Page 97 of Heartsong
The bond he had with his Anna tugged inside him, as if a rope connected his heart with hers. Drawn taut, the bond pulled them ever closer together. Surrounded by her warmth and softness both stimulated and soothed, and for the first time in centuries, Frey had a sense of belonging that had died with his mother and sister.
When he was confident his wobbling knees wouldn’t buckle, Frey carried his boneless, sated mate into the bathing chamber. Setting her on the stone counter, she shivered at the contact with her heated skin. Her head rested on his shoulder as he wetted a cloth and cleaned them both.
He took much longer with her, his movements lazy and gentle. Some primeval, instinctual part of him howled with pride to see the pearlescent gleam of their combined spend soaking her cunt. His fingers played in the slick before washing it entirely away, a part of him wishing to push his fingers and seed back inside her.
Later,he told himself.There will be time.
Still, it was long minutes before she was finally clean. When he finished, she reached for one of the cabinet drawers. His senses sharpened, thinking for a moment she sought one of her needles, but he was relieved to see she pulled out a different, smaller box.
Turning it in her hands, her expression grew shy, and she wouldn’t quite meet his gaze when she said, “I’m on birth control. A medicine to prevent pregnancy. But this,” she held up the box, “is an extra measure to make sure it doesn’t happen.”
Her hand cupped his face, as if to soften a blow. “I loved every second of that, okay? I want to do it again. I want to be with you, Frey. But I just…I can’t have a kid right now.”
Frey nodded slowly. “I understand.” Matehood often meant younglings, but he was content with just having his Anna for now. When young came, he hoped to have a clan around them to help. Now wasn’t the time to bring a youngling into the world, when he couldn’t protect them, let alone his mate, during the day.
“I didn’t even think about condoms.”
His nose wrinkled in distaste. “I don’t wish for them.”
Lips quirking in amusement, she muttered, “Said every man ever.”
He dipped his head, lips skimming hers without truly kissing. “I want to feel you, my Anna. I want you to burn me with your heat and squeeze me tight. Nothing should come between us.”
“Frey…”
“I will be more careful with you,fynghân. For now, no younglings—but when you are ready, I will sink inside you and not leave until you quicken with child. I will happily watch you grow our youngling, and I will carry you while you carry them.”
“O-okay,” she breathed. Then, after blinking quickly, “I mean, if and when that happens, we’ll talk. For now, no babies.”
“No younglings,” he agreed. “And no condoms.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Those two aren’t usually mutually exclusive.”
“I will be careful,” he vowed. “I’ll take care of you, my Anna.”
The sound she made seemed unconvinced. So be it. He lived for proving himself to his Anna, for every part of herself she opened to him was more worth it than the last.
Anna finally nodded and in quick movements ripped open one of the sachets and took the small capsule.
Once she’d finished, Frey stepped between her legs, ready for more of her attention. His hands spanned her back, stroking over her impossibly soft skin. He could get drunk just on touching her, gorging on her textures.
“I would take you to bed,” he whispered to her, “I want to hold you.”
Anna’s throat bobbed, and her eyes went curiously glassy. Her smile was small but heartfelt when she nodded. “I want that, too.”
Rumbling happily, Frey carried her to bed, stopping only to snag the lubricant bottle from the table. He set her down in all her soft blankets, taking a moment to admire the sight she made, laid out like a sumptuous sacrifice to the goddesses. Rich hair spread across her pillows, limbs supple and relaxed, she looked up at him with sensuous, heavy-lidded eyes that called him down to her.
He crawled over her, dropping to his hands to run his nose and lips over her middle. Her belly jumped and her breasts quivered, enticing the predatory instinct in him to chase and claim. Careful of his horns, he licked a hot stripe up her body, worshiping the perfect handfuls of her breasts before working up her neck to her mouth.
He’d only meant to kiss her until she grew drowsy, but her mind seemed to turn away from sleep with every nibble and sucking drag. Her hips moved restlessly beneath him, and Frey rumbled contentedly.
“I’ll take care of you, my Anna,” he told her in whispers. Then there were no more words.
He took a bit of the lubricant, coating himself as he kissed her plush lips, savoring their give and softness and how she nipped at him when he pulled away.
It was slower this time, the urgency bleeding away to something richer. Frey pushed inside his heartsong, watching pridefully as his cock sank into her heat. He watched himself disappear, feeling how she welcomed him inside with a greedy grip. Her small hands fluttered over his chest, his horns, his back, trying to coax him faster, but he wasn’t moved. He took her with a gentle rocking, hips moving in and back like the tide. He wouldn’t be hurried, even as she dug her heels into his back and her blunted nails into his arms.
A desperate sound caught in her throat, and Frey kissed her there.
