Page 65 of Down and Dirty

He smiled. “Screwed up. Broken. Our mother, divorced long ago from our dad, and our grandmothers are like female Attila the Huns. Our grandfather is a pole-up-the-ass rigid military man. Our father has been married five times. Right now he has a girlfriend who’s practically a teenager.”

Britta shrugged. “The more Danico. Many wives. We have that in my country, too. I knew one Viking jarl who had four wives, eight concubines, and ten female thralls to serve his needs.”

Danny’s eyes went wide. “Not all at once. My father divorces one before marrying another. Geez, where are you from?”

“The Norselands,” she answered, though she could see it was not explanation enough for him. “So, mayhap Zachary has learned his lessons from his father?”

“Zach is in no way like Dad, and you’re a fool if you can’t see that.”

“Your defense of your brother is commendable. I was not being insulting, just seeking explanations.”

“Listen, bottom line. Zach has — or has had — so many women for one reason only. He can.”

“Are you talking about me?” Zachary said, coming into the kitchen and sitting down in an empty chair.

Britta and Danny both smiled, not about to disclose their conversation.

“What are you playing?” he asked.

“Strip poker,” Danny said.

Zachary glared at his brother, but she was not sure why.

“Will you take me back to the base now?” she asked Zachary. “Your brother is here to watch Sammy. There is no excuse.”

“Do I need an excuse?”

“Um, I think I’ll go shave, maybe go down to the Wet and Wild for a little action,” Danny said, rising and making his way to the door. “If you want, I can drop Britta off on the way.”

Zachary looked at her and took her hand. “Don’t go,” he urged. “You don’t have to muster till oh five hundred. I can get you there in plenty of time.” Meanwhile, his thumb drew circles on her palm, which caused the fine hairs to stand out all over her body, deliciously so. She felt light-headed with instant arousal.

“How do you do that?” she asked.

“Do what?”

“Make me want you.”

He smiled, one of those glorious you-please-me-sweetling smiles that would melt even the chastest maid. “Stay with me. Please.”

“Why?”

“Because we won’t have any private time for the next three weeks. Because I don’t think I can stay away from you that long. Because I’ll risk my career and yours if I go sniffing after you on duty.”

She couldn’t help but smile. “See. I told you that you have a habit of sniffing.”

He squeezed her hand in admonition for her teasing. “Will you stay?”

As much as she wanted to, she hesitated. “I am fearful.”

“Of me?” He was clearly shocked.

She shook her head. “Nay. Of myself. I cannot grow too attached to you, because no matter what you or Hilda or the others say, there is always the chance I will be sent back.” Or you will move on to some other woman.

He nodded in understanding. “Just like Sammy.”

“Huh?”

“Sammy tries his best to hate me, or pretend to hate me, because he’s convinced that I’ll either send him back or that his grandfather will take him away. If he doesn’t care, there is no risk of being hurt.”