Page 30 of The Magic of Vanaheim

“Relax. Lean against me.”

Talvinen’s arm curled around his waist, his warm hand resting on Håkon’s belly.

“Are you comfortable?”

“It doesn’t matter if—”

“Yes or no?” Talvinen interrupted him, a sharpness to his tone Håkon hadn’t heard before.

“Yes.”

It wasn’t even a lie.

“Good boy,” Talvinen purred, pulling Håkon back to rest even more cozily against his chest and entangling their legs. “There you go. You’re doing so well. Now close your eyes and breathe.”

Taking a shuddering breath, Håkon felt himself melting into the warmth of the body behind him. Talvinen caressed his chest and flanks in a soothing rhythm. Håkon could fall asleep like that.

“Youwilltell me if you dislike something,” Talvinen said. “This is an order; I won’t discuss it.”

Håkon’s first impulse was to consent. He wished it could be easy like this. If he’d lived in the days of old, he would’ve pledged his allegiance to a just and powerful king, one of the kind of Erling Dragonslayer. It would’ve been so easy to follow the orders of a fair leader. When Talvinen talked to him like this, Håkon longed to trust him. But he couldn’t let himself be fooled. The days of Erling were long gone, and Håkon was bound byblood to a king who had nothing else in mind but to increase his own power.

“Don’t be daft, boy,” Håkon growled. “You are going to fuck me. I won’t pretend to like it, but I won’t complain either.”

The soft exhale of Talvinen’s breath tickled his neck.

“You don’t know me at all. Yet. I wasn’t planning to fuck you. Not that I wouldn’t love to have you spread out under me, writhing in pleasure on my cock, begging for more.”

A sudden image filled Håkon’s mind. He saw himself on his back, pillowed on silken sheets and spreading his legs like a woman for Talvinen to kneel in between. Hot excitement flooded through his veins.

Groaning, Håkon covered his eyes as if he could block the unbidden fantasy this way. Still, he was painfully hard. Nearly jumping out of his skin in surprise when Talvinen gently closed his hand around Håkon’s throbbing cock, he choked on a moan.

“That’s much better. Now spread these beautiful legs for me a little wider.”

Håkon obeyed, hands fisting the sheets.

With soft, measured strokes, Talvinen began pumping his cock. It was a stark contrast to all the times Håkon had taken himself in hand like this. Getting off had been a necessity. A warrior’s body needed relief once in a while, just as it needed food and sleep; a vaguely pleasurable chore, like sharpening a blade.Thiswas something entirely different.

“You’re being so good for me. Looking at you is like looking at broken ice sparkling in the sun. Breathtaking. Entrancing. So gorgeous,” Talvinen breathed into his ear.

Håkon had always prided himself on not being one to fall for sweet talk. But Talvinen’s praise only fanned the fire burning in his veins. Gasping, Håkon struggled to stay still. The simple touch alone was almost more than he could take. Holding ontothe pillows for dear life, he stopped himself from reaching down and covering Talvinen’s hand with his own, with some difficulty.

“Would it help you if I tied your hands the next time?” Talvinen asked.

He was a dangerous one, way too perceptive. Talvinen’s left arm snaked under Håkon’s body, and before Håkon could gather his wits, Talvinen grabbed his wrists and pressed them against Håkon’s chest. It wasn’t that he couldn’t have broken free of the grip if he’d put his mind to it. But Talvinen’s clasp was a welcome resistance he could lean against. It only added to Håkon’s pleasure. And even better, it allowed him to savor the moment, pretending he had no choice. Which, of course, was true on some level. They had to consummate their marriage. But, at the same time, Håkon was sure that if he begged Talvinen to stop, he would. The boy was a softhearted fool like that. The notion was ridiculous, but oddly… nice.

“Wh—what makes you think there will be a next time?” Håkon panted to distract himself from his wild thoughts.

“Why don’t you let me take care of you first and deny you liked it later?”

An indignant sound escaped Håkon’s lips. He pressed his face into the pillow, eyes squeezed shut.

“Håkon?”

He didn’t have the capacity to answer, the rising pleasure almost too much to handle. Talvinen’s strokes slowed and faltered.

“Hel, I can’t—”

“Don’t stop!” Håkon blurted.