Chapter 20

Vevina stood staring at Astrid. She had heard her, though she couldn't quite make sense of what she'd said. Her words had also hurt. She was aware that Astrid thought of her as weak, and now she added coward to how she felt about her.

It had taken all her strength to outfox Robert, and she'd learned by trail and error until she was finally able to protect herself the only way she could by outwitting him. She never thought of herself as a coward or a warrior, her only thought was survival, as was it now. 

"If that is what you wish," she said. 

"Do you always comply so easily?"

She heard her annoyance and did not intend to suffer over it. "You have made yourself clear. Why argue?"

"Always the obedient wife, huh?"

"I do my duty," she said, not meaning to sound as if she accused, but Astrid believed otherwise.

"Perhaps if I had a wife worth bedding..."

Astrid might not have raised her hand to her but she felt the sting just as sharply, and for a moment she thought she caught Astrid wince as if she suffered the blow along with her. Had Astrid regretted her harsh words? 

With her astuteness having served her well in the past, she decided to continue to rely on it and said, "Excuse my naiveté, but what makes a woman worth bedding to you?"

She almost smiled at Astrid's stunned expression, and felt as if she had just delivered a sharp blow and without raising a hand. 

Astrid cracked a brief smile. "You are shrewder than I thought."

She bowed her head respectfully. "I but ask a question. " She raised her head, her chin up a bit more than necessary. "Have you an answer?"

"Do you truly wish for me to answer you that?"

Astrid's distinct challenge caused her innards to tremble, while she surprisingly presented a calm and innocent exterior. "However will I learn to please you if I do not know?"

"You wish to please me?" Astrid asked, reaching out to take her hand and slowly drawing her closer to her in front of the hearth. 

How could her nearness cause Vevina to feel thrilled and intimidated all at the same time?

"It is my obligation, isn't it?"

Astrid nodded slowly, as if affirming the truth of it, then lowered her cheek to press lightly against her inflamed one. She thought she heard the sizzle of hot meeting cold, and she definitely heard Astrid inhale deeply after nestling her nose in her hair. 

Astrid began with a whisper in her ear. "The scent of a woman always pleases me."

Vevina barely heard her. She had become lost in the array of feelings that were raging within her. Vevina wanted to put distance between them and yet ached to move closer. It made no sense.

Astrid brought her forehead to rest against hers as her finger stroked ever so lightly along Vevina's jawline, down across her neck, to finally trace circles around her breasts as she murmured, "The feeling of a woman pleases me."

Then Astrid nibbled at her lips until they pulsated, moved to her neck to send the flesh quivering, and traveled across her shoulder until Vevina shockingly ached for her to taste her breasts.

"The taste of a woman, yes, it pleases me," Astrid murmured, and nuzzled her neck with a combination of her lips and teeth until, to her surprise, Vevina moaned from the pleasure Astrid brought her. 

Astrid laughed softly in her ear. "And last but by far from the least the sounds of a woman as she reaches her pleasure."

Vevina gasped sharply and skittered away from Astrid. 

Her hand shot out and nabbed her wrist, yanking Vevina back to her. "First rule in protecting yourself...never trust your opponent to play fair. Second rule, keep a fair distance or..."

Vevina followed her glance down between them and gasped again. Astrid held her dagger to her stomach.

"You didn't even know I drew my weapon." Astrid held her arm out to her. "We start tomorrow after the morning meal. All will know you are protected now."

And all would know Astrid rejected her, yet again.