Page 84 of Shared By the Vikings

“Definitely with her body,” Gunnvar said with a chuckle.

Ingrid shot him a narrow-eyed look. She was just starting to win Raud over and cool his anger. That flame of accepting the situation was rising, and she was stoking it, carefully.

Gunnvar stepped backward and held up his hands. The best apology she could expect from him.

“It is true I no longer have my maidenhead, Raud. I believed you lost forever when I gave it to Erik, but I can’t say I regret that when he is so special to me.”

Ingrid tugged Raud’s tunic, urging him up.

He stood, towering over her the way she remembered he did.

Raud turned to Erik. “You treated her well?”

“Of course. I am a man of honor. It was a sacred time.”

Raud nodded, a small stiff movement. He gestured to Tali. “And you?”

“Of course. I love Ingrid, I wish for us to be together, for always. And will treat her with kindness until the day my breath leaves my body.”

Raud pulled in a deep breath and turned to Gunnvar. “You are quick-witted and quick-tempered; can you be trusted with a princess?”

“Perhaps a princess is the only woman Icanbe trusted with.” Gunnvar grinned as he chewed on a blade of grass. “Her royal blood can keep me satisfied.”

“If you ever...” Raud released Ingrid and stepped up to Gunnvar, “push her further than she wants to go, or hurt her, or upset her, I’ll—”

“Take your sword to my guts, I understand.” Gunnvar puffed up his chest and moved in so his nose was against Raud’s. “Because it’s the same thing I’ll do to you. If you make one tear of sadness fall from her eyes your entrails will be—”

“Enough,” Ingrid said, placing her hands on each of their arms. “No more talk of what you will do to each other. You are my men.” She swung her gaze to Tali and Erik. “All of you and that is how we live now.”

Erik folded his arms and nodded.

Tali smiled.

“So come on.” She tugged at Raud. “Stop this and give me a kiss. I’ve missed you.”

His nostrils flared as he stared at Gunnvar, but then suddenly he turned, wrapped his arms around her, and pressed his mouth over hers.

She clung to him as he tipped her backward, drawing her closer as his tongue slipped between her lips. It was a different type of kiss to the ones he’d given her in the past. This one was heated, passionate, that of a man who knew what he wanted and had plans on taking it.

“Raud,” she gasped onto his lips. “I love you so much.”

“And I you.” He pulled her upright and held her face in his hands. “These last hours and days searching the beach for your body have been the worst of my life.”

“Why did you search?”

“I would have taken your body home for your father to give you a proper burial and send you on your way to the gods with many treasures.”

“My father would have killed you if you’d brought me home as a corpse.”

“Then I would have died with dignity, without fight or complaint and joined you in Valhalla.” He kissed her again. “This life and the next, remember.”

“I remember.”

Erik drew up at their side. “So how did you get here, Raud?”

“I landed south, alone on a beach with part of the boat, not repairable, and decided to head north with what I could carry.” He nodded at the sword. “And then yesterday I heard bells in the distance. I believed it to be a sign from the gods that I was going in the right direction so at first light, I set off again only to stumble onto Ingrid naked with Tali and Gunnvar.” He gritted his teeth and frowned.

“We like her naked.” Erik clasped Raud’s shoulder. “No hard feelings, friend, remember.”

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