Page 98 of A Light So Blinding
The door to their bedroom opened, and his heart stopped at the sight of her. Astrid had a small towel in her hands that she was using to dry off her arms, it seemed.
She paused, meeting his gaze with a confused expression of her own. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Like what?”
She smiled, and he forgot how to breathe. “Like you haven’t seen me in decades.”
“A single moment away from you feels like a year,” he said, so quietly he almost couldn’t hear himself. “The day is not nearly so bright without you by my side.”
She fought a smile. “That seems rather dramatic.”
“Don’t worry.” Bjorn walked over to her, grabbing her waist and tugging her into his arms. “The world is bright again.”
He kissed her, and the world disappeared. There was only the feel of her melting into him, her hands pressed against his heart. He kissed her with every ounce of love in him. Because he did love her. He worshipped the ground she walked on, yes, but he loved her with every broken piece of him.
Taking a breath, Bjorn leaned back to tell her just that. It maybe wasn’t the perfect moment, but there was no perfect moment to tell someone that they were the best part of his life.
Only for her to interrupt him. “We saw a shopkeeper today.” Astrid even leaned back so he could notice the pretty blue dress she wore. “She said something about how I’ve earned new piercings in gaining the approval of your mother and the others at the grotto.”
He hadn’t expected that.
How did he talk to her about this? She didn’t know what she was asking for. He couldn’t imagine what his mother and the other of their magical women had told her, otherwise why would she be asking about them? But he didn’t know if he should be the one to tell her such sensitive information either.
“Uh...” He released her, taking a step back to rub at the back of his neck. “That is something you have earned, yes.”
His mind wandered because he knew what those piercings were. Throughout his entire life, he had watched young women get them in the grotto. There was usually a ceremony with everyone who lived there. The piercings were an honor. He remembered all the families coming out to watch, and the cheersthat would erupt after the young woman’s nipples were officially adorned with glimmering metal.
It had never been about anything other than honor and hope. The women were so proud of themselves, and their families would cry. He had cheered with the others, never thinking anything differently.
Until this moment.
The thought of her wearing his jewels, glittering gemstones turning her perfect little breasts even more beautiful? It made him so hard he could hardly think straight.
Yes, he wanted to pierce her. Yes, he wanted to know what she would look like and how he was going to roll those bars in his mouth once he could. He would tug on them with his teeth, giving her even more pleasure than just his pierced cock could give her.
But that wasn’t the point of those piercings. He wasn’t supposed to think of them sexually. They were an honor that she would wear with pride, not something that he could lust over. His mother would be so ashamed of him.
Still, Bjorn had to clear his throat and adjust himself before replying to her. “These are perhaps not piercings you would be willing to get.”
Astrid pointed behind him to the island. “Fortunately, I already know what kind of piercings they are. And yes, you are correct. There was a time in my life that I would have been horrified. Marking my body such as that would have been something that terrified me. But now I am a troll wife. I am here to stay, Bjorn. And if wearing those jewels means I honor you by doing so, and myself, then I will do it.”
There was a small box on the table. Shocked, he wandered over to it and opened it. A piercing kit, he realized. With hollow needles blown by a metalsmith in town, most likely. Even a few jewelry options. He had no idea where she had gotten this, butthe simple gold balls would not do for someone as stunning as her.
He’d have to go into the mines, he realized. He didn’t trust any jeweler to have stones breathtaking enough to match her. He’d find them himself. And when she was fully healed, he would place them himself as well.
Heat flashed in Bjorn’s chest, and he turned to look at her with a more calculating expression. He could do this, but he would do it in his own way.
“You are certain you wish to wear them?” He confirmed while making sure he had everything he’d need in the box.
“Yes, of course.”
Fine, then. She’d said this was what she wanted, and he would not deny a gift like that.
Bjorn turned, grabbed her by the waist, and set her onto the counter. Like this, they were almost eye to eye. Nerves danced in her gaze, and she licked her lips while staring at him. “Is it going to hurt?”
“Yes, bright one. Nothing I can do will help that.”
He gently grasped the straps of Astrid’s dress, pushing them down her shoulders so they slipped. The fabric pooled at her waist, and his mouth went dry looking at her. It had been dark last night, and now he couldseeher. Every inch. Every bit of smooth skin, pretty pink nipples, and the way her chest moved up and down in a rapid breath that betrayed her fear.
