Had he been merely boasting earlier? Or was it an invitation?
‘There is a hot spring not far from here. It comes from the mountains and it’s little more than a trickle, but you might find it refreshing after your climb,’ she said.
Agnar could have rightly told her that the nearest source of water for him to drink and wash himself with was only a few feet away inside the cabin. But he seemed to realise her need to speak with him alone, so he nodded and gestured for her to lead the way.
They made their way through the bustle of people who were busy caring for the horses and unloading their packs, and entered the forest through a narrow path that wasn’t obvious from the clearing until you stumbled upon it. She doubted anyone would follow them, though, even if they were noticed leaving camp. Agnar was the kind of man that did as he pleased and no one questioned it.
Skadi pushed through the forest, glad that most of the vegetation had died back for winter, leaving spindly branches and only a few fallen logs in their way. The path ahead was little more than a rocky climb uphill.
It didn’t take long to reach the stream. It sprang from the cliff further up and trickled down through moss-covered rocks, until it reached a little pool and then ran towards the bigger stream further down the hillside by the lodge.
Even as she pushed through some bushes to reach the pool, she felt the heat of the spring immediately.
‘Sorry to make you do more climbing, but the pool here is more refreshing than the main stream. It’s always warm even in winter.’
‘I see, I didn’t realise you had hot springs here,’ said Agnar, his deep voice causing a shiver to run down her spine, followed quickly by a wince as she realised how odd her dragging him here must seem.
‘Only a couple of small ones.’
She perched herself on a boulder and folded her hands in her lap, afraid she would start wringing them otherwise.
He smiled, watching her with a tilt of his head, his messy long hair falling over his shoulder the only movement in the quiet rocky clearing. ‘What did you want to speak to me about?’ he asked, moving towards her and the stream. Pulling off his cloak and tunic, he threw them on to the boulder beside her, before bending forward to cup water from the pool with his hands, splashing it over his face, chest and arms.
She watched the water run down his back, suddenly feeling a little thirsty herself. ‘I wanted to speak with you about last night…’
He straightened and the sight of him bare chested in front of her sent her pulse racing.
‘Are you ashamed?’ he asked sombrely.
Skadi swallowed and shook her head, even though she did feel a little embarrassed. ‘Not…ashamed, as such…but…’
‘Just say it,’ he said darkly, washing himself thoroughly with the water, steam rising from his skin.
She pinched her fingers tighter together. ‘Astra will always come first. I do not want you to hope for a child that will never come.’
He paused what he was doing and then said, ‘I understand.’
She stared at him, momentarily distracted from his body to his face, unsure if he fully understood her. ‘Do you think what happened last night will make a difference? There are ways for me to ensure against another babe.’
‘If that is what you wish.’ He reached for his tunic and she grabbed his arm.
‘Surely that must bother you?’
His eyes fixed on hers and she realised similar shades of dark green surrounded them, but the colour of his eyes was the most intoxicating and vibrant shade the mother goddess had created.
‘I have told you more than once that I will accept Astra as my heir…’ His eyes widened, and he took another step closer. ‘Was there another reason why you wanted to bring me here?’ His hand cupped her face and then raised her chin with a brush of his thumb.
Skadi rose from the boulder, allowing her hands to do as they wished and touch his chest. She smoothed her palms up the ridges of his stomach and over the tattoos across his heart, her fingertips delighting in the strength and vigour beneath his scarred skin.
‘I just needed you to know…that I do this because I want to,’ she said quietly, before meeting his eyes. ‘Not for the hopes of another child to secure my position as your wife, or for any other reason. I have made mistakes in the past and no longer blindly trust people. But… I also want…to feel pleasure…’
Agnar’s hand slipped around her waist, pulling her close. ‘You are my Queen. You can do whatever you want with me.’
He curved his body down towards her and eagerly she opened her mouth for him. ‘I want you,’ she gasped.
Accepting him even before their lips met, her cloak fell to the ground as their kiss deepened into panting, desperate strokes of tongues and licks. Both of them eager to feel the all-consuming fire that seemed to ignite so easily between them.
No one else had ever made her feel this way, filling her with hot lust. She tugged at his belt, desperate to have him inside her again, soothing the physical and emotional ache within her, as only he could.
