Page 64 of Merciful Salvation
She swallowed her laughter. “None of the women you slept with reported you?”
“I’m too skilled a lover for them to wag their tongues.” He winked.
“Arrogant.”
“Perhaps,” he teased. “But I make a fair point.”
Indeed, he did. She forced her jealousy aside. “I’m sure my father will arrive within a few days.” Although she didn’t want to ruin the moment, so much had been left unsaid. One thing Kara had learned about herself over the last few weeks—she disliked not knowing her future. “We must face him.”
The thought hung between them.
“With so many eyes upon us now,” Aaron said. “We must choose our next move carefully. I won’t tolerate any slander.”
“Milord.” She remembered her state of undress. “I’m afraid we’vegiven people cause to gossip. Look at me. And Frieda is determined to have you. You heard her, she’ll petition the king, press her case until she’s proven wrong or you’re forced to acknowledge a child that isn’t yours.”
“Never.” His shoulders tensed. “I’m single-minded on this, lass. There’s only one woman I want to share my life with.” Aaron gently pulled her in front of him. “I choose you as the mother of my future children.” He dropped to his knee, then grasped her hand. “Marry me,now.”
Kara gasped. “Tonight?”
“Now,” he emphasized again. “My cousin can perform the ceremony.”
Her mouth fell open. “But—”
“My heart is only half a heart without you, Kara. I asked you before to accept the man I am, instead of condemning who I used to be. Will you?”
Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes.
“I will always protect you. By marrying me now, your father cannot contest the legitimacy of our union once he arrives. It will silence anyone who doubted us forever.”
A chill went through her. The echo of her mother’s voice filled her mind.Love him, marry him.“Yes.”
He rested his head against her stomach. “You’ve made me a happy man.”
She caressed his cheek with the back of her hand. “I forgive you, Aaron McNally. I hope our union brings you the redemption you’ve fought so hard to find.”
He pushed himself to his feet, his gaze still locked on hers. “The gods will bless us,” he declared.
He spoke so reverently, so confidently. All this time, she’d felt as if the gods had abandoned her. Odin never revealed her future whenever she prayed. He didn’t speak to her in dreams. Nights were filledwith sad memories of her mother, nothing more.
“We have a household to wake.” He offered his hand.
Their fingers laced together. But she stopped abruptly at the door. “You want this?” She felt unsure of anything.
He turned, an expansive smile on his face. “See how dark it is outside?”
The stable doors were wide open. She focused all her attention on the blackness and nodded.
“If I cannot call you wife before the sun rises, I’ll be forced to swat your backside until you beg me to stop.”
Her gaze roved over him. He often veiled his deep feelings with humor. A habit she understood. Then he touched a finger to his heart.
“Bundet av himmelen, Bundet av blod, Bundet av lidenskap, bundet av kjærlighet. Lady, vennligst ikke la meg stå alene på din gate, eller gudene vil fordømme meg til en heftig skjebne.”
“These words are meant for me?” she asked.
“Only you.”
She repeated the oath inside her head.Bound by heaven, bound by blood, bound by passion, bound by love. Lady, please do not leave me standing alone at your gate, or the gods will condemn me to a fiery fate...She took what comfort she could in his poetry, then gently pulled him outside.
