the invisible string. Sihtric Kjartanson

Chapter twenty three: until Walhalla

He collapsed on top of me, gasping for air desperately. I felt him go limb inside me. He got off me, still breathing heavily. I was catching my breath as well.

"That was-" He brought out after he had caught his breath enough to speak.

"Amazing" I told him before rolling over grinning at him. "Why didn't we do this before? It was great" I said in excitement.

"Kendra, because I wasn't going to pressure you into anything" He told me calmly. "I cannot deny that I enjoyed it. I enjoyed you" He leant in to kiss me. The lust caught me again. When he broke the kiss he interpreted my naughty smirk. "No I cannot go again so quickly" He told me which had me sulking but I was still grinning.

"Well that's sad" I chuckled before my face turned solemn. "Thank you" I breathed out slowly. "I feel save with you Sihtric" He smiled slowly as he let the words settle. Then he pulled me in for a passionate kiss. "Is everyone else okay? Did they all survive and did the plan work?" I asked him hopefully but his smile died which meant nothing good.

"Erik is dead and also Sigefrid. Haesten, the bastard, escaped our grasp. Aethelflaed is back with her husband who is being celebrated as a hero. We are here save and I was just thinking waiting for you to wake. I wouldn't know what I'd do if you had-" His voice was quivering with true fear. I grasped his hands. He pulled me closer to lay on his chest.

"I'm here now. I'll stay with you until gods claims me finally" I whispered as he played with my fingers. A sight escaped him and I felt him nod at the top of my head.

"Come on. I'll fetch some water to heat" He said as he got up. I raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"Why?" I was confused when I watched his naked behind. That ass looked so damn juicy.

"To get you cleaned up. It's part of this...act I think" I noticed then that mine and his juices were seeping out of me. It didn't particularly bothered me but I appreciated his kindness. He cleaned me with warm water so gently I fell all over for him. I looked at him as he concentrated.

"Where's the babe?" I asked as I noticed that his bed was indeed missing. A wave of fear gripped me but I quickly refrained when Sihtric smiled.

"He's with Gisela. She offered to care for him as I was taking care of you" He told me as he poured the water out the window.

"Well that calms me. Come back to bed now" I told him as I rolled around revealing my backside to him which the small fire illuminated. It lit the room very beautifully even if the night was warm, the summer heat still lingering. He smirked and crawled back into bed and grabbed my ass to press a kiss on my left cheek. I giggled. The last time he had done this I had pressed a knife to his neck. I wrapped my arms around him to pull him closer before kissing him again. "I love you Sihtric. Never forget that" I told him seriously. He smiled at me looking like a love drunk fool. I must look very similar.

"I love you too. In this life and the next" He told me solemnly as well before closing his eyes to sleep. I did the same.  I slept like a babe that night.

The next morning the sun woke us. It tickled down my nose and startled me awake. Sihtric had slung one of his powerful arms around my waist, holding me tightly like I was his most valuable treasure. Perhaps I was. There was at least nothing as dear to me as this man and our babe. I assumed he felt the same. "Sihtric" I spoke softly as I ran my fingers through his hair.

"Not yet, it's too early" He groaned but I just laughed at him. He gave a deep groan as he pulled me even tighter and buried his face in the crook of my neck. "Ill not let you go, my love" He whispered. I chuckled. I allowed him to hold me a little longer before I wiggled from his grip because I wanted to go see Gisela. Sihtric followed me more or less willingly. He had wanted to stay in bed. I had a feeling he wasn't willing to leave my side but Uthred called to him as soon as he spotted us. I found Gisela and her maids playing with our children in the atrium.