Page 9 of The Last Viking

“I got drek in my eyes and I can’t get rid of all these soap suds. Balder’s balls! My eyes are burning. No matter how much rinsing I do, the white foam won’t go away. I think I’m going blind. Did you put a curse on me?”

Meredith tried to understand his long-winded, panicky explanation. “First of all, it’s Breck, not drek. That’s shampoo. It belonged to my grandfather. I don’t think they even make the stuff anymore. How much did you use?”

He shrugged, his eyes still closed, his face raised under the showerhead. And, criminey, he was covered with an ungodly amount of lather.

“Half a flask,” he replied, spitting out a mouthful of soap.

“You fool, you’re only supposed to use a capful. Breck is concentrated.”

“How was I supposed to know this?” he grunted, combing his fingertips through his long hair, trying to blink his eyes. “Am I blind?”

“No, you’re not blind. You’re…oh, what do you think you’re doing? You beast!”

Rolf had grabbed hold of her wrist and pulled her into the shower, clothes and all.

“Stop blathering like a magpie and remove the poison from my body. Now! And best you make sure I can see again or I will wring your scrawny neck, witch or no witch. Especially if my cock turns purple.”

Witch? Purple? Shipbuilder or not, this guy is weird. With a harrumphing sound of disgust, Meredith soon helped him rinse off and, using a washcloth, cleaned his eyes, which were bloodshot, but not blind.

Instead of being grateful, Rolf cursed her name under his breath. That was when she noticed his eyes were riveted on her wet blouse. The silky fabric had become plastered to her body, the pale beige color practically transparent. To her horror, she saw her pink aureoles and pointed nipples were clearly visible. He cursed again, and she realized that his expletive was one of male frustration, not anger.

With a swift movement, Rolf placed his hands on her waist and braced her up against the far wall. As he molded his hips to hers with erotic insistence, his mouth lowered. “What else do men and women do in these magical showers?” he breathed against her lips.

Meredith should have braced her hands against his hairy chest and shoved him away with indignation. She was a college professor. She had a doctorate degree in medieval studies. She was a principled woman of the nineties, not a brainless bimbo.

The logical side of her brain said, Stop! The other side of her brain said, Hmmmm. For once in her empty life, Meredith decided to take the illogical path. Raising her chin under the still-steaming shower, she met his lips and opened for his kiss. And Meredith was glad, glad, glad that she’d done so.

The Viking—whoever he was—played her mouth with finesse. Back and forth he rubbed his firm lips against hers until she was pliant and whimpering. Only then did he deepen his kiss, devouring her with a wild hunger.

“Three months has it been since I’ve had a woman,” he murmured when he came up for air.

“It’s been three years since I’ve had a man,” she countered, nipping at his bottom lip. Oh, my God! Is this really me, nipping at a man’s lips?

He grinned down at her. “Then our mating should prove spectacular.”

Before she had a chance to digest that remarkable pronouncement, or say something really stupid, like “Let the games begin,” he plunged his tongue into her mouth and used both hands to palm her breasts.

Her knees buckled.

His hardened penis, pressed against the vee of her thighs, held her up.

They both moaned…into each other’s mouths.

“What is that ringing noise?” he gritted out.

Despite her passion-induced haze, Meredith recognized the telephone. For a second, she just stared blankly at the gorgeous man who stood before her, his kiss-swollen lips parted and panting. His Jack Daniels eyes were glowing with passion. His nude body ground against hers with intimate persuasion.

A stranger. She was about to have hot sex with a stranger. Had she lost her mind?

Meredith blinked at him, belatedly coming to her senses.

He blinked back at her in confusion, and she used that opportunity to shove him away and jump out of the shower. She heard him shouting after her as she ran down the hall, leaving puddles of water, but she didn’t wait to hear what he said. Grabbing the cordless phone in the living room, she gasped out, “Hello.”

“Mer, is that you?” her sister Jillian asked. “You sound funny.”

“I just came from the shower.” Boy, did I just come from the shower! More like I almost came in the shower. Whew!

“Oh, sorry. What’s new?”