Page 37 of The Viking’s Captive

What that offer had to do with being a good soldier, she had no idea. “What itch?” She cocked her head in question.

“The one right there,” he said, waggling his eyebrows as he stared at the crotch of her braies.

She blushed furiously.

“The one you scratch on occasion … especially when you notice one of your men doing the same.”

She tried to pull her hand away, again to no avail. The man saw too much by half. She did try to take on some masculine traits. The way she walked, for one thing, when she remembered not to roll her hips. Her garments, for another thing. Crude gestures, for still another. It was silly, she supposed, especially if people like this brute noticed that they were not natural movements.

“Now, now, do not be embarrassed. I think it’s rather adorable, actually … in a silly sort of way.”

“Adorable? You think my scratching my private parts is adorable? I need to rethink my actions. I really do. Adorable is not the image I am trying to convey.”

He threw his head back and laughed. What a wonderful sound his laughter was! Warm and spontaneous and very, very sensual.

When he was done laughing at her, he pulled a mock-somber face and asked her the most unexpected thing: “Well, isn’t there some important question you have been yearning to ask me?”

She couldn’t imagine what he was referring to.

He stood and pulled her to her feet with him. An amazing feat in itself. She did not realize he had the strength.

“Don’t you want to ask me what I am wearing under my robe?”

When his mischievous comment finally penetrated the daze she was in, she blushed again, because, of course, she had wondered idly about that very subject. But a woman, and her pride, could stand only so much teasing. She pulled hard, and he released her hand. As she stomped down the rampart path, she heard the oaf laughing.

But she did not stop stomping, and he did not stop laughing … until he called out, “Nothing.”

And then he reminded her, “You owe me, sweet lady-warrior. Do not forget the kiss.”

As if I could!