“You enjoyed my kiss at the Dwelling of the Gods?”
“Uh… yeah,” I said like I’d say, “uh… duh”. “Frey, I’d wrapped my arms around you. You’re a jerk but you can kiss.”
Another lip press and then, “Explain what you mean about me helping you with us having what we have tonight just the two of us for awhile. It is my understanding, unless you are unusually broad-minded, what I have planned for tonight is always just the two of us.”
Yeesh. Men. Their minds, no matter what world they live in, always wandered down the same paths.
“I’m not talking about a threesome, Frey, I’m talking about children. As in, I don’t know you but I was thinking that I was really liking getting to know you and that when that extra component was added, you were giving all the signs I would really like that too. So, I thought, if I did really like all of that, I’d like to have all of that with you for awhile, just the two of us before we start thinking of daughters and sons and who’s going to teach who swordplay and all that jazz.”
I felt the pads of his fingers dig into my hip and noticed his eyes had gone weird but I didn’t pay much attention to that either.
Then he asked, “You wish to delay providing your father with an heir?”
“Not forever. Not even for very long. A few months, enough time I could learn about you, you could learn about me, we could learn about… uh… how we are together and maybe I could ride on your ship.”
Another slow blink then, “Ride on my ship?”
“Or, take a trip on it or whatever you call it. I mean, you know, go voyaging with you. That might not be so much fun pregnant and if I have a kid, I’d have to stay home while off you go on your adventures and that would suck. I was thinking maybe we can squeeze in an adventure or two and then we can have sons and daughters and provide heirs to the kingdom and all that stuff. It’s not like I’ll be this age forever and it won’t be as much fun when I’m old and decrepit and struggling along with my cane only to slip on a deck one of your men are swabbing and break a hip.”
He did yet another slow blink.
Then he threw back his head and burst out laughing.
I stared because, first, I didn’t know the man could laugh. Second, I was staring at his throat which I’d already noted was a nice view. And third, he had a great laugh.
I, however, did not laugh with him. I was still too pissed.
He eventually stopped laughing (though, I will note, he took his sweet time doing it) and returned his attention to me.
And when he did, his eyes roamed my face before he said quietly, “When my wife gets vexed, her cheeks get pink.”
I fought the urge to struggle out of his lap and the urge to cover my cheeks. Instead, I simply continued to glare.
“I like it,” he went on talking quietly.
“Can I get up now?” I asked snappishly.
He didn’t answer nor did he let me up. Instead he remarked, still quietly, “I’m intrigued about these wedding undergarments I missed.”
“Sorry, Frey, that was a onetime deal. I was all decked out in my wedding finery and you took off. You missed that boat, totally.”
He grinned again then whispered, “More fool me.”
“Uh… hello?” I called then requested, “Can I get up now?”
One of his big hands drifted up my back and he said softly, “I must tell you, Finnie, I like you here. You fit well in my lap.”
Uh-oh.
“Does it matter that I don’t like being here?” I asked.
“Indeed it does, wife, let’s get you somewhere where you’re more comfortable. I’m thinking the loft.”
Uh-oh again.
“Frey, I think I told you, the deal is off.”
He grinned and shook his head. “You know, my Winter Princess, you never renege on a deal with a Raider.”