Page 10 of Claim My Soul

Alexia’s cheeks blushed beautifully, and she tried to look away, but he held her chin and her gaze.“Alexia?”

“Of course, I was curious about s-sex.I guess I figured one day...”

“One day?”he prodded.

“That it’d happen,” she blurted out, blushing a deeper red.“Silly, I know.”

“Not silly,” he said kindly, meaning it.“But in order foritto happen, there must be a male involved.”He tried not to show his astonishment at realizing she was a virgin.

She narrowed her eyes.“I know that.I’m not clueless.It’s not as if I haven’t—” She suddenly clamped her mouth shut.

“Haven’t what?Been educated?Read about it?”He lowered his voice.“Experimented by yourself?”

Her eyes widened as her mouth formed that perfect O, and all Herleif could think about was filling that cavity with his cock.

“Herleif!”she snapped.

“By the gods, I love when you say my name.Whether in anger or in question.”He brought his face to her neck, inhaling her sweet scent of arousal that stirred his blood and caused his cock to become hard as granite.“How I’d love to hear you scream my name in ecstasy.”He licked her galloping pulse.“Would you like that, Alexia?Would you want your first time to be with me?A troll?”

She reared back, surprising him with the stern look on her face.“Why do you do that?Why must you be so self-loathing?”When he loosened his grip, she stepped back further, raking her gaze down his body then back up again.“Is there something wrong with you?Are you ashamed of who you are?”

He bristled.“Never.”

“Then stop making it sound as if being a troll is abhorrent.Because it’s not.”

Rather than think too hard about her words and how they warmed the depths of his soul, he reverted to his usual snarky arrogance.“Does that mean you’d welcome me in your bed?”

“Ugh!”She threw her hands up in exasperation and returned to the task of getting mugs and tea out of her cupboards.

Herleif held back a laugh as he watched her backside, enjoying the view of her curves and her long hair swaying with her movements.His mind took an erotic turn and quickly had to shut down those thoughts.Otherwise, he would have her on her hands and knees as he plowed into her from behind.

And that wouldn’t begin to slake his thirst for her.It certainly wouldn’t be what she deserved, which was to be cared for, treated with tenderness.To be loved.

Herleif didn’t know if he was capable of love.Lust, yes, most definitely.But love?That involved vulnerability.Trust.

“If you’re a coffee drinker, then too bad.Tea will have to do.”

Herleif’s thoughts returned to Alexia’s task.“Tea would be fine.Thank you.”

She turned to face him, her brow raised as if she couldn’t believe he’d been polite.

“What?I do have some manners.”He grinned.

She scoffed, but he caught her grin as she turned to prepare the tea.Herleif moved closer and leaned against the counter, simply watching as she moved about, pulling food from the fridge while the water heated.Within moments, the drinks were ready, and she’d arranged meat, cheese, and fruit on a plate she set on the counter between them.

Her gaze met his and she smiled softly.“I figured food was also in order, given it’s nearly dawn and time for breakfast.Are you hungry?”

“Famished,” he said, and he wasn’t talking about the need for food.But he reigned in his lust and thanked her for her efforts.“I rather like us being cordial to one another,” he said, using her words, earning a grin.

“Well, Herleif Aganarsson, let’s talk about our mission.”She popped a grape in her mouth then smiled wider.“Am I correct that you were also visited by Fate’s messenger and informed of what’s expected of us?”

He nodded.“To save souls from a soul collector.”

“I was told, together we’d know what to do.So, how do you propose we find this soul collector?”

Herleif frowned.“I have no idea.Why should I know what to do?”

“Because the dream walker said so.”

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