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The moment Osferth and Uhtred separated from the group she grabbed Finan's hand and led him out of the alehouse. Sihtric sent her a small smile as she huffed, leaving it to him to pick up on things. Finan was confused about where she was bringing him but he followed anyway, he would follow her to the deepest depths of hell if it meant they could be together. She pushed open a door and he realized it was an abandoned room, but clean enough for what she had in mind.

"What are we doing here, darlin'?" He questioned softly as she turned around to face him. She smiled at him and reached out to cradle his face gently, he leaned his head against hers as they stood in silence. She liked this, the comfortable silence. The actions between them speak as loud as any word.

"I love you." She whispered in a soft-spoken voice, she winced when it sounded almost brittle from the lack of use. Finan pulled away as his eyes glistened with tears, he let out a choked breath as he kissed her. She clutched his armor as she deepened the kiss, the passion within this simple action set her ablaze.

"I love you too, beautiful." He whispered against her lips and she couldn't help but beam at the confession. He raised his hand to cup her face as her sectoral mismatched eyes flicked up to lock onto his, they were memorizing in a way he'd never noticed before. The normally light green had darkened into emerald as the color that bled out around her pupils turned into a golden brown, he couldn't explain the hypnotic allure she had on him.

Her eyes sparkled in mischief as she moved the hand on her face and pushed it until his palm rested on her breasts, he inhaled sharply as he never broke the spell that was her shimmering eyes. She quirked up the side of her lips as she captivated the man, she slowly walked closer until their chest touched and trapped his hand between them.

He shuttered as her eyes turned playful and he knew that whatever she had planned he wouldn't survive, not with his sanity intact. He audibly gulped when she pushed the same hand of his down her body, she smirked as she looked at him in question. He cleared his throat as he broke the spell of his thoughts, he felt his body burn for her in a way he'd never experienced.

"Sweetheart, are you sure?" He asked as his eyes shifted over her face looking for any slight change.

"Make love to me?" She whispered with a breathy sigh. Finan nodded with such speed he almost made himself dizzy, he tangled his hand into her chocolate locks and kissed her until they couldn't breathe.

"I will give you my love in every way possible, Angrboda. Intimately, verbally, and spiritually. That I promise you." She tilted her head so her nose could brush against his cutely, he knew in his heart that he would turn his back against his God for her. He would worship her in ways he would never dedicate to any divine force, she was both his temptress and salvation all in one lithe body. And she didn't even know it.

Finan moved backward to sit on the edge of the bed as he tugged her dress, she smiled at his nervousness. She placed both of her hands on his face to tilt it back so she could kiss him, she found it wholesome how anxious he was to touch her. She couldn't have found a better man than this Irishman.

She gasped into the kiss as his fingers slipped under her dress to touch her softly she let him guide her to his lap, and she straddled him with a small smile. She busied herself with kissing him, as he slipped a finger inside her. He paused when she hissed quietly and allowed her some time to adjust, she placed her forehead against his shoulder and gave him a nod to continue.

She released a breathy moan when he slipped in a second one, despite the slight burn and brief uncomfortableness, she urged him to keep going. Finan kissed her gently before kissing down her throat, her fingers gripped his armor until they turned pale, and she watched him with hazy eyes as he pulled his cock out. She trembled against him as he helped guide her down the appendage, they both groaned quietly once she was flush with his thighs.

The new feeling wasn't bad but she compared it to being uncomfortable, she smiled against Finan's cheek when he rubbed her thighs soothingly. She leaned back to focus on his face as her eyes lingered on his, she noticed his eyes remained tender as he gazed at her.

Later, when they lay curled up in the bed as he muttered sweet nothings to her while rubbing her back, she would realize the entire time she rode him they never broke eye contact. His eyes never looked away as he sought pleasure in her body, his breathtaking dark eyes never wavered as she moaned his name. If anything, she felt the high of climax from his eyes gleaming with love while he brought her pleasure.

It was an empowering thought.

The couple and Sihtric soon join Uhtred and Osferth at night as they watch the two monks leave the tavern as if they had not been whipped. Finan being the romantic he is, had intertwined their fingers together with a smile before kissing the back of her hand.

"Traveling overnight, all that way in a saddle with a red raw ass, a good thing they like pain." Finan mumbled as she propped her chin on his shoulder. She ignored Sihtric's all-knowing smile, she was perfectly happy leaning against her lover.

"It takes six days to get to Bebbanburg on the coast road."

"They'll get there before Ascension." Finan said and smiled when Uhtred looked at him funny.

"I'm a good Christian boy, lord." Finan said and they both knew that was not true. She was sure if he had been one he wouldn't have given her such a heavenly experience.

"You should not ride before them. The rocks around Bebbanburg do not treat ships kindly." Finan turned around and his smile dropped from his face. She peered around him to see the growing crowd.

"So, we wait here and enjoy the atmosphere." Finan says as they hear the murmuring of men. As Uhtred walks away to speak with his son privately, Finan leans over to speak with Osferth.

"Three pieces of silver says he runs home." Osferth and Finan shake on it and she huffed out a laugh.

"Lord! All right, come on!" Finan shouts as the men move closer to them. Uhtred urged them to walk away as they headed for their boat.

The following night, Finan climbs the rocky terrain, he grunts softly as he looks out at Bebbanburg. She watched anxiously as her lover safely reached the top, she hadn't realized that she was digging her nails into her wrist with her growing unease. Sihtric nudged her lightly to gain her attention and grabbed her hands to stop the self-harm.

"Hard to tell! Maybe forty helmets!" He yells down from above.

"Then he has put all his men on the ramparts to make it look like he has more!" Uhtred said with a grin.

"He was always a cunning one." Beocca said.

"Still two against one." Osferth mumbled next to Sihtric.

"We're twice as good." Sihtric said with a proud smile.

"Yeah, keep saying it, it becomes true." Osferth said bitterly.

"We don't need to slaughter 'em all, just hold 'em off." Finan said with a grin as he accepted Uhtred's help. He opened his arms for her and she practically lunged into his embrace, she didn't like not having him close.