Page 94 of Lord of Fire and Ice

A knot of caring surged in her chest, and she hurried to his side. He lay back and snugged her close so her head rested on his shoulder and her leg twined over his.

“I expect you’re hungrier than I,” she said. “You missed a fine welcome meal last night. Your brother clearly meant to do you honor.”

“No doubt Arn will have something to say about my missing it,” Brandr said, running his hand up and down her spine in a slow caress. “And the meal was Hilde’s doing, not his. Even so, my brother will undoubtedly take offense.”

“I don’t think so.” She snuggled deeper into his embrace. “Once I explained that you’d been awake for two days, and during that time you’d abducted your bride, lost your bride, tracked and fought three men, acquired a daughter, and still managed to find your way home—well, after all that, your attachment to your bed was easily understood. Your friend Harald seemed to think the adventure was as good as any skald’s tale.”

“That’s because the one who told it is far prettier than most skalds.” He dropped a casual kiss on her forehead. “Actually, it was more like three days awake if you consider that I didn’t get much sleep on our wedding night either.”

“Is that a complaint?”

“Never.” He tipped her face up to his and kissed her, slow and tender.

When he released her, she looked up at him, wishing with all her heart this was a time when she was privy to his thoughts.

“Did you hear what I said?” she asked.

“Is this about trying to get me to hear you inside my head again?” he asked with a slight frown. “Because you were under duress when you thought you heard my voice, and I’m willing to bet that it was just your imagination and—”

She stopped him with a finger to his lips. “No, I mean just now. Did you hear me say you acquired a daughter?”

“Ja. And?”

She swallowed hard, hope tightening her throat. “You agree that we should keep Linnea?”

He chuckled. “Katla, I knew it would be so from the first time I saw you holding her. I could separate a bear cub from its mother with less risk than I could part that little girl from you.”

She breathed a sigh of relief. Linnea would rest secure within the circle of two she and Brandr made together. “Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. Thank the god who dropped her in your lap,” he said. “I know you want children, Katla. I’ve seen the wanting in you, sharper than any hunger.” His mouth twitched in a smile. “And it’ll be my pleasure to try to give them to you.” Then he rose on one elbow and looked down at her in all seriousness. “But if I can’t, at least we’ll have a daughter together.”

Her chest swelled with tenderness. She palmed his cheek. “Have I told you that I love you, Brandr Ulfson?”

He shook his head and then turned it to press a soft kiss on the center of her palm.

“Well, I do.”

“I’d love to give you opportunity to prove it, but I guess we’ll have to wait a few days for that.” He lay back down and hugged her tight.

This time she raised herself on an elbow to look down at him. Before her wedding, the women of her steading had been more than free with advice on how to satisfy a man. “Think you I cannot please you, even now, and without removing a stitch of my clothing?”

His jaw sagged open, and she cupped his chin to close it.

“Watch and learn.”

***

Brandr’s arms were outstretched as she’d instructed, and he lay spread-eagle in the middle of the sumptuous bed. Katla had suggested binding him at the wrists and ankles, since the bed was equipped with such lovely stout posts, but he’d given her his word he wouldn’t move unless she gave him leave. So she’d let him remain unbound.

He was beginning to regret his promise. He’d never wanted to move more in his life.

“Close your eyes,” she whispered.

He obeyed.

Her kid-soled slippers scuffed across the floor. Once she was beside the bed, she leaned to whisper directly into his ear, her lips and tongue moist on his lobe.

“Do not come till I tell you.”