Page 43 of Viktor at Sea

Astrid shifted on the steps to turn her body toward mine, the skirts of her dress brushing my legs.

“I have felt a lot of things for you over the years, pirate,” she whispered. “Anger. Hatred. Frustration. And sometimes–” she cleared her throat. “I never thought that you could love me. That you had feelings for me.”

“I was a fool not to have expressed it to you earlier.” I bowed my head in shame. “I apologise for that and for always giving you such a hard time.”

“You have nothing to apologise for,” she assured me, something indiscernible in her eyes as she stared intently at me. “I, too, have given you a hard time over the years. We’ve been like this as long as we’ve known each other.”

“There’s a thin line between love and hate,” I quoted to her. “I heard of that saying while on my travels a few years back. I thought it rather silly at the time, something for love-struck fools, but I see the truth in it now. I never thought that it would ever apply to me.”

“And I never expected to have Viktor Thostenson on his knees for me.” Her beautiful ebony hair cascaded down her back as she threw her head back and laughed.

“I have to admit,” I chuckled, mirroring her happy manners. “I never expected to be in love with you one day, but you won me over with your teasing and snarky remarks. I’ve been in love with you for a long time, Astrid, but I was too much of a coward to admit it to you. I’m sorry for not telling you earlier, but I’m not sorry for loving you. I will never be sorry for that.”

When I heard her breath hitch in her throat, I knew my words had moved her. Gathering all my courage, I reached for her hand, threaded our fingers together and lifted her hand to brush a kiss against the back of it, my lips lingering there.

I was also tempted to poke my tongue out and lick her skin, hungry for the taste of her, but something told me it wouldn’t be as well received as the innocent kiss.

“You love me?” Astrid asked, her eyes focused as if she was in a trance. “You love me truly?”

“With all my heart, and then some more,” I murmured against her palm, pressing another kiss to her skin. “And my love for you only grows with each passing day.” I didn’t mention howfast it was growing as I didn’t want to scare her away. Not when I still needed to convince her to spend the rest of her life with me.

“How is that possible?” She asked in a whisper.

“I do not understand the matters of the heart, just that I know what I feel. And I feel for you, Astrid,” I whispered, the words mumbled against the back of her hand where my lips still lingered. “I feel very strongly for you.”

“I do not love you,” Astrid announced suddenly. My heart twisted painfully at her words. When she took note of the pained expression, her face dropped, and she rushed to explain herself. “I didn’t mean it like that,” she was quick to clarify. “I mean, I don’t love you yet. It’s too early for that, but I do feel something for you, Viktor. Like you, I believed it to be nothing but hatred and frustration because you’re the most annoying man I know, but when I saw you the other morning, on your knees and with that ring, asking for my hand in marriage, I…”

I scarcely allowed myself to hope as I asked, “You what?”

Astrid held my eyes. “I wanted to say yes.”

My heart twisted again, but it was out of pure joy. So, I hadn’t imagined it! It wasn’t all in my head! Astrid had wanted to say yes! And the wretched Crosby had shown up and ruined the beautiful moment. Perhaps, if he had shown up even a moment later, Astrid and I would be engaged by now.

“I don’t know how to explain it, but I wanted to say yes so badly. And I would have if Crosby hadn’t shown up,” she confirmed my thoughts, sending my heart soaring even higher.

“I know how you feel,” I smiled softly at her. “But there’s no rush, Astrid. Take all the time you need to consider the two offers of marriage you’ve been made. Don’t feel pressured to rush your decision.”

“You don’t mind waiting?” Astrid asked, a sense of hesitance about her.

“I’m prepared to wait a lifetime for you, Astrid,” I promised, meaning every single word.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her lips curving up in a breathtaking smile. “There’s quite a few things that I’ve been pondering over these past few days,” she murmured, her voice trailing off.

“Oh?” I prompted her.

Astrid dropped my eyes, but I quickly pinched her chin softly and lifted her face to meet my eyes.

“You can ask me anything, Astrid,” I whispered. “I promise I’ll be honest. You have my word.”

She nodded her head ever so slightly and sighed. “I believe you when you say you love me, but what about Chara?”

“Nothing is going on between Chara and I,” I was quick to assure her, needing her to know that I had eyes for her and only her. “I have no feelings for Chara whatsoever. She was a mistake which I have come to regret terribly.”

“She is telling everyone that you will never marry me. That you love her and are only trying to make her jealous.”

“Chara is crazy,” I snorted at the absurdity of the rumour. “I need you to know, Astrid, that I do not have the slightest inclination toward Chara. She is nothing more than a mistake of the past. If I could go back and erase that night, I would.”

“And the other woman?” She asked.

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