Ragnar came to stand behind her, and she took comfort in his presence. “I’m not fostering him, Ragnar,” she corrected. “I’m adopting him. He has nowhere else to go.”
She turned to face him and his dark green eyes stared into hers. “If that’s what you want.”
It was. Her mind was in turmoil, for her life had turned upside down in a matter of hours. She didn’t know what would become of her, but she intended to be this boy’s shield, to keep him safe from the world if that was what was needed.
Elena let out a breath and went to gather furs to make a pallet upon the floor. Ragnar was watching, and she stood a short distance away before she unfastened the brooches at her shoulders.
“What are you doing?” he asked in a low voice.
She didn’t answer, but removed the outer apron, leaving her gown in place. When she turned back to him, she said softly, “Take off your armor. There’s no need for it.”
He removed the chain mail and set aside his sword. But in his eyes, she saw wariness, as if he expected her to demand more from him.
Elena went over to the furs and curled up on them. “Sleep beside me, Ragnar.”
She waited, wondering if he would join her. When he held back, she rolled over to her back. “I won’t ask more of you than that.”
He sat upon a low stool, watching over her. “If I lie beside you,søtnos, I’ll demand more than you want to give.”
Chapter Fifteen
Ragnar’s days fell into a pattern, but there was a new restlessness. He’d continued to guard Elena and Matheus, but although she cooked meals for him and he slept in her home at night, he didn’t touch her. Instead, her proximity was a slow burn to his senses.
She asked nothing of him except that he stay with her. At night, she lay upon the pallet and talked to him long into the night until he longed to kiss her into silence.
He hadn’t touched her, but that didn’t mean he didn’t want to. The hunger and need to possess her grew stronger with each day until he was driven to fight again. Anything to release the physical demands within him.
This morning, he accompanied Elena and Matheus into the marketplace, but he was well aware of the eyes upon them. He had made many enemies, both the men he’d defeated and those who had lost wagers. Ragnar kept his hand upon his sword hilt, never taking his eyes off the unseen threat.
When Elena and the boy had finished with their purchases, he stopped on the way back to watch the fighting. Two men circled one another, wearing light armor and wielding battle-axes. The shorter man was faster, while the larger opponent swung his axe as if he intended to behead his challenger. Ragnar had defeated both of them in earlier matches.
Matheus was stopping to pet a cat who was weaving in between his legs. Elena released the child’s hand and turned back to Ragnar. “Let’s go back.”
He sensed her discomfort and regarded her. “I almost have the silver I need. If you’ve changed your mind about returning to Hordafylke...”
She looked stricken at his words and shook her head. “I haven’t.” Then she guided Matheus away from the cat, leading him back.
Ragnar stood behind them, guarding the pair as they returned to the dwelling. Elena kept the boy’s hand in hers, while Ragnar kept his palm upon her spine to show that he was their protector.
When they reached the bridge, Elena stopped suddenly, glancing behind her. “Do you sense that we’re being followed?”
Ragnar shook his head, but there were so many people in the crowd, it was impossible to tell. “Even if we are, I won’t let any harm come to you.” He took a glance behind them, but nothing struck him as out of the ordinary.
“There was a man I saw in the marketplace earlier. He was watching Matheus, and I thought I saw him again just now.” She moved closer to Ragnar’s left side, still holding the child’s hand. “Stay beside me,” she bade Matheus.
With her other hand, she reached for Ragnar’s palm, but he put his arm around her shoulders instead. If they were being followed, he wanted it clear to others that she was under his protection.
He guided them back from the marketplace, past the quadrants of longhouses. The scent of peat smoke lingered in the air, and he marked the faces of the people passing by. Still, there was nothing to suggest a threat.
When they reached Elena’s dwelling, Ragnar held out his hand. “Wait here first.” Before he allowed them to enter, he searched the interior. Again, there was nothing out of place.
The boy knelt down while the puppy scampered forward, licking Matheus’s fingers. Ragnar closed the door behind them, and Elena appeared relieved to be home.
He studied her a moment while she put away the food and drink she’d purchased at the marketplace. Though her behavior was ordinary, he sensed that she was upset.
He decided to steer their conversation back towards the boy. “Matheus seems to be adapting well.”
She nodded, lowering her voice as she moved closer. “But he never looks at me. Sometimes I wonder if he even knows who I am. And he doesn’t like it if I try to hold him.”
