Page 12 of Law

She tried to wiggle out from beneath the Viking stone wall that had collapsed on top of her. The man must weigh a ton. Maybe more.

With all the dust and debris floating in the air, was it any wonder she now had to sneeze? What had exploded? And how? One minute, she was defending her Viking’s back, and the next, she was tossed to the ground with him on top of her.

Even though the Society was trying to recapture her and a two-ton Tillie was squashing the life out of her, tingles zapped in places that should not be zapping. No normal woman would react like that in such a dangerous situation. There was something wrong with her.

That being said, there was much to appreciate in having a man the size of a Greek god protecting you, to the extent that he would use his own body as a shield. And if what pressedagainst her bottom was what she thought it was, it seemed his god-like proportions extended to every part of his body.

Her Viking pushed off the ground, first taking the time to unbuckle them. “We’ve got to move.”

She yelped as he pulled her to her feet and dropped to one knee, facing away from her. “Climb on.”

What? “Climb on what?” Because he couldn’t mean what she thought he did.

“My back. Climb on so I can get us out of here.”

“I can walk. I’m too heavy for you to carry on your back.”

He glared at her over his shoulder. “You have until I count to one to get on my back.”

Stubborn streak activated. “What happens after one?”

Her stubborn streak must have shown on her face, as he didn’t answer her question. Instead, he snatched up her backpack and said, “One.”

After seizing her upper arms with hands so large his fingers overlapped his thumbs, he slung her onto his back. As soon as she landed, he grabbed her butt. Yelling, “Hang on!” he pulled her tight against his hips and raced toward the front gate.

With no other choice, she wrapped her legs around his hips and clung to him like a baby monkey. Bouncing on his back was frightening at this height, so she leaned to the side to see where they were headed.

He bounced her extra hard. “Keep your head down!”

She did as she was told, but not before seeing all the men standing around the gate firing weapons into the compound. Her heart froze. Why were they running toward the armed Society guards who were more than willing to shoot at them?

Wait, those weren’t security guards. Whoever they were, they were firing into the compound to give Viking time to get them out. Just before they reached the gate, Lovie looked back at thecompound. Unable to stop herself, she stuck her tongue out at the General when she caught his eye.

Of course, Viking saw her. Even through all the gunfire, she understood his guttural, “You’re not helping.”

He crossed back through the same meadow she had been staring at since arriving at the compound. Did he not notice the fence? How was she supposed to get over a fence that high, topped with what appeared to be razors and spurs?

Viking squeezed her bottom. “Hop down for a minute.”

He helped her to the ground and reconnected them with his belt, this time without going through a loop on either belt. He must have known he might have to do this, or he wouldn't have had a belt long enough for it. It was time for him to share his plan. “What are we doing?”

He grinned at her. Grinned! “Ever been rock climbing, fairy cat?”

“Well, no. But we’re not at a rock wall. We’re at a fence.”

“That’s true, but the concept is the same. The only way off this property is over that fence, so that’s where we’re going.”

Was he speaking a different language? He must have been, because in English, what he said made no sense. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about getting us out of here, fairy cat. Hold on tight.”

He glanced at the top of the fence, the part covered with circles of barbed wire, and wedged the tip of his boot into a link of the fence.

“Wait. You’re planning on climbing the fence? With me on your back? Are you crazy?”

“Yep. Hold on tight!”

As though she had any other choice, she wrapped her legs and arms around him, tightening her grip. “Was this always part of the plan?”

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