“Come on,” the Viking says, standing up. “Pack your suitcases so we can leave.”
I don’t even pause to think. The bottom line is Iwantto go with him. So, I do.
20
ARYA
When we arrive at the waterfront, Erik parks and hands me his keys. “It’s cold. Go inside while I unload the truck.”
Guilt bites me on the ass. He’s having to move my suitcasesagain. The Viking has plenty of muscle to spare, but he’s got better things to do than haul my cases up the stairs for the second time in a week.
“I’ll help bring in my luggage.”
“No, I’ve got it. What you can do is change back into one of my t-shirts and crawl in my bed.”
“We’re going right there, huh?”
He nods, eyeing me. “Is there a reason we shouldn’t?”
“We could have a drink first. Maybe talk more?”
“Make us both a drink and bring them to the bedroom. We can drink and talk in bed.”
I shiver and offer him a slow smile. “Perfect. What do you want to drink?”
“Whatever.”
“Okay.” My finger trails over his forearm before I turn and slide out of the truck. I’m oddly relieved to be coming back to his place. And I’m pleasantly surprised we didn’t have an angry fight at Eden’s. It’s getting easier to trust that he’s not going to lose his cool with me.
When I reach the outer door, I find a package sitting on the step. As I shift it, I realize the mailing label has my name. A click causes me to freeze and then jump back.
“Erik,” I say sharply, rushing to the truck to grab his arm. “Leave them.” I jerk on him to pull him away.
Before he even understands, he’s moving with me.
“A package to me. It made a noise.” My voice and breath are choppy. “I didn’t order anything. It clicked and—”
Erik grabs me and hauls ass toward the rocks at the river’s edge. With his back to the building, his body’s blocking mine as the deafening boom sounds.
The explosion shakes the ground, and he falls forward, knocking me backward. His arm catches me as we fall. The blast lights the night and sends debris hurtling through the air and past us.
When his knee lands on the ground, he’s holding me just above it in an exaggerated dip. I’m stunned that I didn’t land on the rocks. His reflexes are unreal.
Erik grunts, grinding his teeth as he pulls me closer to keep me from slipping from his arms. “Are you all right, Arya?”
“Yes.” Pulling on him to steady myself, I get my feet beneath me to stand up. “I’m okay.”
His left hand stays on the ground, which causes my vision to sharpen on him. With furrowing brows, I kneel next to him.
“What’s wrong, Erik? Are you hurt?”
“I’m all right. Just a crick in my back.”
“From catching me? Where?” I move behind him as he stands. I wouldn’t be surprised if he pulled muscles by grabbing me as he broke our falls, but I want to be sure that’s all it is.
The back of his coat has a ton of debris stuck in the fabric.
Jesus Christ.
