Page 49 of The Outlaw Viking

Selik’s gray eyes turned misty with remembered passion as well, and the edges of his full, sensual lips tilted upward in a knowing grin. “Ah, well, mayhap next time.”

That night Rain climbed the stairs to a second-floor bed chamber, feeling aches in muscles she hadn’t thought of since medical school. Tykir already slept in the room next door, being exhausted from the trip and his still healing injury.

Selik was in the room, removing his clothing when she opened the door. She thought about closing the door immediately and retreating back downstairs at the magnificent sight of his half-clad body. Swallowing hard, she tried not to stare at his clean hair hanging down past his shoulders, his bare, muscular back, and a trim waist exposed by leggings slung low on his slim hips. Good heavens!

“Shut the door,” he ordered, having already seen her. “’Tis colder than a witch’s tit in here.”

Having no clean rushes to replace the ones taken from the mattresses, Selik had spread his sleeping furs on the floor before a fire in the hearth. The drafty room was warm only directly in front of the fireplace, and Rain already shivered from her recent bath. But still she stood frozen near the doorway.

“Come closer.”

Rain dragged her feet reluctantly toward the fire—and Selik. She had slept next to this man for the past two weeks, knew the smell of his skin, the sound of his light snores, the heat of his flesh. And yet, being here with him in the small bed chamber was different. More intimate. Even the air in the room seemed close, filled with tension.

She wanted to run. And she wanted to stay.

Rain didn’t delude herself about Selik’s intentions. The consummate lover, Selik knew exactly how she was feeling. She could see it in the smoky depths of his gray eyes which watched her every move with hawk-like intensity, the seductive parting of his lips, and the high-strung stalking movement of his body.

He dropped his pants and stood before her, hands on hips, legs parted slightly—totally naked. Rain could not look away. Sweet Lord! The man did not play fair.

She closed her eyes for just a second to gather strength. The firelight cast flickering shadows on his silver-blond hair, and a golden sheen on the firm planes of his chest and washboard-firm abdomen. He exuded restless energy and tightly coiled power.

“Take off your garments, sweetling,” he said in a raw voice.

Rain looked at him in horror.

He glided the tip of his tongue along the seam of his full lips and laughed. “I will not force myself on you. We will just sleep…if that is your desire.”

“Hah!” Rain said in a shaky voice, looking pointedly at his huge erection. He grew even longer under her gaze.

“Oh,” she moaned softly, feeling her defenses weakening.

And Selik moved closer, reaching for her.

She backed away.

He put the palms of both hands up in the air as if in surrender, repeating, “I will not force you.” Then he dropped down to the bed furs to show his good intentions, covering himself. “Come to bed, Rain. It has been a long day, and we are both tired.”

Rain didn’t believe for one minute that he was that tired.

“Selik, our sleeping together all the time is not a good idea.”

“So you have said numerous times afore.”

“I think I should go downstairs and sleep with Blanche.”

“What makes you think Blanche sleeps alone?”

“What?”

Selik shrugged. “She has approached me numerous times. I cannot believe I am the only man she invites to her bed.”

You better believe it, Rain thought with a heavy heart, wondering how long it would take Selik to relinquish his celibacy under Blanche’s unrelenting temptation. Oh, hell!

“There is no choice. You sleep with me,” he declared firmly, patting the fur beside him. “You are my hostage.”

She groaned. “Selik, I’m not going to make love with you. Why torture yourself?”

“And you as well?” His left eyebrow rose a fraction in question.