16 #2
She leaned down and lightly kissed his mouth.
She was quite pleased that shea??d married him.
This part of it hadna??t been so very bad, aye, the kissing she had much enjoyed and, too, his strength.
She admired strength. But to have his strength bring her pleasure was beyond what shea??d ever imagined.
The rest of it was interesting, and she accepted it.
She also knew there wouldna??t be the rending pain the next time they came together.
He had gained much pleasure, of that she had no doubt.
She was glad she had pleased him. She was glad she had pleased him so much hea??d fallen off her and dropped into a deep sleep. Shea??d brought a mighty warrior low with his lust, and she was a female of no experience.
She felt somewhat proud of herself. Shea??d never before imagined this sort of power a woman could wield over a man.
She wondered if it would always be so. She thought of Einara??s two mistresses, silly sheep, both of them.
She doubted that he thought of them beyond the pleasure they gave him.
She doubted they had ever held any power over him.
Mirana looked down at her husband again. She wished he would wake up. She wanted to kiss him again.
When she woke again, Mirana was sprawled on her back, her legs spread, and he was between them, staring down at himself and at her, as he pushed inside her.
The sleeping chamber was dim with early morning light.
She stared up at him, not understanding for a moment, then she realized that he was scarcely awake himself, his eyes closed, his body full on her now, his sex hard inside her, moving in and out, until before she even had a chance of bringing his head down so she could kiss him, he was arching, his head thrown back, and his seed was deep inside her once again.
Nothing more than that and it was done. So little warning, no kisses at all, just him over her, deep inside her, and it was done.
She frowned, tightening her hands on his shoulders.
He awoke completely from one instant to the next.
He stared down at himself, now pulling out of her body, feeling the profound lethargy that followed release.
Then he looked at his wife, saw her frowning in confusion, and shook his head at himself, trying to clear away the sleep from his mind, the pleasant dreams that had brought him to take her again, trying to understand the pleasure that had been so intense hea??d lost himself completely in it and failed her of course, falling asleep like a dolt.
And now hea??d done it again, not even fully awake, hea??d come into her. Hea??d never done that in his life.
Hea??d taken her again without giving her anything in return. It wasna??t well done of him.
Rorik swung over to the side of the bed. He stood and stretched. He saw the wet of his seed on his member and her virgina??s blood. He said, a??I hurt you last night and Ia??m sorry for it. Did I hurt you again now?a??
He had, but not that much. a??I was asleep,a?? she said. a??You woke me but then you were through with me. It seems to be a very fast thing, Rorik. Is it always so speedily accomplished?a??
a??Nay. Ia??m sorry for it. It was strange.
A man normally knows what he is doing, enjoys looking forward to doing it, for it involves all of him, not just his sex.
Nay, a good man, one with control and experience, can pleasure his wife for hours, not just the minutes I gave to myself.
Come, leta??s go to the bathing hut. Ia??ll bathe you and you can steam away the soreness.a??
Even as she lay on her back on the warm oak bench, sweating in the steam-filled hut, she knew he wanted her yet again, for his sex was jutting outward, and he seemed in pain, the flesh of his cheekbones drawn tight, but he was controlling himself.
Hea??d even moved to the other side of the chamber, and lay there on his belly, not looking at her.
When he caught her by surprise, dumping a bucket of cold water on her, she bounded up, shrieking, then laughing, for it felt wonderful. She returned the favor, and he yelled just as loudly as she had, shaking himself like a mongrel.
Asta had prepared porridge for breakfast. Entti had made fresh bread.
Utta had churned butter. Erna was spinning, using only her one whole arm, her motions smooth and graceful.
Kerzog had slept atop Raki the entire night, snoring in his face, and Erna had just laughed and bade her husband not to complain, for he was the only warrior strong enough to bear Kerzoga??s weight.
All this was told to Mirana by Old Alna the moment she and Rorik stepped out of the bathing hut.
All the men were still within, waiting, it seemed, for Lord Rorik to show himself.
Thus, when Rorik and Mirana came into the longhouse from their bath, there was a moment of silence, then knowing looks and some laughter, and more of the seemingly endless advice.
Rorik looked momentarily annoyed, then he shrugged and smiled.
He wrapped a long tress of her damp hair around his fingers.
a??So very black,a?? he said. a??Rich and deep as the night.a?? He raised the tress to his mouth, stroking it over his lips.
He inhaled the scent. a??Sweet,a?? he said.
a??I dislike the braids. Leave your hair long and free.a??
She smiled up at him. a??Very well.a??
a??Ah, she becomes easier than a babe in arms,a?? Gurd said, chewing on a piece of warm bread. a??But be careful of her, Rorik, do not forget that she is capable of killing a man after she bestows a smile upon him.a??
a??Rorik always tames his women,a?? Sculla said, looking down at them from his nearly seven-foot height. a??This one would be no different.a??
a??You men,a?? Amma said, standing on her tiptoes to cuff her husbanda??s head. a??I prefera??all the women doa??to think ita??s Lord Rorik who is tamed.a??
a??Nay,a?? said Aslak, a?? a??tis Lord Rorik who understands where the power lies here, and he will teach his wife obedience even as he gives her smiles.a??
a??All of you will hold your tongues,a?? Rorik said. a??She is at ease at the moment, but if you needle her pride, she will stick a knife in my gullet. Show her respect else Ia??ll be the one to suffer for it.a??
There was more good-natured laughter. Rorik joined his men. Old Alna filled a wooden bowl with porridge, poured honey over it, and took it to the master. She cackled when she gave him the bowl. a??Aye, a fine time you had last night! The little mistress made you into a limp fish, didna??t she?a??
a??How would you know? I saw you snoring in the corner yesterday, your mouth on its hinges so wide flies were buzzing about your remaining teeth. You didna??t even awaken when Kerzog barked in your face.a??
But Old Alna just laughed and laughed, then spat on the packed earth.
Mirana stood there by the fire pit, the heat pouring off the burning embers making her sweat, uncertain what to do.
She was the mistress here, but all had been taken care of.
She looked for Entti, finding her at last by Asta, who was standing next to Erna, winding the warp on the upright loom.
Entti stood on her other side, loading a shuttle with thread from a distaff.
Rorik was with his men. Even Kerzog was at his place at Rorika??s feet, his big head resting on his paws.
Should she join him? Aye, she thought. She was his wife and mistress of Hawkfell.
She belonged here. She belonged next to her husband.
He was seated in his ornately carved chair, his bowl settled on his thigh.
She sat next to him on the wide bench that lined the wall of the longhouse, and listened to him speaking with Kron, the man whoa??d come from King Sitrica??s court in Dublin, the man whoa??d told him of Einara??s treachery, the man who had probably, with his news, been responsible for Rorik wedding her.
She accepted that. She wasna??t silly or a lovestruck maiden.
She respected Rorik, even found his bodya??ungoverned though it bea??quite to her liking, and it was enough.
Kron shut his mouth when he saw her.