Besieged
Page 9
“How can you laugh about that?” Peggy squeaked. “It’s deplorable!” This was the first time she’d ever seen him laugh and she had to admit he did it quite sexily.
Geirwolf grinned as he sat her nude body down on his lap. “That was all lies Ivara concocted. Truly, the Dungeon of Shame doesn’t even exist.” He chuckled again. “She must get some of her widow friends together for these little performances to scare the brides into relenting.” One eyebrow shot up. “Pretty ingenious do you ask me.”
Peggy frowned. “I can’t believe I was taken in by that.”
“I’m glad you were,” he teased. “I was dying to breed you.”
She shook her head, but couldn’t help but to grin at that. “And the Commons?”
Geirwolf’s expression turned serious. “It’s a real place, but nothing non-consensual goes on there.” He shrugged. “Only widows not bound to any warrior are permitted to go there. It’s a place where they can do anything they’d like, sow their wild oats so to speak, before settling on another warrior.”
“That’s why their pubic hair is shaved? That means they are widows?”
“Ja—Yes.”
Peggy chewed that over for a moment. She supposed it all made sense. The females she’d been trained with who had been native New Norwayers wouldn’t have known about what went on in such a place because they were too young to, so that explained their fright as much as the fright of the non-natives.
She rolled her eyes and sighed. “Ivara’s one smart cookie, I’ll give her that.”
Geirwolf chuckled at that. “It appears so.” He shooed Peggy off of his lap and stood up. “Come. We can discuss this after we get you out of these damn breeding stalls. I’ve been waiting for you to be moved into our home for an age it feels like.”
Peggy smiled, his dark, brooding accent sounding sexier than ever. “Me too.” She couldn’t wait to leave the stalls. She wanted to find out if Michelle had settled in well, she wanted to see her mother, and she admitted, she wanted to be with her husband on a full-time basis.
Geirwolf’s body stilled. His eyes searched hers. “Are you really happy about the baby?” he murmured.
“Oh yeah.” She grinned, then gently patted her tummy. “I can’t wait to have your baby, Wolf. I hope she’s a girl so she can give you major hell.”
He smiled at that. “I wouldn’t complain,” he said softly. “I will love her. As I love you.”
Peggy stood up on tiptoe and kissed the tip of his nose. “I’m glad you love me.” She smiled. “Because I love you too.”
Epilogue
5 years later…
Peggy Brannigan Valkraad had lived a charmed life thus far, a life that seemed to grow more and more charmed every day. Five years and two kids later, she and Geirwolf were more content than either of them had dreamed possible.
“Do you think you’ll finally have a girl this time?” Michelle asked on a grin, her hand absently stroking her own round belly. Michelle was pregnant with her fourth child and Peggy with her third.
Peggy grinned back as they walked toward the bartering stalls together. “I certainly hope so. Of course, Wolf promised his brother Bjorn that if this one was a boy we’d name it after him since we named our first two sons after his father and next oldest brother.”
“Aevar and Arne are little rascals. I’m not so sure you need to add another Valkraad male to their numbers,” Michelle teased.
Peggy chuckled at that. “True enough. My mom and I are hoping for a girl this time.”
“How is your mom anyway?” Michelle asked as they walked into a grocer’s den.
“Great!” Peggy said happily. She thought back on when her mother had first arrived in New Norway a little over four years ago right before she’d given birth to Arne. Her mom had fallen almost immediately for Geirwolf’s uncle, though she’d been hardpressed to admit it at the time. But then that was a different story. “She’s pregnant, you know.” Peggy grinned. “I’m going to be a sister again!”
Michelle gasped. “Nobody told me! That’s great!”
“Yeah,” Peggy chuckled. “Though mom still swears she’s too old to be birthing babies like a savage. You know, without drugs.”
The two friends laughed at that, then ventured further into the grocer’s den. Peggy spotted Geirwolf almost immediately, their two boys sitting on either of his broad shoulders, pointing out foodstuffs they wanted.
Peggy smiled when her husband’s wolf-blue eyes found her aqua ones. Already five years had gone by and she felt more attracted to him now than she did then. “You need some help, big guy?” she teased.
Geirwolf winked at her. “You best believe it. These two little warriors want everything they see. Pigs, the both of them.”
She chuckled at that. She turned to Michelle and hugged her goodbye, promising to stop by her and Ragnar’s cavern tonight for a game of cards after the boys went to bed.
Peggy’s eyes flicked away from the grocer’s den and toward the ice-coated stone door that lay a few feet away, hiding New Norway from the rest of the world. She smiled nostalgically, remembering the day not too long ago when she’d been brought to her home through that very portal.
“Are you coming, my love?” Geirwolf asked from behind her. “I’m wanting to barter for this bread. What do you think?”
Peggy turned on her painted feet, the ice-coated door forgotten. “I think I love you,” she murmured. She smiled at his blush. “More and more every day.”
“I love you too,” Geirwolf said softly, his lips coming down to brush against hers. “And I’ll show you how much tonight.”
Peggy sighed contentedly, her smile dreamy as he threaded his fingers through hers. Geirwolf and Peggy Valkraad walked back into the grocer’s den hand-in-hand, their two sons happily perched on their father’s shoulders.
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Jaid Black is the owner and founder of Ellora’s Cave Publishing. Recognizing and legitimizing female sexuality as an entity unique from male sexuality is her passion. Jaid has been featured in every available media, from major newspapers like the Cleveland Plain Dealer, to various radio programs, to an appearance on the Montel Williams Show. Her books have received numerous distinctions, including a nomination for Nerve magazine’s Henry Miller award for the best literary sex scene published in the English language.
Jaid loves to hear from her fans. You can visit her on the web at www.jaidblack.com.
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Other Ellora’s Cave Titles by Jaid Black
Trek Mi Q’an Series
· The Empress’ New Clothes
· Seized
· No Mercy
· Enslaved
· No Escape
· No Fear
· Dementia
· “Devilish Dot” in Manaconda anthology
· Never a Slave
· Guide to Trek Mi Q’an
Single Titles
· Adam & Evil
· After the Storm (writing as Tia Isabella)
· Before the Fire (writing as Tia Isabella)
· Bossy & Clyde
· Breeding Ground
· Death Row: The Trilogy
· God of Fire
· Politically Incorrect: Stalked
· Sins of the Father
· The Hunger
· The Obsession
· The Possession
· Tremors
· Vanished
· Warlord
Multiple Author Anthologies
· “Death Row: The Mastering” in Enchained
· “The Beckoned” in Ellora’s Cavemen: Tales from the Temple IV
· “Seeds of Yesterday” in Ellora’s Cavemen: Legendary Tails IV
Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer e-books or pa
perbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.
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