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Not having any response to that, Maude kissed him instead. Herrick groaned and sank his fingers into her hair, pulling her closer. She straddled him, letting her hair fall over them like a curtain that separated them from the rest of the world. She felt him grow hard underneath her, his cock already teasing her entrance; at the same time that she felt her core become slick, her lower belly going molten in the most delicious way.

She ground her hips into him, forcing another groan from his lips that she felt deep inside of her already. Herrick’s hands trailed up her waist to cup her breasts, which she brought to his mouth so he could nip and suck. She let out a breathy moan as she guided his cock to her entrance and sank onto him deeper than before.

“Fuck,” she breathed, beginning to move her hips slowly.

“Gods,” Herrick groaned. “You take me so well.”

Maude surged forward, pinning the hands that were wrapped around her waist above Herrick’s head. Her red hair fell around their nearly touching faces, the morning sun beaming through it and casting ruby hues over his beautiful features.

“Gods? There are no gods here, beast,” she whispered as she trailed kisses over his jaw.

Maude bucked her hips forward and savored the growl that burst from his throat. She couldn’t swallow the moan that escaped her at the sensation; Herrick would be her complete undoing.

“There is only me.” Maude nipped at his throat again, her voice more ragged than before. “There is only us.”

Herrick then flipped them so Maude was on her back, his large body blocking out every other thing in the room. He angled her hips up as he slammed into her, forcing a guttural moan from her parted lips as he sank himself impossibly deeper.

“Then you are my goddess.” Herrick withdrew and pounded into her core again, earning another sound. “And my salvation.”

He slammed into her again, his fingers gripping into the swells of her hips. “And I am here to worship you.”

Herrick gripped her wrists in a tight hold above her head, the same way he had bound her at the temple in Ljosa. His hand free to roam her body, Herrick quickly explored every curve and dip of her flesh while he continued to pound into her at an unrelenting pace. The bed beneath them shrieked, threatening to collapse under the force of their joining.

Maude became all sensation, the world around her falling away, leaving only her and Herrick. His teeth scraped against her neck, and she arched into him, his mouth still wondrously soft despite his bite.

She was close, her release gathering in her core until it became almost unbearable. The pressure continued to build until she couldn’t bear it anymore. His free hand trailed its way to where they were joined, his fingers teasing her clit. Shockwaves of intense pleasure overwhelmed her as his skilled fingers worked her while he continued to move inside of her.

Just when she was about to detonate, Herrick spoke. “Eyes on me,minn eldr, I want to see you when I make you scream.”

Her eyes opened, and she looked directly into his golden brown irises, the love for her that shone in them becoming her undoing as he pressed down on her clit with his thumb. She shattered, and Herrick followed her, pumping into her at a relentless pace as she cried out his name. He kissed her, absorbing her shout as they both tumbled over into oblivion, becoming everything and nothing together.

30

Maude and Herrick finally came apart for long enough to head down to the tavern and eat supper with their friends that second night in Dagsbrun. When they went down the stairs, Liv and Gunnar were already sitting in a booth cheering. Maude felt her face heat. Keeping her head down and her hood up, she slithered into the booth after Herrick.

Hakon, the light haze of alcohol already in his eyes, gave his brother a small smile and grabbed his shoulder.

“Finally,” Hakon said, his words beginning to slur a bit as he looked between Maude and Herrick.

“Agreed,” Liv said with a laugh as she handed Maude a horn of ale.

Herrick also accepted a horn and put his arm behind Maude on the booth. Slightly possessive, but not obviously so to the passing stranger. He must have known that Maude would be uncomfortable with any public displays. Her heart clenched at how well he knew her.

“Well, with all of you busybodies pushing us toward each other, what choice did we have?” Maude teased, a small smile appearing on her mouth.

“You two needed to see what was right in front of you before we could continue with our plans,” Gunnar laughed. “Now that you are no longer distracted, we can set a course for Logi.”

The table went quiet. The weight of thedalkr Helathat Maude had stored in her boot suddenly felt heavier than before. Herrick’s hand driftedto Maude’s shoulder and squeezed for a moment before retreating to its resting spot.

“This conversation was going to come up eventually,” Gunnar said gently, looking only at Maude.

“I know,” she replied, swallowing thickly. “What did you have in mind?”

Before Gunnar could speak, the busty barmaid came to the table with plates of steaming food, setting them down in front of each of them. No one moved to touch the meals, waiting instead for the woman to depart before continuing.

When she finally did, Gunnar continued, “Entering the city the same way we left isn't smart; the patrols will have been doubled after our hasty escape.”

Maude eyed Hakon, trying to read his reaction to the event that had brought Eydis into his arms. He only stared at the plate in front of him, pushing roasted potatoes back and forth with a knife.