Free Anna Markland - Viking Roots Medieval Romance Saga 02 by The Rover Defiant

stretched into him. “After its forced abstinence, my shaft wants to remain buried inside you.”
    She kicked off the linens and parted her legs, her eyes widening gleefully when she saw his arousal. “Welcome back, my Rover Bold.”

    Cathryn lay listening to her husband’s snoring, filled with love for the brave invader who’d captured her heart and soul.
    She regretted keeping anything from him, and had come close to blurting out her secret when Bryk had told her of his admiration for Torstein’s skills.
    But in truth the secret wasn’t hers to tell, though she had been complicit in it. At Cathryn’s suggestion, Ingeborg had brought Ida to visit regularly. This much Bryk was aware of. Visits by females and babies held no interest for him.
    Sonja accompanied her sister. Bryk was probably aware of that too, but what she was certain he didn’t know was Cathryn arranged for Sonja and Torstein to spend a few stolen minutes together each time she visited.
    Not arousing Ingeborg’s suspicions hadn’t been easy, though Cathryn had to reluctantly admit the woman often struck her as witless. There was the ever-present danger of one of the Archbishop’s servants stumbling over the trysting couple. Sonja’s errand to the kitchen was carefully timed. No one would need to investigate the narrow space behind the broad chimney of the brick oven Torstein had discovered.
    Cathryn fell asleep fretting over the morrow’s impending tryst. Her heart ached for Torstein and Sonja. It would be their farewell before the army left for the front. She glanced at the triptych atop the armoire, uttered a prayer of contrition, then cuddled into her husband, savoring the heat of his big body. At least she would have the memory to curl into during his absence.

    To his way of thinking, Torstein’s growing camaraderie with Sven Yngre proved it was possible to carve out a place in Viking society. Not everyone would reject him. He and Sven seemed to have an eerie ability to read what was in the mind of the other during the training sessions. He was confident they’d make an effective team in the field, and he gave thanks to Thor for providing him a strong ally as he prepared to set off on the road to military glory. Many of the celebrated Viking warriors the skalds sang of often fought in pairs.
    Soliciting Cathryn’s help was fraught with risk. If Bryk found out it might forever damage their relationship and result in Torstein’s banishment from Bryk’s life. Or his uncle might decide he didn’t deserve his freedom.
    Yet his consuming desire to possess Sonja led him to suggest Cathryn make it possible to tryst with her for a few stolen moments when she came to visit. He’d told her of the warm and private alcove he’d discovered behind the kitchen chimney.
    She’d hesitated, promising to consider the matter. Then she’d asked to inspect the alcove. She’d peeked around the corner of the chimneybreast then left hurriedly without noticing the rope bed Cook kept there. After the remains of the evening meal had been cleared away and the kitchen lads sent off to the stable, the woman was in the habit of collapsing into the swinging bed after drinking herself into oblivion with home made brew. The peasant believed no one else knew of the hideaway she only used at night. Certainly, Cathryn hadn’t known of it. During the day the bed was rolled up and both ends hung out of the way on a hook in the darkest corner.
    Sonja had been nervous during their first tryst and hadn’t noticed the rope bed. They’d talked and held hands. He’d been anxious too, but her sultry voice had calmed him. He’d spent the remainder of the day inhaling the trace of her perfume on his clothes.
    The second time, they’d shared a gentle kiss, and she’d commented on the contraption hanging in the corner. He’d unhooked one end and spread the rope bed out. “It’s like a bed,” he’d said lamely, holding up his end. “Cook uses it.”
    She’d smiled shyly,