42. Chapter 42
Chapter 42
Erik
T here had been a moment, as the fire surrounded them, when Erik was certain he and Janelle were going to die. He’d never been afraid of death before—not really. He had resigned himself long ago—the moment he and Gray had taken their oath—to the fact that this war might lead to his death. But since meeting Janelle, everything in his life had changed in the most spectacular, immense way.
Now, he had a reason to live . A reason so much bigger than defeating Alaric. But along with his renewed purpose came more reasons to be afraid, too.
Erik washed quickly after helping to organize the armies, cleaning the soot from his skin and relishing the cold water. He wondered where Janelle had gone. It felt wrong not knowing where she was. And every moment away from her seemed like far too many.
He checked their room, searched the main hall, then the courtyard. But it wasn't until he made it to the kitchens that he found her, flour dusted across her cheeks and her hair up in a messy bun.
He walked up and put his arms around her waist, kissing the top of her head.
"Gods dammit, you ill-timed sugar-sniffing bloodhound. You ruined my surprise," she said, her smile betraying her pretend anger.
"And that surprise is?" Erik asked, looking down at the globs of half-baked dough she had just pulled from the oven.
"Cookies?" she said, raising her eyebrows.
Erik chuckled, grabbing one of the under-baked cookies and shoving it into his mouth.
Chocolate exploded on his tongue, and he moaned. "They're the best thing I’ve ever tasted," he said around a mouthful. "Other than you."
Janelle laughed as he flipped her around and kissed her cheek. She wrapped her arms around his neck, looking up at him with eyes so full of love it could have made him cry. It probably would have, if their love for each other hadn't been the entire reason he'd come to find her in the first place.
Erik grabbed another cookie, then tugged on her hand. "Come with me," he said. "There's something I've been wanting to try."
Janelle laughed, wiggling her eyebrows. "Anywhere, anytime. We've been through this before, haven't we?" she teased.
"I never get tired of hearing it."
"I never get tired of saying it. Where are we going?"
"You'll see," Erik replied, lifting her into his arms. Janelle squealed as he carried her around the back of the castle toward the armory. Thomas could only work at night, and the other soldiers working there had already left for the evening. Erik was positive the place would be deserted, and the line of trees behind them would provide extra cover for what he had planned.
Once they reached the armory, he set her down, immediately feeling a rush of heat as he pressed her against the stone wall and her body curled into his. He swept his tongue inside her mouth, and his fingers tangled in her hair.
Janelle moaned, deepening the kiss. "If this is what you wanted, you could've just told me," she said, catching her breath. She grabbed his hand and tugged him toward the back door of the building.
Erik dug his heels in, not budging. "No. Right here," he said, pressing her back up against the wall and pinning her with his hips.
He grabbed Janelle's hands, then let go with one to tilt her chin up toward him. "I'm going to say some very sappy things," Erik started, "and I need you to not throw up. For the sake of my manhood. If you love me, you'll keep your mouth shut, and just listen to what I have to say without gagging."
"Oh my God, you're ridiculous," Janelle swatted at him.
"No, I'm serious." He looked around as if searching for eavesdroppers. "I want to talk about my... feelings."
Janelle rolled her eyes. "Oh my God. Get on with it already!"
"If you insist." Erik cupped her cheek, pausing until he was certain she was listening to him. Really listening. "Until I met you, I was living my life for only one thing—this war. Gray was my brother, my only family. He was all I had, and that was enough. Then you and Lea came here, and everything changed. All of a sudden, I wanted to win this war for so much more than just revenge against my father. I wanted to win it for you. For us. We don't know what's going to happen or what we'll be able to accomplish, but I need you to know how I feel." He pressed a soft kiss to her lips. "No matter what happens, Janelle, you're mine."
He took her hand and placed it over his chest where his heart pounded beneath her palm. "Mine forever. Win or lose, our souls are bound."
Janelle placed her hand over Erik’s, tears welling in her eyes as she looked up at the sun. Erik smiled as he watched understanding wash over her face, her mouth popping open and her eyebrows raising. "You really think… You think it could be possible for more than just Lea and Gray?" she asked, her voice soft.
"I don't know," Erik said. "Not for sure. But I know that if there were ever to be another pair of mates, it's us."
"Okay," she whispered, leaning forward and raising her hands to his buttons.
"Wait, I'm not done," Erik said, dropping to one knee. "I want you to marry me. Please. Because no matter what happens once we try to seal the bond, it doesn't matter. You're mine, and a mark on our chests isn’t what proves that. Our love—our commitment—that's what’s going to make this last."
A sob burst from Janelle’s throat, and Erik kissed her cheek. "Hey, you promised," he said with a grin.
"I promised I wouldn't gag, not that I wouldn’t cry," she laughed through her tears, throwing herself into his arms. "I would marry you this second. I would marry you every day, no matter what the gods say about it."
"Tonight then? You’ll marry me?" His eyes sparkled with joy. "Do you really mean it?"
Janelle’s smile grew wide, almost matching Erik’s. His entire body warmed, and his heart pounded with a happiness he hadn't felt in ages.
She leaned up on her tiptoes, throwing her arms around Erik’s neck. She kissed him in response, her tongue molding against his in a resounding yes. He looked overhead to make sure there wasn’t a single branch or cloud between them and the celestial body that ruled their magic.
Erik reached for Janelle’s tunic, still dusted with flour, and pulled it over her head. His eyes raked over her pale skin, taking his time memorizing every inch of her body. He called fire into his hands as he cupped her breasts, burning away the thin fabric with ease, taking special care to avoid burning Janelle’s skin.
Dropping to his knees, Erik pressed his lips to her navel as his fingers went to the waist of her pants. Janelle kicked off her shoes, her hands coming to rest on the top of Erik’s shoulders. His scruff tickled her stomach as he pressed kisses to one hip bone, then the other, wiggling her pants off until she stood completely bare before him.
Flames licked up Erik’s arms as he slowly stood, already thick and hard in his trousers. He wasted no time, pulling his shirt over his head and stepping out of his own pants. He lifted Janelle in his arms, laying her down into the soft grass and crawling over her, pressing kisses as he went. The inside of her calf. Her thigh. Her waist and breast, then her lips. He groaned as she speared her fingers into his hair, pulling him closer until every inch of their bodies aligned.
It was ecstasy, just the contact of their skin, and Erik slid a hand between them, craving more. More touching. More kissing. Just more . He slid a single finger through her folds, teasing as he explored her slowly. Savoring every moment with this woman who was to become his wife.
The word made his cock jolt, and unable to stop himself, he pressed a finger inside her, slowly stretching her as she moaned out. Their kiss deepened, their tongues saying everything they needed too, sharing each other's air. Erik pressed in a second finger, then turned his hand to use his thumb to circle her clit.
Janelle broke their kiss as a gasp escaped her throat, her fingers digging into Erik’s shoulders. She bucked on his fingers, and he leaned back to watch, the sight nearly driving him mad. He pulled back, desperate to taste her, but Janelle put a hand to his chest and pushed him onto his back.
She climbed on top of him, a wicked glint in her eyes as she grabbed him in her hand. She raised up on her knees, holding him at her entrance and sliding his thick length back and forth, wetting him and then, in the most glorious display of earth-shattering beauty he’d ever seen, Janelle threw her head back as she sank down on his shaft inch by inch until he was fully sheathed inside her.
Grabbing her hips, he pinned her down against him, circling his hips as she adjusted to the fullness. Janelle bit her lip as she lifted herself up, then slid down again, faster this time. She leaned forward, changing the angle and driving him impossibly deeper as she began to truly ride him, using his body for her own pleasure.
The sight made him almost come, the pure rapture in her hooded eyes and her open mouth. Erik met her every movement, thrusting whenever she rocked back, his hands pulling her down harder and harder.
Their speed increased, Janelle moaning with every thrust of his hips. Her fingernails dug into his chest as they climbed together, higher and higher until Janelle’s movements became less rhythmic, her walls pulsing around him as she cried out.
Erik flipped her over, settling between her thighs as she continued to cry out beneath him. He pushed his fingers through her hair, tilting her head back and claiming her mouth, swallowing his name on her lips.
Lifting her leg, he thrust again and again, Janelle’s orgasm continuing on as he pounded into her, his rhythm becoming frantic as he found his own release.
"I love you," he said, pressing his forehead against Janelle’s and thrusting one more time, whispering praises as he found his own release.
Erik stilled, tasting Janelle’s lips once more. "Marry me?" he asked again, their foreheads still pressed together.
"You think amazing sex would make me change my mind?" she asked, biting his bottom lip, and Erik laughed as he pulled out of her, nipping back at her jawline.
"I want to hear it," he said, tucking her hair behind her ear.
"I’ll marry you," Janelle said, her face softening as she pulled back slightly, her eyes searching Erik’s skin. The disappointment he saw there was heavy, so obvious Erik didn't need to look to know what she was, or wasn’t , seeing. There was no mate mark. But surprisingly, he wasn’t sad. Not even a little.
Erik cupped her face between his hands. "So beautiful," he murmured, gazing at her smooth, unmarked skin. He’d expected disappointment if the bond didn’t snap into place, but in reality, all he felt was gratitude. He was lucky. Happy. Regardless of what the gods thought, Janelle was still the love of his life, mate or not.
The gods may not have blessed them, but he hoped they would have no mercy on anyone who tried to tear them apart.