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  For a moment, Thorstein thought Godwin would not stay, that he would make another run for the door, but then the war taking place in the younger man’s mind seemed to reach its conclusion, and he slowly shut his eyes.

  Thorstein approached with small steps, not wanting to scare Godwin further. When he placed his hands on Godwin’s shoulders, he could feel the man quake beneath him. He ran one hand down Godwin’s back, stroking him, massaging his shoulders, and then he leaned in and claimed those tempting lips in a firm but gentle kiss.

  Godwin’s breath hitched, but he made no attempt to pull away, and after a few moments, he brought his arms around Thorstein, hanging on to him as if his life depended on it.

  When Godwin’s lips parted, Thorstein eagerly worked his tongue inside. Godwin tasted of ale and honey. Just as sweet as Thorstein had imagined. He could have stayed like that for hours, but then Godwin whimpered and went limp in his arms, so he reluctantly pulled away.

  “Are you all right, Godwin?” A nod. “Would you like to come to bed with me?” A pause, but finally another nod, and a flash of brown eyes. “Come, then.”

  Thorstein led Godwin across to the bench and helped him onto the mattress. He wanted to rip the clothing from the young man’s body, but he forced himself take things slowly. He had waited this long, he could wait a few moments more.

  He kissed Godwin again, a little more forcefully this time, and sank a hand into his soft curls. Godwin responded with a groan, and Thorstein could feel the man’s hardness press into his thigh. Good. He raised Godwin off the mattress and eased his tunic over his head, tossing it on the table before reaching to untie the cord that held his trousers in place.

  Soon Godwin was gloriously naked before him, and the sight alone nearly brought Thorstein to the brink. His hands and face showed signs of the ravages of working outdoors, but his chest and legs were soft and pale, and Thorstein dipped his head to taste the skin there, working his way slowly down the man’s body to an accompaniment of delightful moans.

  When he reached Godwin’s member, Thorstein ran his tongue up the shaft and Godwin’s body jerked beneath him. Pleased with the result, he tried it again, this time swirling his tongue over the head.

  Godwin gripped Thorstein’s arms tightly, digging his fingers into the skin when Thorstein took him into his mouth. Thorstein settled into a rhythm, humming softly, but when Godwin began to shudder, he released him, gripping him at the base to stop him coming.

  Godwin whined, wide brown eyes pleading with him, but Thorstein just smiled. “Soon,” he promised as he leaned in for another kiss.

  Godwin had grown bolder, and this time he fought for supremacy, working his tongue into Thorstein’s mouth, exploring him, demanding more. When Thorstein broke away, he, too, was breathing heavily, his cock aching for release.

  He looked around the room for something he could use. The last thing he wanted to do was cause Godwin pain. Finally, he remembered the chest in the corner. He climbed off the bed and hurried to open it. Grabbing one of the small pots of oil, he returned to Godwin.

  The young man was sitting up on the bed, watching him. His face was flushed, and his chest rose and fell in a fast, erratic rhythm.

  “Lie down,” Thorstein said, kneeling close by.

  When Godwin was comfortable, he dipped a finger into the pot, and then began to massage Godwin’s entrance. The young man tensed at first, but gradually relaxed under Thorstein’s ministrations, and the Viking was able to ease a finger inside.

  Thorstein was nearly mad with lust by the time he added a third finger, but he held himself back, stretching Godwin slowly until he was sure he was ready. Finally he was slicked and poised, ready to make Godwin his once and for all.

  He entered little by little, allowing Godwin time to adjust. The shepherd had tensed at the initial intrusion, his face wrinkling up in pain, but Thorstein had taken him in hand, administering steady pumps, keeping his mind off the penetration and helping him to relax.

  When he was fully sheathed, he paused and looked down to capture Godwin’s gaze. The younger man’s eyes were black discs of desire, and a thin sheen covered his forehead. He had never looked more like a god.

  “My little Baldur,” Thorstein whispered, and began to move.

  It was tentative at first, but then Godwin began to meet his thrusts and their pace increased. Thorstein had never felt anything like it before. Godwin was so tight and warm, and his cries were like music in Thorstein’s ears.

  As he felt himself get closer to completion, Thorstein reached between them and fisted Godwin’s cock, pumping in rhythm with his thrusts. Godwin came with a scream, spilling his seed onto Thorstein’s chest, and Thorstein followed moments later, holding Godwin tight against him as he rode out the waves of his orgasm. They collapsed together in a sticky mess, their breathing laboured and their pulses racing.

  Thorstein silently offered thanks to Freyr for bringing him this man. Perhaps the gods had left him stranded on that beach for a purpose, so he would find Godwin. Or so Godwin would find him. Perhaps both.

  “Are you okay,” Thorstein asked, suddenly realising Godwin had hardly spoken a word.

  “Yes,” Godwin breathed. “I’ve... I’ve never experienced anything like that before.”

  Thorstein smiled, holding himself up so he could see Godwin properly. “Would you like to experience it again?”

  BY THE time the summer arrived, Thorstein and Godwin had established a daily routine that revolved around sleep, sheep, food, and sex. Thorstein was happier than he’d ever been, and Godwin assured him he felt the same way.

  When Thorstein heard the voices of his countrymen down on the beach, it came as both a surprise and a disappointment. He’d almost forgotten his early hopes that they’d return, and now that they were here, he didn’t know what to do.

  Godwin arrived at his side, and together they lay in the tall grasses, watching the comings and goings of the Vikings below.

  “Will you leave?” Godwin’s voice was soft, and Thorstein only just heard it.

  “Do you want me to go?”

  Godwin’s eyes were moist when he met Thorstein’s gaze, and he held out his hand to the Viking. “I want you to stay.”

  “Then I’ll stay.” Thorstein took Godwin’s outstretched hand, squeezing it tightly.

  A FEW days later, Thorstein waited alone as the group returned to their boat and packed up their encampment. No soldiers confronted them this time, though it looked like they had seen battle wherever they’d raided as a few bore wounds and blood stains.

  Thorstein watched the boat disappear over the horizon. The last time that had happened, he’d been stranded and alone. Now he was loved and at home.

  “Far vel. Verið heilir,” he whispered to the wind, bidding his countrymen a final adieu.

  Then he turned and walked back to the house where Godwin waited for him.

  Glossary

  Old Norse

  Heill.......... Greetings

  Ek heiti Thorstein.......... I am called Thorstein

  Brauð.......... Bread

  Far vel.......... Farewell

  Verið heilir.......... Be healthy/whole

  Old English

  Hlāf.......... Bread (Loaf)

  ASTA IDONEA is an alternate pen name of author Nicki J Markus.

  Nicki was born in England in 1982, but now lives in Adelaide, South Australia with her husband. She has loved both reading and writing from a young age and is also a keen linguist, having studied several foreign languages.

  Nicki launched her writing career in 2011 when she released several short stories with Wicked Nights Publishing. She then had two novellas published with Silver Publishing, prior to the company’s closure.

  At present, she has several new projects on the go. As well as branching out into the exciting world of M/M under the pen name Asta Idonea, Nicki is working on the first book in a fantasy-mythology trilogy and hopes to find a publisher for it in 2015.

  Nicki currentl
y works as a freelance editor and proofreader, and in her spare time she enjoys completing MOOCs and pursuing other interests, including: reading; music; theatre; cinema; photography; sketching; and cross stitch. She also loves history, folklore and mythology, pen-palling and travel.

  ASTA IDONEA can be found at:

  Website: http://www.nickijmarkus.com

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NickiJMarkus

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/NickiJMarkus