Northman's Pleasure: Northmen's Brides, #2

By Kate Hill

Stories say that in the heat of battle, Grim Hammerhand becomes a two-legged wolf. His prowess prompts the king to send Grim after his daughter Asgerd who has been captured by the brutal warrior Stein. In return, the king offers Grim Stein's land as well as Asgerd's hand in marriage. Mistrusting of all women, Grim vows never to marry. He reserves his passion for battle and the forge.

Asgerd has loved Grim for years, but the handsome red-haired warrior has never noticed her. Defiled by Stein, Asgerd doubts she could ever desire any man again, but when Grim defeats Stein and claims Asgerd as his wife, she realizes her feelings for Grim are stronger than ever, but can she win the trust and heart of her reluctant husband?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kate Hill
• Release date: Mar 1, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224723287

Kate Hill

Kate Hill is a vegetarian New Englander who started writing many years ago for pleasure. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, watching horror and action movies, working out, and spending time with her family and pets. She also writes under the name Saloni Quinby.

Book preview

Northman’s Pleasure

Northman’s Pleasure

Smashwords Edition Copyright 2024 Kate Hill

First electronic book publication Ellora’s Cave Publishing 2013

Cover art designed at Canva.com

This book has sexual content and is for those 18 or over.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, places, and events is purely coincidental.

Stories say that in the heat of battle, Grim Hammerhand becomes a two-legged wolf. His prowess prompts the king to send Grim after his daughter Asgerd who has been captured by the brutal warrior Stein. In return, the king offers Grim Stein’s land as well as Asgerd’s hand in marriage. Mistrusting of all women, Grim vows never to marry. He reserves his passion for battle and the forge.

Asgerd has loved Grim for years, but the handsome red-haired warrior has never noticed her. Defiled by Stein, Asgerd doubts she could ever desire any man again, but when Grim defeats Stein and claims Asgerd as his wife, she realizes her feelings for Grim are stronger than ever, but can she win the trust and heart of her reluctant husband?

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Epilogue

Extra Scene 1

Extra Scene 2

Author’s Note

About Kate

Also by Kate Hill

Chapter One

It came to the king’s attention that Stein the Black had been playing him for a fool. Not only had Stein been cheating him out of his share of plunder, but he had been responsible for the disappearance of the king’s daughter Asgerd.

She had been visiting her cousin in a village to the east when the attack broke out. Stein had grudgingly given his loyalty to the king, yet he hadn’t seemed sincere. Several of the smaller villages in the area had been attacked and the king had suspected Stein, but until now he had no proof that he was responsible for the raids. One of Stein’s men, who had recently fled his service, reported to the king that Asgerd was living in Stein’s house and unwillingly sharing his bed.

After ordering a scout to join Stein and report back his findings, the stories were confirmed. Furious, the king summoned one of his most loyal warriors to kill Stein and take his land.

In battle, Grim Hammerhand was as fiery as his red hair. Even as a boy he had been powerfully built and possessed keen intelligence, a deadly combination. He had gone on his first raid at thirteen and fared better than most experienced warriors. He was incomparable on the battlefield. If his strength and stamina didn’t ruin his enemies, then his cunning was sure to destroy them. Rumor had it he was a shape shifter. Some claimed that in the heat of battle, he took on the characteristics of a giant red wolf that walked upright like a man.

Grim was half-brother to the king’s son-in-law Erik Ice Tooth. Many thought it strange that the king now called upon Grim to rescue Asgerd, considering Erik had abducted his other daughter Bera. The two were a love match, however, and the situation had worked out well for everyone involved. Asgerd’s abduction was different. Stein was not a man of integrity like Erik and Grim, but a merciless warrior. The king needed someone just as ruthless to defeat him.

In spite of Grim’s good looks and modest wealth he’d acquired while a Viking, most people kept their distance from him, as they feared being devoured by the wolf.

Grim cared little about what others thought of him. This was wise, since loyalty of most men was like the wind and women were useful to satisfy the ache in one’s loins, but nothing more. Everyone knew that Grim didn’t care about producing sons to inherit his wealth or daughters to marry off. Making a reputation for himself was all that mattered, and when he died, it would fade with him. This was the sort of man needed to recover Asgerd.

Grim arrived at the king’s longhouse on a winter afternoon. He and the men accompanying him had obviously traveled hard. Ice and snow glistened on their clothes and beards. The messenger the king had sent to fetch Grim looked exhausted.

Despite the rough journey, Grim appeared alert and ready for whatever trials he must face against Stein the Black.

You women! the king bellowed to his slaves. Bring food and ale. Grim, you and your men warm yourselves by the fire.

Grim motioned for his men to do so. They all lumbered toward the fire, except for the blond youth who remained by his side. He was little more than a boy who had yet to grow a full beard.

Approaching the king, Grim said, You’ve met my cousin Thorkel.

The king glanced at the boy and nodded. Then he focused on Grim once again. You came faster than expected.

We don’t want to leave Asgerd in danger any longer than necessary.

True, but I fear she’s already ruined. The king sighed. It wasn’t a secret that Asgerd was his favorite daughter. She was almost the image of her deceased mother. If I don’t do away with Stein now, he’ll try to take more. I think he sees himself as king.

Then we’ll clear his vision, Grim said with a curl of his lip.

A slight smile tugged at the king’s solemn mouth. I know you’re the right man for the task.

And what of Asgerd? Am I right to assume you want her returned home?

The king looked thoughtful. Before her abduction, Asgerd had stirred the interest of several men, all strong warriors who served him well. Now that she had been taken by Stein, it might be a bit more difficult to marry her off. Not that he didn’t like having her around, but he was getting older. He wouldn’t live forever, and he would like to know that his daughter would be cared for by a decent husband after he was gone.

If you want her, you may have her along with Stein’s land. Otherwise, send her home, the king replied. He didn’t believe Grim would actually take Asgerd, for he had no interest in a wife and family. It was no large matter. The king would welcome Asgerd home. Despite her age and lack of purity, she would eventually find a husband. Beauty often impressed men more than other qualities, and Asgerd was as fair as her mother had been.

I will see that she is returned without delay.

The king’s anger stirred. Though he’d guessed Grim wouldn’t take her, hearing it nevertheless irked him as a father. Still he smiled and said, One of these days, Grim, you might change your mind about taking a wife. It is good for a man to have a woman to warm his bed and bear his children.

Women are easy enough to come by.

And sons?

They can’t make a man immortal, no matter how much he might like to believe they will.

The king shook his head slightly. Then you live only for yourself, Grim. What is the joy of winning if you celebrate alone?

The joy isn’t in winning, but in fighting.

Then go. I see you have some fine warriors with you, but you’ll need more. I have men ready to fight under your command. Defeat Stein, and remember there is no harm in enjoying the spoils. And speaking of the spoils, keep in mind the payment we agreed upon.

I will send it to you as promised, Grim said and called to his men.

They grumbled a bit, having scarcely had a chance to rest, but obviously Grim didn’t want to waste daylight. The sooner he reached Stein, the faster he would have his land and return Asgerd home.

* * *

Asgerd wrinkled her nose in disgust and pushed Stein’s heavy arm from where it lay across her breasts. She climbed out of bed and reached for her tunic. Pulling it over her head, she tried to ignore the stench of Stein’s musk that clung to her skin.

She glanced toward him and clenched her teeth. Hatred coiled like a poisonous snake in her belly. Catching sight of his sword resting by the bed, she thought that if she took it she might have a chance at killing him. At the moment he already slept like the dead, having sated his hunger and thirst at supper and his lust shortly after. She was weary of the great stinking oaf using her. She was the king’s daughter, but Stein treated her like a slave. No doubt, even if she escaped, she would be considered a whore now that he’d plundered her body