the invisible string. Sihtric Kjartanson

Chapter sixteen: a moment of weakness

I was angry after I had given the child to a maid to check him for injury or illness because I had no idea about children. The maid said that a child with no mother had little chance of survival. I was angry because of some Mercian bastard this little boy was now an orphan or doomed to die. I put my sword down aggressively on a dresser. All of Uthreds men had gotten a place either in his house or near it. Sihtric and I were lodged in a house right next to Uthreds grand house by the Themes. It was a gorgeous Roman building with high ceilings and dark coloured furniture but it had left it's best days behind. On the most spots it was miserable and crumbling but we had a nice and dry room. But still I was angry.

"Kendra? Can I check your wound?" Sihtric asked as he returned with bandages and disinfection. He immediately noticed my foul mood and the fury in my eyes. He was careful because he knew I was unpredictable like this. I wasn't angry at Sihtric but if he provoked me that could soon change.

"Why do they get everything?" I was yelling as I undid my pants. "This woman didn't have to die. This mindless violence serves no one expect for themselves, those bastards. Everything is for them. Everything" Seeing the Mercian might've triggered some memories that I was this angry. If any of Aethelreds men would cross my path soon they'd be as good as dead. I did not care for the consequences.

"Kendra, you're absolutely right and you took revenge for that poor mother but it'll do no good if you bleed out from your ass. Lay on your stomach and let me patch you up, please" Sihtric said calmly. I wasn't going to but he looked at me with such pleading eyes that I gave in anyway. I sighted and he turned around to give me privacy while I striped. He was going to patch up my ass so this turning around was ridiculous but I appreciated it. A wince escaped me when the leather scraped over the wound. As far as I could feel it was more on the back of my upper thigh than my ass but it was still a vulnerable place. I laid down and waited for him. I startled when he touched me with his chilly hands. He apologised before inspecting the cut. "Well it wouldn't need stitching, that's good. I'll disinfect it now and that will sting. We have alcohol. I don't have to burn it out luckily " He warned me. I nodded weakly when he already tabbed the wound with strong alcohol. I cursed under my breath. "Okay this will be fine. I'll bandage it now. Please don't kill me" He pleaded as he gently lifted my hip to wrap my thigh with clean linen. I was acutely aware of where he was staring. I couldn't blame him because my ass was basically in his face. It did not bother me a lot because we had shared many moments together where I had been more vulnerable but right now I was also angry. He knew that my calm demeanour could change in a second. Then he finished bandaging and tied it. I suddenly felt a kiss just above the wound on my behind and I turned around. He immediately backed off with raised hands like I was a cat that had just pounced. I grabbed the dagger that he had used to cut the clean linen as he was backing up for safety. "I'm sorry Kendra, I shouldn't have done that" I pointed the dagger to his throat when he was backed against the wall. He was breathing rapidly. I knew that part of him liked the danger.

"Damn right you shouldn't have" I snarled feral. I mustered his throat bobbing under my dagger and then looked at the light beard he was growing to his pink lips and to his straight nose and dual coloured eyes. Those damned eyes got me every time. I suddenly dropped the dagger as if I was no longer master of my own limbs as my hand instead cupped his neck and pulled him down into a feverish kiss. I didn't know why I did that, it happened in the heat of the moment. I just knew that I wanted to kiss him.  At first he was stiff but he quickly relaxed and kissed me with equal passion. God I was so weak for him. I'd do anything for him if he kept on touching me. I didn't know why this was happening but I just knew that he could turn me into a doll for his usage and I'd thank him.

"Kendra" He whispered as he broke the kiss briefly. It sounded more like a prayer than my name. A begging for more after this tension between us prevailed for years. I couldn't go so long without kissing him that our lips connected again quickly.  His hands were roaming my body, exploring every inch that was covered with my thin linen shirt. He grabbed at my ass and pulled me closer that I could feel exactly how much he was enjoying this. I gasped in his mouth which allowed him to slip his tongue into my mouth. The way he was grabbing my ass send feverish waves of pleasure through my body. I could feel the ridges of his body and I wanted to tear off that goddamn shirt like a fury. He tried to lift me up so that I could wrap my legs around his waist but that stretched the wound that I gasped in pain. He immediately noticed and apologised. Instead he cupped my jaw and pulled me closer again. His hand wandered down that he was grabbing my neck. He could've choked me out but he didn't and that only heated me more. The way he was controlling me respectfully was so pleasurable. I was always so strong, so in control that him taking control and responsibility in this setting was a welcome change. When he touched me I could let go of the worries I felt. "Gods, Kendra I need you" He whispered again. I could only moan in response because I felt the same. Eventually I broke the kiss and grabbed the front of his tunic to direct him to the bed before pushing him down harshly. The expression in his eyes was worth more than any silver in the world. I straddled him which pulled on the wound briefly but I could redirect the aching in my flesh to the aching in my core that felt so delicious. I was grinding with my hips against his erection.  It wasn't planned, it just happened instinctively because I needed to feel him closer. I tore off his shirt and laid a hand against his beating heart. His muscles felt so delicious under my hands.