Page 14 of Seduced by the Viking (Bound and Betrothed #5)

CHAPTER 13

The fifty-second day of the men’s sojourn on the island

Grethe was nigh atop the hill when the skies darkened, the clouds rolling over from the far side of the island. ‘Twas no wonder the forest was so quiet. The birds and scurrying creatures had likely taken cover, for the wind was on the rise, foretelling some portentous storm blowing in; no refreshing breeze but gusts like hot breath sweeping her along. All was fiercely humid, as if the very ground radiated heat.

Stupidly, she’d set off unprepared, without even a pouch of water, so great had been her desire to put distance between herself and everyone else. As well-meaning as Signy was, Grethe couldn’t face answering her questions. Nor did she wish Signy to receive the brunt of her troubled mood. Grethe appreciated her cousin’s compassion, and she had need of it—just not today.

Grethe pushed on. The highest of the pools lay ahead, and she was more than ready to quench her thirst. At last she saw the place and wasted no time in cupping water into her mouth. She then shed her garments, laying them upon a rock before slipping in. The pool was a deal warmer than usual, and with a sigh, Grethe surrendered to the sensation of her nakedness, caressed by the light touch of water upon her skin.

She swam a little before kicking up her heels and diving downward. Holding her breath, she sat upon the bottom, looking up at the dappled light above where the surface rippled.

No matter her present unhappiness, she had a home to live in and the camaraderie of the women. She had her animals and her mead-making. She would rely on those things to bring peace to her heart. Whatever lay ahead, she was responsible for her own contentment. With that thought, she pushed with her feet, propelling upwards to burst through into the air once more.

“There you are! Thank the gods!”

Grethe spun about to see none other than Rutger kneeling at the water’s edge.

“I thought ‘twas you I spied beneath the water. I was about to leap in and pull you out.” Rutger’s tone was one of obvious relief.

“Why? Is your longship ready at last? You’re planning to drag me back and bundle me in? Don’t forget to take the rest of the mead while you’re about it. Or perhaps you have already.” Grethe knew she must sound brittle and petty, but she couldn’t help herself.

Rutger had the decency to appear embarrassed. “I was following a little way behind, I admit, but only because I want to speak with you.”

“You’ve something to say before you disappear forever more?” Grethe flipped her feet, half-floating backward, until she realized she was giving him more of an eyeful than she was willing to share.

“You know it’s not like that. After all we’ve meant to each other, you must listen!” Anguish glinted in his eyes.

“Must I?” Grethe was half-tempted to disappear to the bottom again. If he was so desperate to converse, he could bloody well swim and find her or wait until she deigned to come up once more.

“You’ve every right to be angry.” He spoke quietly. “Odin’s Balls! I’m angry with myself. But that doesn’t change how I feel about you. Forgive me, I beg you, and let’s be as we were. I need you, Grethe!”

Something within her heart tugged. Did she believe him that he really wanted her? It would be so easy to pretend everything was alright again, but she didn’t know if she could go along with that, fooling herself. Looking into Rutger’s pleading eyes, she longed to go to him, but the distance across the pool suddenly seemed like an ocean.

Overhead, the sky was blacker than ever, and the air pressed from all sides, making it difficult to breathe.

Was this what it was like to be in love? Trapped by one’s feelings and afraid, knowing the other person could so easily crush you? Waiting for the storm to break ?

She didn’t know if she was strong enough to bear it.

She was filled with an abrupt urge to hurt him. He wasn’t responsible for all she’d suffered, but he’d done his part.

“Did you lie to Tyra as you have to me, making promises you couldn’t keep? Is that why she turned to your brother? I’m glad for her. I hope she finds the happiness with him that she couldn’t with you.”

She felt a moment of grim satisfaction as Rutger’s face fell, his expression stricken. Then, a wash of shame came over her. ‘Twas as if she’d punched him in the guts. Worse. As if she’d kicked him where he already bore a weeping wound, then stood over him, gleeful at his pain.

“You’re right. I probably didn’t deserve Tyra. Likely, I don’t deserve you, Grethe, but by Thor, it won’t stop me fighting for you. No matter what you say, it doesn’t change how I feel. I’m not going anywhere… not unless you’re with me all the way.”

A lump grew in Grethe’s throat and a burning in her eyes. She was cruel and wretched, and still, he professed to care for her. What a pair they were, tormenting each other from the first to the last.

Could they be any other way?

She wasn’t sure.

Wiping away her tears, she began making toward him.

The storm clouds had rolled full above them, turning all as dark as twilight. A crack and rumble were heard overhead, quaking the water.

It took some moments to accept she was barely moving. ‘Twas almost as if she was being pulled in another direction. Almost as if she was being dragged… downward!

Gasping, Grethe swam more fiercely.

“Rutger!” she cried out in panic, feeling herself being sucked under. She managed one great, heaving intake before the water closed over her head.

She kicked frantically. Where all had been calm, the pool was a swirling morass, pitching her in sweeping circles. Within moments, an ache was building in her chest. The water was frothing, making it difficult to see.

Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad, just to take a small breath .

There were so many bubbles! She could breathe those, couldn’t she?

With her lungs bursting, she gave in, letting the water flow into her nostrils, warm and comforting.

“Grethe!” A voice came from some distant place.

Her head was light, as if she was floating. She wanted to open her eyes, but she was far too sleepy.

There was a clasping about her ribs and a pushing on her back. All at once, a nauseous feeling took hold and a rushing need in her body to expel everything inside. Coughing, she brought up water—through her mouth, through her nose.

“Grethe.” The voice again, close to her ear this time.

Rutger.

She knew it was him.

“Praise be to Odin!” He pulled her into his chest. “I thought I’d lost you.”

Opening her eyes, Grethe looked into his. He was soaked through, his hair plastered to his cheeks. His clothes were wet, his lashes, too.

They were at the very edge of the pool, upon the ground. She was astonished to see that the water level had dropped. Where had it gone?

She drew a faltering breath and began coughing again. “What… happened?”

Rutger rubbed her back for some time before answering in a leaden voice.

“I don’t know. I’ve never seen the like. Even now, I can’t believe it. One moment, you were there, then gone the next. I jumped in, but the current was so powerful, I thought ‘twould be my end as well as yours. Thank the gods, the water kept dropping. Only when my feet touched the bottom was I able to brace myself and grab hold of you as you swept past. It took all my strength to wade to the side and lift you out.”

“It was… terrifying!” Grethe clung to him. She remembered being pulled under, struggling to kick upward, feeling frantic. Nothing more.

If Rutger hadn’t acted quickly…

“Nothing but mud now and a split the whole length of the rock. No wider than my hand, but had your foot been dragged into it…” There was a tremble in Rutger’s voice. “The gods only know how it came about.”

A crack in the hillside?

She’d heard something but had thought it hailed from the sky—not from the ground below! The clouds were still ominous, so low that they seemed almost to brush the trees.

The fear crashed over her again, and she began shaking violently. Rutger rested his forehead on hers, rocking her gently.

“Hush, Sweetling. You’re safe. We’ll warn the others. Tell them no one should come up here.”

Grethe let him soothe her.

Bothild had to hear about this, but Grethe’s legs felt so heavy, she didn’t think she could stand.

In truth, she wanted only to stay where she was.

How had she managed, these past days, without Rutger’s embraces? She’d been telling herself she was fine—that she was more than capable of living alone, just as she had before .

That seemed ridiculous.

How could a person be ‘fine’ when their whole being ached for someone who was absent?

Rutger had hurt her, but she hadn’t the will to continue being angry with him. If only he would hold her like this, love her, and promise he’d never leave, she could bear anything. She needed only him and to believe he truly needed her.

“I’m sorry for what I said before… about Tyra. ‘Twas horrible of me.” Grethe swallowed against the pain in her throat. “I’m a terrible person. ‘Tis no wonder, Sven...”

“None of that.” Rutger wrapped his arms tighter about her. “We’re human, Grethe. We say things we don’t mean. We do things we regret. By Thor, I should know! Look at how I’ve bollocksed things up!”

“But… I want to be perfect for you.” Grethe snuffled into his chest.

Rutger gave a gruff laugh. “I’m not interested in someone who thinks they’re perfect. Better to accept that we’ve both made a mess of things.”

“You don’t… hate me?” Grethe had to ask. After the way she’d treated him, she’d understand if he did .

“ Hate you ? How could I ever?” Rutger cupped her cheek, insisting she look at him.

His face was dear to her—every feature, from the way his brows slanted slightly differently on each side to the flecks of hazel in his eyes to the crooked curve of his smile.

“You don’t hate me , do you?” There was uncertainty in his voice.

“I thought I did for a while.” She wanted to be honest. “But I really don’t. Quite the opposite…”

His lips were close. If he’d only kiss her, everything would be alright; she knew it would.

“So, you love me then?” He grinned, looking stupidly happy.

“Of course I do, lout!” Grethe rolled her eyes.

“That’s just as well because you’re the woman of my heart, and I’m utterly, hopelessly, irrevocably in love. It delights me that you speak your mind and put me in my place, that you know what you deserve and expect me to come up to the mark. I love… Gah! I adore everything!”

“That will do nicely.” Tipping back her head, Grethe presented her mouth and was rewarded with the sort of kiss most women only dream about.

It began to rain, but neither of them took notice. Rutger was soon as naked as the woman he intended to spend the rest of his life worshipping—through word and thought and deed, but especially through deed.

He would never leave her wanting.