A Midwinter Fantasy - Leanna Renee Hieber [109]
They clung together for long silent minutes, Sonja lost in thoughts of what had happened, and what might have been. “Can’t change anything,” she said softly.
“Wouldn’t want to,” Vidar replied, his breath warm against her ear. “I saved your life, but you saved mine as well. I don’t think I’d have survived two thousand years trapped in my father’s service if not for the bond I had with you. Even when you were just a babe in the Crystal Crib I always sensed the warmth of your spirit on the edge of my consciousness like the distant promise of spring in the middle of a cold, harsh winter.” He pulled three linked red crystal rings from his pocket and said, “I want to give you my Magic Knot to complete our bond.”
Entranced by the fire dancing inside the stones, Sonja reached to touch. Vidar closed his fingers around the rings, his expression serious.
“Before you accept, you need to understand that in our culture exchanging Magic Knots is equivalent to becoming engaged. Only, it’s irrevocable.” He met her gaze. “It means forever, Sonja. For people like us, forever’s a long time.”
Sonja’s heart raced, and she sucked in a steadying breath. She still couldn’t comprehend the concept that she would never die. “I want to spend my life with you,” she said softly.
She unfastened the chain holding her own Magic Knot around her neck. Vidar swapped her stones for his and helped her put the gold chain back on. The three red rings gleamed supernaturally bright against her powder blue sweater.
She reached to touch them, but he caught her hand.
“Wait a moment.” He pressed his lips to her three crystal rings before tucking them into a small silk bag he pulled from his pocket; then he guided her to the stone bench and they sat down. “Now put my stones against your skin.”
She dropped the ruby rings inside her sweater where they nestled on the end of the chain between her breasts. Heat blossomed inside her. The familiar feeling of Vidar intensified, gained clarity, expanded within her so that she lost track of where she was, her senses overwhelmed. She clung to him, and he wrapped his arms around her.
“All right, ástin mín?”
She was about to answer when she realised he hadn’t spoken aloud.
His thoughts brushed her mind: naked skin, heat, pleasure. Her eyelids fell. Desire pulsed through her. “Vidar . . .”
“Yes,” he said in a dark velvet whisper.
Her hand flattened on his thigh. “Take me to our bedroom quickly, you tease. I want to give you your Christmas gift.”
He pulled her onto his lap with a chuckle and reached in his pocket. “Close your eyes.” She obeyed and felt him pin something to her sweater.
“Is this my Christmas gift?”
“Not exactly, but you’ve definitely earned it.”
She opened her eyes and looked down to find a shiny red and white button from the resort. “Live your dreams this Christmas,” Vidar whispered.
They did.
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