Page 48 of Savage King

“You’re telling me there is a blank chapter in the book of your life? You were born from the ether and—ka pow!—Odin appeared in leather and denim, ready to kick butt and take names?”

He was silent for long moments, his heart beating slow and steady beneath her palm…but his body was tautening, like he was readying himself for an attack.

“I was born in Copper Harbor, Michigan. My parents are from Bergen, Norway, but they moved here a year before I was born. I am an only child.”

Finally, something she could build on.

“Are your parents still alive?”

“Yep. My mother is a homemaker, and my dad owns a shipbuilding business.”

“A family business?”

“Yes. His father built ships in Bergen, but my father wanted to try his hand at building ships in the US. Said the market near the Great Lakes would keep him in business for decades. He was right.”

“You didn’t want to build ships like your father and grandfather?”

Odin breathed out a long, hissing breath. His great body was no longer languid from their lovemaking, now it was tense, every muscle taut.

“Let’s just say that you aren’t the only one who’s dealt with meeting family expectations.”

“Oh?”Herfamily expectations, though, were ones she was proud to take on and exceed. Her family were soldiers, she became a soldier. They were proud of her, shared their excitement and happiness with her. She might not have been the son they wanted, but they loved her, appreciated her. All the pressure she felt to succeed as a Jaeger was her own.

She was getting the feeling that Odin didn’t share in that experience.

“My family…my father…he is old school. Family tradition above all else. Even as a boy, I gravitated away from the business, preferring playing soldier with my friends than getting splinters in my hands and sawdust in my lungs. My father tried…pushing me to follow in his footsteps for family pride. For the Vikander legacy. But I never wanted it.”

In a small, quiet voice, Skathi asked, “What did you want?”

“I wanted to be my own man…and I wanted my dad to be proud of me.”

She flinched. “He wasn’t proud of your military career, or what you’re building here with the Savage Raiders? I’ve only known you a short time, but I can see that you are a man of many accomplishments—some not so savory, but it still takes skill and grit to form and build an empire like what the Raiders have. You did that, Odin. Why isn’t he proud of that?”

“Because I don’t build ships.” It was a simple, devastating answer.

“Odin…” she breathed, her heart breaking for the man who stood so big, tall, and confident, but was carrying the load of a father’s disappointment. A father who was an idiot and a fool.

“Yeah, but that’s all I’m going to say right now, because I’d much rather be inside that sweet pussy. You sore, Goddess?”

“But…there’s so much left to learn—”

“Not right now, Skathi,” he grumbled. Not right now, Skathi. Not ever…. She heard it even though he didn’t say it.

Skathi sighed. That was a quick and rather fruitless conversation. She tried to bury the frustration at his refusal to share even the minutiae about himself, but the frustration only caught the kindling of hurt on fire. She was hurt that Odin refused to allow her to hide when she was at her most vulnerable, but when it came time for him to show his most vulnerable parts, he shut down.

Was she not worthy enough for the best parts of the great and incredible Odin?

Odin grabbed her thigh, pulling her leg over him to one-side straddle his waist. Her core pulsed, the head of his cock slid against her nether lips. She was wet, still sore, but eager.

Taking her mouth like he couldn’t breathe without her, he devoured her, the kiss deep, ferocious, and mind-scrambling.

Without warning, Odin notched his cock at her entrance and slammed home, bottoming out with a long, harsh groan. She convulsed, the pain of his thrust combined with the pleasure of his invasion, and she saw stars.

“Oh, gods!” she cried out, and he began moving, sliding in and out with speed and intent.

Odin pushed her onto her back and mounted her, forcing her legs wider to accommodate for his size. Still inside her, he continued his mission to ruin her once more.

“Take it, Goddess. Fuck! I’ll never get over how perfectly you take all of me.” He hit her at an angle, making them both moan. “Made for me.”

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