19. Bryn #2
He’d noticed. He’d noticed the little moments when I got so caught up in something else that my focus drifted from where it should be…
And he liked that part of me. The part that had taken me so long to come to terms with, especially after my family’s passing and the bullying I went on to endure for that and a myriad of other reasons.
But he was right. During day-to-day events my focus would ebb and flow like the tide, but throw me into a fight like the ones against Hrim and I thrived in the chaos.
Henrik curled his finger under my chin and tilted my head up to meet his gaze. “It’s something I really like about you.”
“I guess I really like you too, Captain.” It was a lie.
A lie I could feel blooming in my chest and warming me from the inside out.
One that felt more like a different four-letter word.
“I like the way you treat your crew, the way you fight for others, and your passion for protecting the creatures of the ocean.”
He leaned forward, bringing us nose to nose, our lips a breath apart. “Only like?”
I brushed my lips against his as I said, “Tell me where that gold in the hold is and I’ll let you know if it’s something more.”
“Tease.”
“You would know.”
We both let out a gentle laugh.
“Stay with us,” he said on a whisper. “Join the ship, Bryn.”
Those doubts had washed away with the waves. “I’ll stay.”
He sighed and pressed his mouth to mine.
He kissed me like he’d been waiting for a lifetime, a claiming that was soft and firm in equal measure.
My hands drifted up to his shoulders, my shirtsleeves falling around my elbows as his own hand reached into my hair and cupped the back of my neck.
I let out a light moan at the pleasurable sensation, and Henrik swiped his tongue across my lips, requesting entrance.
I opened for him, craving everything he could give me and more.
Reaching up, I stroked my hand through his silky hair and tugged lightly. His chest rumbled with a groan, and he set upon me with a new ferocity. Breaths became one and touch was a necessity as he pressed himself between my thighs. I wanted more, needed more.
I snuggled in closer, and Henrik swept his hands up my sides, wrapping me up—
Sharp stings zapped across my back. “Ouch.” I winced.
Henrik withdrew his hands and held them aloft. “I’m so sorry. I got carried away and forgot.”
“We both did,” I sighed.
Returning my hands to my lap, the sleeves of my shirt slid back down, hiding my fingers completely. How odd. I took a closer look at the dark linen that most definitely hadn’t been the shirt I’d worn when in the cave. “Henrik?”
“Mmm.”
“Whose shirt is this?”
He let out a low chuckle. “Mine.”
A tremor shook my shoulders at the possessive tone. I could get used to that. Perhaps some people were better than gold.
“Will you sail with me?” he asked. “Join our ship, the crew? Join our family?”
It was a risk, but he felt like home. A home wrapped in danger, excitement, and a strong burgeoning affection. I stared up into those blue eyes once more, knowing exactly what I wanted in that moment and the next.
With a nod and a smirk, I said, “Do I get a title?”
He chuckled and brushed his finger across my cheek before tucking my hair behind my ear. “I’m sure we can find one.”
I wrapped my arms around him and breathed him in once more, relishing in the warmth and steadfastness of his torso. He pressed a gentle kiss to the top of my head, making me feel whole and welcome.
There was only one thing missing. I still needed to get my mother’s necklace back and secure some of my treasures at home. I tilted my head and rested my chin on his chest. “Can we head to Grim, please?”
Henrik nodded. “We can be there in one day’s time. Meanwhile, I want you to rest and recover.”
“Can I do so in your bed?”
Henrik smiled. “Always.”
The next day we traipsed across the cliffside and through the woodland due east of Grim, heading for a tiny clearing.
Frost and snow mingled with moss and dampened the sound of our footfalls, the trees overhead providing a dense canopy perfect to hide beneath.
The cold air nipped at my cheeks while Henrik walked by my side.
As we descended deeper into the forest along the narrow, winding trail, the trees grew thinner and a clearing appeared.
I let out a sigh. There, sat beside a small, almost-frozen pond, was my cabin.
Made of stacked logs, stone tiles, and a heap of moss for insulation and disguise. A single window sat beside the thick door, curtains firmly shut. It wasn’t much, but it was mine.
“So, this is where the great thief, Brynhild Jakobsen has been living?”
It was indeed. My little sanctuary away from the world.
“You don’t even have security measures in place?”
“Oh”—I pointed to the pond—“I have security. His name is Gullungen.”
“The Golden Child?”
“Mm-hmm.” I set my hands on my hips. “Seemed fitting since he helps me protect all my gold.”
“What is Gullungen?”
I could practically see my evil grin reflected in Henrik’s eyes. “A N?kk.”
His shoulders tensed and he stared back at the pond with a renewed sense of fear.
“Ah, so you’ve heard of the creature?”
He nodded and swallowed hard.
“Good. This one doesn’t differentiate based on gender or age. He dislikes everyone. Will drag anyone to a watery grave if they try to break into my cabin.”
The monster was a water sprite with a fondness for me and the taste of flesh. So, in return for regular meals of small and large game, he protected my home.
Henrik paled slightly. “We best get inside before he thinks I’m dinner, then.”
I chuckled, stepped in front of Henrik, and pressed my finger to his chest. “You will tell no one about this place.”
He set his warm hand over mine. “You have my word.”
“Good. Now, don’t touch anything.”
“Very well.”
He was definitely going to touch something.
Dust and the smell of old wood greeted us as we stepped inside.
A long-dormant cast-iron stove squatted at the back of the living-room-come-kitchen, and a vast array of furniture and baubles littered the space.
I’d never been one for organization. Cleanliness, certainly, but I’d never been classified as a tidy person.
Henrik slowly wandered through the small living area, taking in his surroundings like a hawk.
First up on his inspection were my two bookshelves that had never seen a book in their lives.
Instead, each was weighed down by a myriad of trinkets and treasures.
Henrik harrumphed at them and focused on the sideboard where I prepared poisons from my Forest Fae acquaintance and fixed broken odds and ends.
Atop the wooden credenza sat a timepiece with mother-of-pearl inlay, a painted oval box with traditional rose patterns where I kept my fine silver pieces, and, nestled beside it, was a hundred-year-old Louis XIV armchair whose gilded frame and regal fabric looked wholly out of place in my rustic abode.
Henrik pointed to it and gave me a quizzical expression.
“Isn’t it pretty?”
“Is it from France?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“How the fuck did you get that?”
I shrugged. “A thief never tells.” Especially when it had been one of my riskier ventures, but sometimes crates bound for the Americas vanished from French ports… and ended up in Norway.
I refocused on the task at hand and set to work packing up my belongings and valuables.
Unfortunately, the chair would have to stay for now.
Grabbing clothes and cloaks, silver and coins, I filled four large sacks with belongings I’d want to have with me on the Valur.
Before long, each one was stuffed to the drawstring top.
“Is that everything?” Henrik asked where he leaned against the wall, having watched my storm-like packing.
“Yes,” I mumbled, taking a look around the space. “If only I still had my mother’s locket.”
“We’ll get it back.” He hooked his arm around my shoulder and pulled me into him. “I’ll help.”
“I don’t know exactly where it is right now, but I’d guess it’s in Grim with the two men who took it from me.”
Henrik’s chest rumbled. “Don’t you worry about that,” he said before his tone shifted to something a little lighter. “Now, I’m not saying you leave this place forever, but if you think for one second that I am ever letting you out of my sight again, you are sorely mistaken.”
My toes curled in my boots and I bit my bottom lip.
“And if you bite that bottom lip any harder, I will have to throw you over my shoulder and haul you back to my ship right this second without any of your things.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” I countered as a trill of excitement zipped through my body.
“Would you like to test me?”
“In more ways than one, Captain.”
His eyes fluttered shut and he took a deep breath. “You’ll be the death of me, Brynhild Jakobsen.”
“As long as I’m there for your demise.”
“Like I said, not letting you out of my sight.”
I’d have once disliked that statement, but now… Now, I didn’t mind it at all. In fact my heart swelled at the sound of belonging to someone, protected by someone, while also having the freedom to be myself.
We traipsed back on board, weighed down by a heap of bags, and made our way to the captain’s cabin. Once inside, I dumped my two large sacks in the corner of Henrik’s bedroom while he gently set the two bags he’d carried on top of the table.
A yawn escaped me and I pressed my hand to my mouth. It had already been a long day and a nap sounded wonderful.
Henrik chortled and nudged me with his elbow. “Get some rest and I will meet you in a few hours for crew drinks.”
With a nod, I curled up on his bed, hoisted the blanket over my body, and mumbled an affirmative as he gave me a gentle smile and ducked out of the cabin.