by Lee Savino
Ragnvald was wrong. I had everything to fear. I could face monsters, brave captivity, look death in the face. But I couldn’t deny what my heart wanted, and that terrified me more than anything.
*
I woke sweating, my body suffused with heat. My hips begged shamelessly for the release I sought even in my dreams. Slipping to my feet, I found the water bucket and drank my fill, then splashed the cool liquid over my fevered skin before I even looked around for my warriors. Ragnvald and his pelt were gone, but as I stood there, Maddox came striding out of the forest carrying a string of fish.
He grew closer and stopped, regarded me. Then, in exaggerated motion, lifted his nose and sniffed the air. My cheeks grew hot when he turned his knowing smirk on me.
Instead of commenting, he went to the fire and spitted the fish.
Still clutching the bucket, I went to sit at the fire. If I was good, maybe he’d allow me to go and seek herbs today, and bathe in the stream to cool myself.
I held the bucket in front of my body so he would not see how my nipples pointed through the linen shift, but Maddox wasn’t fooled. When he walked to me, I cringed, but he only held his hand out for the bucket. I relinquished it and he disappeared down the path again to fill it. Once he returned, he held it out to me.
“Thank you.” I started to take the bucket but he didn’t release it.
“Don’t thank me yet.” His voice sounded rougher. “Ask, and I’d give you what you want, and more.”
I dropped my eyes but his gaze burned my cheeks. “I want nothing from you.” He relinquished the bucket and retreated, but watched as I rose and went to slip on my gunna over the thin shift. The fabric was poor armor against his piercing look--and my arousal. I pressed my hands to my cheeks, hoping to cool them.
“Where is Ragnvald?”
“Hunting. I would not risk his beast coming to the surface so soon, but he seems to be more himself. He speaks highly of your powers.”
“He spoke highly of you last night.” I folded my arms over my chest. “He seemed to want me to forgive you. Or at least understand why you acted as you did.”
“And?”
“What’s done is done.” I made an impatient gesture. “It turned out for the good. I am merely waiting for you to realize he’s in full health, so you will allow me and my sisters to go home.” I felt a brief pang of guilt--I hadn’t given much thought to Muriel and Fleur’s plight lately.
“Is that what you want?”
I opened my mouth. He raised a finger.
“I can smell a lie.” He smirked when I turned away. “That is not all I can smell.”
I whirled back. “You speak of things you do not understand, wolf.”
“Really? I am not trying to hide in plain sight. You deny your body, little witch.”
“I do not,” I protested. “This mood is natural. It passes.”
He said nothing but prowled towards me, crowding me back. My calves hit the bed and I stopped rather than lie down before him like a willing sacrifice. Close enough to kiss, Maddox dropped his head towards mine, but he only breathed in the scent of my hair.
“When we searched for a cure, we learned all we could about spaewives. They are filled with deep earth magic, good at growing herbs and healing. During the full moon a great lust comes over them and they would lie with the devil himself.” His hand brushed a leaf from my shoulder, then rested there, lightly stroking.
“I don’t believe it.” I said, though I knew it was true.
“Believe it, witch.” He smirked. “When your desire grows unbearable, you will not have to seek out a devil. You have two right here.”
I jerked my shoulder out of his hand.
“I do not want you.”
“No. But, in time, you will need us.”
“Never.” I pushed away from him, and he yanked me back.
“Do not walk away from me.”
The violence in his touch sent my heart pounding, unleashed a sudden torrent between my legs. He let go of my arm as if it burned him, and I backed away quickly.
“I don’t need you. I am stronger than this,” I ground out.
He didn’t move, as if one step forward would snap his control. “You are strong, Sabine. You need a man as strong as you. He will break your heat and make you feel all the things you are longing for.”
Staring at his mouth, I wet my lips. “I long for nothing.”
Long after he left, I felt his words settle in my heart and deeper, in the aching cradle of my hips. Even slipping a hand between my legs in a private moment gave me no relief. I wanted a man’s body on mine, his hands brushing down my skin, claiming, worshipping. Maddox was right. All my defenses, all the reasons I’d shorn up over time--my rationale and conscious thought all fell away under the crushing need. In the grip of the moon, I would forget my vows to remain free.
*
At dusk, I stood toiling over the cauldron, waiting for the warriors to return. I saw nothing, heard nothing, when someone gripped my hair and jerked my head back. The pain made me still, but Maddox’s scent made me relax. He nuzzled the line of my throat and I gave in to his touch.
That’s it, Sabine. I heard his thoughts. Submit to me.
My heart pounded harder.
Give in, little witch.
His hand somehow found its way beneath my dress, found the slippery folds that screamed for his touch. I whimpered and tried to writhe away, but my lips parted, on the verge of begging for more.
Yes. Fight it, He pulled me to the bed and laid me down. Fight your pleasure. It will be greater when it comes. It will consume you.
“No,” I breathed aloud. “No, no.” But I pulled him to me, and spread my legs wide for him to lay his hot mouth on my cunt. I panted as his tongue teased me, poking into every slick crevice, finding all my secrets until I flinched with pleasure.
“Stop--” I tried to push him away, even as my hips lifted for more. Ragnvald knelt behind me and pinned my wrists by my head. My climax rose as one warrior tongue fucked me and the other held me down. A twist of my nipple, a flick of Maddox’s tongue and I tensed and screamed my pleasure to the stars. Maddox remained between my legs, lazily lapping at my sensitive tissues, and I rose up again, spiraling like smoke, only to harden, shatter and crash down. Again and again until I knew no sense.
I begged them to fuck me, needing their hard bodies pressed against mine, grounding me, as if only the touch of their flesh to mine kept my soul alive.
“Yes,” I cried in relief when they filled me, the delicious stretch almost painful. I danced on the sharp edge of pleasure.
“Come,” Ragnvald ordered. “Come now.”
I did, screaming, gnashing my teeth against an orgasm so perfect it filled me with longing and horror that I’d never feel so complete again.
At last, I floated somewhere above their bed as they kissed me. The gentle worship of their lips undid me, and I wept.
They held me, stroking my shaking limbs as we tangled on the bed, three become one.
“We pledge ourselves to you,” they said. “Give us an order and we will fulfill it.”
“Let me go,” I begged, clutching at them. They caught my hands.
“Anything,” they said, “but that…”
*
I woke sweating from my dream. Moonlight lit up the cave, but I rolled to my front and buried my head in the pelts.
The heat was upon me. When I pressed my legs together, my thighs were slippery. My nipples pebbled against the bed. I bit down on the pelts and prayed I would hold out, and not break.
*
Morning came and at first I felt relief that I woke alone. After tending the fire, I took up the bucket for more water, only to stop short when Ragnvald strode out of the forest towards me.
“I wasn’t running,” I stammered. “I merely wanted fresh water.”
The blond warrior cocked his head as if trying to understand. I backed away, and he went still, like a wolf scenting his prey.
&nb
sp; There was no humanity in the golden gaze.
“Ragnvald, it’s me. Sabine.”
Eyes bright, Ragnvald started towards me, so focused on stalking me he didn’t see Maddox until the tattooed warrior caught his shoulder.
Whirling, Ragnvald snarled at him, and Maddox pounced. They tussled, and I bit my lip to hold back a scream. Taller by a head, Ragnvald fought forward, but Maddox wrenched him back, keeping his body between me and the mad Alpha.
“No,” Maddox snapped. “Not her. Hurt me--anyone else. But not her.”
I breathed in relief as Ragnvald straightened and seemed to remember himself. Without a word, the Viking disappeared back into the woods. Maddox followed.
They wouldn’t go far, I knew. Once he disappeared, I ran for the water bucket. Stripping a cloth into rags I washed between my legs, dousing the scent away. I scrubbed until my skin was raw, and threw the rags into the fire. A few more nights and the heat would pass. At least, I hoped it would.
That night they returned with a great horned beast slung between them. I’d burned every stick of sage I had until grey smoke lay over the cave. Still, they would not meet my eyes.
We ate together in silence, and when it was done, Ragnvald left again. I felt a gust of otherworldly wind that raised my hackles, then a large grey and gold wolf trotted into the cave and lay at the foot of my bed with a sigh.
It met my eyes for a moment and I recognized the bright gold gaze. I lay back down, wondering at the words I heard inside my mind.
Forgive me.
*
From then on the warriors stayed away as much as they could. The slow waning of the moon did nothing to diminish my need. If anything, it grew.
One night, after long hours tossing restlessly on the pelts, I heard a soft movement and opened my eyes.
Both men sat on the edge of the bed, the light in their eyes beacons in the night.
I sat up. Before I’d fallen asleep I’d tried to pleasure myself, fingers rubbing fruitlessly for release only a man could bring. Even the touch of fabric on my skin was unbearable, so I’d stripped it off.
As I grew more awake, I remembered I was naked under the pelts. The way the men fixed on my bare shoulders, I knew this fact wasn’t lost on them.
It didn’t matter. The heat infected my mind and all my good sense. Instead of clutching the pelts to my naked chest, I let them slip away, and waited.
Ragnvald moved and Maddox followed a hairsbreadth after, both coming to stand on either side of me. At first they only touched my hair, twining and twisting it, brushing it off my shoulders, away from my vulnerable neck. As they tugged the pelt away from my naked flesh, I pressed my legs together, but the wetness leaking from me was too much to hide. I fought not to squirm under their gaze.
At last Ragnvald lifted his eyes from the shining center of my thighs.
“How long have you suffered like this?”
Maddox answered for me. “Too long.”
Ragnvald wrapped a hand around my ankle. Studying my expression, he slid his hand up my calf and then over my knee and thigh.
“Please,” I breathed. For years I’d loved and dreaded the full moon, its luminous pull on the desire I’d suffered in secret. It wouldn’t hurt for me to give in, just once, for a little while.
Maddox came to my back, his arms securing me. I didn’t fight, only watched as Ragnvald knelt between my legs. Bowing his regal head, the Alpha kissed me. His mouth tasted of honey, heat and longing. It was everything I’d been searching for my entire life, and when the kiss ended, I touched his face to make sure he was real. His large hand came to my face also, before trailing lower, sweeping over my bare chest and driving lower still. My hips were already lifting but he ignored the soft nest at the juncture of my thighs, choosing instead to stroke up and down the length of my legs, little touches designed to drive me mad.
Maddox pulled me closer, my back to his bare chest. I sank into him, and gasped when his tattooed hands cupped my breasts. My legs spread wider for Ragnvald’s exploration.
“Do you know how long it’s been?” Maddox rasped. I could’ve cried at the raw need in his voice. “Do you know how long we’ve waited for you?”
His grip tightened, made my breasts throb, and I understood their delicious intent. These warriors would possess me tonight, every inch.
“Do you know how long I watched and desired you?” Maddox’s lips touched my ear. “Every night.”
Ragnvald went on with his perfect torment, tasting me, swirling and flicking his tongue, dancing closer, drawing further away; never satisfying, but licking the fire in me hotter and flames higher and higher. He tasted every crevice, every secret place, as his hands cupped my bottom.
“How long should we make you wait? How long should we torture you as you tortured us?” Maddox kept up the sinister whisper as his clever fingers caged my breasts, gripped them, twisted the nipples until I writhed pressing further into his hands. Begging mindlessly for something, anything, and helpless to do anything but accept what they wanted to give.
Ragnvald seemed content to lounge between my thighs and let his tongue trail up the inner seam of one leg, down the other. As soon as I relaxed, he added teeth, little nips that made my hips jump and my center cream.
“Please,” I choked out finally. One of Maddox’s hands left my breast and encircled my neck.
“Please, what, Sabine?” The hard core of me melted when he breathed my name. “Beg for what you want, little one. We may give it to you.”
“Please...”
Ragnvald’s tongue did a pass closer to my weeping slit, and my hips bucked harder.
“Tell us, little witch,” Maddox chuckled, then nipped my ear. I thrashed, trying to get away, but Ragnvald’s hands held my legs down without his mouth giving pause. His tongue lashed my inner thighs, licking up the wetness there.
“I don’t want this,” I lied, even as my wanton body leaked more of my juices for Ragvald to lap up.
“No lying.” Maddox’s hand tightened a little at my neck. “Lies get little ones punished. But tell the truth, and we’ll give you want you want.”
“I--should not want this.”
“Good girl.” Maddox’s voice softened. “That is the truth.”
“You said if I told the truth, you’d let me go.”
“No. I promised we’d give you what you want. And this--” Ragnvald’s tongue flicked in time to Maddox’s words. “--is what you want.”
My hands fluttered on the pelts, grasping, clawing as if I could hang on to my control.
“You need to let me go--”
In answer, Maddox shifted his hand and drew my head to the side, baring the fragile line of neck and shoulder. He laid his mouth there, over my pulse, and sucked.
Ragvald moved closer to my center.
A moan started in me, echoing from a deep place inside where I locked every desire I shouldn’t have.
“You are my captors. You keep me in this prison--”
“Wrong, little witch. We’re the ones setting you free.”
Something was building, building, my body mounting up like a bird winging towards the sun.
“And we’ll never let you go.”
Ragnvald’s mouth hit the right spot just as Maddox’s teeth pierced the skin of my shoulder. The slight pain and the raging pleasure rolled together, and I convulsed, a leaf shaking in a storm. Shuddering, I was grateful for Maddox’s powerful arms around me, his solid chest at my back. These arms could hurt me, and kill, but they could protect me.
Tears leaked out of the corner of my eyes. Ragnvald came to lick them away. He pressed his mouth to mine, leaving my taste on my lips.
“Please.” My defenses breached, I could ask for what I wanted, what I needed. “Please fill me.”
My pleasure ebbed away, leaving a vast emptiness. I would do anything to have them take me. If they didn’t, I would die.
“Patience.” Ragnvald nuzzled my breasts. “You’ll do as we command. If we desire you to
take your pleasure a thousand times this night, you will obey.”
“You will break me.”
“Only your will. “ His hands roamed over my body while Maddox pinned mine at my side. “The rest we will hold safe in our keeping.”
“But--” I started to raise my voice, and Ragvald silenced me with a finger at my lips. “Hush now. This night, we are your masters. You serve our desires.”
“Do not fear, Sabine,” Maddox said. “We desire your pleasure. We will not let you deny your lust anymore.”
“Or ours,” Ragvald stroked my thigh. “If I could speak with the goddess, I would ask--how is it a mortal human can be so lovely?”
Maddox’s hand traced the hollow at my hip. “She uses sugar gum to smooth her legs.”
Folding my leg, Ragnvald kissed my knee, then licked it. His tongue blazed a trail higher and I felt my insides clench, ready for his wicked touch all over again. “I can taste the sweetness. Tart as well.”
Maddox chuckled, a heady sound in my ear. I felt it rumble in his chest. “That is not sugar gum you are tasting, brother.”
“It is divine.” Ragnvald nuzzled between my legs for a moment. “The finest mead. Honey and spirits. It awakens a craving for more.” He came to kiss me again, gently, refined. “We will never be satisfied with your sweetness, Sabine.”
“Fortunately she has more to offer. Her sharp tongue.”
“Mmm.” Ragnvald drew out the kiss. “We know how to tame her.”
They spent several minutes stroking my body, exploring every inch. If I struggled, one held me while the other continued. Maddox dipped his finger into my cunt. Ragnvald hefted my breasts. They touched me everywhere but where I needed it most, and my arousal danced up to a fever pitch.
“Please,” I breathed. “I need you.”
“Which one?” Ragnvald raised his head, the hunger in his eyes took my breath away.
“I-I cannot choose.” If one of them left me, I could not bear it. Maddox shifted me in his arms so I could see his face as well as his warrior brother’s. The moonlight shining into the cave was just enough to reveal all their naked need. “Both of you,” I whispered finally, mouth dry. “I need both of you.”
“We will give you what you need, sweet one.” Ragnvald placed a hand on my leg . “How many men have you known? I ask so we will not hurt you when the time comes.”