Page 36 of Her Dark Viking
He grinned at her. "No, I would not do that so you may calm yourself. I will not force you to do anything you do not wish to do."
"Except spank me."
"Except spank you, though I am not convinced you truly do not want that."
It was still too dark for him to see the flush stealing up from her throat, but he was sure she was blushing.
"You should not speak of these things, not in front of Tyra."
"I do not think our baby will object to my words, not for a little while, at least."
He heard the slight hitch in her breath, then silence.
"Mairead? Have I upset you?"
"No, Jarl. But, that is the second time you referred to her thus."
"Referred to who?"
"You called Tyra 'our baby'. You said it last night, also."
He had, it was true. The words had rolled naturally from his tongue. "I helped bring her into the world, I believe that gives me the right..."
"And you own her, as you own all of us."
"I did not mean it in that way. I think of Tyra as..."
"As what, Jarl?"
"Never mind." Gunnar rolled onto his back and closed his eyes again. He longed for sleep, but the moment had passed. After a few minutes he gave up the effort and rose from the bed.
"Where are you going?"
Gunnar re-ignited the lamp he had used in his earlier search for his missing thrall. Mairead's features now flickered in the guttering light as she regarded him anxiously. The baby still suckled contentedly at her breast.Hisbaby, he reminded himself, though he could not quite name the reason he felt that.It was sufficient that he did, and he would not be questioned on it.
"I have work to attend to. You finish feeding Tyra, then get some more sleep. You will remain here until I return. It will be light soon, but do not rise with the rest of the household. And do not dress since I would prefer not to be put to the trouble of stripping you again to spank you."
Her mouth formed a surprised pout, but he did not care to remain and further discuss his instructions. He had made his wishes plain and she had better do as she was told.
The sooner his bed-slave declared herself fully recovered from the birth and ready to perform all of her new duties, the better. His cock ached, he had to fuck her before much longer or he feared his balls might turn blue and shrivel.
He should have left her to make her lonely and cold bed on a pallet down his hall since it was torture to share his sleeping chamber with her and not plunge his cock into her.
What had he been thinking?
10
"No, I am not unwell. The Jarl told me to remain here until he returns." Mairead managed a tremulous smile for Aigneis when the woman lifted the curtain and appeared in the bedchamber.
"I see."
"I wonder, might I beg your help?" Mairead hugged the furs up to her chin, her bedraggled hair tumbling over her shoulders.
"Of course," replied Aigneis.
"Do you have a comb I might borrow? And... could you ensure that, when Gunnar returns, Donald is not within earshot. I am to be spanked, you see, and I fear I might cry out."
"Why?"
