Harlequin Historical January 2024--Box Set 2 of 2 by Bronwyn Scott

Author:Bronwyn Scott
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2023-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The next day they emerged from their tent with shy smiles. Runar felt as rich as a king, but tried not to appear too arrogant in front of his friends, as it might embarrass Embla. Secretly, he wished he could shout it from the nearest cliff, but he knew how important reputation was to a Norse woman, and he would rather pluck out his own eye than hurt her.

Embla had opened the door to her heart, and after taking such a giant leap, he was eager to leave the tribe, so that they could continue their relationship in private.

Pleasuring Embla had been the first step in proving how good a husband he could be for her, and he looked forward to many more nights wrapped up in her warm limbs. But firstly, they needed to get home, so that he could prove to her in every way how good he could be for her.

Iskko arrived with his sleigh, followed by his mother and some of the tribesmen—including Lejo, who came with the two dog teams that would be pulling each sleigh. The dogs were yapping so excitedly it was difficult to talk over their noise. The ropes were attached, and the dogs began to jump and whine, desperate to begin their journey.

He was always amazed by the energy and enthusiasm of the dogs. Sten kept barking at them trying to stamp his authority over them, but they were too young and wild to care. Lejo and Issko whistled a command and they quietened a little.

‘We should get going,’ Runar said to Embla, who gave his mother one last hug of thanks before climbing into the sledge.

Miljá could only hug him around the waist, as he was so tall, but she still threatened him sharply in the Sami tongue, ‘I want to see her again in the spring...and the autumn...and all seasons after that! Do what you can to convince her to stay.’

Hot pain sliced through him. His relationship with Embla had become more intimate, but there had been no promises of her remaining. He tried his best to give his mother a carefree smile so that she wouldn’t worry.

‘I will try my very best, Mother. Stay safe and warm.’

He called out farewells to the rest of the siida as he took his seat behind Embla. They would ride the smaller empty sleigh while Iskko took the larger, as he was more experienced driving the dogs. Their sleigh would go ahead of Iskko’s carving the initial path for the bulkier sleigh that travelled behind.

Cracking the reins, Runar called out the command for the dogs to run. There was no need to tell them twice, and they charged forward without hesitation.

Embla’s back was thrown against his chest, and she gasped, ‘Sorry, I didn’t expect them to take off so fast!’

Grinning, he leaned down and whispered against her ear, ‘You can bump against me all day... I would not mind.’

She slapped at his leg with a disgruntled hiss, and he laughed even harder.

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