14

Laurel

I poured all my hopes and dreams into the kiss. All the pain I felt at seeing him like this. 

He looked exactly like he had in my dream, secured to a narrow bed with thick straps across his chest, abdomen and limbs. Only his head was free, giving him the chance to lean into my kiss ever so slightly. He was hesitant, as if he was afraid that I'd vanish if he kissed me too passionately. I wanted to slap myself for what I'd done to him. This was my fault. And I was the only one who could set things right. I'd save him, no matter what I'd have to do. If it meant fucking him while he was strapped to his bed, with Njal watching in the background, so be it. 

Njal had needed some convincing before he'd allowed me to see Rune. Not for my safety, but in case I made Rune's condition worse. I couldn't blame him for it. My reception back on the Huginn had been frosty. As had been my chat with Pam at the Hot Tatties agency. She'd made me sign a long contract confirming that I was agreeing to be Rune's mate, that I wouldn't back out again, and that if he didn't make it, I'd stay on the Huginn to work for the agency. She probably didn't want me to return to Earth with evidence of the aliens. Again, I didn't blame her. I'd not shown Rune the compassion he deserved. I should never have left. And for what? My career? I could have had my soulmate. Now, our future was hanging in the balance. If I didn't get Rune out of his delirious state, all was lost.

I swiped my tongue against his teeth, feeling the sharpness of his vampire incisors. They scratched my tongue, proving they'd be sharp enough to break skin. Would he ever get the chance to bite me on our wedding night? I had to hope that this wasn't the end. That he could return from this.

I cupped his cheeks and deepened the kiss. He tasted salty, matching his scent. He was still holding back. His movements were sluggish, as if he wasn't in full control of his body. Maybe he wasn't. I didn't quite understand what exactly was happening to him. I hadn't taken Rune's warning seriously when they'd first told me about the fýst. I'd thought he was overexaggerating to make sure that I chose Rune. But he hadn't lied. This was awful. On the way to this cabin, Steff had told me that he'd seriously wounded several Vikingar before they'd managed to restrain him. Luckily, they had those clever medical coffins, so I assumed they hadn't suffered for long before their injuries were healed. 

"Laurel," Rune whispered, breaking the kiss. "Come back to me."

"I'm here. I'm right here. This is me, can't you see me?"

He blinked. "You're a dream. Just a dream."

"I'm real. I promise you. I'm really here. I'm so sorry I left." My tears were threatening to flow again. I swallowed hard, brushed his cheek, his wild beard. "I should never have gone. I'm sorry. But I'm here now. Forever."

That's what I'd agreed to. Stay with him forever. For some reason, that thought didn't feel scary or restrictive at all. I wanted it. Wanted Rune with all my heart. He filled the hole in my soul that I hadn't realised was there. My life was empty without him. I couldn't imagine going back, not ever, not unless Rune came with me. 

"You can't be real," he said hoarsely. "Laurel is gone."

"And now I have returned. I promise you, Rune, it's me. How can I help you? How can I make it better?"

He blinked again. His addled mind was trying to process things, but then his gaze turned absent again. He was back in his dreams. I kissed him again, but this time, there was no response. His lips didn't move against mine. 

Njal had said that Rune was likely too far gone for that to work. But I couldn't give up. Wouldn't accept it. 

I turned to Njal, who was watching us from the back of the room. "Leave, please. I want to try something."

"I can't do that," the Captain said gravely. "He might hurt you."

"Then he will hurt me, so be it. He doesn't mean it. But I don't want anyone watching for what I want to try next."

"And what is that?"

I stared at him defiantly. "You said that the only thing that could end the fýst is if he gets to claim me? Well, he can't do that right now, so I will claim him instead."

Njal stood in silence for a moment. Then, he inclined his head. "You have ten clicks. After that, I'll escort you out."

I didn't know how long ten clicks were, but it would have to do. 

On the way out, Njal said, "I'll be right outside. Yell if you need help."

I chuckled darkly. I wouldn't need help with what I was about to do.

As soon as the other alien was gone, I turned back to Rune. His eyes were half-lidded, his expression dreamy. At least he was calm now. Peaceful, almost. Was he dreaming of me? 

"Rune, I'm going to try something. Do I have your consent?"

Fucking him against his will sounded like a bad idea that would only make things worse.

He mumbled something inaudible. I leaned over him to understand just what he was trying to say.

"Anything, sæta," he slurred, his eyes now closed. 

It would have to do. I was trying to save his life. I couldn't wait for him to become lucid.

For a moment, the fear that he would never wake up again paralysed me. No, I'd find a way. This would work. It had to.

His lower body was hidden beneath a green sheet that looked like elegant silk. I was a little scared to lift it. When he'd worn his black shorts, I'd seen how his cock had tented the fabric, just like it now did the sheet. His erection had been obvious. Now I'd get to see it. With one last look at his relaxed expression, I pulled back the sheet. 

My inner journalist immediately started scribbling notes, while the woman in me gasped and squeezed her thighs together. The first thing that struck me was that he had four balls, all of them swollen, the indigo skin taut. His cock was smooth, lacking a head, just a thick, girthy rod that would stretch me to my limits. It dwarfed even my trusty old rainbow vibe that called itself extra-large. Above his cock was a strange growth, rising in the shape of an axe head. The skin along the edge was slightly puckered, as if tiny pearls were underneath his skin's surface. That would feel amazing against my clit. I assumed that's what it was for. Extra stimulation for the woman. Unless it had some other use that I'd get to find out later. 

To see how he'd react to my touch, I gently took his cock in one hand. He sucked in a breath, but didn't otherwise respond. When I began to slide my hand up and down his hard shaft, a groan broke from his throat. So he felt it. Good. 

I spat in my hand before working him further. My fingers didn't meet around his massive girth. I was starting to worry I might not fit around him. And he was in no fit state to help me with foreplay. Not that I needed any further stimulation. I was wet, had been all week. I'd tried so often to make myself come, but it had never worked. I was frustrated and desperate to finally reach my climax. Why was I hesitating? Just hop up and ride the guy, I told myself. Before Njal returned. 

I shot a quick look at the door, then pulled down my chub rub shorts and panties. I considered pulling up my dress, but it would actually give me some privacy in case Njal came back prematurely. And Rune wasn't awake enough to appreciate that I'd shaved for him. 

I climbed onto the bed. It was more like a human-size mattress, nothing like the huge bed I'd slept in during my first - and only - night on the spaceship. I straddled his hips, positioning myself above him. 

When the tip of his cock touched my aching pussy, I pit back a moan. This was exactly what I needed. I just hoped that it was also what Rune needed to recover. 

I didn't take my eyes off him as I slowly let myself sink onto his cock. Even wet as I was, it took time to adjust to his girth. Were all Vikingar this well-endowed or had I drawn the jackpot? 

When he couldn't go any deeper, I gave myself a moment to get used to that feeling of being utterly stretched to the limits. It felt good, so good. The axe-shaped growth didn't quite touch me, but if I leaned forwards... 

This time I couldn't repress the moan. The axe pushed against my clit and not only that: it vibrated. Oh my words. This was perfect. The pearly surface felt amazing against my skin, as if it was made just to pleasure me. 

Rune groaned again. His lips were parted slightly. Were his cheeks darker than before or was I imagining that? 

I pressed my hands against his chest, steadied myself, and then I rode him. At first, it was like using a lifeless dildo; a purely mechanical movement that brought me relief, but not the pleasure I wanted. 

"Come on, Rune. Wake up. Claim me. Become my mate."

His eyes flew open. His gaze was no longer clouded as he stared at me with all the heat of a raging inferno. 

And then he moved. Bucked his hips upwards, driving his cock deeper into me. With a strap around his waist, he couldn't move much, but it was enough. He set a hard pace, ramming his cock into me again and again, while I tried to undulate my hips without losing balance. If this was what he could do while being restrained, what would it be like without the straps holding him back?

Only one way to find out. 

"Wait a moment," I gasped. "Let me untie you."

But he didn't stop. Nor did I really want him to. This was good enough. If he wasn't desperate to get out of the restraints, so be it. Every time his cock pushed in so far that I screamed, the vibrating axe buzzed against my clit. It was the most amazing feeling. It wasn't long now until I'd no longer be able to hold back.

Rune was completely focused on me, his sky-blue eyes clear of the earlier fog. He looked desperate, just like I felt, desperate to clench around him and launch ourselves over that sweet cliff. He was breathing hard, his lips parted, showing his pink teeth. His fists were clenched at his sides. And again and again he thrust into me, the desperate thrusts of a starving man. 

My thighs ached from the position; I clearly needed more exercise to keep up with Rune. Luckily, I could think of a few ways he'd be able to help me increase my stamina in the future. Most of them were bed-based. 

One more thrust and I could hold back no longer. I shattered around him, screaming my release, screaming his name. That only made him fuck me harder, until he came with a roar that spoke to something primal deep within me. I wanted to hear that sound again and again while riding his cock, while feeling him inside me. 

"Unbind me," he said hoarsely when we'd both recovered our breath. I struggled with some of the straps, the closures unfamiliar, but after I'd opened the ones holding his arms, he was able to open the restraints on his chest and abdomen himself. To remove the straps around his feet, I had to rise from his still hard cock. The moment he slid out of me, Rune went feral. 

Everything happened so fast, I didn't even know what was happening. One moment I was straddling him, the next I was on my back, Rune pushing into me. He pushed my thighs apart with his huge, calloused hands. His grip was tight, possessive, and the fire burning in his eyes made me want to shiver. This was Rune, my mate, staking his claim.

He fucked me hard, his balls slamming against my arse, his axe making me whimper whenever it hit my clit. 

And I loved every second of it.