Page 116 of The Caged Viking

“A dog now!” he said with disgust, not understanding, into the silence that had suddenly overcome the hall as everyone watched. He motioned with his forefinger, beckoning for her to come to him.

“Not a chance.” She laughed.

He started to return to the dais.

She started to sidle toward the other end of the dais.

He changed direction, moving over in front of the dais.

She did an about-face, and went back the way she’d come, bypassing Egil, Bjorn, and Gisela. Jarl Ingolf appeared amused, while his wife was horrified by Kirstin’s actions which she likely deemed unseemly. The two daughters were just confused.

Kirstin flew down the steps and ran up the center aisle.

Hauk leapt off the dais, which he’d just climbed, and came after her.

The crowd was in a raucous uproar, with cheers, laughter and bets being placed.

“A brud-hlaup! We finally get a bride-running! A real one this time!” someone hooted.

Another person contributed, “Best get the master’s sword for ’im so he can smack our lady’s arse when he catches her.”

A female voice shouted, “If he can catch her!” And a number of other ladies cheered her on.

Kirstin stopped, picked up a greasy piglet head, and tossed it at Hauk, aiming for his face.

He caught it with surprise, then a grin. He was slowed down a bit as he had to find a place to drop it.

She almost escaped. Bolting through the open door of their bedchamber, she turned to slam the door shut, but Hauk got his booted foot in first. In a match of strength, she pushed, he pushed, and he, of course, prevailed. Slamming the door behind him, he grabbed her shoulders and pinned her against the wall.

Kirstin did the most unexpected thing then, unexpected to both her and Hauk. She began to cry…big, loud sobs that wracked her body and caused her eyes and nose to run.

“What? Are you hurt? Did I hurt you?”

She shook her head, not wanting to tell him that it was the pent-up fear and pain of the past few weeks and things not going as she had planned on her return. Relief, actually. Now that they were alone, together, there was hope. She could swear she saw tears in his eyes as well.

Carefully, without speaking, he wiped his hands, then hers on a piece of toweling sitting on a nearby shelf. He also dabbed at her eyes and nose with a clean edge, still pinning her to the wall with his body. Afterward, he bowed his head for several moments, as if in prayer. Then, ever so slowly, he raised his head and regarded her gravely.

She couldn’t let him get all serious on her, venting about what she’d done, then her venting about what he’d done, and blah, blah, blah. Wasted time, wasted energy. Instead, she turned the tables on him by warning, “You better not plan on hitting my ass with a sword.”

He blinked several times, puzzled.

“Like those dumbbells out in your hall suggested. You know, the bride-running crap.”

He blinked several more times, then visibly relaxed with understanding. “Have no fears, my foolish, impulsive, stubborn, deluded lady.” He paused and leaned down to nip her earlobe, blowing softly into the shell with erotic intent, before whispering, “I have other plans for your arse.”

Chapter 25

Round one…

Hauk wasn’t sure what to do first.

Paddle the wench’s arse.

If she’ll let me.

Kiss her senseless.

If she’ll let me.