Walpurgis Night
by Katherine Kingston
Release date: October 5, 2009
ISBN: 9781419920530
Order from Ellora's Cave Publishing

Blurb:

In 10th-century England, Norse invaders have begun to settle down and intermingle with the Anglo-Saxon residents. On Walpurgis Night it's expected that all adults will do their part to ensure the fertility of the land by indulging in sexual activity. Healer Fianna has been warned she must choose a partner for the night, but she doesn't like any of the candidates available in her town. When forced to make a decision, she selects Henrik, a visiting Norseman who’s come to watch the festivities.

They have a sizzling night together, but then he departs. Later, when Henrik's brother is wounded, he forces her to come and treat him. Fianna's not sure she can save the gravely injured man, but agrees to try. The situation forces her into close proximity with Henrik, and neither can resist the sexual attraction and growing love between them. But Henrik has long planned to leave the area as soon as his brother is healed and able to take over Henrik's responsibilities.

Excerpt:

“Who will it be?” Jerrod added. “Tonight you must choose one of us.”

It was so, and that was just the reason she’d tried to remain out of sight. She would have hidden in Marla’s home had she not suspected they would search the place for her. In fact, they were so intent on having her, they’d have searched every building in town and the surrounding hills. She’d gambled that by staying near the center of activity, but concealed in shadows, she might remain hidden. One small lapse of attention had overset the plan.

“Choose, witch,” they taunted her. “Or perhaps you prefer to be truly branded witch and face the fire.”

She glanced at the bonfire and tried to keep the terror from showing too clearly on her face. Surely there was some other way. Fianna let her gaze roam around the square, watching the gathered crowds. Evidently they’d decided the Norsemen posed no threat. Most had resumed their revelry, laughing, dancing, and flirting.

She spotted the Norsemen not far away. Someone had passed them a wineskin, and one of the three was drinking from it. A wild idea formed in her head.

“Choose me and I’ll make you roar and scream with delight,” Jerrod promised, drawing her attention back to her tormentors.

“I have the equipment of a bull and I’ll fill you properly,” Artur boasted.

Keovan couldn’t match his companion’s physical assets and attempted a different form of persuasion. “I’ve a gold chain brought from the east that can be yours, do you go with me this night,” he offered.

Fianna glanced at each one and then at the others in the square. The leader of the Norsemen glanced her way and met her eyes briefly, but he clearly decided their doings were none of his concern.

“I’ve made my choice,” Fianna announced to the group. All three stared at her. She glanced at each in turn, then shifted her gaze away from them.

“Him,” she said, pointing to the leader of the Norsemen.

While Artur, Jerrod, and Keovan still stared blankly at her, she pushed past them and walked toward the visitors.

The Norsemen’s eyebrows all rose in surprise as she approached them. Fianna ignored all but the man in the middle, keeping her gaze locked with his as she neared. “You are my choice,” she said to him, making the words loud enough to be heard by the small group of men following her as well as those in front.

“You’re Henrik,” she said to him. “Nay?”

“Aye, lady,” he acknowledged. “And you are?”

“Fianna.”

“Ah. And for what purpose do you choose me?”

This close to him, she had to look up to see his face. His expression remained so shuttered she read nothing in it, nor did his tone reveal any emotion save mild curiosity.

“To be my…companion for the night.” She wasn’t sure what word to use that he would understand. She wasn’t sure she wanted to use any word at all. As she faced this stern, intimidatingly large, strong man, Fianna asked herself whether this had been a good idea. It got her out of the reach of Jerrod and his fellows, but it might leave her in an even more dangerous situation.

“Your companion?” Henrik scanned the square, taking in the revelers, his gaze coming to rest on one couple all but undressing each other in the street. The woman’s leg was over the man’s bent knee, and one of his hands rested high on her thigh while the other pushed aside her bodice so he could reach her breast. The woman, meanwhile, had both hands pressed against his chest under his shirt.

While he stared, Fianna wondered what she’d do if he turned her down. She supposed she would have to choose one of the group that still stood behind her, waiting to see how this would play out.

“Why do you ask this of me?” Suspicion almost overwhelmed the curiosity in his tone.

“You are a man,” she answered. “I am a woman. And on this night it is said that all must pay homage to the spirits that control the fertility of the land.” She wasn’t sure how much he understood of her language.

When he commented, “And you think I’m the best of the choices you have,” she decided it wouldn’t be wise to underestimate him.

He looked at the group of ardent suitors standing behind her, and his face softened a fraction out of its hard set. “You don’t know what you risk with me.”

She puzzled at that. “Nay. But I know what I risk with others.”

His eyebrows flicked upward. He leaned forward to whisper to her. “You cannot know how I prefer to enjoy a woman.”

“Nay, that I do not,” she admitted. “What should I know?”

His expression grew darker. “I do not prefer it quick. Or gentle. I like women who will give everything to me, and accept all I want to do to them. Think you, you can do this? Or are you wishing to change your choice?”

“Do your women survive their time with you?”

He laughed suddenly. “Usually. In truth, none have died of the things I do with them, though I’ve seen a few swoon. Most seem quite pleased and satisfied with our time together. Not all can satisfy me, however.”

She looked at him. He thought he was frightening her. And she should be heeding his warning. But along with the fear was something else. Her stomach did odd little flip-flops, while a frisson of excitement settled hard and heavy in her loins. “I will do my best, though I can make no promises until I know more of what you want.”

“‘Tis just for this night?”

“This one night only,” she assured him.

He stared hard into her eyes, as though trying to read her will. “You interest me, Fianna. I will accept your offer.”

Fianna let out a long sigh, though she wondered if relief was truly the proper reaction. She just knew that if she had to give herself to one man, this was the one who seemed most appealing. Oddly, his words about his possibly unusual preferences made the prospect of time with him more appealing rather than less.

He said a few words in his own language to his companions. One of those two laughed hard and struck him on the back. The other looked suspicious. A brief argument between that one and Henrik ended with the man pronouncing something she couldn’t understand. She could read the tone, however, and he’d clearly said something on the order of, “On your own head be it.”

Henrik’s companions moved away to leave him alone with her. The man glared at Jerrod, Artur, and Keovan until they, also, got the message and retreated. Then he bent his stare on her again.

Fianna studied his face, trying to decide how worried she should be. His features were strong, from the straight, gold eyebrows to the firm, jutting chin outlined by a neatly clipped golden beard. In the firelight she couldn’t tell the color of his eyes, only that they were light. A bit of satisfaction had leeched into his otherwise set expression.

“So, lady,” he said, “What do we now?”

“We go some place private.”

“Know you such a place nearby?”

She nodded. “My quarters. I share a home with Marla, the midwife, but I have my own room.”

“Let us go then.” He took a torch from one of the many stands holding them and nodded for her to direct him.

The house was quiet and dark. Marla was probably with Master Cooper at his place. They’d been lovers for years, though Marla refused to marry him, claiming she was content with her living arrangements as they were.

Fianna lit a lamp and carried it back to her private room. Henrik put the torch into a stand, then glanced around the room. She wondered what he thought of her very spare quarters, but she didn’t ask and he volunteered no opinion. He paid little attention to it in any case. His gaze returned to her and stayed there. She blushed when he looked slowly down her body. She hoped her shape pleased him. Most men seemed to consider her attractive, but the Norsemen might have different notions of beauty.

Fianna had no idea what to do next, what he might expect of her, so she waited for him to make the first move. Henrik unbuckled his belt and slid the sheath holding his sword off it, laid both aside, and then removed his leather vest and shirt.

She let out a gasp of pure wonder as she stared at the most beautiful masculine chest she’d ever seen. Broad shoulders narrowed gradually down to a slim waist and hard, flat belly. A thin mat of gold hair lay over the strong muscles below his throat, with the dark buds of nipples protruding from it. The lovely flesh almost demanded she touch it, but something in his expression prevented her from reaching out.

“Have you done this before?” he asked.

“Aye. Once or twice.”

“No more than that?” He sounded incredulous.

“No more.”

“Did you take pleasure from it?”

She drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. She hated to be found wanting, but neither did she wish to lie to him. “Nay, in truth, I found little, though I’m told it should be pleasurable.”

“So it should,” he agreed. “And you will get pleasure from it with me. But you must first agree that I am your master in this and you will do all I say without hesitation or question.” He stopped and drew a breath. “I warned you my needs and desires were different. This I ask of you, that you agree I am your lord for this night and you must obey all orders or face my punishment for the failure.” His harsh expression softened. “I know it is not easy for one of your spirit to submit yourself to another’s will. But I believe I can show you the way to greater pleasure than you’ve ever known.”

The demand left her breathless and confused, while his promise set off that funny feeling in her stomach.

“Fianna?” he prompted. “Do you agree?”

“If I don’t?”

“I’ll put my clothes back on and go. But I’ll stay out of sight so those men will believe I’m with you still.”

She was stunned by that bit of proposed gallantry. But she hadn’t been clear about her question and tried to clarify. “Nay. I mean if I agree and then I don’t follow orders? How would you punish me?” she asked.

“Ah.” A gleam lit his eyes. “What do you suppose I should do?”

The heat rose in her cheeks, so she must be blushing. A vivid image had come into her mind, and she wasn’t sure whether it fascinated or terrified her. It depended on how much she trusted him. But—he had asked.

“I know not,” she said, hoping she wasn’t making a terrible mistake. “What were you thinking?”

He stared hard at her as though he tried to read her mind through her eyes. “Perhaps I’ll spank your bottom until it glows pink. Or possibly I’ll use my belt, doubled over. Which frightens you more?”

She sucked in a sharp breath, but she wasn’t sure whether the twisting feeling in her stomach was dismay or excitement. “The belt,” she whispered.

He nodded. “Do you agree, then?”

“But you didn’t—”

“And I will not. You know enough to make your decision.”

How could she be so thrilled and so terrified at the same time? But when she looked at him, stared into his eyes, she knew he wouldn’t hurt her. And she knew she wanted this more than she’d ever wanted anything with a man before. Even so, she had a hard time making herself say it. “Aye,” she finally managed to choke out.

For the first time a real smile washed across his face. It transformed his features, turning him into a breathtakingly handsome man. Her heart hammered in her chest.

“Good,” he said. “Very good. Take off your dress. Slowly.”