On Friday Granny and I had gone shopping for a simple wedding dress in the tiny village. It was handmade and I'd bought it off the rack, the way it hugged my curves and then cascaded out like a tulip made me feel like a princess. Larz's Viking princess.
And while Granny and I had talked about marriage and babies and dresses, Larz had handled his business with the Ruthless Corp. hitman.
The idea that I was marrying into a family not unlike my own had shaken me at first, but then I'd come to realize Larz had been born into this position, a target on each of the royal kids' backs just because of their family name. Larz upheld their law, didn't play games or blackmail like my father and his men did. Larz only stepped up to retaliate when his family's safety was on the line.
He was the most honorable man I'd ever met and that's why I'd said yes without hesitation when he'd asked me to marry him.
And meeting Granny had helped, the way she welcomed me into her big family made me dream for what I'd always thought was out of my reach. A family of my own.
I trusted Larz more than any man I'd ever met. I could see the love he had for me and his family in his dark eyes. I knew he would raise our children to be humble and honorable adults. And he would give us the world as he did it. But I didn't need the world, only his heart.
Granny nodded once as I reached the stone path that would lead me to my future husband. With her signal, I began my walk. When I reached Larz, he wrapped me in his arms and hummed that I looked delicious enough to eat.
I blushed crimson as Granny grinned wildly. Her eyes cast to my stomach and she nodded, and then cleared her throat and began to read from a ancient Viking text about love and loyalty. The Valhalla Vows she called them.
When she finished she whispered in an ancient language I didn't recognize, and then proclaimed that our first kiss would seal our souls and forever entwine them like the roots of an old oak tree. She situated the wildflower crown on my head, and then told Larz he may kiss his new bride.
My heart sang with happiness when he held my face in his palms and kissed me with such reverent tenderness I melted like hot chocolate against him.
Granny backed away, giving us privacy as we kissed at the giant stone that had become our secret place.
When our kiss ended, Larz murmured his love for me.
I slipped one of his palms across my stomach, and then confessed my surprise. “Guess what, husband?”
“Mm, what's that beautiful?”
“I think we did make a baby, I picked up a box of tests when I bought the dress with Granny, she practically shoved them into my hands, but she was right—the first one I took came back with two pink lines.”
“Baby—” he bundled me in his arms, cradling me tenderly, “two pink lines?”
I nodded, happy tears coating my cheeks.
Granny embraced both of us then. She planted a kiss on each of our cheeks. “I just knew it.”
Larz laughed.
Granny pulled away, congratulating us before waving and making off down the pathway into the woods. “Enjoy yourselves, my darlings.”
She disappeared into the mist like a mirage. “She's amazing.”
“She is.”
“I'm sorry your mom couldn't be here to celebrate with us too,” I whispered.
“I'm not. The Queen is a hard woman, unflinching in her expectation of upholding our legacy.”
“And she doesn't like me?”
“She doesn't know you, but when she meets you, she will love you. She puts me through the wringer but she means well. She only wants me to be happy, and when she sees us together, she'll know it as sure as Granny did.”
Larz laced our fingers and led me back into the tiny cottage. Kylemore. Our home.
Once we reached the kitchen, I began to straighten up the items I'd left out on the table in my rush to meet Larz down the aisle.
But my new husband had different plans.
“No, baby. That's not your job, anymore. Come with me,” he breathed, snagging my hand with his. “Your job is to take care of yourself and make a home for our babies.”
“Bossy, much?” I teased, but followed him anyway.
“I am, when I know what I want. This Viking is hungry, he needs his princess.”
He was kissing me again, fingertips working into my hair as our mouths connected. I slid my hands between us, working the button of his pants open, then peeling the metal teeth of the zipper apart one by one.
“What are you doing, Pet?” His ravaged voice caressed my ears.
“I want to drive you crazy.” I dropped to my knees, slipping my hand in his pants and pulling his cock free. Thick and rock hard, I wrapped my fist around the base, watching it jerk with the cool air and my touch. Adrenaline fueled my desire for him.