body and masked her pain.
A need to know she’d bled for him gnawed at
Gawen, and he eased back. The sight of the dark blood staining his
cock nearly sent him over, and the gush of it coursing down her
body and to the bed linens, no doubt pushed out by her continuing
contractions, had the animal in him raising its head to howl in
triumph.
Bavin gasped out a complaint, begging him to
return to her. He let one more drop fall and slid to the hilt,
forcing himself to a slow, steady advance. She cried out, her back
arching again, leaving nearly her entire weight in his large
hands.
The next few thrusts were less restrained,
and Bavin wrapped her legs around his waist. Gawen stared between
their bodies, feasting on the sight of her precious blood...on his
cock sliding in and out of his mate’s body.
My mate. Bavin would carry his sons.
She would share his bed and no other. The flutch roared out
again at that thought.
I have to seal her as my mate. It has to
be tonight. I’m chancing a son with her before sealing. Every
instinct told him that was unacceptable.
No. Bavin had agreed to share his bed.
There was little chance she was ready for that. She probably viewed
the length of time until the marriage ceremony with relief.
That firmly in mind, Gawen resolved not to
ask.
“Gods, yes,” she breathed, coming back to her
senses after her second release, he guessed.
Her hands covered his, and her hips moved
within his grip, seeking a specific touch of his cock within her.
Gawen obliged her, wondering how many times he could force her over
before he was forced to release himself. In truth, he was surprised
he’d lasted as long as he had.
“Will you seal to me, Gawen?”
The question was so unexpected, he faltered
in his thrust, stopping halfway inside her. Bavin circled her hips,
mewing in delight.
“Gawen?”
“You want me to seal before the marriage
night?” he managed to gasp out.
Her hips circled again. “If my father
wouldn’t object to it, I’d have you ask Thorald to marry us
tonight.”
He sank down over her, pushing in to the hilt
and stilling there. “Would you?”
Bavin nodded shakily, attempting to move her
hips beneath his bulk. “You...” She grasped at his arms, her inner
muscles hinting at another climax building in her.
“Oh...Gawen.”
“You wish me to seal to you before we are
joined?”
“We are joined.” Her breathing was ragged and
her eyes half-closed in what appeared to be bliss.
“Say it, Bavin. Do you wish it?” If she did,
he was more than capable of following through.
“Yes. I want you to seal to me.”
“Be sure.”
“I am. Gawen, please --”
He started thrusting again, more animal than
man, burning in the need to seal their souls. Bavin’s body
responded fiercely, her inner muscles contracting around him.
Gawen indulged this time, roaring as his body
emptied into hers, his breath catching in his lungs at the peace
and tenderness stealing over his soul. In the glow of it, he
touched Bavin’s face, marveling at the gentle streak only she and
Regana brought out in him.
* * * *
Two weeks later
“Tell us, Bavin.” Anabilia fairly vibrated in
excitement.
Bavin felt her cheeks heat. “Yes. We are
sharing a bed,” she confirmed the rumors. Laughs and little squeals
punctuated the air, and she darkened further.
“How long did he wait?” Evfemia asked in a
whisper, her eyes wide in wonder.
“He didn’t,” she confided. “My maiden’s blood
stained his bed the first night, and he sealed before his...manly
parts tasted air once more.”
Ingela’s mouth dropped open in shock. “You
didn’t! Bavin, that’s...that’s --”
“Gods, it’s wonderful,” she replied, her
heart aching at the hours until Gawen came to walk with her
again.
“Then why aren’t you sharing his home?” Lela
inquired.
Bavin looked around, spying her father on the
other side of the marketplace. “I’m certain my father knows I share
Gawen’s bed, but he is not