Page 24
“‘Woman so’…what?” she whispered.
“Oh, just shut up.”
He wrapped one arm around her waist, pulling her even tighter against him, his other hand cupping the back of her head, igniting the skin on her neck. His mouth claimed hers, overwhelming her with the sensation of his soft lips, his beard pleasantly scratched her skin and propelled her excitement. When her lips parted, he dipped his tongue and began licking and stroking. He wasn’t tender or gentle. There was something resembling desperation in his intensity. But when his hand went under her ass, lifting her into his lap, so that her legs straddled him, Cathy stopped.
Brad liked to do that.
Brad.
What am I doing?
She shoved against his chest and jumped up.
And met the confused, furious eyes of an aroused Viking who looked at her like a predator studied his prey.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Andor had never tasted anything as good as Cathy’s lips, never smelled anything as delicious as her—roses and the crispness of winter, and the softness of a woman.
When he touched her, it was as though a small lightning bolt crackled where their skin met. The sight of her soft pink lips brought the urge to taste them in a thick, ravenous wave. But there was more. She cared about him, asked questions, wanted to know him better, and a part of him responded. The part that hungered for something deeper, something he had had with Svana and lost forever.
But she had withdrawn, thinking of another man.
And Andor had never felt so rejected.
“Just go to sleep,” he mumbled, his veins still hot from the searing desire.
She stood, towering above him, her big gray eyes wide, angry, and confused, heat storming in them.
“Andor, my fiancé—”
“Clearly this was a mistake. It will not happen again. Just go to sleep. I shall keep watch, then I will wake you and you shall take over.”
He turned away from her and wrapped his cloak tighter around himself, ignoring the way her mouth opened as though she was about to say something. She stood still for a moment before moving away from him. Dry leaves rustled under her feet as she walked to the other side of the fire. Andor watched from under his eyelashes as she lay down on the ground and huddled into her cloak. She bent her arm, rested her head on her elbow, then stared at the dying fire, her eyes still wide.
To all the trolls of all the rotten woods—what had possessed him to kiss her? Yes, she was beautiful and very desirable with her tall, curvy, strong body and things to grab in all the right places.
But it was one thing to desire a woman and another to feel something more. He’d had his share of women—meaningless encounters, just to run away from his memories and satisfy the call of the flesh. He had never felt guilty about being with any of them.
He had thought to do the same with Cathy—distract himself, make her shut up. And, well, she was beautiful.
But there had been something more in that kiss. It had felt too good, too delicious. It was as if his mind had blacked out, giving way to something deeper and wider and more intense than he had even felt with Svana.
Something strange.
Something he refused to define. Guilt stung him and the betrayal of Svana’s memory echoed in his soul.
He wouldn’t allow this any longer. He could not allow himself to care about her because he could not protect those he loved. And he would not be able to endure another loss. The ghosts behind the closed door in his heart made sure to remind him of that. Eyes on the road, eyes towards Jorvik.
The next day they continued on, both of them trying to pretend nothing had happened. Due to his bad leg, he had to make longer stops than he would have liked, but walking was getting easier, although he still needed the stick.
During the first long stop, Andor needed to start a fire to warm them. He twirled the small stick he had carved earlier between his hands, pressing it against a hearth-board, next to the notch he had cut into one side. The friction produced charred sawdust.
Cathy watched him with an open mouth.
“Something interesting you are seeing?” he said.
“Sorry, I’m staring. Can I help?”
