Page 27 of The Shipwreck
That gave Avril pause.She gazed wistfully into the fire, wishing it were thus with her people as well.Her father had understood.He’d believed that women were just as capable as men.That was why he’d made her his heir.But most men were like her brothers, who thought that a woman’s place was under a man’s boot.
“In my land,” Brandr added softly, “the warrior woman in your story?She would never have lost her castle.”
Avril bit her lip.
He continued.“Anyone who refused her rule would have been sent into exile.”
Her throat tightened.That was how it should have been.Instead,she’dbeen sent into exile.
He went on.“And she wouldn’t need an army to take back what was rightfully hers.”
Tears of frustration threatened behind her eyes, but she bit them back.She couldn’t think about that.What was past was past.She couldn’t change what had happened.And there was nothing she could do about it now.
Mortified at the thought of crying in front of a Viking, she sniffed sharply, clapped the soot from her hands, and abruptly stood up.Unfortunately, as she did so, she stepped on the hem of her skirt, which was still partially tucked into her belt.In the blink of an eye, she tripped and stumbled sideways toward the fire.
How Brandr moved so swiftly, she didn’t know.In one instant, she was falling face-first toward the burning coals, and in the next, he’d caught her with his boot and propelled her back toward him.
As she fell, she reflexively put out her hands.She managed to partially catch herself, though she heard him grunt in pain as she fell against his splinted arm.But that wasn’t the worst of it.She landed with her hands on his chest, her face in his belly, and her breast in his palm.
Chapter 8
Brandr hardly felt the throbbing in his broken arm.It was nothing compared to the panicked throbbing of his heart.The woman had almost fallen into the fire.Thank Odin he’d had the reflexes and strength to save her.“Are you all right?”
She lifted her head to look up at him.There was a curious expression on her face, as if she were simultaneously relieved and horrified.
Then he realized what part of her was nestled against his palm, and suddenly the throbbing of his arm and his heart diminished in comparison to the burgeoning throbbing in his trousers.It had been a long time since he’d felt the soft fullness of a woman’s breast.His response was unavoidable.
They stared at each other uncertainly, knowing they had to extricate themselves from this awkward predicament somehow, both reluctant to move for fear of making it worse.The moment stretched on, becoming more and more strained, and neither budged.
And then a strange thing happened.Avril closed her eyes and made a small sound in her throat, not quite a sigh of pleasure, not quite a whimper of distress, and her fingers tightened with subtle pressure on his chest.He froze, afraid to breathe.
When she opened her eyes again, it was only halfway, and she lowered her gaze to his mouth.He, too, was drawn to her lips—so sweet, so tempting, like ripe fruit just out of his reach.
He had the mad urge to lean down and steal a kiss, to taste her soft, succulent lips once again, to be reckless and bold and claim her like a marauder.
But the damned leather collar around his neck prevented him.
Hell, it was just as well.After all, it would be a mistake to do something so impulsive and irresponsible.It would destroy her trust and ruin his plans for escape.
He had to resist temptation.
She, however, didn’t even try.
Lust knocked Avril over like an unexpected ocean wave, stealing her breath away, dragging her into deeper currents, drowning her good sense.
In some dim corner of her brain, she knew she should back away.But Brandr’s chest felt deliciously strong and supple beneath her fingers.His breath caressed her brow.His eyes were smoky and inviting.What she really wanted to do was kiss him.
She eased forward the slightest bit, sucking in a quick breath as his hand rasped gently across her breast.She hesitated, then moved against him again, relishing the tantalizing friction as his palm grazed her.The third time, she squeezed her eyes shut in pleasure.And he responded, moving his thumb tenderly across her nipple.
There was no stopping the coursing tide then.With a soft gasp, she surged forward, caught his stubbled face between her hands, and planted her lips across his enticing mouth.
His cheek was coarse, he smelled of smoke and the sea, and his body was as hard and rough as seasoned oak.But his lips were warm and yielding, and his kiss was filled with gentle wonder.
He answered her at once, angling his face to release and recapture her lips, drawing them in with his own.He breathed passion across her cheek and gasped as she licked experimentally at his mouth.His jaw opened in invitation, and for an instant she hesitated, wondering if he’d bite her like that wolf in his story.Then yearning overrode caution, and she let her tongue venture within, enjoying the ale-sweet taste of him and the pleasing shock as his tongue answered in kind.
Her eager fingers furrowed through his hair, unmindful of his salt-crusted tangles.She pressed closer, letting her breasts chafe provocatively against his chest.They were both breathing heavily now, and she could feel her heart beating like the ocean pounding the shore.
She continued to kiss him, in too deep to turn back.She dared not stop to take a breath, for fear one of them might come to their senses and halt the exhilarating madness.
