Page 50 of The Outlaw Viking

“And me too.”

He smiled with infuriating satisfaction at her admission.

Giving up, she began to drop down to the furs on the side closest to the fire.

“Nay. Take off your garments first.”

Rain stood back up and glared down at him. “I slept in my clothes at the campsites during our trip here.”

“That was then. This is now. Whether you come from the future, as you claim, or the bloody moon, you will adopt our ways whilst living amongst us here.”

Selik sat up and folded his arms over his bent knees, watching her intently as she began to disrobe.

Rain felt her face flame, but she would not betray her nervousness over undressing in front of the arrogant man. God, she was too tall, too big and gawky. The only times she’d been with men in the past, she’d undressed in the dark to hide her embarrassment over her ungainly body. They hadn’t seemed to mind.

The only sounds in the room were the crackling of the fire and Selik’s even breathing as she finally stood before him in nothing but her flesh-colored lace bra and panties. His burning eyes seared her skin. When they connected with hers, she jerked back slightly at the jolt of electric heat they transmitted.

“The rest,” he urged raspily, waving a hand to indicate her underwear. She could not be sure, but his breathing sounded ragged in the charged silence of the room.

Dazed, Rain didn’t even protest, but she lifted her chin defiantly when the wispy garments dropped to the rushes, refusing to cower before his too-close scrutiny. She had enough flaws when fully clothed. Naked, she felt as awkward and unattractive as she had in sixth grade, when she was the tallest student in her class, the brunt of jokes for all the mean, insensitive, teasing boys.

But Selik wasn’t mocking her. His eyes caressed every inch of her body. Wherever his eyes touched, Rain felt a tingling heat ignite and warm her skin. For the first time in her life, she felt attractive.

“You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen,” he whispered in awe.

Tears welled in Rain’s eyes. “Don’t, Selik. Don’t make fun of me.”

He tilted his head questioningly, then lifted the bed fur next to him, urging her to join him.

When she was lying down, making sure her body did not touch his, Selik said softly, “The men of your time must be halfwits to make you ashamed of your body. Truly, Rain, you are beautiful.” Ever so gently, he brushed some loose strands of hair off her face.

“I think you are the one who must be halfwitted,” she said with a shaky laugh, pleased despite the fact that he was probably just trying to seduce her. Oddly, she wanted to be beautiful for Selik. “Besides, you likened me to a tree and a horse a few times, if you’ll recall.”

Selik chuckled, tracing a forefinger along the curve of her shoulder. Rain shuddered with the sheer sweetness of pleasure that swept her, so intense it was almost unbearable. “Ah, well, ’tis a well-known fact that I have a fondness for horses and stately trees.”

She turned to poke him for his teasing. A big mistake! Her breast grazed his arm, and he inhaled sharply at the electrifying contact. Rain immediately turned over and away from him toward the fire to hide the effect of just that brief touch on her sensitive nipples.

Suddenly, Rain could not help the silent tears that streamed down her face. She wanted Selik so badly, and she wearied of fighting the battle with herself.

“Rain, why do you weep? I will not make love to you if you do not wish it.”

You silly man, don’t you know that’s just what I want you to do?

He ran a hand caressingly along the length of her arm, sending shivers to every erotic part of her body.

“Are you afeard of getting with child? I assure you that you will not carry my seed,” he offered softly as he kissed the line of her shoulder over to the nape of her neck. With every rhythmic breath he took, the tip of his penis grazed the cleft between her buttocks.

Rain laughed shakily. “Now that’s an original line. How do you plan on guaranteeing that? Do you have a condom?”

“Nay, I use none of those ridiculous sheaths your mother mentioned.” She felt him smile against her neck. “I follow the method of your Biblical Onan—spilling the seed outside the body.” When she snorted with disbelief, he laughed. “Are you about to preach me a birth-control lecture, as your mother did to King Sigtrygg’s ladies?”

“My mother did what?” Rain exclaimed, turning to look at his grinning face. “Oh, never mind.” Really, she had heard more than enough of her mother’s outrageous conduct. “But I don’t see how you can be sure you have never fathered any children…using that method, I mean.”

“I assure you, lady, I have no live children.”

“Well, perhaps that’s true, but it’s only luck that you haven’t if you practice pulling out before climax.”

Selik make a choking sound of disbelief. “What kind of woman are you to speak so bluntly?”