Page 101 of The Outlaw Viking

“He said his name was Oswald—the leader of a Saxon garrison newly assigned to Jorvik, I think.”

“He will not live to celebrate another Christmas,” Selik proclaimed with deadly purpose as he put the pottery jar back to the floor and wiped the liniment off his fingers with the linen cloth.

Then he surprised her by untying the ropes that bound her, ordering, “Go wash thyself,” he said, pointing to the corner where a pitcher of water lay on a bale of hay. “And relieve thyself, as well,” he added with dry humor. “I find the act of holding a bed pan even more degrading than pissing into it.”

Rain cringed at the icy loathing in his voice but hurried quickly past the candles into the dark, chilly corner. When she was done, she returned to the bedside. Selik still sat on the bed, his somber expression highlighted by the flickering candles.

“Sit,” he said, pointing to his lap.

Rain’s heart flip-flopped, but she did not question his command.

“Nay, not that way,” he said, turning her to straddle his lap.

Rain felt suddenly exposed and vulnerable, sitting in such a position, naked, while Selik was fully clothed in tunic, braies, and leather boots. She bent her head in shame, then gasped at the air that hit the inner folds of her body when Selik widened his legs.

Selik grinned, almost as if he couldn’t help himself. Then he traced the scar at her inner elbow. “You should have told me you could not get pregnant.”

“I didn’t think it was important.”

“Why do you think I refrained from penetrating your body during that ridiculous hour-long kissing bout or the other near-consummation?”

Rain looked up in surprise, searching his eyes. “Because I thought you believed what you said about sex weakening soldiers before a fight. And because…because I thought you didn’t find me attractive enough.”

Selik inhaled sharply and she felt his erection grow and harden against her center. “Are you daft?”

Rain smiled tentatively, for the first time beginning to think Selik might not be going to punish her physically—at least, not in the tortuous ways she’d imagined. “You mean, you are attracted to me?”

“You are a witch. Nay, do not think to pretend to be an angel. I see the devilish glint of seduction in your honey eyes. You think to lure me from my anger with your sensual wiles.” Abruptly, he pressed her femininity against his raging arousal. “For weeks, I have fantasized about all the things I would like to do to your body, but could not do because of that nonsense you spouted about beads of semen.”

Rain smiled, but her smile soon faded as he mentioned a few of his fantasies in sultry whispers as his fingertip still traced erotic circles around the scar on her arm. Rain was very impressed with his creative mind. When he raised her arm and put the tip of his moist tongue to the scar, Rain felt a wetness pool, hot and molten, between her legs. She tightened her thighs in resistance.

Selik’s eyes glittered. He knew what he was doing to her. Oh, yes, he knew. And loved it.

“Selik,” she whispered in a hoarse plea, “take off your clothes, too.”

“Nay, this is a journey I intend to begin fully garbed.”

“A journey?”

“Yea, we are going a-Viking—on an adventure, an exploration.” Although anger and hurt over her betrayal still tensed his face, Rain saw the glint of mischief in his eyes.

“What kind of exploration? What are we looking for?”

“Your G-spot.”

“Oh, Selik.” She laughed, “That’s not necessary.”

“Yea, ’tis,” he disagreed. “And I might even show you the secret S-spot if I am able to get over my anger toward you.”

“S-spot?” Rain asked dubiously, not sure if he was teasing.

“Yea, do not tell me there is something your famous sex exports with their bloody manuals do not know.”

Rain choked back her laughter. “Experts,” she corrected, “not exports.”

He waved a hand dismissively. “’Tis of no import. The truth is, the sultans who first discovered the S-spot guard the secret in their harems. A few Viking invaders learned the secret and perfected the art. No doubt, the information never reached your…country.”

Selik’s lips twitched with amusement. Rain couldn’t be sure if he was serious or not. She didn’t care. At this moment, all she cared about was Selik and the love she felt for him.