Chapter 30: Chapter 30

KENDRA

I felt the pain before I even opened my eyes, and I winced. I knew I was in Fjorn’s arms, his comforting presence unmistakable. With a deep breath, I opened my eyes and was greeted by the sight of Fjorn peering down at me with concern. The whispered voices of Ulf and Sten had me turning my head, and despite the pain emanating from my side, I let out a small chuckle.

Ulf was on the ground floor, and Sten was up in the loft. They were trying to move the bed downstairs. “You’ve got to turn it to the left,” Ulf instructed.

“What does it look like I’m doing?” Sten retorted, his voice strained.

I turned back to Fjorn as a tear landed on my cheek. “I thought I lost you both,” he confessed, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

As I gingerly grazed my fingertips over the bandaged area on my stomach, a sharp twinge of pain shot through me. “What happened?” I asked.

“Ingrid attacked us in the forest. She cut you…” His voice broke, tears welling in his eyes. “I rushed you to the healer, and she saved you.”

I wiped away his tears, my heart aching at the sight of him so distraught, but my attention was diverted when I heard Ulf squeal. “She’s awake!” he exclaimed, letting go of his end of the bed and bouncing on his toes. I laughed, grunting at the pain it elicited, and Sten smiled down at me from the loft.

When the bed was moved, Fjorn helped me to my feet, one hand gently supporting my lower back, the other holding my hand. We walked slowly to—now placed in the middle of the room. As I took a few steps toward the bed, I could see the men holding their breath. There was a collective sigh of relief when I sat on the edge and then another once I had adjusted myself so that my head rested on the propped pillows.

I smiled at them. This was my family. I touched my stomach, looking at Fjorn. At all of them.

The next two weeks were a whirlwind. None of them seemed to leave my side for more than a few minutes before rushing back. All I heard was, “Kendra, are you hungry?” or “Kendra, do you need some water?” or “Kendra, do you need more fur?” Kendra, Kendra, Kendra! As sweet as it was, it was driving me insane.

“Enough!” I finally exclaimed. “It has been two weeks! I’m fine! Please go find something else to do.”

They all froze, only their heads moving to look at each other, then back at me. “Sten, take Fjorn and Ulf to get a drink,” I instructed, pointing at the door.

“I’d rather stay by your side,” Fjorn protested.

“Nope. Go!” I insisted, crossing my arms.

“But…” Ulf began to argue.

“Leave,” I commanded.

I tried to stay strong as I watched them pout like children, walking out the door with their heads hanging low. Fjorn paused in the doorway. “Can’t I just stay?” he pleaded.

“I need a bath and time to think,” I explained, slowly getting out of bed.

“I can help!” he offered, stepping back inside.

“Fjorn, my love,” I said, standing up.

“Yes?” he replied, a huge smile on his face.

“If you don’t leave, I will murder you,” I threatened, placing my hands on my hips and shooting him a glare.

“Yes, dear,” he conceded, walking out of the house and closing the door.

Sten had already heated the water and Ulf moved the bathtub, so there wasn’t much left for me to do. The healer had visited this morning to check and clean my wound. The stitches she had placed were already healed. Although even she had told me the wound was somewhat deep, a part of me believed she had given me stitches just to appease Fjorn.

Pulling my dress off, I ran my hand over my stomach. There was a slight curve where it once was flat. “How have you gotten so big?” I marveled. By my estimation, I was roughly twelve weeks along.

I filled the tub and stepped inside. The warm water felt amazing on my skin. Closing my eyes, I let the silence of the house soothe me. I washed my body and hair first, then leaned back and just soaked.

I must have fallen asleep because I woke to Fjorn lifting me out of the water and wrapping me up in his arms. No matter how hard I tried to feign sleep, he always saw through my act.

“I know you’re not sleeping,” he said, kissing my cheek.

“How do you always know?” I asked, looking up at him.

“You snore.”

“I do not snore!” I protested, lightly smacking his arm. He chuckled, placing me down on the bed. He took a cloth from a nearby shelf to dry my body.

“How long were you gone?” I asked.

“A few hours,” he replied, sitting next to me to dry my hair. I shot him a look. “Okay. One hour.”

I shook my head at him, smiling. It was the first time in two weeks we had been alone. Biting my lip, I slid my hand under Fjorn’s shirt, resting it in the middle of his chest. He let out a low groan, placing his hand over mine.

“Behave,” he warned, squeezing my hand. I leaned forward to kiss his neck. His hands gripped my hips as I straddled him. Looking into his eyes, I could see his uncertainty. Taking the lead, I kissed him. He moaned against my lips. I ran my fingers through his hair, pulling his head back.

Kissing and sucking on his neck, I rocked my hips in a rhythmic motion, pressing myself against him. He closed his eyes, trying his best to ignore me. I slowly slid my hand down his firm chest to his waistline, and he gripped my hand, stopping me from entering his pants.

“I’m trying very hard not to flip you onto this bed and cram my cock deep inside you,” he said softly in my ear. His words made me swoon. I could feel myself getting wet just from the thought. I pushed my hand deeper, wrapping my fingers around his throbbing cock, slowly stroking it.

He gritted his teeth as he gently flipped me onto the bed. As I stroked his cock, he kissed me hard. Taking my breasts in his hand, he pinched my nipples. He placed his mouth over one nipple at a time, licking and sucking them until they were hard. He kissed a hot trail to my clit.

He pulled my legs up to rest them on his shoulders and leaned down. I could feel his hot breath on my core, teasing me. I quivered under him, begging him to taste me. With slow strokes of his tongue, I melted under his touch. Moaning and gasping, I pushed myself into his mouth.

“More. Please,” I begged desperately.

Shifting himself, I felt his fingers circle my opening before he plunged into me with his tongue. Jolting against him, I moaned his name. Keeping the rhythm in both his tongue and fingers, I was close to my limit. My body shook and my moans turned into screams of pleasure. I felt every muscle in my body tighten and I reached ecstasy.

As he pulls himself up, I feel the head of his dick at my entrance, and in that moment, I would do anything to feel him inside me. But he takes his time, teasing me relentlessly with the promise of more. He finally pushed deep inside me, letting out a loud moan.

Just the feeling of him deep inside me could drive me mad. It had been weeks since we were able to be like this, and it showed. I dug my nails into his back as I climaxed again, relishing in the steady pace of his strokes as I rode out the heady sensation. Only after I reached my peak does he give one final thrust, filling me with his hot, sticky cum.

Both panting, we curl up together, my head on his chest and his hand on my stomach, over our baby. He kissed my head. “I love you,” he whispered.

It wasn’t something I expected him to say, and I shot up in bed, turning to look at him. “What did you say?”

“I love you,” he repeated, smiling at me. He settled me down next to him once more. “I don’t know why I didn’t say it before,” he said, kissing my forehead. “But I had to say it now.”

“I love you too, Fjorn.” I quickly swiped a tear away. We lay there, smiling and laughing, and I couldn’t help thinking everything was right in the world. Everything was perfect.