Page 171 of Faeling
She left that place with Oberon, her heart rawer than her hands. She climbed into bed with her healing mate and curled herself around him. Another gift she would never take for granted.
On the third day of his rest, he managed to stay awake for about an hour and eat something more substantial. Ravenna was grateful; after days of captivity and then needed rest, his face had gone gaunt with hunger. His fae captors had hardly remembered to provide drinking water, let alone food. Any chance she got, Ravenna was there pushing food into his mouth.
He bore it amiably, and seeing him awake did wonders for the berserkers’ morale. Mattias and several of his sergeants visited, just to reassure themselves of his recovering health, before Asta and Fenna shooed them away.
Once they knew their king was secure and recovering, the berserkers took their strange circumstances and surroundings in stride. The dead were seen to, their bodies placed in coffins that Leita promised would keep them safe from decay during travel until they could be properly interred in Balmirra. Over thirty of the two-hundred berserkers had been lost, with anotherforty wounded. It kept Fenna busy, but Ravenna was more than happy to shoulder the burden of Vallek’s care.
It wasn’t a burden but penance. She needed to see for herself that he was healing.
If his lascivious purr and wandering hands were any indication, he was indeed recovering well.
Her smile unspooled as she felt her nightgown rucked up past her waist, allowing one big hand to tease the undersides of her breasts and the other to slide along the length of her thigh to her knee, which he hooked to draw up over his. Exposed to the darkness and his hungry touch, Ravenna bit her lip as pleasure sparked low in her belly.
“You should eat something,” she murmured. “And you need to rest.”
“Later. After.” He nuzzled the crook of her neck, nipping at her throat.
Ravenna lifted her head, mouth seeking his. Their kiss was slow, deliberate, just like his fingers between her thighs. He circled round her clitoris as leisurely as his tongue swirled round hers, an intimate dance of sighs and teasing touches.
She wasn’t sure he was recovered enough for this, but who was she to deny the king. Her heart fluttered to think he needed and wanted her so much, he reached for her in the middle of the night. The truth was, she needed him just as badly. To feel him against her, skin to skin, reaffirming the bond that had been strung thin by distance and danger.
She moaned into his mouth when one large hand rolled a nipple and the other teased the hood of her clitoris. It felt indulgent to lay like this, curled into the curve of his body, his hands bringing her such pleasure with just a few touches. He knew her body well by now, knew how to draw out her pleasure,and it seemed that’s just what he meant to do, keeping his pace steady.
Ravenna played along. She would indulge in whatever he wished, however fast or hard or wicked. He deserved to have his way—for now. If that meant soft lovemaking or swats across his knee, he would have it.
The hot bar of his cock nearly burned her backside, throbbing in the cleft between her cheeks. Beads of spend leaked across her lower back as he gently rocked up and down, his hips finding an unhurried rhythm.
Clutched to his front, there was little she could do but lay there and receive his attentions. No doubt that was his aim, another show that she was his to have and please. Ravenna smiled against his lips, whispering, “I love you, my king.”
Vallek rumbled deeply in approval. “My beautiful mate.” A hand slid up her front to gently hold her neck and take the weight of her head. “My fearsome queen.” Braced in his hold, she met his passionate kiss, twining their tongues as his purr buzzed against her lips. “My love for you frightens all who see it. Never did a king love his queen more than I love you.”
Her cheeks hurt from smiling so wide, and she couldn’t help a little wiggle of pleasure. Fates, he made her feel like a blushing maiden, talking like that—even with his hand between her thighs and a finger pushing inside her.
He swallowed down her moan as he began to work her, preparing her for the greedy cock at her back. Skimming her fingers down his flank, she found the side of his shaft, caressing it in light touches.
His purr grew into almost a growl. “You won’t rush me, sprite.”
“No, never.”
His huff spilled across her cheek. The hand at her throat tightened just a little, a warning and a distraction. Reclaiming her mouth, he thrust his tongue inside just as two fingers began to plunge inside her.
Pace still measured, he worked her methodically, mercilessly. His hand was soon soaked in her slick, his fingers making wet noises as they shuttled in and out, in and out.
Ravenna began to tremble, pleasure clenching almost painfully in her belly. Gripping the meat of his hip, she held on as he moved them, unable to do more than receive and enjoy.
When he next lifted his head, allowing her a breath, he whispered at her ear, “Come if you need to. I’m far from done with you yet.”
Shuddering in his arms, Ravenna shook her head. “N-no. Together.” She couldn’t explain further. She just needed to do this together.
Nuzzling her temple, he rumbled, “You would defy me?”
“Sounded like a suggestion—not an order.”
His dark chuckle was a rich sound in her ear. “My good girl, how could I ever deny you?”
Her muscles gripped him tight even as he pulled away. A mewl of protest escaped her, replaced on the next breath with a gasp of delight when his cockhead teased against her cunt. Reaching behind her, she dug her hand into his thick mane, needing to hold on lest she fall apart just as he slid inside.
Their few days apart had been awful, interminable, and meant a pinch and stretch she hadn’t felt in a long while. Vallek was patient, moving in little rolls of his hips, each bringing him a little deeper.
