CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Ari watched the play of emotions flicker in Thora's eyes, wondering at her thoughts.
He'd just confessed his feelings for her and still she said nothing.
But her eyes remained locked on his and he read a joy in them he'd not seen before.
The sight soothed the growing fear that perhaps she didn't share his feelings.
"Thora?"
She smiled then, her dark gaze shiny with unshed tears. "Do you truly mean it?"
Her voice was a hoarse whisper, much like it was when she was lost in passion.
The sound sent a bolt of longing straight to his cock.
With a press of his body against hers, he slid his fingers through her hair, holding her still while he lowered his mouth to hers.
The heat in her lips surrounded him like a heavy cape, cocooning him in warmth.
He swept deep into her mouth, suddenly desperate with the need to show her how much he wanted her. Needed her. Loved her. She trembled against him, responding eagerly, her fingers digging into his shoulders. When he drew away, he could barely catch his breath.
"Do you believe I meant what I said now?"
She nodded, the tears finally spilling free and sliding down her cheeks. He brushed them away.
"Why do you cry?"
Her sharp intake of breath seemed a shout to his ears. She blinked several times, a broad grin curving her delectable mouth.
"I cry because I am happy."
He rolled his eyes. "I never understood why women weep when they are happy."
She laughed, a melodious tune that hung over them for several moments before fading away. He silently swore. This woman made him think things only a bard should sing in a fantasy tale.
"Ari, I never thought... that is, I had hoped, but I didn't think... I thought I was only a means for vengeance."
"Perhaps at first, you were. But you are much more than that, Thora." He relished the way she gave a little shiver when he said her name. She always did that and he loved seeing it every time.
"I love you, Ari. That you love me as well is more than I ever dreamed."
The last knot of uneasiness loosened. He kissed her again, hard. When he drew away, she murmured a protest, but he finally released his hold on her. When she licked her lips, he almost kissed her again, but somehow refrained.
"We have much to discuss." He caught her hand, her fingers locking with his. "But later."
She nodded. "Your friends are waiting."
"Yes. Come."
She tugged on his hand when he turned to head back to the camp. "The kindling!"
How easily she made him forget where he was and what he was doing.
He bent to help her gather the dropped bundle of twigs and sticks and they soon made their way back to the camp, the wolves trotting on either side of them.
He smiled, knowing the animals had long ago accepted him and now they protected him as well.
He noted that Karsi and Leif had tended the horses.
Ari's gaze settled on Alarr, sitting a short distance away.
The rage he'd felt earlier to hear Alarr threaten Thora rose again, but he pushed it back.
He didn't need truly Alarr's testimony, there were others he would join with in Tingwalla, and combined with Karsi and Leif's declarations and the runes were more than sufficient to clear his name.
Yet, he didn't want to cast Alarr out, not just yet. The man might be useful in other ways, especially if it turned out he did indeed play them all falsely. He said nothing, but a warning glare drew a curt nod of acknowledgement from the other man.
"Fetch the touchwood from my pack." He released Thora to tend the fire and took a seat beside Karsi.
The other man leaned over. "What happened?"
Ari shrugged. "Alarr recognized Thora."
Karsi and Leif exchanged looks. "From where?"
"He'd had dealings with her clan a few years back." Ari shifted, his gaze drawn to Thora as she set about using the striking stone to light the touchwood and the kindling. "She ran away from her home. Her father planned to wed her to someone not of her choosing.
Karsi chuckled. "And you are going to do so now?"
Again, Ari shrugged. "Perhaps. Once this is all over..."
"It's obvious you are smitten," Leif said with a chuckle.
Ari arched an eyebrow at his friend. "Why do you say that?"
"It's the way you look at her." Karsi nudged him.
Ari grinned. "Yes, I care for her, and I do plan to take her as wife."
Leif gave a knowing nod. "We thought as much. What will her father say? Surely he'll be in Tingwalla. What if he refuses the match?"
"When he learns about Hersir, he will be grateful to have me as son-in-law."
"What do you mean?" Karsi asked.
"The man her father planned to wed her to is Hersir."
A moment of silence erupted into astonished whoops.
"So you will have more vengeance against him! You've stolen his bride!" Leif laughed. "What could be better?"
"She is not just vengeance," Ari insisted.
"We know." Karsi shot him a sly grin before picking up the skin to take a long drink. "I cannot wait to see his face when he learns what you've done."
Certain he had the support of his friends, Ari accepted the skin from Karsi, savoring a heavy swallow of ale before taking another.
His gaze settled once again on Thora. The fire now blazed and she sat with her wolves on either side of her as she removed the meager utensils for warming the meal.
A few moments later, Leif handed her several cloth-wrapped bundles.
She accepted them with a smile and a hearty thanks before setting about heating the meats enclosed in the cloths.
Ari decided he rather liked this comfortable feeling, watching Thora as she busied herself, and knowing later she would be in his arms, pressed tight against him.
She loved him! He'd not thought it possible, not after the way he'd lied.
But hearing Alarr threaten her had made him realize just how much he needed her beside him.
Always. How he'd refrained from striking Alarr down at that moment, he might never know, but he thanked the gods for the strength to do so.
The need to tell Thora how he felt had come upon him with a sudden force he'd had no chance to resist. To assure her she was more than just a means to his vengeance, she had become a part of him that he never wanted to let go.
He imagined her large with his son, and couldn't wait to make her his in the eyes of everyone and the gods.
She turned, her gaze settling on his. A flush crept into her cheeks and the warmth and love in her eyes warmed Ari's heart as it had never been before. He anticipated the coming night with great eagerness.
The hours passed quickly. Ari enjoyed the company of his friends, even Alarr, who though he remained mostly quiet, joined in the laughter at some of Karsi's ridiculous tales.
Thora sat beside him, snuggled up against his side.
Her head rested on his shoulder, and every now and then, he felt her yawn.
A few moments later, her body softened as she slipped into slumber.
He tightened his arm about her shoulders.
Tonight he would be content to simply hold her.
***
Thora jolted awake, gasping for breath, fear gripping her heart in its tight fist. Ari's arms immediately tightened, easing her back against him. The fire had dwindled to a few flickering flames amid a pile of embers, casting a dim light over the camp.
"What's wrong?"
His sleep-heavy whisper against her ear sent a wisp of heat along her spine. She blinked to clear her slumber-dusted thoughts, the panic fading at the reality of the haven of Ari's embrace.
"I... I had a dream. But I can't remember it."
She tried to recall her nightmare, but the images hung just out of clarity's reach. Still, an uneasy chill swept over her.
"It was only a dream. You're safe now. In a few days, we'll be in Tingwalla, and all this will be behind us."
The realization she would soon see her father again roused another shudder of apprehension. Facing him, beside Ari, before all the clans gathered at The Thing, terrified her more than the elusive dream.
"Ari, what if my father... I fear he may try to make me return home."
His lips on her forehead both soothed and stirred her. The soft reassuring caress of his hands along her back chased the fear of the coming days.
"He can try, but you are staying with me."
She wanted to ask him if he meant to wed her, but bit her tongue to keep the words from escaping. He loved her and that was enough, really. Her dreams for the future seemed to be coming true, yet she couldn't help thinking Odin and his cohorts had more tests ahead for them to endure.
"We must make a sacrifice."
"What?"
If she wasn't so worried, she might find the confusion in his voice amusing.
"And it must be more than the meager hares and fowl we've offered. It must be worthy enough to truly assuage the gods, so they will stop playing games with us."
"Thora, the gods are on our side. We've overcome the many trials they set for us, haven't we?"
She pondered his point. Still, the worry would not go away.
"Perhaps. But we must ensure it. What of one of the horses?"
The silence that hung hung between them was broken by a harsh snore from one of the men on the opposite side of the fire. Ari's chuckle rumbled through Thora.
"We can discuss this in the morning," he said. "Go back to sleep."
She leaned her head back into the crook of his shoulder, savoring the warmth of his body against hers, his arms tight about her and holding her near. She yawned, her worry somewhat appeased.
Still, a nagging concern kept her mind racing.