Page 89 of Shared By the Vikings

She was pleased to see him smile after his anger in the grain store.

Ingrid took a silver urn from Raud. It was heavy but she hugged it to her chest as they walked back through the sand dunes.

The birds sang, as if congratulating them on their findings. The sun shone down, bathing them in goodness, and the sea called to them, inviting them to journey home.

She began to look forward to the waves, to the smells and sounds of her homeland.

The shed soon came into view, as did the watery horizon.

After marching down to the boat, secured just out of reach from the waves, they dropped their treasure onto the sand. It clanked together, jingling and jangling. There were necklaces and plates, a large heavy cross on a plinth, bangles, candleholders, and chains.

“We will use this ring,” Erik said, delving into his pocket and withdrawing a golden ring set with a large red stone. It had been shaped into many surfaces, each of which caught the sunlight and sent it sparkling in a different direction. “To make Ingrid our wife.”

“You will?” Her breath caught.

The other men stilled and looked her way.

“Ja.” Erik nodded and studied the ring.

“But...” She tipped her chin. “You haven’t asked me yet, Jarl Erik.”

He tipped his head, a slow smile spreading on his face. “I don’t have to, I know you will.”

She set her hands on her hips. “Oh, you know that, do you?” She’d used her best indignant voice.

He didn’t say anything, just continued to smile at her, his eyes narrowed and oozing a confidence that was so incredibly sexy.

“I might want to just marry Tali, or Raud, or Gunnvar.” Her heart was thudding. She did want Tali, Raud, and Gunnvar. But she wanted Erik as well.

I want them all... forever.

“But you don’t, do you?” he said. “You don’tjustwant to marry one of us.”

She bit on her bottom lip and studied each of their faces in turn. Raud so familiar and well entrenched in her heart. Gunnvar, wild and gorgeous and dangerous, Tali, solid and caring and beautiful, and Erik, dominant, stern and a man—like the others—she couldn’t imagine living without.

“You want us all.” Erik stepped up to her and pinched her chin. “You’re a princess who wants to claim four husbands, as is your right.”

“Ja,” she whispered. “I want you all for my husbands, I want to be with you in this life and the next and give you many sons, all of you.”

Erik smiled, a lovely, wide triumphant grin, then kissed her.

She became conscious of the other men crowding her. The next thing she knew Tali’s mouth was over hers, then Gunnvar’s. She absorbed their flavor and enjoyed their tongues stroking hers.

Sighing, she was aware of big hard bodies, hot hands, pressing onto her and roaming her slight curves. “Ja,” she managed, feeling floaty, “I want you all.”

“Good,” Raud said against her ear. He sent kisses down her neck.

She moaned and found Erik’s mouth again as Gunnvar slipped his hand into her tunic and cupped her right breast.

“There is one matter to attend to before we set sail,” Tali said, his voice low and dark by her ear.

Her chest tightened and she clamped her ass cheeks together. She knew what he was going to say before he said it.

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