Page 49 of Paying the Viking's Price

‘Overconfidence does you few favours.’ He leapt down from his horse and looped the reins about a branch. ‘Time for you to pay the forfeit.’

‘Here?’ She glanced over her shoulder. They were entirely alone in the peaceful glade beside the river, but it was also out in the open. Anyone could see them. Her mouth dried. ‘You want me to kiss you right now?’

His eyes twinkled. ‘I believe in collecting such debts immediately before the woman in question changes her mind.’

Before she could object, he took Meera’s reins and looped them around the same branch. His strong hands went about her waist and lifted her down onto the spring grass. All around them, the white wood anemones and yellow primroses carpeted the ground. The woods had gone from the barrenness of winter to a riot of spring in a few short days.

Her body brushed against his muscles and thrummed with awareness of him and the fact that they were alone. She was amazed at how alive she felt. It was as if she, too, had suddenly emerged into the warmth and light of spring after spending years in a cold hard winter. She took a step backwards and strove to maintain her dignity and calm, twitching the folds on her gown into place.

‘I can get down myself.’

His face became ultra-serious save for the deepening of blue in his eyes. ‘I will strive to remember that.’

She had the distinct impression that he was struggling against laughter. Edith made a show of straightening the folds a second time, trying not to think, but one thought kept hammering at her brain—she always failed at such games. Her ability to seriously flirt was non-existent.

‘Why have we stopped?’ she asked when the silence became too great. ‘Was there some particular reason why you chose this glade, pretty as it is?’

‘I want my reward.’ His voice flowed over her like silky fur, warming her in the fresh spring air. ‘I claim it as my right. I want it here and now, not in the distant future. Wagers are always best when collected on at once.’

‘A kiss?’ She strove for a natural tone, but her blood started to sing.

‘One single kiss from you. Here and now.’

‘That is the work of a moment.’

She rose up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his cheek. His masculine scent filled her nostrils and she knew all she had to do was to turn slightly and her mouth would meet his. It would become the sort of kiss which had haunted her dreams for the past six nights.

She stepped back, and refused to give in to the impulse. Hilda’s admonishment rang in her ears, making her recall her mother’s long-ago advice—a true lady endures the physical, rather enjoying it. It was wrong of her to want more. She needed to go slower and be submissive rather than always trying to win. It went so against her nature.

‘A proper kiss.’ His breath caressed her ear. ‘I believe I’ve been patient, little one. It is time for your education to properly begin.’

She glanced up at him. Her heart thudded against her chest. A sudden trembling came into her limbs. Excitement rather than nerves. He was going to kiss her. Properly. He wanted to kiss her, despite Hilda’s dire predictions that men never wanted women who argued. ‘Patient? Education? I’m in no need of instruction.’

‘Yes.’ He gathered her closer to him. Her body instantly curved into the lean planes. ‘You are in desperate need of instruction. This is the proper way to kiss. Learn and remember for the next time we wager.’

He lowered his mouth to hers. To begin with, his lips were light like the wings of a butterfly, but rapidly hardened as her lips began to move of their own volition under his.

His tongue stroked her bottom lip, demanding entrance. She opened her mouth and allowed him to feast, allowing her tongue to tangle with his. He tasted of spring air and the newness of life—all honey and clean, unlike anything she had ever tasted before, but ultimately leaving her craving more. A wave of sensation crested within her, breaking and building to another one. She was aware of how his mouth covered hers, how his tongue felt deep within her mouth and how his body moved against hers.

A small moan emerged from her throat as her body arched closer, demanding the solidness and strength of him. Her body seemed to acquire a will and instinct of its own.

‘And now you know how to kiss,’ he murmured against her lips. ‘Shall we see if you learnt the lesson properly?’

‘You want me to kiss you like that?’

‘Until you have done so, the forfeit remains unpaid and we would have unfinished business. Do you wish to finish this in front of everyone?’

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