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)
It must have been enough for the men too, because soon after, Rolf came loudly in my ear while Erik gave a small cry before exhaling in satisfaction. The sound of our heavy breaths filled the room, and the weight of what we had done settled on us like a decadent dessert.
Growing up, I had heard stories of brutal Vikings stealing women and ravishing them, but now, I knew none of them had been as fortunate as I.
Chapter 14
Erik
Erik was still trying to gather his wits when Rolf suddenly sprang off the bed and tossed him his skirt and tunic.
“Get dressed, old friend,” Rolf ordered, and he lumbered over to a gilded wardrobe, where he fished out a lush red blanket. Erik slowly put his clothes back on, keeping his eyes on Rolf as he came over to Cherine and gently wrapped the blanket around her exquisite body.
“I apologize for ruining your dress,” Rolf said, and Erik was taken aback at the tenderness in his friend’s voice. “I think this shall do until you return to your room.”
Cherine blushed, perhaps from the realization of what just happened between the three of them, or perhaps from Rolf’s attentiveness, and clutched the blanket to her chest. Either way, she’d never blushed for Erik before, and his heart felt sour and pinched.
“Erik, make sure she gets to her room all right. She might be a little weak in the legs,” he said with a wink. Cherine slowly, almost reluctantly, made her way over to Erik, who placed his hand over her bare elbow. She was so soft and smooth, it took everything he had not to start stroking her skin right there. He had to remember that his time with Cherine was coming to an end, and from the looks of it, it seemed like it could be a good thing for her. The noises she had made with Rolf inside her were something he’d never been able to replicate.
As he was leading Cherine out the door, Rolf called after them.
“Oh, and remember to keep your hands off her now, Erik. You did a marvelous job breaking her in for me on such short notice, but I think I’ll take her from here.”
Erik could barely swallow, and he quickly shut the door behind them before he could spout something to Rolf he would certainly regret.
Cherine looked at him in wild confusion. “What did he mean by that? You broke me in?”
“Come on,” Erik told her and began to pull her down the hallway, not ready for this to see the light, even though he knew, oh he knew, that this day had been coming.
“You broke me in for him?” she continued. He didn’t dare meet her face, keeping his eyes focused on the torch light that flickered from the sconces on the walls.
“Yes,” he said quietly. “Rolf wanted you and told me I needed to get you ready for him. I was only trying to help.” The guilt began to flood him as soon as he said the words out loud, like a net had been waiting to drop.
“You only slept with me because he ordered you to?” she cried out. She wrestled out of his grasp and fell against the cold wall. “You’re spineless.”
Hot flames fanned behind his eyes. “I am not—”
“You’re disgusting!”
He couldn’t help but laugh, soft and cruel. “Oh, that’s rich. I’m not the woman who just gave herself to two men at the same time.”
“I had to, and you know it.” She glared at him and pulled the blanket around her tighter.
“You enjoyed it,” he volleyed back.
She rolled her eyes. “Fine. I enjoyed it! I enjoyed giving myself to both of you. I’m just trying to make the best out of this, this situation you put me in! Is that so wrong?”
Erik didn’t have the right answer for that, as the real answer would have given too much of himself away. Instead, he grasped her arm again and started pulling her back down the hall toward the underground.
“No one’s getting hurt here except for me,” she added. “Can you be gentler to my arm?”
He loosened his grip, only slightly, and they quickly made their way down the stairs. He saw a few men leaving the dining quarters, their eyes growing feverishly wide at the sight of Cherine clothed in only a blanket, and he pulled her along faster. They passed the guard and the baron’s prison, which was mercifully silent, until he practically threw her up against her door. He planted both hands on either side of her and leaned in. Her eyes glowed amber in the wall’s torchlight, and he had that terribly incessant urge to kiss her.
“You joke about that, dear maiden, but you will be the one getting hurt in the end.” His voice was low, soothing with an edge. He was trying to warn her not to take this lightly, but his own insecurities were getting in the way.