushed the hair from her face, and she clung to him, reveling in his weight on hers.

She didn’t know how long they kissed before he broke away and laid his forehead on hers before kissing down over her breasts to her waist. He reached behind himself and pulled off his shirt before lowering her pant leg and slipping her jeans off her. He resumed kissing her leg right where he’d left off and worked his way up the inside of her thigh to her hip. He kissed over it and then lifted her shirt, exposing her belly.

When he kissed the first spot Anton had hit with the bat, she flinched.

“Ticklish?”

She shook her head. “No. That’s…” She couldn’t finish. She didn’t want to ruin their moment.

His eyes intensified. “I will kiss and love away every bad thing that’s ever happened to you , Fylgja .”

Tears sprang to her eyes as her chest tightened. She nodded, and he lowered his mouth to her side again.

His eyes stayed on hers as he licked and sucked the spot where days before she’d been broken and black and blue. The red was different in his eyes, somehow. She didn’t know how. She just knew. The red in his eyes had nothing to do with anger and everything to do with wanting her.

He worked his way up her side, and she stripped off her shirt and went to unclasp her bra. He stopped her and rolled her on her belly. She gasped as his breath hit her lower back. He ran his tongue up her spine to her bra, and a moment later, the clasp popped open, and his lips grazed her skin.

“Tyr.” She gripped the sheets so tight her fingers ached.

He kissed up her shoulder to her mouth once more. Every inch of her ached for him. Needed him.

Impatience got the better of her as she flipped back over and flung her bra to the floor.

He gazed down at her and drank her in. His pants bulged against the gigantic rod that pressed against her. Getting to her knees, she reached out and tugged him closer. She kissed his navel as she undid his belt buckle.

It was her turn to tease.

She ran her tongue over his salty abs and slid his belt from its loops before dropping it. His hands found their way to her scalp, and he massaged it as she undid the button on his pants. She trailed her tongue down to the waistband of his underwear as she unzipped his zipper.

His grip intensified, and she slid his pants over his hips. She tried not to gasp as the full length of what lay beneath his underwear took shape.

He was a god.

Not knowing what to do, she laid her palm over the front of his boxer briefs and rubbed him through the slick fabric.

He growled low in his throat, and his body tensed.

That was a good growl, right?

His fingers gripped her hair, and a shiver raced over her. She wanted to see him. Feel him. Taste him. All of him.

Gathering her courage, she slid her hand through the fold in the front of his underwear, eliciting a groan from Tyr.

“Celeste…” His voice came out strangled and hoarse.

His hips bucked toward her as she slid his length out, and her eyes widened.

She’d never seen a fully naked man before. Sure, she’d seen movies and read books and stuff, but that was it. To say she’d been raised as an antisocial homeschooler who had basically never left her house more than one or two times a year was the truth.

Celeste leaned in and kissed the tip of his soft skin as she gripped his length with both fists. Though her hands were substantially smaller than his girth, she did her best to stroke him.

His skin was salty and musky. The scent of him invaded her, making her want to taste him all the more.

She stroked him hard, and Tyr jerked away from her. He tore his underwear from his hips and covered her with his body.

“I need you, Fylgja. I need you. I need to be inside you. Now.”

His eyes glowed brighter, and the command in his voice told her the foreplay was over.

She scooted back on the bed, and he spread her legs with his massive thighs. A moment of anxiety passed over her, but then Tyr pressed her thighs apart further as his lips slammed down on hers.

His quick, forceful nature rolled over her and excited her. His length pressed against her slick folds, and he broke the kiss.

“I… I’m gonna try to go slow.”

She nodded, and he pressed against her core, making her tense.

Tyr kissed her again, thrusting his tongue in her mouth. He moved his hand between their bodies and rubbed at her. She panted into his mouth.

He slid a finger inside her, and she grabbed onto his broad shoulders as he stretched her.

He slid a second finger inside, and she bit his lip. She wanted more. Needed more.

He rubbed her wetness all over himself, ready to enter her.

She broke the kiss and pulled his neck down to her mouth. She licked up to his ear.

“Too slow.”

He chuckled and inched inside her. Her nails gripped his back, and she bit his shoulder until he filled her completely.

He waited and dropped his head to her shoulder. “You’re so perfect, Fylgja .”

He pushed up on his arms, and she dropped backward. He looked deep into her eyes.

He withdrew from her and slid in again, but this time, he pulled her hips into his.

Celeste gasped, and his gaze intensified. Tyr began a steady rhythm. Celeste grabbed the sheets, trying to understand the sensations rushing through her body. She closed her eyes as waves began to build inside her.

Tyr stopped moving. “No. Don’t close your eyes. Don’t shut me out.”

She opened her eyes, and he smiled and kissed her before beginning to rock into her again.

His gaze stayed on her face as if wanting to experience everything she did.

A moment passed, then another, and the waves built inside her until she floated, and waves crashed down on her body. She arched as her muscles pulled tight.

“Yes, come for me, my Fylgja .”

Celeste’s breath caught as her vision filled with Tyr’s gorgeous face, and her body squeezed tight around him.

She sucked in a huge breath when Tyr tensed and called her name over and over. His rhythm sped up, and he thrust into her harder, his mouth open in a mixture of a smile and a grimace.

She bucked her hips against his, trying to give him as much friction as possible.

His eyes grew as bright as stars, and then he dropped on top of her. They clung to each other.

It was the most amazing thing she’d ever experienced. And she wanted nothing more than to grab a glass of water and start all over again.

He cupped her face and tenderly brushed down her cheeks and over her forehead as he continued to kiss her.

Hers. He was hers. Her fierce and lethal God of War. Tender. Loving. Soft. But only with her. Forever. She felt it in her gut. Phes was right. He belonged to her now, and she belonged to him.

Minutes passed, and then more minutes as they continued kissing and touching and exploring each other. And then exploring turned to need, and need turned into him inside her a second time. And then a third.

Tyr rolled on his side, and she curled into his broad chest. He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her head.

Their hearts beat in unison for several minutes.

“I… I never knew it could be like that,” she admitted.

He was silent for a moment and then said, “Neither did I.”

She chuckled. “It’s okay, Tyr. You’re a thousand-year-old god. You’ve had sex before.”

“Sex, yes. But not like that.”

For the first time, she realized she’d dropped her shield. When had she done that? She hadn’t even realized it.

He stared down at her with his fiery eyes.

He wasn’t lying.

“Your shield came down as I entered you.”

It explained why he’d ordered her to keep her eyes open.

“I… I don’t understand. You’ve to have been with women much more experienced than me.”

“I’ve had sex before. Lots of sex. Plenty of sex. But I’ve never made love to a woman.”

She curled into him and closed her eyes.

She left her shields down as he held her in his strong arms, and she swirled her fingers in the hair on his chest.

“Tyr?”

“Yes?”

“Why do you keep calling me Fylgja ? What does it mean?”

His arms tightened around her, and he bent down and kissed her.

“It’s an Old Norse word. It’s hard to explain, but the closest word to it in the English language is soulmate.”

Soulmate? Tyr thought she was his soulmate?

Something inside her warmed, and she smiled. She pulled his lips to hers and kissed him hard.

She’d never considered she might have a soulmate before, but… something told her he was right. He was her soulmate. Her Fylgja.

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