Chapter 28

When Jane woke up the next morning, she opened her eyes to find Bo sitting on the edge of the bed with his back turned to her. This time she didn't cry as she turned her head towards him and called out his name.

"Bo?"

The Orc startled, and he glanced back at Jane with a stormy expression.

"What's wrong?" She asked quietly, rubbing at her eyes.

"Nothing is wrong," he responded quickly.

Bo stood up from the bed and turned to Jane.

"I'm going to see the Greybeards."

"Do you want me to go with you?"

The Orsimer sighed, and then he shook his head.

"No, I'll be fine."

"Okay. Bo?"

"Yes, Jane?"

"I love you."

Bo finally smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. He knelt down on the bed and kissed Jane on the lips for one long moment. When he pulled back, his expression was once again grim.

"I love you too Jane. Lynne should be around with some breakfast for you."

Jane watched Bo leave. She knew the weight of being Dragonborn still gave him restless nights. Seeing the Greybeards was finally making his fears a reality. Once it was confirmed, there was no way he could ever deny it.

He still had a sliver of doubt in his mind, and he walked slowly through the stone halls of High Hrothgar, taking his time. The closer he got, the more he felt like he was suffocating in the dark hallway. But all too quickly he was back in the main entrance, which was the largest room in the entire building. Arngeir, a Greybeard who could speak, turned to him.

"We've been expecting you," the old man started, and he paused while his brethren finished gathering around.

"Then you know," Bo mumbled, and Master Arngeir nodded.

"Yes. We can sense it. Are you prepared to prove yourself, Dragonborn?"

Bo sucked in a deep breath, and then he nodded.

"What must I do?"

"Come into the center of the room, and we will begin."

While Bo was gone, Lynne paid a visit to Jane. She brought a healthy helping of breakfast rations for her. Jane ate with great enthusiasm. Afterward, Lynne helped her get clean, which she was glad for.

"Finally," Jane sighed softly, and Lynne chuckled. "I don't feel gross."

"Hold out your arms, gently," Lynne instructed. "I will put your tunic on."

It was no easy task to raise her right arm. He muscles and skin felt tight where her flesh had been torn apart and then put back together, but she managed. When the tunic was finally on, Jane opted for a loose pair of cotton pants to keep comfortable.

After she was settled Lynne tried to explain her injuries in a way she could understand.

"I know we can't afford much time but there's something about your body that is being stubborn towards my magic."

"Really?" Jane croaked, feeling concerned.

"Yes. I've used very powerful magic, but your wounds are healing rather slow. I'm not sure why, but until I'm sure you're fully recovered, you'll have to stay here and rest."

"That's fine," Jane responded sadly, and she slipped back onto the bed and laid down. "I don't want to mess up my recovery."

"I thought I was going to have to treat Bo too," Lynne continued, and she sat down on the edge of the bed.

Jane's brows furrowed together, and Lynne quickly took her hand and squeezed it.

"His face was as white as the snow, and he wouldn't leave your side for one second, though I tried."

There was a small knock on the door, and Naz entered. He looked well-rested.

"Jane," he grumbled, his voice low.

"Hey Naz," Jane beamed at him, and the Orc shook his head.

"Don't scare me like that again," Naz growled, and he sat down opposite of Lynne.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."

The group chatted for a few more minutes until Jane began to grow sleepy as the potion kicked in. Her shoulder and chest still ached, and so Lynne gave her another potion before she left.

"Take this later, you'll need it."

"Thanks, Lynne."

"No need," Lynne murmured, and she kissed Jane's forehead.

Jane was beginning to drift to sleep when she heard a massive voice shout. Her eyes shot open, and she listened as the noise echoed all around the stone walls. She knew it was Bo.

That's the first time I've heard the voice... so he really is Dragonborn.

The shouts continued periodically for a while, and eventually, Jane was too tired to listen, so she took a small nap before Bo returned to their room.

Before Bo returned to Jane, he knew he needed to make amends with Lynne. After spending more than an hour with the Greybeards he was feeling more confused and miserable than before. All he wanted to do was hold Jane and take a nap, but he remembered how awful his behavior had been back with the Troll. He knew he had been enraged at the time, but it still didn't excuse his behavior, and he felt terrible about it. Without Lynne, Jane might have died, and Bo knew he more than likely would have died back in Windhelm as well.

The Orc wandered down the candlelit hallway, sighing quietly, his thoughts too many. He reached the room he knew Lynne and Naz were occupying, and he knocked quietly on the door. A moment later it opened, and Naz stepped aside, allowing Bo to enter.

"Can I talk with you?" Bo asked quietly, and Lynne looked up from where she was sitting in front of the fireplace.

She had been thinking about nothing in particular and had actually considered taking a nap when the young Orc approached her.

"Of course, Bo."

Naz glanced between the two, curious, but decided to give them privacy. He swept his dirty clothes into his arms and quickly exited the room. There was a slightly awkward atmosphere between the two as Bo struggled to say what he knew he needed to say.

"Sit down," Lynne encouraged softly.

Bo nodded. He wandered over to the other chair and sat down. He stared down at his hands for a moment, and Lynne watched him, wishing he didn't feel too bad.

It was an accident... I know he never meant to hurt me.

"Um, I just... just wanted to apologize for what I did the other day..."

Bo sighed and rubbed his neck. He forced himself to look Lynne in the eyes, and he was relieved to see she was smiling.

"It's alright Bo... really. I know you didn't mean it."

"I-I hope it doesn't affect how you feel about me."

"It most certainly doesn't. I care about you a great deal, Bo."

It was the first time just the two of them were really talking. Bo let out a deep breath, and he studied the Nord's face for a moment. She was beautiful, that much he could admit, and he was glad for her friendship.

"Thanks, Lynne."

The Nord smiled again, and she leaned back in her chair with a small yawn.

"I heard you out there. It sounded incredible... very powerful."

"I guess it is," Bo shrugged. "I'm still so unsure of everything. Of myself, of my abilities."

"It just takes time. Just as everything in life takes time... you never start out knowing how to do something perfectly. We all start from knowing nothing."

Bo was silent, and he stared at the fire burning happily in the hearth.

"Think of it like how you and Jane interact," Lynne continued, trying to comfort the troubled Orc. "First you met, then you got closer, then you became romantically involved, then you two became intimate..."

Lynne's bright blue eyes, a mirror to Bo's, twinkled warmly as she smiled, and Bo couldn't help but return it although her words made him blush.

"I think I understand what you mean."

"One day at a time."

Jane's voice popped into his head, and he stood up from the chair. He needed to be with her.

One day at a time.

After speaking with Lynne, Bo re-entered his and Jane's dedicated room. He dragged his hand across his face, sighing quietly. He was still tired from the last few days, but now he had too much on his mind. He was overwhelmed with information, and he didn't know how to feel.

Bo walked over to the bed to find Jane sprawled out on her back, snoozing softly. He watched her for a moment, his chest swelling with the love he felt towards her. He gently sat down on the edge of the bed and took her soft, pale hand between his. He rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb, watching as Jane began to smile, and she opened her eyes.

"I heard you, out there," she whispered.

"Did you?"

"It sounded powerful. Sometimes I forget I'm dating the Dragonborn."

"Yeah," Bo mumbled, and he let out a deep breath. "There's no denying it now."

"How do you feel?"

Bo shrugged, but Jane could see behind his silence he was struggling. She watched as he reached up and rubbed his stubbly cheek, thinking.

"I don't know," he responded finally. "Too much. It's... "his voice broke, and he bowed his head. "I-It feels like I'm drowning."

Jane sat up from the bed and scooted closer, drawing Bo close. She wrapped her good arm around his neck, and he pulled her up onto his lap, burying his face in the crook of her neck. He let out a deep, unsteady breath, and she could feel his hands were shaking as he clutched her tunic with both hands, holding her close to him.

Jane brushed her fingers along his neck, and Bo brought his head back to look at her. He never got tired of her pretty face, and her eyes never failed to mesmerize him. She smiled softly and brushed her fingertips along his hard, white tusk. He shivered and leaned in. When their lips met, he felt like all his problems disappeared, and so he grasped at her harder, crushing her chest against him as he deepened their embrace.

Jane kissed him back, noticing the difference in the way he held her. His fingers dug into her waist, and he kissed her with a sense of desperation.

Maybe I can make him forget his troubles, she thought quietly, as Bo's lips trailed down her neck, and he gently nibbled her sensitive flesh. Even if it's only for a little while.

Jane shivered, and she tipped his chin up to stare into his stormy blue eyes. She kissed his lips, slowly, and her thumb stroked his cheek. Her injured arm laid uselessly in her lap, but she didn't need to use it.

"I w-want you," Bo huffed breathlessly, and his brows furrowed together.

"I'm yours, Bo," Jane mumbled back, and she kissed the side of his tusk.

Jane knew Lynne would be furious if she found out, but she didn't care. She didn't need her shoulder to work for them to make love. Not that she cared about anything right now, other than Bo. He kissed her again, their breaths coming out in short gasps, and fire erupted in the pit of Bo's stomach.

He moved slowly so that Jane was laying on her back, and his lips trailed down her neck and collarbone as he gently lifted her tunic up. Jane struggled as he pulled it up, intending to take it off, and he froze.

"W-we shouldn't... your shoulder..."

"Bo, I swear if you don't take my tunic off right this instant!"

Bo laughed at her angry outburst, and he was able to maneuver Jane out from her shirt without much difficulty. When that was finished, he continued kissing down her chest, making sure he didn't touch the bandages, and he gently cupped one of her soft, round breasts.

He still wasn't super confident in himself, but he had had a lot of practice while being on the road for so long with their own private tent. Jane ran her fingers through his soft brown hair, moaning softly as Bo took one of her nipples in his mouth.

Bo paid great attention to her body, taking his time. All he could think about was Jane, and it was a welcomed distraction. When he reached her pants, he tugged on the strings for a moment and slipped them off before tossing her clothes on the floor.

"Your beauty takes my breath away," he mumbled against her thigh.

Jane giggled as his stubbly cheek tickled her thigh, and he shot her a grin.

"I need to shave."

Jane nodded enthusiastically.

"Yes, you do."

Bo got up from the bed, and Jane watched as he took his tunic off and dropped it on the floor. A moment later he was completely naked, and Jane reveled in the sight of him. His muscles rippled when he moved. She loved the way his arms flexed and bulged, and she always took the opportunity to trail her fingers along the plain of his abs, which she knew had developed from years of hard work. His skin was the color of deep evergreen and she loved every inch of it.

When Bo knelt down on the bed she reached up and rubbed his arm affectionately, smiling. His cock was completely hard and rose up straight and thick between his legs. The sight of him made her ache.

Bo growled and leaned down to kiss Jane's soft lips. His whole body tingled with excitement and desire, which was stronger than his nervousness.

"Are you sure I won't hurt you?" He asked softly, his voice low.

A flash of worry washed over his face.

"I promise you won't. Just go slow."

"Okay," Bo mumbled, and he paused. "I-I'm not really sure..."

Jane smiled, and she reached down between his legs and gently grasped his member. He sucked in a deep breath and bowed his head, watching as Jane guided him with her hand.

"Like that," she whispered, as Bo began to understand.

The Orc slowly eased the tip of his cock inside of her, and Jane moaned. Spurred on by her reaction, he thrust his hips, completely dumbfounded by the feeling of Jane as her silky womanhood wrapped around him, pulling him in. He nearly blacked out at the feeling, and swiftly fell with his hands down on the bed. He let out a huge breath, his chest heaving and his eyes squeezed shut.

"B-by...by M-Malacath... Jane..."

It was like nothing he'd ever experienced before. When Jane urged him to keep thrusting, it increased his pleasure ten-fold, and he was completely delirious by it all. He clutched at Jane as he rocked his hips, and several loud moans escaped his lips.

Jane brought her legs up around his waist and she clenched them. Her sweet noises spurred him on and she snuck her good arm around his back. Her head lolled back against the bed as she dug her nails into his flesh. Her shoulder ached but she didn't care. She bit her lip to stop herself from being too loud, but soft, broken moans managed to escape.

Bo's body shuddered as he came, and a ragged moan escaped his lips. He thrust one last time, his legs and arms shaking as he came inside her. Jane gasped and clenched her thighs around him harder. The feeling of his seed inside of her, as it filled Jane to the brim, was all too much. A moment later she climaxed as well, her sweet moans filling Bo's ears as they both rode out their orgasms.

Bo slumped down on top of Jane, and all she could hear was the sounds of his short gasps as he struggled to breathe. Jane rubbed his shoulder affectionately, as she too panted quietly for a few minutes. He continued laying there, still inside of her, and eventually, Jane was too uncomfortable with his body weight.

"Bo?" She asked breathlessly, and the Orc mumbled something.

"Mmmyes?"

"Are you okay?"

Bo groaned and finally pulled himself up. He sat back on his calves and gazed down at Jane with his bright blue eyes. He was smiling, and Jane smiled back as she watched him rub her thighs. She shivered as his calloused fingers brushed along her soft tummy.

"How did you do that? It feels so good."

Jane laughed, and she watched as he continued to admire her for a moment, his fingers softly exploring their entwined parts. Then Bo finally rolled off of her and onto the bed. There was a slight ache in the pit of her stomach as they parted. Bo shuffled closer, nuzzling her neck with his face, and he wrapped an arm around her sweaty waist. He let out a deep breath that tickled her skin.

"I thought you had passed out for a minute there," Jane teased, and Bo chuckled.

"I think I did."

His voice was low and sleepy, and his eyes were closed. The couple was utterly exhausted, and sleep quickly took them both.