17. Chapter 17
Gunnar
Hot shower water pelts me as I join Arlo under the spray. When Arlo’s hair is wet, it shines like polished gold. Water races down his slender but muscular build, and I follow the running water down his smooth chest to his soft cock. I could watch him for hours. He’s beautiful.
Ours, my wolf whispers.
For now, I remind myself, trying to ignore the ache in my chest.
“See something you like?” Arlo gives me a crooked smile that makes me want to grab him and kiss him.
“Very much,” I assure him, stepping close until he’s against the wall. Arlo tips his chin back, his lashes sparkling with water, eyes hooded.
“I believe you owe me for smashing cake in my face.”
I run my hands down his ribs to grip his hips. “Remind me again?”
Looping his arms around my shoulders, Arlo pulls me down until I’m close enough that our breath mingles. “An apology,” he purrs. He grabs the nape of my neck and tugs, mashing our lips together. The heat from the shower and his lips is enough to make me feel lightheaded.
I bite his bottom lip, tugging. “I am so very sorry.”
Arlo scoffs, pressing his lips together so he doesn’t smile. “Prove it.”
“Oh?” I kiss along his strong jaw, nipping his earlobe. Arlo gasps, squirming against me. His cock jerks between us, hard and needy. “Tell me what you want, and I won’t rest until you’re satisfied.”
Arlo hums, running his hands down my back to grab one of my ass cheeks in each hand. He squeezes my ass, tracing the shape. Knowing my mate is fond of… certain parts of my anatomy makes me want to preen.
“Have you ever—oh!” he gasps when I curl my hand around him, stroking. “Goddess, fuck, I love your hands.”
I chuckle, lifting said hands to inspect them. “These?”
“Yes,” Arlo moans when I take him in my fist and stroke, cupping his balls in my other hand. “They’re rough and calloused and they feel so good. You must be good with rope?”
His question takes me by surprise, but I’m happy to answer with a confident, “Aye. Would have lost many a ship if I weren’t.”
Arlo moans in my ear, rolling his hips into my hand. “Have you ever tied anyone up?”
My cock gives an enthusiastic twitch. “No, but I could do so easily.”
“Ever worn a pirate costume?”
That gives me pause. “Uh. What’s that?”
“Never mind. Vikings are basically pirates. Do you know what roleplay is?”
I hum and nod and suck a kiss into his neck.
“It would be sexy if we pretended I was a hostage of yours, captured during a raid.”
That sounds quite awful to me.
“A very sexy, virginal hostage who offers you the pleasure of his body in exchange for his survival.”
Desire heats the pit of my stomach. “Oh. And shall I take this virginal hostage aboard my ship now?”
Arlo whimpers when I rub my thumb over the head of his cock. “No. Another time. But can we have fun with the ropes now?”
“Where would we find such ropes?”
Arlo strokes and squeezes me, making my breath catch and my toes curl. “I bought some in case you said yes.”
“Then let’s put them to good use.” I hoist Arlo into my arms and carry him from the shower, grinning when his yelp of surprise becomes a laugh.
I lay him in bed and give myself a moment to admire him.
Fair skin and golden hair. A slender, sinewy build.
His long cock curling against his stomach. “Gods, Lo, you’re beautiful.”
Arlo winks, his lips curling in a crooked smile that makes my blood burn for him. “Ropes are under the bed in a bag.”
“You’re sure about this?” I reach under, feeling until I find the bag. True to his word, there is a bundle of red rope I know will look lovely against his skin.
“I am,” he says and holds my gaze with an intensity that makes me shiver. “You’ve given me a lot the past few days. Time for me to do the same.”
“And what are you giving me? Aside from this?” I run my hand over his muscular stomach, smiling when he writhes under me.
“My trust.”
My breath catches.
Arlo’s throat bobs as he looks up at me. “Trust doesn’t come easy for me but… you’ve earned it. All I have to give.”
My eyes sting and it takes effort to swallow as my throat thickens. What have I done to deserve such a precious gift? There’s so much I want to say, and none of it feels good enough, so I capture his lips with mine and pour everything I have into this kiss.
“I’ll treasure it,” I whisper against his lips. Tearing open the packaging, I unwind the rope. When Arlo holds out his hands, I wrap it around his wrists and tighten it. “How’s that feel? Comfortable?”
Arlo strains against the rope and smiles. “Perfect. Now, make me beg for it.”
Pressing a quick kiss to his lips, I set about doing just that.
I go slow, brushing my mouth along his jawline.
My hand rasps over his chest, pinching a dusky nipple between my fingers.
Arlo groans, his teeth sinking into his bottom lip.
I suckle on his other nipple, tugging gently with my teeth, enjoying the way he arches into me.
His cock rubs against my stomach, hard and throbbing.
With a low whine, Arlo thrusts against me, but I grab his hip and hold him down. “Don’t you move,” I command. “I’ll give you everything you need, love.”
The endearment slips from my lips so naturally that it startles me. I’m grateful my face is tucked against Arlo’s chest so he can’t see the shock surely present there. I haven’t called anyone love. Not since—
I squeeze my eyes shut and focus on pressing kisses down Arlo’s stomach. The whimper that comes out of him when I nip his hip bone helps pull me back into the moment. I purposefully ignore his cock for now, kissing and nuzzling my beard against his inner thighs.
“Goddess, Gunnar,” Arlo moans, squirming under me.
A smile curls my mouth. “Patience.”
“Can’t,” Arlo whines. “Want your mouth on me. Now.”
“Oh? Like this?” I press my lips to the base of his cock, grinning when his entire body jolts.
“Yes, fuck, more of that!” Arlo pants.
Breathing in his musky scent, I kiss my way up the turgid length of him.
Arlo’s chest rises and falls faster, his hips twitching under my firm grip.
I keep my eyes on his flushed face so I can witness his reaction when I avoid taking him in my mouth.
It’s cruel, mayhap, but worth it when he throws back his head and groans.
“Fuck! I didn’t realize you’d be such a bloody tease!” He strains against the ropes around his wrists.
A low laugh rumbles from my throat. “You’re the one who wanted to beg, remember?” I stick out my tongue and lick the head of his cock, moaning at the salty taste of his seed beading at the slit.
“Goddess, you’re going to kill me, you bastard,” Arlo says, panting.
I flip him over, making him gasp, and spread his cheeks apart, growling when his hole gapes open for me.
I dive in, licking from his entrance down his taint to suck on his swollen balls.
A hoarse cry escapes Arlo, filling the room.
He curses, pants, and moans as I thrust my tongue inside him.
My cock throbs, surely as eager as I am to be buried inside him.
When he tries to rock back, I hold on tight to his hips so all he can do is lie there and take everything I give him.
The sounds he makes awaken a primal urge within me even without my fur cloak.
I want to bury myself inside him, rut into him like the wild beast I am, until all he can do is scream my name.
Want to feel those hot, tight walls milking every drop of my seed as I spill inside him.
“Gunnar, Gunnar, oh my goddess, fuck! Yes, feels so bloody good. Don’t stop!
” Arlo’s babbling makes a feral grin slide over my face.
The scent of his precum dripping onto the sheets makes me growl.
Grabbing his hips, I flip him onto his back.
Arlo’s face is flushed, eyes black with lust, and his pretty cock is dripping all over his stomach.
“So beautiful,” I whisper, never meaning anything more. I hold two fingers to his lips, groaning when he sucks me into the wet, velvety heat of his mouth. Once my fingers are wet, I circle them at his entrance and push inside. Arlo bites his lip with a moan, arching his hips as I enter him.
“Gunnar,” he whines, “you’re g-going to drive me mad—” His words end in a cry when I wrap my lips around the head of his cock.
The taste of his precum bursts across my tongue.
He’s so hard and hot, twitching between my lips for more, and the tight grip of his ass around my fingers feels like Valhalla itself.
Bobbing my head, I take him deeper, running my tongue along the vein on the underside of his cock while I pump my fingers in and out of him.
It’s difficult to do both at the same time, my mouth moving out of pace with my fingers, but Arlo’s guttural moans assure me I’m doing a fair job. The sounds he makes, the taste of his cock, the stranglehold his tight hole has on my fingers—it’s all so perfect.
“I-I’m going to come,” Arlo warns me. “Shit, I’m so close.”
That’s my sign to withdraw my fingers and pull off his cock. He exhales harshly and slumps into the bed, breathing as if he’s been running a mile.
Gods, he’s a wreck. I did that.
“Fuck, I wanna touch you so badly,” Arlo says breathlessly, wriggling against his restraints. “Can I? Please?”
I clench my fists, surprised by how fast I almost jumped to do as he asked. Bending over, I kiss his lips, slipping my tongue inside so he can taste himself. “Easy, love. I’ll give you what you need. Trust me.”
“I do,” Arlo whispers, and his confession takes the air from my lungs.
I’m going to make him feel so good.
Grabbing his thighs, I lift his legs over my shoulders. I grab the lube from the drawer and slick myself up fast, so desperate to be inside him I think I’ll die unless it happens now.
As I push inside, Arlo’s eyes close and he bites his lip so hard it whitens. I almost stop to check on him, but he lifts his hips and urges me in deeper until my legs slap the back of his ass and I can go no deeper.
“Fuck. You’re amazing, Lo,” I groan, rocking my hips. My cock glides effortlessly in and out of his body, so tight and hot around me.
“Feel so good,” Arlo whimpers, legs tightening around my shoulders so he can meet my thrusts.
Breathless moans spill from Arlo’s lips as I move faster until the sound of skin on skin fills the bedroom.
Grabbing his hips, I pull him down onto my cock again and again, losing myself in his cries and the grip of his body.
Fuck, I could stay inside him forever. I’d fuck him until my heart gave out, and I’d die the happiest man in all the realms. Never want this to end, but it will soon.
Every muscle tightens and my cock feels hard enough to hammer metal.
Even though we’re as close as two people can be, it isn’t enough.
Lifting Arlo’s hips higher so I can lean in closer, almost folding him in half, I claim his mouth with mine.
A feral sound comes out of me as I swallow every moan and cry, my hips moving hard and fast like my life depends on it.
“Gonna come, Lo,” I growl against his mouth. “You want it?”
“Yes,” Arlo whines, “oh goddess, want it so much.”
There’s so much precum dribbling down his length that he can’t be far behind. “Gonna come for me, Lo?”
“Yes. I’m so close. So close. Make me come. Please.”
Knowing what he needs, I wrap my hand around his dripping cock and stroke until every muscle in his body goes taut and his back arches off the mattress.
“Goddess, Gunnar, yes!” he cries and tightens around me as he erupts, covering his chest and stomach with his seed.
The bliss that grips his face, the way he shouts my name, is my undoing.
I pound into him relentlessly, chasing my release until pleasure crashes over me.
Arlo moans, smiling blissfully as I twitch and throb inside him, filling him with my cum.
My heart races so hard and fast, I wonder if it will stop. Gasping, I slump against him, our foreheads touching. His fervent pants hit my mouth in hot gusts. Needing his arms around me, I untie the ropes, and the moment his hands are free, he’s holding me tightly to him.
Tender kisses brush along my forehead, and suddenly it feels like I’m the one with ropes around me—around my heart. I never want to leave this bed. I want to lie here with him for the rest of my life.
I want to spend every day making him feel safe, cherished, and happy. For so long, I thought I’d never feel this way for another person. Now that I’ve found this happiness with him, I never want to let it go.
But I will.
I’ll have to. Because this thing between us was never meant to go this far. My arms tighten around him as a lump rises in my throat.
“Darling?” Arlo whispers as I hold him tighter. “Are you all right?” He brushes hair from my forehead, the gesture so sweet it feels as if I’ll break apart.
“Don’t go, not yet,” I murmur, tucking my face in his neck. “Let me hold you. Just for a little while longer.”
Arlo’s heart skips against my ear, and then his arms tighten around me. “Of course,” he whispers. “As long as you like.”
Minutes, hours, days—not even that feels long enough.
Not when I know the pain that’s coming when this eventually ends.