When he felt sufficiently in command of himself again he went to find Aron. He was outside the hall giving instructions to one of the thralls but, on seeing Leif approach, he dismissed the slave and waited.
‘We need to talk,’ said Leif.
‘As you wish.’
By tacit consent they walked apart a little way until they were out of earshot. Aron glanced at the younger man’s face and interpreted the expression correctly.
‘It cannot have been easy coming back here,’ he said.
‘It wasn’t,’ replied Leif, ‘but I had little choice in the matter.’
He proceeded to give his friend a summary of events, omitting only what pertained to Astrid. Since he no longer believed in her guilt he was reluctant to implicate her. It would suffice to let his companion think he’d carried her off to be revenged upon Einar, and that chimed with what his crew believed too. Aron heard him out in frowning silence.
‘You’ll get the men you need, no question,’ he said then. ‘This treachery must be paid for in blood.’
‘It will be.’
‘And Einar’s niece?’
‘Stays here for the time being.’
‘It was a shrewd move to carry her off. You have ensured that your enemies will meet you.’
‘Just so.’
‘What do you intend to do with her? Send them her head?’
Leif frowned. ‘I will not use my sword against a woman.’
‘No, or your former wife would have died long since. You would have been more than justified.’
‘No, there was no justification for that.’
‘Blood of Odin! The bitch tried to kill you, Leif.’
‘She was not in her right mind then.’
Aron sighed. ‘Well, be that as it may. Women are tricky creatures at the best of times.’
‘So they are. However, as I said, this one is essential to my plans.’
‘Best keep her close, then.’
‘I mean to.’
His companion grinned. ‘Day and night?’
‘Day and night.’
‘Ah. You mean to send her back with a child in her belly.’
Leif’s smile faded. It was not an unnatural assumption but it jarred all the same. ‘The thought had occurred to me.’ Things had changed since then, but explanation was going to be difficult.
Aron eyed him closely. ‘You really are intent on kicking the hornets’ nest, aren’t you?’ He paused. ‘Or is this about more than revenge?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Perhaps you are not indifferent to your pretty captive.’
To his annoyance Leif felt himself redden. He opened his mouth to protest and then sighed. There was no point in lying to Aron. ‘No, I want her all right. I have from the moment I first clapped eyes on her.’
‘Fortunate, then, that she’s in your power; now you can see your will well met. Take her and often. That way you’ll soon get her out of your system.’
How simple it sounded, thought Leif, and, to an outsider, it probably was. After all, female slaves were routinely used in that way by their captors. The reasons why it wasn’t going to happen in this instance were too complicated to explain.
‘It’s sound advice,’ he said.
‘Good.’ Aron clapped him on the shoulder. ‘As to the rest, we must send word to Hammerstoft and Borgshafen and convene a meeting. I predict it won’t be hard to raise men to your cause.’
Chapter Fourteen
That evening the ship’s company joined the men of the steading and the hall rang with their voices. Astrid kept in the background, unwilling to draw attention to herself. Since their conversation that afternoon Leif had made no attempt to come near her. Ingrid had provided her with bread and meat and a cup of ale but, since her role had not been precisely defined, had not allocated her any tasks. At present Astrid was glad of it since it meant that she could keep apart from the company. As the night wore on the laughter had grown louder and the jests coarser. Tomorrow she would volunteer her services and find some occupation. That way she could occupy her hands and her mind and stop herself thinking too much about the future. She glanced across the hall at Leif. However, he was engrossed in male conversation and did not notice. Her gaze moved on, taking in the whole scene. As she did so her eyes met Gunnar’s. She saw him smile. Unbidden, that earlier scene returned and she looked away quickly. Not for anything would she encourage his interest.
* * *
Leif glanced across the room. He noticed Gunnar at once because, unlike everyone else, he took no part in the conversation. His attention was fixed elsewhere. Following the direction of his gaze, Leif frowned. Had his words failed to achieve their aim earlier on, or was Gunnar taking the advice and just looking? He hoped it was the latter. Astrid appeared not to have noticed that rapt gaze or else she was ignoring it. Wisely too, he decided. She belonged to him and he had no intention of allowing any trespass there. Perhaps he needed to reinforce that message.
* * *
Astrid stifled a yawn and glanced towards the open door behind her. The hall was hot, the air thick with the smells of roast meat and ale and male sweat. Everyone was engaged in conversation so it was unlikely her absence would even be noticed. Quietly she rose and stole away.
It was quiet outside, the air blessedly cool and smelling of grass and pine. A waxing moon had risen above the horizon to meet the stars. Once she would have enjoyed such a sight; tonight it only emphasised her present isolation and her weariness. Ingrid hadn’t told her yet where she was to sleep but, after so long a day, the thought was becoming increasingly attractive. Probably she should go and ask.
She turned back towards the hall and then stopped abruptly to see the tall figure in the doorway.
‘Leif.’
He moved closer. ‘What are you doing out here?’
‘It was too hot inside. I needed some air.’
‘You shouldn’t wander off.’
‘Did you think I might run away?’
‘No. I’d find you soon enough and you know it.’
‘True. Therefore I will spare us both the trouble.’
‘Very wise.’
Astrid remained silent, every part of her alive to him, to his nearness now and to the sudden quickening of her pulse. The very air seemed charged now as though with summer lightning; dangerous and exciting together.
‘Have you eaten this evening?’ he asked.
The question threw her off balance. ‘Yes, I thank you. Ingrid gave me food earlier.’
‘Good, I don’t want you wasting away. My taste never ran to scrawny women.’
‘Oh? And what is your taste exactly?’
‘For soft full curves; bosom and hips in proportion, a slender waist and beautiful legs.’ His gaze swept her. ‘Much like yours, in fact.’
She was glad of the semi-darkness which hid the flush of colour in her cheeks. ‘Am I supposed to be flattered?’
‘The words weren’t spoken to flatter you. I was just answering your question.’ He paused. ‘Of course, one cannot fully appraise a woman’s figure until she’s naked.’
‘You would think that.’
‘I’ll wager most men would agree.’
The water was getting deeper by the minute and she needed to extricate herself. ‘It may be so. My experience of men is limited.’
‘And what you have experienced has not impressed you, has it?’ he said softly.
Astrid looked away, unwilling to go there. ‘It’s getting late and it’s been a tiring day.’ She paused. ‘I was about to go and speak to Ingrid and find out where I am to sleep this night.’
‘I can tell you that,’ he replied.
‘Oh.’
‘You’ll be sleeping with me. Then we shall see about giving you an entirely different experience.’
Astrid felt the blood leap into her face. She opened her mouth to protest but no sound came out, only a ragged exhalation of breath. Then his hands were on her waist, drawing her closer. The t
ouch seemed to burn. His lips nuzzled her neck, sending a tremor the length of her body. Winding her hair round his hand he tilted her head back and continued, pressing hot kisses to her neck and throat. Suddenly it was hard to think at all.
‘My lord, I...’
The words were stopped with a lingering and passionate kiss that paid no heed to protest and ignored all resistance. And gradually resistance subsided and her mouth yielded to his and the kiss became deeper and more persuasive, setting every nerve alight, and she was aware of nothing except the hard-muscled body pressed to hers and the scent and the taste of him. It sent another shiver through her that had nothing to do with repugnance.
‘You’re beautiful, Astrid. Beautiful and very desirable.’
He bent and slipped an arm under her knees, lifting her easily; then carried her to his sleeping place. Her gaze took in his sea chest and war gear, and then the big box bed covered with furs. He set her down and drew the curtain behind them. Heart thumping, she watched him come closer until only inches separated them. His gaze never left her but he said nothing. Instead he reached for her overdress and deftly removed it before turning his attention to her gown. He removed that too so that only the linen shift remained. Then he drew her to him for another kiss, gentler this time, seeking her response. She could feel the warmth of his hands through the thin fabric and the answering shiver along her skin. Leif felt it and drew back, surveying her steadily, and she read the unspoken question in his face.
She took a step away from him. He made no move to prevent it, his expression impassive. However, the blue-grey eyes spoke for him. He wanted her but he wouldn’t use force; what happened next was her decision. Her heart thumped. Slowly she drew off the shift and let it fall. The response was a sharp intake of breath. The sound was oddly empowering, like the fleeting look of surprise in his eyes. She lifted her chin. Unhurriedly she reached for the binding and unfastened her hair, shaking it loose over her shoulders.
When it was done she rejoined him. Leif reached for his belt but she caught his hands, checking him.
‘No, let me.’
He let his hands fall to his sides while she unlatched the belt. Taking the bottom of his tunic in both hands, she drew it up over his chest. He lifted his arms and bent a little to accommodate its removal. The shirt followed. Her hands moved to the fastenings of his breeches and pulled them free; then pushed the fabric down over his hips. He kicked off his shoes and stepped out of the breeches.
His arms closed about her waist. Astrid slid her arms around his neck and pressed herself against his body. Almost immediately she felt him grow hard and for a moment memory reawakened. She pushed it firmly aside. This was nothing like the other time. There was no reason for fear or disgust. She wanted this. She wanted him.
Tilting her face, she invited his kiss. His hold tightened and the kiss grew more intimate. She yielded to it, letting her tongue flirt with his in a light teasing dance. He walked her backwards towards the bed, but instead of pushing her down and pinning her there, he manoeuvred her round so their positions were reversed. To her surprise he lay down first. Then he reached out a hand in invitation. She took it and joined him there. He moved over a little to give her room and then resumed where they’d left off, his hands caressing her in a leisurely exploration of her body, a firm and assured touch that set her flesh tingling. His lips grazed her neck and breast before his mouth closed over the peak, sucking lightly, drawing the nipple taut, a sensation so delicious that the breath caught in her throat.
She had thought that she knew what was going to happen, that she knew the facts of life and was therefore fully prepared. Leif wasn’t going to hurt her. What she hadn’t anticipated was his restraint, or the total absence of haste and coercion. She relaxed a little and tried to follow his lead, caressing him back, enjoying the play of his muscles beneath her fingers; enjoying the reciprocal touch of his hands on her body. A touch that was both skilled and seductive and arousing. No one had ever touched her like that before and it kindled something inside her that she hadn’t known existed.
His hand moved over her waist and buttocks and swept the length of her thigh and slid thence between her legs. She tensed, feeling suddenly uncertain. When he continued she rebelled. Slowly, patiently he brought her back to him; then renewed the caress. This time she permitted it. When nothing terrible happened she relaxed a little, trusting him. The touch was gentle and not unpleasant, affording a glimpse of intimacies hitherto unsuspected. As he continued it created a pool of warmth in the core of her pelvis. The sensation became pleasurable. Instinctively she relaxed her thighs, wanting him to go on. Leif guided her hand to his erection. Unsure what he wanted, she closed her fingers around him and tentatively stroked. When he groaned she hesitated.
‘It’s all right,’ he whispered. ‘Don’t stop.’
‘I’m not hurting you?’
‘No, you’re not hurting me.’
Obediently she resumed and heard another sharp intake of breath. Inside her the pool of warmth expanded and her own breathing quickened. The thought of him inside her was no longer alarming; it was exciting. His fingers slid through slickness and a coil of tension formed in response. She shivered with pleasure, her body arching towards him, sensing something just beyond it, something she wanted but couldn’t name.
He parted her thighs and slid into her. Astrid waited for pain but it didn’t come. All she experienced was a slight discomfort. Nor was there any fear, only wanting.
He frowned. ‘Are you all right, sweetheart?’
She nodded. Still he took his time, moving gently, holding back, doing nothing that might alarm or disgust her. Astrid closed her eyes, letting her body move with him, feeling the rhythm build.
‘Put your legs around me.’
Again she obeyed him and it felt natural and right; natural and right to pull him closer, to surrender to his will and hold nothing back. The rhythm grew stronger and the tension coiled tighter inside her. Closing her eyes, she reached for it, willing it closer but still it eluded her, tantalisingly, teasing.
Leif let go of restraint and thrust into her deep and hard, need overtaking him, wanting full possession of her now. Astrid gasped, the blood pounding in her ears, body quivering, every fibre alive to him, revelling in submission. She felt him shudder and groan and then the spasm before the hot rush of his seed inside her.
Breathing hard, he held her there awhile as though unwilling to let her go. The blue-grey gaze locked with hers, hot, fierce, possessive. Then, slowly, the expression faded and he withdrew and rolled aside. Astrid shut her eyes. She felt boneless, sated, her entire being resonating with him. He had been considerate beyond all expectation—the entire experience had been beyond all expectation. Had that been his intention? Was her consent more satisfying to him than rape would have been? The spark between them had always been strong and once she had hoped it might develop into something more than mere physical desire. That was before she became the object of his revenge.
* * *
Leif lay still, waiting for his heartbeat to slow, every part of him conscious of the woman beside him. He had expected to enjoy her; what he hadn’t anticipated was the blood-stirring thrill that he’d just experienced. His flesh tingled with it, imagination already moving ahead to other delicious possibilities. Take her and often...get her out of your system. He frowned. Although the first part of that injunction was simple, the second wasn’t, not any more. Far from breaking the charm, gratification of desire had just made it stronger. The disenchantment that usually followed sex was conspicuous by its absence this time. Not only did he still want Astrid, he wanted to take her until she begged for mercy, until he displaced every other thought in her mind. She hadn’t achieved the full height of pleasure this time but it was going to happen. She was going to be his, body and soul. It occurred to him then that there might be other outcomes. It was entirely possible that he might get her with child. What then? His frown deepened. It might have been wiser to withdraw before s
pilling his seed but he hadn’t wanted to be wise, and anyway he wasn’t sure he could have demonstrated such a degree of control. Such pleasure as he’d just experienced was rare and, far from making him cautious, it only made him hungry for more.
* * *
Astrid saw his expression and her heart sank. Had she disappointed him? Angered him in some way? Did consummation mean the end of his interest? Perhaps if she’d been more experienced she might have been able to please him better and he might have considered keeping her. It would be infinitely preferable to the alternative. Now that her value as a bride was gone, Jarl Einar would have no further use for her. Nor would he hesitate to use the quickest way to be rid of the burden she represented. He’d cut her throat and have her body flung into a pit. She could never go back. The only friend she had in the world now was Ragnhild and she was far away, unable to help. Astrid shivered.
‘You’re cold.’ Leif shifted position and reached for the coverlet. Then he checked, staring at the smears of blood on the sheet. ‘I think you’re about to start your flux, sweetheart.’
‘My flux?’ Astrid followed his gaze and then reddened. ‘But that’s not due for another ten—’ She broke off, mentally berating herself for speaking without thinking.
As the other implication dawned, his eyes narrowed. ‘Then what you said before wasn’t true, was it?’
‘It was true, as far as it went.’
‘As far as it went?’
‘A man did try to force himself on me, but I managed to get away from him before he could do so.’ She hesitated. ‘I let you think it was rape because I was afraid that you were going to...well, you were there, you know why.’
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