Steinn Read online

  Steinn

  Viking Surrender

  Lily Harlem

  Contents

  About Lily Harlem

  Introduction

  VIKINGS

  Preface

  Steinn

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Epilogue

  Nine Passionate Viking Romances

  Copyright

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. With the exception of well-known historical figures and places, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, now known or hereafter invented, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the applicable author, except for the use of brief quotations in a critical article or book review.

  The license granted herein is to read this ebook for entertainment or literary criticism purposes only. Without limiting the generality of the forgoing, any use of this work for machine learning or artificial intelligence training purposes is not included under the license and is expressly prohibited.

  Copyright © 2019 - Lily Harlem

  Cover Design by Emmy Ellis

  The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.

  The scanning, uploading, or distribution of this book without explicit written permission is theft of intellectual property.

  About Lily Harlem

  Bestselling, award-winning author Lily Harlem loves to write, dance, cook and see the good in life.

  Her stories are made up of colourful characters travelling on everyone’s favourite journey - falling in love. And if it’s not down and dirty as well as wonderfully romantic, it won’t be written, at least not by Lily!

  Sample Lily’s ‘The Viking’s Captive’ for FREE - click here

  Browse Lily’s books, on Amazon, here

  Visit Lily’s website, here, to sign up for her newsletter: first eyes on new releases, giveaways and gossip.

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  Website - www.lilyharlem.com

  Welcome to the Viking Surrender series: a scorchingly hot collection of nine sizzling Viking romances.

  If you’re yet to read the Prologue to this romance, please do before you dive in to Steinn and Gladys’s story.

  (find it FREE here, on Amazon)

  The Prologue sets the scene for all that happens next, so you don’t want to miss out…

  We hope the nine romances in this series provide welcome escape and entertainment, that they inspire you and transport you.

  While you’re cheering for our heroes and heroines, we want you to cheer for yourself. Like the women and men in these tales, you’re stronger than you may realize, more resourceful and more determined.

  As for happy endings, we all need to believe that things can get better if we persevere, that there is hope, and the chance to embrace a life of love and friendship and contentment.

  Go get ‘em!

  VIKING SURRENDER

  A horde of battle-hardened, ferocious Nordic warriors.

  A Pictish village at the mercy of its enemies.

  A harrowing bargain struck for nine fearful and reluctant brides.

  Delivered into Viking hands, claimed and conquered, each bride must accept that she belongs to her new master. But, as wedding nights bring surrender to duty, will fierce lovers also surrender their hearts?

  The Highland wilderness is savage, life is perilous, and the future uncertain, but each Viking has sworn protection, and there are no lengths to which a man will not go to safeguard the woman he loves.

  Nine provocatively sensual tales of suspense, seduction and adventure, told against the forbidding backdrop of medieval Scotland.

  Journey together with indomitable heroes and intrepid heroines, as they discover that the raging storms of fear and passion can transform into enduring devotion.

  Dare to enter our world

  Steinn - by Lily Harlem

  Married to a barbaric beast, Gladys cannot believe her bad fortune. A rough and raw Norseman has taken to her home and her bed as if it’s his right. But never fear, she has plans to do away with him, to rid him from her life…for good.

  Steinn is thankful to the gods for his good luck. His new bride Gladys is a sexy little wild cat with curves and an ass to die for. Admittedly she needs a little training, and a fair bit of discipline, but he’ll take her in hand if it’s the last thing he does. Won’t he?

  Preface

  Trigger Warning

  Vikings were not known for their political correctness or involvement in the women’s rights movement.

  This story stays true to that and the Viking hero takes what he wants when he wants from his new bride - including sex. All is well, and many orgasms are enjoyed.

  There’s deep love too, but if sexual scenes of said nature upset you, then please take care of yourself when reading the story of Gladys and Steinn.

  Steinn

  Lily Harlem

  1

  Achnaryrie Village, Gaillaibh, the land of the Picts, Scotland

  912 AD

  Steinn tightened the embossed leather band around his head—a safe passage gift from his father many years ago—and gripped the hilt of his iron sword. Despite wanting to spring into action, take what was rightfully his, he remained rooted to the ground and watched…

  Her.

  His new Pict bride.

  At this moment she was marching through the village of Achnaryrie and reminding him of a winter storm in the Northlands. She was frosty like a biting wind, and words rattled from her tongue as though they were hailstones. Her glares were icy, including the one she’d given him during their nuptials.

  Still, for the love of Odin, she was a cute little wench.

  With an upturned nose, eyes the colour and shape of exotic nuts he’d come across on his travels, and hair so black it had the bloom of a bruised damson when the sun caught it. She was lithe and strong, too, her skirt catching on her legs and arse as she moved.

  He’d caught a glimpse of her full breasts when she’d unlaced the front of her gown just before the ceremony and then re-tightened it.

  She’d seen him looking.

  So he’d smiled, licking his lips and imagining the taste of her honeyed flesh on his tongue.

  Yet it was her tongue he’d seen. She’d poked it out then turned her back on him. Possibly the sweetest rebuke he’d ever had. If he were honest, his cock had swollen against his trousers—not enough to hinder walking to the wedding ceremony, but enough to have to adjust himself.

  Of course, at that moment in time, she could poke out her tongue, turn away, rebuke him all she wanted.

  But not now.

  Now she was his.

  His wife.

  His first wife.

  His last wife.

  Steinn only intended to marry once. The way his parents had. Theirs was a solid love, one that deserved great respect and had shown him the way—his mother obeyed, his father protected and provided.

  And this was how it would be between him and Gladys. Jarl Brandr had made this bold decision for his men and these women, and Steinn was happy to go along with it. More than happy, for many years at sea—since he’d been only fourteen summers—had given him a yearning for a soft female in his
bed. One who would mate with him morn, noon, and night and in the winter spend many days under furs with him, naked, and doing all of the things he’d dreamed of doing with a woman of his own.

  Stepping into a small goat pen, Gladys hoisted up the front of her bridal outfit—a grey woollen affair that didn’t appear to have one stitch or thread of love in it. Not that it bothered Steinn, it just made her all the more radiant. In fact, if she wore a princess’s gown, it would be dull compared to her beauty.

  He pulled in a deep breath and looked around the village. A feast was being prepared, to celebrate the union of Vikings and these Pict women. And what a feast it would be. What a celebration.

  His stomach rumbled at the thought of the pigs and goats that were being bled ready for cooking. And he longed for mead to wet his throat. This would be a good land to settle, once they got the neighbours under control.

  Gladys ducked into a chicken coop, appeared to collect eggs, then after stepping over the fence again, she stomped into her house.

  Our house.

  When she disappeared from view, he could have sworn on Thor’s balls that the ground stopped trembling beneath her heavy footfall.

  He chuckled. For a slip of a thing, she certainly made her presence known.

  Dragging in a breath and ignoring the hunger in his belly, he headed for his new home. The roof could do with some repairs, as could the small hut his wife kept goats in. But that would only be a day’s work, and with a woman to bed down with at sun-fall, it would be a happy day with a happy end.

  Just as he reached the entrance to the house, the heavy piece of oak that was the sturdy door came within an inch of his nose, and the slam of wood on wood rattled through his brain.

  He stepped backwards, pleased it hadn’t given him a snout like a pig, and stared at a gnarled knot on the surface.

  Haps she hadn’t known he was there, about to step over the threshold of the marital dwelling for the first time. Maybe she was so busy and excited about being bedded by him she wasn’t thinking straight.

  Ja, that was it.

  And who could blame her.

  He raised his right foot and kicked the door open. It whacked against the wall, and when it tried to bounce back he stopped it with his flattened palm.

  The dwelling was dark, with just one hatched window and a fading fire.

  “Get out of here, you barbarian.”

  His wife’s steel-laden voice told him of her whereabouts.

  He ventured farther in, his eyes adjusting to the dark. And just as well, because right in front of him, in midair, was a clay pot. It wasn’t moving, it was just getting bigger. Which could only mean one thing: it was heading his way on a direct course.

  He ducked to the right, and it skittered off the door and disappeared outside.

  “What are you doing, woman?”

  “You heard me. You have ears, big ugly ears, now get out before I kill you.”

  He laughed. “My mother always said I had big ears, too.” He plucked the left one. “But I’m attached to them, so you’ll have to get used them, wife.” He took one more step in.

  Another pot headed his way. Again, he dodged it. This one bounced on the wall then rattled onto the hard floor.

  “Wife, stop that.”

  “Not until you leave or I kill you.”

  “Stop saying that.” He walked up to the fire. “We are husband and wife now, I will not have talk of killing one another. The gods have seen us bound for life, as was their plan for our destinies.”

  “It might have been their plan, but it wasn’t mine.” She backed away from him, towards a darkened corner that held a thick straw mattress and a jumble of furs and woollen blankets. “And I never agreed to it.”

  “Of course you did.” He released his belt. “I heard you say the words with these big ears of mine.” Again he laughed, thinking she might join in.

  She didn’t.

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “Removing my belt.”

  “Why?” She waggled her finger at him. “No, don’t tell me, I know why. You want to consummate our marriage. Well, I’ll tell you a thing or two about that—”

  “Woman, my sword, axe, and dagger are heavy. I wish to remove them when I am relaxing in my new dwelling.”

  Her mouth hung open as he set his belt and weapons on a barrel turned on its end.

  “And what a home. Needs some repairs, but it’s good and solid.” He placed his hands on his hips and glanced around. “Been up for a few years.”

  It wasn’t a question, but she replied anyway. “Aye, ten. My husband built it.”

  “Your first husband, your dead husband.”

  “Aye.”

  “Well, he’s not here, I am now. You must forget about him and everything you had and did together. He is dead, and I am alive.”

  “His name was Angus.” She looked away. “And I loved him very much. How can I just forget him?”

  Steinn frowned. He’d been insensitive. He could be sometimes, so his mother had said when she’d smacked him around the head for it. “Ah, on behalf of all the gods, I didn’t mean nothing by it, didn’t want to upset you.” He paused. “Just telling you how it is now.”

  She turned her back on him and lowered her head.

  “Gladys.”

  She didn’t reply.

  Steinn nibbled on his bottom lip and let his gaze roam her body. From her slender shoulders, neat waist, and curved behind, he liked what he saw. He reckoned he’d like it even more without the hindrance of clothing.

  He reached over his left shoulder and fisted his woollen sweater. He dragged it over his head and tossed it down next to his belt. His heart rate picked up as the cool air washed over his torso, and he thought of her soft breasts pressed against his chest. He could hardly wait to feel her nipples on his tongue, in his mouth, between his teeth.

  And as for her cunny… He’d bet she was warm, wet and tight, just as a wife should be. And if it had been some time since she’d been with a man, all the better. He might even be able to pretend she was a maiden.

  A strange noise gurgled from her throat.

  “What are you doing?” he asked, toeing off first his right then his left boot.

  She didn’t answer.

  He smiled. Haps she’d become shy during her barren, husbandless years. No fear. He’d soon get rid of that emotion, and he’d even sooner remind her how much fun mating was.

  “Take off your gown,” he said, peeling down his leather trousers.

  “No.”

  He removed the last of his clothing. His cock was thick and heavy and fully erect. “Ah, you want me to do that for you.”

  “No, I—”

  “I understand.” He glanced at the table to his right. On it were the eggs she’d collected in a small basket. He lifted it to the floor then wiped his forearm over the surface, removing a few crumbs. It would do nicely. “I know what you need, wife.”

  “Do not call me that.”

  He hesitated. “I can call you Gladys if you prefer.”

  “It is my name.”

  He smiled and stepped up behind her, gripped her waist, and pulled her to him. His cock jutted into her lower back, and her head slotted beneath his chin.

  She gasped and stilled. But only for a moment, because then she wriggled within his hold.

  “You like what you feel, huh?” he asked against her ear.

  “Get off, get off me.” She tried to lunge from his grip.

  Steinn chuckled. She was feisty, a little whirlwind of energy. He couldn’t wait to get inside all of that wildness and feel it gripping his cock.

  “I want you to—”

  “I know what you want, Gladys. I know what you need.”

  2

  Gladys snatched in a breath as Steinn spun her to face the room. His firm grip, big hands, and huge body behind her were no match to her female muscles.

  The table was in front of her. The one Angus had made as a gift on their wedding da
y. The legs were sturdy and the surface dipped and worn with use.

  Steinn tipped her forward, fast and unexpectedly, and she slapped her hands down on the wood. She was lodged at a ninety-degree angle. “What are you doing, you beast?”

  She twisted to look at him. Caught a glimpse of his naked torso, and after feeling a dense wedge of flesh jutting onto her back, knew exactly what he was planning on doing.

  “You know full well our marriage must be consummated, Gladys.”

  “I demand you let me go.”

  “I will do no such thing.” He leaned over her, his broad chest spreading on her back and his weight trapping her against the table. “I want you. Now.”

  “I have no wish to consummate a marriage I didn’t want.”

  He stilled for a moment. “But you did want it.”

  “No, no I didn’t.” Was she finally getting through his thick skull to his dim brain?

  Again he hesitated. “You said the words before your god, before everyone. They were promises.” He lifted up slightly, though he remained holding her in place on the table with the flat of his hands. “And that makes you mine. Mine to protect, care for, discipline, and fuck.”