Chapter 17

Imogen gathered her skirts up as she ran, for once not caring how she might look. She just saw Thor at the end of the corridor and knew she had to be with him. To touch him – now!

The mouth was stretched wide in a happy smile and her heart jumped when he turned and his lips curved similarly. His bright eyes honed in on her as she ran towards him, everything else fading away but her blessed husband. She hadn't seen him in over a fortnight now. She had missed him.

And him her, she thought joyously as the god opened his arms wide for her. She leapt into them welcomingly.

They felt like young lovers again as Thor swept Imogen off her feet and swung her around, her skirts billowing around her flamboyantly. Her arms hugged around his neck, as if to affirm he really was there, that she wasn't just dreaming.

When his laugh chuckled softly in her ear though, she believed it. When she breathed in his masculine scent, she believed it. Her husband was home.

Finally, her boots met the ground again, but her arms didn't let up around her husband, holding him close as his hands settled around her waist. Soon though, they were smoothed against her back, holding her to him closely.

Imogen pressed kiss after kiss into his cheek, glad he was home at last, scouring him for wounds. Thankfully, there were only minor scrapes it seemed.

She kissed a graze on his jaw softly and thanked whatever gods there were that he was safe. She could say what she needed to say to him.

"I'm sorry." She breathed raggedly in his ear, holding him tight. "I'm so sorry. I don't know what I was thinking. I-"

"Hush." He soothed gently, hand smoothing her hair fondly. "It matters not now. You are home."

Imogen's eyes fluttered shut in relief. She had been afraid he still hadn't forgiven her. That he truly would cast her out as all of her worst fears had told her he one day would. The fact that he was holding her like this was quickly chasing those fears away though…

"I am home?" her chuckle bubbled from her lips, though it was quickly stifled with an emotional choke. "You went to war."

She knew that at first she'd been angry for Thor leaving to fight but then she remembered lying on the floor at night, wondering if she would lose him. If not from the battle, then when he cast her aside. Judging by his reaction now though, he had no intention of throwing her away, of replacing her. She was grateful she had him back, in more ways than one.

Thor's arms tightened around her. "And I am sorry for it." Thor sighed into her shoulder. "I did not intend to be gone so long."

Imogen nuzzled her cheek into her husband's breastplate, wishing it was gone so that she could feel his heartbeat, know for herself that he was well and alive. And there. She wanted all of him again.

Her heart sank though as she heard the harsh shuffle of soldiers behind Thor. "My Prince." One said in an efficient voice. "The Lords wish to see-"

"Tell them they will have to wait." Thor cut off without missing a beat, easing Imogen gently back in his arms. Looking up into her husband's face, Imogen's heart ached at the adoration in his orbs. The tender promise there. His hand rose and gently cupped her cheek, Imogen covering his fingers with her own, leaning her face into his touch. "Tonight I am staying with my wife."

Imogen beamed.

XXX

Hours later, they lay in bed with their legs tangled, both of them as naked as the day they were born. Imogen's fingers traced gentle patterns in her husband's chest, still smiling.

She was very happy.

Thor had swept her off her feet as soon as the guard had left them in the corridor, carrying her straight to their chambers. After briefly kissing their daughter and bidding the nursemaid to care for her until morning in the nursery room, the breathtaking god had honed in on his wife.

It hadn't been long until they had both been stripped, grinding, pleasuring…everything had been slow and sweet, savouring the other gloriously.

When Imogen had woken this morning, she hadn't known the day would go like this. But this was so much more wonderful than sitting with Elga by the river in the forest. This was so much more perfect. Her husband happy and healthy and still in love with her.

She stretched her legs gently amongst Thor's feeling her core ache slightly with her husband's demonstration of his love. She hummed happily with content.

"It has been a long time since I have seen you so carefree." Thor murmured observantly, his arm wrapped fondly around Imogen, pressing a kiss into the top of her head. "Perhaps you needed the rest with your dear mother."

Imogen snuggled close to Thor, eyes fluttering shut. "It was a nice break." She admitted. "Though I resented it vehemently at first. My mother was at a loss with what to do with me in such a foul temper."

Thor's chest bobbed up and down quickly with his chuckles. "Did she scold you?"

As if she was still a child? Imogen pouted, but she was too preoccupied with smiling and being happy to take it seriously. "At first." She giggled. "Until she became suspicious."

"Suspicious?"

Imogen pressed her lips together in a secretive smile, fluttering her eyes open again to see her husband's bemused expression.

She hadn't told him yet.

Truly, though, it would only make the night ever more perfect.

Propping herself up on her elbow, Imogen stared down at her husband, wondering how she could ever have harboured so much distain for this glorious man. He was everything she'd ever wanted.

And she was going to have another child with him. Naturally conceived – nothing would go wrong this time. Whether it was a boy or girl, she would be grateful. Any child with Thor was a blessing. It made him happy and while he was happy, he would not stray. Gods, even if he was unhappy he would not stray.

He had proven that already where Imogen had failed him as a wife. He was a good man, more than Imogen deserved.

She reached out with her free hand and brushed back Thor's golden locks from his brilliant blue eyes, crinkled slightly in the corners, lips parted ever so slightly. Oh, he was delectable.

Her fingers travelled away from his angelic face and curled around his own fingers instead, guiding them gently towards her. When they were smoothed over her still flat belly, she saw something start to click hopefully in his eyes. "I'm with child again." She breathed.

The god's eyes hovered on Imogen's bare stomach for a moment before they flickered up to her face. Her heart stilled when she saw them glistening though.

Thor gulped.

"Do not mistake me, Imogen." He breathed, eyes scouring her face. "I am happy, but…" Finally, his orbs settled firmly on hers and his hand rose to cup her cheek, holding her gaze to his. "You must understand that I love you for more than the children you bear me. I need you to know that."

His eyes were locked earnestly on hers, almost… anxious. Was that right? Wary, perhaps? Either way, it was not right.

Imogen's brow furrowed. Why was he not happy? Why was he saying these things?

He thought she thought that was all she was good for for him? Bearing children. It was exactly why she had felt she had been failing him, but she had never thought he actually cared. Let alone would reassure her against it…

Imogen's mood started to chill as she doubted Thor's ability to come up with this on his own.

"Who told you this?" Imogen breathed in a deadly hiss, the happiness quickly fleeing her as she sat bolt upright in the bed. "Was it mother-"

Thor immediately sat up too, hands steadying her shoulders carefully. "It was by your own mouth, Imogen." He said firmly. When Imogen just shot him a quizzical look, the god sighed. "My darling, you talk in your sleep."

Whatever had been about to come out of Imogen's mouth was silenced in a heartbeat. She was instantly conflicted with irritation and embarrassment.

Thor took over again before she could succumb to either.

His hand reached up into her hair from her shoulder, fingers weaving through her locks and brushing them back from her face. It took everything inside Imogen not to jerk away from his tender touch.

"You think I would cast you aside if you did not give me a son?" he breathed with a disbelieving smile, thumb stroking her cheek softly. "Surely, you must know that is folly…"

A part of Thor couldn't believe that Imogen would think him so shallow… but the way she blinked and her eyes suddenly glistened told him otherwise. The god watched horrified as his usually strong wife – strong even in her moments of madness – started to let down her walls. Her eyes blinked up to the ceiling, fighting to hold herself together.

But the moment her vulnerable lip quivered, the god was pulling her close to him, feeling her tears on his bare chest. He heard her sharp intake of breath and felt his heart ache.

"Oh my precious, precious wife." Thor sighed, hand stroking the back of her hair comfortingly like a child. His pressed a kiss into her locks.

Imogen just clung to his, burying her face in his chest while her it was scrunched up with emotion. She had never wanted him to know her weaknesses, her fears. She was too proud for that. But now he did, and it was only then she realised how much she did truly fear them. Now there were no secrets. Now Thor knew how temporary she felt.

She sucked in a shaky breath and tried to control herself, but didn't let up her grip around Thor's waist, loving the strong feeling of his arms around her, protecting her. Even from herself.

"I love you, Imogen." The god whispered lovingly. "I did not marry you for your fertility. I married you for your heart."

She didn't fight him as his hand wove into her hair again and eased her back, until his bright, gleaming blue orbs were shimmering before her own. She let his hands move her like a puppet, limp in his arms. The crystal depths of his orbs were mesmerising; Imogen was only too happy to lose herself in them.

She had nothing to say. Thor could not heal such things in one evening. He couldn't just take it away so simply, as much as he might wish to be able to.

She was welcome to let him try though. She was welcome to stop fighting for tonight. Even if it was only for tonight.

But that one night, perhaps she should be honest.

"I fear you will leave me." She breathed, barely audibly, staring into his orbs, hers distant and glistening. "I fear you will find another who will give you a son and take her for your wife over me." Her eyes shimmered but she wasn't seeing Thor's face anymore. "When I am old and have borne only daughters, you will not love me anymore."

Thor just stared at his wife, his head shaking lightly of his own accord. "Imogen.." he sighed sadly. "What can I do to ease your burden?"

Imogen blinked – she wasn't sure there was anything he could do. She would just have to live and accept that Thor was king and could do what he liked. He could disown her and bed others and she could do nothing but pray he would not. He could though; and no one would blink an eye.

Her lips tugged in a small smile. She didn't know what to tell him. Her shoulders rose in a stiff shrug.

Thor's hand caressed her shoulder as he sighed again, pressing his lips together in thought. When Imogen said nothing, he leaned forward and pressed his mouth to hers.

Imogen fluttered her eyes shut and tried to push everything out of her head. Everything – except for the sweet taste of Thor's mouth, the gentle pressure of his lips against hers, the strength held in check for her as his hand moulded to her waist…she leaned forward and laced her fingers through his hair.

The god sighed into his wife's mouth and Imogen's breath hitched. She just threw herself closer to him instead, pushing her bare body against his firmly.

She had missed this – genuine desire. So much lately had been forced. She'd lain with Thor forcing herself to endure the pain of him inside her, refusing to admit her agony while she tried for a baby. It felt like an age since she had genuinely ache for him to be close her, to fill her like no other could…

Second by second, she grew more ferocious and the god responded with vigour. Their hot skinned bodies were flush together and Imogen could feel every trace of muscle of her husbands chiselled torso pressed against her. She had dreamt about every inch of him since he'd ridden off to battle, not knowing for sure if he'd come back. Now he was, and she was bearing his child once more, she was ready to love him again – the way she always should have done.

Her legs parted either side of his hips naturally as she yearned to be closer to him, feeling the warmth of his skin against her chest, stomach, inner thighs, her back and waist as his hands travelled over her voluptuous figure.

He could keep his hands off her. He'd been around a hoard of men for over a week, fighting and killing. Now he was home and his wife's tempting form was before him… gods, how could he resist? The fact that she was carrying his child again only made her ever the more delectable. Imogen was a goddess in his eyes. Curvy, yet trim. Spirited, yet noble. She was the perfect blend of a woman and Thor got the privilege to call her his own.

He felt his desire run through him like wild fire. All those nights away in the dark he'd dreamt of her lips, but here, now, kissing them, he realised how little his thoughts had done them justice. She was truly flawless in this moment.

The god's hands found Imogen's hips and guided her to grind against him, feeling the moist skin of her centre stoke enticingly over his manhood.

This was what he fought for.

His heart thumped in his breast as he pulled her close, relishing every touch. How could Imogen think he would stray? Thor could never satisfy his hunger for her, and it went so much deeper than skin. He longed to know her mind, to know more about her soul, to be closer to her in spirit… but the more he tried the more she pushed him away.

"Don't fight me, Imogen." He sighed against her lips, holding her body flush with his. "Be mine."

His mouth grazed from her lips and over her jawline, treasuring down her throat with leisurely kisses. He felt the way Imogen leant her head back, surrendering her body to him.

And when she groaned softly, Thor could hardly contain himself.

He leaned forward and swept up her legs behind her knees, laying his wife down as he covered her body with his, letting barely a whisper of space separate them for even a second. His lips honoured her collar bone as he moulded her thigh around his hip.

Imogen's hands dove for his hair, grabbing fistfuls as her lustful husband worshiped her body. The rough skin of his palm caressed her thigh, his soft lips tingled at her front, the firm pressure of his body above hers, pressing down into her pelvis… she rocked her hips up and moaned in the back of her throat when she felt his hardness press against her.

In that moment, she was ready to be his. She was content to hide in their chambers for weeks while she submitted to her husband, enjoying each others souls and bodies endlessly.

She knew she didn't have weeks though; she had tonight, before the world would demand her husband back from her again.

She had to make the most of it.

Thor's lips fused to where Imogen's neck met her shoulder and sucked softly, making his mark proudly on his wife. She'd have to wear a few thick necklaces for the next week, but Thor was more than willing to pay that price. His hips ground into hers and he knew he couldn't hold back much longer.

All the same, he steeled himself for just one moment longer, his hand trailing up from her thigh to rest at her waist, thumb stroking gently over where his new baby grew.

"This child will be loved." He sighed breathlessly, lifting his face level with his wife's. Imogen peeled her lustful eyes open, meeting her husband's equally longing gaze. "Even if it's a girl, she will be the most beautiful girl in all of Asgard and I will adore you for her."

The god watched his wife's eyes dampen, the fiery lust plummeting into round eyed tenderness. For a moment, Thor's heart stopped – had he said something wrong? He had wanted to reassure her, not upset her further.

He froze and waited, horrified to see his wife tearing up…but then a heated sigh breathed through her parted lips and she reached subtly between them, guiding Thor's length to her moist centre. They both gasped in unison as the god slid home effortlessly.

His head fell forward and his lips pressed into her shoulder again, screwing his eyes shut as he revelled in the feeling of his wife around him. She was so close; so warm and comforting. This is what home felt like, Thor thought with a deep groan. This was where he belonged.

His arms gathered Imogen'd body up beneath him and held her so there was not a whisper of air between them as he rolled deeper into his wife, relishing every moment. Gods, he had missed this. Not just while at battle, but for weeks before – he had missed this tender embrace. He had fucked his wife, but it had been months since they'd been intimate, since they'd made love.

This was how he wanted to lie with her. No persuasion, no gritting of teeth – only the deep connection of husband and wife, loving one another.

Imogen's hands roamed freely over Thor's shoulders, feeling his muscles ripple beneath her touch. He felt so good, stroking her with almost tantalising gentleness. He barely moved. His body stayed smothering hers in a way that made her feel so safe and so protected that she never wanted to leave his embrace. Yet the miniscule rolls of his hips.. it was impressive for a man so known for his strength and power.

A side of him only reserved for her to see.

She couldn't believe such calm, tiny movements could feel as good as they did, but he felt incredible, as if he were touching new places inside her with every tender nudge.

With every roll of the god's hips, a quiet groan left her, her body just zinging with pleasure. Her eyes fluttered shut and she basked in it, feeling her body warm and tingling from what Thor was doing to her. She could feel him pushing her higher and higher with every stroke.

It wasn't long before her nails were digging into his skin from the pleasure, her legs clenching around him as she grew close. How could he do this? How could he be so good?

Her next whine was slightly more strained than the rest as she felt her control slipping, Thor taking over, ruling her body.

She screwed her eyes shut, wrapping herself around Thor and holding on for dear life. She had no control. She could feel it. Thor's caresses were going to steal her orgasm from her and there was nothing she could do but surrender to it. It felt strangely good to have something so good come so easily.

But at the same time, it felt wrong. She couldn't embrace it. Not yet, not this way. She wanted to control how her body reacted and there was no control in this.

Perhaps Thor could sense her fighting it. All Imogen knew was that just as her face scrunched up, feeling like the pleasure would just consume her, she felt Thor's gentle hands cup her face, guiding her to face him. She peeled her eyes open, immediately finding Thor's brilliant blue orbs.

"Don't fight it." Thor breathed, rocking gently into his wife, holding her gaze. He wanted to see her. "Give it to me."

He could see the vulnerability in her eyes and knew that was why she was fighting. All the same, he wanted this. He wanted for everything she did to be as easy as this. It was his job.

He held her gaze, watching her eyes almost plead with him. She was so helpless beneath him as he made love to her, helpless to control her own pleasure. He could see it in her eyes that she was close, so close that she almost couldn't bear it.

Thor wanted it though. He wanted to see the pleasure burst behind her eyes, to see her relax, happy, blissful…

And the anticipation was almost too much for himself. He could feel heat pooling in his gut the deeper he stared into her orbs; seeing her pleasure was driving him wild.

"Give it to me."

His voice rasped, but it hardly mattered; almost the second the words left his lips, Imogen's eyes widened and he felt her inner muscles clench around him. Her lips parted in a silent gasp, and Thor watched the stars burst behind her eyes.

He held onto her tight as she subtly convulsed around him, until a soft whine left her lips that was so tender it made Thor's heart ache.

But not before his own body stilled and he felt his wife steal the seed from his loins, emptying himself into her intimately. They both held eyes with the other, watching each other find their peak and then free fall into an abyss of bliss.