As I open the bedroom door, I see Alith leaning against the wall in the corridor outside, with a sly smile as she see us and Jane starts doing a 'walk of shame' - which I always considered an idiotic expression. There is rarely any shame in it except in other people's judgmental minds. Especially considering how pleased and happy Jane and I are right now, and Jane smilingly responds to Alith high five. 'Walk of satisfaction' would be better. Alith wants me to give her a high five too, which I do as we watch Jane disappear around the corner. We're still watching as she comes back into view after rounding the balcony, with Caecilia practically bouncing along and seeming eager to hear every detail as she accompany Jane down the stairs. So she too must have waited. Both look happy.
“Alith, how many know?”
"That you and Jane finally had sex? The whole house knows. And Unn. Kari is the winner, by the way. Her date is tomorrow, Iselin's expired a week ago, and mine unfortunately three weeks ago. Hillevi claims that Kari and Jane had conspired, because she lost once again since her first bet, and her next one is in a month."
That makes me giggle as I return back inside. I grab my glass and fetch some more water from the mini toilet's sink, and half collapse on the couch. I'm gonna take a few minutes to recover before showering and eating. I guess it was supper they were trying to announce when they knocked, but I expect they have save some food for us in the hot box. I just shouted 'Busy!' while Jane giggled. I need to clean up the room, but that can wait, because I'm so a peace and happy right now - and then Iselin appears and she sits down next to me, puts her feet together and cuddles up to me while I hold her. Shit. My mood has dropped like a rock. We've only been married for a week, our 'honeymoon' is going on, and I want another partner. Swine! I'm a damn swine! Iselin doesn't deserve someone like me!
"Will Jane become something more than just occasional sex?"
My heart breaks when I hear her question, especially since she doesn't seem angry or disappointed but more resigned to her fate being married to a swine like me. Iselin deserves honesty, and I need to tell her at least a somewhat edited truth.
"I don't know yet. We're both pretty high on endorphins right now. We'd both would like to, but I don't want to hurt you, or the others. I really don't want to hurt you my dear wonderful wife. I don't know if you noticed, but something happened a week ago when Jane and I were talking in the greenhouse and she went away crying, and I went into the workshop."
"I noticed it then and later when Jane pretended that everything was fine when it clearly wasn't. I told Ciara you were sad. I would have liked to accompany you myself, but we had guests and I was the lady of the house. Ciara is good that way, she just said 'excuse me' to Myrun and me, and walked away. She only cares about you."
"Ciara might not show it, but she cares a lot about you too, and you'll always have a special place in her heart and not because you're my wife. She sees you as sent by the gods and the one who saved her. But anyway. There have been issues and things between Jane and myself over the last few months, and this afternoon we talked it out. That night during the feast we realised we really needed to talk it out, but put it off until after the feast was over. As we sat here on the sofa and were brutally honest with each other, we realised how important we are to each other. Something we hadn't really wanted to admit before, not even to ourselves. Especially not Jane, because it was too much of a life change for her. I hope this doesn't disappoint or hurt you too much, but Jane and I have realised that we have some of Ciara's feeling inside us. We need each other even though we don't know how or as what, and if you don't say no, that will include sex."
I can't look Iselin in the eye so I can be honest, but in the corner of my eye, I can't help but notice how she's looking at me. Iselin turns my face to hers, and she just has a beautiful smile as she says;
"It has long been obvious to us that there is something special growing between you two, but that both of you have avoided acting on it. Probably because it's a bad thing in your culture. We know you don't want to hurt us, but Freya brought Jane to Alfheimr, and into our lives. You are the only humans in Alfheimr, and come from lives we can't really understand, and we can only guess how you two feel. We've seen Jane become more and more desperate in trying to lure you into some kind of intimate relationship, and how she affected by your presence. We know how you are affected by her. We also know how sad she has often been, and how much she seems to need you in her life. We know how Jane has looked at you, and she finds faults with every other man. You have been in a relationship for the past few months - it just hasn't included sex until now. We know it's different where you're from in Midgård. Where the usual and socially acceptable is a man and a wife, and concubines or mistresses are wrong and shameful. But Jane has also told us how common divorce is, how many times some humans remarry and how many different legally defined ways of living together you have, with inheritances and whatnot. Midgård just makes it unnecessarily complicated, and here it's easier. I knew that months ago and accepted it before you asked me to be your wife. I've always known that you would have more women than me, and now it doesn't matter to me. It actually feels good to have Kari, Ciara and Caecilia helping me with you, the mansion, the islands and everything else. But I have been so afraid that I would once again be just your personal servant - if even that - because there are so many richer, more powerful, more beautiful, younger and untouched women.
But with all the women you've had and have, offers and opportunities you've just ignored or been disgusted by, I know I'm special to you. Not even Princess Sefa could take my place as your first wife, and everyone understood that. The others told me how you were when I was away, and how much you missed me and tried to bury yourself in work and building radios so that in the future, we could message each other even if we were far apart, and that at the same time you were sad to build radios without me. It feels good to know that Ciara, Kari, and Caecilia together weren't enough to replace me when I was gone, and you didn't miss Kari the same way when she was gone earlier this fall. You don't care that Kari is much more lady like and is so rich and powerful. You don't care that Ciara, Caecilia, Kari and Jane are so much more beautiful and sexier, and that they were all born free and raised in rich families. You don't care that I was born as a slave and only own what you have given me. You love me, and to you I am irreplaceable, and you have proved it to the world and the Gods by making me your betrothed and your first wife. Jane said something a month ago that really stuck; you have only chosen me. Everyone else has chosen you. Since the first time we met when I poured mead for you - and on you - you've been in love with me, and I come first. That's why you didn't allow me to come along to that night with Liv when we were in Skiringsalr. Even now, after you and Jane have had sex for hours, I still come first, and you are deeply ashamed of wanting to have any kind of sexual relationship with her. That you wanted Jane as your woman. Jane! Sometimes Midgård just makes it so unnecessarily complicated, but no matter what it becomes or is called, I think Jane will be like wife number three even if you don't get married. Jane still seems to think that having more than one wife is so wrong, even though she can't explain why when I ask her. 'It just is' is not a proper explanation! It seems to be less of a problem for you.”
Iselin has such a beautiful devilish smile that I can only smile, kiss her and hug her more. I love her so damn much, and every time I understand her a bit more, my love for her grows, and I'm so damn grateful for her understanding. Between the kisses and my tears, I say 'I love you' several times. She so deserve to hear that every day of her life. Iselin looks pleased as she continues talking.
"Ciara will of course accept Jane, but it might be wise to gently point out that Jane needs you just as she does, just not quite as badly. Of course no contract, because Ciara's must be only one. Kari will accept Jane. They are good friends and Kari did 'talk' me into officially having sex; it was Kari who foolishly tried to stop it from becoming anything more than that when she really should have known better. But Kari is still a little unsure about her position and your love for her, because she know she doesn't come first, and she doesn't like it when someone threatens her place in your heart. Kari would also prefer to have you all to herself. But Kari has changed so much since we first met her, and her life has had enormous changes. I believe it will be enough for her, that we know you will propose to her eventually, and made the decision even before she became rich - even before she became your concubine. She also have become terribly rich and she has the control over her life she always wanted. That, combined with you being worried that she wouldn't want to be your wife after she got rich, and her desire to be controlled by you and that you've created s-rooms for her... Kari know that she is special to you too in many ways, and even though you love her in a different way than me, she has a very special place in your heart too, and you care for her and trust her. You are so very special to her.
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Caecilia's opinion may not matter, and she'll probably accept anything as long as she can continue to be your personal servant and courtesan, but you should show that you care about her. We think she has developed deep feelings for you and I, and is afraid to show it to us. Caecilia probably doesn't know how to handle love - when it becomes something deeper than just sex - and doesn't want to damage what the three of us already have. Caecilia also needs a man in her life and it's a good thing she's so focused on that man being you, because I love the life the three of us have - although I'd rather have her as my courtesan." Iselin has such a wonderful sneaky, playful yet possessive smile and look as she stares into nothingness, that maybe I should be a little worried about the future.
"You are a wonderful woman Iselin, and the night I met you was the luckiest day of my life. I am so incredibly happy that I gave you that compliment. One of the best moments of my life was when you said 'yes' to to be my fiancee, and I am so terribly happy and proud that you are my wife. I love you so much. I realised a few hours ago that in most of Midgård tonight is something called the New Year, that is when we go from one year to the next. Not like here at the first full moon after midwinter and is nothing special. In Midgard it is done tonight and celebrated all over the world. The tradition is that there are feasts, and there is a countdown to midnight and then there is fireworks to start the New Year with a bang. How about having a small late feast just for us in this house and shooting off a couple of fireworks rockets in the middle of the night?"
Iselin's face gives me the answer loud and clear, so I send her to prepare it, since as my wife the home is her domain. Before she disappears, I lend her one of my wristwatches so she can officially handle the countdown. She learned to read digital numbers and clocks way back, but she has also spent a lot of time with the MP3 player.
I talk to Ciara in her room - where she of course has been listening to us having sex - and Ciara is happy for us. Ciara corrects me that Jane already is my unofficial concubine. That makes me confused, but Ciara reminds me of what I told her last summer when I offered her to be my concubine; that for me a relationship is not only about sex or children, and a concubine is a woman I enjoy spending time with, who I want as mine and is special to me. And Jane and I have sat close to each other, enjoyed being close, comforted her when she's been sad, went for walks in the forest and so on. I built a gym for Jane and have given her many special gifts as the most natural thing in the world for both of us. Now that we've finally figured out that Jane has some of the same feelings for me that she does, Ciara looks serious as she looks me in the eyes and tells me to make Jane a wife after Kari, and until then an official concubine. Jane needs it.
I didn't really mean it that way when I said those words to Ciara, but apparently she's taken it as fact. What else have I said to Ciara that she took as fact?
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The whole house has become busy trying to prepare food, grill some meat and throw a little feast, just for us and the staff. I talk to Kari in her room. Kari doesn't like it, but says that there obviously have been something growing between me and Jane during the past months, especially from Jane's side. Kari doesn't like that Jane is a beautiful charming human, and that she has more things in common with me than I have with Kari. She can even give me healthy children. All of a sudden in Kari's explanations of things she doesn't like that Jane is or can do, that she can't compete with, Kari's face freeze and she zones out while being quiet, which is worrying. Then her mouth grows into a crooked devilish smile and Kari starts breathing a little more controlled, which changes what I'm worried about. That's not good.
"Kari, have you started planning to 'corrupt' Jane?"
Kari's calmly nods and her devilish grin is from ear to ear as she looks at me.
"You haven't seen how involved Jane has been in everything. She's been helping me do things, trying on the handcuffs and so on, and I've seen her expressions. I know she bought her own handcuffs she probably thinks I don't know about. I've seen her dreaming away when we talked before she quickly came to her senses. How much thought and study she must have done to know so much about BDSM sex and stuff. Robert, I look forward to helping her and having someone to talk to about it. And what possibilities and ideas she hasn't told me yet, but maybe will when she wants to try it herself."
I think back on how Jane said certain things when we talked, like being led around in a leash or 'bent over the bench and submit', or how she would have Kari strapped to a rack with a leather ball, etc. Well, it's probably quite likely that Jane has some fantasies about such things, but that doesn't mean it's something she actually wants to do after the first experience. Fantasy is one thing, reality often another. But I'm a bit worried that Kari is probably right that Jane might have a lot more ideas and knowledge. Kari quickly stands, locks the door and when she pulls out a couple of towels from the cupboard next to the bed as well as her collar, I know what she wants and it's not long before my hand is drenched as our mouths invade each other. I also play on her fetish when I whisper that her opinion and properties are irrelevant, and that Kari should be happy that she is so beautiful, smart, sexy and good at making me enjoy myself, because I will continue to take her whenever I want, and she is mine.
Well, if Jane wants the same as Kari, at least I have some experience now and can repeat it. And it is satisfying to be able to make Kari relaxed and pleased from orgasms and endorphin. Especially tonight.
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Ciara sought Jane out when I went to talk to Kari, and hadn't been prepared when Ciara matter-of-factly and earnestly tried to make her understand that she needed to become my official concubine for her own good. It will make everything better and is the solution to all her problems, which speaks volumes for Ciara's attitude.
Jane is slightly more taken aback when Kari explains that it's the best solution for us legally, and as my concubine she has more status and protection than just a free woman I have sex with, which the others confirm. I reassure Jane by saying what the law call it says nothing about our true relationship, and the legal title should not be coloured by her vision of Japanese concubines or Middle Eastern harem ladies. Which I understand is exactly what she have been thinking, as she sighs while smiling and tells me to get out of her head. Caecilia is a hóra, but Caecilia's life also doesn't match the notion in Jane's or my head that we associate with that title, even though we both hate calling Caecilia that word, which is why we use courtesan. What the law calls our relationship says nothing about Jane as a person or how we see each other. Between us she will only be Jane, my best friend, girlfriend and partner. As long as she doesn't want to call herself something else.
With a playful crooked smile, I whisper 'be my lover' as I look into her eyes, and Jane gives me a playful little tap on the shoulder. She knows not to do anything more than that and only in private contexts, as it is an insult to use violence even playfully. If a married person hits or slaps their partner in the face, or violently in front of witnesses, that is enough for immediate divorce. It is a gross insult, especially in front of witnesses, and it doesn't matter if it is a man who hits the woman or the woman who hits the man.
Jane is officially declared my concubine in front of the others as witnesses, and I give her the necklace I've already designed for her, but she also really wants one like Kari and Ciara have, in embroidered lace fabric. Jane prefers to be called 'Älskarinna' after I explained and translated back and forth between English of several Swedish and Nordic words. Mistress was totally dismissed because Jane thinks it's 'meh', and 'I'm not your bloody dominatrix'. She likes the Swedish 'Älskarinna' which translated into English becomes feminine loveress or lovess more than lover which is gender neutral. But they sound too close to loveless, which she definitely is no longer, so: Älskarinna. Jane likes the way it sounds in Swedish so I use it. More sinful and more special than Mistress, which is also an asexual title as a female Mister. Jane likes that Älskarinna only has one specific meaning in Swedish.
The title is important to her because I have a wife, two concubines and Caecilia. My Älskarinna. The woman I live with in sin, which made Jane laugh considering how absurd it is, but I point out that there is something in it, because the others were brought up here and relationship like ours is not a sin to them but a sign of status, but where she and I come from? Having a mistress who lives with the married couple? Jane likes that; to be the mistress. The sexy worldly woman who lives with the married man and his young innocent naive wife. Jane completely ignores reality of how Iselin and the others view us, and calling Iselin naive even in jest is almost an insult.
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It's a simple but good New Year's celebration and a nice little feast with good food and music. I get incredibly well kissed and smooched during the fireworks. Also a quick kiss with Jane, but we're both too uncomfortable with anything more enthusiastic when the others are standing around and egging on. Which they think is funny.