Page 121 of A Light So Blinding
Astrid
Astrid had never thought she would be excited to explore a log cabin, but here she was. Excited to walk into what would have essentially been a hut to her not all that long ago. Now she thought it just might be the home she’d always dreamt of. Because he would be in it.
She reached for his hand, tugging him with her as they headed into the cabin. It really was adorable. A sizeable space where more than a few people could live. Gardens dotted along the exterior, wild and unkempt, but they were made with a loving hand. Flowers and vegetables, even a few pumpkins that were already quite large and ready to be harvested. There were three windows on each side, which made her think that perhaps it would be bright and sunny within.
As she opened the door, she prepared herself for the prospect of more cleaning. If his father’s other home had shown her anything, it was that there would be a lot of work in this place waiting for her. And yet, when she stepped inside, she was surprised to see that it was very clean.
The living room was far more comfortable than the one deep within the mountain. There were more couches, patchwork quilts that were made with loving hands. There were paintings on the wall, of flowers and landscapes. The massive fireplace in the back was obviously familiar. She was certain his father had built both of them. But this was almost a formal parlor rather than a utilitarian room with an area for seating and cooking.
“It’s so clean,” she marveled.
“I had Maia and Rose help while we were gone. I knew there was a chance I wouldn’t come back, but I still wanted you to have somewhere comfortable for yourself. I knew...” Bjorn cleared his throat. “I knew it would be hard for you if I were gone, so I wanted to do something special for you.”
This man. Her heart shattered at the thought that he’d been planning to never return while she’d just been planning to keep him safe. He hadn’t feared his own death. He’d feared her being lonely and sad in the mountain without him. So he had created an oasis of safety for her.
Her breath caught, and she turned to look at him with her heart in her eyes. “You did all this for me?”
“I want you to be happy here,” he replied. “I don’t want you to regret coming with me, or giving up all that you did. I know you lived a life of luxury, and I am ashamed to admit there are other trolls here who could give you the same kind of life you are used to, but I am not one of those trolls. I hope perhaps that this will be enough.”
“You foolish man,” she whispered, walking up to him and planting her hands on his chest. She stared up at his confused expression. “They could never give me what you do. Because there is no man in this realm who would love me like you do.”
His expression softened, and he leaned down to kiss her. She could feel every ounce of his love in that gentle, delicate kiss. He took his time, lingering at the corners of her lips and on the swellof her cheeks. He kissed her eyes, as he always did, two sweet kisses that pressed onto her like he knew how much she loved it when he treated her so gently.
Astrid took his hand, tugging him through the room. “I assume there is a bedroom here?”
“There is, but I thought you would want to see the rest of the house first.”
She shook her head meaningfully. “No, there’s something else I’d like to do before all that.”
Immediately, fire burned in his gaze. She knew that he understood her meaning, and that he would worship her soon enough. He had time now, and yet there was no need to rush. They had battled, and they had won. Now she wanted to celebrate that they were both still here.
Bjorn led her to the bedroom in a whirl of movement. She wasn’t even sure that she paid attention to where they were going or any other room they walked through. All she saw was a massive bed, one that was circular in shape, with no visible frame.
He backed her knees up to it, breathless already as he stared down at her. Without a word, he started unbuttoning every single button down the front of her dress. Carefully. He took his time, teasing her with little touches as the backs of his fingers toyed with her skin. Never enough, but that feather light brush of his knuckles made her skin burn.
First, he lingered at her breasts, and the tips hardened to near pain. Then down her belly, which clenched in anticipation. And then finally she felt his fingers between her thighs, just barely as he undid the last few buttons.
Bjorn got down on his knees before her, sinking until he could stare up at her with all that awe in his expression making her feel like a goddess.
“There are many beautiful things in this world,” he murmured, then pressed a kiss to her thigh. “Wisps floating above a pond. Moonlight peeking through leaves. Stars so bright in the sky that they illuminate the universe. I would give up every single one of them if it meant I could gaze upon your beauty for even a second.”
“Bjorn,” she whispered, running her fingers through his hair.
He moved the dress from her shoulders and let it fall onto the ground. She stood before him completely nude while he remained on his knees. Her hands found his horns, guiding him between her legs where she knew he wanted to be most.
A deep groan echoed through his chest, vibrating through her entire being and shaking through her hips as his hands came up to grab her ass. With a firm grip, he held her steady as his tongue gave her one long, slow lick.
Astrid’s head fell back. She would never, ever get used to that long troll tongue. So flexible, he found every part of her that made her shudder and quake with his touch. He groaned again, and this time the sound seemed to vibrate his tongue as he flicked it over her, again and again.
She moaned out his name, already shaking with need. She was desperate, but he was so apathetic to her desperation.
“What do you want, wife?” he asked, his fingers replacing his tongue as he asked the question.
“Make me see the stars.”
“So soon?”
“Please.”
