Valkyrie Heat (25 page)

said, his regret was apparent.

“I wanted you to,” Sky said with surprise. She raised herself

onto her elbow. “Rolf, I wanted you that way. Not every time, but

sometimes. You didn’t hurt me. I love you so much I just felt you

needed some time to just lose it. It’s okay to feel out of control. I

want you so much, any way you want to have me. Please don’t feel

bad, that would make me unhappy.”

Rolf reached his hand to trace her jaw line with his fingers.

“I never want you to fear me.”

“I will never fear you,” she replied seriously. She clasped his

hand and brought it to her lips. She kissed his open palm.

Sky moved to slip over him. He was hard and she slid his

erection into her. His hands spanned her waist. Sky rocked against

him. She threw her head back and let him glide in and out of her.

Her hands covered his when they moved higher to rub her breasts.

“You feel so good,” he said.

She was thinking the same of him. “I love you, Rolf.”

“I love you, too.”

Sky felt a gentle roll of passion flow over her. Rolf groaned

and thrust into her once, twice and held still. Sky lay over him.

Her head pressed to his chest and she heard his heartbeat. She had

never been happier in her life.

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“Rolf?”

“Hmm?”

“How will we know whose baby it will be when I get

pregnant?” Her thoughts had strayed to when Katla had delivered.

“Any baby you have will be mine and Brandr’s.”

“You will treat any child like it is yours?”

“Yes. So will Brandr.”

“Our children will be very lucky to have two amazing fathers.”

“And one beautiful, caring mother.”

Sky tilted her face up and smiled at him. If the children looked

like him or Brandr, they would be gorgeous. Rolf rolled her onto

her back. He lay on top of her for a moment until she groaned and

shoved him.

“Off! You’re squishing me,” she squealed.

“But you lay on me.” He chuckled.

“You weigh as much as a horse,” she countered.

He lifted his heavy bulk from her and grinned down at her. “I

thought you wanted me to lose my control.”

“With your cock. It’s big all right, but doesn’t weigh as much

as the rest of you.”

Rolf rolled off her. “I’m wounded,” he declared.

“If your cock weighed that much, I’d be wounded and you’d

never get near me.”

Rolf laughed. He got up and dressed in leather hide pants and

moccasins. Sky rose to her feet and put her own skimpy clothing

on. She shivered when she went outside.

“It will be getting cold soon,” Rolf said. “I think it’s time to go

hunting for warmer furs. Although I’m going to miss seeing you in

this outfit. Soon enough you will be wearing the attire of a free

woman. After breakfast Brandr and I can go. It’s high time we had

a marriage feast.” He was smiling down at her.

Sky found his marriage proposal amusing. She supposed she

should be annoyed. Looking at him, she highly doubted he was

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about to get on one knee and offer her his undying love. Except he

already had. He had challenged a dragon for her, both men had.

She loved them and she knew they loved her. As well, she had

begun to ignore the captive clothing she was in. She had grown to

care for almost all in the village and them her. They looked beyond

her attire and saw the woman within, and all knew she was free

regardless and well protected. What she wore ceased to matter.

Her arms wrapped around herself in the cool morning air as

they walked on. Upon reflection, as she shivered again, she felt

some proper warm clothing would be welcome. Rolf pulled her

tightly to his side.

“We will be back before dinner and Eirik will watch you. No

doubt he will keep you close to Katla’s side all day anyway, so you

can help her.”

It was blessedly warm inside the huge cabin with the hearths

all ablaze. Sky went to visit with Katla and the babies. She picked

up her namesake.

“They’re so beautiful. How do you tell them apart?” she

asked.

Katla held up Agata. “See this dark birthmark? My last little

Agata had the same one. Sky doesn’t have one.”

Sky cuddled the baby in her arms for a moment more before

handing her back. Leif was playing with his wooden sword in the

corner.

“Have you had breakfast?” Sky asked him.

“No he hasn’t,” Katla said then yawned. “Will you please take

him for a while? I need to feed the girls and then we all need some

sleep.”

“Sure,” Sky replied. She held her hand out to the boy who

went with her happily.

Sky sat Leif at the table with her. Rolf joined her, but Brandr

had already eaten. Rolf helped himself to rabbit and fish. So did

Leif. The boy was very proud of himself. He had been catching

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small game for the last week with his little bow and arrow. His

father declared him a hunter and a new village provider. Rolf

handed Sky some meat and a small but thick slice of salmon. She

thanked him and reached for bread and rolls for herself and the

boy. Sky was surprised when Leif handed her a share of his rabbit.

Rolf chuckled. Sky took the food and thanked the child profusely.

She wouldn’t hurt his feelings by not accepting. She realized Leif

would also be providing for his sisters. As a hunter, even though a

young one, he was entitled to meat and could share his portion

with whomever he chose. His father had already taught him the

importance of sharing with the females in the village to keep them

safe from harm.

“Brandr and I will be leaving soon,” Rolf said. He looked

down at Leif very seriously. “Will you help your father protect Sky

for me today?”

“Of course,” the boy replied. “What has my father asked for?”

By offering Sky his protection, Eirik could ask for something

in return. If she were a captive she would be given to Eirik for the

day for his use. She wasn’t a captive. She could see the twinkle in

Rolf’s eyes and realized he was playing along with the boy—he

wouldn’t hurt his feelings either.

“Your father asked for Sky’s help with the babies.”

Sky thought that was generous; he could have asked for more.

He would have known she would already help with the babies. Any

meat they returned with would be shared, but he could have asked

for a skin or other parts of the animal.

The boy seemed to think about that. “There are two babies,”

he said thoughtfully. “Maybe I should offer the same.” He looked a

bit disappointed. Sky was impressed. Apparently, so was Rolf.

“But there is your mother and Sky. Two women, two babies,”

he reminded him.

Leif’s eyes lit up and he smiled. “You’re right, Rolf. I went

hunting for squirrels today but I can’t leave the village alone and

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Father was busy. Too many noisy people, so no squirrels. Alfarin

has promised Mother rabbit skins for the twins as gifts. Can I have

two squirrels? Mother can make them warm footwear.”

“Done,” Rolf exclaimed.

Sky just shook her head. She was handed to a man and a boy

for the day for two squirrels and babysitting services. She didn’t

know whether or not to laugh.

Brandr came over to the table, he leaned down and kissed Sky

on the top of her head.

“No dancing until we return,” Brandr warned.

Sky snorted.
As if.
“Don’t worry, I won’t.”

“She will be fine,” Leif piped up. “I’m helping my father watch

her today for two squirrels.”

“Two whole squirrels?” Brandr said, eyes raised.

“Sky is little but lots of trouble,” Leif said solemnly.

Sky did laugh now. So did Rolf and Brandr.

Rolf rose and also kissed Sky on the forehead. “Try and stay

out of trouble,” he said then chuckled.

The men left. Sky and Leif finished eating and went back to

the small room where Katla lay sleeping with a babe in each arm.

Eirik was sitting on the bed beside her, just watching them sleep.

He looked over and smiled at Sky. Sky motioned with her hands

she would watch Leif. Eirik nodded. Sky took the boy by the hand

and led him back to the main hall. More people had gathered. It

would seem many men had decided to hunt that morning and their

females were taken to the cabin for protection.

“I am going to play,” Leif said, then looked stern. “No

dancing—my sword arm is strong, but for some reason when you

dance, Lugh and the others go nuts. Stay out of trouble.”

When he left, many women hid a giggle behind their hand.

Sky settled herself down at a table. The warm shirt she had

made for Rolf was almost finished. It was very soft leather worked

for a long time. She wanted to decorate it with animal tails and

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claws the way she had seen other women do. Next she would need

to make one for Brandr. She had seen the carcass of a hawk near

the river but wanted to surprise Rolf with the shirt so she had left

it. When Eirik emerged, she would ask him to take her. She

watched as Isibel grabbed the water bucket.

“Who is going with you?” Sky asked.

She knew Isibel was not allowed to go to the stream alone, no

woman or child was. Isibel was still Eirik’s captive. She was for the

men’s use until she wed, but was still heavily protected from

renegades and murderers.

“Lugh. He hasn’t let anyone near me since Eirik’s decision,”

she replied and giggled.

Sky was happy for her, she liked Isibel. “There is a hawk near

the river by the large white boulder. Would you mind taking its

claws? I will share them with you,” Sky asked.

“I will take you to the river,” Leif said. He raced over. “Then

we can swim together and you can play with me.”

“I don’t think it’s such a good idea,” Sky said. Although, a

swim sounded refreshing as the day warmed and the interior of the

cabin heated.

Leif was looking at her with wide hopeful eyes. She realized

the child tried to model himself after his father and the other

warriors. He was just a boy, little more than a baby. Now his

mother had her hands full with two babies. The boy must be

feeling a bit jealous for attention.

Eirik approached. “Would you like to swim, Sky?” he asked.

“I would, but Katla can’t be left alone. The other women all

seem to be involved in their own tasks. Leif wants to swim. I think

he could use some added attention.”

Eirik seemed to think about that. His eyes settled onto his

youngest son who wiggled around with so much eager anticipation

he looked like a hyper puppy. Eirik smiled down on him. “I’ll make

certain Katla is not left alone.” He called Alfarin over. “Alfarin,

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take Sky and Leif to the river with Lud. Lugh is taking Isibel for

water.”

Alfarin puffed with pride. The boy was only fifteen but stood

six feet already. His chest wasn’t nearly as impressive as his father’s

but it would be one day. He wore his sword strapped to his back

like the other warriors. He walked with pride when he led Sky to

the river with his brother and the two other warriors and Isibel.

When they reached the water, Leif jumped in. So did Isibel

and then Sky after Alfarin had cut the hawk’s claws from the bird

for her. Sky saw Alfarin look at the water longingly, but he was

there to protect, not play. The young man squared his shoulders

and kept an eagle eye out for danger. After an hour of frolicking

with the exuberant boy, Sky was ready to leave. She began

climbing onto the riverbank then screamed in surprised terror

when an arrow went through Lugh’s arm. The two men and young

teen drew their swords. Lugh snapped the arrow in half with his

thumb and yanked it out like it was a splinter. Six men crashed

toward them from the brush.

Isibel howled when a man tossed her over his shoulder.

Lugh roared in anger. He grabbed Isibel by her ankles to lift

her and slammed his sword right through the man’s chest. Sky

grabbed Leif in her arms and began running. The boy had pulled

his wooden sword and had been about to attack a giant warrior.

Alfarin took up the challenge instead. The warrior laughed at

Alfarin. Sky winced when the man and teen clashed swords. Alfarin

was being trained by his father. He had a steady hand and strength

behind his thrusts. The man soon stopped laughing. Lud was

attacked by two men. Sky screamed for Eirik at the top of her

lungs as a warrior approached her and Leif.

“Put me down, Sky, so I can protect you,” Leif demanded.

“Yes, put him down,” the warrior said with a vile look.

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Sky had no doubt the man would kill Leif if she released him.

She backed up slowly, her arms wrapped around the child. Her

heart fell when Lud hit the ground.