Besieged (9 page)

5 years later…

Peggy Brannigan Valkraad had lived a
charmed life thus far, a life that seemed to grow more and more charmed every
day. Five years and two kids later, she and Geirwolf were more content than
either of them had dreamed possible.

“Do you think you’ll finally have a girl
this time?” Michelle asked on a grin, her hand absently stroking her own round
belly. Michelle was pregnant with her fourth child and Peggy with her third.

Peggy grinned back as they walked toward
the bartering stalls together. “I certainly hope so. Of course, Wolf promised
his brother Bjorn that if this one was a boy we’d name it after him since we
named our first two sons after his father and next oldest brother.”

“Aevar and Arne are little rascals. I’m not
so sure you need to add another Valkraad male to their numbers,” Michelle
teased.

Peggy chuckled at that. “True enough. My
mom and I are hoping for a girl this time.”

“How is your mom anyway?” Michelle asked as
they walked into a grocer’s den.

“Great!” Peggy said happily. She thought
back on when her mother had first arrived in New Norway a little over four
years ago right before she’d given birth to Arne. Her mom had fallen almost
immediately for Geirwolf’s uncle, though she’d been hardpressed to admit it at
the time. But then that was a different story. “She’s pregnant, you know.”
Peggy grinned. “I’m going to be a sister again!”

Michelle gasped. “Nobody told me! That’s
great!”

“Yeah,” Peggy chuckled. “Though mom still
swears she’s too old to be birthing babies like a savage. You know, without
drugs.”

The two friends laughed at that, then
ventured further into the grocer’s den. Peggy spotted Geirwolf almost
immediately, their two boys sitting on either of his broad shoulders, pointing
out foodstuffs they wanted.

Peggy smiled when her husband’s wolf-blue
eyes found her aqua ones. Already five years had gone by and she felt more
attracted to him now than she did then. “You need some help, big guy?” she
teased.

Geirwolf winked at her. “You best believe
it. These two little warriors want everything they see. Pigs, the both of
them.”

She chuckled at that. She turned to
Michelle and hugged her goodbye, promising to stop by her and Ragnar’s cavern
tonight for a game of cards after the boys went to bed.

Peggy’s eyes flicked away from the grocer’s
den and toward the ice-coated stone door that lay a few feet away, hiding New
Norway from the rest of the world. She smiled nostalgically, remembering the day
not too long ago when she’d been brought to her home through that very portal.

“Are you coming, my love?” Geirwolf asked
from behind her. “I’m wanting to barter for this bread. What do you think?”

Peggy turned on her painted feet, the
ice-coated door forgotten. “I think I love you,” she murmured. She smiled at
his blush. “More and more every day.”

“I love you too,” Geirwolf said softly, his
lips coming down to brush against hers. “And I’ll show you how much tonight.”

Peggy sighed contentedly, her smile dreamy
as he threaded his fingers through hers. Geirwolf and Peggy Valkraad walked
back into the grocer’s den hand-in-hand, their two sons happily perched on
their father’s shoulders.

USA Today bestselling author Jaid Black is the owner and
founder of Ellora’s Cave Publishing. Recognizing and legitimizing female
sexuality as an entity unique from male sexuality is her passion. Jaid has been
featured in every available media, from major newspapers like the
Cleveland
Plain Dealer
, to various radio programs, to an appearance on the
Montel
Williams Show
. Her books have received numerous distinctions, including a
nomination for
Nerve
magazine’s Henry Miller award for the best literary
sex scene published in the English language.

Jaid loves to hear from her fans. You can visit her on the
web at
www.jaidblack.com
.

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Trek Mi Q’an Series

·                 
The
Empress’ New Clothes

·                 
Seized

·                 
No
Mercy

·                 
Enslaved

·                 
No
Escape

·                 
No
Fear

·                 
Dementia

·                 
“Devilish
Dot” in
Manaconda
anthology

·                 
Never
a Slave

·                 
Guide to
Trek Mi Q’an

Single Titles

·                 
Adam
& Evil

·                 
After the
Storm
(writing as Tia Isabella)

·                 
Before the
Fire
(writing as Tia Isabella)

·                 
Bossy &
Clyde

·                 
Breeding
Ground

·                 
Death
Row: The Trilogy

·                 
God
of Fire

·                 
Politically
Incorrect: Stalked

·                 
Sins of
the Father

·                 
The
Hunger

·                 
The
Obsession

·                 
The Possession

·                 
Tremors

·                 
Vanished

·                 
Warlord

Multiple Author Anthologies

·                 
“Death
Row: The Mastering” in
Enchained

·                 
“The
Beckoned” in
Ellora’s Cavemen: Tales from the Temple IV

·                 
“Seeds
of Yesterday” in
Ellora’s Cavemen: Legendary Tails IV

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