Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 36416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 182(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 182(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
“Be reasonable, Freyr. She’ll catch a chill and be of no use to any of us,” groused Steen.
“Good point. I’ll fetch her some linens of mine,” offered Dagr as he bounded up the staircase. His long powerful stride took the stairs three at a time.
“Grab her a pair of woolen stockings to protect her feet as well,” called out Tore.
Dagr returned with a cream linen shirt, a leather belt and a pair of gray wool stockings.
They all took a step toward me. I tried to step back, but my legs became entangled in the trailing blanket.
“Drop the blanket, Snow.”
Panic rose in my breast as the large men formed a circle around me, trapping me. Their coarse attire of fur and leather gave them the appearance of a pack of wolves, ready to pounce.
“I…I…I could just change in one of the rooms,” I responded weakly as I became lightheaded with fear. Clutching the blanket so close I could feel my nails tear.
They all slowly shook their heads. Seven pairs of dark, unsympathetic eyes stared down at me.
The cold eyes of predators.
“We have explained this to you, Snow. You are ours now. You will either obey Magni and drop the blanket or face the consequences.” This from Dagr. Standing closest to me, I could feel the threatening rumble of his words.
“Please…I can’t—”
“We are losing patience, Snow,” warned Magni.
Defeated, I lowered my head. Keeping my eyes averted, I slowly loosened my grip on the blanket. Feeling its heavy protective weight slide off my shoulders, I bit my lower lip to keep from crying out. Humiliation coiled and twisted my stomach into knots as I could feel their eyes on me. A finger was placed under my chin, forcing my head up. I met the gaze of Dagr. The backs of his knuckles skimmed the upper curve of my breast as he caressed my bare stomach with the fabric of the shirt he held.
Unable to tear my gaze from his, I reached out blindly for the covering. As soon as the bunched fabric was in my hand, I hastily pulled it over my head, grateful for the meager coverage the thin, coarse linen provided as its ample folds fell almost to my knees.
Dagr took a step forward. Reaching around me, he placed his thick leather belt around my waist. I gasped as he threaded the strap through the thick buckle and pulled it tight. Leaning down, he whispered into my ear, “Keep this nice and warm for me until I can use it on your bare ass.”
My mouth fell open in shock. Did he really mean to punish me with the very belt around my waist? I couldn’t suppress a shiver of awareness. The leather felt heavy and tight as it rested on my slim hips. A constant, constrictive warning of my new position as their captive.
A warm hand caressed my calf. Tore knelt before me. He was lifting my foot to place one of the wool stockings on.
“I can do—”
“Silence,” responded Tore as he ran his large palm up higher, cupping the undercurve of my bare bottom.
Without thinking, I reached out to grab Dagr’s strong arm for support as my knees threatened to buckle. I raised my other foot, allowing Tore to run his hand possessively up my exposed leg as if he had the right to touch me so intimately. But then, hadn’t he taken that right last night?
Had it been taken or given? My heart beat faster at the disturbing thought.
Dressed in my strange attire that both protected and exposed me to their gazes, I crossed my arms over my chest, painfully aware they could see the hard buds of my nipples pressing against the shirt.
The men chuckled in response. Amused by my modesty.
“Remember to have our meal ready upon our return,” warned Jerrik as he hefted a bow onto his shoulder.
“What if the lass tries to escape?” asked Magni.
Grabbing a fistful of my hair to get my attention, Dagr hissed, “Then we hunt her down like a doe and bring her back here…to punish for her disobedience.”
“I promise. I won’t try to escape. I have nowhere to go!” I pleaded. Whether I was more alarmed by their threats or just desperate to please my new captors…I couldn’t say. I did know I was telling the truth. I had already determined escape would be foolhardy until I could secure supplies and give my feet at least another night to heal. For better or worse, the dangerous huntsmen were my best bet for survival—at least for now.
They left without saying another word. I didn’t dare even walk toward the door for fear they were still watching me. Instead, I walked over to the kitchen area.
Somehow, I needed to learn how to cook within the next few hours or face the wrath of seven angry, hungry huntsmen.