Loki (12 page)

“Aye, my thanks for finding the inn for us. ‘Tis lovely and makes it special,” Bella said.

Gus brought out more food—a feast of rabbit stew, pear tarts, and apple pastries. Loki noticed Bella didn’t eat her usual amount, which he took to be a sign that she was nervous about the coming night.

Before they dug into the sweets, Loki stepped back from the table and held his hand out to his wife. “Bella and I will leave you to the ale, but we’ll take a pear tart with us if you do not mind, Fiona.”

Loki accepted the wrapped pastry from Fiona and then guided his wife ahead of him so he could protect her from the rush of well wishes and shouts of vulgarities that oft accompanied a newly wed couple. Once they started up the staircase, he gave her a wee shove and said, “Go inside and close the door. I’ll handle them.”

Chapter Thirteen

Bella raced to the end of the balcony and then entered the chamber and closed the door behind her, her heart racing from all the comments. She’d thought about their wedding night many times, especially after listening to all the tales of skirt tossings from some of the looser kitchen maids, but now that it was here, her nerves were on edge.

She had paid close attention to what those women had said each time the topic came up. They’d told her the first time stung—like having a bee caught inside your female parts fighting to get out—and any time after that felt more wonderful, like warm honey spreading through your insides. She wasn’t quite sure what that meant, but she wanted to get past the bee stinging part.

She remembered the wash basin and thought to freshen herself for her husband before he came into the room. Hurrying so she wouldn’t be caught in the middle of it, she dropped the sliver of soap on the floor. Her husband came in just as she was bending over to retrieve it.

“Och, my Bella, what you do to me.”

She jerked back to a standing position, horrified to have been seen in such a position, but when she straightened her skirts and turned around, the look on his face was that of a famished lad who was about to go hunting.

“Loki?”

His gaze traveled from her head to her toes. He barred the door and said, “Do not give them another thought. Uncle Logan is sleeping at the bottom of the stairs, so they’ll not bother us again.”

His voice—husky, deep, and hungry— called to her, “Come here, my beauty.”

He always looked at her with desire, but the expression on his face now was so much deeper. Aye, he wanted her, and the knowledge of that made her feel proud and beautiful. Her mouth went dry as she crossed the room to him.

“Turn around, lass.”

She did as he commanded, and he worked his way through her laces, untying the gown. The more he untied, the more he fumbled. The thicker his thumbs became, the deeper his growl grew. Glancing at him from over her shoulder, she had just a glimpse of what a man wanted from a woman, and a new understanding of true love blossomed inside her. Becoming bolder, she settled her hands on the bodice to keep it high enough to cover her breasts, and when he finally finished, she turned around and dipped the bodice down slowly, revealing her tender globes, and rubbed her thumbs across her nipples as Loki had done many times.

He sucked in a breath, as if in pain, and said, “Bella, my Bella, what a beauty you are.” He reached for her and lifted her in the air so that her gown fell from her hands. He raised her up more so he could suckle her nipple, but her head hit the rafters and she squeaked. “Bella, I’m so sorry.”

“Loki, you are too tall to do that.” She rubbed her head as he lowered her to the floor, sliding her down the front of him so she could feel his hardness through his plaid. “Oh my.”

“Och, indeed.” Once her feet hit the floor, he quickly tossed off his boots, plaid, and breeches. His tunic followed, and before she knew it, he stood in front of her unclothed. “Enough, sweet one. We’re moving to the furs and pillows before I hurt your head again.”

Her quick intake of breath stopped him. Only then did he seem to notice how she was looking at him.

“What is it?”

“Loki, you are all bruises. They beat you terribly. Does it not hurt?” Her eyes misted as she stared at the evidence of what his short captivity had been like.

“Nay, they no longer hurt. Do not think about them, please.” He picked her up and tossed her onto the piles of furs, then lowered himself over her. It was impossible to stop her body from writhing.

“What is it?” he asked, perplexed.

“Loki, these furs are so soft and teasing against my skin.”

With a groan, his lips fell on hers, searing her with his desire. His tongue mated with hers, teasing her, tantalizing her until she wanted to scream. All her nerves left her, and she embraced everything he wished to do to her, with her, giving her trust to him completely. She knew he would do everything in his power to make this experience wonderful for her.

She knew this because he would love her forever—the same way she had promised to love him.

His lips traveled across her jaw, then moved to her breast, teasing her with just a flick of his tongue over her hardened nipple. She arched into him, wanting him to take her nipple full into his mouth.

“Tell me, Bella. What is it you want?” He flicked his tongue over her other nipple and received the same response.

“I want…I want…”

“Say it. Tell me.” He teased her again, licking a path around the areola of each breast.

“I want you to…”

“To what? Tell me what will make you happy.” His hand pinched her nipple and she moaned.

“Your mouth, suck me, please…”

He grinned and obliged her, suckling her until she wanted to cry out, unsure of what was happening to her. Threading her fingers through his long locks, she tugged him closer. His mouth moved to her other nipple and his hands caressed her belly, her hips, and then crossed over to her private place.

Some unknown force inside her spread her thighs apart as soon as he touched her curls and even the softest of touches sent needles of pleasure shooting through her. Though shocked at her own boldness, she didn’t want him to stop. Once his finger entered her, she moaned and caught his gaze. “I don’t…”

“What is it?” His tongued moved to her belly, flicking in various spots before finding her nub and teasing her there.

She clamped her legs together, shocked at what he had just done.

“Nay, Bella, allow me to taste your sweetness. You are so slick for me.”

As she clutched his taut biceps, her legs flew open on their own. She moaned and closed her eyes, digging her fingernails into him. “I want…”

“What do you want, Bella?”

“You, please, you, Loki.” She was desperate for something, though she knew not what.

“Lass, you’ve tortured me enough. Your passion threatens to unman me. I need you, too. I need to be inside you.”

She took one look at his hardness and panted, “You’ll never fit, Loki, it won’t work…”

“Aye, lass, we’ll fit perfect. I’m sorry I must hurt you, but ‘twill be better after.”

He brought both hands around her hips, then traced them across her sensitive bottom, teasing her back and forth until she spread her legs again. He dipped his fingers inside her, making her moan for him. “Bella, you are so beautiful and passionate.”

He teased her with the tip of his cock, moving it back and forth against her entrance until it was slick with her juices. “Now, Loki, please.”

He growled and gripped her hips, plunging through her barrier until she screeched, “Stop, please stop. It hurts, you’re too big for me, Loki. Please.”

“Nay, love, I’m not,” he said, catching her gaze with his. “We were made for each other. Just be patient and you’ll see. ‘Twas the worst just now.”

She whimpered as she gripped his shoulders.

“Do you not recall the day you said you would love me forever?”

“Aye, I will always love you.”

“Then trust your husband.” He hadn’t moved once since she’d asked him to stop.

The pain did start to ease as she stared into his eyes, her heart ready to burst with the love she had for him. She could see from the sweat on his brow and the clench of his jaw how hard this was for him, stopping for her, holding his weight on his elbows. A moment later, the pain had mostly disappeared. She shifted against him to test it.

“Bella, if you do that again, I will not be able to stop,” he murmured, his voice pained. “I’ve waited a long time for you.”

She moved to bring him out and back in again. “‘Tis all right, Loki. It does not hurt anymore. What do we do now?”

Loki groaned and grasped her hips as he buried himself deep inside her, then pulled out again only to peek at her again. “All right?”

“Aye, more, please.”

Loki drove into her and a wave of sensation sent tendrils of pleasure shooting through her. Shocked at the wonder of this feeling, she moved with him, the pleasure building inside her until she wanted to explode, her body tingling in places she’d never noticed, building to a crescendo she didn’t know what to do with.

As Loki thrust into her again and again, an unknown sound issued from the back of her own throat. Then he reached down between them to caress her nub, and after two more thrusts, she careened over the edge into a vortex of pleasure. When she was able to open her eyes, she watched as her husband did the same, a fierce growl erupting from him that would have frightened her if she weren’t in his embrace.

But she was, safe and happy and protected from the rest of the world.

***

Loki rolled onto his back and tugged Bella close, resting until their breathing returned to normal. “Did I please you, my Bella?”

“Aye, that was … I never…” She breathed in deep and sighed. “That was wonderful, husband.”

“You are not angry that I went too fast? My apologies if I rushed, but those mewling sounds of yours put me over the edge. I’ve wanted you for so long.”

“Nay, I’m quite pleased. You were right.”

“About?”

“We do fit perfectly.” She kissed him soundly. “Just as you said.”

He sighed, pleased that he’d satisfied her and he hadn’t been too rough with her. She was his, and he was proud of it. He’d take good care of her, just as his adopted sire had always cared for his wife. They’d see he’d be a good husband. Bella was his world, a world he wished to stay in forever.

As Bella rested her head on his shoulder, she whispered, “Where will we go, Loki?”

“What do you mean?”

“Where will we live? My sire will be furious we’ve married without his permission. I do not know if we should live on Grant land.” Her fingers caressed the flat plane of his abdomen.

“Wife, you know our laird can say he forced the marriage.”

“Nay, I know my sire. He’ll hold his anger forever. I know you do not want to acknowledge the earl as your father, but it might convince my father to approve of the marriage.”

“Nay, the Earl of Cliffnock has no honor, and I want naught to do with him.”

“But you do not have to ever see him again, Loki. Just use this to calm my sire’s rage. My sister is gone, and he’s the only family I have left. He does love me, and I love him.”

Loki rolled Bella onto her back and settled himself above her so he could gaze into her eyes. “I want your father to respect me for my character, not for some foolish title. I meant what I said before. We can hold off on revealing our marriage until I earn his respect. I’ll do it somehow, Bella.” He kissed her nose. “I’ll do it for you, for us. I want us to be a happy family. We’ll have bairns someday, and they’ll want to know their grandsire. Just give me some time.”

“I wish for the same, but I will not be able to be apart from you for long. I’ll agree, but only if you promise me no more than three moons.” She gripped the hard muscles in his forearms as if hanging on for life.

Loki thought for a moment, then conceded. “I’ll agree to that. As long as you understand something else.”

“What?” Her gaze searched his with uncertainty.

“That your sire is no longer your only family. In three moons, you’ll have a hall full of aunts, uncles, and cousins, along with my mama and papa, and a new brother and two sisters.”

Her face broke into a huge smile. “Aye, ‘tis true. How wonderful it will be when I am a true member of your family. Do you think they’ll be happy, Loki?” She held her breath as she awaited his answer.

“Bella, my mama already wanted us to marry. You’ll see how much they love you already, just as I do.” He kissed her and suckled her tongue until she pulled away, her eyes bright.

“I cannot wait to be part of your family. Do not make me wait too long, husband.” She clutched his face in her hands and whispered, “I do love you so.”

“The only problem we’ll have is explaining why you are riding home with me.” Loki sighed, his lips pursed in thought.

Bella’s eyes widened. “I had not thought of that. What will we say? Aye, we’ll have to come up with a good story or my sire will whip me himself.”

“Well, you were with your sister. Where did you tell her you were going?”

She rolled her eyes. “Uhhh…”

“Bella? You left without telling your sister you were leaving?”

“I had your sister pen a note for me.”

“And what did it say?”

“I told her you had been kidnapped and I was going after you. ‘Twas the truth.”

“My wee Bella.” Loki clucked his tongue at her as he rolled onto his back again, pulling her with him. “We’ll tell her you were lost in Ayr and we found you. ‘Tis the truth. We do not need to mention our marriage just yet. ‘Twas Kenzie who came to find us because you were so cold. Your sire will be glad we found you, and Logan and Torrian were with me, so there is no reason for him to think it improper. Even though they leave us, we still have the guards as chaperones. We’ll talk to them about our plan.”

“I hope you are right, Loki. My sire’s belt is not verra nice.”