She was a tall woman, not at all fragile like the women he’d known. But when she was in his arms, he liked the feel of her. Carefully, he brought her inside, and set her down within the space. By law, she was his wife now.
A strange memory crossed through his mind, a vision he didn’t understand. His mind conjured up a wedding custom he’d never heard of, and he could not say if it was right to obey the instinct born of another man’s memories.
And yet, when he touched the hilt of the sword at his waist, Katarina gave an encouraging nod. Without hesitation, he took the sword and plunged it into one of the beams supporting the longhouse. Behind him, he heard the cheers of the wedding guests.
Katarina went to a silver ewer and poured him a cup of ale. He accepted the ale, and before he took a sip, Valdr spoke a toast. “To Odin!”
At that, Eric drank deeply. The oldvolvacame up beside him and took the cup, commanding him to take the hammer from his belt. “Place it upon your wife’s lap, for the blessing of children.”
He obeyed, and it was then that the sexual jesting began. Katarina blushed when one of the witnesses spoke crudely about Eric’s hammer and what he should do with it. He stood and faced down the man, but Katarina took his hand and led him away. Thethrallshad been cooking outside for most of the morning, and before long, the guests began to seek their own food and drink.
His bride was appearing more and more nervous, and it soon became clear why, when the women took her away and led her to the back of the longhouse, separated by a hide partition. A sudden unease came over him when he realized that they were expected to consummate the union now, instead of at night. The witnesses weren’t going to watch, were they?
He’d thought they would spend time feasting and drinking before they departed. But it seemed as if they were expected to lie together before they joined the remaining wedding guests.
Eric found himself surrounded by Viking men who teased him with ribald jokes. He was pushed toward the hide partition where his bride was waiting. And when they drew back the curtains, he saw that she was naked with only a fur coverlet. The headpiece had been removed, and her blond hair fell across her bare shoulders.
His attention was drawn to her face, to those haunting eyes, and the mouth he had kissed only an hour before. Though she was trying valiantly to be brave, he didn’t miss her fears.
She had known this would happen. And it appeared that she was trying to go along with the traditions of fulfilling her duties as a wife.
He felt the need to shield her from the view of these men, and he stepped forward, intending to draw back the curtains. Instead, two men grabbed him, and they began disrobing him.
“I can remove my own clothing,” he protested, but they only laughed. He didn’t care that they removed the tunic and sword belt, but when they tried to shove down his trousers, that was the last straw. He jerked his way free and stood before them. “Go and join the others at the feasting.”
Thankfully, they did, and he moved forward, drawing the hide partition shut. Katarina was lying upon the bed of furs, her hands clenched upon the coverlet to shield herself. She appeared like a virgin sacrifice, and it bothered him to see her presented like an offering. She deserved more than this, and he would not harm her in any way.
He took a deep breath and sat down beside her. In a low voice, he said, “You need not be afraid of me, Katarina. I will keep the vow you asked of me. There is no need to lie together.”
She closed her eyes, as if trying to gather her thoughts. “I know what I said to you. And I do not deny that joining with you is not what I want. It frightens me.” Slowly, she sat up and let the furs fall away, revealing her naked body. “But I also know that in the eyes of the gods, it will not be a true marriage until it is consummated. I spoke with thevolvaand…I know what must be done. She prepared me for this.”
He was staggered by the seductive image of her. Full, round breasts were tipped with coral pink nipples. Her skin was pale, but firm, with a flat stomach and a swell of hips. God Almighty, he was struck speechless by this invitation. There was no question that he desired her—any man would. But this primitive act was not something he would force upon any woman.
It was strange to think of this dilemma. What man would turn down an invitation from a beautiful woman wanting him to make love to her?
A man of honor, that was who, he thought with a sigh. And although his body was raging to claim her, it was wrong to do so.
“You are a beautiful woman,” he told Katarina, “and any man would be honored to call you wife. But I would not ask this of you. Not when I agreed to a marriage in name only.”
She flushed as he handed her the gown and helped her put it back on. “Is it because I am not Svala, the woman you wanted?”
He could hardly believe what he was hearing. “Svala nearly had me killed. And I am offering you an escape from consummating the marriage because it was what you wanted. No one need know the truth, save us.”
Katarina swallowed hard, and then admitted, “I would know.” She closed her eyes and then let out a breath. Beside the bed, she reached for a small vial and offered it to him, saying, “Thevolvatold me to give this to you, to use upon my body before you claim me. It will…help.”
He took the vial, and she lay back, closing her eyes again. Then his bride spread her legs apart, and the last of the furs fell away, revealing a darker blond patch of hair covering her womanhood.
Eric opened the vial and sniffed it. There was an herbal aroma, and he realized that it was an oil of some kind. Likely to make the joining easier. God Almighty.
But he had no intention of claiming her innocence. Not this soon, when they barely knew one another. “Katarina,” he said softly. “Look at me.”
With great reluctance, she did. There was no doubt that she was afraid of him. And he wasn’t going to behave like a barbarian, claiming her when she wasn’t ready. He leaned in to speak low. “We do not have to do this, Katarina.”
She rested her palm against his chest. “Yes, we do. I was wrong before, and thevolvamade me understand this. Just…get it over with. I will not fight you.”
It was entirely the wrong answer. He touched her cheek and commanded, “Open your eyes.”
When she did, he saw that her fear was consuming her. He stroked her hair and moved his hand down to her bare shoulder. The moment his palm touched her bare skin, she tensed.
