Page 60 of Viking in Love

On the other hand, Geoff’s “gift” might have been given with humor, but Caedmon would damn sure make use of it. It was a small vial of clove-scented body oil from the Eastern lands, the kind harem houris were proficient in using on their sheikr masters.

Breanne sat next to him, bundled head to ankle in some Viking attire that involved a long-sleeved gunna overlaid with a full-length open-sided apron. If she thought that would deter him, she was sadly mistaken.

Pushing food about her trencher with a spoon, she had such a woeful face that he would have pitied her if he had not been convinced it was a ruse.

“You have no appetite, m’lady?”

She raised her eyes to look at him.

“I know the food is not as fine as that prepared by your sister, but it is better than usual fare here, believe you me.” He lifted a piece of honey-oat cake in his fingers and put it to her mouth.

She glared at him, but had no choice but to open, and then lick the honey residue off her lips.

He felt each lick in his hardening staff. His loins were already tense and preparing for the feast to come.

“The food is fine,” she said.

“You are peckish, then?” Or just getting aroused, as I am? Hah! I should be so lucky!

“Would it make any difference?”

“Not a bit.” Actually, there was that unfortunate time a wench deep in the ale-joy hurled the contents of her stomach onto my raging erection. Yecch!

“You really are going through with this?”

He straightened. “Are you about to renege…already?”

“Nay, but I thought you would say it was all a jest.”

“You thought I would be chivalrous?” Not a chance, m’lady.

“Yea.”

“Nay. Until I sent your sisters away, you thought I would not take you to my bed whilst they were about. Am I right?” The twists and whorls of a devious woman’s mind are not all that hard to figure out.

She shrugged. In other words, that is exactly what she had hoped.

“If it is your virginity that bothers you, have no fear. I will be gentle.” Not that I have had all that many virgins. “But do not think to make me feel guilty over taking your maidenhood.”

She waved a hand dismissively. “That matters not to me.”

This woman is at cross-wills to me at every turn. No matter what I say, she argues the opposite. “It would to your husband.”

“Since I do not plan to wed, ’tis a moot point. Although I would care if you got me with child.”

“That will not happen. I promise.” Believe you me, the last thing I want is another whelp shadowing me.

He could tell she wanted to ask how, but dared not. Even in such a brazen lass as her, modesty still reigned. “I do not like that I have no choice, that I am being forced to do this.”

“Oh, nay! Do not dare to claim such. You had a choice, all right. To make a bargain, or not. To leave with your sisters, or not.”

“Do you think they will be safe?”

“For now, yea, but it will be a tightrope we walk once the king’s men arrive.”

“Your hold on Larkspur truly is in peril by aiding us?”

“That it is.”