Page 58 of Viking in Love

Caedmon nodded. “My bones tell me to be on the alert. This is a situation ripe for trouble.”

“Why not just send the princesses on their way, as you had planned?” Wulf asked.

“Chivalry?”

Geoff snorted, and Wulf gave his opinion in one coarse word.

“I must needs scatter the prey. If they are all here in one place, it will be easier for Edgar to pounce.”

An idea seemed to come to Geoff of a sudden. His face lit up as he asked, “And what of Lady Breanne?”

“She stays here.”

Two sets of eyebrows rose before they all burst out laughing.

A deal’s a deal…

Breanne was livid by the time she located the lout outside at the exercise field.

At first, she was jarred by the sight of him, bare chested, glistening with sweat, as he finished up the day’s sword play. Ne’er had Breanne been inflamed at the sight of a man’s chest afore, but she was now.

“You!” she exclaimed, storming up to him, shoving him in the chest.

Caedmon finished giving directions to the two men he had been speaking to, then took her by the upper arm, nigh dragging her off to the side. “Dost want everyone to hear your latest tirade?”

“I do not…tirade.”

“You could have fooled me.”

“Stop looking at my breasts.”

He grinned.

“What do you mean by sending my sisters away, without discussing it with me first?”

“You asked for my protection. I am giving it.”

“By shrugging them off on others.”

He explained his plan, grudgingly, “By spreading you princesses about to defray the suspicion of Edgar’s hounds which will soon be sniffing about.”

“That is all well and good, but you should have gotten my consent first.”

“I do not need your consent.” Before she knew what he was about, he ran the backs of his fingers over both of her breasts.

“You beast! Why did you do that?”

“Just checking something Amicia said.”

“Oh, nay, please do not tell me that she spoke of the female sucking business.”

Caedmon’s jaw dropped for a moment, and he appeared to have gone speechless. “Nay, she did not mention female sucking. But you can tell me yourself. Later. When my reaction will not be so noticeable to one and all.”

She considered asking what reaction he referred to, but by the continuing grin on his face, she reconsidered. “All right, mayhap it is best that my sisters scatter. Where will you send me?”

“Ah, that is the best part, m’lady. You will stay here. With me.”

If her face had not been flushed with embarrassment before, it would be now. “You do not mean…”