Page 85 of Kiss of Wrath

He came to his feet in one fluid movement, then held his hand out for Miranda, helping her stand. It took all his self-control to restrain his baser impulses when what he wanted to do was pull her into a tight embrace and have his carnal way with her. In the end, all he did was lean down and give her a soft kiss of promise.

“Kissing again! Yuck!” Larry said, opening the ice chest to see if there was anything left.

“He’s probably going to boink her,” the all-wise Ben told the others.

“What’s boinking?” Linda wanted to know.

Maggie made a sound of disgust, and Sam was rolling on the ground, laughing. Larry was using a tongue-wetted finger to get the last of the crumbs from the potato chip bag.

“It’s when a guy takes out his wiener and—” Ben started to explain, but Mordr put a hand over his mouth.

“Your brother was just teasing,” Mordr told Linda.

“Johnny Severino says it starts with putting your tongue down a girl’s throat ’til she can barely breathe. That makes her want to show you her pee place.” This wisdom came from Larry, who hitched up his wet swim pants which were so low the crack in his buttocks was exposed.

“Someone needs to do something about Johnny Severino,” Miranda said in a choked voice.

He and Miranda laid out the remaining food. Granola bars. Some tiny oranges called Cuties. Two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cut into quarters. An Oreo that Mordr ate quickly before anyone could grab it first. Several squeeze yogurts. Thin string cheese cylinders. All washed down with two shared bottles of water.

A day in the sun had turned them all sun-bronzed, except for Mordr, whose skin was getting lighter. He must feed soon by saving a sinner or by killing a Lucie, the best way vangels could get that suntanned look so prized in this modern world.

By the time they got home just before dusk, all the children were fast asleep, slumped over one another in the backseats of the van. He carried Linda out of the car, pressing buttons on the security panel to open the front door, then carried her upstairs to lay her on her bed. She never once opened her eyes. For a moment, he just stood, staring down at the little bundle of innocence. He was pretty sure he loved the little girl, and that could mean heartbreak for both of them when he left as he must, eventually.

He could not think about that now.

Miranda had awakened the rest of the children and brought them inside. They dragged themselves sleepily to their respective beds, needing no prompting tonight.

“You should take showers, but I think we’ll skip those tonight. You’re all so tired,” Miranda said, to the children’s relief.

“G’night,” they said sleepily to Mordr as they passed by.

“Why don’t you go take a shower,” Mordr suggested to Miranda. “I’ll bring the rest of the stuff inside and lock up for the night.”

She nodded. “Thank you. All that sun and a long day. I’m beat, too.”

He hoped not too beat. He had some smoldering to do. Among other things.

He should take a shower himself. A cold one.

He should call his brothers and get an update on the Lucie situation.

He should find out if Cnut had discovered anything more on Roger’s whereabouts.

He should remember that he was a vangel and not permitted to do what he was considering.

He should remind himself that this was an assignment with an end date. At some point, probably soon, he would be leaving.

But it was too late. Like a heat-seeking missile the military used today, he was set on his course. No stopping now. His desire for Miranda overrode everything, especially his good sense.

God help me! Mordr thought.

The voice in his head that should be telling him to stop remained silent.

The history books didn’t mention THAT about Vikings . . .

Miranda had been under the shower for so long the hot water turned tepid. It felt so good to wash the grime of the day off her body and to relax all the muscles she’d been unaccustomed to exercising on a regular basis, as in swimming, climbing on and off the boat, and playing games in the water with the children.

Squeaky clean and no longer drained of energy, she wrung the water out of her hair and was about to step out into the bathroom when she heard the sound of a door opening and closing. Without invitation, Mordr stepped into the shower stall with her. Naked.