Page 22 of A Viking's Captive

The bridal couple excused themselves and entered the longhouse to retrieve the baskets they had woven. Rathnon and Ilona bestowed the first one to Sigrid, whose eyes teared up with happiness. Together as a couple, they distributed the baskets to each family and then individually to the small children old enough to use the baskets. The children were delighted with their treasure baskets and the painted birch designs inside.

Ilona told the children, with Rathnon’s help, she wanted them to think about a story for the item inside their basket. After the couple returned, they would gather, and the children would share their stories at night by the fire. Excitement sparkled in their eyes at this prospect.

Rathnon led Ilona into the area for dancing, and they danced as everyone clapped for them. Then everyone joined in themerriment. The celebration was gay and fun, for nae one worked except to contribute to the wedding celebration.

After they had danced for a couple of hours, Rathnon took her hand and led her into the longhouse, where they changed their clothes. Ilona presented Rathnon with the basket with the engraved wooden piece at the bottom of the basket as a wedding gift. He kissed her and said, “Thank ye,” in Gaelic, which pleased her immensely.

Rathnon had already prepared their space in the forest, but he carried extra items and bags filled with whiskey and mead. The bridal couple slipped away from the wedding celebration and silently stole into the woods. Still light in the afternoon, Rathnon wanted to get settled before it became dark.

He led the way to a densely forested area where he had set up furs for their bed. Rathnon ignited the firepit, piled with wood. He had extra chopped wood for their needs. Fragrant elderflowers laid on top of their bed. It felt like silver ribbons of light wrapped around her heart and bound her closer to Rathnon, affected by his efforts to please her.

Pouring her a cup of mead, he set out food for them to share. He kent she hardly ate at their dinner. Rathnon fed her a few tender morsels of meat, and he cut slices of a juicy peach for them to share.

When they were through, Rathnon pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Ilona trembled against him. He gently untied her shoes and pulled them off, then slid his shoes off and removed their socks. He settled her down beside him and kissed her. After heated kisses, he pulled off his pants and pulled her dress off over her head, leaving them both in their linen shifts. Rathnongave her tender kisses over her shift. The heat from his lips inflamed the desire he stoked inside Ilona.

Rathnon’s tongue seared her lips, demanding entrance, and he thrust his tongue into her mouth the way he wished to be inside her body. After he caressed her breasts through the fabric and Ilona moaned, he divested her of her shift, leaving her naked beneath him. Rathnon knelt over her and kissed one breast while he played with the nipple, pebbled and sensitive, in his other hand.

Rathnon’s hardness pressed against her soft body. He kissed her breasts, relishing the taste and scent of her silken skin. With his fingers, he stroked the inside of her legs, setting Ilona aflame with desire and heat like she had never ken.

Everything he did, every touch, inflamed her senses and increased her sensitivity and pleasure. Rathnon returned to kissing her lips as his fingers found her soft curls over the mound at the apex of her thighs. Unconsciously, Ilona moved against him seeking the increased friction and spiraling pleasure.

Rathnon removed his tunic and tossed it aside. The hair on his chest tickled Ilona as he rubbed against her and kissed her. Soon consumed by a fire burning between her legs, intense heat and desire coiled inside her. Ilona instinctively bucked her hips against his hand, intensifying the pleasurable sensations. “Rathnon,” she moaned, and writhed underneath him. Rathnon increased his strokes over her mound and found her hidden nub of pleasure, creating an inferno inside her. “Rathnon,” she gently pleaded, not kenning what she needed but knowing he kent.

White fiery light exploded inside her as he kissed her breasts and stroked her nub, and she arched her back in ecstasy.Rathnon settled over her and used his knees to widen her legs apart. He braced himself on his forearms to avoid settling all of his considerable weight on top of her.

He continued to kiss her breasts, and her eyes opened as he inserted a finger deep inside her to stretch her for him. Whatever he did, she enjoyed and didn’t want him to stop. A delicious and pleasurable tension built inside her again.

“My love, it will hurt the first time. I’m sorry I will hurt ye,” he said in Gaelic. “Keep yer eyes open for me.” He inserted another finger and kissed her breasts and sucked her nipples, which drove her wild. With his fingers, he stroked her wetness and continued to build her pleasure.

“Ye are beautiful, my love,” Rathnon said in Gaelic and Norwegian so she would understand him. He positioned himself at her entrance and lifted her legs to wrap around his waist. He pressed himself inside her hot sheath, exultant—finally claiming his wife. Rathnon thrust slowly, easing himself inside her, giving her time to adjust to him. He pulled back and thrust again until he felt the barrier of her maidenhead.

On the next thrust, he thrust powerfully, breaching her maidenhead as he intently watched her face. Ilona gasped in pain and called his name. Rathnon stilled, waiting for the pain to subside. He slowly pulled almost all the way out, then thrust in again. After a few more moments, Ilona responded and lifted her hips to meet his thrusts.

Rathnon intensified his thrusts, faster and faster, kissing her lips. Urgent need spiraled through him. Intensity grew. He thrust his tongue inside her mouth until he felt her clench tightly around his steel shaft, watching her expression as she cameundone in his arms. With several more thrusts, he found his own release, then rolled them over, still joined with her on top.

They heaved, their breaths panting, as their heartbeats slowed gradually. Rathnon murmured endearments to his wife, stroking her hair and skin. Ilona smiled at him blissfully before she fell into a deep sleep in his arms.

For the first time in his life, Rathnon was filled with a sense of completeness, ecstatically happy with Ilona. He wished to pleasure her endlessly and was grateful he had heeded Sigrid’s advice, and for this privacy. Rathnon gave more thought to Ilona’s designs and dreams for a house of their own.

After a while, Rathnon slipped away from Ilona and started the fire to keep animals away and provide heat. He had labored, before escorting Ilona here, to make the ground as comfortable as he could for his new wife. Rathnon gazed over at the naked and breathtaking form of his beautiful wife while she slept.

He appreciated every curve, dip, and swell of her body. Ilona’s hips were round and soft, her lips luscious to kiss, and her breasts were generous and full. He enjoyed that he could bring her pleasure for her first-time joining with him.

Rathnon looked forward to other ways he intended to pleasure her when she was no longer sore. He drank water from the bag and settled Ilona in his arms with her head on his chest, their legs entwined. Although heavenly to sleep naked with her, it stirred his thoughts of joining with her again.

An owl hooted in the night, and the wind whispered through the pine branches. The sweet scent of the elderflowers filled the air, and the intoxicating scent of his wife stirred his heart.

Rathnon could still taste her, and he caressed her silken hair spread over his chest like a waterfall. Peace and contentment like he had never experienced settled over him, and he slept.

Awakening at the same time, they gazed into each other’s eyes with joy. Rathnon held Ilona’s hands and kissed the inside of her wrists and palms, causing delicious shivers to course through her body. He brushed his hand through her hair, and his fingers entwined with her silken curls. Rathnon gazed at Ilona with amazement and awe that she was his wife.

He was happy she did not hate him, since he had abducted her from her home. She acted as if she enjoyed his company. Now they were married, he hoped Ilona would no longer seek opportunities to escape. Rathnon vowed to do all in his power to make Ilona happy.

He gave her a slow and lingering kiss before they got up and strolled into the forest to take care of their personal needs. Rathnon led her to the secluded loch for them to bathe, only this time they would both be naked. Modest, Ilona entered the water first, attempting to cover herself and avoid Rathnon’s heated gaze on her.

“Do nae worry. Ye are beautiful and perfect to me. I enjoy seeing yer beauty with nae clothes.” The cool water refreshed and soothed them after their intimate activity yesterday. They swam, and Ilona raced against Rathnon as they did laps, but he easily beat her.

Afterward, he pulled her close to him and kissed her passionately. Rathnon gave Ilona time to recover from their lovemaking and would not claim her again until tonight.