Nena by Ann Boelter (digital book reader txt) 📕

might as well have been chained to it. I should have known. You’ll never leave him. You plan to take my place at his side in the North.”

“He was having me watched when we moved, and besides I could not have found the girl.”

“Then you should have left without her. Watched or not, you could have made it easily. I don’t care a piss pot about some stupid little girl’s fate; certainly not more than I care about my own!” Altene hissed.

“I only need one more leaf. I’m going to escape during tomorrow’s battle. Everything is set.” Nena confessed the plan she had shared with no one, fearful even now, that Altene would betray her.

“Good, then I hope for your sake his last night of seed within you does not take.”

“Why are you doing this?” Nena asked.

“You’ve given me no choice. I risked everything for this plan, but once you felt his touch, you changed your mind.”

“That’s not true.”

“Isn’t it?” Altene was openly hostile now. “I have waited and waited for you to either fulfill our deal, or for him to tire of you, but neither has happened. You say you will escape, but you spend your days on joy rides and your nights in his arms. Meanwhile, I am running out of time. We shall make the port soon. Not having the herb will give you a little more incentive to follow through with your word. And if you fail—or change your mind and stay, we’ll see how he likes your bloated stretched body after you are with child. Even married men stray when their wives are pregnant. And you are nowhere close to being his wife. You are still just his slave. Either way, he will soon call me back to his bed.”

That night as they ate their last meal, Nena forced herself to engage in conversation with him and to eat normally, though every bite sat in her stomach like a stone. Every minute seemed an eternity. When he took her to the furs, it was easier. Easy to get lost in his embrace and forget what the dawn meant for her. She was sure as he held her in the crook of his arm, still warm from the afterglow of their lovemaking, that she would not sleep that night. But the next thing she was aware of was being awakened by his kiss.

It was dark, but she could hear the activity outside the tent as the other men prepared for battle. She knew he would rise right away and get dressed; he was always the first to be ready. She reached for him, returning his kiss, then lifted her leg over his, holding him down and pressing her body against him. She felt his hardness.

He groaned under his breath at her unexpected initiation. “You will make me late,” he murmured.

She did not answer, but moved her pelvis tighter against his. He pulled her hips to him and entered her as he rolled onto his back with her on top of him. Nena sat up astride him, his hands tight on her buttocks, holding her to him as he moved inside her. She leaned forward and kissed him, pressing her breasts against the hard muscles of his chest. She shifted her body sideways, indicating she wanted back on the bottom. Jarl obliged. Nena enjoyed being on top, but this last time she did not want any space between them. She wanted to feel the full weight of his body pressing down on her—to have full contact with the entire length of him—to better commit the feel of every inch of him to her memory.

As they lay side by side catching their breath, Nena couldn’t help but wonder. With no more herb, would she get with child from this last joining? Why did the thought of it not distress her? Why was she only concerned with the fact that this was the last time she would caress his sculptured shoulders or look into his multicolored eyes. The last time she would feel his touch. The last time she would feel the strength of their connection.

You must not waver now. Everything has come together. You will not get another chance. Escape this place. Do not allow Jarl’s affections to make you weak.

The pang of sadness felt like a large hole in her stomach.

Jarl mistook her melancholic distraction for concern for his safety in the upcoming battle. “Do not worry, my princess.” He kissed her forehead and tenderly stroked a long section of her hair away from the side of her face. “I will return safe. And knowing you are here waiting, I will make this the quickest victory of the raids.”

Nena did not want him to leave. Did not want this to be the last time she saw him. She kissed him softly on the lips. “Keep your guard up today. Do not let haste leave you open to needless danger,” she murmured.

Jarl kissed her back, the effect of her unusual gesture evident on his face. His voice was husky with emotion. “When I am with you, I feel…you make me feel as if nothing else matters. Things that were so important to me before, now mean little, and I could forsake them easily. It is in many ways disturbing to me.”

The boards rattled, breaking the mood.

“Jarl? Are you ready?” It was Tryggr.

“I’ll be out in a moment,” Jarl answered. He grinned at her. “See what you have done. Now I am very late.” He stepped from the bed and dressed quickly. Nena watched as he strapped on his hardened leather armor plate.

“Jarl? Will you be joining us today?” Tryggr called out again.

“Be right there.” Jarl returned to the furs and bent over to kiss her one last time. “The men are waiting. I must go.”

“As must I,” she whispered as the tent flap fell closed behind him.

AFTER THE LAST of the men had filed from camp, Nena gathered her things for the