Her Viking Saviour (Lore & Love Trilogy #1)

Chapter 22

Chapter Twenty-Two

Torben did not realise how exhausted they both were until they had lain upon the soft furs. His bed–which normally felt too big, even for his large frame–now felt right with her beside him. Wynflaed was the perfect piece he had not known he was missing. Mentally and physically replete, she had curled up against the length of his body and fallen asleep. He felt her slow, even breaths against his chest while she slumbered peacefully, and he stroked her silky hair mindlessly. He was tired, but his mind continually relived the events of the day. She had healed a wound deep inside him.

Sharing his past as a warrior and his role in Freydis’s heartbreak with Wynflaed had lifted a heavy burden that he had carried for many years. She was the woman he saw himself growing old with, raising children with. Their souls had connected before their minds or their bodies had, and now they could spend forever learning one another. Though the events that had led him to find her were unfortunate, this was the plan of the gods and all the adversity only made them stronger. He leaned down to press a kiss on the top of her head, and pride swelled in his chest when he remembered standing up to Hakkan in the marketplace. Gut-wrenching fear quickly overshadowed pride when he thought of what could have happened if their paths had not crossed that day.

During all their lovemaking and baring of his soul, he had forgotten to bring up marriage. They will be the first words I say to her when she wakes, he promised himself. He stifled a yawn with his free hand and knew he needed to get some rest himself. He had a lifetime with Wynflaed, so he said a silent prayer of thanks to Odin, knowing the All Father was always nearby.

A loud gurgling noise slipped into Torben’s sleep-filled mind, and he sat up with a start, looking around for his dagger. He heard giggling and he looked down to see a laughing Wynflaed.

“Calm yourself, Torben. It is just my stomach letting us know it has been sometime since we fed it.”

Torben threw his head back and laughed with her.

“I have been awoken with less fear by the noise of battle,” he teased, enjoying the early morning exchange. His mornings were usually a mundane repetition of routine.

“Come now, I worked up a healthy appetite, don’t forget,” she said with a blush, as she looked up at him through her eyelashes.

“Do not be embarrassed, Wynflaed, you were everything I had never even hoped to dream and more,” he told her tenderly, and placed a kiss on her bare shoulder.

“I was just very...very…wanton. What must you think of me?” she murmured. Her eyes were still downcast, but he saw a soft smile at her words.

He placed his finger under her chin and raised her head so their eyes met.

“Wynflaed, what I think is I am a lucky, lucky man to know you in that way. And what I also think is you must marry me.”

Her eyes widened in surprise.

“You want to marry me?”

His forehead wrinkled. He was taken aback by her question.

“Yes, I want us to be married. I want you to be my wife, and I your husband. To have children and grow old together.”

He scanned her face, now pensive, and her pert nose crinkled as she eyed him curiously.

“It does not matter to you that you were not the first man to lie with me?” she queried.

“I am jealous at the thought of any other man touching you. But it does not bother me that I was not the first.”

“I have no wealth or title. I come from a lower class in Northumbria,” she pressed, and he could not help but let his exasperation show.

“Yes, Wynflaed, and none of that matters to me. I do not wish to marry a title or a chest of gold. I need none of that. What I need is you, you vexing woman.” He claimed her lips in a hot kiss.

She responded with such ardour that he knew her answer would be yes. Her belly protested again with a gurgle and they broke apart laughing.

“Yes, Torben, I will marry you. But you better feed me before I change my mind,” she said cheekily, but he saw soft tears pool in her eyes. He kissed each eyelid, tasting the salty wetness.

“You will not be sorry, Elskling . ” He moved off the bed to stand and pulled her up as well. “But we better wash and dress so I can feed you before I am sorry. Your tummy sounds ready for battle.”

He broke into laughter at the indignant expression on her face at his jest. He had not felt this much lightness in many, many years.

Sven, Leif, and Ragnav’s attention lifted from their plates of food when they walked in with linked hands. Sven paused with a chunk of bread halfway to his mouth. Leif had paused mid-chew, and whatever he had been eating was now visible as his mouth gaped open. Ragnav smiled widely and raised his cup in a congratulatory gesture to the two.

“Skol, Torben! Skol, Wynflaed!” he said enthusiastically.

Sven recovered and echoed Ragnav.

“Skol! It was only a matter of time! I cannot remember the last time I saw you this happy, Torben. Odin’s blessings to you, Wynflaed,” he told them with genuine warmth.

Torben looked to Leif, who was still frozen. Ragnav whacked him on the back and Leif spat out the food in his mouth involuntarily and looked over at Ragnav with a glare.

“I am just surprised, that is all. It is not every day you see Torben holding hands and Wynflaed... Well, Wynflaed, you are very…loud?”

Torben could not hold back his laughter at Leif’s struggle to find words and very much enjoyed the scowl Wynflaed threw back at him.

“I am so pleased to see your happiness for us, Leif,” she told him hotly.

Leif flushed and looked between Torben, Sven, and Ragnav before he let out a loud, somewhat tortured sigh.

“Welcome to the family, Wynflaed,” he said dryly, with an embellished wave of his arm.

“Thank you, cousin. Speaking of family, where is Freydis?” he asked as he looked around the room. The men all shrugged in response.

“She seemed to be in one of her darker moods when I last saw her yesterday,” Ragnav informed him, unconcerned by Freydis’s changeability.

Wynflaed placed a steaming bowl of porridge in front of Torben, covered with bilberries and drizzled with honey. He grinned at her when she placed an equally large portion in front of herself.

“Considering what she and I spoke of yesterday, Torben, I think it is best I find and speak with her,” she told him with a pointed stare.

“What happened yesterday?” asked Ragnav.

"Yes, what happened?" Leif and Sven echoed in unison.

The three bulky Norsemen looked to Wynflaed and Torben grinned. She was slight compared to them, but they all seemed to shrink under her watchful gaze.

"I shall leave the story to you, Elskling," he said.