By Love Enslaved (50 page)

“I’ll have to teach you to speak our tongue quickly,” Brendan replied with an amused chuckle. “I think men will volunteer in great numbers to follow you. You won’t even have to shame them into it.”

“I’ll do all that I can to help,” Dana insisted proudly. “It’s the least I can do for my husband.”

Deeply pleased to have so devoted a wife, Brendan enfolded Dana in a tender embrace. “Had you not come here with me, I would have gone back to Fyn to get you. I swear I would have. For so long I’ve dreamed of nothing but coming home, but had you not been here, I would have been more lonely than when I was away.”

While she was both touched and flattered by this admission, Dana was also intrigued. “Would you have told me you planned to return?”

Chagrined by the insightful question, Brendan nevertheless admitted the truth. “Probably not.”

Dana’s eyes narrowed menacingly as the temper which had once stung him so sharply began to flare. “Do you want me to shove you off the cliff?”

“No,” Brendan murmured seductively. “I want you to make love to me until I beg you to stop.”

“Is that a challenge?”

“You may consider it as such.”

Dana glanced around the meadow. It was a rich, emerald green that invited a lengthy stay. “You said looking over the cliff was a thrill. Have you ever made love here?”

“Here?” Brendan looked around quickly, and seeing no sign of anyone, he grew as bold as she. He took the precaution of leading her well away from the edge of the cliff before abandoning himself to pleasure, however. “I think with you as my bride, my life is going to be filled with thrills.”

“I’ll consider that a challenge as well,” Dana replied demurely, but as she helped him pull off his kirtle, her fingertips strayed through the thick curls covering his chest and her shy smile grew wide. “It’s been a very exciting summer, hasn’t it? The best of my life.”

“Ah, my beloved, the best is yet to come.”

They had become adept at removing each other’s clothes. Once they were both nude, Brendan pulled Dana down into the feather-soft grass, and with the magical affection he had always bestowed, he made that promise come true.

Haakon spent every spare minute of the voyage with Erik. He not only taught him how to swim and sail, but he talked of other things that were important to him, and listened closely to the young man’s replies. To his immense delight, he found Erik’s mind quick and his judgment sound. He apologized more than once for his neglect, but Erik assured him there was no need to waste time on regrets now that they finally shared the closeness of a father and son. That Erik was so gracious a young man pleased Haakon all the more.

When they reached home, Haakon was so anxious to see Freya he leapt over the rail of his ship the instant it was secured to the dock. He raced up the path, and when Freya, Thora, and Soren came from the house to meet him, he first greeted his children with hugs and kisses, then picked up his wife and swung her around until they were both so dizzy he had to put her down. Freya held on to him tightly and laughed, for she knew he could not possibly be angry with her and still greet her so enthusiastically.

“Do you know about Erik and Berit?” she asked when she caught her breath.

“I think it’s a fine match, and I’ll convince Grena of it this very day,” Haakon boasted proudly. “There’s another wedding we need to discuss first, though.”

“Another wedding?” Freya exclaimed in surprise. “Why, only yesterday Moira told me she’ll soon wed one of Jørn’s crew. Who else is planning marriage?” She left his arms for a moment to return Svien’s kiss as he reached her. She then waved to Erik, who was coming up the path with Berit. The lively blonde had raced by Haakon in her haste to welcome home the man she loved. It wasn’t until that moment that Freya noticed Dana’s absence. “Where’s Dana?” she asked anxiously. “Isn’t she with you?”

Haakon’s smile was so wide he instantly allayed his wife’s fears. “It’s rather a long story, but the only thing you need to know now is that Dana has married Brendan and stayed with him in Erin.”

“Brendan!” Freya gasped in dismay. “Why, I didn’t think she even liked the man.”

“She liked him very well indeed,” Erik announced as he and Berit joined them. “They just kept it a secret, is all.”

Berit was as astonished as her aunt. “Well, I wish you’d told me about them. The next time you share in such a delicious secret, I want you to tell me.”

“It wouldn’t be a secret then,” Erik teased her.

Grena had followed Berit from the house, but thinking Jarald would be with Haakon, she got only close enough to overhear the tall Dane’s remarks. She felt sick to her stomach just imagining Jarald’s lustful stare, but when after several moments he didn’t appear, she ventured forward. “Is Jarald not with you either?”

“Jarald won’t be coming here again,” Erik informed her. Then, thinking she would rather hear the story from Haakon, he fell silent.

“Jarald is of no consequence,” Haakon announced flippantly as he went forward to give Grena a hug. “Come, let’s all go inside and have something to eat and drink. Then we can make arrangements for a wedding between our children. Erik has returned a wealthy man, but I’ll warn you now that if you ask too much for Berit I will argue all night to lower her bride-price to a more reasonable one. My son is determined to wed Berit, but I’ll not allow him to impoverish himself to do so.”

Both Berit and Grena stared wide-eyed at Haakon, for neither had ever heard him call Erik his son. That he seemed as set on the marriage as Erik impressed both the women quite favorably.

“Mother?” Berit asked hesitantly. “Don’t you think we could at least discuss it?”

Grena’s dreadful experience with Jarald had taught her a valuable lesson, and she would never again judge a man on his wealth alone. That Erik had managed to return home a man of means certainly worked in his favor, however. “Yes, I think we can discuss it,” she agreed. “Jørn’s gone home, but we needn’t involve him. Now what of your men? Don’t they need refreshments as well?”

“How thoughtful of you, Grena,” Haakon responded with another broad grin. “Per is supervising the unloading of the cargo. Do you remember him?”

Grena nodded rather shyly. “Why, yes, I think that I do.”

“Good, I invited him to have supper with us when he’s finished. In the meantime we’ll send something to eat and drink down to the docks.”

When Haakon slipped one arm around his wife’s waist and the other around Grena to escort them into his home, Berit gave Erik’s hand an insistent yank to hold him back. “What’s gotten into Haakon? I’ve never seen him in so relaxed a mood. And what’s this about Per? Are they now as close friends as he was with Jarald?”

Erik was well aware of Haakon’s plans for Per and Grena, but he thought that another secret he ought to keep for the time being. “My father is a remarkable man, but I’ll have to tell you what I’ve learned about him later.”

“Oh, Erik, must you keep more secrets?” Berit protested with such a bewitching pout Erik immediately leaned down to kiss her.

“If you’re very curious, I could come to your room tonight and we could talk then.”

“I want you to come to my room, but not to talk.”

That Berit was so open about her desire for him pleased Erik as greatly as it had before he had gone away. “If you’d like to welcome me home with something other than conversation, that will be fine with me.”

Berit’s cheeks flooded with a pretty blush. “I love you and I missed you terribly. You shouldn’t tease me about it unless you would be happier if I hadn’t noticed that you were gone.”

“No, a wife ought to miss her husband, but unless we hurry inside, we may never have the opportunity to wed.”

Trusting his far more practical nature, Berit laced her fingers in his and turned toward the house. “Is what your father said, true? Are you wealthy now?”

“Does it matter to you?”

Berit stopped at the door. “You know that it doesn’t.”

“Yes, I know,” Erik replied. Suddenly the idea of remaining outside for another moment or two was extremely attractive. Longing to again savor the sweet softness of her kiss, Erik drew Berit close. “I love you,” he murmured softly before his mouth claimed hers in a lingering kiss.

Thanks to her love, his life had changed completely that summer. It was an exhilarating thought, but before it could fully take form, they were joined by Soren and Thora, who had been sent to bring them inside. Releasing Berit, Erik scooped the little girl up into his arms and gave her a loving squeeze. “It won’t be long before we’ll be making marriage plans for you, baby.”

Thora’s angelic features became quite forlorn at the comment. “I wanted to wed Brendan myself,” she complained. “I’m sure there’s not another man like him.”

Berit gave her cousin’s golden-red curls a comforting pat. “Somewhere there’s a man for you, and whether or not he’s anything like Brendan, I know you’ll think him perfect.”

Thora considered that possibility a long moment and then nodded. She noted the affectionate glance that passed between Erik and Berit as they entered the house and hoped to grow up very quickly so that she could bask in that loving warmth too.

About the Author

Always a passionate lover of books, this New York Times bestselling author first answered a call to write in 1980 and swiftly embarked on her own mythic journey.
Fierce Love
, her May 2012 book from Samhain, is her thirty-sixth title. With more than seven million copies in print of her historical, contemporary and futuristic books written under her own name as well as her pseudonym, Cinnamon Burke, she is as enthusiastic as ever about writing.

A native Californian, Phoebe attended the University of Arizona and California State University at Los Angeles where she earned a BA in Art History and an MA in Education. Her books have won Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Awards and a nomination for Storyteller of the Year. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Novelists Inc., PEN, AWritersWork.com and Backlistebooks.com.

She is the proud mother of two grown sons and two adorable grandchildren, who love to have her read to them. She loves to hear from fans.
www.phoebeconn.com
or her e-mail,
[email protected]

Look for these titles by Phoebe Conn

Now Available:

Defy the World Tomatoes

Where Dreams Begin

Fierce Love

Captive Heart

Coming Soon:

Fierce Pride

Swept Away

Her beauty and spirit ensnared him. If only he could free his heart from her treachery…

Captive Heart

© 2012 Phoebe Conn

Celiese d’Loganville lives as a shadow. Though she is the beloved handmaiden of Viking lord Raktor’s spoiled pretty daughter, it matters little. She is a slave in a gilded cage who tells no one of the violent Viking raid that haunts her memories. Or the daily nightmare her life has become.

When her mistress refuses to wed a man rumored to be horribly disfigured, Celiese seizes her one chance for freedom. Maybe even love. No one needs to know that the face behind the veil is a mere substitute.

Mylan Vandahl has no need of a wife who’d pity him. But the enchanting—and perplexing—young woman presented to him boldly ignores his scars even as her eyes betray a nameless fear. Rousing within him a need to sooth her with gentleness she clearly doesn’t expect…and seduce her with tender persuasion.

After a wedding night of unparalleled passion, treachery is revealed in the rising dawn. Instead of taking her place at her husband’s side, Celeise finds herself in the fight of her life. For the dream of home and family…and to regain Mylan’s shattered trust.

Warning: Contains a warrior and a woman worthy of him, and an unforgettable adventure with love as the ultimate prize.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Captive Heart:

“Celiese!” Olgrethe’s thick, honey-colored curls flew wildly about her shoulders as she turned to summon her servant. “Where are my new gold bracelets? I know I wore them only last night but they are nowhere to be found!” The high-strung beauty stamped her tiny foot in angry frustration as she demanded assistance.

Celiese lifted her cool green gaze from the hem of the silk gown she was mending, her steady glance sweeping the bedchamber with amused detachment before she nodded toward the young woman’s clothes-strewn bed. “I believe they are still lying in the corner where you tossed them, Olgrethe. Do you see them on the far side of the bed?” Celiese bent her head to hide her impish smile as she returned to her sewing, using stitches so intricate they were invisible upon the sheer blue garment.

“You are supposed to gather my jewelry and return it to my case each evening, Celiese, not leave my things lying about in such a careless fashion!” Yet Olgrethe stepped over the heaps of clothing she’d thrown about the room to retrieve the bracelets herself. She slid them up her slender arms, but was no happier once she had them in place. Returning to an inspection of her clothes, she picked up first one shimmering garment then another, only to cast each aside in rapid succession. “I need a new wardrobe, Celiese, not one thing I have is worth wearing.”