Page 49 of Ulf's Destiny
“In what way, then?” There was no judgment in the question, only the will to make sense of the situation and give the best advice possible.
“U—the father— He pleasured himself first and then he…used his fingers to pleasure me in turn.”
She would not reveal the whole extent of what they had done, that she had touched herself in front of Ulf’s rapt gaze or fed him her fingers afterward or tasted his release or that he’d used his mouth on her as well as his fingers. None of this was relevant, she didn’t think. But the fact that he had plunged fingers coated with seed inside her probably was.
“I see. I suppose some of his seed had dripped onto the fingers he used to pleasure you?”
“Yes.” The thought had aroused her like nothing else, and the slickness had felt wonderful. She had not thought it could pose any threat at the time, and neither had Ulf, apparently, because she doubted he would have wanted to risk making her with child.
And yet, she was carrying the proof that it was possible.
“Well then. It’s certainly unusual but apparently, it was enough. And after all, it is little wonder. It is a man’s seed that makes a baby, not his organ. But this will be one of the oddest cases I have ever encountered, I will not lie to you,” Helga said with a smile.
Ylva forced herself to smile back. “Will it not pose any problem when my time comes?”
“I shouldn’t think so.”
Relief flooded through her. “So everything is as it should be?”
With the baby at least. The rest was more complicated. Ulf had brought her back to his village but they had not discussed what would happen. He had held her tenderly more than once but he had not even tried to kiss her. They were going to be parents but they had never slept together. She was about to give birth but she was still a virgin.
“Yes, everything is as it should be, even if you are suffering more than most with this morning sickness. I will give you some herbs that might help. But really all we can do is wait for it to pass. It should eventually.”
“Thank you.”
Ylva didn’t need to ask when the baby was due. Exactly nine months after her single wild night with Ulf. In other words, only four months from now. Less than a year after they had met.
She swallowed.
Of course, the two of them had not met, as such—she had tried to kill him. How could two people who had first crossed paths under such circumstances ever share a life? Except… They were already doing more thansharinga life. They hadcreateda life.
Ylva placed a hand over her swollen stomach. From the moment she had set eyes on the handsome Norseman, everything had been a whirlwind.
“Do you have a place to stay for the night, my dear?” The healer’s voice cut through her musings.
“I suppose I will stay with Ulf, like I did before.”
“Yes.” Helga’s eyes gleamed. Drat, it would seem that she had guessed who the mysterious man who had pleasured her could be. “I suppose you had better do that.”
“Where on earthhave you been? You disappeared without warning.”
Ulf sighed and looked at Rothgar. What could he say to explain his sudden departure and absence? He and Ylva had agreed not to reveal that he was the father of her baby just yet but eventually he would have to tell his family. He might as well start now. His brother could be trusted to keep the secret. Besides, he needed to confide in someone. The last three days had turned his life upside down and he was still reeling from the discovery. Perhaps talking with someone would help him deal with it all.
“You remember Judith, Ylva’s friend?”
Rothgar stared at him as if he’d gone mad. “Yes, of course, I remember the woman who was brought here half dead, who was the reason someone tried to kill you, who vanished only a few days after?—”
“All right.” It had been a stupid question, admittedly. “Well, she came to find me the other morning. I went with her. That’s why I left so unexpectedly.”
“I see.” A frown. “But I thought…”
“What did you think?”
“Well, to be honest, I’m surprised you went withher. I thought it was her friend you were interested in.”
It was Ulf’s turn to stare in disbelief. Ylva had barely stayed a few days in the village and no one—except Judith, of course, who had seen everything—knew what had happened between them. Rothgar had not even spoken to her and yet somehow he had guessed that she had been more than a guest. He had always been more perceptive than most, but really, this was incredible.
“What on earth made you think I was interested in her?”
