by ST Bende
“Do you remember the first time I brought you here?” The inky-blue eyes zeroed in on mine.
“I do,” I whispered. That kiss in the woods was something I would never forget.
“Me too.” One corner of Ull’s mouth turned up. “Why do you think we are here?” Without another word he scooped me in his arms and carried me into the forest. My hands clasped around his neck—his arms were thick as two wooden planks, but the speed with which he ran still made me nervous. I shouldn’t have worried. In ten seconds flat he had me backed against the tree where he’d first administered his earth-shattering kiss. At least, I think it was the same tree. My brain wasn’t exactly operating on all cylinders.
His lips moved against mine with delicious slowness at the same time as he held my wrists over my head. The bark felt rough against the back of my head but I didn’t care. Being sandwiched between a tree and a Norse god was more than worth it. His tongue tasted minty as it danced against mine. And his hips… sweet mother of pearl…
“Oh!” I let out a surprised gasp as Ull’s mouth moved to my neck. His tongue massaged my skin and his teeth took small bites. The hand not holding my wrists trailed a line down the arm of the too-big jacket I wore. Ull’s fingers pushed the lapel aside and brushed the upper seam of my dress. My skin tingled, a thousand tiny shockwaves bouncing across my torso as I waited to see what he’d do next.
I leaned into him, desperate to prolong the touch. As I did, Ull moved against me in a way that made me forget all sense.
Please. Don’t. Stop.
Ull raised his head at the sound of my whimper. He squeezed his eyes shut, and took a step back. He eased his finger away, placing his hand firmly around my waist. I whimpered again, but this time for a different reason. Ull stared at me with eyes that were still that inky blue. His face mirrored my frustration, even as he pressed his forehead to mine and murmured, “Dessert is ready.”
“Dessert?”
Ull tilted his head to the ground. For the first time I noticed a picnic blanket flanked by votive candles. A chocolate cake, silver ice bucket, and a bottle of Brut Rosé sat on the edge of the blanket. It was a perfectly thoughtful birthday dessert.
Only it wasn’t the dessert I wanted.
It took everything I had not to let out a petulant cry. But it’s my birthday would have made me sound like a five year old.
Still… as Ull helped me onto the ivory blanket, I wasn’t thinking about cake or champagne. There was only one thought making its way across my hormone-addled brain.
I hoped the inky-blue eyes were here to stay.
Chapter Ten
“WE MADE IT.” ULL squeezed my shoulders gently.
“This year went by so fast.” It was graduation day, and I was standing on Ull’s porch, trying not to freak out about meeting his mom.
“They adore you.” Ull stroked the knot in my neck and I melted into him.
“Right.”
“They do. Thor thinks you are already a part of the family, and my mother is convinced you must walk on water. I am inclined to agree.”
“Stop it.” I blushed.
“Come.” He lifted a strand of my hair and leaned down to kiss the side of my neck. “They are waiting.”
When he opened the door, I discovered my legs wouldn’t move. The Goddess of Beauty stood beaming on the other side. She was the picture of physical perfection.
“Hei hei, Kristia. So lovely to meet you. We have been waiting a long time for you to come along.” She held out her hand, but I was too nervous to move.
Mormor would never have tolerated such rudeness.
“Oh, you poor thing.” Sif swept in with a soft hug. She tossed her long gold hair as she pulled back, and the air suddenly smelled like heather. “We must be a lot to take in. Come, sit.”
Sif wrapped an arm around my waist and walked me to the couch. She moved so gracefully she could have made Inga look clumsy. “Tell me, sweetie, are you ready to be done with school? It must be a relief to be finished with your exams.”
“Yes Mrs. Myhr. It’s nice to be done studying.” I crossed my ankles as I sat.
“Oh please, call me Sif.” She patted my hand affectionately. “No point in being formal. You are family now.”
The warmth in her voice was soothing.
“And you, son? Are you finally done studying, or will you be starting on your twenty-first Master’s soon?”
Ull took the spot next to me on the couch. My mouth opened just a little. He had twenty degrees?
“Mother,” he admonished.
“Well?” Sif lifted her chin. “I am proud of my boy.” Turning to me she stage-whispered, “He also has doctorates in law, medicine, biology, and a post-doctorate in environmental sciences.”
“Really?” I gaped at him. “Dr. Myhr? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I do not want you to think of me as an old man.”
“Oh yeah, because I was pretty sure you were only twenty-one in human years.” Ull laughed with me. Just then Thor walked through the front door, holding a bag from one of Ull’s favorite takeout restaurants. His fiery-red hair, battle-worn skin, and intimidating frame still gave me butterflies. It was just unreal to be in the same room as the actual God of Thunder. Thor returned my shy smile with a dignified wave.
“Oh, Kristia,” Sif’s lilting voice trilled with happiness as she looked at her husband. “Thor and I are so pleased that Ull has chosen you. It was hard for us to watch his heart close and know there was nothing we could do to stop it.”
I glanced to my side and I swear I saw Ull blush.
“I do not know how or why The Fates have brought you to our family, but I am very grateful that you would choose to give up your parents, your friends, the only world you have ever known… for us. Thank you for choosing my son.” Sif embraced me warmly, surprising me with the sincerity of her emotion. Thor nodded from some feet away. I knew he wasn’t an emotional man and that small gesture spoke volumes.
I pulled back. “Thank you for sharing Ull with me. And thank you for giving us your blessing. I love him more than I will ever be able to explain.”
“I know.” Her simple reply was offset by her dazzling smile.
“Shall we eat before we go?” Thor spoke from the table. “These things tend to take a while.”
He should know. Apparently he’d been to twenty of them.
“Yes. Kristia? Mother?” Ull stood and held out an arm. We filled our plates and dug in.
Gunnar and Inga opened the front door just as we were finishing.
“How was the shooting range?” Ull called as they darted toward their bedroom.
“Great!” Inga’s hair flew behind her as she tore out of the room. Two minutes later she emerged wearing a graduation robe. Her hair shone like she’d just brushed it, and she was artfully applying mascara in the middle of the living room. She didn’t even need a mirror.
“How do you do that?” I asked.
“Centuries of practice. You’ll get the hang of it.”
Gunnar strolled behind Inga, also wearing his graduation outfit. “Look.” He pointed to his sleeve. “Mine has those fuzzy things on it this time.”
“Smarty pants.” Inga stood on tiptoes to kiss his jaw. “Now let’s go. We don’t want to be late.”
Our peculiar little party walked the few blocks to campus. When we reached the field where the graduation was being held, we heard a spry voice.
“Kristia, Ull!” Elsker was waving from a row of seats. “Over here.”
“Oh, good. Second row. I hate when we can’t see you turn your tassel.” Sif patted her son’s back.
“Ull, can I borrow you?” Elsker whisked Ull a few feet away. They had a hushed conversation, before Ull walked back to me with a frown.
“What was that about?” I whispered.
“Nothing.” He forced a smile and kissed my cheek.
“Uh-uh, that’s not going to work this time. Was it about Ragnarok?”
“No, darling.” H
e opened my hand and kissed my palm, staring into my eyes as he pulled his lips away. “Everything is fine.”
“Ull!”
“You had better take a seat.” Ull waved at Olaug, who now sat next to Elsker. “The ceremony is about to begin.”
“You know I’ll get it out of you eventually.”
“I have no doubt you will.” He smiled.
But for the next hour, speeches, congratulations, and the official handing out of diplomas commanded my attention. By the time Ull turned his tassel from one side of his hat to the other, I’d almost forgotten the conversation with Elsker. And between Sif’s tears and Elsker’s monologue on the importance of a good education, I didn’t have a chance to follow up.
“Are you okay?” Ull whispered as Elsker went on about the value of Midgard’s university system.
“It’s bittersweet, isn’t it? The end of the year?” I twined my fingers through his and held tight.
“A bit.” We scanned the thinning crowd, looking at the sea of faces we’d come to recognize over the last year.
“I know we’re keeping our options open about next year, but if I don’t re-enroll, this is kind of it, isn’t it? For being in Cardiff, I mean.” My eyes darted from the tree where Ull had first asked me for my notes, to the field where we’d read our textbooks on the rare warm afternoons, before resting on the cafeteria where we shared lunch most days.
“I would imagine so.” Ull smiled down at me. “But that is a good thing. We have new adventures awaiting us.”
He tilted his head. In the distance I could see the steeple of the Norse church where Ull had taken me so many months ago, in what I saw now as the beginning of my life. And where, in just a few days’ time, we would become husband and wife. He squeezed my hand, lost in the same thoughts I was. It had been quite a year.
“You’re sure you’ve got your honeymoon wardrobe sorted?” The next afternoon, Inga stood in her living room with her hands on her hips. She’d been going over some wedding details with me, and she seemed genuinely surprised when I told her the only thing I had left to do was buy sunscreen for our mystery destination. I had no idea if immortal me would burn as badly as regular me, and I still didn’t know if we’d be honeymooning in a summery climate, but it seemed prudent to be prepared for all scenarios.
“I’ve had my sundries packed for two weeks. And Victoria took care of most of the actual clothes.” I closed my notebook and put it in my bag. “Ull still won’t tell me where we’re going, but he knows Victoria’s been designing some dresses for me to wear. He told her just enough that she volunteered to pack for me.”
“You, Miss Planner, are letting someone else pack for you?” Inga raised an eyebrow. “How’s that going over?”
“It’s driving me nuts,” I admitted. “But I gave Victoria two lists—one for a warm, and one for a cold-weather destination. I’m trusting she’ll follow my suggestions.”
“Yeah, because that Victoria is a real list follower when it comes to clothes.” Inga snickered. “I wouldn’t worry, Kristia. I’m sure whatever she packs for you will be absolutely fabulous.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” I muttered. I really hoped Victoria packed at least one pair of comfortable shoes. High fashion wasn’t exactly easy to walk in.
“Well, then I guess the only place we need to go today is the drugstore. What kind of sunscreen do you wear?” Inga picked up her purse and walked toward the door. I grabbed my bag and followed.
“SPF 55. Should we close the windows before we lock up the…” I trailed off as the sound of a grating female voice came from outside. “Who is that?”
Inga held her finger to her lips. We tiptoed to the window and peeked around the curtain. Ull had just gotten home, and was getting out of his Range Rover. He walked around the front of the car and stood on the sidewalk, wearing a thin, black sweater and blue jeans. He folded his arms across his chest and stared unhappily at the female rushing toward him, screeching his name.
“Hi Ull.” The woman waggled her fingers. She wore tight jeans, sky-high heels, and a top that once again failed to cover her substantial assets. She tossed her chocolaty-brown hair over her shoulder as she sauntered up the sidewalk. When I recognized whom she was, my stomach clenched in a tight ball. Ull took a step backward, his substantial form blocking the path to the front door.
“Stop right there, Skadi,” he ordered. His voice carried through the open window.
Skadi stuck out her lower lip, then pushed her chest out for good measure. “Is that any way to treat a friend?”
“She’s not his friend,” Inga muttered beside me.
“Shh,” I hissed. I didn’t want Skadi to look up and see us spying on her.
Down on the sidewalk, Ull didn’t budge. “What do you want?”
“I came to see your dad.” Skadi lifted her chin.
“You came all the way to Midgard to see Thor?”
“Yes.” Skadi smiled.
Inga’s shoulders were so tense, they were practically shaking. “Did she… that cow bleached her teeth. What the Helheim is she trying to pull?”
I ran my tongue over the tops of my own teeth. Three brushings a day, and they were pearly white. “Ull isn’t going to let her inside, is he?” I asked.
“Does he look like he’s budging?” Inga pointed out.
Ull had adjusted his stance so his feet were shoulder-width apart. With his crossed arms, he now fully blocked the walkway to our door.
“No,” I acquiesced.
Outside, Ull stared Skadi down. “My father is not here right now. And he is not interested in seeing you. We heard about your little stunt with Kristia, and we are not amused.”
“What stunt?” Flinging a hand to her mouth, Skadi made herself the picture of virtue. “I was only trying to welcome Kristia to Asgard. Did the human get herself upset?”
“Drop the act. Why are you really here?” Ull’s voice was cool as he picked a piece of lint off his sweater. I couldn’t help but admire his calm. Pressure suited Ull.
Skadi kept her chest out and shifted her weight to one leg, so her hip jutted out. Ardis used that move—she said it was guaranteed to showcase curves to their maximum advantage. The back of my neck broke out in a sweat as I stared at the goddess, batting her eyes like she was trying to start a sandstorm. There was no denying that Skadi was hitting on my man.
Beside me, Inga sounded every bit as angry as I felt. “So help me, if she pushes her ta-tas any closer to his face, I will go out there myself and gauge her eyes out.”
“You and me both,” I muttered. But I couldn’t take my eyes off the scene on the sidewalk.
“What are you doing with the mortal, Ull? You know I can give you so much more than she can.” Skadi stepped closer to my betrothed and touched his arm. “We’re equals. I could take care of you in ways she’ll never be able to.”
My stomach churned. Of all the underhanded, unethical… common things to do. My pulse thundered in my ears. I was about to see red.
“Wait for it,” Inga murmured. She reached over to hold my hand. “Captain Overprotective is about to suit up. This is gonna be epic.”
Sure enough, Ull jerked away from Skadi’s touch. He leaned forward so his face was inches from hers, and let out a growl. “I do not know what game you are playing, but I do not want you to come near my fiancée again. She is about to become my wife, and I will not allow anyone, especially a half-crazed lunatic, to hurt her. We know what you did to Njord after he broke up with you. It took three healers four full hours to set him right. Do you really think I would leave the sweetest girl I have ever met for someone who would do that?”
Skadi blinked. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Give it up, Skadi. Jens told me everything. If you know what is good for you, you will stay away from my girl. Because if you do not, so help me Odin, I will have you shipped off to the icy wasteland or the fiery inferno. Your choice.”
Skadi’s eyes sparked with anger.
“You’re being stupid, Ull. You’ll never be happy with her.”
“Goodbye, Skadi.” Ull leaned back, and hooked his thumbs in the pockets of his jeans. “I will be sure to tell my father you stopped by.”
Skadi gave Ull a furious glare and stormed down the street. The knot in my stomach unraveled as Ull spun on one heel and walked the short distance to the front door. He turned the knob and pushed through, pausing when he noticed Inga and I standing at the window.
“You saw all that,” he surmised.
I nodded.
“You okay?” He eyed me carefully.
I ran across the room and threw my arms around his neck. Ull stumbled back, caught off-guard.
“Sweetheart?”
I pulled my head back to look into his eyes. “You sent her packing.”
“Of course I did. You are my girl.”
“I love you,” I whispered.
“I love you too,” Ull said. He lowered his mouth onto mine, and gave me a soft kiss. “Now do you believe I want nothing to do with Skadi?”
I gazed up at him adoringly. “I do.”
“That wench is a rotten troll,” Inga chimed in from the window. “I wanted to come out there and send her back to the rock she crawled out from under.”
“Where did she come from?” I turned to Ull. “Inga said she’s not really one of you guys.”
“I have my theories,” Ull muttered. “But I would rather not talk about Skadi anymore.” He glanced at the bags slung over our shoulders. “Were you two going somewhere?”
“To the drugstore. I figure I’ll need sunscreen for wherever you’re taking me, right? Sun or snow?” I reached up to stroke the stubble along his jaw.
“You will get no hints from me, woman.” Ull smiled. “But if it is not a girls-only trip, I will join you. I need to pick up a few last-minute items myself.”