Chapter 17 Queen Emeline
Seventeen
Queen Emeline
My body aches.
As does my heart.
And this is what fuels the fire in me to persevere and never give up.
It’s also the distraction I need to keep my mind off everything that's happened thus far. As I attack an Irish soldier, I envision swinging at Inga’s head.
Now that things have settled somewhat and my sons are safe, I can’t help but obsess over Skarth having sex with two women. I know it was against his will, but I’m still furious.
I am furious at Bodil and Inga.
I am livid at Aethelbald.
But most of all, I cannot look at Skarth without wishing to slap his cheeks.
This is irrational jealousy. He didn’t seek out their touch. It was forced upon him to punish us both, and I imagine this weighs heavily on him, too. But regardless of all this, I’m still mad at him.
Blinded by rage, I lose focus, which results in my feet being swept out from under me. I land on my back with a thud. Peering up into the twilight, I see Ulf standing over me. He offers me his hand, which I slap away, and I stand on my own accord.
“You cannot be distracted. Not even for a second,” he says, eyes filled with concern. “We fight for ten men.”
On cue, an Irish soldier gets tossed onto the ground in front of us, moaning in pain.
Although grateful for their allegiance to me, I suspect half will be killed whilst the other half severely injured. Our army is weak. I have watched them train all day, a pleasant distraction from the thoughts in my head.
But now that Ulf has also mentioned the obvious, I see how dire things are.
I am walking these men into battle, knowing that most will not survive. Yes, this is the fate of every soldier who enters battle, but this feels like a massacre.
“I tire of warfare,” I confess, fatigue weighing me down. “I feel like I’ve been fighting my entire life. This battle, I hope, will be our last. I merely wish to live in peace.”
“There is no rest for a queen,” Ulf replies, reaching out and brushing two fingers across the apple of my cheek.
“You are right, which is why I don’t wish to be queen any longer.
” My eyes follow Benedict as he fights alongside Aeden, teaching the men fighting techniques he easily learned today.
“It feels like surrender, which is why every bone in my body protests. But what is life if you are constantly in battle?”
Ulf listens intently as he always does when we share a private moment such as this. It’s why I love him the way I do. Under his crass exterior, he is kind and attentive. He just doesn’t show it to anyone other than me.
Memories of his mouth on me assault me, and I feel my cheeks redden beneath his touch. He can read my wicked thoughts but doesn’t say a word.
“Why do you love me?” I whisper. “I have done nothing but put you in harm’s way. Yet you continue to fight with me, for me. You saved my children when you didn’t have to. You risked your life for me. I owe you my life. I do not deserve you. I do not deserve any of this.”
Ulf wipes away a fallen tear with his thumb before clasping my hand and leading me away from the men.
I welcome it.
We walk into the forest, the sky now kissed by stars. Ulf never releases my hand, and when we reach a large lake, he turns me toward him. Our gazes never waver from each other. Ulf traces his fingertip over the slope of my nose before brushing over the shape of my lips.
“I love you because you are a part of me and will forever be until the day I die. You are brave and honorable and only wish for good. I do not believe in this Christian concept of a soul, but if I did, yours would be pure. There has always been love in your heart for me, even when I didn’t deserve it.
“I have done some awful things in my life, yet you still look at me like I’m worth something.”
“You are worth everything to me.” I place my hand over his heart. “I love you because I don’t know how to stop. Is it wrong of me to love you both?”
“No one has the right to pass judgment on matters they don’t understand.”
“He will always have my heart,” I say, because, regardless of my love for Ulf, Skarth is the one I belong to.
“I know.”
“And you are okay with this fate? That if I had to choose, then I would choose him.”
Ulf nods slowly. “It has been this way from the beginning. I would rather be a part of you than no part at all.”
His honesty touches me, and I let my tears fall. “You deserve more.”
“Please do not insult me, ástin mín. I am a big boy. I know what this is.”
“You do? Please enlighten me, then, because I am in a constant state of confusion when it comes to you.”
“And that is the best type of love. Love isn’t meant to make sense. It didn’t make sense for you to fall in love with two Vikings when you’ve been taught since birth to hate them. Don’t question something inevitable.
“Just accept that we keep coming back to one another because your calm placates my chaos. And perhaps I do the same to you.”
My loins ache for him.
He runs his thumb across my mouth, and when I part it, he slips the tip inside.
I curl my tongue around it, eyes never leaving his as I suck lightly.
“Bite down,” he orders, and when I do, he hisses.
The air is magnetic, and I give in to a fight I will happily lose.
I don’t know who reaches for who first, but it’s an upsurge of passion as our lips connect. I am robbed of air as Ulf kisses me hard and long, fisting my hair and angling my mouth to how he wants. My tongue collides with his in a frenzied kiss sent from above.
He licks the seam of my mouth before thrusting his tongue back in and sucking. I moan around him, which vibrates all the way to my toes. I want him inside me, and I want it now.
With frantic fingers, I unfasten his trousers, but to my surprise, he slaps my hand away. I watch with feverish interest as he runs his hand down the front of my gown. The thin material does nothing to conceal my pearled nipples.
I am so affected by his touch.
I crave it.
With a sharp tug, he tears open my gown, my breasts spilling free.
Ulf bends down and takes one into his mouth, brushing his tongue over my nipple before sucking hungrily.
I cradle his head to my chest and arch backward.
My long hair tickles my back, only adding to this erotic experience, which leaves me breathless.
Ulf is hungry for me and makes clear what he wants when he tears the rest of my gown from my body and removes the useless garment. I am bare beneath the full moon. Nothing could be more perfect. That is, until I yank Ulf’s mouth away, only to remove his clothes in haste.
When he, too, is naked, I take a step back and admire him.
Ulf the Bloody is the epitome of masculine energy. He’s tall, muscular, marred with scars and tribal markings that begin at his bicep and wrap around his arm. Soft, dark hair covers his chest, leading down to his glorious V-muscles.
His erect cock stands thick, long, and hard.
I grow wetter between the legs.
Stepping forward, I reach for the aegishjalmr that hangs from a silver chain. It means as much to the Danes as the crucifix does to Christians.
His skin prickles with goose bumps as I brush my fingers through his chest hair. He smells like pine needles and lavender. He allows me to take my time, familiarizing myself with his hard body. But the moment we touch, memories flood; as do my feelings.
Ulf lifts me into his arms and walks us toward the water.
I lock my legs around his waist as our mouths meet in a passionate kiss.
He stops when we’re waist deep. The cool water feels wonderful against my scorching flesh, but the fire threatens to burn me alive when Ulf breaks the kiss only to bite and suckle over my racing pulse.
With his clever tongue, he licks in the hollow of my throat, before trailing across to one collarbone and then the other. Wherever he touches, my skin pulsates, demanding more. He cups my breast and swirls his tongue around my nipple.
His mouth is hot and wet, a perfect combination to appease this raging hunger that just wants more.
Unable to stand it any longer, I rub my sex against his hardened abs. Each bump grinds against me in just the right way. I moan into his mouth, desperation throwing my shame to the wind. But there is nothing more beautiful than getting lost in a moment such as this with the person you love.
“Tell me what you want?” When I hesitate, he slaps my behind. “Don’t make me ask you twice.”
“And what if I don’t?”
A smirk tugs at that sinful mouth.
He grips my hair and yanks it backward. He’s not gentle about it, and that’s exactly what I want.
“You don’t do what I say, I punish you.”
In response, I place a hand over my mouth, silencing myself.
Ulf tongues his cheek whilst shaking his head.
I’m playing with fire, but I’m prepared to get burned.
Ulf releases me only to force me to my knees. My head is just above the water, and he doesn’t hesitate as he twirls my hair around his fist and shoves my mouth onto his hard cock. I instantly gag and attempt to pull away, but Ulf holds me down, tsking me.
“I will silence you my way, then.” He commences using my hair as reins, coaxing his cock in and out of my mouth, ensuring he hits the back of my throat each time.
He gives me a small window to catch my breath before fucking my mouth brutally. He never lets go of his hair, so he is in control of how fast and deep he goes. When I gag, saliva dribbling down my chin, he hums in delight.
I am so aroused that I can’t help but reach down to pleasure myself.
I match the rhythm of my fingers to the tempo of Ulf’s strokes, and soon, I’m lost to anything but utter pleasure.
“Keep touching yourself, ástin mín. I love watching you.”
For once, I do as he asks because stopping isn’t possible.
Ulf pulls me off his cock slowly, coaxing me to arch my neck back so we can lock eyes. He runs his thumb over my puffy bottom lip as I gasp for air, close to climax.
“Did you think of me as you sank those fingers into that tight pussy?”