Page 18 of Swamp Kings 2

“You guys managing?” Beth asked when her teacher rounds brought her to their table.

“We are now,” Juliette beamed. “Not to brag,” she said, happily doing exactly that. “But it turns out Kaj has his own Viking love language.”

Beth sucked in a breath of surprise. “Really!” She held her own workbook against her chest. “Pleasetell me.”

Juliette grinned at her big brother behind his wife when he poked the tip of her nose like he used to when she was a kid. She regarded Kaj, seeing him uncomfortable.

“I’ll tell her,” Juliette said, realizing it might be against custom for him to do all that publicly. “So there’s…” she regarded Kaj, trying to remember what was first.

“Protection,” he helped.

“Yes, protection from harm, seen or unseen. And then… Honor,” she remembered, getting his nod. “Where he respects me in everything I do. And me him of course. Then uhhhh…”

“Protection, sacrifice, honor, devotion, and passion,” Kaj said, apparently not wanting to drag it out.

“But tell her what they all mean,” Juliette urged, excited, looking up at Beth. “That’s the good parts.”

Kaj restated them for her in his priestly tone which was its own kind of sexy to her and after, Beth turned to Bishop. “This is amazing.” She faced the class and called, “Excuse me everybody. I want to make an adjustment to the love language assignment. The five I listed are very general I'm realizing, so feel free to add your own way of expressing what you love, how, and why—something you feel that accuratelyfits. And if you don’t mind, bring it to the next class so we can share, I absolutely love this idea.” She turned back to them with a beaming smile. “Thank you Kaj and Juliette.”

“What kind of Vicki vocabulary you shootin’ your mouth off with?” Bullets said a few tables over.

“Ask my sister, gunny sack.”

Bullets did it immediately. “What kind of Vicki vocabulary is he talkin’ about, wife?”

“I have no idea,” she said, sounding intrigued.

“Fuck,” Kaj barely muttered.

“What?” Juliette whispered.

“She doesn’t know our most cherished customs, that’s what.”

“How wouldn’t she?” Juliette figured it out the second she asked. “Them bastards.”

“Exactly.” Kaj looked over at Bullets. “I’ll tell you later, my pew-pew paladin.”

Juliette snickered with the rest of the couples near enough to hear. “Lordy, I love y’all’s name war.

“Much obliged, my boudin barbarian,” Bullets said, bringing an eruption of laughter.

“Okay, I know it’s late,” Beth called out after the chuckles subsided. “But if youguys are willing, we can wrap up with one final thing. Fifteen more minutes?”

“Let’s do it,” Tegan said.

“I’m ready,” Cherie urged.

“I could stand another four hours of this.”

Juliette recognized Gracie’s voice and leaned to see where she was. All the way at the back with Ruckus looking like he could stand walking out. Must all be weird for him after living alone for all those years. Would love to hearhislove languages. Silence. Staring. Grunting. Pushing. Shoving.

“So, since love languages aren’t always obvious, how about we discuss ways to better understand what you and your partner need. Learning and communicating, all without judgment, that’s what this is about. So…” She brought her hands together at the front of the room, looking all around with a smile. “I just want to pause and say how good we’re all doing, I think?” she praised with nods before jumping back in.

“Ain’t she precious,” Juliette muttered.

“So very amazing,” Kaj muttered back.

She angled warningeyes at him, and he chuckled lowly.

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