Page 9 of Valkyrie Restored

Over the years we’d individually sought out female companionship for the night and sometimes we even shared. In the grand scheme of the universe, supposedly we both had a female mate, but not necessarily a fated mate, out there. It wasn’t the same for all mythological creatures, but for us, our horses demanded a female mate to carry our young. So even same gendered fated mates had a mate of the opposite gender who wasn’t human in order to procreate. It was the main reason we sought out human females and not any of the others, the ones touched by or born to gods. That alone was reason enough to avoid Elin. That bear had been something magical. So why was he pushing this?

With unease flowing through my veins, I sat in a chair on the far side of the table where I could continue to observe their interactions.

“So Elin, I have to admit Hurrit and I tried your hand moisturizer and your lip balm during the winter. They were amazing. The best products we ever used to combat the cold, dry air up north.” Arran spooned some of the salad onto her plate after already adding the mashed potatoes, a slice of bannock, and the cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and onion slices. He motioned for me to add the food from the grill before turning back to her and their conversation. “What made you decide that you wanted to make your own hygiene and cleaning products?”

She shrugged before lifting the pitcher and pouring three glasses of the fresh made margarita. “I don’t know exactly. I stumbled onto it by accident when I couldn’t find the products I wanted. I’ve always been into wholistic health and healing along with organic farming and natural products, so I started to make my own and my friends loved them.”

“That’s so cool. Hurrit and I are into the environmental movement as well. Although we refuse to become vegetarian because our teeth are made for us to be omnivores. Besides, we make sure that we only hunt or fish what we can use.”

“And by use, we mean all aspects of it. We try to have almost no waste from the animal,” I added, unable to keep quiet.

“Even our boat and seaplane, we’ve been working with engineers and researchers to try and develop ones that are more environmentally friendly, that can be recharged with solar and wind power. It’s still years in the making, but right now we’ve been able to mix in some biofuel in with our regular stuff.” Arran grinned at me, revealing his pride. I’d been the one to suggest we sponsor some research and get involved in the whole alternative fuel aspect as we waited to see results from the main research. Every little bit that we could do now would help to keep us from poisoning the world further.

“That’s great.” She lifted the Bannock spread with a garlic dip, some moose meat, onions, tomatoes, and cucumbers to her mouth, taking a bite. A moan escaped her lips as her eyes rolled back. And despite the hot sex I’d had earlier, my cock twitched at the sound, wanting to hear it again. She lifted the wrap Arran made for her. “And so’s this.”

When neither one of us spoke, her cheeks turned pink. “What? Do I have something on my face? Did I make a mess?” She snatched her napkin up and began to dap at her face.

I cleared my throat, drawing her focus. “No, you’re fine.” I smiled. For Arran’s sake, I’d try to be pleasant.

“Besides, I want to hear her moan again,” Arran said quiet enough that only I, with my extra sensitive hearing would hear. And as much as I hated to admit it, I agreed with him. I wanted to hear those moans, preferably when she rode me.

I yanked my gaze away from her and dropped it to my plate. As they continued to speak, I focused on eating. Not that I really heard what they said. I was too busy trying to sort out my feelings after admitting to myself that I wanted her. Or maybe not admitting but allowing that thought to slip unencumbered to the forefront of my brain.

Did I like her? The jury was still out on that one although she was a woman who under any other circumstance I would have wanted in my bed or as a friend. Everything I heard about her from Daisy and others revealed a woman who was kind, caring, and sweet. She donated some of her products to a local battered woman’s shelter that was used to get abused women and their children out of the city and away from their abusers. No one would ever think to come to a small town like this to look for their escaped family. Then when you added in her love for the environment and taking care of the earth, she was definitely our type of woman. One with the potential to be something other than a quick romp, a way to pass the time in the way that time passed for nearly immortal beings. And while normally, I wouldn’t even care, choosing to have what would pass for a relationship to humans, there was this protective instinct in me that didn’t want to end up hurting her when I moved on.

The bear. Fuck. The bear posed an issue. It made her potentially mate material which meant she could possibly carry my child. For while, the spirits of Elk dogs had an open sexuality, we had a mate that was of the opposite sex to carry our young. How deep the romantic relationship went depended on the people involved—or at least that is what I thought since I moved away from my community centuries ago.

And if she wasmatematerial, who’s was she? Did it mean that if we did get involved with her that there was a possibility it would be the end of us, of Arran and Hurrit together as lovers, as husbands? Fuck. And double fuck. And what if she turned out to be Arran’s after we already started something? To sleep with her, possibly have a relationship together, then break up, and then potentially be in her life, but not as her lover for the rest of my life… yeah, I didn’t want to see that happen. Nor did I want to give up Arran.

This meant there was really only one thing to do… stay away. And sooth my overprotective instincts, I’d watch and protect her from afar. Even if the thought made me feel like someone just ripped out my stomach and stomped all over it. I’d survive. I always did.

7

Elin

To my surprise,I found myself enjoying the meal and the company. Even broody Hurrit didn’t put a damper on things. If anything, his monosyllabic answers, and grunts added to the hilarity of our conversations. It felt normal.

It felt like… home.

A strange feeling that I didn’t recall ever feeling before. Not that it was too hard, considering the wide, blank space of time that predated the last five years, but this was different. Over the years, I’d discovered that there were times in thisnewlife that felt a little like déjà vu, like I’d already experienced something like this before. This wasn’t one of those times despite the familiarity and comfort.

Or maybe it was a product of my hormones.

With each touch to my body, each stroke of Arran’s warm, calloused fingers against my skin, my body remembered how long it had been since someone else gave me an orgasm.Stop thinking with your hormones. He doesn’t mean it like that. He’s married for goodness’ sake. And you are not a homewrecker.

“Can we get you some more?” Arran pointed to the platters of food in the centre of the table. Hurrit raised an eyebrow before holding out his hand for my plate.

I wanted to deny the urge to eat more, not wanting to look like I was starved and didn’t know how to take care of myself, but my stomach rumbled, giving away my secret. I gave up the pretence and held up my plate. “Fine. Just a little of everything though.”

Arran chuckled while the corners of Hurrit’s lips lifted, bringing a lightness to his face that made me swoon. Crap. If he ever smiled a full smile, I’d probably faint at his feet. Not a good thing considering I couldn’t tell if he liked me or was putting up with me for Arran’s sake.

“It’s good to see you eat like a normal person.” I scoffed. Normal is not what I’d consider my appetite, but at least I burned up all the calories I consumed. My weight hadn’t wavered since the day I woke up in the hospital. Arran’s other hand landed on mine while he handed Hurrit his plate for more food after Hurrit placed my now full plate on the table in front of me. “I mean it. You’re refreshing. And if you’re worried about it, both Hurrit and I ate three plates of food to your one and we’re still going back for more.”

With my right hand trapped under Arran’s, I used my left to shovel a forkful of food into my mouth. Despite having already tasted everything, I couldn’t stop the moan that flowed from my lips. The burst of flavour over my tongue from the spices they’d used to marinate the moose meat. Juniper berries, thyme, and black currents, they made my mouth water, and my eyes roll back.

The sound of bodies shifting in their seats forced my eyes to open. Well that and the need for another bite. A glance around the table revealed Arran biting his bottom lip while flames lit up Hurrit’s dark eyes.

Heat rose to my cheeks. “Um, sorry. It’s, uh, really delicious.”

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