Billionaire Romance: MAXIMILIAN (An Alpha Bad Boy Contemporary Mystery Romance) (Mysterious Billionaires Book 3, Anthologies & Collections) (52 page)

“Are you alright?” he asked, making his way slowly toward her.

“I’m fine,” she smiled. “Just a bit off in my stomach is all. Maybe I’ll see if Ragnic has anything I can take for it.”

                                                                                                  ***

Aila dressed in her white tunic and leggings, practically purring when she slipped her feet into the warm ermine skinned boots, Dagmar had given her. He hadn’t said they were for their betrothal, but she’d always think of it when she slid her feet into them.

“Thank you for these,” she said, helping Dagmar back to his tent. She’d taken hers down the week before, storing it in the corner of Dagmar’s until they had their home built. Knowing her people, Aila could venture a guess that they’d want to build them a mini castle. She had a mind to let them given the way she was feeling.

“When I knew I wanted to ask you to marry me, I hunted them down the day I got pissed at you and went hunting with Svenbreck and Duffguss. I have to hand it to those men. They’ve proved themselves to be useful assets to our people.”

“You’ve proven yourself to be a trustworthy leader as well,” she smiled. Aila helped him lie down on his bedroll and said she’d return to check on him after she visited with Ragnic.

“We’ll have it right as rain for the celebration tonight.”

“Good,” he grinned. “I’ve a mind to dance with my wife.”

“Fiance,” she chuckled. “We’re not married yet.”

“A mere technicality at this point love,” Dagmar chuckled when she scowled at him.

“I’ll be back in an hour or so.”

“Go get some medicine and let me rest woman.”

                                                                                    ***

Ragnic was all too happy to see Aila when she knocked on his home. With an expanded area for seeing patients, Ragnic had never seemed so happy.

“I can’t believe how amazing this home is,” he gushed, ushering Aila back to a private room.

“I’m so glad you’re happy with it.”

“It’s completely changed the way I see my patients. They’re friends of course, but with all the new little ones we’re adding I feel an obligation to keep people’s medical issues private, if you know what I mean.”

“I do,” she smiled. “Speaking of, I was wondering if you had something for an upset stomach. I’ve been super sensitive the last couple days.”

Ragnic asked her a series of questions that made her chuckle. “And why would any of that matter?”

“Because my dear,” Ragnic smiled. “I don’t think you’re sick or suffering from any abnormal ailment. I’m much more inclined to think that our soon to be ruler is with child.”

“With child…” Aila said, letting her voice trail off. “I’m having a baby?”

“It’ll take a little more time to be sure, but the symptoms you’ve described sound very much like a baby on the way. Let me be the first of many to congratulate you.”

“Thank you,” she said, still blown away by the news. “Do you know when the baby…when the baby will come?”

“Well, all babies come in their own time, but it’ll take about nine months or so. I’d say sometime  the fall equinox should be about right.”

Aila could scarcely imagine carrying a baby, Dagmar’s baby, for the better part of the next year. What would Dagmar say? Suddenly the future she found to be so certain, was anything but. “I need to go Ragnic, thank you. Oh! How long should these symptoms last?”

“The nausea and tiredness should be over within the next nine weeks or so. Then you should feel right as rain for three months. The last three the fatigue will come back with a vengeance as your body prepares for bringing your little one into the world.”

“Great, thanks.”

She hurried back to Dagmar, being careful not to jostle him too much as she laid down beside him. “That was fast,” he said, his voice gravelly with sleep.

“Long enough for you to rest. I’m glad, apparently we’re both in need of sleep,” Aila said with a yawn.

“You’re tired?”

“It’s just a symptom of the baby I’m carrying.” Aila waited for Dagmar to catch on and giggled when his pretty blue eyes went huge.

“A baby?”

“Our baby,” she smiled hugely. She put his hand over her womb and felt a whole new wave of love for him when he gently caressed her.

“When?”

“Ragnic said sometime around the fall equinox.”

“A baby, our baby.” Aila understood the way Dagmar was feeling. She was quite astonished as well. In less than two hours she’d become Mrs. Dagmar Stalson. Aila Dagny Stalson and she was already carrying their baby.

                                                                                    ***

Dagmar waited for Aila as Dragna, her surrogate mother, walked her toward him. He took her hand and pulled her closer as Gustaff, the village mystic, performed their ceremony.

“Welcome people of Hail,” he started. “Thank you for gathering here tonight to celebrate the union of Aila Dagney Forsberg and Dagmar Alan Stalson. They ask you all to be witnesses to their mutual and forever lasting love.”

The ceremony itself lasted mere minutes, but the celebration of their wedding, along with Breslin and Bregnan’s nuptials, and the celebration of the Solstice together, lasted well into the morning hours. Just as the sun began to rise on the eastern horizon, Dagmar tucked Aila close to him and stood on the platform where they made major announcements. “Thank you so much for joining us in the celebration of our wedding and the winter Solstice, truly a wonderful time to wed.

“It has come to our attention as well that Aila is carrying our child-“ Dagmar had to stop as the waves of cheering and applause swept over them. “We are ecstatic to be expecting our first baby around the fall equinox of the coming year and hope that this is a sign of great things to come.”

The cheering and applause came again as Aila and Dagmar’s people congratulated them on their nuptials and soon coming baby. “I knew it when I saw you this morning,” Dragna gushed, giving Aila an intense hug. “Grow well sweet baby. See me for some herbs to settle your stomach.”

Aila promised she would as soon as they got settled and took some sleep. She walked easily with Dagmar toward their tent, meeting Breslin and Bregnan on the way with their wives in tow. “Congratulations,” the two brothers said together. 

“Thank you,” Dagmar said, shaking his friend’s hands. “Imagine, all three of us married and settled down all on the same day.”

“Scary isn’t it?” Bregnan laughed. He got a light punch in the arm from his pretty wife. “Just wait until our wives are expecting. We may have to go hunting overnight just to remember that we’re men.”

“Definitely,” Dagmar chuckled. “Right now I’m going to go sleep until I feel human again.”

“Sleep, right.” Breslin chuckled, earning his own punch in his side.

“You two don’t stop, your women are going to beat you senseless.” Dagmar and Aila headed on after saying farewell with a promise to see them later that morning. “How are you feeling?”

“I feel alright,” Aila smiled. “I’d feel better if my husband made love to me.”

“Already?” Dagmar asked, surprised at her desire.

“I feel, different. I can’t explain it, but somehow, knowing that I’m carrying our baby endears me to you in a way I wasn’t before I knew. I love you Dagmar, I have since I was eight years old, but somehow I love you even more knowing I’m having your baby.”

“I love you too, Aila,” Dagmar said, smiling and pulling her close. I wanted to tell you that you looked wonderful tonight.”

“Thank you,” she smiled. He watched as she stripped off her tunic, exposing her milky, white breasts, their pink tips begging for his touch. Her leggings came next and Dagmar found an easy ache for her that seemed as natural as breathing. “Do you want me?”

He chuckled as she came toward him. He’d always marveled at her dark, arrow straight hair and its contrast against her pearly skin. “I can’t put into words how much I want you, Aila. Suddenly though the thought of touching you scares me.”

“Are you afraid you’ll hurt the baby?”

“Yes,” he blurted, his hands shaking much to his chagrin. “I’m afraid I’ll hurt him, deathly afraid I’ll hurt you and more likely myself. This wound on my side won’t heal overnight and the thought of new stitches doesn’t thrill me.”

“We can always try what we did earlier,” Aila offered. “Or I could try this.” Aila pressed her hand to the stitches as heat radiated from her hand. It warmed his skin until he was all but cursing. When she was finished chanting though, Aila felt the stitched dissolve against her palm.

Dagmar looked down at his scar and grinned. “You’re a minx I tell you.

“I’ve got an idea,” Dagmar grinned. Lying down, Dagmar showed Aila how to straddle him, how to take him in, to the depth she preferred. The first time she sank down on him Dagmar had to close his eyes to concentrate on control. Aila was a woman who was wonderful simply because she didn’t realize how wonderful she was.

She rode him up and down, turning them both on as he watched her touch herself. Her hands cupped her breasts, as if offering them to him as they made love. Wanting to show her more, Dagmar took her hand and pressed it between her legs, teaching her how to stroke her clit to the rhythm she set. Within minutes Aila was riding him hard, her moans of pleasure pulling him along with her.  She crested easily, her orgasm sliding through her as he anchored her while he came.

Pulling her close, Dagmar covered them with the thick bear blanket, ensuring both of them would stay warm. She curled next to him and as if the child she carried had requested it, he rested his hand over their new baby. He couldn’t explain the awe that had come over him when Aila had mentioned expecting a baby. Before her, he wasn’t even sure he’d wanted children. Now though, the thought of raising a beautiful little girl like Aila was thrilling. So was a shot that the baby would have red, curly hair like him. The toss-up was just as exciting as the news of their baby. He could hardly wait to meet their new addition.

                                                                                    ***

Aila and Dagmar spent the winter and spring continuing to oversee their people’s affairs. With the expert help of Svenbreck and Dufguss homes continued to be built for all of Hails’ residents. Much like Aila, Breslin and Bregnan announced shortly into winter that their wives were also expecting babies. The summer flew by and once the last villager’s home was constructed, work started in earnest of Dagmar and Aila’s new abode. When finished it would sport an indoor area for holding important meetings. It also would sport an area for expansion should they have other children.

“This is amazing,” Aila smiled as she walked through the structure. The wide open spaces were huge compared to the small tent she currently shared with Dagmar, especially considering she was very pregnant now.

“I’m glad you like it,” Svenbreck said, wrapping Aila in a hug a she stepped into her home. “Congratulations on everything.”

“Thank you, Sven.”

“Come inside,” he beckoned. You’ll notice immediately how the clay walls help to keep everything much more solid in temperature. Cool in the summer and warm in the winter, you’re going to love this place.” Svenbreck took her room by room, explaining how each room supported her and Dagmar in their roles as rulers over the people of Hail. “This is where you and Dagmar can meet to discuss topics that affect us all. You can also, should you decide to, come up with a council of leaders to help carry out your wishes as our village continues to grow.”

“And the living quarters?”

“Right through that hallway there. You’ll have a huge room for you and Dagmar to share and then right off of it is the baby’s room. I’ve left plenty of land off the edge there should you two make any more babies.”

“Thank you Sven,” Aila gushed. “I still can’t believe how quickly everything came together.”

“It’s not a hardship for our first queen,” he grinned. “Tell Dagmar, whenever he’s ready, Duffgus, Bregnan, Breslin, and I are ready to hunt. I know he mentioned earlier that we needed to stock up as we seem to be popping out babies like rabbits.”

“This is true. With the Bulcher wives and myself carrying, we’ll have three new additions within the next few months. Not to mention Dragna’s granddaughter carrying twins.”

“I can’t even imagine two at one time. I would think, should I ever have children, one at a time should suffice.”

“I like to think so,” Aila smiled. “Although I’m not testing fate.”

“I don’t blame you, that’s for sure,” Svenbreck said. “Well, I’m going to go pack up what I need for the hunt later.”

“Sounds good,” Aila smiled. “Thanks again Sven. I’ll send Dagmar your way when I see him.”

“Thanks, Aila. I’ll see you again soon.”

                                                                                    ***

Dagmar paced up and down the length of the food tent, gnawing on his finger nails as he waited. Even without a way to mark the true passing of time besides the sun, he was a nervous wreck, looking up at the exit of the tent every five seconds. “She’ll come through with flying colors,” Breslin smiled. He knew too well the anguish Dagmar must be going through. His own wife was just days away from delivering their child and it was a race to see if he or Bregnan would be a father first.