“I keep going over what my stepmother said about my father. I cannot believe the things he has done to your family and my mother. I have been so angry. I just wanted to shut you out. I have turned it over and over in my mind. Now I want, no, I need to make some amends for what he has done to you. Tell me what I can do to ease your pain.”
Vidar looked down at her lying in his arms and thought for a moment. If there ever was a time to ask for what he needed from her it was now.
“There is something you can do, if you want to help but it is a lot to ask of you.”
“What is it?”
“I want you to marry me tomorrow.”
He explained what had occurred in his meeting with Sven Ericksson. She was noticeably quiet when he finished.
“You do not have to do this. I will not put any pressure on you to become my wife.”
“I will do it on one condition.”
Vidar frowned.
“What?”
“That if you find Stina, you will let me go.”
It was the last thing he wanted to hear.
“I am not sure I can make the promise. We will be married. I take a commitment like that very seriously. Besides, I am not sure I want to let you go. I thought we were beginning to understand each other? I vowed to keep you safe from Lyov and the rest of your father’s Mafia friends.”
“Promise me, Vidar. I like you despite all that you have done to me and maybe there is something between us but this is not the way to start a relationship. Perhaps when this is all over we can maybe start again.”
He frowned once more. Not quite the reaction he was looking for but he had no choice but to take it.
“Okay. I will agree. You have my word. If we find Stina, I will let you leave and go where you want on the condition you let me prove to you it is more than worth your while to stay with me and give this marriage a go. I won’t let you go so easily.”
He raised her face up towards him, determined to fulfil his intention and keep his bride firmly by his side, and kissed her deeply. She responded gasping against the strength of his ardour then pulled away to press her head back against his chest. He said no more, simply content to hold her and feel her fall asleep in the safety of his arms.
Mark had made the arrangements for them to be married in a small picturesque cream and brown Anglican Church in Stavanger before they left for Skjolden. Fallon wore a pretty white summer dress with white roses in her hair that matched her small bouquet and Vidar wore a black suit. They were married in English in a discreet ceremony in front of his friend Mark, Michael and a few other close staff he called friends who acted as witnesses.
He noticed how quiet and demure Fallon had become. Since her period had appeared and she had released some of her anger at her father, she was gentle and even shy. He chose the vows, insisting she love, honour and obey him as her husband. When the small ceremony was over they retired to the yacht for a small, lavish reception the galley staff had laid on in their honour while Mark made sure the whole world knew about their nuptials with a photographer and a few strategic tweets and other social media posts.
Fallon was quiet but appeared happy. Vidar had wished their marriage meant more to her. Inwardly he cursed himself for being foolish. He was living the fairy tale and the illusion while she was being realistic. They had barely met and the circumstances were wrong yet he knew they were meant to be together, however crazy it sounded.
“Come back to the cabin, it is time I changed your tampon,” he whispered to her while the others laughed and enjoyed the party as the yacht set sail for Skjolden.
She had dutifully obeyed him since their disagreement and hard lovemaking at the party. They reached the cabin and he had the urge to lift her up in to his arms. He scooped her up, startling her and carried her into the cabin after opening the door. He kicked it shut behind him and lay her down on the bed.
She smiled at him.
“What was that for?”
“To carry you across the threshold.”
She raised an eyebrow and laughed.
“Do you not think you are getting carried away?”
He came and sat down on the bed.
“No. I just want to enjoy the moment. I have never married before. Why not do it properly?” He grinned, sliding up her dress to pull down her panties and remove the tampon. He disposed of it in the bathroom and returned without a new one. “Now it is time to consummate this marriage.”
“But I still have my period.”
“Barely now but it is not a problem.”
“No way,” she said and laughed, and rolled off the bed running to the sliding doors that led to the balcony outside. Surprised, he ran after her and caught her, making her squeal with laughter.
“I told you. You will never escape me,” he laughed turning her around to face him.
They smiled at each other lost in the moment, instinctively he leaned forward and kissed her. She closed her hands around his face and kissed him back, responding as he passionately directed the kiss. He swept his hands over her shoulders and drew her closer. It was plain and simple, he wanted her. Their kiss grew more feverish. Before he knew it, he was turning her to face the balcony rail feeling the breeze from the sea whip at his face. He slid the bottom of her dress up her legs and sexily over her thighs to her waist.
“I hate these
