Page 42 of Her Dark Viking
He glared at her, incredulous. "You would seek to bargain with me? Perhaps I should take a switch to you by way of a response to your terms."
Tears formed in her eyes and he wished he might bite back the sharp words. He had frightened her, and needlessly since he had not the slightest intention of hurting her, not over this. But he had terms of his own, and since she had raised the matter of her children...
"Tyra and Donald have no place in this discussion. It is between us, you and me."
"But—"
He raised his hand to lay a finger across her lips. "Be quiet, and listen to me. Heed me well on this, Mairead, because it matters that you understand my words." He furrowed his brow and waited for her nod of acknowledgement before he continued. "Tyra was fathered by another man, but she is mine now. The moment she slithered into my hands, covered in blood and began screaming fit to rouse the dead, she was mine. Nothing you may do, or not do, will alter that. Our child is not to be bargained with. Donald is more complicated. I know he does not wish for another stepfather but I believe he and I have now arrived at an understanding. I will continue to do what I may to help him grow into the man he can be, and again, I will do this whether you and I wed or not. He is my thrall; he lives in my house; he is my responsibility." Gunnar paused to let these matters take root between her beautiful ears before continuing. "You have managed to vex me on a number of occasions. Your lad, also. I do not recall ever shouting at either of you. I will raise my voice to my men, to urge them into battle, but that is not my way with my family."
She did not answer, Mairead just gazed at him, her eyes wide, her lips parted in stunned surprise.
"Do you have anything more to say on the subject of shouting, or might we move on to the matter ofyourwishes now?"
"My wishes...?"
"Do you wish to be my wife? It is a simple enough question."
"I... I had not thought to marry again. Alred was... not a pleasant companion, and?—"
"I am not him. It will be different, between us. I have already shown you that, have I not?"
"Yes, " she whispered. "You are a warrior, dark and perfectly terrifying, but I do not fear you as I did him."
"We have spoken enough of that man. Know that I will never raise my hand to you in anger, nor will I shout at you. Know also that whatever might pass between us, I will not harm your children. I will protect them and you. I know you desire me, in time you will learn to love me, perhaps."
"Will you learn to love me?" she whispered.
He shook his head and gave her a wry smile. "No, little one. I will not need to for I already adore you. So, will you become my wife?"
She waited, eying him curiously before finally inclining her head in a studied nod. "You drive a hard bargain, Jarl, but I believe I might agree to your terms. If you will be so kind as to make love to me again..."
"Then we have arrived at an understanding." Gunnar rolled onto his back. "Though if you believe I shall allow you to become lazy whilst I do all the work in our bed then you are quite wrong. This time, you will ride me."
"I... oh..." She peered at him, her face a mask of confusion.
"Ah, have we stumbled upon yet another gap in your knowledge of that which transpires between a man and a woman?" He grinned at her and gestured with his fingers thatshe was to rise up onto her knees. "Now, you straddle me. Do you understand this word?"
"I believe that I do, Jarl." Mairead scrambled into position, one knee on either side of his waist.
"Excellent. Now you will shift back a little, and lower yourself onto my cock."
"Is that possible? I have never?—"
"It is. Please proceed."
She shuffled back until her damp cunt hovered above his straining erection. Gunnar smiled at her again. "On this occasion, since you are new to this, you may use your hands to guide my cock into your body."
"How? Like this?" She took hold of his cock and carefully angled it so that the round, slick head rested between the lips of her pussy.
"Yes. Exactly like that, " he breathed. "Now, lower yourself down. Slowly. Take all of it."
She chewed on her lower lip, her delicate features rapt in intense concentration as she sank onto his cock. She watched the place where their bodies joined, and stopped several times to glance back up at him as though seeking his approval. On each occasion he nodded, urging her on. At last she was fully seated, her bottom resting on his thighs. Her eyes were closed now, her lips slightly parted. "Did I do well, Jarl?"
"You did. Your surely did. Are you comfortable?"
"I... I would not say that, exactly."
"Any pain?"
