What am I to do?
“I have naught to give, no wedding gift and no dowry.” She lowered her eyes.
He lifted her chin so she had to look at him. “There is nothing conventional about this union. Even if we were blessed with the luxury of time, I would have waived your dowry to prove how much I love you.”
“I beg forgiveness,” she sniffled. “For the dreadful way I misjudged your intentions.”
“Aye,min lille dukke, you reacted out of fear and require no forgiveness. I should have handled you more gently.” He lifted her from the chair. “Disrobe for me, I want to see you.”
She undressed seductively, too slowly, determined to punish and reward him at the same time. The only gift she could offer was her body. And Randvior Sigurdsson deserved it. The moment her clothing dropped, he crashed into her as lethal as a tidal wave.
The heat from her body sent a flurry of wild thoughts whipping through his mind. Impure and animalistic. It nearly strangled every ounce of civility left inside him.
Delicate tinder, hungry flame.
The memory of finding her with Sveinn drove him crazy. He wanted to be inside hernow, share the joys of her body, and blot that bastard out of her memory forever. Randvior unlaced his breeches and blanketed her from behind. He’d fantasized about this position on many occasions and she wiggled playfully before him—inviting him to do as he pleased.
She squirmed and moaned, welcoming him. His hand glided between her legs and found the sensitive spot that sent her body into uncontrollable tantrums. Her thighs were slick with excitement, and Randvior steadied her, while staring longingly at the heart-shaped cheeks that begged for his shaft to plunge between them. He pierced her like an arrow.
She cried out as he entered and he froze midstride.
“Don’t stop,” she pleaded.
He grinned lasciviously and continued. It felt too damn good to stop. Randvior locked his hands around her stomach and lifted her off the bed. “Stand up for me.”
He gently walked her to the wall. Noelle seemed to know what he wanted and rested her palms against the boards. She arched to accommodate him. He gulped for air—her tiny ass bobbed every time he moved. He closed his eyes and allowed her to control the rhythm.
Beautiful seductress.
“Randvior…” she purred. “…It feels so good.”
“Du kommer til å drepe meg, jente.”
Noelle sucked the life force out of him and it took every ounce of mental stamina he possessed not to explode inside her like an unpracticed boy. He withdrew and spun her around. Then draped her across the mattress on her back as she wrapped her legs around him and pulled him down. Within seconds, they finished together.
Loud pounding yanked Randvior from sleep on the fourth night of his honeymoon. He bolted upright and eyed his sleeping bride tenderly. The poor girl was drained—overwhelmed by his bed play. He’d taken her countless times and in many ways, used her wee body to fulfill every youthful fantasy he had.
The knocking grew more intense and desperate. He growled angrily as he got up and grabbed his sword. He stalked to the door and threw it open.
“Speak!” he thundered, standing stark naked over a boy he dwarfed.
“Jarl,” he said. “You’ll not know me. I’m Matheson, one of your newer stable hands. There’s been an attack. Someone set fire to several cabins and many have perished.”
At that, Randvior motioned him inside and slammed the door. The servant stared unwittingly at him.
“I’ve been sent to retrieve you. Master Aud appointed me as his personal messenger and humbly begs you to postpone the rest of your holiday and come home.”
Randvior latched on to his shoulder and shook him. “Who died?”
“Three families—burned beyond recognition.”
Randvior let go. “Ride boy, tell my captain I’ll be on my way. Gather the women and children and hide them in the cellars. Prepare the steading for battle, arm every man and boy with whatever weapons you can get your hands on—sticks if that’s all you can find.”
“Aye.” The servant bowed and paused at the doorway.
“Go!” Randvior pushed him outside.
Noelle yawned and stretched, and scanned the room. She smiled once she discovered Randvior standing at the open doorway naked. But her smile quickly faded once she noticed the weapon in his hand.
