Page 52 of Viking in Love

“How will you do that if you give me all your coin?”

Red flags appeared in her cheeks. “That is a problem I will solve when the time comes.”

Typical female illogic. In other words, she would give me her future. “You insult me with your offer, woman.” He grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her, so outraged was he by this whole situation and by her most of all, for laying the solving in his lap. He had not realized how hard he was shaking her until he heard her teeth chattering and looking down, saw that her breasts were jiggling. Whaaat?

He shook her another time to double-check the jiggling business. Definite jiggling. “I did not realize your breasts were so big.”

“They are not,” she said, squirming out of his grasp and folding her arms over her chest.

“They look big to me.” Wouldst like me to check?

“Oh, please, can we stop talking about my nonexistent breasts?”

Must we? “If they are not breasts, what are they?”

“Aspics.”

That is the first I have heard them called that. Despite her slapping hands, he pressed a fingertip into one of them, and, truth be told, it was the texture of aspic.

He could not help but laugh.

She glowered at him for finding humor in her…bosoms.

“Why would you put aspics on your chest?” In case your lover gets sudden hunger pangs whilst in bed?

“Please, can we drop this subject?”

When it is just getting interesting? “Not a chance!”

“Amicia said men are attracted by big jiggling breasts.”

“And you wanted big jiggling breasts to attract…oh, good Lord! Me?”

“Well, not precisely. I mean, yea, you, but not because…Oh, what is the use!” She threw her hands in the air, as if in surrender. “Seducing you is a lost cause, and one which I find extremely distasteful.”

“If that was seduction, you could have fooled me. You drew a knife on me, woman. And telling a man he is ‘extremely distasteful’ is not an inducement to do anything.”

“I did not draw a knife on you. I only contemplated knifing you.”

“Oh, that makes it better, then.”

His lips twitched with humor, which would probably earn him a slap if he let it show. “Why, pray tell, were you trying to seduce me, if you find me so repugnant?”

“Not repugnant. Just insufferable.”

His lips twitched some more.

“You are laughing at me,” she accused.

“Not at you. It is the whole situation.”

Her lips twitched with humor, too. “It is funny…that I could attract such as you, let alone tempt you to our cause.”

“I do not know about that.”

She raised her brows at him.

“You are tempting, all right.” He ran his knuckles over the smooth skin of her cheek, then rubbed a loose strand of hair between thumb and forefinger. It was silky.