KENNA UNLOCKED THE front door and led Gunnar inside. “Make yourself at home, love. I won’t be long.”

Before she could head upstairs to her room, however, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her, then settled his forehead against hers. “I needed something to tide me over.”

Kenna giggled, stroking his cheek. “One more?”

He grinned and obliged. Kenna broke the kiss and rushed up to her room, stalling when she saw a gift bag on her bed. Opening the card, she smiled.

I hope you have the sense to come home and get your things before you go somewhere magical for your bonding. Take this with you and wow him. Love you, sis. G.

Peeking inside she found a sexy, white, sheer nightie, complete with matching underwear, and felt a blush cover her cheeks. She grabbed her overnight duffel, threw in a couple changes of clothes and the new nightie, and then headed to the bathroom for makeup and such. She was quite proud of herself, only taking ten minutes to grab everything she needed.

Arriving downstairs, she found Gunnar texting madly on his phone. He glanced up and smiled before sliding the phone in his pocket. “All set?”

“Yes.” She nodded towards his pocket. “Are you?”

He grinned. “That would be telling.”

“What did you do?”

He put his finger to his lips. “It’s a surprise.”

“I love surprises.”

“Good.” He took her bag from her. “Come.”

Kenna locked the house up and followed Gunnar to the car. He waited for her to climb inside before following. He took her hand as the driver pulled away from the curb, and Kenna was pleasantly surprised when they pulled up to the Balmoral.

“I love this place,” she said.

“It’s my first time here,” Gunnar admitted. “But they’ve been really attentive so far.”

Kenna grinned. “Well, if they give us any grief, I know a guy.”

Gunnar laughed. “I bet you do.”

A bellboy met them as they climbed out of the car and took Kenna’s bag from the driver. “Welcome back, Mr. Baldursson.”

“Thank you,” Gunnar said, laying his hand on Kenna’s lower back.

Kenna stayed connected to Gunnar as the bellboy led them to the elevator and up to their suite. Gunnar wrapped an arm around Kenna as they walked down the hall and she bit the inside of her cheek to keep from squeaking out loud. The bellboy led them inside and placed the bag in the bedroom. Gunnar tipped him and he went on his way.

“You have the Scone & Crombie Suite!” Kenna finally squeaked in glee, throwing her arms around his neck. “I love this room.”

He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. “I did hear that somewhere.”

“You did?”

“I have a small confession.” Gunnar chuckled, releasing her. “Grace organized it. She and I had a little chat after you left me to tend to your sister. That was her on the phone confirming everything.”

“Oh, I love that girl!”

“She feels the same about you.” He took her hand and led her into the bedroom. The bed had rose petals fashioned in a heart and in the corner a bottle of champagne sat chilling next to two glasses and a plate with some kind of confection.

“Is that salted caramel?” she asked.

“Já, elskan. Grace said it’s your favorite.”

“It is my favorite. As is the Dom Perignon.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and sighed. “Thank you, love. Everything’s perfect.”

He kissed the top of her head and held her for a few minutes before releasing her. “I’ll leave you to change.”

She smiled up at him. “Okay.”

Gunnar left the bedroom and Kenna grabbed her new lingerie and headed into the bathroom. She pushed away her nerves once she studied herself in the mirror. Gillian had picked the absolute perfect outfit for her. It gave her a little more on top and helped to round out her hips a little. She had a lithe, athletic figure that she’d never hated, necessarily, but she sometimes wished she had a little more curve. She took a deep breath and headed back into the bedroom. “I’m ready,” she called.

Gunnar walked back in and Kenna licked her lips. He wore a loose pair of pajama pants, black, and nothing else. “Kenna,” he whispered. “You are beautiful.”

She grinned. “You are too.”

His chest was muscular and sprinkled with freckles that Kenna wanted to play connect the dots with. He held his arms out and she gripped them just below his elbows. He wrapped his hands around her arms as well and smiled. “Ready?”

“Yes.”

“Hold on tight,” Gunnar directed, and then kissed her gently.

“Aye, love.” She’d been warned that once the final bonding word was spoken, she’d feel like fainting.

“Ég gef þér allt sem ég er, allt sem ég vil vera og allt sem ég get verið.”

“Ég gef þér allt sem ég er, allt sem ég vil vera og allt sem ég get verið,” Kenna said, feeling her knees weaken. Even though she was prepared for it, she still gripped his arms harder.

“I’ve got you.” Gunnar grinned and continued, “Ég er þinn að eilífu. Ég er þinn að eilífu. Eining okkar mun aldrei bresta.”

“Ég er þinn að eilífu. Ég er þinn að eilífu. Eining okkar mun aldrei bresta.” Kenna took a deep breath as Gunnar wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her.

“Ást mín er alger.”

“Ást mín er alger.” She smiled. “Together.”

“Já.”

In unison, they spoke, “Ég gef þér allt sem ég er, allt sem ég vil vera og allt sem ég get verið. Ég er þinn að eilífu. Ég er þinn að eilífu. Eining okkar mun aldrei bresta. Ást mín er alger”

As she finished the last line of their bonding words, Kenna thought them to herself in English and sighed. I give you everything I am, all I want to be and all I can be. I’m yours forever. Our bond will never be broken. My love is absolute.

“I love you.”

“I love you too,” Gunnar whispered, and lifted her from her feet and carried her to the bed.

Gunnar drew her nipple into his mouth and sucked gently as he pushed her nightgown from her body. He was surprised by the fact she’d forgone panties and he grinned as he kissed his way down her body. Kneeling between her legs, he ran his tongue over her already slick folds and Kenna shuddered as he slid his tongue over her clit, adding pressure with each pass, then sliding a finger inside of her.

Her fingers weaved into his hair and she tugged as she ground her core against his mouth. “Gunnar,” she breathed out.

Unable to wait, he sat up, and slipped inside of her, stopping at her barrier. Kenna whimpered, but he knew it was because she wanted more.

“It’s going to sting a bit, Kenna,” he warned.

She nodded, and before she could change her mind, he surged into her, catching her cry with his mouth as he kissed her.

“I’m okay, love,” she assured him.

The emotion he felt couldn’t be qualified, but he paused for a few minutes, rolling her nipple between his fingers and waiting for her body to get used to him. When her hips began to move, he took the cue and buried himself inside of her over and over again.

He was suddenly overwhelmed with all of it, and he knew he was partly taking on her emotions. As her nipples tightened and her body took him deeper, her feelings wove their way into his heart, urging his burning hunger to find assuagement.

When he felt her walls contract around him, it nearly sent him over the edge, and he couldn’t wait. She cried out as they came together and Gunnar rolled them onto their sides, keeping their connection, but taking the burden of his weight off of her.

Kenna settled herself across Gunnar’s chest trying to catch her breath. “Wow.”

Gunnar chuckled. “Yes, exactly. Wow.”

“I was expecting that to be bad.”

“Why?” he demanded.

“I was told the first time is always bad.”

“Who told you that?”

“My mother,” she admitted.

“Well, I’m sad for your mother.”

She wrinkled her nose. “I don’t want to talk about my mother while I’m lying over your sexy, naked body.”

Gunnar grinned. “Fair enough.”

She kissed his chest before settling her chin on her hands. “Do you want to try?”

He raised an eyebrow. I don’t know, do you?

“It worked!” I mean, it worked!

He chuckled. This is going to be fun.

Aye, love, ’tis. She raised an eyebrow. “What are your gifts... normally?”

“The usual ones, suggestion, telekinesis—”

“Usual ones?” She sat up a little. “I don’t have telekinesis.”

“You don’t?”

She shook her head.

“What do you have?” he asked.

“Psycometry and suggestion, but my gift of suggestion isn’t as strong as say, Max’s.”

“Hmm. I wonder why that is?”

She shrugged. “I have no idea, but I love that I’m going to be able to move things with my mind.”

Gunnar grinned. “We’ll practice after we shower.”

“Can we practice in the shower?”

“Absolutely.”

Kenna slid off the bed and Gunnar followed. In the end, the tub beckoned, and they skipped the shower, opting for making love in the tub. The emotions Kenna was experiencing couldn’t be put into words, so she let them swamp her, grateful she and Gunnar hadn’t waited any longer to be bound. Her love was absolute, and she knew he felt the same.