Page 36 of Shared By the Vikings

“And what is that?” She was curious as to Gunnvar’s line of thought.

He slipped his hand down the front of his pants, grimaced and appeared to adjust his cock. “A man gives his woman structure, rules, and his protection. In return the woman cooks for him, bears sons, and keeps him warm at night.”

“Perhaps my father wanted more for me than a life of stirring a pot, childbirth, and sex.” Which is what he’d always implied, until that night at the feast.

“Maybe he did, but by changing you, did he think he’d change all the men who would fall under your spell?”

“Under my spell?”

“Raud, you had him hooked. I saw the way he looked at you. I thought he was getting soft on a boy and I’d have to throw him overboard for forgetting where to put his cock. “

“I daresay he was under my spell.” She thought of the times they’d kissed, but never more than that for worry of her becoming with child. Raud had kept his distance, claiming he feared his will power might let him down if he were to see her naked.

“You should be careful,” he said. “The ability to make Viking warriors fall to their knees shouldn’t be taken lightly.”

“The way I just did to you.”

“Ja. The way you just did to me.” He nodded at the fire. “Let’s eat.”

Chapter Nine

As they ate the bird, Gunnvar told her about his northern village of Khatsar. He’d never married, preferring to help his elderly father work their land and train as a warrior to serve the Earl of Khatsar who had now died along with his father.

“So you’ve never fallen in love?” Ingrid asked as she dragged the last of the meat from a wing bone.

“Ja, once, a lass from my uncle’s wife’s side.”

“What is her name?”

He glanced at her. “Why’d you want to know?”

She shrugged. “I’m curious. You know about me and Raud.”

“Mmm.” He paused. “Her name was Astrid; she died of the fever three winters ago.”

“I’m sorry.”

---