The Warrior's wager

by Mia Pride

  Aislin had no idea what Alastar was referring to, but she was much too angry to care. “How dare you agree to marry me without my consent! I will not be forced to marry!” she crossed her arms and turned to face off with Eoin. “We did naught but kiss. You cannot force a marriage for that, Eoin,” she said calmly.

  “Gods, Lin! You are so naïve! That was not a wee kiss! That was the sort of kiss that leads to… more! If you and Alastar are going to be sneaking off into the forest to kiss… like that… then, aye! I can insist he marries you! Before you have a babe in the belly and nay husband!”

  Tears prickled her eyes. She seldom cried, but Eoin’s words struck a place deep down inside her. He made her feel like a wee, helpless lass, something she had tried to prove her entire life that she was not. Now, her own dear brother stood before her acting as if she was incapable of taking care of herself, simply because she finally kissed a lad… a lad he himself pushed on her!

  “I will marry her, Eoin,” Alastar said with a soft smile on his handsome face, looking down at her as if he were her champion. Well, she did not need a champion! She did not need a man to protect her from herself as if she was a weak-minded woman!

  “Nay! I will not marry you! What is the matter with you both? You cannot force this on me!”

  “Lin,” her brother sighed and tried to grab her hand but she swatted him away, “You are fortunate it was me who found you out here and not Father. He would not even have hesitated to kill Alastar.”

  “For kissing me? You are mad!” she hollered and stomped her foot in frustration. Truly none of this even made any sense. All of the elation she felt in Alastar’s arms had gone cold and settled in her bones.

  “You aren’t hearing me. It was more than a kiss. I am a man. I know what that was. I also know Alastar,” he shot the man an angry look. “Agree to marry him, or he and I will fight.”

  “How does that fix anything, Eoin? You are being a ridiculous man,” she grumbled.

  “He is honor bound to do the right thing and I am honor bound to make certain he does.”

  She would not marry Alastar, but obviously Eoin would not back down and she could not allow them to fight over her. This was all nonsense. She needed to bide her time while Eoin cooled his temper. But how? “I will think on it,” she half-promised. Obviously, it was a weak promise because Eoin shook his head and scowled at her.

  Alastar stepped forward and grabbed her hand tightly. She tried to jerk away, but he held fast. “We will handfast.”

  Her head spun at his words. “What? Nay!”

  Alastar dragged her away by her hand, giving her no choice but to follow. “What are you doing, offering to marry me?” she whispered through clenched teeth. “I will not be some honorable obligation to you!”

  “Lin, stop talking.” She shut her mouth abruptly and looked up at his beautiful face. It was hard to look at him and stay angry, but this was unforgivable.

  “If we handfast, it only needs to be temporary. Think on it. You can keep your freedom. I won’t tell you what to do. Your family will finally leave you alone about getting married. All the lads will finally leave you alone. Eoin won’t try to gut me.” He laughed softly at his own jest and then grabbed her hand softly and brought it to his lips for a soft, lingering kiss. “And do not think I do this out of obligation. I would be lying if I said I hadn’t thought on this more than once since I first met you. Give me a chance to show you that you can be a wife and be free at the same time. If you are unhappy, in one year and one day, you can walk away.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him and scrutinized his features. He made sense, and yet… it was a huge commitment. It was still a year of her life dedicated to one man. It was also a year of her life being free of her family’s pressure and overbearing lads pressing their attentions on her. Suddenly, it did not seem like such a bad plan. A year of freedom. But after that, then what? Mayhap she would have to deal with that when the time came.

  “If I agree, you need to know I will end this when the year is up, Alastar. I cannot stay married to you… or any lad,” she added when she saw him frown.

  “You do not know that,” he urged.

  “Aye, I do. I never wanted to be married. The only reason I am even agreeing to this handfast is because, as you said, it will keep my family off my back, the lads from hounding me daily, and Eoin will cease his threats to gut you… and because it will end soon enough. That is all, Alastar.” She crinkled her brow in deep thought. “I do not understand one thing though…”

  “What is that?” he responded, gripping her hands, urging her to continue.

  “What do you get out of this?”

  “You,” he said simply with a shrug. “I get you.”

  Chapter Four

  His response to her question startled even Alastar himself. It startled him because of its simplistic truth. She thought she was getting the upper hand by agreeing to what she thought was a farce of a handfast, if only to keep everyone else from bothering her for an entire year, but what he was receiving was far more precious: an entire year alone with Aislin. An entire year to convince her that he could be the husband she needed… wanted. He had a year to convince her that he was a man who would never dare try to change her nature or take away her freedoms, because those were the innate qualities he valued most about her. To him, this handfast was very real… but, he would keep that to himself.

  By the gasp that escaped her soft pink lips, increasing breath, and the hand she placed on her chest, he knew his response had startled her as well. “Alastar,” she said carefully, “you are full of sweet words, but I have heard stories of your conquests with women. I will not be one of them.”

  His past haunted him and he supposed it always would. He had finally found the one woman he wanted to build a life with and she couldn’t trust him with her heart. “Just give me a chance to show you how good we can be together, Lin.”

  She frowned and shook her head. “Nay. This will end in one year and one day, Alastar. I will not do this until you accept that.”

  He would never accept that. He would spend the next year convincing her they were right for one another, but again, he would keep that to himself. He was done with words. She looked up to his height, her moss green eyes staring at him, her mouth parted and breathless. He had to kiss her. Bending down slightly, he took her lips with his softly, lingering as his breath mingled with hers. Her body softened against him and he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer. She smelled sweet like honey and tasted even better.

  A small groan escaped her lips when she got on her tiptoes to wrap her arms around his neck. Just as he successfully slipped his tongue in between her lips, her cursed brother interrupted them again.

  “You better have decided to handfast, or you're dead, Al. Get your hands off my sister! This is why you both need to—”

  Aislin pulled away from Alastar and rolled her eyes at Eoin, whapping him on the shoulder as if nothing he said even mattered, as if his threats to kill Alastar were empty. “Calm down, Eoin. We will handfast,” she sighed.

  Alastar felt his heart soar at her agreement to handfast, then only a moment later, he felt his heart sink as she sighed in resignation. Truly, he never believed he would become handfast, never believed he could want to handfast with a lass as much as he did at this moment. By the gods, he never believed the woman of his choosing would simply roll her eyes and sigh. Nay, it was not ideal, but she saw the merits of this union as keenly as he did, even if he had much more in mind than a temporary arrangement.

  “Good. We need to tell the family, Lin.”

  She opened her mouth to protest, but Alastar squeezed her hand reassuringly. Eoin was right. It would not do to drag their feet or put this off. The sooner they handfast, the sooner he could have Aislin to himself and begin his courtship. “Come, Lin. I need to ask your father for permission to wed with you.”

  “But—”

  “I can’t have all the men in your family wanting to gut me,
Lin. I need to do this right. I will ask him for permission and, if you wish to have your freedom, it would be in your best interest to act like you want this as well… unless you have changed your mind. I will not force this on you.” He squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for her to crush his soul with rejection.

  “I do want this,” she whispered and when he opened his eyes again, it was as if someone had punched him in the gut and knocked all the wind out of his lungs. Her eyes were bright and a small smile graced her lips, cheeks flushing.

  Eoin grumbled and grabbed Aislin by the hand. “Let’s go.”

  ***

  Her father had been glaring at him for what felt like an eternity. “Why?” he finally groused.

  “Why?” Alastar asked, looking at Aislin for some support, but she just pursed her lips and stayed silent.

  “Have you taken her innocence?” Garreth, her enormous and extremely intimidating father, said in a deathly low voice.

  “What?” Aislin finally snapped to attention. “Papa!”

  “Really, Garreth?” Ceara, his beautiful wife who looked like Aislin only perhaps twenty summers older, whapped him on the shoulder. “As if he would admit it even if he had.”

  “He has not!” Aislin stood quickly and began to pace. “I do not see what is so concerning here. You are both always telling me I need to find a respectable lad. You both pushed me to apologize to him and invite him over and—”

  “Invite him for a meal, lass! Not into your bed!” her papa roared.

  Alastar stood up and grabbed Aislin’s hand. She stopped pacing and looked up at him with her imploring green eyes. “Aislin is still innocent, King Garreth.” He knew the man had been king of his own small tuath before coming to live in the larger village of Ráth Mór under King Tuathal, but calling him by his formal title could only help soothe the man over… or so he hoped. Garreth sent him a death glare that would have made a lesser man back down. Alastar finally had the woman of his dreams agreeing to handfast with him, albeit temporarily, and he would not back down now.

  “Tis very sudden,” Garreth narrowed his gaze at Alastar, and then looked at Eoin. “You know something of this, son?”

  Alastar smirked as Garreth’s ire fell onto Eoin. After all, it was Eoin who had forced the subject, even with knowledge of the cursed wager that Alastar had still yet to call off. Although, if Eoin turned on Alastar now and told his father how he had found them alone in the forest with his tongue down Garreth’s daughter’s throat, he may not live to see another day. Suddenly, Alastar stiffened, realizing his fate was in Eoin’s hands.

  “Well, I think ‘tis wonderful,” Treasa added as she cradled Neassa and rocked her hips. “Alastar will be a fine husband. I have known him longer than any of you, so if you cannot trust his word, trust mine.” She smiled at him and Alastar sent her a wink in response. He and Treasa had been through a lot in the past and even in the darkest of days, he had always tried to be her companion and ally. He was pleased to hear she felt the same.

  “Papa…” Aislin finally stepped forward and put a hand on Garreth’s large shoulder. His blond hair was going gray at the temples, but the man was a solid wall of muscle and his keen hazel eyes focused on his daughter. “I am ready for this. It may seem sudden to you, but for us,” she looked over at Alastar and swallowed hard before speaking again, “it has always been inevitable. He has promised to allow me to keep my freedom. He respects me for who I am, not who he hopes I will be. He is kind, hard-working, a strong warrior, and already well-known to our family. He is well respected by our king. As you said, ‘tis time for me to find a husband. I choose Alastar.” She crossed her arms and stared down her father in the way only a daughter of a great man could. If anybody else looked at Garreth as she was now, including Eoin, Alastar was certain the man would box his ears, or worse.

  “You have my blessing, Lin,” her mother said with a smile, running her fingers affectionately through Aislin’s bright red waves, so similar in color to her own.

  Garreth stood and looked down at his daughter with a very powerful emotion flashing in his eyes and a surprising grin across his lips. “You are a lass grown. ‘Tis hard for an old man to accept that his wee lassie is a woman. I know how proud you are, Lin, and I know you would never go into something like this lightly. I give you my blessing.”

  Alastar let out a long breath, feeling his heart pounding against his ribs. He had no idea how much he wanted this until he had almost been rejected. Looking at Aislin, he had to resist a frown. She tried to look pleased, but Alastar could see her smile did not reach her eyes. It stung. Her father gave her a strong embrace and then turned to him, putting out an arm. Wrapping his hand around the man’s wrist, they clasped forearms and exchanged manly grunts.

  Treasa handed Neassa over to the arms of Eoin and clapped her hands wildly with excitement. “Och, Alastar! You will be my brother! What a strange twist of fate!” She jumped at him, and he laughed as her blonde curls bounced across his face and her hazel eyes glittered. “Now,” she said becoming serious again. “We have a wedding to plan.”

  “What?” Aislin croaked and looked on with horror at the twinkle in her sister-by-marriage’s eyes. “Nay! It must be small… and private.”

  “Of course, Lin. Only our family. I swear it,” Treasa said with a smirk.

  Chapter Five

  “Today is your wedding day. You will wear a traditional dress, Lin.” Her mama held up a beautiful soft blue silk gown and grinned ear to ear. “I wore this the day I married your papa twenty years ago. I have let the hem out on top a bit. Your breasts are much larger than mine were.” Ceara reached out both hands to cup her daughter’s breasts and Aislin slapped her hand away.

  “Och, Mama.” She rolled her eyes and put out her hand. “I shall wear the dress.”

  “You will?” Her mother’s eyes grew wide and brimmed with unshed tears. She must not have expected Aislin to agree so readily.

  “Aye. I know how important it is to you, Mama. I only wear my hide garments when I plan to hunt and climb and explore. I do not think I will be doing any of that on my wedding night.”

  “That’s what you think,” Treasa said with a laugh. “You will likely do much hunting, climbing, and exploring tonight.”

  “Treasa, not all of us are as insatiable as you were when you married my brother.”

  Treasa shrugged her off. “Just wait until you are alone every day in Alastar’s bed. You will know what I mean very soon.”

  Panic consumed Aislin. Her chest constricted and her heart beat wildly. She would not be sharing a bed with Alastar. Sharing his home was hard enough for her. But a bed? Nay. Surely the man had more than one bed in his home else she would have her own bed sent over. She could not share his bed. She would not. This arrangement was not an emotional one and she would not allow it to be. Licking her suddenly dry lips, her hands shook as she clutched the silk fabric against her breasts in silent fear.

  How she wished she could confide in her mother and Treasa that this entire handfast was a farce, a way to keep everyone else’s opinions out of her ears for an entire year. Eoin had not spoken of catching her alone with Alastar in the forest, and that had been a blessing. When she thought of that day, only a short two days past, her blood rushed to her cheeks and she thought of his touch and his kiss… the feel of his tongue gliding against hers. She could not deny that the man held her under a spell when he touched her, which was why she could not allow it again. If she allowed him to take things too far, she could end up with a babe in her belly… then she would never be able to walk away in a year.

  Her mother must have mistaken her blush as a reaction to Treasa’s words, giving her a smile and a wink. “Here, let us get you cleaned and dressed.” Aislin pulled her thin night dress over her head and stood completely bare in front of her mother and Treasa. Stepping into the wooden tub filled with steaming water, she slowly lowered herself with a sigh.

  Her mother came around with a small bucket of water and some lavender-s
cented lye soap her Auntie Una was well known for creating. It smelled wondrous and Aislin dunked her entire head under the water so her mama could lather up her hair.

  “Make sure to rub some of that soap between your thighs, Lin, just in case Alastar decides to go exploring himself,” Treasa chimed in with a laugh and waggled her brows as she nursed Neassa in a corner.

  Aislin gasped and crossed her legs, never having felt more flushed in her entire life. She squeaked and lowered herself further into the tub.

  “Oh, Treasa. Do stop teasing your sister,” her mother chided.

  “Tis not teasing. Tis being prepared. Alastar is a physical being. He will likely expect to take your innocence tonight.”

  Aislin frowned and closed her eyes as her mother finished lathering her hair and dumped the bucket of fresh water over her to rinse out the soap. Images of Alastar touching every inch of her body with his roughened warrior hands had a much greater effect on her than she would have expected. Her breasts felt full and heavy at the thought, her core throbbed with some need she could not understand. Her flesh felt flushed, and not only from the hot water of her bath. Her breath quickening, she was thankful she was still submerged in water so her mother and Treasa couldn’t see her hardened nipples or her clenching thighs.

  She had to keep her mind clear of those thoughts. Opening her eyes, she did her best to hide the effect Treasa’s warning had on her. It had only been two days since they agreed to handfast, since that life-altering kiss. She had made it clear to Alastar that this was temporary and that she wished to keep her freedom. With all the rush to gather her over-large family, prepare a meal, find a druid, and have her mother prepare her old wedding gown, she had not even seen Alastar. They had never spoken of further expectations. Did he truly plan on bedding down with her tonight?

  That thought made her shiver. “The water is growing cold, Lin. You are covered in gooseflesh. Stand up.” As she did, she heard Treasa sniggering in the corner, as if she knew precisely why Aislin was covered in gooseflesh. Her mother dried her hair with a linen square, and then handed it to Aislin so she could dry off and step out.