Chapter Twenty
Duna stayed cuddled up against her husband for some time. She may have dozed a little, she wasn’t sure, but her thoughts drifted and her heart rate settled.
He whispered soothing words to her, stroked her hair and kissed her forehead, eyelids, and cheeks.
Her ass was hot and tingling, and a deep sense of satisfaction made her cunny warm and soft.
Within Halvor’s arms she felt so safe and protected. Her warrior Viking would always take care of her, and see that she knew how to survive too, in this strange land.
She decided not to think about the ‘what-if’s’ and the poisonous mushrooms. It was too frightening. Instead she vowed never to collect mushrooms from that spot again, and to always show Halvor anything she did forage before even taking it into the longhouse.
“You did so well,” he whispered, “taking the belt for all those strikes.”
“Thank you, Master.”
“But I’m sorry I had to do it, wife.”
“I understand why you did, and I wanted you to, after I’d realized how dangerous my actions had been.”
“I’m glad you understand.” He tipped her chin with the crook of his finger. “I hope it won’t happen again. I do not wish to have poison in my meal.”
“I promise it won’t, ever. If anything happened to you I don’t know what I’d do.” Her eyes filled with tears; as was often the case after a spanking, she was emotional and she didn’t try to hide it these days.
“Shh, shh, nothing is going to happen to me. We’re safe here and we have everything we need.”
“It’s you I need the most.”
He smiled and kissed her gently. “And it is you I need the most.” He wiped her tears with the pads of his thumbs. “No more crying. It’s a beautiful day outside, perhaps we should take bread and cheese and go to the lake.”
“For a swim?” She hoped he’d say yes. They’d swum several times in the lake together, naked, and although it was cold it had improved over the warm months. The coolness would also be pleasant on her hot ass.
“It may be the last swim of the summer, the winter will be upon us in another moon, and we still have harvesting to do.”
“I understand.” She smiled suddenly. “Let’s go. I will prepare the food.”
“Good.” He stood, helping her onto her feet as he went.
Carefully she pulled up her undergarments.
He watched her. “You’ll be able to swim?”
“Yes, of course.” She adjusted her dress so it hung neatly and suppressed the need to wince as it pressed against her buttocks. “It will only take a moment to prepare the food.”
“I have something to attend to first. Do not go alone to the lake.”
“Of course not, Master.”
Twenty minutes later Duna was sitting on the sandy bank of the lake enjoying the bread she’d made the day before. She had butter and cheese and a few crab apples to complete their outdoor meal.
Halvor ate as though he’d never eaten before, taking his fill quickly and efficiently. It never failed to amaze her how much he could eat; her job as his wife, to provide his meals, was not one for the faint of heart.
The distant bleating of their sheep echoed around the hills, the lake shimmered under a cloudless sky, and butterflies and bees went about their chores.
“I’ve had luck with my rabbit snares,” Halvor said, wiping crumbs from his hands, then taking a slug of ale.
“That’s good.”
“But nothing for the one I’d set for boar. I was hoping to catch another one before winter.”
“There are no prints.” Duna gestured to the sand.
“No, there haven’t been for a while. Perhaps they’ve moved on from this area.”
“I’m sure they’ll be back.”
“Yes, and I’ll catch us one.” He raised his head to the sun. “Soon it will be time for us to wear fur every day, and the new leather tunics you’ve made us.”
“The fur boots too,” she said, finishing her meal.
“Aye, and those, but for now, it’s good to feel the sun on my skin.”
She studied his bare chest and wide shoulders. His flesh had turned golden over the summer, and his blond hair had grown in length, sitting now around the base of his neck. She never got bored of looking at the way his muscles moved beneath the surface of his skin, how they bulged, flexed, and danced as he worked.
“Perhaps,” she said, removing her summer boots then standing, “we should feel the sun on all of our bodies, husband.”
He opened one eye and looked up at her. “What do you have in mind, wife?”
“This.” She peeled off her dress and discarded it by the basket she’d used to carry the meal. Next to it lay Halvor’s dagger.
He opened his other eye and let his attention linger on her breasts.
Her nipples tightened, a combination of the light breeze and his interest.
She tucked her fingers into the waistband of her undergarments and pushed them down, exposing the dark hair of her cunny and her pale thighs.
He swallowed and stood. “I believe that’s a very good idea.”
She smiled and turned.
“Odin, give me strength,” he said, blowing out a breath as he stared at her buttocks.
Glancing over her shoulder, she ran her hand over her ass, tracing the raised lines there.
“Duna,” he said, his voice low and husky.
“If you want me, you’ll have to catch me.” She giggled then rushed for the water. In five paces she was up over her knees, and she fell forward, allowing the chill to encase her. It stroked over the welts on her bottom, and slipped between her legs to her cunny.
He laughed. “Wench, come back.”
“No.” She struck out, swimming away from the shore.
He was behind her in a flash, reaching for her waist and pulling her close.
“Hey, hey, get off me, you brute.” She pretended to be indignant and pushed and shoved at him.
But she didn’t have a chance at escape, not least because he could stand up on the lakebed, and she could not.
“You cannot flee your great Viking warrior husband, Duna.”
She stilled and cupped his face. Her smile dropped. “You know full well I do not want to escape. I only want to be with you.”
“That makes me happy.” He kissed her and hoisted her higher into his arms.
She wrapped her legs around his waist and clung to him. His cock nudged at her entrance.
“Halvor,” she gasped.
He grinned, small lines darting from the corners of his eyes, creasing the ink on his skin. “You want my cock, don’t you?”
“Here, in the lake?”
“Aye, here.” He tugged her down onto him.
She gasped as his cock tip stretched her pussy. Hardness along with the cool water seeped into her. “Halvor.”
“Ah, that’s it,” he said against her mouth. “Take me.”
She had to force herself to relax to take more. They’d coupled more times than she could count, but still, his cock was big and had to be eased into her.
“I want you to have pleasure, here in the lake.”
“Yes, and I want you to have that.”
He applied more pressure and tilted his hips, seating himself higher inside her. “No, I want my seed to stay inside you, not be washed away by the lake.” He lowered his forehead so it was touching hers. “I still hope for a Viking son to join our family next summer.”
“I… I have not bled for some time.” She stared into his eyes. “Nadir says that’s a good sign that I’m with child.”
He stilled. “It is?”
She nodded.
“That has made me very happy.” He kissed her, deep and passionate, his tongue stroking against hers.
She melted against him, her nub rubbing over his hard body as he thrust gently into her, tugging her onto him at the same time as he moved his hips. “Mmm… please, find your pleasure with me, here, in the lake.”
“No, for my seed is strong and will give our growing son strength.”
“It might be… a daughter.”
He smiled. “I would like many sons, Duna, but also I would like a daughter, to help you…” He paused. “I don’t mind, son or daughter, I will love either.”
“Me too.” She ran her hands into his hair. “Oh, Halvor, that feels so good, the way you’re pulling me on and off you.” She tipped her head back and allowed him to control her body.
He slipped his hands to her sore ass.
She cried out, and when he squeezed she cried out louder still. But the sensation toppled her into her release. She clenched around him, rode his cock, and allowed bliss to flood her body.
“Aye, good girl, like that.” He kept on going, working her; he was an expert at getting pleasure from her body. She’d never known she was capable of such powerful sensations.
When she calmed he walked to the shoreline. The water slipped down from her waist and her ass as he splashed out. His cock was still solid and buried deep.
“I want you there,” he said. “Leaning over the rock.”
“Yes, Master.” She wasn’t surprised; she knew full well he enjoyed her ass when it was red from his hand, his shoe, the board or whatever else he’d used to deliver her punishment. She’d wondered if all masters were that way, or if she was lucky and it was just hers.
When they reached the rock, he lifted her from his cock.
Her heart was still thudding from her release and her breaths coming quick. But she turned around, bent, locked her elbows, and widened her legs.
“Aye, you know what I need.” He was at her entrance. “Get ready for it.”
“I am.” She gritted her teeth as anticipation swarmed within her. She hoped he’d release his passion hard and fast, and surrender to the moment. She adored feeling him, hearing him, when he lost his usually tight grip of self-control even if just for a moment or two.
He grabbed her waist, his big hands almost spanning it, then pushed in hard and fast.
She cried out, but not with pain, with bliss.
“More,” he said, almost pulling out then shoving back in. “I want more.”
“Halvor,” she called.
“Tell me,” he said, ramming in deep, his body slapping her raw ass.
She yelped and arched her back.
“Tell me,” he repeated, his voice loud and deep. “That you won’t leave me.”
“No, no, never,” she yelled, for there was no one around to hear. “I will never do that.”
“And you will never stop sharing my bed.”
“No, no, I won’t… stop that.”
“My seed is coming,” he said. “You are mine, forever, woman.”
He roared out his pleasure, a primitive sound punctuated with the thrusting of his hips.
She held her breath and took him. If he hadn’t been holding her tight, her body would have been shunted forward, well past the rock, owing to the force of his pounding.
“Ah, ah,” he gasped, cupping her ass cheeks. “I will make you with child many times over. You will always be with me.”
“She will not!”
Duna started at the sudden roaring voice at her left.
Halvor withdrew. “What?”
She turned, blinked, and staggered backward.
Charging over the small cove, sword raised, was Esca.
Esca?
Was he a ghost?
He wore a leather tunic and breeches, black boots, and his arms were bare. He roared as he lunged at Halvor and it was clear he was very much alive.
Esca’s not dead.
Halvor, naked, stepped to the right to avoid him.
Esca stumbled slightly as the weight of his sword landed heavily onto the sand. “Do not fear, Duna, I have come to save you from this Nordic savage.”
“Esca!” she shouted. “No!”
He dropped his attention down her naked body, then lifted his sword and charged at Halvor again.
Halvor had his dagger in his hand.
“No,” she gasped, lunging for her dress. Quickly she tugged it on. “Halvor, please, don’t hurt him.”
Halvor threw her a scowl. “Stay back, stay back or you will be punished again for disobedience.”
“You brute,” Esca said, jabbing the sword at Halvor. “You beat her.”
Halvor quickly dodged it, circled behind Esca, and kicked him in the center of his back.
Esca catapulted forward. He released his sword, which flew to the left disturbing a puff of sand, then fell flat on his face. Quickly he turned onto his back.
Halvor was there with his dagger, and in an instant he had it angled at Esca’s throat.
Esca froze. His eyes widened.
“Halvor, no, that’s my friend Esca.” Duna rushed forward. “Don’t hurt him.”
“Don’t hurt him?” Halvor was breathing fast, the air snorting from his nose. “He just tried to kill us.”
“Not her,” Esca managed. “Only you, for stealing her away from me.”
Halvor snarled. “She’s mine now.”
“Not by choice. You can’t hold her prisoner.”
The dagger drew a drip of blood.
“Stop, please, I beg you.” Duna tugged on Halvor’s arm. “Do not hurt him, please. He’s my friend.”
Halvor seemed to finally hear her. He frowned and lifted the dagger, but kept it aimed at Esca. “Your friend?”
“Yes.” She gave him a shove, surprised when he moved a pace away, and dropped to her knees. “Esca, what are you doing here?”
“I came for you, to save you from a life as a slave.”
She took his hand. “Oh, Esca. You have traveled far.”
“Yes. I used all my coins to buy passage then have spent many months asking around, searching for you.” He sat and eyed Halvor who was pulling on his breeches. “And then I find you and he is raping you.”
“I was not.” Halvor set his hands on his hips.
“You cannot deny it.” Esca stood and glanced at his sword some ten paces away. “I heard Duna shouting no, crying out, screaming for you to stop. I have seen the savagery of your Norseman ways. There’s no defense.”
“I am not a rapist.” Halvor took a step toward Esca and pointed at him. “And you would do well not to accuse me of such.”
Duna quickly set herself between them. Esca didn’t stand a chance against her husband; he would squash the smaller man like a gnat. She set her hand on both of their chests.
“Please, stop,” she said. “Esca, you don’t understand.”
“I understand perfectly, and I know I am not a Viking warrior, but if this savage here would care to fight again, I will do my best for your honor.”
“Her honor?” Halvor said. “What is that to you?”
“She is my betrothed.”
“No, Esca, you don’t understand,” Duna said. “I never agreed to marry you and…”
“This man wanted to marry you?” Halvor said, his voice full of disbelief.
“And I still do.” Esca tipped his chin and scowled at Halvor.
Halvor tipped his head back and laughed, a big bellow of a sound, which filled the valley and rolled up the hills.
“What is funny?” Esca demanded.
“You, you are.” Halvor slipped his arm around Duna’s waist, tugged her to his side, then looked down at her. “Do you really think you could handle this woman?”
“I will provide well for her.”
“She is wild, like a feral cat, disobedient too, not to mention far too clever for a wench. And her cooking, it could kill you.”
“Hey!” Duna said, enjoying the playful sparkle in her husband’s eyes. He was teasing her. “You make me sound like a terrible wife.”
“Wife!” Esca said, his mouth dropping open.
“Aye, we are married.” Halvor swept his lips over Duna’s.
“It can be annulled. You do not have to put up with these Viking savages, Duna. The Lord will understand that your hand was forced.”
“But it wasn’t.” Duna smiled at Esca. “I wanted to marry Halvor, indeed I suggested it.”
Esca blinked rapidly and shook his head. “You suggested it?”
“Aye,” Halvor said, “told you, stubborn woman wouldn’t let me take her to bed until I said the vows.”
Surprise washed over Esca’s face. “Is this true?”
“Yes, despite looking like an overbearing Nordic savage, this husband of mine is actually a soft soul. He cares for me, protects me, and has provided well for the winter ahead.”
Esca puffed up his cheeks and blew out a breath. “I am lost for words.” He paused. “What am I to tell your father, Duna?”
“How is he?”
Esca shrugged and looked away.
“Tell me, please.” Was he ill? Had something befallen him? Her heart lurched.
“He remarried.”
“He did what?” Duna had hardly been able to believe the words that had come from Esca’s mouth.
“Mary McDoone lost her man Donald in the raid.” Esca threw a glare at Halvor. “So your father asked for her hand. He lives at her croft now near Broch Bay.”
“She has a big croft, backing onto the Laird’s land.”
“Yes, your father was well when I saw him last, though he grieves for you.”
“I… I am happy for him, if he is happy. Though I’m sorry he grieves so. Perhaps you can let him know that I am quite well.”
“You should come with me now and tell him yourself.” Esca nodded at Halvor. “Let me take this Shet Isle woman back to her homeland. She has no place here. It’s not her world.”
“No.” Halvor tightened his grip on her. “That is not going to happen.”
“She has family there, a life.”
“She has family here, a life, and…” He slid his palm over her belly. “And soon we are to have a child.” He kissed her softly. “We do not mind,” Halvor went on against her lips, “if we have a girl with her mother’s black as night hair, or a warrior son, we will love that child, and then we will have more. We have a big longhouse to fill with our children.”
Duna’s heart was overflowing with love, but she tore her attention from her husband and looked at Esca, willing him to understand. “I can’t go back to Shet Isle with you, Esca. My life is here now, I am happy.”
“You can’t be… not with a man who stole you away in the middle of the night. A man who has held you captive for many months and—”
Halvor held up his hand. “You should stop talking of my wife leaving; if you can hold your tongue on that subject I might invite you to cross the threshold into my longhouse to take ale, food, and shelter after your journey.”
Esca ran his hand over his hair and looked between Halvor and Duna. “This is so much to take on, to understand.”
“But you must,” Duna said. “Please.”
Esca nodded. “I will try.” He paused. “And thank you. I would be glad of your hospitality.”
“It is simple to understand,” Halvor said, tugging Duna close. “This Celt woman was my captive, that is true. But as I said, Duna is not an easy wench to handle. She has many wily ways, and the truth is, my slave has in fact conquered me, and my heart. I cannot live without her.”