Odin

Chapter 15

Terrus held Maura to him with one arm draped around her waist, while sending his mists toward the shaded clearing before them. The meadow floor was soon covered with a bed of soft green clover and pink rose petals accented with violets and gardenias. He led Maura into the middle of it, then patiently, one item at a time, removed her clothing and laid it to the side. With little more than a half-wave of his hand in his own direction, his clothes disappeared. He gently took Maura’s hands in his and lay her down, his own body following.

Maura shivered at his touch, his fingertips just barely grazing the skin of her breasts.

“I love that you shiver when I touch you,” he whispered at her ear.

“I will always shiver when you touch me. I’ll never tire of it.”

“Neither will I tire of touching you,” he promised.

He lay beside her with the upper half of his body atop hers. “May I?” he asked.

“You may,” she said, a tear forming in her eye. She loved that he always asked permission before he touched her, and that he always seemed to be in awe of her very existence. Her beauty, he called it. She’d never in her memory believed that she was beautiful — until now. Living life with Terrus, seeing herself through his eyes had changed every single thing about her.

Terrus kissed her gently, rubbing his nose alongside hers for a moment before he lowered his head to suckle at her breast.

Maura moaned softly and arched into his mouth.

Terrus’ heartbeat began to speed up as he lifted his head and watched his mate respond to his touch, to his kisses.

“So beautiful,” he murmured.

Maura lifted a hand and ran her fingers through the hair at his temple as she smiled invitingly at him.

Having already asked for and received permission, he shifted his body to lay between her legs, raising one of her legs to ride alongside his waist as he rocked his hips, exciting her further, coating himself in her juices before he lined himself. He paused for just a moment as he always did, locking eyes with her as he pushed himself between her pulsing vulva, his hardness instinctively finding its way home as he continued to push inside until she could take no more. As they stared into each others’ souls, he pulled his hips back and stroked into her body.

Her breath caught.

Only a twitch of the corner of his mouth indicated that he’d noticed her intake of breath. Pulling his hips back again, he pushed into her with more force.

“Yes,” she whimpered.

The twitch of his lip became a smile. “Like that?” he asked, knowing full well what she wanted and liked.

“Yes,” she begged.

The muscles of Terrus’ upper body strained as he took up a rhythm and repeated the movement into her body again and again, listening carefully for that whimper once more. He continued to thrust steadily, his stomach tightening as he felt her body clench around him.

Maura threw her head back and her hands came up to caress and squeeze the curve of his bottom as he thrust into her.

A soft growl erupted from his throat, and he sped up just enough to carry her through the orgasm that started to wash through her body, followed immediately by Terrus locking his hips against hers as he emptied his release into her. He lay on top of her body, taking his time to catch his breath and wallow in the beauty and pleasure that was his mate for as long as it took her to catch her breath as well.

Some time later he rolled to his side, taking her with him to rest her head on his chest. “My beautiful mate,” he whispered as he stroked her hair and lifted his head to kiss her forehead. “How did I ever exist without you?”

“Maybe you knew I was coming,” she said.

“Perhaps I did.”

Maura settled down and shortly after her deep relaxed breaths let him know that she’d fallen asleep. He smiled to himself, knowing that if she fell asleep after they made love, he’d loved her well. And she always did. His sister and Brannaugh were right about many things, but not about the way in which his Maura needed to be loved. She’d been mistreated by so many, for so long, that she didn’t want rough loving. She didn’t want him to demand that she was his and to be taken by force. She wanted gentle intimacy, soft touches, explicit permissions. All of which spoke of respect and value. And that was absolutely fine with him. He respected and valued his Maura like no other life-force on Earth, and he took pride in giving her whatever she needed, whatever she wanted.

He lay beneath her for a short while, enjoying just being beside her, until his eyes drifted open. He reached out with one hand and curled it in the grass beneath the bed of clover and flowers he’d built to love her on, and then he knew. He had things to attend to.

Regretfully he woke Maura with kisses and soft strokes of his fingertips across her shoulder and back. “I must go to see Enthrall, my beauty.”

She blinked sleepily at him for a moment before she remembered. “Oh, is Odin back?”

“He is. I feel his presence. I promised to tell Enthrall so he could take Odin’s mate to him.”

“I hope they can work things out. He should be happy.”

“So, do I, beauty. Do you wish to wait for me here, or at home?” he asked.

“At home,” she said. “I’m feeling a little peckish.” She sat up and stretched her body, looking down at the flowers beneath them. “I feel badly that we crushed all the flowers.”

“I’ll give you dozens more.”

“And these?” she asked.

“We’ll leave them for the creatures to nibble on.”

With a wave of Terrus’ hand they were both fully dressed and misting through Whispers on their way. Terrus took them right into their living room, then kissed Maura. “I shall be right back.”

“I think I’ll make us a snack, then draw a warm bath and wait for you to return.”

Terrus’ eyes flashed letting her know he was excited at the prospect. “I’ve already filled the bath with warm water. Take our snacks and get in. I’ll be right back.”

Maura kissed his lips, and smiled as he misted away. She sighed contentedly, and went into their kitchen to prepare a quick snack of fruits and cheeses for them to share, then burst out laughing the moment she got a good look at the kitchen. It was filled near to over flowing with vases of roses, gardenias, and violets. He’d promised her dozens more, but delivered hundreds. Her life was filled with love, laughter, gentle caresses, and a trust like no other. She’d trade nothing for it, nor ever take it for granted.

Maura quickly put together a plate of their favorite snacks, then took it to their bathroom, stripped out of her clothes and slipped into the warm bath complete with scented oils and flower petals floating on its surface, to wait for her beloved to return.

~~~

Terrus misted into Enthrall’s living room, the swirling green and silver of his mists announcing his impending arrival.

The moment he materialized, Enthrall was already speaking to him. “Terrus! Has he returned?”

“He has. He is near the beach,” Terrus said.

“At Marie’s burial place,” Simone said.

“Yes. He’s quite unhappy with himself, believing that he’s lost you forever.”

“He should be unhappy!” Simone exclaimed.

“I fear you’ll have to guide him. He’s spent years hating himself, and what he knows of love is only instinct. But you are the sole focus of his existence. He meant not to hurt you, only to protect you from himself. Forgive him, if you love him. If not, then allow Enthrall to return you to your people. I can vanish the bond between you and he’ll not be able to track you again. I can even erase the memory of you both from another.”

Simone stared at him open-mouthed. “What are you?” she finally asked.

Terrus smiled at her. “I am the land, the wind, the oceans and the time that passes as we stand here with your future in the balance. Without me and those like me, there would be chaos. Choose, female. What do you want?”

Simone looked over at Enthrall questioningly.

Enthrall smirked at her. “He’s telling you the truth. He’s like Lily. But I daresay, she might be a little more powerful.”

“I’m older, though,” Terrus said with a bit of pride.

“Alright,” she said, shaking her head a bit.

“Have you decided what you want?” Terrus asked.

Simone sighed resignedly. “Yes. Unfortunately, when I think of what I want, it’s only Odin that appears in my mind.”

“You want Odin,” Terrus said.

“I want Odin. But only if he wants me.”

“I shall not meddle in anything at all. And to this point, I have not. All that you’ve seen is as Fate would have it. I’ll leave you to it, then,” he said to Simone. He turned his attention to Enthrall. “Please give my best to Felicity and Ezekiel.”

“I will. Thank you for letting us know that he’d returned.”

“You are most welcome. I bid you good evening, my mate awaits me.” Terrus bowed to them both before his mists took him away, carrying him back to Maura.

Enthrall turned to Simone. “You were right.”

“I told you if we just waited for a day or two, he’d turn up,” she said.

“Yes, you did. Are you ready to go to him?” Enthrall asked.

Simone nodded. “Yes, but you can’t leave me there until you know for sure that he wants me.”

“I already know that he wants you. But I will stay until I hear him declare his desire for you. Once he does, I’ll be on my way.”

“Thank you, Enthrall, for everything.”

“You don’t need to thank me. I’m glad to be able to help the two of you come together. He’s felt lost for a long time. I’m glad he found you.”

~~~

Odin lay on Marie’s Hill, his eyes staring into the darkness of the sky, his arms and legs splayed out carelessly as he allowed himself to wallow in his sorrows. He didn’t notice the cold breeze blowing across his body. He didn’t notice the thin kiss of ice spreading across the grass beneath his body and across the hill. He didn’t notice Enthrall’s arrival, or the footsteps of the lone female cracking the thin sheen of ice as she slowly but surely made her way up onto Marie’s Hill and across to him. She stopped halfway across the expanse of the hill from him and watched him for a few moments before she finally spoke.

“Of all the things I thought to find you doing, wallowing in self-pity wasn’t one of them,” Simone said.

Odin sat up straight, his eyes wide, his mouth forming a perfect ‘O’ of surprise at hearing her voice.

“Did you not hear me speak to you?” she asked.

Odin scrambled to his feet. “Yes! I heard you! How are you here? How can this be? Why are you here in Whispers?”

“I came to rail at you for deserting me in a convent — with nuns! What kind of life did you think I’d have there?”

“A celibate one!” Odin answered truthfully.

“I don’t need a celibate life! How could you even consider that?” Simone demanded.

“Because if you weren’t with me, you couldn’t be with anyone. It’s quite simple if you think about it.” He stopped explaining and looked at her, still standing ten feet away from him. “How are you here, Simone?”

“Enthrall. He and my family are working toward a common goal. He offered to bring me here to rail at you so that I could gain closure. Only now that I’m here, I find closure isn’t exactly what I want.”

Odin’s heart felt like it was in his throat. He approached her hesitantly. “It’s not?” he asked.

“No. It’s not. Fool that you are, that my heart seems to be, I want you. Why don’t you want me, Odin?”

His eyes widened almost comically as he rushed to her. “How could you think I don’t want you?” he demanded.

“You left me in a convent,” she shouted. “Refused to discuss anything with me, and abandoned me!”

“I wasn’t enough for you. I didn’t want to condemn you to life with me. I’ll never be more than I am right now. I couldn’t force that life on you.”

Simone shook her head. “Don’t you know that who you are right now, is all I’ve ever wanted?”

Odin shook his head. “What do you see that makes you think you want me?”

“I see my mate. I see a male as good as the best males I’ve ever known. I see my love.”

Odin’s lips trembled a bit right before he pressed them together to make them stop. “I don’t know how to be what you need. But I know that no one else alive or dead will ever love you like I do. No one else will ever protect you, or need you, or stand beside you like I will. You are mine, Simone. I can’t fight it anymore.” He dropped to his knees. “Please forgive me. Forgive my shortcomings — they will be many, I’m sure. But please love me, and teach me to love you the best way I can.”

“Are you going to leave me alone again? You do know we will have arguments…”

“I will never leave you alone. Never.”

“Even when we’re angry?”

“Even when we’re angry.”

“Swear it?”

“On my soul. Which resides inside you, so it’s a bit confusing to be swearing to you on you, but I am yours. Whatever I am, I will always belong only to you. Please give me a chance to make you happy.”

“You’d have to claim me again.”

Odin smirked just enough to let Simone see it. “If I must.”

“I think it will be a regular thing.”

“I’m hoping that it will be,” Odin said. “If I must, you know.”

“You must. Now. Right now.”

“I love you, Simone.”

“I love you, Odin. No matter how stubborn you are.”

“I’m very stubborn. I know. But I’m not quite as stubborn as you. You might hold the upper hand there.”

“Don’t forget it either. I will always win.”

“I promise to let you win, as long as you promise to always believe in me. To remember that even when I make mistakes, it’s only because I was trying to do it right to begin with.”

“I promise.”

“We don’t have a shelter to spend the night in, I have failed you already,” Odin said, looking at the night around them.

“As I remember, we didn’t have a shelter when you first claimed me, either.”

“No, we didn’t. And it didn’t matter then. Does it now?”

“As long as we rely on each other, we’ll be okay. No matter what we have or don’t have, we’ll be better than most,” Simone said.

“I believe that,” Odin said solemnly.

“So, do I. But if you ever leave me again, no matter what your reasoning may be, I’ll employ a certain friend I’ve made recently to help me track you down. You will not be happy when I find you.”

“You’re bound to me, Simone. And I to you. I’ll never be so foolish to walk away again. Besides, I have an idea of who that friend may be, and I don’t want to be on his bad side either.”

“He seems like a kind male. I don’t think he has a bad side.”

“You might be right. He’s said that he’d like to gift us a home. He can make it any kind of home you’d prefer. I should have done it already so that it would be ready for you.”

“How would you know I was coming? And as long as you live there with me, I’ll be happy in whatever he builds.”

“I will always be there. But for tonight, the stars will have to do…” He smiled and took her in his arms, kissing her deeply. “I’ve so missed you. I thought I would die without you.”

“You almost did. I considered ending you myself.”

Odin laughed, his heart swelling with happiness. “Welcome home, my Simone.”

“Welcome to our forever, Odin.”