Page 24 of A Viking's Captive

The aroma of roasting food awakened Rathnon, surprised to see Ilona dressed and having already caught fish for their breakfast. He pulled her down into his lap and, cradling her in his arms, he devoured her with kisses until she giggled.

“I ken yer hungry this morning,” she said, blushing. Rathnon stood up with her in his arms and then released her to a standing position. He turned and walked away from her, still naked. Rathnon grabbed his pants as he glanced at her and grinned, fully erect despite their activities last night and this morning. Her husband was an eager lover. They made quick work of eating their breakfast. Ilona had been right. Rathnon had been ravenous this morning, but he was equally ravenous for her after their breakfast.

Later in the day, they dressed and walked in the forest. Rathnon hunted with his bow and shot pheasants, then gave Ilona his bow and she shot a couple of rabbits. Pleased with their hunting, later they would have more fur for Rathnon’s jacket.

Every day they carried rocks and placed them in piles, separated by size, next to the space Ilona had claimed for their home. Rathnon found large rocks and carried or rolled them to the site of their home.

Ilona wondered how long it would take to find and carry all the rocks here. She wanted flat stones for the floor, nae dirt so she could sweep and wash the dirt away to clean their house.

After their dinner, Ilona sat on Rathnon’s lap, and the sky swirled in bold colors of red, gold, violet, and indigo. He lay on their bed as the forest grew quieter and stroked Ilona’s legs as he motioned for her to straddle him. Ilona’s shift hiked up, and she felt the heat of Rathnon’s growing bulge between her legs. He rubbed his erection between her slit, and her breath caught, stirring her senses, and igniting her desire.

Rathnon pulled up to her to kiss her lips, neck, and breasts, which inflamed her desire like the molten sky at sunset behind her. Rathnon pulled her up and positioned his erection poised at her entrance, then dragged her down to meet his thrusts. He thrust higher and pulled her down. Soon Ilona found her own rhythm as she discovered what he wanted her to do to him. The way he made her feel was exhilarating and pleasurable.

Initially, she eased up and down slowly and gazed intently at Rathnon’s face to gauge what he enjoyed. Ilona went faster and faster as she sat in varying positions on Rathnon and saw from his expressions he derived great pleasure from her riding him. They were wildly pursuing their simultaneous pleasurewhen Ilona reached a scintillating and earth-shattering climax as Rathnon’s hot release exploded inside her. Ilona slept on top of him, with her head on his chest.

A short time later, filled with love and longing for Ilona, he made love to her again. Rathnon pulled her to him after lengthy kisses all over her body. He positioned himself at her entrance and thrust inside and pulled her legs to his shoulders. Bending over her, he thrust more deeply than before, and Ilona combusted into flaming passion, answering him thrust for thrust.

Night settled more deeply about them, and they only heard the wind whispering through the willows. Ilona basked in Rathnon’s comfort and warmth as he held her securely on top of him.

The next few days followed similar patterns of eating, making love, sleeping, and reveling in their unbridled passion for each other. Ilona marveled at her husband’s stamina in making love to her. Rathnon enjoyed her calling his name passionately and moaning as he brought her pleasure.

Ilona kent she could be passionate and free with Rathnon in private. “When ye wish to love me when we return to the longhouse, will ye take me to be alone with ye in the forest?”

“Aye, my love. You are mine. You are for my eyes only. We will find a way to be alone.”

Grateful for the time alone together, Ilona was reticent about their interlude together ending. She was grateful for the time they had alone. Their lives would settle into new rhythms of work and togetherness.

In halting Gaelic, Rathnon slowly said, “Tomorrow, we return to the longhouse. As much as I wish we could stay here, our family needs our help in preparing for winter.” Ilona beamed, thrilled with his Gaelic, and showered him with passionate kisses. Their lovemaking remained urgent and ardent during the night until morning.

Chapter 8

Wedded Life

Rathnon’s community welcomed them back with cheers, and slaps on his back. The men teased Rathnon. Both he and Ilona blushed. They had returned laden with the fur pelts they had acquired. Rathnon placed the fur pelts in the building used for tanning the animal hides. The tanner helped him hang the pelts to dry. The rabbit fur would be ready soon for use in garments or blankets.

Sigrid hugged both of them and helped carry baskets filled with berries and herbs into the longhouse. “Judging by yer blushes and yer smiles at Rathnon, I ken ye are happy with him for yer husband.”

Ilona smiled and nodded. She was unable to put into words what feelings had blossomed in her heart for her husband. They gave the full baskets of berries to the ladies in the kitchen, who had begun preparations for the dinner meal.

“Ye did many types of work before yer marriage. Do ye ken which ye would like to engage in regularly? I ken people are happier doing work they enjoy.”

“I enjoy working in the gardens and cooking. I’d like to hunt, weave, and sew. I am happy to do any job that needs to be done. Tomorrow, I would like to weave a heavy wool cloth to make a tunic for Rathnon and later a cloak for myself. How do I get the yarn?”

“Ye have perfect timing. I understand yer need to sew garments for yer husband. Tomorrow, the sheep will be sheared,and we will gather and wash the wool. Then we will need to dry and spin it into yarn to dye it in various colors. The process is a huge undertaking. Wool is divided among the families. The bairns will grow taller over the summer and need larger clothes and longer pants. All the women make garments to help those with children. Unfortunately, yer weaving may be delayed by this need for a bit.”

“I ken, and I am happy to help.”

“Everyone will be grateful for yer help.”

“I have a sack with hazelnut leaves we can use to dye the yarn green, but we may need to gather more.”

“It will help. Everyone will go to sleep early tonight. We will be up before dawn. The men will shear the sheep while the women collect the wool. Then the wool will be washed in enormous tubs and then dried on sheets in the sun.”

“I look forward to helping with the work tomorrow.”

Ilona strolled to the tanner’s building to check on the furs she had left before they married. They would be ready for her to sew to make fur cuffs and hood for Rathnon. She greeted the tanner, and he gave her the furs. Ilona held up the rabbit furs from last week to the new ones, pleased they were similar shades of brown.

“Takk,” she replied. He smiled at her. Ilona carried the furs in a basket she’d brought with her and returned to the longhouse. Retrieving her sewing thread, Rathnon’s garment, and then laying the furs over the ends of the sleeves, she had what she needed to sew the fur cuffs. She sat on a bench and worked, hoping to complete the cuffs before dinner.