Epilogue

Korvak

"That's it, laddie. Ye're doing such a good job," I crooned to the yearling I was working with. "Come by. Och, and ye have an extra apple for this."

Pleased, I stepped up beside the animal to rub the spot along his neck that I knew he liked. "What a good lad."

The horse whinnied and bobbed his head, and I smiled.

The early summer sun beat down upon us, and I tipped my head back to bask in it, marveling at the sensation. Not just the warmth, but the fact I did smile, and the scar no longer pulled at my skin. I believe ‘twas because I'd been smiling so much more often this last year .

The yearling's head came up, and I turned in time to see my Mate strolling barefoot across the field toward us.

Mate .

The word—the concept —never failed to make my Kteer rise. How did one male ever become so lucky? I was cursed at birth, but Effie made me whole.

"He's looking fine, Mate," she crooned as she stepped up beside me, running her hand along the horse's side, but her eyes never left me, raking my bare chest wickedly. "The clan will be grateful for such a fine beast."

I suspected she was speaking of me.

Smirking, I smacked the yearling's flank, urging him back to the small herd I'd taken from the village here to our remote cottage to work with this summer. "I think ye might be right."

"I am always right," Effie corrected, taking my hand in one of her small ones and tugging me toward the large oak tree shading this side of the stream. "And now I have something to tell you."

Smiling again, I followed willingly.

The naughty look she shot me over her shoulder told me I was going to enjoy whatever news she had.

But when we reached the tree, she arranged me with my back to the trunk. She even settled my arse in a more comfortable position against the shaggy bark. I raised a brow at her.

Effie then—grinning wickedly—moved to stand in front of me, her hand going to my bare chest just for a moment before she moved her hands to her bodice.

Oh fook .

My mouth went dry as she unlaced her simple gown. ‘Twas one of several she brought with her from my— our —village in the spring when we returned to our croft. We both preferred being alone here, but I was pleased she had more comforts than she had last summer when she'd arrived.

But here and now, I was less concerned with the style she wore, and more focused on the fact ‘twas easy to remove. Effie held my gaze as she draped the gown over one of the oak's branches, then reached for the hem of her chemise.

She was standing nude before me, and my cock was throbbing incessantly against the inside of my kilt, while my Kteer howled in lust.

When she stepped back in front of me and wove her fingers together behind her arse, it thrust out her tits. Gods below, I loved those tits. The nipples looked bigger to me today in the sunshine, the pink a healthy glow I wanted to taste .

But my Mate had other ideas.

Her wicked expression changed to something soft and innocent, her blue eyes going wide, her lips parting.

And I nearly groaned in realization.

This game again? Aye, please . This was one of her favorites, reminding us both of how she came to be here with me, and knowing this was something she enjoyed made it even better for me. Besides, it satisfied my greedy, possessive Kteer .

"Master, is there aught I can do for you?" she purred, tipping her chin down and peering up at me through her lashes, as if shy. "You seem painfully aroused. Can I be…of service?"

Groaning, I dropped my hands to my belt.

Taking my action for the surrender ‘twas, I saw a flicker of triumph in Effie's eyes before she settled back into the persona of my slave-girl.

It had taken a year for us to find this balance; the balance which suited both of us. Her past trauma likely led to her actually enjoying this subservience, likely because she knew ‘twas all an act. And as much as I wanted to protect and cherish my Mate, my primitive side loved it when she asked to service me.

So as my kilt dropped to the ground, I reached for her shoulder, pushing her to her knees. "Aye, lass," I rasped. "I think ye need a bit more practice with The Supplicant Swan ."

I could smell her arousal as she dropped before me, and the scent only made my lust pound harder through my veins.

With her hands behind her back—as if she were bound?—my Mate rubbed her cheek along my cock, her eyes fluttering closed in bliss. She opened her mouth and captured my sack, tugging lightly, then licked—long and lewd—as far up my cock as she could reach.

Gods below , how did I get so lucky?

I dropped one hand to the crown of her head so I could guide her, and with the other I captured my cock and tipped it downward so she could reach it.

Effie slid her mouth over the tip, humming in delight when she tasted the seed already seeping from the end. In the last year, we'd learned that she enjoyed my taste, which was apparently much more flavorful than human men. The amount of saliva she produced told me today was no exception.

I used my palm to spread it up and down my cock as her small head bobbed. She could take no more than a few inches into her mouth, but that was no detriment. After all, she could take all of me deep in her cunny. And I found it just as pleasurable to stroke myself as she licked me, those big blue eyes staring so trustingly up at me .

I wanted to paint her face with my cum.

"Touch yerself," I rasped, surprised how quickly my release was building. "Be a good lass and touch yerself."

Effie was tiny enough she couldn't reach my cock if she bent forward to use her fingers on her cunny, and we both knew this. Instead, she lifted her hands to her breasts, and we both moaned as she cupped and squeezed.

Torvor's Hammer, the sight of my Mate pleasuring herself never failed to spike my arousal, and today was no exception. I felt my release building in my ballocks, in the small of my back. I kept pumping my cock as I stroked her hair, then moved to the side of her neck.

"Such a good lass," I murmured, half for her and half for myself. "Doing as ye're told. Sucking my cock like a good girl."

With a moan of need, Effie's efforts doubled, her tongue moving faster as she tried to take even more of my cock down her throat. The scent of her arousal spiked, and I could see her hips rocking forward, seeking pressure against that sensitive clitoris.

My Mate was desperate for a release.

"Ye want to come, my wee human?" I stroked her skin as I stroked my cock. "Ye want to come before me?"

She managed to shake her head, even as she squeezed her own tits in desperation. I adored teasing her like this, only because I knew she loved it too.

"'Tis my responsibility to make ye come first," I reminded her in a croon. "But I think today I'll be selfish."

Effie's nod was eager, and my cock popped free of her mouth. I used the opportunity to spread around some more of her saliva, my pumps becoming almost frantic. She pressed her mouth to the underside of my shaft, so my fingers brushed against her with each stroke, and shifted her hips forward until her thighs almost bracketed my shin.

We were both completely nude, out in the open, and she was humping my leg like a bitch in heat. I knew I had to satisfy her.

But then my Effie tipped her head back and stared up at me as she rolled her own nipples. Rolled them and tugged at them. Her eyes went wide in surprise at the sensation, and I swear to all the gods they grew even rosier and more swollen.

When she did it again, my Kteer took over .

Still pumping, I positioned her mouth over my cock. When she eagerly sucked it down, I gave myself one more stroke and let go.

I came down her throat with a roar, spilling my seed into her mouth and stomach and across her lips. ‘Twas too much— ‘twas always too much—but that didn't stop my Mate. Her eyes glazed with desire, my Mate eagerly lapped at my spend, swallowing it down with enthusiasm of which I would never tire.

But despite my own release, I could no longer contain myself. My cock was still spurting when I dropped to my knees and lifted her, latching my mouth to her nipples. She tasted different today, and I wanted to revel in this new sensation.

My wee human didn't give me the opportunity.

Before I realized what she was doing, Effie had pushed me to the ground, straddled me, and was sinking down atop my cock.

Her ecstasy was immediate. Arching her back, she screamed my name as she came, milking the remains of my spend from me while I still held her tits in my palms.

It happened so quickly I didn't have time to build her climax, and frankly felt a little cheated. But I would have my revenge later, I vowed, smiling up at her as she gyrated atop my cock, prolonging her own pleasure .

Gods below, I loved the way she took her pleasure from me, and I loved the way I could provide it. I would taste her, investigate this new scent I couldn't identify.

But later.

Sighing, my Mate collapsed atop me, and I wrapped her in my arms.

"The Clinging Vine," I murmured, stroking her spine.

She snorted softly, her cheek pillowed on my chest and my cock still buried deep inside her. "I knew I could turn you into a scholar, with the right motivation."

I hummed. "The Harlot's Guide is absolutely the correct motivation." We'd even come up with a few new positions to name and add to the copy Effie was making for her cousin. "We should study some more."

With a scoff, my Mate pushed herself upright. "Already, Korvak?" she teased, squeezing her inner muscles around me. "I need some time to recover."

" Fine ," I groaned almost petulantly, flexing my hips. "But when?"

"Mayhap…" To my surprise, she flushed and glanced down, looking almost…shy? "After my news?"

I pushed myself up on my elbows in concern—which slid my cock from her wet warmth—and my gaze darted across her face. This was no innocent act; my Mate was nervous about telling me something.

"Effie?" I murmured. "What is it? Tell me, lass."

When she took a deep breath, her breasts bounced in interesting ways, but I was so concerned I barely noticed.

"I think…" She lifted her chin and met my eyes, smiling shyly. "Korvak, I am pregnant."

I stared.

Pregnant.

My gaze dropped to her tits, which I now recognized as swollen, to her stomach, which showed no trace.

Pregnant .

My Mate carried my kit.

Something wonderful and light filled my chest, and I dragged my gaze back to hers.

"Aye," I breathed. "Ye are." This explained the way her scent had changed.

Her shy grin slowly grew. "You…are pleased?"

I gaped. "How could ye doubt it, lass?" I gathered her to me, but more gently this time. "My Mate carries my kit," I whispered in wonder. " This is…a miracle."

‘Twas a miracle, for certes. A year ago, I wouldn't have thought such a thing possible. I'd resigned myself to a life of solitude, doing what I could for the good of the clan. But then, one raid through the stones…one ill-thought-out wager…

And I met my Effie.

Who now draped herself across my chest, her small fingers tracing designs on my skin. "I think I am due in the spring."

My large palms spread across her back, as if I could keep her safe. "Then we will spend next year in the village, where ye will be surrounded by yer family and other women. We will cross through the stones with Drakolt and ask yer mother to stay with us for the winter."

She pushed her head off my chest. "And if I want to return here in the summer? To introduce my son to our home, and the stream, and the meadow, and my vegetable garden?"

I slowly grinned.

Aye, ‘twas her vegetable garden now, was it not? This summer we even had a handful of hens, and each week I fetched her milk and cheese.

"Then we will do whatever ye think is best, Mate. And I will care for ye and ensure ye are both happy and healthy."

Smiling, she scooted upward to kiss me .

I tasted my own spiced seed on her tongue.

Then she kissed me again, and I eagerly returned the affection.

After a long moment, she pulled back and pressed her forehead to mine. "What are you thinking right now?"

I took stock. "Truthfully? I was thinking ye are the best thing to ever happen to me."

"Really?" She reared back, brows raised. "Because I was thinking that you treat me as if I was the best thing to happen to you, and how that makes me want to be the best thing that ever happened to you."

Chuckling, I wrapped her in my arms again, pressing her naked chest against mine, the sticky places our bodies were joined slowly drying in the early summer sun.

"I love ye, Effie."

She brushed a kiss over my lower lip. "I love you , my Mate. I'm glad you made that wager."

I grinned. "Me too."