Page 12

During the day, he accompanied his husband on his duties in the citadel, listening to commoners’ petitions, dispensing justice, and training the warriors. And at night he slept in Talvinen’s bed, surrounded by his warmth.

Hakon waited for the inevitable change in Talvinen’s behavior, for him to finally become impatient and show his true colors. But to Hakon’s growing unease, nothing happened. Talvinen held him in his arms most nights, but he didn’t force himself on Hakon, and no matter what Hakon did or said, Talvinen didn’t lash out at him.

It’s only a matter of time , Hakon told himself again and again. Don’t let yourself be fooled. Don’t fall for his games. Only his treacherous body already had. Morning after morning, Hakon awoke in a shameful state of arousal, as if he were once again a young warrior on the cusp of manhood.

And at night he dreamed …

He was back behind the shield wall, locked in a fierce duel with Talvinen while the Battle of Saeborg raged around them. Exchanging blows in a fast succession, they danced around each other. And even in the midst of battle, Hakon couldn’t help but admire the Vanr chieftain. Sure, he was young, but he led his forces with a natural authority and he fought with the lethal grace of a seasoned warrior. So much for King Bergelmir’s claim that the Vanir were weaklings. By now, Hakon should’ve expected the trap.

Maybe he had been distracted by the otherworldly green of Talvinen’s eyes, or maybe he had fallen prey to a seier woven by the sorcerer, but suddenly Hakon was lying on his back, his battle ax ripped from his grasp and Talvinen’s blade at his throat.

“Yield.”

“Never.”

Talvinen only smirked. “Seize Bloodaxe and bring him to my quarters,” he ordered his warriors.

Hakon struggled, but it was no use. The guards dragged him into the citadel, and once inside the royal chambers, he was bound and stripped of his armor. He was shoved to his knees at the foot of the large bed dominating the room.

“Why don’t we cut his hair, make him look like the pathetic thrall he is?” someone asked, grabbing a fistful of his hair and forcing him to bare his throat.

“No,” Hakon hissed, desperately trying to escape the man’s grasp. “I’m no thrall, I’m not —”

“Let go of him.”

The men backed away from him as if Hakon had burned them.

“Out. All of you. I need to talk to Bloodaxe alone.”

“But, my lord—”

“Out, I said!”

The warriors all but fled, leaving Hakon alone with their chieftain. Clad in his leather armor and sword still in hand, Talvinen seemed to have rushed away from the battlefield. He lifted his blade—turned a dark violet by Jotunn blood—to tilt Hakon’s chin upward.

“You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this, Prince Hakon. Have you considered my offer?”

“I’ll never join you,” Hakon spat, although he had thought of nothing else since Talvinen had offered him a place at his side.

Sliding the tip of his sword from Hakon’s throat all the way down his bare chest to catch at the hem of his breeches, Talvinen smirked at him.

“Oh, but I said nothing about simply joining my forces. I offered you my hand in marriage.”

“I certainly won’t marry you!”

“No?” Talvinen’s heated gaze traveled down his body, making Hakon’s skin feel too tight. “Why don’t I show you the pleasures of a warrior’s company before you make a rash decision?”

Weaving a seier, Talvinen stepped closer. His proximity was getting to Hakon’s head, leaving him flushed and out of breath for no apparent reason. Hakon blinked sluggishly, and from one moment to the next he found himself spread out on his back on Talvinen’s bed. Naked.

Gasping, Hakon tried to get up, but his wrists were pinned above his head by the spell and his knees pushed apart.

“Beautiful,” Talvinen commented, watching him like one would a fine piece of jewelry or a precious sword.

Hakon had no idea what was wrong with him, but being laid bare for his enemy while Talvinen himself was still fully clothed, did something to him. Shameful arousal pooled in his belly, making his cock harden.

Sitting down on the edge of the bed, Talvinen calmly removed his leather gloves and bracers. Hakon was mesmerized by the play of muscles in Talvinen’s arms; he would’ve never expected a sorcerer to look like this. Gently, Talvinen brushed a sweaty strand of hair from Hakon’s brow.

“What do you enjoy when you lie with a lover, Bloodaxe?”

“I’d enjoy plunging a dagger between your ribs—oh—”

Hakon had to swallow down a surprised moan as Talvinen stroked over his cock, the touch soft but oh so delicious.

“Maybe another day,” Talvinen chuckled, unconcerned by the threat. “In the meantime—”

With a muttered spell, Talvinen let a glass vial fly into his waiting hand. He poured a generous amount of oil over Hakon’s belly. The liquid trickled down Hakon’s sides and dripped between his open legs, and he struggled to keep still. Hakon gasped as Talvinen closed his hand around his cock and began to stroke him languidly.

“Already so close to the edge, aren’t you, dróttning?”

The endearment had Hakon shuddering all over.

“You’re not used to feeling good, am I right? Nobody’s ever taken care of you.”

Hiding his face in the pillows, Hakon had no idea what to say to that. He’d never admit it out loud, but Talvinen was right, and it shocked him that the Vanr could read him so easily.

“This is going to be even more pleasurable when you’re squirming on my cock. Let’s get you ready to take me.”

“What?” Hakon was stunned, almost speechless as Talvinen kept stroking his cock with one hand and slipped the other between his cheeks to nudge against his entrance.

“Shhh, relax.”

Talvinen pushed two fingers inside him at once, making Hakon’s arch his back, overwhelmed by pleasure. It felt so wrong, but at the same time he desperately needed more.

“Talvinen, no–oh—please—”

“Hakon, dróttning , what’s wrong?”

“Please,” Hakon choked, although he wasn’t sure what he was begging for.

Gentle hands carded through his hair and cupped his face.

“Wake up, Hakon.”

Uncomprehendingly, Hakon blinked his eyes open. He found himself in the huge bed he shared with his husband, Talvinen hovering above him. Saeborg seemed to be at rest. There was no discord of battle to be heard, and the soft light of the gathering dawn flitted through the high windows. Talvinen’s dark hair was tousled from sleep.

“Talvinen?”

“I’m here.” Brushing gently over Hakon’s arms and face, Talvinen studied him with concern. “Did you have a bad dream?”

“Umm—” To Hakon’s mortification, the dream’s excitement had followed him into wakefulness, leaving him confused and uncomfortably hard.

Putting his hand on the back of Hakon’s neck, Talvinen seemed to be gauging his temperature.

“You’re burning up. Do you feel unwell?”

Norns, no. The last thing he needed right now was Talvinen finding out about his… predicament.

“I’m fine,” Hakon mumbled, trying to subtly arrange the sheets around himself.

But of course, Talvinen didn’t want to hear any of it. Instead of turning around and going back to sleep, he slipped closer to Hakon.

“Shhh, let me help you.”

Talvinen’s proximity made it hard to breathe, and a soft whine escaped Hakon’s lips as his husband’s body brushed against his cock. Talvinen froze.

“Hakon are you—?”

Heat rising to his face, Hakon averted his gaze. He had no idea what to say. But instead of mocking him, Talvinen nudged his nose against Hakon’s face, the gesture almost unbearably tender.

“One of those dreams?”

“Huh?”

“One of the kind that leaves you flushed all over, aching to be touched?”

“I—umm—”

“There’s nothing to be ashamed of. I experience them too, like many others.”

Hakon wanted to believe him, but like so much of what Talvinen said, it was just too good to be true. Was he making fun of him?

“Did I visit you in this dream of yours?”

Always.

“Certainly not.”

“You moaned my name. I thought you were distressed. But you weren’t.” Talvinen’s hand slipped down Hakon’s bare chest to rest against the bulk in his loose-fitting pants. “You’re aroused. What did your dream show you that you liked so much?”

“It was nothing. I dreamt of that night when we raided Saeborg.”

Talvinen hummed as if he knew exactly what Hakon meant. “When I dream of that night, you always get trapped behind the shield wall. How I wish I’d been a little more cunning that night.”

Talvinen’s admission shocked him into looking up behind the curtain of his hair.

“You dream of it, too?”

Smoothing Hakon’s messy hair back, Talvinen regarded him with an affectionate smile.

“Oh, Hakon. You still underestimate how obsessed I am with you. When I’m awake, my thoughts always revolve around you. And when I sleep, I dream of you.”

With a soft sigh, Hakon sank back into the sheets. Maybe it was the strange, dreamlike atmosphere of the early morning or maybe Talvinen’s words had bewitched him, but he suddenly had no energy left to hide from his husband.

“You had me brought to your chambers. In the dream, you—” Hakon faltered, unable to give words to the disgraceful images the dream conjured. But surely Talvinen wouldn’t be taken aback. Maybe just once Hakon could—

“What did I do next?” Talvinen purred.

“You really want to know?” Hakon was suddenly furious. Bergelmir was right, Hakon didn’t have what it took to be a courtier or a spy. He couldn’t play this game any longer. “Then hear the truth if you can handle it,” he snarled. “I dreamt of being overpowered by you, dragged to your chambers, and bound to your bed. I dreamt of you in your armor, still dripping with my warriors’ blood, getting me ready for your cock. And like a whore, I loved it.”

Now, Hakon thought. Now, he’ll snap. No more playing nice. He was almost relieved.

Tensing, Talvinen regarded him with wide eyes.

“You’re serious,” he breathed.

Time seemed to have slowed down as Hakon waited for the surprise to turn to rage. Finally, Talvinen raised his hand, and Hakon braced himself for a blow, but his husband only brushed his knuckles feather-lightly across Hakon’s cheek.

“Does my husband want me to pleasure him like I did in this dream?” Talvinen asked, careful as if Hakon was a skittish horse he didn’t wish to spook.

“What are you talking about? I already told youI liked it!” This whole weird conversation made Hakon feel dizzy.

“In a dream, yes. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you fancy it in reality.”

“My mind isn’t that complicated,” Hakon said helplessly. What was it to Talvinen, anyway, what Hakon liked or disliked? “Why don’t you just take what you want?”

Talvinen blinked, still so very calm. “Because I want what you want. This is nothing to me if you dislike it. I won’t take anything from you until you ask me to.”

“Ask you?”

“Yes. If you want to be held down and fucked until you can’t remember your own name, I’m more than happy to oblige. But it would be a game. One you could stop at any time if you change your mind.”

“Why would I—who would do such a thing?”

Talvinen chuckled, somehow managing to sound fond instead of mocking. “Who wouldn’t? You are my husband. The man I’ve dreamed of marrying since I was a boy. Why shouldn’t I do everything I can to please you?”

Lieslieslies. Eyes suddenly burning from the lack of sleep, Hakon had to avert his gaze.

“Then stop chattering and do what pleases me.” Norns, did he say that?

The soft exhale of Talvinen’s breath ghosted against Hakon’s cheek, and Hakon halfway expected his husband to turn away and finally ignore him. But instead, Talvinen grabbed his jaw and firmly guided him back to eye contact.

“You will tell me to stop if you get overwhelmed. You will tell me to stop if you dislike something. You will tell me if you’re in pain.”

“I can handle pain,” Hakon growled. Why were they still talking?

Faster than Hakon would ever have thought possible, Talvinen had woven a spell. The sheer power of it threw him flat on his back, arms pinned above his head and legs parted invitingly. Talvinen’s hand closed around his throat, not choking but making Hakon feel utterly at his mercy.

“ Yes, my lord ,” Talvinen said.

“What?”

“The correct answer to my order is ‘ Yes, my lord’ . Shall we try again? You will tell me to stop if you get overwhelmed. You will tell me to stop if you dislike something. You will tell me if you’re in pain. Understood?”

Hakon’s lips parted, surprise and hot excitement making his body tingle all over. Talvinen tightened his grip ever so slightly, reminding Hakon that he was expected to answer.

“Yes, my lord.” Hakon closed his eyes, dazed and defeated and oh so eager to let Talvinen do whatever he wanted to him.

“Let’s see. What am I going to do with you?”

The deep purr of Talvinen’s voice caressed Hakon’s skin like warm honey. He had to bite his lips to keep himself from begging. Their chattering should’ve extinguished his desire, but Hakon found himself more aroused than ever, his cock straining against the soft fabric of his sleeping pants.

Releasing Hakon’s throat, Talvinen rose from the bed and chanted another spell.

“That’s how I prepared for the fight on the night of the raid,” he whispered.

Transfixed, Hakon watched as the leather armor attached itself to Talvinen’s body, hugging his broad shoulders and strangely making him look even taller. Hakon wondered how Talvinen managed to shift between the persona of a bubbly boy to this god of war and magic at will. He almost swallowed his tongue when Talvinen’s bracers and soft leather gloves fastened themselves. This was far too close to his forbidden dreams.

“Like what you see?”

Hakon had to clear his throat, unable to answer right away. He wanted to retort something teasing to show Talvinen he wasn’t taking him seriously. “Like this, you could pass as a warrior of my people,” was what slipped past his lips. Panic rose in Hakon’s chest. Why couldn’t he think properly around Talvinen? He could only hope that the Vanr wouldn’t understand the meaning of the compliment.

“Thank you, dróttning ,” Talvinen said, voice deep and serious. “Now, let me take care of you.”

With only a wave of his hand, not even needing a proper spell, Talvinen made Hakon’s sleeping pants disappear. The intricacies of seier were beyond Hakon, but he was pretty sure only a truly powerful sorcerer could bend the fabric of the worlds to his will without even uttering a word. It almost seemed like he could feel Talvinen’s power dancing across his skin.

“Close your eyes. You’ve fought so hard, now it’s time to relax. Let me take care of you.”

Exhaling a shuddering breath, Hakon complied. The bed dipped as Talvinen sat down next to him again.

“You look utterly gorgeous spread out just for me.”

Hakon flinched as Talvinen’s gloved hands brushed down his arms to rest against his pecs.

“Don’t worry, pain can increase desire, but we won’t try that now. Nothing but pleasure awaits you.”

It was foolish to trust Talvinen’s words, but Hakon’s body had no such qualms. His muscles loosened, and he bared his throat, sinking deeper into the cushions.

“There you go. Surrender. You’re doing very well.”

Taking his time, Talvinen continued to caress and massage Hakon, and to his utter embarrassment, Hakon arched into the touch. The feeling of the soft leather against his skin was delicious. Talvinen circled his nipples, then brushed along his sides and dug his fingers into the soft meat at the inside of Hakon’s thighs. How could this feel so good? Talvinen wasn’t even touching his cock.

Hakon sank into a dreamlike state. If he thought the touch of the leather had felt blissful, the feel of Talvinen’s bare hands working a richly scented oil into his skin was heady. Hakon writhed under his touch, straining uselessly against the magic that held him in place. It should irk him that he was tied down, helpless even, but in fact, it was liberating. The restraints allowed him to savor the moment without worrying if he should put a stop to this.

“Are you still with me, dróttning ?”

With some difficulty, Hakon blinked his eyes open.

“Yes—my lord.” The honorific tasted like warm mead on his tongue. Hadn’t Talvinen proven himself to be a just leader, a man who cared for his kingdom and his people? How Hakon wished he could’ve been his sworn warrior. He’d gladly trade places with Frekegar.

“Good.” Wrapping a slick hand around Hakon’s cock, Talvinen stroked him without haste, just like he’d done on their wedding night. “You know what’s next.”

Whimpering, Hakon nodded, face burning hot with arousal and shame. He would allow Talvinen to breach his body, to own him in the most intimate way. If he was honest with himself, he’d let Talvinen do whatever he wanted.

Abandoning his leaking cock, Talvinen slipped his fingers between Hakon’s cheeks and nudged against his entrance. The simple touch had sparks dancing along Hakon’s spine.

“Relax for me, little Jotunn . I won’t hurt you.”

Despite Talvinen’s promises, Hakon jumped and gasped as the first finger entered him. The intrusion wasn’t painful at all, but the mounting pressure felt strange. Talvinen’s gaze was focused on his every reaction, watching closely how Hakon twitched and moaned as he moved carefully inside him.

“How does it feel?”

“Do you ever shut up?” Hakon rolled his eyes, although he couldn’t help but find Talvinen’s incessant prattling downright endearing.

“Insolent,” Talvinen chastised, punctuating his statement by adding another finger.

Hakon moaned louder.

Leaning down, Talvinen blanketed him with his body. The hard ridges of the leather armor pressed into Hakon’s skin, trapping his cock against his belly. Another breathless sound escaped his lips, and Talvinen took advantage of it by plunging his tongue into Hakon’s opened mouth. Hakon’s thighs were pressed further apart, and Talvinen’s fingers slipped deeper inside him because of the slightly changed angle.

A wave of pure pleasure, bright and hot, engulfed Hakon. He whined and fought against the power holding him down, not sure if he wanted to get away or closer.

“Right there,” Talvinen hummed, pressing down on this white-hot spot with precision.

Heat gathering at the base of his spine, Hakon arched his back. The sensation was so intense, so overwhelmingly good he could do nothing but squirm helplessly, gasping along with each of Talvinen’s shallow thrusts.

What was wrong with him that Talvinen’s tongue owning his mouth and Talvinen’s fingers buried in his ass was the best thing he’d ever experienced?

Hand sneaking down between their bodies, Talvinen stroked Hakon’s cock in tandem with the thrusts of his fingers.

“Wait, don’t you want to—?”

Talvinen shut him up with a particularly vicious twist of his fingers. An undignified yelp slipped past Hakon’s lips, his body locking up in pleasure. He shuddered as he spilled his seed between their bodies before going soft and pliant under his husband. He barely registered Talvinen retreating his fingers and lifting some of his weight off Hakon’s chest. Hakon was dizzy with a deep satisfaction, drunk on the gentle smile his husband offered him.

Sitting up, Talvinen opened his breeches to pull out his cock. Hakon couldn’t take his eyes away from him, how his cock stood out proudly from its nest of black hair, long and thick and flushed. Hakon was going to be so full when his husband was finally inside him.

He couldn’t wait.

But instead of making use of him, Talvinen started to stroke himself, looking at Hakon.

Didn’t he want Hakon, after all? The notion should be relieving, but it made dread settle in Hakon’s stomach.

“Fuck me.” He could hate himself for this later, but right now he couldn’t bear Talvinen’s rejection.

“Hakon?”

“Fuck me. Why won’t you—?”

Lips parting in shock, Talvinen leaned down to him.

“Why? Oh Hakon, you haven’t done this before, right?”

Was that why Talvinen wouldn’t take him? Of course, a Prince of the Vanir was looking for an experienced lover. But how was Hakon supposed to remedy this shortcoming if his husband wouldn’t touch him? Hakon felt as if the breath was squeezed out of his lungs.

“You took my fingers so well. Such a good boy. But we have to work up to it. If I forced myself inside you now, even relaxed as you are, I could hurt you.”

“But—”

“No. When I fuck you, I’m going to make it so good for you. A little more patience, my love.”

Overwhelmed with emotion, Hakon had no idea what to reply. He felt raw and vulnerable, his eyes stinging treacherously.

“Fine,” he whispered, voice choked up.

“Do you want to help me come? You don’t have to, I can just—”

“Yes!” Could he sound any more eager? And because Talvinen’s sex magic obviously robbed his honor for good, he added: “Please, my lord.”

But Talvinen’s pleased smile made him forget about all doubts.

“Very well. Sit up.”

The weight of the seier was suddenly gone, allowing Hakon to move again. Scrambling to obey, he felt a little dizzy.

Talvinen settled at the head of the bed, leaning against the headboard and opening his legs invitingly.

“Come here. Kneel between my legs.”

New excitement rushed through Hakon’s veins. Shameful as it was, he could get used to being naked while Talvinen still wore most of his armor. Brushing Hakon’s hair from his face, Talvinen cupped his chin.

“May I fuck your mouth, my husband?”

Heat rose to Hakon’s face, every instinct telling him to refuse. The thought of taking Talvinen’s cock in his mouth was thrilling and terrifying at the same time.

“Yes, my lord,” Hakon heard himself saying.

“I can be your lord when we lie together like this. I can be your king or the chieftain who overpowered you in battle, whoever you need me to be. But outside of this bedroom, I’m Talvi. I’m your husband. You can talk to me.”

Well, choking himself on Talvinen’s cock suddenly seemed a lot less terrifying than continuing this conversation. Bracing himself on Talvinen’s thighs, Hakon leaned down and closed his lips around his husband’s cock.

Talvinen groaned, lifting his hips, and pushing deeper into Hakon’s mouth. The fullness and the slight restriction of his breathing felt better than Hakon would have ever expected. Humming, he licked an experimental stripe all the way from the base of Talvinen’s cock to the tip.

Hands sinking into Hakon’s hair, Talvinen stopped his movements before he could sink down again.

“I’ll grant you your evasion for now,” Talvinen said. “But you can’t hide from this conversation forever, understood?”

Pulling him up by his hair, so Hakon had no choice but to look him in the eye, Talvinen fixed him with a dark glare.

“Understood,” Hakon managed, although he could barely think straight. It was all too much. Talvinen’s hands in his hair, pulling none-too-gently, moving him where he wanted him. Talvinen’s cock, wet with Hakon’s spit, which was going to be shoved back into Hakon’s mouth soon. Hakon’s head was swimming with lust.

“Oh, dróttning ,” Talvinen purred. “You’re so far gone already, aren’t you? So eager for me. Let me guide you through this.”

“Yes,” Hakon breathed. “Please.”

“Very well.”

Adjusting his grip on Hakon’s hair, Talvinen slowly pushed Hakon’s head down.

“Open up. Good. Let’s see how far you can go.”

Relaxing in Talvinen’s hold, Hakon allowed himself to be guided as far down as he could go. He knew his husband was treating him carefully. Talvinen could have easily forced his way down Hakon’s throat, but he stopped as soon as Hakon began to struggle.

“Good,” Talvinen praised, even though Hakon wasn’t able to take the whole length of him. “Now stay like this.”

The heady pleasure of Talvinen’s cock in his mouth, his husband’s intoxicating scent surrounding him clouded Hakon’s senses and went straight to his groin. Freyja’s tits; he wouldn’t get hard again with another warrior’s dick in his mouth, would he? Probably wrong. If he had to humiliate himself like this, he should at least do it right.

Leaning forward, Hakon tried to get Talvinen in deeper, but he was stopped by an impatient tug on his hair.

“No. It’s up to me to decide how much of me you can take.”

Hakon groaned, half disappointed, half aroused.

“We’ll take it slow. Just like this. All you have to do is to relax and follow my guidance.”

Eyes fluttering shut, Hakon did as he was told. Every last bit of lingering tension drained from his body.

“That’s more like it. Now move with me.”

Flowing at the pace Talvinen had set, Hakon’s mind went blank. All he could think of was the delicious weight of his husband’s cock on his tongue and how pleasurable it felt. Judging by the noises he made—deep, satisfied moans—Talvinen was enjoying himself, too. Hakon loved it. He loved tasting the saltiness of the first drops of release, and as Talvinen’s body started locking up in pleasure, Hakon refused to be pulled away. He moaned around Talvinen’s length as it twitched and spilled into his mouth. Swallowing and lapping at Talvinen’s cock, Hakon couldn’t stop some spit and come from dribbling out of the corner of his mouth and down his chin. Talvinen allowed him to lap at his softening cock for a few more blissful moments until he pulled at Hakon’s hair with more emphasis.

“Up, you needy, insolent thing.”

Hakon managed to rise to his knees with some difficulty. He felt drunk, dizzy, and satisfied.

“Kiss me. I want to taste myself from your tongue.”

Swaying forward helplessly, Hakon smashed their lips together. He let Talvinen dominate the kiss and support most of his weight. He could barely hold himself upright, anyway.

“Hmm, you taste delicious. Even more so with my seed dribbling from your mouth. You did so well for me.”

“I’m a quick study.” Hakon didn’t know why he’d said that. It wasn’t like him to pretend to be something he clearly was not. And now he didn’t know how to take his boasting back.

“You are,” Talvinen praised, guiding him to lie on his side. He dismissed his armor and waved over a wet cloth with a seier woven so quickly it took Hakon’s breath away. How could anyone master the art of sorcery so effortlessly?

“You’re gorgeous. Strong and cunning. The perfect leader.” Talvinen cleaned Hakon’s face and body from the remains of their tumble like a worshiper would clean a god’s statue. “I’m honored to have you by my side.”

“I want—” Hakon’s throat suddenly felt too tight. “I want to be yours, but—”

Talvinen silenced him with a soft, shushing sound and a gentle finger to his lips.

“You don’t have to promise me anything. And you don’t have to betray your father on my behalf. I can handle Bergelmir.”

And Hakon didn’t know what it was with him this morning, but he believed him. He was overwhelmed by a feeling of such intense relief, it left him shaky and weak.

“Hakon?”

“Good. That’s—that’s good.”

“Do you think you can get some more sleep?”

“Yes.”

He allowed Talvinen to wrap him in his arms and enjoyed the comforting heat of his body.

When Hakon slept, he was no longer bothered by restless dreams.