Son of Thunder (8 page)

The drive from Boston to Newport took around three and a half hours, traffic permitting. So Cory and his backup would arrive shortly after dark.

“Fly, Cory. Drive like you’re going to get liftoff.”

“I will,” he promised. “See you soon.”

He ended the call, and she knew he’d find a way to bend time to reach her as soon as he could. With his tendency to speed, he’d make the trip an hour shorter.

Footsteps jarred her from her thoughts. She reached for her gun sitting on the table next to her laptop. She exhaled when Rune entered the cabin, setting the gun back down.

“You got here faster than I thought you would.”

He smiled. “A nice woman gave me a lift after she saw me walking.”

Shaking her head she replied, “I’m sure she just made that decision on her own.”

He shrugged. “She may have had a slight push. You know, to help her along.” He winked. “I don’t regret it, as it got me to you faster.”

She didn’t like that he’d manipulated a human, but he’d done it because he didn’t want her alone near, or with, Erik, and that was hard to argue with.

He walked to her, touching her shoulder then sliding his hand to the side of her neck. “I care for you, Liv. I got here as soon as I could.”

Damn it. Why did he have to go admitting that? She knew he cared, and that it went deeper than a hunting partner and a quick roll in the hay. His words sank into her, caressed her heart.

“Rune…” She didn’t want to have a conversation about their feelings, especially since he wasn’t sticking around after they dealt with Erik. So she settled for, “Did Erik see you?”

He withdrew his hand, disappointment sweeping his features.

“No, he’s at his cabin—I can feel his heartbeat coming from there. I had the woman drop me off about a half a mile past this cabin, then I hiked here.”

Smart god
. “Okay. How do you think we should go about confronting Erik?”

“First, we should go when night falls. That’ll give him time to get comfortable in his home and believe he’s safe because he’s within his barriers.”

“I made a phone call while I was waiting for you.”

“Oh?”

“To my partner, Cory Adamson. He’s on his way now. I told him we’d try to wait until he’s here, but I gave him the locations for both cabins so he’d know where to find us…me.”

“I’m not leaving you alone,” he snapped. “I won’t leave you until your partner is here and you’re safe, whether or not the Gate opens for me.”

She swallowed past the lump in her throat. Her heart skipped several beats. “I understand,” she whispered.

“Good.”

She cleared her throat. “Why don’t we eat? We haven’t since our stop for those maple Creemees.” She smiled at the memory of his expression when he’d had the first taste. “I did pick up some things for dinner from the store.”

He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Your turn to cook, Agent Winter. I dare you to outdo me with so little.”

She rolled her eyes. “Are you saying you think I can’t satisfy your appetite?”

“Now, now, let’s not raise our temper. I’m simply daring you to…tantalize my taste buds more than I did yours, using what we have here.” He shrugged. “If it helps, we can make another bet about the bed.”

She harrumphed and turned away, walking to the counter where she’d piled the groceries.

The Son of Thunder was a fucking smart ass.

Chapter Nine

He couldn’t help it. The way she rolled her eyes, in combination with her exasperated expression, made him chuckle. The sexy redhead invigorated his blood, made his heart beat faster.
She is a woman who would make a great mate
—
a mate as deadly as me on a hunt.

Watching her move around in the kitchen, he let the feelings rush over him.

He wasn’t blind, nor was he an idiot. He just didn’t want to admit the truth to himself because of the consequences—he was falling in love with her. A human. And while that wasn’t unheard of, it
was
discouraged. His home was in Asgard, and she couldn’t join him there—humans were not allowed to live in Asgard. Even if they were, she would never leave behind her loved ones or the work she valued so much. And he would never ask her to. But even as strong as she was, she was not equipped to handle life in Asgard. The gods operated on a different set of rules, and those rules had punishments. Punishments a human would never survive, which was why they were forbidden to live there.

He wished that circumstances were different. Despite the fact that she would one day pass from the world—of old age or other causes—he would give almost anything to share a life with her, either in Asgard or on Earth.

“Why are you so quiet?”

Her voice drew his attention away from the window, and he turned to see her making some sort of sandwich.

“You, and the multitude of ways I’m going give you pleasure when this case is over.” Well, it wasn’t a complete lie.

“Oh, yeah?”

“Mm.”

She snorted, turning back to their late lunch/early dinner. “You’re going home after this, Rune. Just remember that.”

He walked to her, standing close to her back, his body brushing against hers. He didn’t miss the way she hummed from the contact.

“And leave you without the days of sexual release that come after a hunt? I don’t think so, beautiful flame. No, I plan on staying long enough to see you fully sated and so exhausted you won’t be able to get out of bed for a week.”

Her breath hitched, and the sound was Valhalla to him.

“Food,” she said, her voice husky. She cleared her throat as he forced himself to step back. “We eat first, before any…activity.”

He grinned when she met his gaze, and her eyes narrowed.

“What?” he asked, giving her his best innocent look.

She huffed. “You’re a pain in the ass, you know that?”

“Quite well, but”—he pointed a finger at her—“I’d love to be a pain in yours, if that’s what you’re requesting.”

That earned him a good punch in the shoulder. It actually stung, too. He laughed.

“Or not.”

She shook her head. Then she put the top slice of bread on a sandwich and handed him his plate. “Just friggin’ eat.”

“You’re beautiful when you’re mad. I like that.”

“Gods.” She rolled her eyes, picking up her own plate. “Just shut up.”

They sat at the table and ate in silence, her glare barely ceasing. He’d gotten under her skin with that ass remark. Just as he’d meant to. Having her muse about it, thinking about him taking her like that, not only amused him but also made him hot.

She broke the silence. “I should be the one to confront Erik first, as I’m a guest in his cabin and my showing up wouldn’t cause him to be suspicious. If he sees you first, it’s done—he’ll know who you are, and we won’t have an advantage over him anymore.”

He stewed over the words as he chewed and swallowed the bite he’d taken. He didn’t like her being the first to go to Erik, but she was right that it would give them the element of surprise. The godkin wouldn’t feel him, but the moment Erik saw Rune, he would know what he was.

“I agree, but I won’t be too far away.”

She smiled. “I know, Rune. I also know you don’t like the idea of me confronting a godkin first.”

“Then you know me well.”

She shook her head, crumpling her napkin in her hand. “I know you well
enough
. There’s a difference.”

Yes, there was, and he wanted it to be more than just
enough
.

“So, how’d I do with the food?” she asked, standing and picking up her plate.

He wiped his mouth with a napkin. “Very well. I’m not even going to tease you about it.”

One of her eyebrows rose. “Smart of you, Viking. Very smart.” She took his plate and glass, then made her way to the sink.

He really did enjoy watching her walk away, as cliché as that was, especially for a god. She stood at the sink and washed the few dishes they’d used. His eyes roamed her from head to foot then back up again. A completely different type of hunger took hold as he did so, her tall, lean frame tempting even covered in clothes.

He stood, stalking her as he would prey, reaching her just as she turned off the water and dried her hands on the towel next to the sink.

He pressed against her back, sliding a hand underneath her shirt to cup her breast and squeeze gently. Her head tilted, falling against his chest, and she inhaled deeply. He bent his head to kiss the side of her neck. She sighed, and it was a sweet sound.

Trailing his other hand down her torso, he stepped back enough to unbutton and unzip her jeans.

“Rune,” she murmured.

Just the sound of her saying his name made him hard. He dipped his hand beneath her panties. Her hips pushed forward slightly, trying to get his fingers closer to their ultimate goal. He smiled against her skin as her arm lifted up and over his shoulder, gripping his shirt when one of his fingers reached her swelling bud.

He rubbed a finger over her clit, making tiny circles, and she moaned. He could hear her heart beat faster as he stroked her, the wet heat growing.

“Rune…”

Her arm dropped, skimming down his. She gripped his wrist, wriggling out of his grasp. He growled his displeasure, even as she began to kneel, turning when her shoulders skimmed the hard length trapped inside his pants. His cock pulsed as her hands made fast work of his button and zipper. She looked up at him, a sexy smile on her luscious lips as she pushed his pants and underwear down enough to free him.

“Woman,” he growled, hand moving to her hair, resting gently at the back.

“Viking,” she replied, mischievous grin and all.

Slow motion seemed to take hold as he watched her tongue dart out—the first lick over the tip of his cock sent a shiver straight through him, and he closed his eyes for a brief moment as her tongue circled the tip.
Sweet Valhalla.
He opened his eyes again, looking down in time to see her wonderful mouth wrap around the head of his staff.

She tilted her head back slightly, so her gaze met his, and the look of sheer delight in her eyes had him gripping her hair tighter. Her gaze stayed on his as she pulled back, then took him back in her mouth, taking him slowly as one of her hands cupped his balls.

She was going to kill him with those tight lips, the wanton gaze that locked to his.

When she couldn’t take him any deeper, she slowly drew away. Then took him back in. Withdrew… Back in…

He groaned, closing his eyes against the sweet pleasure.

Her tongue licked down his shaft, circling his sac before taking one in her mouth, gently sucking. Fisting her hair with both hands, he was afraid if he didn’t drag her away, she would keep going until he released in her mouth.

“Hels, Valkyrie,” he growled, and forced her mouth off him, bringing her up until she was standing. He kissed her hard, pouring all his passion for her into it. He could kiss her forever.

Breaking the kiss, she leaned back, breathless and flushed. He gathered her shirt in his hands and pushed it up, caressing her body as he took it off. He unhooked her bra and freed her perfect breasts. Starting at her collarbone, he trailed his mouth down her heated skin, until he reached his first destination and latched onto a nipple. He bit gently on the hard nub, and she moaned something incoherent. Reluctantly, he left her breast and continued down, taking her jeans completely off. But her stockings? Those stayed on. The black, crocheted knee-high socks—rimmed with light pink lace—were sexy as hell.

He never would’ve pegged her as the type to wear those, but he supposed that being an FBI agent, normally restricted to staid, professional garb, could be the reason she wore the socks. Not that the reason mattered—he just loved that she was wearing them.

He grazed his hand over her long legs as he stood, gripping her ass and lifting her up. Setting her down on the counter, he trailed his mouth down her once more.

“Rune, please.”

He looked up to see her head tilted back and her eyes closed.
Payback
, he thought, smiling for a moment. Then he flicked his tongue over her clit, and she nearly lifted off the counter at the contact, arching her back. Her hand slid into his hair as he brought her hips forward so she was open to him. He spread her lips, licking over the swollen bud as he pushed two fingers into her. Working them in and out, he curled his tongue around her clit again and again, wanting to give her as much pleasure as he could.

“Gods,” she moaned.

He replied by moving his fingers faster.

“Rune!”

She came hard, her inner walls pulsing around his fingers, and she pushed against him as she shook with release. His cock was so stiff he groaned, wanting nothing more than to slide into her, to bury himself in that hot, wet entrance. To feel her gripping his shaft instead of his fingers.

He growled, then made his way up to her mouth, kissing her deeply. She broke the kiss, her mouth moving to his ear, her breath hot. “I want to ride you, Viking.”

A shudder coursed through him at the words, breathless but demanding.

“Fuck,” he managed through clenched teeth, her directness feeding the fire inside of him.

He lifted her off the counter and walked them to the living room, lowering them to the couch. She leaned into him, adjusting herself until the head of his cock was lined up with her opening. One of his hands gripped her hip; the other cupped a breast as their eyes locked. She sank down on him, so slow he thought he’d die, and she didn’t look away. The pleasure on her face entranced him as she took his staff deeper, and deeper, until he was all the way in. The pure candidness of her passion for him was something he’d never experienced with a woman in his long centuries.

Most woman wanted him because he was a god, a hunter. But Liv wanted him, only
him
. And she didn’t hide a damn sliver of that need and want from him as she began to move, undulating and rocking her hips, lifting up until he was almost out of her heat, then sliding back down. Up, down, up, down.

He gripped her hips, and she laid her hands over his, that sexy smile spreading over her lips again. Then she rolled her hips, as a belly dancer would, and he nearly died from the ecstasy of it. She rolled her hips again, and he broke away from her gaze, his head falling back against the couch, his eyes closed.

“Liv… Woman, you’re killing me,” he moaned, forcing his eyes open.

A soft laugh escaped her lips as she rolled once more, then she leaned forward slightly, her arms reaching forward to brace against the back of the couch. And she changed the pace—riding him, ass practically bouncing off his thighs as she moved up and down. Her breath came faster, her head tilted back. Watching the orgasm building within her undid him.

He pulled her against him, an arm wrapped around her lower back, and he met her movements, thrusting upward when she came down. They moved as one, in perfect rhythm.

“Rune!” she cried out, her body undulating out of control as she came.

Her release triggered his, and he moaned, grinding upward as his seed burst from him, feeling her inner walls gripping him tight, pulsing around him. Unadulterated bliss ran through him as she sagged against him. He wrapped his arms around her, held her tight, and wished it could be forever.

“I…have never experienced lovemaking like this…before.”

He kissed her shoulder. “Neither have I,” he confessed, caressing her back. Then he whispered, “My Valkyrie.”

Once the aftershocks passed, she pushed away enough to meet his eyes.

“We didn’t use a condom. I’m on the pill but still…” She looked uncertain, and he didn’t blame her.

Even being a god didn’t override the protection of her birth control, though.

“If we made a child,” he said, gently tucking a strand of her silken hair behind her ear, “I wouldn’t leave you to handle it on your own. I would make certain a child of ours knows where and who it comes from, and is properly trained with whatever powers may come. I will not do what my brother has done with Erik—I can promise you that.”

Most of the worry drained from her face. Most.

“I know you wouldn’t do that, Rune,” she replied softly. “I know.” She rested her forehead on his for a moment, then pulled back to meet his gaze again. “I should shower and put on some clothes. Dusk is coming.”

He didn’t miss the regret in her tone. But she was correct—they had to get ready to confront Erik. “Go, shower. You should also call Cory and let him know that you’re taking the lead.” He cupped her face. “Approaching him first.”

Sweet Valhalla, she was the warrior and lover he’d been waiting for his whole life.
How am I going to keep you with me?

“Why are you looking at me with such…wonder?”

“Because you
are
a wonder. A strong, sexy, passionate wonder.” He shook his head. “And I realize now that I don’t want to jump in front of you when the danger is close—I want to stand beside you and meet it with you, head on.”

Shock widened her eyes, and her mouth parted slightly. “Rune, I…don’t know what to say to that.”

“You don’t have to say anything, Liv. I just wanted you to know. You should not tuck parts of yourself away. You should allow that mix of fire and love to wash over everyone who meets you, and you shouldn’t be afraid of letting a man close enough to revel in it. To bury himself in it. To wrap it around himself and show you that same fierce and kind love in return.” He kissed her passionately, his need to move within her rising once more. “That is what I want for you when I am gone.”