Page 44 of Her Celtic Captor

"Were you faithful to her? I mean, since you and she were not lovers?"

"I was, at least during the time of our formal betrothal. I would not have treated her with disrespect. Prior to that, no, I did not consider myself obligated and nor did I expect fidelity from Fiona."

"You must have been very angry with my brother."

"Oh, yes. It was a brutal attack on our villages. Fiona's brother died in the raid, as did several others. I think it is fair to say I was fucking angry, and I was desperately scared for Fiona. For all of my people who were taken."

"Yet you arrived at this deal with Ulfric. You agreed to abduct me."

"It is true that we came to understand each other after a while. Your brother has his faults but he is a man I can respect and I trust him to take care of Fiona. She will be happy with him, and that is what I want for her."

"You are not jealous?"

"Do I seem so to you?"

"No, and I do not understand why you would relinquish your bride so readily."

"We were not suited. It is better this way. Now, I would hear of your Eirik."

"There is nothing to tell. He was a warrior from a settlement about a half day's ride to the west of Skarthveit. My father arranged the match, with the Jarl of the Bjarkessons. It was a good alliance."

"Did you spread your legs for him?"

Brynhild hesitated, then shook her head slowly. "No. He did not ask that of me. He was...polite."

"Polite? I cannot believe he did not wish to fuck you. Certainly, I would wish to, were I in his position."

"He... he did not."

"Why not? And please do not trouble to mention your alleged coldness for it will not do. Why did Eirik Bjarkesson not wish to sample the delights of his very lovely bride to be?"

"I do not know."

"Brynhild, you are perilously close to a spanking right now. Are you sure you wish to continue to lie to me?"

"It... it is private."

"I imagine so. Tell me."

"I cannot. It is too... too...personal."

"I would say we have reached the point where nothing is too personal. Tell me, Brynhild. Now."

She drew in a long breath, then let it out. Her cheeks flamed and she squirmed under the weight of her embarrassment as she whispered the words she had never uttered to a soul before, words she had sworn she would never repeat.

"He preferred men."

"Ah. I see. You knew of this?"

Brynhild nodded. “I... I discovered him and another warrior. I was not intended to know, but I saw, and... I promised I would never tell anyone."

"Even knowing this, you were willing to wed him?"

"I was willing to wed himbecauseof it. He would not expect me to... to... We had an agreement. He would have been perfect for me."

"Why would you settle for a man who would never desire you? What about children? Would you have settled for such a life?"

"Ihavesettled for such a life and it has served me well. Until you and Ulfric turned everything upon its head."

---