XLVIII. Forbidden Love

Eksel smiled down at her as he held on to her waist. Elva kicked her feet and waved her arms in the water, her frown deepening as she tried to focus on keeping her head above water.

Eksel chuckled. “You’re thinking about it too much.”

Elva huffed, reaching for him and wrapping her arms around his neck. She pulled herself up to him, wrapping her legs around his waist. His hands cupped the back of her thighs.

“What do you mean I’m thinking about it too much? I’m literally fighting for my survival.”

Eksel laughed and threw his head back, his shoulder shaking with every breath.

“What’s so funny?”

“Just feel the water, little thing. Move it with your legs and arms and you should stay afloat.”

She pursed her lips. “Or maybe you’re not that good of a teacher.”

He tilted his head, smiling at her. “I could see that.”

Laughter bubbled between them as Eksel guided her through the basic strokes. The weather was finally warm and Elva made it a goal to learn to swim, forcing Eksel to teach her how.

As time went by, Elva’s apprehension melted away. Eksel’s chest swelled with pride when he saw the way she moved through the water without his help. He reached for her, causing her to squeal in surprise as he brought her against this chest.

“Eksel!” She laughed against his skin but he wouldn’t let her go.

They swam together, limbs entwined, the world around them seized to exist and for this moment it was only them that mattered.

Eksel paused, his eyes locking onto Elva’s. “I love you.”

Elva’s heart swelled with emotion and her lips widened into a smile. “And I love you.”

He leaned toward her, their lips meeting in a tender kiss that quickly turned hungry and desperate. His fingers dug into the skin of her legs and she breathed heavily against his mouth

“Eksel,” She groaned.

He moved her, pressing her to his hardening length. “Yes, little thing?”

“We can’t, we have to meet the elders soon.” She gasped when he thrusted against her.

“They can wait.” He scraped his teeth down her cheek and her throat until he bit down on her collar bone.

Neither wore clothes and Eksel found it too easy to spread her legs and place himself at her entrance.

Elva’s nostrils flared and she tightened her hold on his neck, lifting herself before slowly lowering onto his cock. She groaned, spreading her legs wider to take him in.

When he was seated in her completely, she slapped her hand on his chest. “I’m still so sore from yesterday.”

Eksel couldn’t help the smile that bent his lips as he bit her earlobe. “Can’t say I’m sorry about that.”

He lifted her, watching her as she threw her head back at the sensation of his length moving inside her. He growled in his chest, quickening his thrusts until the water shook around them and Elva was a mess of gasps and groans.

“Fuck, little thing. You feel so good. I will never get enough of you.” Eksel struggled to breathe as he spoke, his body hammering in heat and desperation for her.

Elva closed her eyes, determined to focus on the single sensation of their unified bodies. There hadn’t been a single day where Eksel wasn’t hungry for her and Elva never denied him.

She wanted him just as much as he wanted her.

Eksel pressed his finger to her clit and began a steady, stroking pace. Elva struggled to breath and could not hold herself back as her body fell apart in the heights of her climax. He held her to him as he strengthened his thrusts, as they turned slow and steady, until he filled her with his seed.

The silence around them was comforting and all they could hear was their breaths as they brought themselves down. Elva pressed her forehead to his chest, letting her fingers run across his skin. She winced when he twitched inside her, but when she attempted to move, he did not let her.

“Stay,” he whispered, “Let’s just stay like this for a while.”

Elva lifted her head and ran her tongue across his lips. “Just don’t move, then. I’m so sensitive.”

He chuckled. “Okay.”

“They're going to know exactly why we’re late, you know?”

Eksel shrugged. “And?”

Her cheeks turned pink and she shook her head. “You really don’t care?”

He frowned. “That they know I fuck you?”

She gasped and slapped his chest. “Eksel!”

He laughed, pressing a quick kiss to her lips. When he pulled away, they thoughtfully looked into each other’s eyes.

Elva shook her head. “This is an important meeting, too. It's not like the others.”

“Yeah, I know. If we can figure this out, we will always have peace here in Gleneg.”

“That sounds perfect. We will need peace to raise our children here.”

Eksel pressed a kiss to her forehead. “One day, my love.”

Elva hissed, feeling his cock soften inside her, she moved but he held her still against him. “Stay.”

She exhaled, her body still thrumming from her orgasm. “Do you think it will work?”

“Why wouldn’t it?”

“I mean, don’t you think other villages have tried to end poverty? Have tries to limit diseases? Are we really going to be the first to succeed?”

He looked at her, taking in her dreams and worries for the future. “There always has to be a first, Elva. We’ll make it happen, together.”

They discussed plans for the village, their dreams interweaving like the ripples in the creek.

As they chatted, Elva’s expression turned somber. “Sten and Sigrid will leave soon, won’t they?”

Eksel sighed, tightening his arm around her. “Yes, they will. They can’t stay in one place too long, it’ll kill them. But they’ll always come back.”

Elva nodded, a touch of sadness in her eyes. “I’ll miss them. But I did make them promise not to kill or raid innocents. It’s the least they could do.”

Eksel chuckled, shaking his head. “So it’s not only my life you are looking to change?”

She smiled and shook her head.

“Good. You have so much goodness in you. It only makes sense to share it.”

Elva hugged him, her fingers tracing the scars on his back and she felt Eksel tense.

“Don’t do that. Not with me.” She whispered, “I love you, scars and all. I’m so lucky to have you.”

Eksel smiled, his eyes reflecting a lifetime of gratitude. “I’m the lucky one.”

They remained in the water for only moments more before they quickly made their way to meet with the elders. That day marked the beginning of their future and they worked hard to ensure the safety and the livelihood of their village.

Gleneg was better with them.

The world was better with them.

Their forbidden love healed them and everyone around them.