“I want to know if they ensured you ate properly.”
“Yes, they fed me.” The words were breathless. He gave a grunt of acknowledgment. “But for future reference—” That had one of his dark eyebrows lifting, as if he was surprised I dared to speak to him in such a way. I had to tread carefully. This was new territory for me, and offending a man of such power wouldn’t do me any favors. “I-I’d prefer to bathe myself from now on.” I looked at the ground quickly, more so because staring at him was turning me on. Intensely so.
But he said nothing for so long I finally forced myself to look at him. I expected anger to be directed at me… not this softening expression on his face.
“Very well.” He moved around the sleeping platform, pulled the furs aside, and climbed in. Completely naked.
I stood there for a long moment, just staring at him. His big body faced me, his focus still trained right on me.
“Unless you plan on sleeping standing up, the bed is clearly big enough for both of us.”
I could imagine there was a hint of amusement in his voice—or maybe that was wishful thinking. I wanted this male to be soft toward me. That had a snort filling my head. As if a warrior such as him could or would ever be soft with anyone.
“What happens tonight?” My voice was thin and reedy. Nervous.
Again he was silent for long seconds. “Tonight.” More silence. “We sleep. I vow I will not touch you until you willingly come to me, wife.”
The way he said wife had my knees growing weak.
I stood there out of nervousness for a while longer but finally forced myself to move to the other side of the pallet. His gaze tracked me the entire time, and when I pulled the furs away and slipped in quickly, I pulled them up to my chin. I lay on my back, staring at the beamed ceiling, my heart thundering so loud I was sure he’d hear it.
I didn’t know if I thought he’d pull me toward him and roll on top of me, but he stayed still, his breathing even. I chanced a look at him and saw his eyes closing. Was this true? He would not touch me tonight or any night until I wanted him to? Seemed unrealistic, because he was a warrior—a brute, of course—but I knew warriors didn’t vow something and break it.
A vow was their life force.
I faced forward and stared at that ceiling for a second before closing my eyes and willing myself to go to sleep. Which was an impossible task. How could I possibly sleep with him beside me and not be affected? Already I was wet, and my body felt so sensitive. Because the feeling of his body heat moving under the furs covered me in the most sexual way. His sheer size made me feel so tiny, so feminine.
I rolled onto my side, facing away from him, hoping it would ease the ache between my thighs. I closed my eyes and tried to steady my breathing. This certainly wasn’t how I’d envisioned my wedding night going. I thought for sure by now he would be rutting between my legs like a wild animal. I certainly didn’t think he’d give me a choice, that he’d give me any semblance of power.
But he was. And I didn’t know how to take that.
I’d resolved myself to fear Fenrir the Destroyer. But his actions tonight had that resolve starting to shake, the very foundation of my anger and betrayal getting muddy, confusing.
If this was how he was—who he really was—and he gave me choices, gave me the power to lead, how awful could my life really be here?
7
Fen
Prima had just fallen asleep, and I was thankful for that. She was nervous and tense, and understandably so, and the fact that she’d been able to calm herself enough to sleep pleased me.
I should feel guilty for forcing her hand, for taking her away from the only home she’d known and making her my wife. But denying myself Prima in my life was not something I could do. I wouldn’t.
I wanted her too badly and had for far too long to not be selfish where she was concerned.
What would she say, think, if I admitted that for all this time, I’d watched over her? I’d made sure she had enough food, clothing, that her shelter was stable and safe. Of course her guardian, Teron, could think it was a dowry of sorts, but the truth was it had all been for Prima, to ensure she never wanted for anything.
And as I watched her from the shadows as she’d done labor in the village—a seamstress I’d found out--as she worked hard and tirelessly to get a meager coin at the end of each sun rising, so many times I’d wanted to take her right then and there, just throw her over my shoulder as she left for home each night and take her back to the castle. I wanted to pamper her, spoil her. I wanted to protect her, make her feel happy… to pleasure her.