Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 59320 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59320 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Five minutes had passed before Erik started to get worried. Instead of relief at the thought of her escaping the destiny of Rolf’s clutches, he felt foolishly rejected. He thought, perhaps, she would have come back because she wanted him, needed him, maybe even liked him. He swallowed the peculiar sense of loss along with the apple, both feeling too thick to get down his throat.
Then, before he had a chance to wallow in his unwelcome feelings, Cherine was back at his side and settling down onto the blanket beside him.
“Don’t look so surprised,” she said, noting his widened eyes.
He handed her the half-eaten apple. “I was afraid you weren’t coming back.”
“You Vikings get afraid? Now I’ve heard everything,” she said with a slight smile. She looked devilishly beautiful in the firelight, her green eyes dancing with the flames. It took all of Erik’s self-control not to kiss her right there and then. It was one thing to tie her up and force her into an orgasm, another to desire a soft kiss and jumbled thoughts of romance.
He bit his lip and busied himself by bringing out another apple and a handful of walnuts that he spread out on the space between them.
“So, tell me,” he said, cracking open a nut with only the strength of his bare hands. Her eyes opened wide. The fair maiden was impressed. “Were you betrothed to anyone?”
It was a risky question. He didn’t want to ruin the levity of the mood, but he was curious, wanting to know more about her.
She sunk back against the log, nestling her hair into the dewy moss, and gingerly accepted the piece of walnut he was holding out for her. “In a way.”
His heart sank. “Oh.”
He felt remotely guilty that the man was most likely dead, perhaps at his own hands.
She brushed her hair back behind her ear and exhaled softly. “His name was Pierre. I didn’t want to marry him, but he was the only man available and closest to my age. All the fishermen were too old or taken, and we aren’t…or we weren’t…allowed to marry outside of the estate.”
He nodded, feeling a bit better at that admission. An arranged marriage didn’t seem enviable. “How old are you?” he asked.
“How old are you?” she countered.
“Twenty-six.”
“Eighteen.”
“That’s fairly old for a peasant to not be married. You didn’t have a lover on the side?” Now, his voice was prickling with hints of jealousy, and he chastised himself for being so obvious about it.
“Not particularly. Women get in trouble for that sort of thing.”
He searched her glowing eyes. “Ah, Christian sensibilities, yes?”
“Yes.” Her brow furrowed softly with remorse. “I had a friend, however. Marc. He was Pierre’s younger brother. And he was my only friend.”
“And you gave yourself to him?”
She looked at him sharply, and he raised one hand in a plea.
“Cherine, I know you’re not a virgin.”
It was hard to hide the shock on her face. “How do you know?”
His cock twitched with the memory of the morning. He lowered his voice, “Because no virgin would give herself so easily to me. No virgin would know her body like the way you know yours. You’re entirely at peace with your primal desires. No wonder you came so quickly.”
She gave him a look of disgust, but Erik knew there was a facet of truth in there. “That is none of your business. And I gave nothing to you. You took it.”
“Fair enough.”
“And to say such crude things to a lady.”
“You’re not a lady, Cherine.”
She looked down at her hands and muttered, “Right. I am but a peasant.”
“No,” he said roughly and reached for her face. He caressed her cheek with his knuckles, and she closed her eyes in response. “You are a woman. A very beautiful, dragon-hearted woman. And you’ll make a man very happy one day.”
He just didn’t know what man.
After they finished their meager snacks, they both settled down into the blanket. The forest was filled with the late-night camaraderie and snores of the men, but still, they had no problem with falling asleep. It wasn’t raining, which was fortunate, since they didn’t have a canopy over their heads. It wouldn’t have mattered to Erik, who was used to weeks at sea on deck, with only animal skins to protect him from the elements.
It was in the middle of the night that Erik awoke with a start. He had been sleeping on his side, between Cherine’s back and the log, and in the dying light of the fire, he could see a silhouette lurking by her legs.
Erik sat up. “Who goes there?”
Cherine awoke at the sound of his voice and, upon seeing the shadowy man, she leaned back into Erik, who had wrapped a protective arm around her. The rest of him was ready to pounce.
He heard the high, humorless laugh and knew it was Ross.