Chapter 15

15

H oping they had no trouble from Freigard’s men, Erik realized how much he loved running with Accalia and his sons tonight with Alasdair and his pack. He was glad to show others that he had someone to care about again, whom he wanted to mate.

He hadn’t realized how much Alasdair’s mating Isobel had affected him. But now he could see that he’d longed for what Alasdair had in a mate. Erik thought it wouldn’t have mattered if he had found another because he’d loved his first mate, though not many people had seen her like that.

Accalia's inner beauty radiated just as brightly as her physical appearance, setting her apart from his previous mate. She had a natural ease with his sons and everyone else she met. He would have had difficulty connecting with her if she hadn’t treated his sons with kindness, respect, and affection.

He was glad Alasdair and Isobel were having their bairns in a few months.

The boys were playing with each other at first, tackling each other, play-biting, and then running to catch up with Erik and Accalia. They had so much energy, but he was sure they would wear themselves out before long.

Alasdair was running with Isobel near them, and he glanced at Erik and Accalia and smiled, knowing Erik was in heaven now that he had Accalia in his life. He had noticed that Hans and Rory had been careful not to tease Accalia and he suspected they realized Erik was now serving as her protector and they would get hell for it.

The boys were trying their darndest to keep up with the longer-legged wolves, but they were now falling behind. Immediately, Accalia slowed down to accommodate them, and Erik did too. She was always anxious about them, and he adored her for it. She always acted like a concerned momma wolf.

Although he wanted to keep her in his bed tonight, he wanted her to be there because she wanted to be with him as desperately as he wanted to be with her. She licked his face and then nuzzled each of the boys’ faces and they licked hers back, looking thrilled that she wasn’t going to leave them behind.

Others would have watched them, wolves guarding the mix of members from both packs. But Accalia was the one who made all the difference to them. Their tails lifted, their spirits raised, the boys were thrilled when she paid attention to them.

Then she licked Erik’s face telling him she loved him too. He wagged his tail, his sons watching their interaction, eager to see them together like that.

They ran all over the territory, but then the boys were no longer loping or running, but walking, taking deep breaths, tongues lolling out, showing how worn out they were. They would sleep well tonight.

Erik howled for everyone to return to the keep, and they all headed that way, the guards still riding on horses or running as wolves on either side of the families, leading the way, or following behind them. Erik had noticed that Isobel had slowed down a little and appeared to have been glad the boys were running at more of a reduced speed so they had to slow down on the run.

When they reached the outer bailey, he was glad they hadn’t encountered any trouble with any brigands. Then they went into the inner bailey and those who needed to enter the keep, while others went off to the barracks.

Again, Erik hoped that Accalia didn’t change her mind about staying with him. Bessetta and she ran off together toward her chamber and he was afraid she might have. The boys stood with him, looking disheartened.

Erik urged them to their chamber and shifted. “Dress and get ready for bed. I’ll return.” Then he shifted and hurried out of the chamber, intent on dressing and returning to the boys’ chamber before Accalia did so that they both could wish the boys a good night. He hoped she would join him while showing the boys he was staying with her.

He reached his chamber, shifted, dressed, and headed to the boys’ chamber. Both Bessetta and Accalia were there, and he feared that he had been thwarted.

But Thorfinn said to Bessetta, “Accalia is staying with Da tonight.”

Hendrie agreed. “But if you get scared by anything while you’re in your chamber alone, you can come and see us, and we’ll take care of you.”

“Aye,” Johnne said. “We’ll protect you.”

Bessetta smiled at the boys and hugged Accalia. “I’ll handle everything here. The two of you have a good night.”

Accalia’s cheeks blushed beautifully, and she leaned down and hugged and kissed the boys. “You behave yourselves and dinna give Bessetta any trouble. I’m the only one who is allowed to.”

They all laughed. Erik was smiling. He couldn’t help it. Accalia was coming to his bed tonight. Then he hugged his sons, something he’d been neglectful in doing because he’d felt they didn’t need him anymore. But they hugged him back as much as they had hugged Accalia, and he knew they still needed his affection.

Then he took hold of Accalia’s hand, walked her out of the chamber, and headed to his own, feeling like he’d climbed the highest mountain ever. “You dinna feel pressured that I want you in my bed this eve, do you?”

“I was going to come whether you were ready for me or no’.”

He looked down at her, not believing her.

“Aye, you didna think I could hold off much longer, did you?”

He swept her into his arms and hurried to his chamber a few feet away.

She laughed. “’Tis no’ a mating, mind you.”

He would make her want a mating, he hoped. “Aye. You let me know how far you want to go.”

“I will. It was fun running with the boys and Alasdair and Isobel’s pack.”

“Aye.” He carried Accalia into his chamber and set her on her feet, though he wanted to dump her on his bed and ravage her. He shut the door after them.

“I believe Isobel was getting a little tired.” She unbuckled his belt and pulled away his great kilt.

“Aye. I think she was glad that the boys were wearing out.” He removed her belt and shawl.

Then they were wearing only their long shirt-like léines, and he could see her breasts through the thin material. He cupped her breasts with his hands and breathed in her heavenly scent of the pines and meadow flowers. “You are beautiful.”

“As are you, Erik.”

“In your wolf coat or without.” He was still worried his paler wolf coat might not appeal to her.

“Bessetta’s coat is light, but I had never seen so many white wolves. Yours is very distinguished with your gray highlights. Your sons have the same beautiful markings.”

“So that means you are ready to mate me, aye?” He smiled his most winning smile, he thought, though he suspected it might look a little wolfish.

She smiled back. “Only time will tell.”

Not the words he wanted to hear but he believed she was still considering a mating and maybe wouldn’t take too long to decide. Though he hoped she would decide to do so before his friends left.

She climbed onto his bed wearing her léine when he had hoped she would strip naked, but if she wasn’t ready to be with him in that way, he would accommodate her. To an extent. Except when the boys slept with them, he wore his long shirt, but never did otherwise. He pulled off his shirt and she smiled at him. So far so good. She didn’t seem upset with him for getting naked.

He climbed on the other side of the bed and moved in her direction. He had no plans to sleep with her.

She moved toward him—aye!—indicating she was of like mind.

Then they were close, him kissing her mouth, her kissing him back, closed mouth at first, then open-mouthed, tongues teasing and caressing each other’s, just what he had in mind. His hand roamed over her hip, her léine sliding with his touch. She cupped his face and looked into his eyes.

“You have the most beautiful sea-blue eyes. They are entrancing,” she said, her voice seductive.

“Your forest-green eyes are just as beautiful.” He kissed her again, but this time, he moved his hand to her breast and squeezed the soft mound gently with his hand. Then he moved his head down to lick her nipple through her léine, feeling the nipple protrude against the light fabric. She shivered and he smelled her pheromones kick up a notch, which only enticed him all the more.

“Your sons realize this isna a mating,” she whispered against his head.

“They would be happiest if they learned it was.” He returned his lips to hers and reached down to hike up her léine around her hips. He wouldn’t remove it if she felt uneasy about it, but he wanted to pleasure her if she was willing.

She stilled, but then began kissing his mouth as if his pulling up her gown was all right with her.

He slipped his hand between her legs and at first, she wouldn’t give him access, as if she concerned that he did intend to mate her, but she wasn’t ready for it.

“Can you part your legs for me? I only intend to pleasure you with my fingers.”

Then she tentatively moved onto her back and spread her legs, just a wee bit. He smiled down at her, hoping she would love this between them and not be timid always. Then he plied his skill with his fingers, finding the bud among her dewy curls, smelling her scent that told him she was so wet and ready for him if she had wanted a mating.

He stroked her, listening to their heartbeats thundering, their pheromones racing in circles, and she was barely breathing. “Breathe,” he said, and kissed her mouth, continuing to stroke her, inserting a finger into her wetness and she cried out with surprise and glee—he thought.

Once she had come, he rubbed his full erection against her thigh, cupping a breast, molding his hand to it, and continued to kiss her for all it was worth.

“That…that was amazing. What…what about you?” she asked.

He wanted to suggest a mating, but he suspected she would have said so if that was the case. “I will be fine”—suffer gravely, he wanted to say but it didn’t sound heroic—“until you decide if you want a mating.”

“Is there…some other way I can help you out…to…relieve the pressure?”

“I wouldna presume to ask a lady to…” He couldn’t even think of a way to say it without sounding crude.

“If you could show me what to do, mayhap I could help?”

“If you are sure…”

“Aye.” She sounded so sincere.

He hoped she wouldn’t regret offering and kissed her then and moved her hand down to his staff, his hand over hers, making a fist around his erection. Then he slid her hand up and down until she felt comfortable doing it herself. While she was, he was running his hand through her silky hair, kissing her delicious mouth, and mesmerized by her skillful strokes as if she had been doing this all her life. She was a quick learner.

He stopped kissing her when he was about to come and she took over then, tonguing him, her eyes filled with lust just as much as his probably were. She was taking him to the top, still kissing his mouth with tenderness and passion combined, and then he came, and she watched, smiling, looking a little incredulous. He was glad now that she had seen him come, that she hadn’t been embarrassed, but fascinated.

“I’ll be right back.” He left the bed to clean up, then returned to her and pulled her into his arms, her léine still hiked up above her hips, their naked legs intertwined, and she seemed content to sleep with him in that way. Though he was glad they had pleasured each other, and she had become more comfortable with being intimate with him, he hoped it wouldn’t be too long before she wanted to mate him and make their relationship permanent for all time.

Then, though he didn’t want to sleep, but to breathe her in and listen to her heart beating and her soft exhales of breath, he fell asleep with the she-wolf of his dreams cradled in his arms for the rest of the night, until the morning came, and he had the greatest fear of losing her.

Accalia loved everything about last night and if Erik hadn’t given her another way to bring him pleasure, she would have gone ahead and mated him, knowing he would suffer overly much otherwise. But she was glad he had been willing to show her another way and she believed he was the only one for her.

She hadn’t expected to feel embarrassed about seeing his people this morn when they broke their fast, but now she was anxious. She thought she would feel like she did any other day, but she knew everyone would be looking at them in a way that said they wondered if they had gone ahead and mated, maybe even hoped that would be the case.

Except for Beathag. She was casting her a chilling glower.

Accalia felt bad that she hadn’t agreed when Erik wanted it. And she realized she was making it hard on the boys when that wasn’t her intention. Besides, after the way Erik had pleasured her, she didn’t want to give him up for anything.

She would tell him they might mate tonight, but then there was a tentative knock on the door, and she hurried out of bed to dress. Erik was out of bed, threw on his long shirt, and answered the door. Thorfinn was at the door, his brothers standing a way off as if they were afraid their da would be mad at them if they intruded on their da and Accalia’s privacy.

“Cook said the meal is ready and everyone’s waiting on you. Uncle Logan sent us to tell you.”

“We are headed down.”

“Can we wait for you?” Thorfinn asked.

Erik let his breath out. “Aye.” Then he closed the door and finished dressing.

Accalia smiled. “Was your brother afraid to wake you because I was with you?”

“Aye.” Erik smiled. “That is a first though.” He fastened her belt, and she sheathed her sword and slipped her sgian dubh into her boot.

Once they were dressed, they walked out of the chamber and found the boys waiting for them in the hallway. Thorfinn looked hopefully at Accalia, and she rubbed his head, smiled at him, and hugged the boys. She wasn’t going to tell them she was staying again with their da tonight at this point. She planned to but she couldn’t until she spoke to Erik first. Tonight, she was certain.

But she did take Erik’s hand. The boys smiled to see it. They all headed to the stairs and arrived at the great hall where everyone waited for them. Och, Accalia was more than a little uncomfortable. Then she hugged the boys at their seats and she and Erik sat at the head table.

The meal was being served—eggs, bread, fish, and ale—and Bessetta leaned over and smiled at Accalia. “I spoke with the lads until they fell asleep, which wasn’t long considering all the activities they’d taken part in. They were so hopeful you would mate their da.”

“Oh, I agree. I’m glad you dinna have any trouble with them,” Accalia said, though she figured it wouldn’t be long and Bessetta would ask how the night had gone with Erik.

Bessetta cleared her throat and raised her brow, waiting to hear what had happened.

Accalia laughed. “’Twas exceptionally nice.”

“Do tell.”

Accalia hugged her friend. Some things were not meant to be talked about. Not even though they were best of friends and were in a private chamber. When Bessetta found the wolf for her, she would learn what it was all about—if the wolf was as braw and caring as Erik was.

“No mating?” Bessetta whispered.

Accalia smiled. “No’ because of Erik, mind you.”

“How long are you going to hold off?”

Accalia glanced at Erik. He was speaking with Alasdair about having archery practice after they ate. Then she turned back to Bessetta. “No’ long.”

“This eve?” Bessetta asked, her brows raised, smiling impishly.

Accalia chuckled and shook her head. Not to say no, but because she was so amused with her friend for being so curious. Though she probably would be the same way with Bessetta if the roles were reversed.

“This eve, then,” Bessetta said, sure of it.

“We are practicing archery. Will you do it?” Accalia asked, changing the subject.

“Aye, of course. You know me. I will participate in anything. And I have been practicing back home. Isobel is as good at archery as she is at swordsmanship. Though I wouldna have wanted her hard life, I wish I had trained more since I was little like she had to prepare myself in case of a fight. But now with her carrying the bairns, I doubt she will be sharing much more of her skills with us,” Bessetta said.

“Aye. Her time will be spent preparing for the baby…well, babies. I’m so happy for her and for Alasdair. I know they are overjoyed. And I know you are too.”

“Oh, aye. I canna wait to hold the wee ones in my arms and play with them when they are pups.”

“I will come and visit when the time comes.” Accalia couldn’t wait.

“You and I can share a room like old—uhm, oh, by then, things will be perfectly different.”

Accalia smiled. For certain, she thought, if Erik didn’t change his mind.