Page 55 of The Viking’s Captive

“Come!” he said, standing suddenly and drawing her to her feet. “I want to show you something.”

She pulled back. “They are about to serve the meal.”

“We will be right back,” he assured her. “And I promise you will be pleased, sweetling.”

The man could make a stone purr…

They were out in the stables.

The stables, for the love of Loki!The man praised her for her feminine fripperies, then took her out to a stable, of all things.

Adam was holding a wall torch in one hand and pulling her along with his left hand, through the alley created by the stalls of horses on either side. Although it was cold outside, it was warm in here with all the body heat created by the animals.

“Look there,” he said, putting the torch in a wall bracket and opening the gate to the last stall, which was empty. Well, not quite empty. There was a mother cat and its litter of kittens … several weeks old, Tyra would guess.

She knelt down on the straw and petted one of them. It arched its back and rubbed against her stroking fingers. “Pretty kitty, pretty kitty,” she cooed.

“I told you you would like my surprise,” Adam said, also kneeling in the straw and picking up another kitten. This one was not so docile and fought against being taken in hand.

The mother cat hissed at them, then settled in to staring at them with her all-seeing eyes, apparently reassured that they meant no harm to her babies.

“I do like your surprise, but I don’t understand why you would want to show them to me.”

“This little dearling … that is why I brought you here.” He held out his arm so she could get a better view of the scrappy kitten that fit right into the palm of his hand but was flailing its little paws, trying to scratch. Aside from its nature, it was different from the rest. Its fur was silver gray with white feet and nose, while the other cats were midnight black. And this cat’s fur stood up on end as it meowed its displeasure.

“Just like you,” he explained.

“I beg your pardon.”

“All the kittens are adorable, in their own way, but this one is a fighter, and always will be. It stands out from the litter. Because it looks different, others will probably treat it differently, which in turn will cause it to become more feisty and independent.”

Tyra laughed. “That is the most outlandish thing I have ever heard. I hope you do not consider it a compliment.”

“Sounds good to me,” he said, placing the kitten back with its mother and pulling her to her feet. “I think we should name her Warrior, for her namesake.”

“Hmph! How do you even know it is a girl?”

“Ty-ra! For shame! I am a doctor. I know these things,” he said, waggling his eyebrows at her.

She laughed. “So, you are likening me and my sisters to cats?”

He nodded, but she could tell his mind was somewhere else … probably in the vicinity of her exposed bosom.

She should have pulled her hand from his, but she didn’t. She should have shoved when he leaned back against the wall and took her with him, but she didn’t. She should have run for her life when she saw his eyes turn smoky blue with arousal, but she didn’t.

“Come to my bed furs tonight,” he urged, at the same time wrapping his arms around her waist and tugging so that she lost her balance and leaned against him.

“Nay,” she said.

“You smell good,” he whispered against the curve of her shoulder.

The feel of his lips against her bare skin was so delicious that it took her a moment to respond. “Roses.”

“Uhmmm,” he said, whatever that meant.

“Are you going to kiss me?” she asked, surprised at the breathlessness of her voice.

“Undoubtedly,” he said. “Will you yield to me?”