“I cannot stay here,” he says, attempting to push past me, but is stopped when Ulf appears out of nowhere and grips his wrist.
Skarth instantly yanks out of his hold, squaring off with him. They are almost nose to nose. Neither Viking will back down. I will not have them fighting like infants.
“Enough!” I cry, wedging my way between the men.
My words fall on deaf ears, however, because Skarth reaches for Ulf behind me. I slap his arm away, eyes narrowed. My action only infuriates Skarth further.
“Move, Emeline, or so help me Odin.”
“I will not allow this.”
“You do not have a say in the matter.”
“You arrogant Dane! I am the cause and will not have you arguing over something such as this.”
Skarth curls his lip, beyond livid. “You may be part of the reason, but it would have always ended this way between Ulf and me.”
Ulf chuckles from behind me, pushing into me. “Yes, the better man won.”
Appalled by his arrogance, I spin and slap Ulf’s cheek, taking him off guard. “How dare you! I am not some prize to be won. You know better than that!”
“Forgive me,” he quickly says, attempting to console me, but his touch is the last thing I want right now.
Skarth knows better than to offer me comfort.
“Something beautiful has turned to ugliness. Why must this be some game? I love you both. Just because I feel this way does not lessen the love I feel for either of you. Or does it mean I love one more than the other?”
Skarth scoffs, clearly annoyed.
Spinning back to face him, I shove him in the chest. It’s in vain, but it still feels good. “You have been gone for a very long time. I did not know if you were returning. Or if you had a new family. I learned to rely on myself. So who I love and how I love is my choice and mine alone.
“I’ve never kept it a secret that I love you both, and you seemed to accept the fact. So don’t stand here and snicker because, quite frankly, I loathe both of you just as much as the other!”
Skarth doesn’t hesitate as he snares my hair and yanks my head backward. “Watch your tongue, Emeline.”
“Or what?” I taunt, eyes locked on his.
“Or I will watch it for you.”
Before I can give him an earful, he brutally forces his mouth and robs me of air as he kisses me with violence. He locks me in place by clasping my hair firmly, forcing me to bend to his will as he molests my mouth with his.
I fruitlessly fight but eventually concede because he is intent on punishing me.
I kiss him back with as much anger and passion because at this moment, I love to hate him, and when he slaps my arse, I dare say he feels the same way.
We are lost in these violent delights when I feel another set of lips on me.
Ulf’s.
As Skarth devours my mouth, Ulf commences kissing my neck. Both their fingers are interlocked, tugging at my hair. I am being pulled both ways; split right down the middle. A little reflective of my feelings for both men.
Skarth gathers the material of my ruined dress and tears it to shreds. As barbaric as this action is, it sends my body into overdrive.
I scratch at his chest as we kiss, desperate to claw my way in.
He growls into my mouth, biting my bottom lip.
I taste blood, which he soon licks away.
