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Mairead moaned when he withdrew his fingers from her arse, almost pulling them right out of her before driving them deep again. He kept the strokes slow and even, and she felt every brush of friction against her inner walls.

"Please, do not... No... yes. Oh yes, there. That feels..."

Mairead was near incoherent with lust by the time he pulled his fingers out entirely. His right thumb was still nestling within her cunny and he swept his fingertips over her clit as he positioned his cock at her now loosened rear entrance.

“Please, I need my release again. Just once more..."

"Ah, but once would never be enough. I believe we can do better than that. Come for me now, my little wife. Show me how well you obey my commands."

"I... I..."

"Now, Mairead." He scratched the very tip of her clitty with his fingernail and she was lost. As she trembled and shuddered with the force of another powerful release, he drove his cock into her waiting arse.

Mairead was conscious of everything that was happening to her, but nothing mattered any more save the need to experience the sensual delights he showered upon her.

Every touch, every press and squeeze, every intimate stroke and wicked caress sent tingles of pure delight to her very core.

As his cock filled her, as he sheathed himself right to the hilt within her tight channel, she let out a scream of pure ecstasy.

Her body convulsed and shook, her arse quivering about him as she managed to actually squeeze down and grip him inside her.

"Ah, you feel so good, so hot and tight and... oh yes. Yes!"

Mairead was climaxing again, and she knew that Gunnar was with her this time.

He leaned forward, his chest against her back as his cock lurched and leapt within the confines of her body.

It was beyond good, beyond delight. The sensation was quite sublime and Mairead believed that if it was possible to expire from pure pleasure she would meet her Maker in the next few moments.

She did not. As the waves of ecstasy receded, as her world righted itself and her senses returned to a state where she could scrape together something resembling coherent thought, she found she was still very much alive.

Her husband's cock was still embedded in her arse and she believed she had never felt better in her entire existence.

"Mairead? Sweetheart? Are you all right?" Gunnar sounded concerned as he withdrew his erection from her arse and rolled to lay beside her. "Look at me. Talk to me."

She turned her head, a faint and probably idiotic smile plastered across her features. "Husband?"

"Wife?" He sounded uncertain, apprehensive even.

Mairead prised her eyelids open and managed to focus on the handsome, dark features so close to her face. "I am well, I think." She paused, considered a few more moments, then, "Am I supposed to be well? That was a punishment, was it not?"

"I believe I prefer you to be well, punishment or no.

" He sat up and pulled her into his lap.

Mairead was content to lay her cheek against his bare chest and listen to the rhythmic beat of his heart.

Life was good, she mused, and full of unexpected twists.

His life, her life, the life of the tiny scrap of humanity just quivering into existence inside her.

"We should go. Back to the house. Tyra will be hungry. And Edyth..."

"Soon. Aigneis will feed our baby if need be, and Edyth is in good hands. First, we shall finish our bath."

"What? But?—"

Mairead managed to take one breath as he tilted forward and toppled the pair of them into the warm, tingling caress of the hot spring.

Mairead went limp in his arms and he held her against him as he trod water, then quickly found his footing.

He kissed her dripping locks as he settled the pair of them in the invigorating foam.

"Soon enough, my love. Soon, we will go home and deal with what must be done. But for now, this is our time."

"It is done."

Mairead set aside the hank of sheep's wool she was combing in readiness for spinning and lifted her gaze to meet that of her husband.

Gunnar remained just inside the entrance to their longhouse, still bare-chested from his exertions in administering Ferris' whipping.

He raised one eyebrow as though seeking her reaction.

"I see. Would you care for a mug of ale?

" She forced her voice to remain calm, though she had found the entire episode harrowing.

Whilst she had not witnessed the punishment herself, she could not fail to hear the sounds of it, even buried indoors.

Ferris had been most vocal, at least at first. Mairead did not dispute the justification for what had just taken place in the open square at the rear of their longhouse, but she would not pretend to be at ease with it.

In fairness, Gunnar did not ask her to approve, merely that she should accept the necessity.

"Perhaps later." He came to seat himself opposite her. "Are we all right, sweetheart? Do you think me a brute?"

Her response was quick, and certain. "I think you a man of honour who does not shirk his duty." She paused, then "Where is Ferris now?"

"With Weylin. He will be taken care of, and should be fit to travel to Hafrsfjord in a few days."

"I see. Would you object if I were to attend him? I have ointments which might ease his suffering."

"His suffering is entirely of his own making, but if you wish to offer aid I will not prevent it. You will not be alone with him, though. I do insist on that."

"Of course. I shall accompany Weylin."

"Fine." He settled back to regard her for several moments. "And how are you this day? You look pale. Were you ill again this morning?"

"A little, but it soon passes. It was the same with Tyra, and with Donald. In a couple more months this sickness in the mornings will ease."

"You are not to overtax yourself. Edyth is able to help again now, and if need be I could purchase another servant when I sell Ferris."

"Thank you, but no. That will not be necessary."

He grinned at her. "You will never be comfortable that I buy and sell slaves, will you?"

"I fear not, my husband. In fact, would you take it amiss if I were not to come with you to Hafrsfjord on this occasion?"

"No, I understand your reluctance. You may remain here if you prefer. In fact, that would be better since I intend not to return at once after my business at the market is concluded. I shall visit Skarthveit to find out if there is any further news on my sister.” He fixed her with a level gaze. “People do not simply disappear."

Mairead did not entirely agree. She had lost one husband at sea, and had herself been abducted from her home. People did vanish without trace, especially when Vikings were involved, but she had to agree that Brynhild's mysterious disappearance some months before was out of the ordinary.

"Ulfric would have sent word if there was news, surely."

Gunnar inclined his head in acknowledgement.

"You are probably right, but I will not cease to hope.

Brynhild was a difficult woman. I know she was rude to you and treated Fiona badly, but even so she is my sister.

It pains me that my last words to her were spoken in anger and I would wish things to be right between us.

"I do understand that. She is your family and I hope she will be found soon, safe and well."

He nodded, but his tight expression told another story.

Neither of them would voice their fears, but no one really expected the missing woman to return after all these months.

"I am minded to seek my brother's leave to take one of his longships moored at Hafrsfjord and mount an excursion to the Shetland Isles. "

"You are going raiding again?" Mairead could not keep the shock from her tone, nor, probably, the disappointment. Most of all, though, she was gripped by fear that her husband might one day not return from one of his Viking raids. "Please, must you do this?"

He smiled at her, but his expression was determined.

"It is in my blood, sweetheart. I cannot settle to a different life and neither can my men.

I will be gone for perhaps a month. Six weeks at the most. You will be safe here, and I will return as soon as I can.

I have much to draw me back home again and will not wish to stay away too long. "

"But—"

He reached across the table to lay his finger across her lips. "Let us not discuss this further for we will not agree. Instead, I would prefer to take advantage of Edyth and Aigneis' absence in the meadows. Is Tyra asleep?"

"Yes. In our chamber."

"Ah, good. It is rare that we have the longhouse to ourselves, especially not in the middle of the day."

She smiled behind his quieting finger. "Not that you would ever let such inconveniences prevent you doing just as you wish, Gunnar."

"I am chief here, am I not? If I wish to fuck my wife on the table in my own hall I shall do so."

"Indeed. None would dispute your right. Might I suggest you bolt the door first, though?"

"You may lock it if you insist, but first you will stand up and remove your clothing for me. I find I wish to inspect what is mine."