•trigger warning: this chapter contains sexually explicit material•

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Chapter Twenty-Five: No One Else Will Do
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"Aethelstan!" Eawynn placed the basket down on the table, the wicker seated gently by the edge as she looked down at the young boy. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly at the mess he had made with the berries. "You are too rough with them, my sweet boy." She could only laugh softly, resting her hand on the top of his head before she handed him a damp cloth to clean his hands with.

"I'm trying my best not to squeeze them, Wynnie. I swear!" Aethelstan exclaimed, taking the cloth from her to wipe his hands down.

"It's no worry, Aethelstan, I am only teasing you. Now let's go out back and get some more. I think I have it in me to bake something today." Eawynn beamed, watching the young boy jump up from the table and rush out the back. Eawynn followed, a soft laugh escaping her lips again as she brought the newly emptied basket along.

Eawynn was not worried about Stiorra, the girl quickly and quietly blossomed into a mentor for the young Lady Elfwynn. She was perched on top of the table beside Elfwynn, helping her with her reading and writing. Eawynn had come up with a small curriculum for the children, wanting to teach them as she had been taught. Setting aside the fact that they were technically in hiding, Eawynn wanted all of them, including Stiorra, to have some sort of normalcy.

Aethelstan had never known, or atleast remembered, a mothers love. Eawynn filled that void, or atleast she tried the best she could. She loved him just as much as she would if he were a child born of her own womb. She had been so wrapped up in picking fresh berries with him, the young boy leaning into her side with his arms tightly wrapped her waist, that she didn't hear the commotion coming from in the house behind her.

She continued along the path of bushes, bending down to set the basket by her feet so she could effectively use both hands. She had continued this way for the next few minutes but eventually noticed that Aethelstan hadn't followed along. She turned and glanced to the side, "Aethelstan?" She called for him when she realized he was no longer down at the bushes with her. She spun all the way around, eyes widened when she didn't notice him anywhere.

"Aethelstan!" She called again, reaching down to pinch the material of her skirts so she could walk faster into the home. She had her eyes turned down at a small angle, but when she noticed feet that certainly did not belong to Aethelstan in her field of vision, Eawynn dropped her skirts and looked up. She had certainly not excepted this, but with each inch that her eyes lifted from the ground, more and more of the man she had so desperately longed for came into view. The vision before her was crystal clear. There was no way she was dreaming, was she?

"Do you know how long I have waited for this moment?" His thick Irish accent was just like music to her ears. It had sent chills down her spine and tears to her eyes, the shock leaving her unable to speak. Her mouth opened but no words came out, it was like her brain could not comprehend what was happening, or atleast put what she was feeling into words. She had dreamt of seeing Finan again for so long that now that he was standing before her - she was rendered completely speechless.

"Well?" Finan laughed softly, his arms outstretched as his lips turned up into his signature smirk.

Though she was still in shock, Eawynn's brain must have fired off some sort of signal because before Finan could blink she had sprinted quickly in his direction. Her arms outstretched widely as she jumped up into his own arms, her lips smothering the side of his face as she linked her legs around his waist. Finan moved his hands beneath her to help keep her up against him, happy laughter escaping his lips as she continued kissing his face and then moved down to his neck. Once she got to his own pair of lips, Eawynn held his cheeks firmly between her hands.

"I have missed you, Finan. So fucking much." Eawynn whispered against his mouth, immediately parting her lips against his. Finan did not put up a fight, his lips opening and allowing her entrance. The feeling of finally being in his arms was unlike any other. It was simply indescribable. The kiss deepened as her tongue brushed against his, her teeth playfully sinking into his bottom lip before she pulled back to finally meet his gaze.

"I'll have to wash your mouth out, Wynn. That language is very unladylike." Finan whispered out, his voice husky with apparent need for the woman in his arms.

"At this point," Eawynn kissed him again, her fingers scraping against his scalp as she ran through his hair. She had been starving for his touch, for his kiss - starving just for his presence, really. "I'll let you do whatever you want with me."

Finan groaned playfully, "Aye, woman, you will be the death of me." His hands gripping her backside tightly before she slowly untangled all of her limbs from him. "I haven't been able to sleep since Uhtred told us we were coming here. I-" he cupped her face in his hands and brought his lips back down to hers in a rough kiss. "If I would have known that you were here all this time, I would have ran off to see you. I swear to you, Wynn."

"Finan!" She kissed him again, "I know. The less amount of people knew of our whereabouts, the better. It had to be this way. But we are here. Now. Together." Her hands traveled down his chest before she playfully pushed him further into the home. She quickly followed him, letting her mouth find his once more. She just could not get enough of him and it was obvious by the greedy touches by Finans hand that he felt the same.

As his hands traveled to her backside, Eawynn let out a soft moan. The immediate need for him now that he was right in front of her, holding her, was almost too much bear. They had been interrupted with a deep cough, Uhtred standing there with a knowing smirk as he cleared his throat.

Eawynn dragged herself out of Finan's grasp, her eyes falling onto everyone who had been standing around witnessing the desperation between her and her beloved.  She probably would have been embarrassed if it were not for the excitement to see everyone else that she had missed. "Uhtred!" She cried out, rushing forward and wrapping her arms around his neck. "You have gotten old!" She teased him once she was finally released from his protective grip.

"What about me? Do I not get a hug?" Sihtric exclaimed from behind Uhtred, his hands on his hips as he beamed a wide smile up at Eawynn.

Girlish laughter escaped her lips as she rushed forward and hugged Sihtric. "Look at you! All grown up!" She teased, placing a kiss to the side of his shaved head.

She then turned to press a quick kiss to Osferth's cheek before wrapping her arms around young Uhtred. "But you, you have grown most of all, Uhtred. The last time I saw you, you were about Aethelstans height." She gestured back to the young boy who lingered by Stiorra's side, still unsure of the new people now in his sanctuary. She touched the cross hanging by his neck and smiled. "And I see you are a man of God now." She quickly glanced at his father who waved it off. She assumed this was something that was between the two, though Uhtred seemed to have taken an understanding to his sons beliefs.

"I am. Or atleast I'm trying to be." Young Uhtred told her with his own smile. He clutched onto the cross and stepped over to his sister.

"Are we all back together? For good? What's happening?" Eawynn started ticking off question after question, and after noticing Aethelflaed was among the group she could not help but worry. She stepped to her friends side, clutching her hand. "What is wrong?"

"We would have not left you in any danger." Uhtred shook his head, explaining that while the fight was close they had been safe the entire time.

"We made a plan if we were attacked." Stiorra beamed to her father. It was obvious she had inherited his sharp wit and quick thinking.

Eawynn found herself back in Finan's arms, smiling warmly at the peace his touch provided. "Stiorra speaks the truth." The brunette agreed, a a laugh escaping her lips as she watched Uhtred contemplate whether to pick a fight.

"Anyway," Stiorra followed the group into the dining room, begging her father to leave for Coccham at once, "I'm too old to be stuck here with children!"

"And what am I?" Eawynn gasped, feigning offense.

Finan was about to open his mouth to say something, which no doubt would have been naughty, before Osferth rushed in to cut him off. "Lord Aldhelm is riding in, Lady."

Aethelflaed made way through the doors, Uhtred, Sihtric, Finan and Eawynn following quickly behind her.

"Lord Aethelred is injured, my lady. Some are saying fatally." Lord Aldhelm explained the reason for his intrusion, his chest heaving up and down with each breath he took. It was obvious he had rode as fast as his horse would have allowed.

Aethelflaed wasted no time in announcing that they needed to ride to him and speak with the aeldermen, but Aldhelm shook his head. The Lord of Mercia explained that there was a lot of anger towards not only Lord Aethelred, but also to the King - Aethelflaed's brother.

"Does this anger extend to Aethelflaed?" Uhtred spoke up, already knowing the answer but still voicing his concerns.

"We leave at first light." Aethelflaed stormed back inside the home, a deep sigh escaping her lips.

Eawynn held onto Finan's hand firmly, walking back in with him and catching the tail end of another Stiorra outburst.

"They will all remain secure until the new threats have passed." Uhtred told Aethelflaed, nodding to his daughter who walked into another room with Elfwynn by her side.

"This day started out in such lighter spirits." Eawynn frowned as she looked up at Finan, her eyes falling shut the moment his lips pressed against her forehead.

"Aye, my lady," he whispered against her skin, "but this storm will pass."

"We will not leave the children and Eawynn unprotected any longer." Uhtred nodded to Finan, "my men will stay here." The Dane Slayer turned back to Aethelflaed, his fingers brushing against hers quickly, the obvious longing and affection for the woman before him in his eyes. "If Aethelred dies, times will be unstable."

As the two walked off, deep in a heated discussion about Aethelflaed's safety, Eawynn turned to fully embrace Finan. "I have dreamed of being alone with you for far too long, Irishman." She whispered, letting her nose nuzzle slowly into the crook of his neck.

Finan's hands found her hips as he held her close to him, his lips parting to let out a deep, elated sigh at the touch of her skin against his. "I have too, Wynnie. I swear to you, I have not touched another woman since I've tasted how sweet you are."

She could not help but blush at his wording, her face pressing further into his neck to hide the red tint spreading quickly across her face. Her hands moved from around his waist to his chest as she pulled back just enough to look up at him, "I have not been with any other man. I told you that it would always be you. And you alone, Finan." She stood on the tips of her toes to press her lips against his.

The passion between them spread quickly, her hands fighting the collar of his tunic to try and get any sliver of skin her fingertips could reach. Her fingernails grazed against the side of his neck, parting her lips to grant his tongue access. They went at it for another moment or two before she pulled back and took his hands. "Come with me..."

Finan, his usual devilish smirk spreading wide, followed her blindly. His fingers laced tightly with her as she brought him into the room she had claimed as her own. It had been too long that neither of them wanted to waste anymore time  the very moment Finan kicked the door shut and turned to see Eawynn already hiking her skirts up, leaning back against the desk.

"God, woman, you are a vision." Finan groaned huskily, already making work on the ties to his breeches, immediately stepping between her thighs as he pushed the material down.

Eawynn gasped when she felt the hot , hard flesh spring free and slap against her inner thigh. Her eyes became heavy, full of lust for the man before her. She reached down to grasp him, gently stroking him with one hand as the other moved to the side of his face. They maintained eye contact, the heat between them becoming almost too much to bear.

Finan's hands pushed her skirts up more, leaving her on display for him. He pulled away from her gaze, moving his eyes down her body. He took in the way the tops of her breasts pushed against her dress, begging to be free and to be lavished by his warm mouth but in the interest of time, he knew they could not explore each other's bodies as in detail as they wanted. Before long, his eyes found what was hidden between her thighs and the sight of her already ready for him, her arousal  meeting the open air as his hands pried her legs further apart.

"Finan!" She cried softly as his fingers slowly dipped down around her thighs, sinking into her heated core as her own hand tightened around his cock. "If you don't fu-"

She was cut off by his fingers being replaced by the tip of his cock. Her hands moved to his sides, holding onto him as her head tilted back with a soft moan leaving her throat, the feeling of being stretched out around him was almost too much to bear of all of these years apart. Finan thrusted his hips in quickly, his hands clutching her thighs and holding her legs apart until he was fully sheathed inside of her.

"There is no pleasure greater than being inside of you." Finan grunted, knowing it wasn't that romantic but as he felt her flutter around him, begging him to move and provide the needed friction for both of their pleasure, he lost all resolve. His hips began snapping forward quickly, knowing he wouldn't last long at all since it had been so long.

"I love you." Eawynn moaned each word, her mouth hanging open as he began to hit that hidden sweet spot within her. "I love you, I love you, I love you." Her eyes were brimming with tears, moving her hands to either side of his face as she kissed him.

"I love you." Finan responded against her lips, his hands moving to either side of her on the desk. Her legs had wrapped around his waist to keep her hips tilted up to take as much of him as she could. Neither of them cared that they were being loud. With each thrust forward, the wood banged into the wall and while the estate was fairly large, they knew most of the other would be close by and most likely heard them.

Their lips continued to mold against one another, a clash of tongue and teeth. Eawynn held onto Finan's face as she pulled back, looking up at him with a loving smile. Each thrust brought her closer to the edge, the coil in her belly tightening more and more until she felt the warmth flood her entire body. Her mouth opened as she reached her orgasm, knowing full well that as her walls clenched down around him, milking him for all that he was worth, he was not far behind. Finan continued bucking his hips against hers, reaching his own orgasm and spilling his seed inside of her.

His head hung low now, falling into the crook of her neck as he worked to catch his breath. Her hands traveled his chest, down his arms and then back up as she held him close. Her legs stayed tightly around his waist and she had only unhooked her ankles when she heard a banging at the door beside them.

Eawynn blushed profusely at the knowledge that everyone knew what they were doing. As Finan pulled back and looked down at her, his lips twisted up into his devilish smirk once more. "I can never have enough of ya."

"I have a feeling I'm going to wake up sore tomorrow." She whispered teasingly, playfully grinding her hips into his as he began pulling out of her. He groaned, tucking himself back into his breeches as he tied them together again. "If ya were not a woman of Christ, I would say ya were the devil." He told her, narrowing his eyes in a playful manner before finding her lips softly.

"If you two are finished..." Sihtric's voice echoed from the other side of the wood.

"Aye!" Finan shouted huskily, "We're finished!"