This is making me feel so much better. I’m shocked the Viking is capable of soothing someone. I didn’t think it was in his wheelhouse.
When he begins reading the foreign words out loud again, I close my eyes and pretend I’m in a cabin in the woods, where no one can reach me. I’m safe and warm. And I can stay as long as I want.
27
ERIK
Itell Arya any time she wakes up, she should wake me, too. She does. And each time, I read to her again until she falls back to sleep. It’s not a restful night. That’s all right. It’s the first time she’s confided in me. She needs to know she made the right decision.
It surprises me how tough it is for her to tell me things. Most people are more talkative than I am. Especially women. Especially extroverts. I assumed any lover of Arya’s would get her life story the first night. Instead, it turns out she’s as closed off as I am. I suspect the key to unlocking her is perseverance, which is fine. I’ve got that in spades.
We both sleep later than usual, but for the first time since she’s been with me, I’m awake in the morning before her.Good.I stay where I am so she won’t wake up alone.
I retrieve my tablet from the nightstand and start reading. An hour later, I’m engrossed in the book when Arya rolls over, rubbing her eyes.
She pushes strands of dark hair back from her face. “Is it morning?”
“Yeah, it’s nine thirty.”
“Are you kidding? That’s amazing.” She raises her head and shoulders so she can check the clock, then she lowers herself back down and curls against me. “Amazing,” she whispers as her fingertips rub my chest. “Do you always come to the rescue when a girl cries?”
“Is the girl you?”
She smiles, like fucking sunshine. “Sometimes you use exactly the right words, Viking. Have you ever thought about writing?” She mimes scribbling something down. “I think you might have some raw talent. Maybe give it a shot.”
I exhale a chuckle as she moves to the opposite side of the bed and slides out from under the bedspread. My gaze locks on her sexy form as she collects her clothes.
“How’s my ass?” she says tartly, as though she feels my eyes on her.
“Perfect.”
“No hand prints?” she asks, looking back at herself.
“No. Need some?”
She smirks and flips me off. “We’re going to have words about those spankings you like to give.”
I put an arm behind my head. “I’m free right now.”
She treats me to a side-eyed look before she pulls her shirt on. Once she’s mostly dressed, she grabs her hair stuff and leaves for the shower.
* * *
An hour later,I’m reading in the living room when movement catches my eye. Arya’s wearing burgundy stretch pants that hug the perfect curve of her ass and another one of those half shirts that leave several inches of gorgeous skin exposed.
Strolling into the room, she asks, “Want some sugar?”
I drag my gaze away from her flat stomach. “No. Just plain coffee.” My head inclines toward my half-empty cup.
She smirks and raises a brow. “Not what I meant, Viking.” From my hand, she takes the tablet and sets it on the coffee table, then she moves my arm away from my chest and lowers herself onto my lap.
I like her there, and my arm slides around her to gather her in.
“‘Want some sugar?’ means…” She touches a darkly-painted fingernail to her lips. “Sugar.”
Arya doesn’t wait for a response before kissing me. Nor does she ever fucking need to. Her lips taste like warm berries fresh from the vine. It’s addictive.
Of its own accord, my other arm wraps around her as the kiss deepens.
