“That must have been hard for you.”
Bryn shifted in her seat. “Not as much as you think. Our mother wasn’t much of one, to be honest. Her career was more important than anything, and she dragged my dad along. I was more the mother-figure to Randi, but then Mom would swoop in with all the expensive gifts from their business trips andRandi would think she hung the moon. Since I was more of a disciplinarian than our parents were, I was always the bad guy.”
“Are you and Randi close?”
“Not exactly.” Bryn was quiet for a moment. “Yes and no. We had our battles, and most times I didn’t think that she cared about me at all, but then when I needed my sister, she was there for me.”
“You needed her?” A look of pain crossed Bryn’s face. Sven frowned at the sight. “I’m sorry. Is that too personal?”
She stiffened her shoulders. “You’ll probably find out anyhow, especially if your people are like the ones where I’m from. They can sniff out drama like bloodhounds.”
“That doesn’t sound good.”
Bryn rubbed her ring finger. “I was engaged once, about a year ago.” Her words were cold and monotone. “As we got close to the wedding, Randi caught my fiance with the woman who I thought was my best friend.” She gave an icy smile. “You know the old cliche. The one right under your nose.”
Sven was careful not to allow his relief to show that she hadn’t gotten married. “Cliche or not, that is horrible.”
“I got through it.”
He got the sense that there was no reason to pursue any more details. “And that’s why you came to Stagholt?”
“I had always planned to visit here so once Randi was out of the house, it was time. But it is the reason I’m not in a hurry to go home. The scandal is still too fresh, especially since my ex has recently married, and too many feel sorry for me. I hate that.”
He moved over and sat next to her. The mountains flew by outside, but the only view he wanted to enjoy was her.
“Sometimes the worst things in life that close doors just open new ones.”
She surprised him when she burst out laughing. “Talk about cliches. You’re not wrong, but it’s funny hearing it.”
Without being able to resist, Sven reached up and cupped her face. “I hate that he hurt you but to end on another cliche, one man’s loss is about man’s treasure.”
“I’m pretty sure you mean one man’s trash.”
“I could never consider you trash.”
Bryn suddenly leaned up and kissed him. Her soft lips were warm against his own, and he tried to return the kiss with restraint. But when she let out a throaty groan, his body leapt to action and he wrapped her in his arms.
The kiss became an exploration. His tongue parted her lips and danced with her own. Her hands snaked around his neck and she pulled him tighter. He lifted her and sat her on his lap. His hand brushed past her breast and he grasped it through her sweater. His thumb stroked her nipple until it was hard beneath the knit. She groaned again and the kiss grew deeper and more demanding.
To hell with the ritual. I need her right now.
His thought process flew out of his head as fast as the train moved, and he laid her back on the seat. His hand reached under her sweater and he felt her velvety skin as he cupped her bare breast under her bra. He broke the kiss with the intention of moving his mouth to suckle her nipple, but he stilled.
It was against the rules to mate before the ritual.
She wiggled impatiently and tried to pull his mouth back to her own. With will power he didn’t know existed, he sat back and pulled her upright.
“We can’t.”
“Why not?” Her lips begged to be kissed, her face rosy and flushed.
“The ritual. We have to be pure for the ritual.”
She pulled her sweater down. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have kissed you.”
He leaned over and kissed her hard and fast. “You did nothing wrong. I just needed to stop before I wasn’t capable of stopping.”
She stood and walked toward the far side of the car. “If that’s anything like the night we go all the way, it’s going to be pretty hot.”
