Her Troll Defender (Beastly Falls)

Chapter 9

Loth

W hen I come around the bend to the river, I see the mist on the far side. How odd. Another few steps, and then I smell her before I see her. Jasmine. She’s there, on the far side of the river in the mist. Two words race through my mind as my heart pounds.

The boundary.

Fear. Rage. Panic. I can’t sort through all the thoughts and emotions as I run after Jasmine. I have to reach her before she crosses the boundary. Across the bridge, I’m so close. She says something, but I can’t make it out. Jasmine looks like she is talking to someone, but no one is there; she doesn’t see me.

And then, there’s a flash of light. Once I’ve blinked away the spots in my eyes, I see the mist is gone. Jasmine is looking at me now. No, she’s running toward me. My heart leaps for joy.

I catch her in my arms and spin her around. Her arms wrapped around my neck.

“Are you okay?” I ask into the sweet, soft side of her neck. She puts a hand on my cheek and guides my face so we are nose to nose.

“Loth, I choose life.” She opens her mouth to say more, but it doesn’t matter because I feel the bottom drop out of my chest. My heart splats onto the forest floor.

“Is this goodbye?” I whisper, choking on the word that tastes like skunk cabbage in my mouth.

“Are you serious?” Whatever moment we had has vanished like the mist. “You can’t get rid of me now. I choose to stay here with you. Didn’t you hear me?”

Blubbering, I set her down, trying to wrap my troll brain around the words she just said. “Stay? With me?”

“What do you think ‘choose life,’ means? I mean a life with you. I have nothing waiting for me at home, if you could even call it a home.” Jasmine walks toward the bridge. I watch her curvy ass move away from me. I realize that one, she’s soaking wet, and that two, I should never let her walk away from me.

“Why are you wet?” I ask when I catch up to her.

“River,” she says, shivering slightly.

I pick her up, just like on the first day, and carry her across the bridge to my home. Our home. She nestles into me, sighing a sweet sigh that sounds like happiness. We walk quietly together, me reveling in the feel of her, my mate in my arms.

Those words make my soul sing. I fear that the joy I feel may make my heart split in two, like rock erupted from the depths of the Earth.

Back at the house, I take her straight to my room. Our room. “Can I help you out of your wet things?” She nods. I set her on the edge of the bed and carefully pull off her jumpsuit—this one raspberry pink. A spot of brightness in a sea of monotone forest. Her black bra hugs her breasts, and I’ve never felt more jealous of a piece of clothing. Fingers itch to tear it off her. Instead, I stroke her hair, her arms.

Kneeling before her, between her legs, I kiss her. Her lips are soft, sweet. Her legs wrap around me, pulling me into her. My hand digs into her hip a little, reveling in her flesh, pulling her into me.

“Loth.” My name is a moan on her lips as I trail kisses down her jaw, neck, down to her collarbone. The desire to be closer to her, in her, grows stronger. Into need, as needing to breathe. I push my erection into her center. Let her feel how much I want her. She grins, and a blush fills her cheeks. Pulls at my shirt, and I oblige, pulling it of me.

With a slight fumble, I unclasp her bra, let it fall away so I can admire her pert, pink nipples. “Gods. I never thought I was lucky before. But you’ve changed all of that.” I dive in, kissing, sucking, twirling my tongue around one nipple, then the other. Our hands tangled in each other’s hair. Her sharp intake of breath driving me forward. I push my erection against her center. She pushes back, rubbing herself against my pants. Her breathing quickens.

I never thought love was in my future. I’ve always scoffed at the idea of fated mates, especially in this cursed town. It might work for others, but not for me. My reputation precedes me. The rocks and the trees are my only companions. But now? With every touch of her fingers against my skin, a thrill of newness and hope runs through me.

Her hands fumble with the button of my jeans. I lift her so she can pull her panties down her thighs. I set her back down and pull her panties the rest of the way, toss them over my shoulder. She laughs—music that reverberates to my bones.

Wordless, she removes my cock from where it strains, and stares, licking her lips again. I groan. She runs her fingers along the tip, down the bulging vein that runs the length. My knees threaten to buckle out from under me already.

“Will I—will you fit?” There’s no fear in her voice, but it is a valid concern.

“We were made for each other. But we can go slow.”

I shift my body, pulling my throbbing cock from her and adjust. One beautiful leg over each of my shoulders, push her back so she’s lying on the bed, and blow gently across her delicate folds. She squirms. I smile. I lick her, slit to clit, and revel in her gasp. Every inch of her is plump and juicy. Ready for me to devour.

Slowly, thoroughly, I lick. Suck her clit. Each hand on an ass cheek, massaging her, pulling her to me. Insert my tongue into her. Every moan and thrust drives me to do more. “You are delicious,” I say into her center. Her breathing picks up. Glancing up at her, her eyes are shut and her hands massage her own breasts, twisting her nipples, and my cock wants to come undone right now from the sigh of her. “What a good girl you are to touch yourself.” A whimper. I resume my mouth on her clit.

When she comes, thrusting into my face, I preen like a peacock. My beloved. I don’t stop until she does, her breathing slowing. Only then do I let go of her hips and stand to remove my pants.

“You’re going to take me so well.” Jasmine looks at me, raking her eyes over all of me. She bites her lip. I smile. I take my cock in my fist, slide up and down once. Now she licks her lips. I crawl to hover over her, hook one arm under her and pull her up higher on the bed. My heavy cock rests on her belly, claiming her. Mine.

She runs a finger up and down it. “I’m ready.”

I notch myself at her entrance, feeling her heat and wetness. Just that makes my thighs clench in anticipation. I twist one pink nipple with my lips. When she gasps and arches her back, I thrust inside her. We both gasp at the sensations. “You’re so tight. A little bit more, darling. That’s it. Good girl.” Each thrust takes me a little deeper into her, until I’m fully sheathed inside her. Her thighs spread wide to let me in. Her nails claw at my arms and back.

“Slow,” I say to myself as much as to her. Her slickness is magic. Her squeezing against my shaft is sorcery.

“More,” she begs, and I am happy to oblige. We move together. My hands twist her nipples. Her hands cling to my back, pressing me into her again and again.

It doesn’t take long for her to cry out my name, and I’m right behind her, flying into ecstasy with my fated mate.