Chapter 26
Ylva was pleased with the addition of the once-mysterious juniper berries in the rabbit stew.
It was the best one she had ever cooked, and the men around the table—Ulf, Rothgar and Oslac—seemed to agree with her.
They’d each filled their bowls a second time.
She smiled, loving having her family in her home.
Then, as they were helping themselves to slices of dried fruit, Rothgar turned to his brother.
“Faeir and Mother are back from their visit to their friends. Will you and Einar come see them? I think they will like that.”
“Of course.” Ulf lifted the baby from his cot and gave him a kiss on the cheek, which made him coo. Then he walked over to her and gave her a kiss on the lips, which made her melt. “Will you excuse us a moment, my love? I won’t be long.”
Left alone with Oslac, Ylva put some herbs in the pot of boiling water. She wanted to make her favorite treat, a lemon balm and thyme tisane, sweetened with honey.
While she waited for the herbs to stew, she sat back down, determined to address what had been on her mind for days. With Ulf out of the way, the moment seemed ideal.
“Are you ever going to tell me who she is?” she said quietly, looking straight at her brother.
Oslac actually blushed but he tried to feign ignorance. “Who is who? What do you mean?”
Ylva rolled her eyes. “The blond woman with whom you’ve been spending an awful lot of time these last few weeks. Did you really think I wouldn’t have noticed?”
“Honestly?” He sighed, as if feeling foolish. “Yes, I had hoped as much, because I didn’t want you to think I was trying to replace Frigg too soon.”
She took his hand in hers, feeling the weight of his guilt. “I think nothing of the sort. I’m happy for you.”
His wife had been dead for almost two years, it was time he started to live again.
To her delight, after her wedding to Ulf, Oslac had decided to settle in the village to be close to her and his soon to be born nephew. He was only the second Saxon man to settle in the village. There were many Saxon women, like her, but so far, Caedmon had been the only one to marry a Dane.
Perhaps this would change soon.
After one last hesitation, Oslac started to talk.
“Her name is Isabella. She is the daughter of Magnus’s brother, Sven, who lives in the other village.
She lost her husband a few years ago and is older than me, though not by much.
The cheese she makes is the best I’ve ever tasted.
She doesn’t speak Norse very well. She’s afraid of snakes.
” Ylva could not help a smile at this list of information aimed at hiding what he really meant to tell her.
After one deep inhale, he did. “And I really like her.”
“That is all that matters.”
“Yes. It is.”
“You have endured enough hardship, no one is going to begrudge you a little happiness, least of all me.”
“Thank you. But enough about me. How is everything with you and your two Norsemen?” he asked, as if to steer the attention away from him again. She had discovered her brother was unusually shy where matters of the heart were concerned. “The big one and the small one?”
Ylva beamed. “Everything is perfect.”
More than perfect. The last month, since Einar’s birth, had been like a dream. The only drawback, as expected, had been the absence of carnal relations. But she had decided that tonight was the night she would start seducing Ulf again.
And she couldn’t wait.
So warm…
There weren’t many things Ylva liked better than waking up next to her handsome, naked husband.
With a groan of contentment she pressed herself against Ulf, who was still sleeping, one graceful arm thrown over his head.
Dawn was not far but Einar was blessedly asleep, so they could afford to stay a moment longer in bed.
And she knew exactly how she wanted to spend that moment.
Last night, after Ulf had come back from Steinar’s hut, she had been too tired to put her daring plan to execution, but she was now feeling invigorated and more aroused than she had in weeks.
Her hand snaked under the covers and landed on her husband’s cock. It instantly stirred, and it wasn’t long before it started to harden. As soon as it was standing to attention, ready for what she had had in mind, a hand clamped over hers.
“My love. We cannot do this.” Ulf sounded wide awake—and almost in pain. “It’s too soon.”
Ylva protested when he drew away from her as if to ensure he did the right thing by her and did not allow his masculine urges to sway him. She knew what he meant. It had only been a month since Einar’s birth and her body had yet to fully recover.
“It’s too soon for me,” she conceded. Unfortunately, she could feel that she was still tender between her legs. But what she had in mind wouldn’t hurt her—and would give them both immense satisfaction. “But not for you.”
She sat up and allowed her gaze to wander over the chest on display in front of her. There was a very noticeable bulge tenting the furs. Ylva smiled. That bulge needed attention, say what he might.
“Give yourself pleasure.”
She could tell Ulf wanted to refuse but he was too aroused for that. He needed this. And so did she. This would be like the first time they had been intimate.
“Are you going to watch me?”
“Very, very closely,” she leaned in to whisper in his ear. “And if you’re lucky, I might even help.”
The furs were thrown to the side with a decisive gesture and Ylva was able to feast her eyes on the gorgeous man lying in the middle of the pallet, as sensual as a Norse god gifted to her for her pleasure.
He was magnificently erect and a wicked smile was playing on his lips.
There would be no more protests from him.
“Do you like what you see, then, wife?”
Never had anyone been asked a more stupid question. What was there not to like? She moaned, her excitement—and frustration—mounting. He was the most perfect man she had ever seen, he was ready, and yet she was still waiting for him to do what he’d been asked to do.
“If you don’t start now, I’ll—”
“You’ll what?” he purred when she could not even finish the threat. “Take over? Why do you think I’m taking my time? I’m many things but I’m not a fool.”
“No, you’re not. So start.”
A hand closed over the hard shaft, causing it to jolt. Ylva inhaled sharply. This promised to be delicious.
“There. I’ve started,” Ulf announced, looking straight at her. Oh, the vexing man! She should have guessed he would enjoy toying with her. Had she bitten off more than she could chew? She hoped not.
“You haven’t even begun. Start stroking.”
Slowly, he moved his fingers down to the root, then up again. The veins on his hands, his forearm and shaft fascinated her. “Like this?”
“No. Faster.”
A tut, betraying more affection than irritation. “My wife. So impatient.”
“Yes. So show her what she wants to see, damn you.”
“This, you mean?” The strokes became more decisive as the speed increased.
“Exactly like this.” This was hottest thing Ylva had seen for weeks, possibly ever.
Ulf was looking at her through half-lidded eyes, clearly making the most of the sensations blooming between his legs.
Though she was not touching herself anywhere, she could feel the same heat sizzle between her own legs.
“You know, you are going to have to help me,” he said after a while.
“Why?”
“Because you promised me. You did say that you would help me if I was lucky, remember?” His strokes became lazy once more. He would not let her get away with not keeping her word.
“And are you lucky?” she asked nonetheless.
“I married you, what do you think? I’m the luckiest man in this world.”
She sat up and knelt by his side. “I think I’m the lucky one.” Her fingers came to cover his. “To call such a man mine. To have the family I lost.” She stole a glance to the cot where little Einar was sleeping soundly.
Yes, lucky indeed.
Ulf removed his hand from under hers. She started to stroke slowly, her gaze locked with his. Little by little, she lowered her head.
“Ah, Ylva, please.”
“Please what?”
“Do this ‘properly,’ as you call it. Suck me.” He arched his back to bring his shaft closer to her mouth. “I’ve been obsessed with feeling your tongue on me ever since that day in the sea when you licked my shoulder. And every time I feel it on my cock, it’s like I’ve died and gone to Valhalla.”
She giggled. “My husband. So impatient.” So crude.
So wonderful.
“Yes. My love, please. I need you.”
“You have me. I’m right here.”
“I need—” He gasped when she lowered her head a bit more and blew on the tip of his erection. “Your mouth. Now.”
“Well, then, take it. Take what you need.”
He knew she loved it when he acted all male.
As they had become more adept at pleasing one another, she had discovered that there was nothing she liked more than being made to do what they both wanted her to do.
And Ulf had a natural talent for such play, even if he was also very good at submitting to her will when that was what she wanted.
Whatever her mood, he always indulged her.
Today, he understood that she wanted him to use her to get his pleasure. That was all the encouragement he needed.
Strong fingers coiled into her hair, forcing her to bridge the gap between her lips and his waiting hardness. “Open. Take it in.”
She did take it in, allowing him to slide it to the hilt. He let out a long exhale.
“Forgive me, this is not going to last long.”
Ylva closed her eyes, smiling inwardly. The first time she had tried to pleasure him in this manner, he had not allowed her to. That seemed a long time ago now. Now he never refused.
“Suck.”
She sucked, relishing every moment, basking in the praise he lavished over her, enjoying the feeling of power, the smoothness of his shaft and the pleasure of knowing she was the one giving him what he needed. Soon he was making the lewd, erotic noises she knew so well and loved.
He was close.
“Ylva, yes, ah!”
The pulsing started under her tongue, strong and insistent, then liquid heat flooded her mouth.
He did not need to tell her to swallow. He couldn’t have anyway.
He was panting too hard and his body had gone rigid with the strength of his release.
Little wonder. He had told her he would not give himself pleasure while she could not enjoy the same relief and she knew he would never have gone to another woman.
It was no surprise he had been so ready for release.
“Feeling better now?” she asked, lying back down by his side.
“You—” Ylva smiled when he could not even get past that first word. “You are going to pay for that as soon as you tell me you feel ready for my caresses. One release will not be enough. I will make you come again and again. I will lap at you until you cannot stand it any longer.”
“I will hold you to that promise.” Did he really think she would not go to him the moment she felt recovered enough, if that was what he had in mind? From the start he had been obsessed with licking her and his desire to please her in that way had only increased.
She nestled herself against him, savoring the moment.
Just then Einar started to fuss.
“You stay here, I’ll get him,” Ulf said, placing a kiss on the tip of her nose.
The chasteness of the gesture, after the scorching moment they had just shared, sent warmth to the pit of her stomach.
But that was her wolf, a man of many identities.
Fiery lover one moment, attentive husband the next.
Loving son and caring father all at once.
Fierce warrior and loyal friend. She loved every facet of him.
While she settled Einar at her breast, Ulf came to lie down behind her, engulfing her into his arms. Ylva closed her eyes while her baby fed and her husband murmured loving words into her ear. Cocooned between her two Norsemen, her world was complete.
The slave had been freed.
The orphan had found a family.