Chapter Thirteen
Ragnar
I took him to bed.
And we made love again, this time slowly, with both of us understanding the significance of our mating. Fate had matched us already, but the marking would signify our acceptance. Any shifter who saw the mark would also understand.
I held him in my arms and kissed him, his lips, his cheeks, his nose. “You’re so precious to me, omega.”
“I never dreamed that a relationship could be like this. I believe that it is fated because it is certainly not random or ordinary.” He kissed my throat. My chest. “Should I be scared? Will it hurt? Is there danger?”
“No, you should not be scared. It might hurt, but only for a moment, and I’ve heard it described as pleasure-pain.
” Stroking his cheek with the back of my hand, I willed his eyes to soften, his body to ease under mine.
“And danger, absolutely not. I would never put you in peril. In that, my reindeer and I are even more one.”
“Is he here when you’re with me like…like this?”
“He’s never really gone, but generally he goes deep inside me when we’re intimate.”
“Not a voyeur, huh?” He chuckled, but uncertainty colored his tone, just a little.
“No.” I pushed against the headboard and sat up, bringing him to rest against my chest. “He isn’t. Omega, if you’re worried, if you want more time to be sure, that’s fine. You weren’t raised to expect what’s happening here, and I will wait for you as long as you need.”
Aspen tipped his face up to meet my gaze. “I don’t need to wait. Just clarifying some points so I know where we are and how it works. But there’s no question of wanting to be your mate. I want to be with you forever. That’s how it works, right?”
“That’s what we’re told. Fate has set us up for each other, and Fate knows her business.”
“Then why aren’t you fucking me, alpha?”
With a growl, I flipped us over so he was under me and reached down to check his slick. As if it wouldn’t be there with his sexy demands. “You don’t have to ask me again, omega.” I pushed his knees up to his chest, exposing his hole, and filled it with my cock.
This was a special time, the marking, but I sensed that every time I took the omega in my arms would be memorable.
Our connection was growing. Already, I’d rather spend an hour cleaning toilets with him than dining out at a city restaurant known for its exceptional food.
If this was how every fated couple felt, I was very glad to be counted among them.
I pumped into him over and over again, stroking his cock myself this time, and watching his expression, holding on tight to my orgasm until I drew his from him.
He bucked his hips, crying out my name, and coated my hand, his cock, and his belly with cum.
Mine poured into him, my knot swelled, and my omega tipped his head to the side, baring his throat to my fangs.
I pierced his skin, and he cried out again, but not in pain. He held my head to him, shivering and whimpering, until I reached up and covered his hand, eased it away so I could lap the wound closed, my saliva both healing and ensuring the scar would remain.
And then we cuddled and talked to one another, resting up and just enjoying one another. My eyes were half closed, drowsiness making my limbs heavy when Aspen said, “Can I meet your reindeer?”
The beast swept up from inside me so fast, it was all I could do to keep him from making a very awkward appearance in our bed.
Chill, I warned him. Just let us get outside.
Now.
“Are you talking to him?” Aspen asked, studying my face as if he could see the reindeer inside me.
“I am.”
“Does he want to meet me?” His voice held such hope.
“So much that if we don’t get outside in the next thirty seconds, you are going to meet him right here and now.”
“Wouldn’t that be a problem?”
“He’s a little big for the bed. You saw him.”
We bolted out of bed and to the kitchen door then spilled out into the yard.
I did make Aspen slow down long enough to get on clothes and a coat and boots.
It took over thirty seconds, but we were outside the door and off the porch when the shift overtook me.
Don’t scare him! I warned as I stepped back and gave him control.
As if I would.
Sometimes he seemed unaware of his size, and that people might be frightened, but Aspen showed not the least sign of fear. Awe? Respect? Even love, as he approached. “May I touch you?”
The reindeer lowered his head, and our mate stroked his nose then planted a kiss on it.
“Hello. I’m Aspen. I’m in love with your person and so that probably means with you, too.”
He walked around and petted the reindeer, speaking in a soft, kind voice the whole time and making my heart swell with love.
My reindeer and I were the same person yet not, and it might be a hard concept for some people—humans—to take in.
But not my omega. In a remarkably short time, he’d accepted who I was and my dual nature.
Often when the reindeer was in dominance, I sort of drowsed in the background.
But not today. When my beast bent his knee and invited Aspen to ride him?
He’d certainly never done that for anyone else.
“Whoa.” Aspen braced his palms on our back. “This is so high up.” I didn’t have control, but I trusted that my reindeer would take great care with him.
He walked around the yard, slowly and carefully, letting Aspen get comfortable before trotting into the woods.
Even then, he didn’t use the speed he could have, always mindful of our omega on his back and without any particularly good handholds.
No mane or anything handy like that. If the two of them were going to do this often, we’d need to arrange some sort of halter or something that Aspen could use to stay on more easily.
But for now, my omega was delighted, patting the reindeer and talking to him in a natural and comfortable way. I was in heaven.