Total pages in book: 19
Estimated words: 17251 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 86(@200wpm)___ 69(@250wpm)___ 58(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 17251 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 86(@200wpm)___ 69(@250wpm)___ 58(@300wpm)
I knew they were wild, the soul of a beast housed within them, feral as they went into battle. I’d never seen one fight, but I could assume he would be fierce, a true Viking in every sense of the word.
“I didn’t mean to pry.” I licked my lips again and took a step back on instinct. “I didn’t mean to say anything—”
He opened his eyes, taking a step toward me that brought us closer together once more. “Your voice, it eases me.”
I felt myself gasp, heard the sound leave me before I could stop it. His voice, so harsh and rough, so serrated around the edges, had my entire body tingling.
“Greta.” He said my name with so much dark passion I felt my eyes lowering, his voice so pleasurable I had no doubt if he kept talking I’d be able to feel ecstasy.
He knew my name, let that lone word roll from his tongue as if it were the sweetest thing he’d ever tasted.
Or maybe that’s what I thought, wished?
I swallowed, my throat so dry. The wind picked up and brushed strands of my hair along my shoulders, moving it against my cheeks. I lowered my gaze to his hands and saw how he clenched his fingers tightly, as if he wanted to reach out and touch me once more.
I wanted him to.
“Greta.” He said my name once more, this low rumble of masculinity leaving him.
I had a feeling this was the most he’d ever spoken to someone in one interaction. I felt special in a way, chosen, that he wanted to be here with me even if we’d said just a handful of words to each other.
I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but the sound of someone clearing their throat had me looking to the side. I saw my father standing there, glancing between Calder and me, his eyes narrowed. He was a protective man, no doubt knowing Calder and his reputation, maybe worried about my safety.
“Greta, it’s time to leave.”
I nodded, although I wanted to tell him I was of age, that I wanted to stay here with Calder. But being respectful was a priority, even if my arousal for this berserker in front of me wanted to override it.
I wanted to see him again, speak with him. I wanted to get to know Calder. But I said nothing and lowered my head, my hair blocking my view of him as it moved along the side of my face.
Turning to leave, to curse my self-control in this moment, I froze as I felt a light touch on my elbow. I felt his finger scape along my arm, down to my wrist, and to my fingers.
It was just the briefest of touches, light, almost hesitant, something I would never have envisioned from a Viking like him. But my father clearing his throat snapped me out of the haze. I forced myself to walk back to him, feeling Calder’s gaze on me the entire time. I felt like my skin was burning alive where he’d touched me.
And right before he was gone from my view, I looked at him once more and stared at him, our gazes locking, and everything in me telling me to go back to him.
And I wanted to.
Gods, I wanted to.
Chapter Four
Greta
Later that evening
A hand clamped over my mouth had me waking with a start. I made a cry of surprise and fear, but the sound was muffled.
My pallet was in the corner of a separate room, the darkness so thick in this part of our home that for a moment I envisioned I was dreaming.
But I knew this was reality, that the heavy hand covering my mouth was no dream.
Everything seemed so heightened in this moment.
The rapid breathing of a male holding me close to his body.
The smell of wood burning.
The sound of the fire crackling.
But then everything faded, the feeling of my eyes wide, of my lungs seizing, of me not able to breathe in deep enough, all slammed into me.
Then light washed over me, so bright that I instinctively closed my eyes, the pain stabbing right through my head.
I fought, kicked and tried to get out of the hold of whoever had me. My back was to his chest, one of his arms around my middle like a rope, keeping me tethered to him.
I was being moved through the main hall of our home and toward the front entrance.
But I needed to get the attention of my father and brother before I was taken outside and the chances of getting help faded quickly.
I was dragged across the ground, my bare feet moving through mud, the recent rains having everything wet and cold. I was getting farther away from my home, tears running down my cheeks, my vision blurry.
And then I was turned around forcefully, my head cracking back from the force, my eyes widening when I looked into Egil’s face. The moonlight hit him awkwardly, shadows slashing across his forehead and chin, almost distorting his appearance. His eyes were narrowed, his lips curled.