Page 68 of Storm of Desire
The storm raged outside. Sleipnirwhickered.
Haakon nuzzled his face into the curve of Árdís's nape and breathed in the scent of her hair. Too late, he realized how dangerous this was. Denying his lust was one thing, but he hadn't realized how much his soul hungered to simply have her in his arms. To feel her fingers stroke lightly over the hairs on his forearm, a simple habitual move she probably wasn't even aware ofdoing.
He could almost forget the last sevenyears.
This. This wasreal.
And it made his heart ache fiercely, for the sheer want ofit.
"Thank you," Árdís whispered. "You're so muchwarmer."
"My foolish mortal body is good for something, itseems."
There was a long moment ofsilence.
She had to break it. "As I recall, it was good for a lot ofthings."
Haakon groaned, burying his face in her hair. "I swear to thegods...."
"You swear to the gods quite often, it seems. That'snew."
He'd begun this quest thinking of revenge. He'd pictured how he'd repay her a thousand times. Kissing her, and then denying her anything more. Making her beg for sweet mercy. Or walking away after he coolly told her she meant nothing to himanymore.
Somehow, it didn't seem as though he held the upper handhere.
Árdís was right. He was afool.
"Just go to sleep," he growled, and shut his eyes, though the throbbing ache between his legs told him it would be a long time before he got any peacehimself.
13
Sunlight washeddown over her as Árdís strode along the grassy mountain slope, searching for her husband. The basket in her hands swung, and she wore a smile. It seemed she was never without one these days. Two months married, and her happiness settled over her like a warmcloak.
This world was so far removed from the one she'd known. She couldn't remember feeling this way in over half a cycle, since her father died and her brother fled. She'd still had Marduk at her side, but life had become different, wariness staining the court. She hadn't realized how empty her life had become once Marduk vanished as well, until she metHaakon.
Home.
It felt like she'd found a home. And there were people here who loved her, and drew her into their lives as if she belonged. Every time she saw Haakon, her heart seemed to expand in her chest, until it felt like it grew three sizes. She could chase forever in his arms, and never regret athing.
Everything feltright.
Or almosteverything.
Herdrekishivered within her. It had been weeks since she'd last shifted shape and flown. She missed it dreadfully, but there were always eyes upon her at the moment, and Haakon hadn't been hunting in over a month. He'd been too busy with the harvest, and then the cows were birthing, and now some of the goats had escapedand—
It was never-ending. But it pleased her, this simplelife.
And if she had to sacrifice something, then perhaps it was worthit.
Her smile slipped. If she were being honest, it was no small sacrifice. It was the one thing that jarred her perfect life, but how could she expect Haakon to react if he knew what shewas?
"Hiya,hiya!"
Her heart swelled. She knew that voice, and hurried over the rise, sighting her husband below. Stripped of his shirt, with sweat gleaming on his bare chest, Haakon was trying to capture the last goat. Sunlight flirted over his tanned skin as he made a lunge and brought the beast down. Muscles flexed as he knelt on its flank, binding its feet together swiftly as he panted. The others were lashed in their wicker pen, bleating when they sawher.
Some creatures couldn't be fooled. They smelled the truth on her skin. She kept telling him animals had never liked her, and he'd finally banned her from the milking shed after the cow kept kicking the bucket of milk over every time she went nearit.
"I should have known you had something to do with this," he growled as he straightened and brushed his hands off. His hair was growing longer, the sides shaved, and a top knot of silky blond drawn back off his face with a strip of leather. He tried to maintain his fierce expression, but laughed when she rolled hereyes.
