Prelude

Mel stood at the edge of her bed, her heart hammering in her chest as she listened to the soft trickling of water from the bathing chamber. Her husband was in there, sitting in the large wooden bathtub, and probably running his large hands through his wet matted hair from the sound of it. It had shocked her the moment this idea came to her head, and it had equally surprised her just how alluring it was listening to the dripping water and imagining Bjorn's huge frame in the basin taking up most of the space.

Mel took off her night robe and neatly folded it on the bed, crossing her arms across her bosom as a fluttering wave flourished from the base of her stomach. If this were her room back at home, there would be a mirror she could look into to affirm she appeared alright. Mel shook her head. What was she thinking? This was her home now…

She tiptoed to the door and stopped, her chest swarming with a strange feeling. What would Bjorn think of her? How would he react? He had mostly been ignoring her but this was a last ditch attempt on her part. Her heart would literally shatter if he were to reject her again.

"Just wait a few more years."

"I am busy."

"You're too young to carry our children."

His subtle rejection had come in a number of ways, and at other times, while he didn't ignore her, he didn't pay much attention either. She tightened her hold around herself. Maybe she wouldn't be this lonely if she had a child of her own. Then again… she couldn't explain the way Bjorn looked at her. She had felt it many times recently and had ended up catching him only for the man to frown and look away.

Asking Bjorn if he had a problem with her had proved effortless. The least she could do at this point was figure out if she repulsed him in some way.

Hesitant, she raised a hand to the door. What would she do? Would she just walk in there? Her mother had told her about the deed but she had never seen a man's full nudity before. Mel prayed the water was enough to cover his lower half, and summoning the last bit of courage she had, she pushed open the door and slipped inside.

She immediately made the measly effort of covering her privates as she sauntered into the bathing chamber. Bjorn froze, his hands in his hair as he visibly stiffened at her entry. His eyes widened, questioning what she was up to.

"You've cleaned yourself already," he spoke, his voice unusually gruff.

Mel dipped a leg into the large basin, her pulse racing as her heart slammed against the confines of her chest. She didn't know how, but her body seemed to be moving on its own and it was as if she could do little to control it.

"No, I didn't," she answered softly, surprised at her blatant lie.

He knew she was lying too, but what would he do about it?

Mel slipped into the water. It sloshed around her stomach and rose to her chest as she raised her knees in the confined space and clutched them. In a mere second, she leaned back against the muscled wall of his chest. All his muscles tightened and Mel stilled as she felt the heat emanating from all of them. Whether it was the steaming water or his thick skin, she couldn't precisely tell, but she could clearly feel the strange sensation that rolled off his body in waves.

"Bjorn?" She raised her head to look up at him when two strong hands circled her, nearly crushing her into his simmering frame.

Mel nearly jumped out of her skin as the length of his member grazed her lower back. Bjorn buried his face in her neck breathed against her, sending shivers that coursed the length of her skin that raced all the way down to her toes.

Her voice quivered. Excitement, fear, or uncertainty, she couldn't tell which affected her. "Bjor—" She met his eyes and her words died in her throat.

Bjorn's steadied gaze bore into hers, and Mel's heart beat quickened as the severity of his previous words dawned upon her.

"The moment I touch you, you will break."