Mine and Bjorn's affair started shortly after Porunn left, both of us having been hurt at the same time. Our relationship started off innocently enough, but as time continued we became affectionate, which led to a sexual relationship. It has not stopped since then, years having passed. Our fates always staying parallel as we fought side by side together and came back home to Kattegat together time and time again. Both of us have married, had children, and tried to move on with our lives, but we always find ourselves drawn back to one another. Our relationship is both physical and emotional, but we have never tried to push it past what it is. I consider Bjorn to be my best friend, someone I can always confide in. He has never told my secrets or let me down. The sex is just a happy benefit of an otherwise great friendship. I think we both appreciate having this secret, having something so special between us that only we know about. We spend any free nights we can together hiding away, talking about all of our heart's torments and desires, laughing, seeking advice from each other, and taking one another's bodies however we please. However that is behind closed doors. While people know we are friends, we've always been very careful not to be too affectionate in public, afraid someone might catch on. We've maintained our precious secrecy for years, the only person outside of us two to ever know was Ragnar, and he too kept our secret.
I watch Bjorn as he slowly walks in my direction, not yet aware of my presence. He stops to talk to a group of men outside the blacksmith's stall and I admire his beauty as he smiles at the men. His hair is freshly washed and styled back, bound by small strips of leather that weave in and out of his long braid. He has on my favorite tunic that he owns, the blue making his eyes pop, the beauty visible from even across the city. My heart flutters as I watch him. I've never gotten used to how striking Bjorn is, how he commands attention from everyone who nears him. I absentmindedly string a necklace between my fingers as I watch him turn on his heel and begin walking towards me once more. His eyes finally meet mine as he paces towards me, a small smile playing at his lips. I can't help but smile back, my pulse quickening as he nears.
"Wynne" he says with a small nod and bow. I giggle at the gesture as he looks back up at me beaming.
"Hello Bjorn Ironside" I say back with a curtsy, looking up at him through my lashes.
"Where is your husband? If I may ask." He says politely, taking a small step closer and looking around for a moment to see if anyone is watching us. He barely moves his arm while reaching for my hand, grazing our fingers together.
"Unfortunately-" I begin to say, only to be cut off by my husband Arvid coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist, reaching around and kissing me on my cheek.
"There you are wife!" He bellows, a smile plastered across his face. The mead on his breath fans over my face, making me roll my eyes with a smile.
"Hello husband." I say with a small smile and a nod, my eyes darting back to Bjorn's. I clear my throat after a few seconds, stepping out of Arvid's embrace and smoothing out my dress. "Bjorn and I were just discussing how we're preparing for winter" I improvise, earning a sly smile from Bjorn. "He's asked if I could weave him some new blankets for his bed." I smile at both men as I try to hide the uneasiness oozing from my body as I stand beside my husband and lover at the same time.
"Don't worry, I intend to reward her generously for her work." Bjorn says to Arvid with a smile, my cheeks reddening as he looks back at me, silently waiting to see if I react. Arvid simply smiles and nods his head, moving back behind me.
"You'd better get started then" he says while nuzzling my neck. "winter will be here soon." I watch as Bjorn becomes annoyed, shifting on his feet and twiddling his hands. "Do you care if I stay at the tavern a while longer? I'm very thirsty tonight." Arvid continues with a drunken giggle. We both already know he will be there all night no matter what I say, but I smile and nod anyways. My husband places a small kiss on my shoulder as a thank you, and I give him a small smile. Bjorn clears his throat, stepping forward.
"Come, Wynne. Let's go find wool for my blankets so you can get started. As Arvid says, winter will be coming soon." He looks between the both of us and holds his arm out to escort me. Arvid kisses me one more time before nodding to Bjorn and skipping off. I chuckle to myself as Bjorn rolls his eyes, turning away on his heel.
We walk through the streets of Kattegat slowly, browsing through traders goods, eventually making our way back to Bjorn's old cabin behind the great hall. The familiar smell of pine and chimney smoke washes over me as I close the door behind me, breathing in the comforting scent. Bjorn starts a small fire in the hearth as I kick my boots off and throw myself on the bed with a huff. I close my eyes and sigh as I relax into the bed and stretch out my limbs, my body melting into the furs beneath me. I hear Bjorn chuckle behind me as I crack a smile, anticipating his touch. He walks to the bed and sits down on the edge, a cup of mead in one hand. I feel his other hand rest on the back of my thigh. I exhale as I turn my head over and move my hair from my face, staring up at him. He offers me a small smile before taking a drink from his cup and gently clearing his throat.
"Sit up. Come here." He sweetly commands. I do as he says, raising up from the bed onto my knees. I crawl over to him as he puts his cup down on a nearby table and scoops me up into his arms. I laugh as he pulls me to his chest, draping my legs over his so that I'm sitting in his lap. His big arms wrap around me, holding me to him. He laughs and kisses the top of my head as we settle in.
"Your husband is an idiot you know" Bjorn says plainly while moving my hair from my face, stopping to twirl some between his fingers.
"Arvid is a great warrior, Bjorn. He's made a name for himself. He treats me well." I say back to him with a smile, reaching for his cup of mead. I take a gulp, throwing back the remainder in the cup.
"Then how come you do not love him?" Bjorn replies quickly. I pause as I put the cup back down. We never talk about our relationships, not like this. It's always been an unspoken rule between us. I hesitantly put the cup down and look back to Bjorn.
"I do love him. He is my husband and the father of my children, after all." I say, clearing my throat at the end. The air in the room becomes thick as our eyes remain locked.
"You know what I mean. How come you are not in love with him? You aren't, are you?" Bjorn's bold words take me by surprise, my mouth slightly parting and my cheeks reddening. Bjorn stays as unmoving as a mountain while awaiting my reply.
"No." I answer simply.
"Why?" Bjorn asks, this time leaning forward with his question. I sit silently, our eyes never leaving one another's. I don't answer as I drop my head down, staring at my hands in my lap. He doesn't push the subject any further. Instead he drops his hands to my waist and kisses my shoulder on the same place Arvid did, shifting us both so that I'm laying on my back while he hovers over top of me.
"You confuse me, Wynne." He says with a slight smirk, his eyes dart around the room above me as he tries to act like he's indifferent about the things we're talking about.
"Why is that Bjorn?" I say as I exhale, absentmindedly running my fingers up and down his bicep. I admire the sheer size of his arms, the way the fabric contours around his muscles. He stares at me intently before dropping down on his side so we're face to face. We both rest our head in our hands as we look at one another. One of his hands rests on my waist as we lock eyes.
"After all this time, you've stuck around with me. You aren't like other women Wynne." He stops and chuckles, gripping my waist with his fingers. "We have never fought. We have never been jealous. We have always enjoyed one another in ways I don't think either of us have done with anyone else..." we both laugh at the comment as he continues "...and you're always there for me when I need you. Even when it meant talking about my wives or family. You've always been here. We've always been here." He finishes his sentence with a small smile. I bring my hand to his face and rest it on his cheek like I have a million times before. I sigh before picking my hand back up and resting it back on the bed.
"What is so confusing about that? You do the same for me, Bjorn. It's not any different. We're just here for each other in a different kind of way. I know it isn't... normal, I guess, but it works for us. Why question it?" I raise an eyebrow at him and he rolls his eyes sarcastically.
"I guess it's just confusing to me because you say you really love Arvid. Doesn't it feel, I don't know, bad, to do this with me if you love him?" His eyes search mine, I'm taken a little back by the honesty of his question. I bite my lip as I try to find the words to say, his grip on my waist growing firmer.
"It's different." Is all I say, I eye the collar of his tunic as I avoid his gaze. He pushes my face up so I meet his eyes with mine.
"Why is it different, Wynne?" His voice is just barely above a whisper.
"Bjorn..." I warn, my tone desperate. We've never broken the unspoken rule. Why is he trying to push it now?
"Do you love me?" He whispers.
—————
A/N
Hey y'all! Sorry it took so long to update, I had a ton of stuff come up all at once in my real life. I'll be dropping a lot of chapters I've been working on in the next two weeks though, so keep an eye out!
Thanks for reading!
Vampyviking
(PS woo hoo! This book ranked #1 in Vikings all thanks to y'all!)