Chapter 14
Fourteen
FEIGRIND
B eing with Simon was different, but not as strange as I would have thought. It felt amazing being inside him, hearing the sounds he made. I was not na?ve enough to believe those noises were real—he was probably making them for my benefit because of my inexperience—but I enjoyed them all the same. And I was curious to explore more with him. He was not cruel in his explanation, and he didn’t tease me for my inexperience. He was a kind teacher, which was surprising given his disposition since we met.
I fell asleep still considering how I wanted to approach the subject of more exploration. I didn't want him to think I was using him. I wanted to keep him if I could. But I wanted to make sure we were compatible before I brought that up. He seemed to have enjoyed what we did, but I didn’t want him faking to placate me. If I wanted to make him happy, I needed him to teach me how to please him.
It was still early when I woke to Simon’s mouth on me. He sucked on my cock with more force than I was used to, forcing me awake with a groan.
“Simon…” I breathed.
He pulled off my cock with a pop, looking up at me. His hair was disheveled from sleep, and his lips were swollen from sucking me. He truly was beautiful.
“Good, you’re awake.”
He gave me no time to question him before he climbed on top of me and sank onto my cock. I threw my head back, gritting my teeth against a groan that would wake my brothers if I wasn’t careful. It felt so good, it was hard to control myself. He was hot and tight, slick with oil already, and he wasted no time before he started moving. I had no hope of keeping up with him. I wasn’t fully awake, and being bombarded with pleasure upon waking was too much for my mind to handle.
Simon’s moans forced my eyes open, and I watched as he writhed on me, his cheeks pink with arousal. His cock stood out in front of him, bobbing with his movements and leaking onto my belly. He might be able to fake some things thanks to his job, but he couldn’t hide his body’s responses.
I could only watch for so long before my control slipped, and I rolled to put him underneath me. I wanted more, and he seemed to enjoy it when I did. He sounded surprised at first, probably because he wasn’t expecting it, but then his moans grew into cries of pleasure as I fucked into him.
“Oh fuck, oh fuck, ohfuckohfuckohfuck,” he babbled in the common tongue. I wasn’t sure what he was saying, but I couldn’t think much of it. His body tightened around me, and I lost my fight to stay quiet, groaning loudly as I spent inside him. He spilled across his stomach and chest, his body writhing in pleasure, and I did my best to keep moving for him until we were both too exhausted, and I had to roll off him for fear of crushing him. I took him with me, though, pulling him against my chest as I caught my breath.
When I finally felt like I could speak, I looked down at Simon to question him, only to find him fast asleep. It was a lot earlier than he normally woke, the sun just barely lighting up the tent, so I wasn’t too surprised. He was curled up against me, his face relaxed, without his usual irritation or annoyance. I cupped his cheek impulsively, stroking my thumb over his smooth skin, and he sighed, leaning into the touch. It was a sweet reaction, one that tugged at my heart, and I had to force myself to move away to find a cloth to clean us up.
It was too early for Simon, but I rose early most days, so I was not interested in going back to sleep. I tucked him in with the furs so that he stayed warm and comfortable, and got up for the day, putting on fresh clothes and ducking out to fetch our breakfast, as well as Maman’s. She didn’t need to overexert herself fetching it.
I found Patrick and Yamileth hard at work on breakfast, talking quietly amongst themselves. They both looked up as I ducked into the tent they used for cooking, and Yamileth raised an eyebrow at me.
“Do you need something?”
Huffing a laugh, I shook my head. “You know why I am here.”
“I do,” she said snarkily. “I also know she said she would come herself. You hover too much.”
Yamileth and Maman were friends, so her reaction didn’t surprise me. If they could get support for Maman’s refusal to let me help her, they’d gather the entire clan. However, most knew my actions to be for the best and didn’t let those two suck them into their scheming.
Patrick frowned, looking between us. “Who are you talking about?”
“My maman,” I replied, accepting the bowls of food he offered me. Two at first, since he was unaware that I was fetching Maman’s as well. I was grateful that he fed Simon without complaint, even with Simon’s surly attitude not making him any friends thus far.
“Is she sick? Do you want me to bring her meals to her instead?” Patrick asked. He was a good man, kind and thoughtful, and he’d taken over for Yamileth in making deliveries of meals to tributes and those too sick to join the clan after he began working alongside her.
“I am not sick,” Maman carped, stepping into the tent. I sighed heavily, and she poked me in the side in retribution. “I am not so old that I cannot fetch my own meals. Do not make it seem otherwise.”
“You should not have to,” I argued. “You need your rest.”
She and Yamileth both gave me dirty looks, and I had no choice but to back down. I would not win with both of them there.
“We will discuss this later,” I said, to end the argument. Perhaps I could convince Simon to eat with her. She enjoyed his company, and he seemed to like spending time with her as well. That wouldn’t work in the mornings, since Maman rose as early as I did and Simon liked to sleep in, but for other meals, I might be able to get her to rest more.
“Go. Feed your tribute,” Yamileth demanded, shooing me away. “When will you introduce him to the clan?”
My face gave away my distaste, and Maman laughed.
“He does not wish to. He is not wrong to keep Simon close. He is a little devil with a sweet face. His snark will upset any who take him seriously.”
Yamileth raised her eyebrows, curious. “Truly? Why have I not met him yet?”
They continued to discuss introducing Yamileth to Simon. I did not admit out loud that it was not Simon’s attitude that made me keep him apart from the clan. I was being selfish. I wanted more time with him without anyone else luring him away. Each time I introduced my tribute to the clan, they left. I didn’t want to lose Simon, too.
SIMON
Waking up after really good sex put me in a better mood than usual when I got up the second time. The first time, I had intended to just roll over and go back to sleep, but I was cuddled against the gorgeous giant, and I needed to test my theory. I thought maybe I’d reacted so strongly to him because I was worked up after a week without sex. That would explain why I came untouched. But even without foreplay and a quick prep on my part, it happened again the next morning. I was stunned at how quickly I came, too. I could last hours if clients wished it. I was only ever quick if that’s what they requested. But a few minutes being fucked with that gorgeous dick, and I was coming like a virgin riding their first cock.
It was embarrassing.
I had been having sex for more than half my life. I didn’t react like this. I enjoyed it, I had my fun, but I didn’t lose control like that. And I never came untouched. What was it about this barbarian that set me aflame?
A little disgruntled with my reaction, I almost didn’t notice that Feigrind was not in the tent with me. There was a bowl of food on the table, he’d cleaned up our clothes that had been scattered everywhere, but he was nowhere to be seen. It stung a little. I knew my place. Men were only interested in me for sex. But I’ll admit, I’d thought Feigrind would be different. At least kind enough to pretend that wasn’t all I was good for.
The sated, happy energy I’d woken up with disappeared and, in a petulant protest to his actions, I snagged the bowl of food and brought it back with me to the furs to eat. He wasn’t around to chastise me, so I could do what I wanted.
I was halfway through my meal when Feigrind came back. He carried a heavy pot that had steam coming out of the top. I was still mad at him, so I didn’t ask, but I was curious.
He set the pot aside, raising an eyebrow at me. “If you make a mess, you’ll regret it.”
“Unlike some people, I don’t eat like an animal,” I snapped. “Where did you go?”
I didn’t want to sound so hurt, but it came out that way, and Feigrind’s face softened. He gestured to the pot.
“You do not like bathing in the river. I worry when your lips turn blue. So I heated water for you instead. I do not have your fancy products for bathing, but at least you will be warm.”
Surprised, I sat a little straighter. “You warmed water for me?”
It was a thoughtful gesture, one I didn’t expect, and I wasn’t sure how to react. I’d been so determined to be angry with him, but he’d been gone only because he was doing something sweet for me. What did I even say to that?
“Your happiness is important to me,” he replied, and my heart stuttered in my chest. No one had ever cared much about my happiness before.
The rush of fluttery emotions that exploded in my stomach made me uncomfortable, and I had to look away from the earnest expression on his face. I mumbled a quiet thank you and moved to put my food down so that I could get clean before the water cooled too much. Feigrind gave me a cloth and a fresh bar of soap, moving a rug out of the way so the water wouldn’t make a mess. I took my time cleaning every inch of me and sighed happily as the warmth sank into my skin. It was chilly this far north, and I only ever felt truly warm buried in the furs or wrapped in Feigrind’s arms. I didn’t want to get too used to that feeling either. I didn’t want him somehow convincing me to stay.