Billionaire Romance: MAXIMILIAN (An Alpha Bad Boy Contemporary Mystery Romance) (Mysterious Billionaires Book 3, Anthologies & Collections) (42 page)

“We need to do something about leading our people, Aila.”

“I know, but neither of us is ever going to willingly give up the throne, Dagmar, nor should we.”

“Maybe the village can choose for us. We’ll give them some ideas and they can vote on them. If we don’t like any of them or can’t think of any we can agree on, we’ll take their suggestions under advisement.”

“Fine,” Aila finally agreed. “Tomorrow we can hold a meeting to see what the village of Hail can come up with to solve this problem. With the Solstice inching closer I want this settled.”

The next day Aila met Dagmar outside the large tent where normally everyone ate. Dragna had graciously made small cookies that tasted wonderful. They were fresh and warm on a bitterly cold, winter day. “I know that calling you all together like this isn’t our normal custom, however, both Aila and I agree that we need some assistance. Neither of us is willing to give up the rightful leadership of the village of Hail. Aila, having been born the eldest of the founding fathers is a given for ruling. However, I believe that she needs the education and brute strength of a man to help her while she’s at it—“

“And I,” Aila interrupted, “feel completely confident in my ability to lead our people without the meddling nuisance of a man.”

“We need your help to determine who you wish to become your ruler. If we cannot settle on a ruler by sundown, we would ask that you think of a solution that you feel might work in bringing the village further together.”

Aila met Dagmar in his tent after their speech. “How do you think it went?”

“As well as can be expected,” he smiled. “Obviously we’re going to get some quirky solutions, but I believe that a few, at least, will have viable options that we can discuss openly until we find something that works.”

“Whatever it is, we need to get it implemented and fast. The villagers are turning their focus to the Solstice. With just under three weeks to go I can’t blame them. I would like to have a totally united Hail come a few more days.”

“As would I.”

“I suppose I wouldn’t feel the way I do about you if you weren’t as stubborn as you are.”

“Probably not,” Dagmar smiled. “I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t feel nearly as much as I do for you if you backed down the first time I mentioned ruling our people instead of you.”

Aila spent the night there, reminiscing with Dagmar about their parents and early life. “Do you still miss them?”

“Every day,” Aila smiled. “It’s not as intense as it was those first months after they died, but there isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t think of them, when I don’t miss them.”

“I miss my parents as well, especially knowing they never got to see this place. Sometimes I think if I had stayed with them we would have survived the crossing.”

                                                                                    ***

Dagmar knew that no one understood where he was in life like Aila. Having crossed the North Sea together at eight and ten, they’d leaned on each other as no two children ever had. They’d been best friends and soulmates until puberty set in. Then it had been everything they couldn’t stand about each other. But as the years passed, maturity seemed to be setting in and he could see that Aila was not just a gorgeous woman; she was also smart, headstrong, funny, and easy to talk to. She would make any man an incredible wife, and Dagmar wasn’t quite comfortable realizing that he wouldn’t mind offering her a place at his side.

“What are we going to do if we can’t get this figured out?”

“I don’t know,” Aila exhaled. “I want the village set up for the winter celebration, so I guess I’ll focus on that and see how we fair in the end. I do hope we can find a working solution though, Dagmar. I don’t want this silly feud to carry out after the Solstice. We should at least consider giving it to the people of Hail as a gift for the holiday.”

“Who knows, maybe someone will come up with something that we can both live with.”

“Dagmar,” Dragna said outside his tent. “The people are ready for you and Aila to discuss possible solutions to which one of you should rule Hail and its people.”

“Excellent,” Dagmar said, opening his tent. “We’ll be there shortly.”

Dagmar held his tent open for Aila to join him. “Are you ready?”

Chapter Four: Devoid Solutions             

“Let’s get it over with,” Aila said, accepting Dagmar’s hand when he offered it.

Together they walked toward the food tent, entering it before she felt him release her.

“Dragna tells us that you all have some solutions for us to think about to get this issue resolved before the Solstice,” Dagmar said, stepping up to the seats where only leaders were deemed worthy enough to sit. Neither he nor Aila had ever sat in the leaders’ chairs, but both had stood at different times on the stage where the chairs were placed.

“We do,” an older gentleman said. He handed a stack of papers to Aila, who looked at him and smiled.

“Thank you,” she said, giving the old man a wink that made him smile. She cut the stack in half and gave the top half to Dagmar. “You read your half and I’ll read mine. Then we’ll decide which ones to think over further.”

“Alright,” Dagmar said, picking his first one. “Split the village in two. Let Aila rule her people and Dagmar his.”

“No,” Aila said. Facing the group she continued. “Splitting up is not an option. We need to stay together, to be united in one cause. We are one people and nothing like this will drive us apart.”

“What does yours say?” Dagmar asked, pointing to her stack. Aila looked down at it and laughed.

“Dagmar should marry Aila and they could both rule.” Dagmar laughed too, although Aila would have sworn his heart wasn’t in it.

“That’s a very creative solution for sure and a viable one. Someone, however, is going to have to convince our potential queen that marrying me is in her best interest.”

“Take her to your bed and prove it to her!” a man in the crowd shouted. “Rumor has it she could use a good lay.”

Dagmar took one look at Aila and knew his best friend was pissed. Then he saw Dragna take a wooden spoon and hit the man over the head hard enough to have him cussing. “Thank you Dragna, for that and those incredible cookies. I’m sure you saved Dungar from becoming a braying ass, at least literally.”

“You’re both very welcome,” the older woman smiled. “And may I say that there are worse fates than marriage. You must remember that some of us still remember how it was between you two, when neither of you cared nor worried about ruling Hail.”

“Regardless,” Aila said, her voice ringing out into the night, “No solution will be reached tonight. Thank you all for your participation. Dagmar and I will look over these thoroughly and tomorrow we’ll be able to announce whether or not we’ve come up with something that suits everyone involved. “

“It wasn’t a half-bad idea,” Dagmar said as he escorted Aila back to his tent.

“What? Sleeping with me to win me over?”

“No,” Dagmar chuckled. “Getting married and uniting our people through that.”

“Oh, so I could always be second to you. Well that’d work out lovely for you wouldn’t it, Dagmar. What a nice little dowry I could hand you. Please, by all means go right ahead and try to drag me there.”

“What happened to the shy Aila who shared my bed yesterday?”

“I’m a leader, Dagmar. I always have been and I always will be.”

“I’m not debating that. I’m just trying to find out why you can’t be happy ruling by my side.”

The dream came back to her in flashes, vivid enough to touch if she would just reach out. Closing her fist into a tight ball of frustration, Aila replied, “Because you’d never concede and rule at my side, Dagmar. Why is it always the woman who has to bend? We bend ourselves when it comes to everything in life, it seems. Men want sex, we bend our bodies through the pain of that first time. Men want food, we cook it and serve them first. Men want to hunt, the wife stays home with the babies so he can.”

“Did you ever think that maybe, just maybe it wasn’t so much what the man wanted to do, but what he felt right in his heart to protect and provide for his family?”

Irritation rippled through her skin as she sat silently fuming in Dagmar’s tent. She’d yet to best him in an argument and it galled her to be reminded of it. “But why is it always the woman who gives and sacrifices?”

“You think that men don’t sacrifice? Did it ever occur to you that the men I take with me hunting might rather be home with their wives? What man wants to willingly walk away from the woman he loves, the home they’ve built together, the children they made together? No man, I’ll tell you that much. It’s true that we Picts love a good fight and a great hunt, but our hearts are here with our families, with our people.”

She hated admitting that Dagmar had a good and valid point. But his sense seemed to cool her frustration. She didn’t often think of the sacrifices men made to feed their families. She’d been so consumed with convincing Dagmar to quit pursuing the right to rule that she hadn’t really seen all they’d accomplished. The year before her parents died, Aila had seen the walls erected. Huge tents had been constructed to house general meeting areas. Then, two months before her parents tragic death, Aila saw the first permanent quarters go up. They would house the official ruler of Hail, whoever it turned out to be.

“Do you think our parents would be proud of us?”

“I hope so,” Dagmar said, a grin splitting his lips. “I know my father would probably slap me on my back and tell me to put you in your place. Then my mother would punch him and tell him to hush.” The memories of their parents, sharing stories of them made both Aila and Dagmar better appreciate their friendship. “I’ve missed you, Aila.”

“I’ve missed you too,” she whispered. Feeling foolish, Aila inched closer to him, knowing full well those piercing blue eyes were watching her with that intensity that could easily melt her bones. With a half grin on her face she brought her lips to his and sank into him. They moved together easily, as if each of them already knew the other’s movements. She sank into the thick furs of Dagmar’s bed as he laid her back. This was a different Dagmar. The man he’d been yesterday had been patient, kind, achingly tender.

Today he was hard, brilliant and so wonderfully hungry. “I don’t want to be so tender tonight, Aila,” Dagmar growled.

“No one’s asking you to,” she exhaled, her breasts rising quickly with each breath she took. Arching, Aila pressed her hips against his, felt the readiness of his thick cock. Memories flashed in her mind of the first time he’d touched her and Aila felt herself grow wet in anticipation. “Will it hurt now?”

Dagmar had always loved Aila’s blunt honesty. Whenever she spoke, you always knew you were going to get exactly what was on her mind. Smiling, he pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I don’t think so, although I’m no judge. I would think the worst of it is over now, but I’ll be gentle if that’s what you need, Aila.”

“I’m just scared that… that it won’t feel good.”

“Did it feel bad last time?” Dagmar asked, a scowl marring his chiseled face.

“No, not bad. It was painful, but not excruciating. Just, noticeable.”

“Oh,” Dagmar said, suddenly uncomfortable.

“I’m sorry Dagmar,” Aila backtracked. “Forget I said anything.”

“And how do you propose I do that?”

Aila, who was always awkward when it came to talk of bedroom affairs, knew that, of all the men she’d known in her life, Dagmar was the only one she’d ever wanted to touch. Knowing that if she didn’t salvage this, she’d spend the night unfulfilled, she rose up on her knees and pulled her tunic over her head. “I don’t know about you, but when you kiss me, when you touch me, I can’t seem to think about anything except how amazing I feel.”

“Oh, Aila,” Dagmar grinned. “Do you have any idea how lovely you are?”

“Show me,” she begged, her body already starting to hum. The first kiss rocked her to her core as her body revved up. Dagmar answered her hunger with his own need, lying back and bringing her with him. She straddled him, surprised by the immense power it gave her. His hands were everywhere, stoking the desire that whipped through her. Garment after garment was stripped away until Aila felt her skin warm against Dagmar’s. She leaned down and kissed him fully, her warm tongue tangling with his as his large hands kneaded her breasts. Then those lovely, callous-roughened hands took hold of her hips and lifted, angling her warm pussy over him. Penetration came quickly this time and Aila winced in anticipation of pain that did not come.

Dagmar was still a considerable man to deal with, but Aila gloried in the painless act of making love. Mesmerized by him, Aila gave herself up to the intense rhythm that fed her want even as it seemed to fulfill an even hotter need in Dagmar. He pumped into her, using her hips to lift her and using his hands to bring her down again. Each thrust spoke of a need she had to fill, within both of them. Strange that outside of ruling their people, Aila could picture no man who suited her quite the way Dagmar did. So why did she resist the idea of marriage so strongly?

Feeling the incredible force of Dagmar’s thrusts, Aila closed her mind to everything except the way he made her feel. She moved in time with him, pushing them both to peak. On a cry of pure ecstasy, Aila came hard as Dagmar thrust deep into her wet pussy.

That night neither of them spoke of the impending decisions that hung over their heads. They spoke of their early days and how their friendship had meant the world to them, for different reasons. Dagmar told Aila about the moment he learned his parents had died on the trip over.

“I’ll never forget the gut-wrenching pain of it. They were here in my memories and, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t bring them here. I couldn’t give them life through those memories.”

“I remember feeling numb for the longest time. I ate and I dressed and I worked, but I wasn’t living. I just wasn’t dying, except on the inside. It was you who saved me.”

“How?” Dagmar asked.

“By being my friend. By never asking me to be okay or to get over it. You gave me unconditional love and space; two things I needed desperately. I remember that afternoon, after we learned your parents had died. I bawled and bawled. I cried until my whole body hurt. It wasn’t fair that we should both lose our parents in such senseless ways.”

“I remember hearing about your parents. I was still reeling from losing mine, and I can’t tell you how hard it was not to go out and beat someone to death. I wanted someone to feel the emptiness I felt inside. I had no idea that it would be you.”

“I don’t blame you,” Aila said, running her finger through the sparse red hair on Dagmar’s chest. “You saved me, and I think in a way we saved each other.”

“I know we did,” Dagmar said, caressing her long, dark hair. “If I hadn’t had you I would have gone insane. I probably would have tried to kill myself. You were the one who showed me that we could still go on. We could still live despite the tremendous loss of our parents.”

“You showed me that I was still needed,” Aila smiled, pressing a kiss to his mouth. “I like being needed by you.”

“I do need you, Aila,” Dagmar smiled. “More than I would have admitted to, even six days ago. Whatever we decide, I’m always with you, okay? I’ll always support you.”

“But not enough to step aside and let me lead?”

“No,” Dagmar sighed. “How could I live with myself if someone or something hurt you? I wouldn’t survive losing you. You were there to help me with losing my parents. No one would be there to console me to the degree I’d need if you got hurt because you were leading our people.”

“Oh, I get it. It’s okay for me to do anything else that puts my life in danger, like hunt or go to war. But leading, that sort of thing is for real men to do, right?”

“Would you quit putting words in my mouth?” Dagmar said. “All I’m saying is that being the ruler of a people comes with a known danger that others might not like you. If they don’t like you and they see you as a threat, they would easily try to snuff you out. I couldn’t live with myself if you died because I gave in and let you become the official ruler of our people.”

“Then I guess there’s nothing else for us to say to each other,” Aila said. She stood and dressed, all the while ignoring Dagmar’s pleas to stay inside where it was warm. When she was finally dressed, Aila opened his tent and walked over to her own. She looked up one last time, seeing Dagmar watching her, before she stepped into her own tent and closed the flap behind her.

THE END