Page 15 of The Barbarian’s Claim (Not-So-Savage Barbarians #4)

Fifteen

EINAR

W ithout oil to ease the way, I was intent on taking things slow with Matthew.

I did not wish to hurt him. It was hard to focus on that when he made so much noise in his pleasure.

My cock twitched as he moaned, leaking a heavy amount of precum in my eagerness to get inside him.

Still, I did not rush, taking care to use as much spit as possible to ease the way.

I was considering just using my fingers and tongue to get him off, too worried about hurting him to consider more, when I felt his thighs tense.

That was when the idea came to me to use his release as lubricant. It was better than nothing.

Twisting my fingers, I brushed the spot known as the key to pleasure, barely catching his release in my palm when he came only a moment later. His body shook with it, his ass tightening rhythmically around my fingers. It took all my self-control not to immediately shove inside him.

“I’m s-sorry,” he slurred, pink adorning his cheeks with his embarrassment as he looked at me over his shoulder.

I huffed a small laugh, shaking my head. “You are young. You can go again.”

Surprise lit up his face, but I gave him no room to argue.

I used his release to slick up my cock while dragging my fingers in and out of him again, stretching him to take me.

His body contorted in pleasure, his moans filling the cave again.

I had no doubt someone as young as him could come more than once a night. It was me who had the limitation.

He was beginning to harden again when I pulled my fingers free. He looked at me over his shoulder, his eyes lust fogged and heavy lidded. It was good that he was so delirious with sex. It meant he didn’t tense when I pushed the head of my cock inside him.

Watching Matthew’s mouth fall open, his back arching as I pushed steadily inside, nearly brought me to completion.

He was so expressive, his pleasure written all over his face.

And while he was quiet most of the time, he was not silent in his pleasure.

His moans were loud and open, telling me how much he enjoyed it without words.

I wanted more of it, wanted to make him sing with pleasure, until he couldn’t take anymore and his body clamped down on my cock with his release.

My control slipped just thinking of it, and I thrust my hips forward slightly, burying the last few inches of my cock inside him.

I tensed, worried I’d hurt Matthew in my haste, but he only moaned again, his knees going weak.

Worried he wouldn’t be able to support himself, I slid one arm around his chest, urging him up and forward so he could be closer to the wall of the cave to find better purchase.

He used it, resting his forearms against it while he pushed his hips back against mine.

I couldn’t resist rocking inside him, testing the waters. I listened to Matthew’s moans, watched the way his body moved. He showed no signs of pain or discomfort. Only pleasure.

Encouraged by this, I thrust a little harder, drawing a cry from him.

The noise set me off, and I lost control, ramming into him roughly to the sounds of his pleasure.

Bolts of ecstasy, like lightning, shot up my spine, making my toes curl.

He was so tight, so hot around my cock, that I wanted to come too soon.

I usually lasted a lot longer than this.

I refused to let go until he came again.

Reaching around his hips, I took Matthew’s cock in hand, careful not to stroke too rough.

He was probably still sensitive from the first release.

I started slow and light, just a tease, until he was thrusting into my hand before pushing back to meet my cock pounding into him.

He wailed in ecstasy, the noise sending shivers up my spine, and I felt it when his body tightened. He was close again.

“That’s it. Sing for me, zoragar.”

His voice rose in pitch, the pleasure too much to bear. When he came, his body clamped down on my cock, sending me over the edge with a roar that probably scared the creatures of the forest far away from our little cave. Good. I wouldn’t let any of them get close to Matthew. He was mine.

Matthew’s legs went out from under him, only my arm around his chest keeping him from sinking to the ground.

The movement caused my cock to slip free, and I didn’t miss the wince that flashed across his face when he leaned back against my chest. Worry swept through me, and I picked him up immediately, carrying him to the bedroll and closer to the fire to check on him.

“Did I hurt you?”

He blinked a few times, looking up at me in surprise. “N-no. I-it was am-m-mazing.”

Studying him for a few moments, I was relieved to see the open honesty on his face. He was not just saying it to make me feel better. He was being truthful. Still, I rolled him onto his belly, spreading his cheeks to look for myself.

“W-w-what are you—” He gasped and wriggled, trying to hide himself from my gaze.

“Making sure I didn’t tear anything,” I growled. “Lie still.”

“I-I’m fine!” he squeaked, trying to cover his behind with his hands.

I snatched them and held them at the small of his back with one hand, the other keeping him spread so I could study his hole.

There was no tearing that I could tell, though it looked a little raw, maybe from lack of decent lubrication, but he seemed alright.

“Einar!” he squawked, still wriggling to get free.

Releasing him, I let him turn over, his face bright red as he covered his behind with his hands. His embarrassment was cute, but it wouldn’t stop me from making sure he was safe and cared for. As his bondmate, it was my job to care for him.

I didn’t want to embarrass him, though. To distract him, I pointed out, “You did not struggle that time.”

Cocking his head, he frowned at me. “W-what?”

“When you said my name. You did not struggle. You are getting better.”

His gaze skittered away from me, and his frown deepened. “N-no, I’m n-n-not.”

I made a non-committal sound. He wasn’t ready to hear it yet. He would be eventually. Grabbing his hands, I pulled him up and handed him his clothes. It was too cold at night for him to sleep naked. We could do that in the summer.

It surprised me how easily I accepted that he would be with me come summer.

A bonding was forever, I knew that, but I hadn’t thought of it in that way before now.

I only wished to keep Matthew safe. To think that he would be with me as the seasons changed, perhaps traveling with me as I scouted for the clan, warmed my chest and made me uneasy at the same time.

Protecting him wasn’t a short-term goal anymore.

I had to protect him for the rest of my life.

He’d already been hurt in my care once. I had to do better.

The following morning, we made our way to the grove of the segel trees. It wasn’t very large, and a journey to get to, so not many people made the trek out there. I led Matthew inside, pointing at the branches that worked best for making bows.

“It cannot be too thin. While it shouldn’t be thick, if it is too thin, it will snap. You want to look for a branch thick enough to be shaped without being too wide.”

He nodded, watching as I tested a few branches before picking one with the right pliancy and length, using a small ax to cut it from the tree. I let Matthew touch and study it before jerking my chin at the grove.

“Find another. We need two.”

His brow furrowed a little, his expression serious as he moved from one tree to another, studying each branch carefully to find the best one. I appreciated his diligence. In every task I gave him, he put his heart into it. His strength and resilience were part of his beauty.

“T-this one?” he asked, his hand touching a branch of a taller segel tree closer to the middle of the grove. I came to his side, examining the branch he chose, then nodded.

“It is good. Cut it close to the base.”

Handing him my ax, I watched him with a careful eye to make sure he didn’t hurt himself. He was a little timid with the blade, which wasn’t safe. I would need to build his confidence if I ever wanted to trust him with a sword.

There was no need to stay once we had what we needed, so we headed in the direction of the village that afternoon, making good progress before setting up camp for the night.

Of course, once Matthew crawled into the bedroll, the heated look in his eye told me what he hoped for to end our evening. I shook my head slowly.

“You need to save your strength for the journey back.”

His lip stuck out in a pout. He had never made that face before, and it caught me by surprise, forcing a huff of laughter from me. “You are not a child to plead like that, zoragar. Those looks will not work on me.”

His eyes lit up, and he smiled brightly, though I wasn’t sure why.

I’d denied him, and still he was pleased with me.

I found it didn’t take much to please Matthew.

Being safe and cared for was all he needed.

Anything more I gave him was a blessing in his eyes.

After living so long with nothing, he wasn’t used to being treated kindly.

The guilt made me give in. I didn't wish to be another person to deny him his wants. And when I pushed inside him again, gripping his hips tightly to keep him from slamming back and hurting himself, I admitted to myself that it wasn’t just for him.

After years of being alone, I wanted the connection just as much as he did.

I might not always feel connected to my clan, but to Matthew, I was needed.

Wanted, even. I craved that connection to him however I could get it.