Chapter Twelve
Dreams
Kara awoke with a keen awareness of everything she’d done the previous night.
She’d relived the passionate moments in her dreams. After they’d made love a second time, she curled around Aaron, desperate to stay as close as possible.
She leaned her head against her hand, gazing at his tranquil features.
The loud calls of whooper swans flying overhead motivated her to get up.
She stretched languorously, enjoying the cool morning air.
Worried Aaron might be cold, she spread his tartan over him.
How could he sleep? He’d whispered how he’d given all of himself to her.
Perhaps she’d sucked all his strength from his body when she’d reached unimaginable heights of pleasure.
She could scarcely breathe or move herself.
Covered in her lover’s scent, she wandered to the lake to bathe.
She couldn’t escape the overwhelming reality of what she’d done.
It felt bittersweet, and for her sake, she hoped her feelings exceeded mere infatuation.
Regardless, there’d be no regrets—even if this was the only time she’d ever be with him.
A tingling sensation between her legs brought a smile to her lips.
Had he really licked her there? Made her writhe and moan?
She sighed. Everything Amelia had warned her about had come true; the tiniest spark ignited the fiercest flame.
Kara couldn’t control her thoughts. She wanted to know everything about Aaron.
And she guessed he harbored many deep secrets.
Why did a Scotsman pledge to serve the Norwegian king?
What connection did he have in her country?
Family? Friends? Managing her newfound feelings and endless curiosity could wait.
She waded into the shallows, washing away the last evidence of her purity.
The frigid water revived her. Although her insides ached, she’d never change what had happened.
Things would be decidedly different now, better between her and Aaron.
She watched the clouds gather overhead as she contemplated all the wicked gossip she’d heard over the years.
No longer just rumors. Lovemaking exceeded anything she’d ever presumed to know.
She suddenly thought about her family and friends.
Would they notice her transformation? What if her sire . . .?
Please, Allfather, spare me my father’s suspicion and wrath.
Jarl McNally altered her life course. Apparently she was no longer in total control of her mind and heart.
But she shouldn’t fool herself into believing he loved her, either.
She didn’t really know if she loved him.
Things had moved so fast. The circumstances they’d met under cast plenty of doubt on their relationship.
Trust and loyalty meant everything to him.
Damn her father for using her to humiliate Aaron.
If there was any hope of success between them, she must leave her seeds of doubt behind.
She walked further down the beach, intrigued by the lush surroundings.
Trees and wildflowers in bloom. A few feet ahead, a doe darted into the woods.
Most assuredly a positive sign from the gods. One she intended to follow.
Aaron opened his eyes. Blasted sunlight.
He blinked rapidly, then swallowed. Realization seeped into his brain as swiftly as blood.
Merciful gods. He’d violated every code of honor, guilty of surrendering to lust and pride.
When he realized Kara was missing, he scanned the clearing. Where had she gone?
The lass didn’t listen. How many times had he warned her to stay close? He scrambled to his feet, scooping his tartan off the ground. Half dressed, he started for the lake. “Kara!” No answer. “Kara Dalgaard.”
Several minutes later, she appeared between two birch trees and waved.
He couldn’t believe what he saw. Goddamnit.
Traipsing around like a wilding without a stitch of clothing on?
Desire and worry pierced his heart. He couldn’t possibly approve.
Females wore clothes for a bloody reason.
He strode toward her. The joy in her eyes softened his heart. “Why are you naked?”
“I followed a doe into the woods.” She smiled.
Droplets of water glistened between her breasts. Her hair was wet, so were the curls between her legs. He licked his lips as if eyeing a feast. “Put something on. Please.”
“Why? Aren’t we alone?”
What could he possibly say? “I cannot guarantee it.”
She studied his face, then nodded.
They walked back to the spot where they’d slept and she picked her gown up off the ground.
She gave it a good shake before putting it on.
Good girl. Her spontaneity made her more appealing—more desirable—more dangerous.
And if he was being completely honest, he’d tell her he wanted to spend a month with her in the woods naked.
But Erling Solheim could be anywhere. And as long as breath remained in Aaron’s body, that swine would never touch her again.
Until she could be reunited with her father, he knew he needed to take her somewhere safe. One place came to mind—the Trondelag.
The investigation in Alesund could wait.
When she joined him, he couldn’t resist the urge to wrap his arms around her. So eager and irresistibly soft. She nuzzled her face into his chest. “I thought you’d sleep longer.”
“Why didn’t you awaken me?”
“I didn’t have the heart to disturb you.” Her hands trailed up his back. “Don’t worry so much, I didn’t wander too far.”
“Kara,” he said in a low tone. If he didn’t guard himself, that beautiful face could talk him into anything. “The woods might be infested with marauders. What if Erling’s men are looking for you?”
“I’ll risk it if I can take another walk in the woods naked.” She grinned.
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I swear, once we’ve captured all the bastards who kidnapped you, we’ll return to this very spot and I’ll let you walk naked until your beautiful legs give out.”
“Be careful what you swear.”
He lifted her by the waist, swinging her around. “I keep every promise I make.”
She gnawed on her lower lip as he set her on her feet. “I cannot contest your claim,” she teased. “You promised me a taste of paradise last night.”
Heat suffused his body. “Do you want me to pledge the same again?”
“Now?”
He nodded. “Now.”
Without waiting for her to answer, he peeled her dress off and let it fall to the ground.
Two days later, Aaron hired a boat from Alesund to the Trondelag.
Much to Kara’s surprise, late on the first night, the ship’s navigator greeted her.
She immediately guessed who’d arranged the meeting.
Aaron knew how much she admired the stars.
With a cloudless sky, she had a clear view of the heavens.
“What do you see, girl?” the helmsman asked.
“Odin’s universe.”
He chuckled. “A poetic sort. What else do you see?” His toothless smile didn’t escape her attention.
She pointed, naming the planets and constellations she recognized. Ulf’s Keptr, the mouth of the wolf, Kvennavagn, the woman’s chariot, and Asar Bardag, the Asar battlefield. She knew there was more to learn.
“I admire your familiarity of the skies,” he praised.
“See the tail of Bifrost?” He directed her.
“Imagine the merging of fire and ice, the birth of creation, the ancient wars where the gods clashed and slaughtered each other, the division of light and darkness, land and water, Jotunheim and Midgard.”
Aaron joined them. “Don’t fill her head with nonsense.”
“Nay.” The helmsman grinned. “I only wish to foster a higher level of appreciation in the girl. She’s a true stargazer.”
Aaron embraced her from behind, kissing her cheek. “I’d never doubt your dedication—but what would your father say if he knew his only daughter was pursuing a masculine trade.”
“Why should he protest?” she asked. “All the more reason for my future husband to appreciate me.” She turned. “My body will supply the pleasure and children my husband requires, but imagine what it would be like to share a deeper connection.”
“Clever wench.” Aaron smiled.
She clutched her breast. “Did you think my comments were directed at you, Jarl McNally?”
“Unless you were soliciting a match with the helmsman?” he whispered.
She shook her head. The navigator must be nearly as old as her father. “I haven’t selected a husband yet.”
“No?” Aaron pinched her arse. “Teasing me?”
“Never.” He tweaked again, this time eliciting a squeal. She rubbed her left cheek. “You’ll leave marks if you keep doing that.”
His strong arms encircled her waist. “Only my eyes will see.”
The mischievous look on his face made her giggle. She couldn’t regret travelling with him alone. “You’re distracting me, milord. The stars—remember?”
Aaron cleared his throat and stared heavenward. “Who am I to stand in the way? What more can the helmsman teach you tonight?”
“How Odin breathed life into the world.”
“I know,” Aaron shared. “But shall I tell you another story first?”
“How your White Christ forged the universe?”
“Aye.”
She nodded.
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and earth. Light and dark, space between the waters, sky, ground, fish of the sea, animals of the earth. Then he molded mankind in his image, placing Adam and Eve in a garden paradise.”
“And Odin?” Already familiar with the story, she wanted to hear her lover speak.
“Odin, Vili, and Ve formed the first man and woman from two rotting tree trunks they found on a barren beach. Odin’s brothers filled the trunks with golden sand and then Allfather breathed the spirit of life into them.
From these first humans, the sons and daughters of the earth were born.
Odin hoped those men would join his great army one day. ”
Why did Aaron say Allfather so reverently?
No Christian she’d ever met was so intimate with the gods.
Although she hadn’t questioned him by the lake, the colorful tattoos that covered his torso were pagan.
All of them. Secrets. Deep ones. Her father’s greatest objection to him was his religion.
“There are great parallels between our faiths.”
“Do you know what you’re saying, girl?” the navigator interjected. “Don’t venerate the White Christ,” he warned looking about. “Norsemen would sooner slit their own throats.”
“Come.” Aaron took her hand. “We appreciate your time, my friend. The lass is tired and doesn’t know what she’s saying. Her curiosity rivals any child’s. And her father has kept her under guard for so long, the outside world overwhelms her sensibilities sometimes.”
The helmsman flashed a sharp look at Aaron, but then his features softened when he gazed at her again. “I’ve taken no offense, but other men might. Guard your tongue, girl.”
Kara nodded, then she and Aaron walked to the opposite end of the vessel. He sat on a pile of blankets and pulled her onto his lap.
“Is he angry?” she asked.
“No,” he said. “Remember, most men know little about the outside world. History is recorded through the eyes of the people who live it, then altered by the men who retell it.”
She’d never considered that before. No wonder fear and misunderstanding existed. The longer she thought about his explanation, the more sense it made. “Aye.”
“You read and write,” he said. “Who taught you?”
“My brothers.”
“You are very fortunate, lass. I’m shocked your father approved.”
“After my mother passed, he had little use for a daughter.”
“When did she die?”
“I was only five,” she murmured. She’d never discussed her mother with anyone. Her father rarely reminisced and her brothers were hopelessly tight-lipped. “I miss her. She loved me more than anything.” Her eyes burned with tears.
He squeezed her hand. “Who would think otherwise?”
Kara lowered her head. “She killed herself.” Her voice wavered. People considered it unlucky to discuss the dead, much less someone who took their own life.
“This brings no shame upon you,” he said evenly. “Did your father conduct an investigation, ever discover why?”
She nodded. “She suffered from bouts of violence. Father says the light in her eyes faded the day after my birth. He never blamed me, but I feel responsible.”
Aaron gave her a gentle shake. “Women are plagued by any number of infirmities after giving birth. Spaewives claim loss of blood is at fault, others cannot explain it. Whatever the circumstances, she died years after you were born. There’s no connection. Be at peace, Kara.”
Again, she marvelled at his wisdom, his ability to explain something that had haunted her forever. “There’s more,” Kara started. She rocked slightly, avoiding eye contact. “My third brother died shortly after my mother.”
“And you shoulder this tragedy, too?”
“He kept me from drowning.”
Aaron hugged her close. “You’re blameless.”
His observation did little to relieve her misery. “Blood guilt never goes away.”
“If I can help you forget your pain, Kara Dalgaard, I will.”
With that, she snuggled against his chest. She’d forgotten many things where Aaron was concerned—including her responsibilities to her family.
Her father would never approve of a match between them.
And Aaron possessed too much honor to consider keeping her without his approval.
There must be a way. They needed time alone to discover their true feelings.
Freya, please aid me.