Page 31

He’d said this more than once, but it was my job, and I took his care and comfort very seriously. I wanted to call off the whole thing, but I knew by the stubborn look on Simon’s face, he would only wait for me to leave before trying again. At least if I was here to watch him, I could step in before he truly got hurt.

“What’s going on?” Uttin asked as he came to join us, frowning at the standoff. “Did Simon piss Einar off? Does he have a death wish?”

“Go fuck yourself, Uttin,” Simon snapped, shooting him a glare.

Einar used Simon’s distraction to his advantage, lunging forward. I let out a shout in warning, but I didn’t need to. Simon moved before Einar could get close, ducking and twisting, so he ended up beside Einar with his blade against the larger man’s throat.

“Woah,” Uttin breathed.

I was just as stunned. Simon was quick and knew what he was doing. He backed off, jerking his chin at Einar, and they started again. I was no less anxious the second time, though curiosity peaked when Einar spun to stop Simon from going for his neck, and Simon ducked and put his blade to Einar’s thigh instead. Too close to his cock for anyone’s comfort. Several ofmy brothers sucked in a breath, and Einar was smart enough to surrender before Simon did anything drastic.

“Did you know he was this skilled?” Uttin asked in a low tone, as we both watched Simon and Einar spar. I shook my head.

Einar learned from his mistakes, and Simon had to work harder to stay out of range of his blade. Not only was he good with the blades, he dodged and twisted like a dance, avoiding lunges that could have seriously injured him had he been anyone else. The more he countered Einar’s moves, the more Einar tried to hurt him. He never succeeded.

It was fatigue that got to Simon, making him just sluggish enough for Einar to get the upper hand. He knocked my tribute to the ground, pointing his blade at Simon’s neck, and I felt my breath stutter in my lungs. I wasn’t the only one. The men who had been watching, jeering and egging Simon on the longer he stood his own against Einar, all fell silent. Einar’s expression was dark, deadly, and I worried perhaps he wasn’t in his right mind anymore. There were rumors that he lost himself to the battle and injured his own brothers in the past. I couldn’t let him do that to Simon.

As I took a step forward, Simon released his blades, letting them clatter to the ground. It was what Einar wanted, and he stepped back, offering him a hand to help him to his feet.

“You are skilled,” he said to Simon, the dark look clearing to something akin to respect. “Your stamina needs work, though.”

Simon scoffed, snatching the blades off the ground. “Ask Feigrind about my stamina. I’m sure he’ll say something different.”

My cheeks burned a little as a few of my brothers jeered at me, but my focus was on Einar, who gave Simon a dry look. “I’ll decline. You can keep the blades for now. I trust you can use them well. Use them on anyone in the clan, and I’ll remove your hands.”

Simon ignored the threat with a roll of his eyes before turning and heading to me. He leaned his back against my chest, accepting my embrace while keeping the blades away from me. I’d have to get him sheathes so he could carry them around. I wasn’t stupid enough to ask Einar for any more favors.

Tipping his head back to look up at me, Simon said, “I’m always horny after a fight. Wanna fuck?”

A smirk pulled at my lips. “I suppose you’ve earned a reward.”

Eighteen

SIMON

It didn’t matter how many times we had sex, it was always so shocking how perfectly his dick fit inside me. I tried so hard to keep my wits about me, so I could show him my skill and truly blow his mind, but each peg to my pleasure spot melted my brain until I could only writhe and moan. I rode his dick hard, using his shoulders for leverage. He was sitting up, holding me in his lap as I fucked myself on his perfect cock. He tried to flip me at one point, but I refused to allow it, wanting for once to have the upper hand. It didn’t matter in the end. I was still just as overwhelmed and?—

“Ah! Yes! More!”

He had bent his knees while I was too mindless to pay attention, giving him the positioning he needed to fuck up into me. His powerful thrusts sent me into a spiral of lust and pleasure, and I was sure people could hear the sounds I was making. I didn’t care to be quiet when it was this good.

Tension coiled in my belly, and I felt my balls draw up. I bit my lip, trying to hold back my release. I wanted him to comefirst. Wanted to prove that I’d earned my title as the best in the brothel. Just a little more. I could hear his grunts, feel his hands tighten, probably bruising my skin. I’d be mad about that later. I just needed?—

He dipped his head, catching my nipple gently between his teeth and thrust at the same time. The combined pleasure shoved me over the edge with a cry, wave after wave of ecstasy drowning out the world around me. I barely heard Feigrind’s moans, his thrusts increasing as he sought his release, making mine drag on and on until I went blind from the pleasure.

When I eventually came back to myself, I was lying on Feigrind’s chest, his hand rubbing soothingly up and down my back, his cock still inside me. It was… nice. My clients generally didn’t want to cuddle after. They got off, paid me, and went on their way again. I got used to it, and it didn’t bother me, but I hadn’t realized how nice it would be to be held afterward.

“I don’t want you to go,” I admitted quietly. I’d grown used to him, and being alone again felt abhorrent.

He sighed, hugging me to his chest. “I don’t want to go. I must. We need supplies as winter draws near. It should not be long.”

“How long?”

He thought about it for a moment. “I have not gone on these journeys in a long while. I think a week is normal. Movement is slower because we will bring the cart with items to trade. If I can be back sooner, I will do my best.”

I believed him. I didn't trust men often, but trusted Feigrind. He’d been honest and open since the day I met him. If there was anyone in the clan I could trust to be honest with me, it was him.

Pushing up to look at him, I studied his face. He was unbelievably handsome. It felt wrong. Barbarians were supposed to be gruff and ugly. The few I’d dealt with certainly weren’t as good looking as Feigrind was.