A/N: Sorry for the long wait, hope it was worth it. I know many of you messaged me about updating this story so I’ll try to keep it up.
Please let me know what you think, I am trying new writing styles and would love feedback.
~Gentle Rogue~
•Chapter II
“Aye!” He claimed proudly with a hard thump to his bulky chest. “I come from fertile and rich green lands, the water is as clear as the sky and air as clean as the waters. You shall see when I take you there. As I said. I wish to wed with you an-”
“I know,” Meryl interrupted. “You are not cruel or vicious and you want to wed with me.”
He frowned. She was forward, this woman with her foreign name and her dimpled Cheshire smile. She was mocking him, pretending to seriousness and he didn’t like it. At all.
“Aye. He said, his voice cool and collected. "I want to wed with you. Now I will retrieve your bucket for you.”
Meryl took a few steps back and looked on whilst he strode purposely like a conqueror towards the other side of the towns square. He returned almost as quickly as he left, only this time he held a wooden pole in his hand that was hooked on one end. He leaned over the stoned, and she heard the swishing of the water as he moved the pole about. She heard him mumbling a few words that she imagined were curses. He tried so hard but a few moments later when he rose from the edge of the well, he came up empty handed.
“I was unable to reach it, for the water was much to deep. You have my word I will replace your pail. My words made you drop it.”
Meryl was captivated. “ I assure you there is no need. My bucket was lost by my own clumsiness. You just frightened me, that was your only fault.” She smiled up at him. “You know only of my name, but you know haven’t properly met me. I am Meryl, stepdaughter of Oleg the fur merchant and niece of Heldrid, and-”
“And you desire to wed with me now that we have properly met.” He confidently finished for her. “You are decisive. That is excellent in a woman.”
“It is good that you are a woman with a quick mind and sharp wits. I will speak to this Oleg so that we may settle on a bride price. I shall pay any amount.”
“ I won’t wed with you.”
He frowned down at her determined yet soft face. “Why not? You have just agree that you would!”
“I said no such thing. I don’t know you or anything about you not have I ever seen you before in my life until only a few short moments ago. You made me lose my bucket.”
“I am Maksim, trading merchant and known Viking. I come to your York town in order to trade what my men and I have aboard my ship—as I do many times through out the summer season. I saw you a few days ago when I came out of a a recent trade. I have been watching you and I strongly believe that you will do nicely for me as a wife. You will bring me many nights of pleasure and bear my Viking babes and you will warm my hearth and prepare my meals and sew my tunics.”
Meryl, once charmed by his forward was, was off put by his heavy arrogance. She was no longer amused by this giant, for it dawned on her that he was utterly and completely serious. A serious Northman, she had heard all her life, wasn’t to be trifled with. But his request were troubling her, it sounded as if he was in need of a slave, not a wife. His eyes narrowed, he no longer held a relaxed easy going nature in his eyes.
“Is that all you have to pursued me with?” She asked with raised brows. “You have such strong faith that I will be a good wife for you yet you make it sound like I am only to serve you as a slave. I could be the most vicious and vile creature with a sharp tongue—is that what you desire in a wife. And what of you Viking? For all I know you could beat women? Do you even bathe? You prob-”
“That will be quite enough Meryl!” He snapped. Pausing only for a few moments to regain his composure, as if the sound of her foreign name slipping from his mouth surprised him. Then he grasped her upper arms in large masculine hands. She froze in surprise at his heated touch, but she forced herself to calm her body. She had to be careful, they were standing in the center of a small town and there were a few dozen people that she knew and she already knew some were already looking at her and Maksim.
She smiled at him again, but this time it was nervous, hesitant smile, and he immediately took notice.
“I do not mean to frighten you Meryl but you should know that when I make up my mind it is done. I promise you I bathe often—you will come to learn this for yourself for I will bathe you with me—as it is custom in our country and I do not smell sour. Sniff me now if you must. Men can not fight to the best of their ability if they carry unnecessary fat on their bodies. I never will for I partake in many sports. I also have never beaten a woman and I don’t plan on starting with you.”
Meryl could only stare at him in amazement and wonderment, all else forgotten. “How am I to believe you?”
His eyes narrowed on her reluctant face.
“Why would you not believe me ? I speak the truth Meryl. You will soon learn that I don’t lie.”
“It’s not that I don’t disbelieve you Maskim…I just find you your brazenness disarming.
"I want you to know that I will not strike you in anyway, even if you one day might want it.”
“I don’t desire it.” She said, enamored anew by him despite herself. He was gazing down at her and the look in those gold eyes of his had changed and she knew with a small knowledge that he was thinking of her without her clothing on.
“Will you please release me now Maksim?”
“No. I like the feel of your skin beneath my fingers. You are warm and soft and I can smell your womanly sent.”
“Then will you at least ease you strong grasp for I bruise very easily.
Maksim frowned at this new information and immediately became gentle as water on her small arm.
He continued to gaze down with a thoughtful look full of intent. "You will tell me what gives you pleasure and enjoyment. I am not selfish in the giving of pleasure and you would be my wife. I should like to please you, to give you the delight of my body. It would be your right to be pleased by me, your husband.
"I don’t know what please me.” She said in a small soft voice, without hesitation.
His face completely changed with a bright smile, delight seeping through his eyes. “That is most wonderful, we shall learn together. I wanted to see you up close, you are as fair as I thought from afar. Your skin is very white.”
“ My skin is very pale. More so than yours.”
“Aye. It is because you are Scot is it not?”
She nodded in agreement, casting her eyes downward with a flash of pain.
“We’re both your parent Scott? And are they both dead.” She nodded slowly. When?“
"Three years ago, her name was Cherylynn. She was married to Oleg but during their marriage Oleg became over zealous with his efforts to keep her an obedient wife—my mother was a free spirit after my father died and a Oleg wanted her all for himself—but she cheated on him and Oleg lost his mind. He murdered my mother and her lover.
This brought great sorrow over Maksims face. Her stepfather a murderer, and she resided with him.
"I am sorry for your great loss. I shall see this Oleg and discuss a bride price. I wish for us to wed at once.”
“Maksim please.” She grabbed his muscular arm, causing him to pause.
“I like the way my name comes from your lips. I shall enjoy it even more when you are screaming it in pleasure.”
Blushing at his words, Meryl released his arm.
“I must tell you something-”
“Tell me then.” He said impatiently.
