5
Oh, this was not good, not good at all.
Still panting from the strength of another spectacular release, Torsten stared at the ceiling. Just above him dust motes floated in and out of the golden sunray piercing through a hole in the wood of the shutter. He watched them dance while he waited for his heartbeat to come back to normal. It was not just the intensity of the moment that had stolen his breath away. It was the cause for it. Aife’s face had been on his mind while he’d coaxed himself to release, her name had been on his lips when he’d erupted in pleasure. He’d thought of her all the way. With every stroke, he’d relived details of their decadent kisses and their time together.
Stroke. Her wicked tongue swirling in his mouth.
Stroke. Her eyes fluttering in delight as she’d sucked at his fingers in the forest.
Stroke. The little moans she gave when he pressed herself tight against her.
He shook his head. Things were quickly spiraling out of control.
It had started a week ago, the day her laugh had catapulted him into a new realm of sensations. Then he’d taken illicit pleasure in kissing her even though they both knew they were only just pretending. Now here he was, stroking himself while imagining all he could do to her and all she could do to him. Where would it stop? Ithadto stop—they were just friends, he was just helping her feel better, this wouldn’t lead anywhere. That she should stir such desires in him felt wrong. He didn’t want to create problems between them or fall out with his best friend over it.
And yet, despite all that, he couldn’t deny that he was attracted to her. The proof of his desire was cooling down on his naked stomach right now. How would she feel if she knew what he had just done? How would Moon react if he found out his friend pleasured himself while imagining his sister in bed with him?
The answer was obvious. He would kill him,hadalmost killed him the other day in the forest, for doing nothing more than hold her in his arms. What he would do if he knew what he’d done to her in his imagination didn’t bear thinking about.
But all of this begged another question. Why had his desire suddenly awoken with such fierceness? Why did he feel, for the first time in what felt like forever, tempted at the idea of bedding a woman?
Hope surged through Torsten. Perhaps he had finally overcome the obstacle that had blocked him for years? There was only one way to find out if his body had at long last started to behave like other men’s. He would have to try to bed a woman, something he had never managed to do since the day he’d first tried. His first thought went to Aife, before he dismissed it. He could not use her for this experiment—she had come to him for no other reason than to protect herself against her vile cousin’s attacks. She would be understandably shocked,and possibly horrified if he suggested they lie together, thinking he was taking advantage of the situation to get under her skirts, or that he thought himself entitled to a reward for his help. Neither possibility appealed. He would not have her taking him for a lecher who was not above exploiting her for his sensual gratification. Besides, if he failed to bed her, he would not bear the humiliation.
No, he needed someone else, someone he wouldn’t have to see afterward if it all went awry.
Bera.
The name popped into his mind before he could even start to wonder who might be suited to the task. Torsten opened his eyes, wondering where the suggestion had come from. But the more he thought of it, the more he had to agree that Magnus’s niece would be perfect. She lived in the village beyond the valley, but had just come for a short visit to her uncle. The last time Torsten had visited the forge she had accidentally walked into him while exiting the door. They would both have fallen to the floor had he not been strong enough to steady her. He had not missed the way she’d looked at him while thanking him, staying in his arms for longer than necessary.
Well, Bera was a comely girl, aged about twenty summers or so, and she would be gone in a few days’ time. Perhaps he should kiss her and see what happened. Would he get aroused, like he did when he kissed Aife? Would he want to go further? Would he be able to if she responded to his advances? It was worth a try. Aife had used him to prove something to her cousin—and herself—why could he not use a willing woman to verify if the curse plaguing his life had finally been lifted? There was little risk. If his intuition was correct, Bera would be amenable to seduction, which would allow him to finally know where things stood. If she wasn’t, then he would simply not touch her and be no worse off.
He got up, had a quick wash and put his clothes on with decision. Then he walked over to the forge before he could change his mind. On the way, he couldn’t help glancing over to Aife’s hut. He knew she was an early riser so chances were she might have already gone into the woods in search of food or wood for the fire. What would she think if she knew what he was planning to do? How would she feel about him going to another woman?
Nothing, he told himself sternly. She wouldn’t think anything. She wouldn’t be interested or feel betrayed in any way, because they were only pretending to be involved and he was free to act the way he wanted. Yes, except he wasn’t sure that going to Bera was quite what he wanted. It was what he needed to do.
He averted his gaze from the hut and carried on, a man on a mission. He could not afford to get distracted by thoughts of Aife, not when he had a goal in mind.
Before he could get too near the forge, the door opened, letting out a waft of warm air scented with smoke and metal—and a tall, blonde woman who blushed as soon as she saw him in front of her. Bera. Two things immediately became clear. She had recognized him and she was most definitely interested in a tryst.
Good. That was just what he needed, or rather,wanted, he amended quickly.
“Good morning.” Torsten said, coming to a halt a little closer than he would have with a woman he did not intend to seduce. But he might as well make his intentions clear from the start.
“Good morning. Torsten, is it not?”
“Indeed, it is. I’m the one who almost landed on top of you the day you arrived in the village. I apologize for that.” He was not truly sorry, as there had been no harm done. He simplywanted to put an evocative image in her mind and see how she reacted. Just as he’d hoped, her blush deepened further.
“It was nothing. And I’m sure I wouldn’t have minded ending up under you.”
Torsten barely repressed a scoff at this bold answer. He could forget whatever scruples he’d had about seducing her. Just as he’d suspected, she was more than willing, so much so that he found himself at a loss. What could he say to that?
Shall we go into the woods now and see now how you’d feel under me?
No, that was something Sven would say, not him. Fortunately, at that moment the door to the forge opened, preventing him from answering in any way.
“Ah, Bera, there you are. Would you do me a favor?” Magnus asked, walking toward them. Spotting Torsten, he wiped his hand on his apron and gave his hand a shake. “Could you take this axe back to Elwyn, with my thanks? I’ve finished with it and I know he needs it.”
“I will take it,” Torsten told Magnus. “It looks heavy.”
