Read Online A Viking For The Viscountess by Michelle Willingham - Free Book Online
Authors: Michelle Willingham
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again.
“I’ll put Harry to bed,” her maid offered. The old woman gathered up a large quilt and handed it to Juliana.
Though she accepted the quilt, her heart began quaking within her. She led the man outside, and her breath formed clouds in the air. It had grown dark, and she shivered in the cold.
The tiny shelter was barely large enough for two horses, let alone this man. Still, she brought him inside, searching for a place where he could sleep.
Guilt filled her up inside, for the interior was freezing and filthy. No man should have to sleep like this. It simply wasn’t right. She faltered, not knowing what to say, when Thorgrim took her hand and led her to the back of the space. His palm was warm against her own cool flesh.
“Your servant says I may stay only until the moon completes its phases.”
Words failed her, for she didn’t want to believe that any of this was happening. “You don’t have to stay at all. This isn’t your problem, and I—”
“Do you want me to stay?” His voice was dark and deep, reaching past her inhibitions. In the darkness, she was fully aware of him. He pressed her back against the wood, his body so near, she could sense the heat of him.
Yes, I want you to stay. How she longed to lean on someone, to have him share her burden and help her overcome it. In this darkness, she was acutely aware of him. The heat of his skin allured her, making her want to rest her cheek against his chest, enclosed in his arms.
“There’s nothing you can do,” she said at last. “This is about proving I was legally married.” She wished now that she had never taken those vows with William. At the time, she had been young and naïve, believing every word he had spoken. But after he’d gone, she had learned to rely upon herself. She had grown stronger, realizing that her husband had abandoned her. Though it had hurt her feelings, she understood that she was better off without him. A marriage in name only was better than a husband who constantly belittled her.
And yet, within a single night, she had reverted to the weak woman she had been, blindly succumbing to a man’s seduction. It bothered her deeply that she’d let this stranger touch her as if she was a woman starved for affection.
“You are wrong, Juliana,” Arik said. “There is a great deal I can do before the moon grows full again. The gods sent me here for that purpose.”
She doubted if he could do anything at all to help. And yet…her own efforts had been unsuccessful. Was there anything to lose by letting him try? She was beginning to wonder.
“We will return to Hawthorne House at daybreak,” he insisted. “I will speak to your enemies and fight on your behalf.”
She half-imagined him wielding a battle-ax against the helpless butler, and the vision made her bite back a smile. “Even if we did go to Hawthorne House, the servants would turn us away.”
“Let them try.” He stood taller, and crossed his arms. The arrogant expression on his face was that of a man who believed he could conquer any enemy. “Or are you too afraid to fight for your son?”
It wasn’t that at all. She’d tried, truly she had. But with no means of proving herself to be the viscountess, she’d lost everything. “I don’t think there’s anything you can do.”
“You are wrong. Hundreds of men obeyed my rule in Rogaland. I went on many raids and defeated countless enemies.” He spoke with such confidence, he was beginning to sway her common sense. She had already tried everything else in her power.
This man claims he’s a thousand-year-old Viking. You’re losing your wits if you think he can help you.
“You don’t believe in magic or traveling through time,” she chided. “It’s not real.”
“I do not know what is real anymore,” he said, his arms closing around her. “But you are real. And so is this.”
His mouth drifted across her lips in the barest kiss, tempting her to open. She tasted the warm breath of his
“I’ll put Harry to bed,” her maid offered. The old woman gathered up a large quilt and handed it to Juliana.
Though she accepted the quilt, her heart began quaking within her. She led the man outside, and her breath formed clouds in the air. It had grown dark, and she shivered in the cold.
The tiny shelter was barely large enough for two horses, let alone this man. Still, she brought him inside, searching for a place where he could sleep.
Guilt filled her up inside, for the interior was freezing and filthy. No man should have to sleep like this. It simply wasn’t right. She faltered, not knowing what to say, when Thorgrim took her hand and led her to the back of the space. His palm was warm against her own cool flesh.
“Your servant says I may stay only until the moon completes its phases.”
Words failed her, for she didn’t want to believe that any of this was happening. “You don’t have to stay at all. This isn’t your problem, and I—”
“Do you want me to stay?” His voice was dark and deep, reaching past her inhibitions. In the darkness, she was fully aware of him. He pressed her back against the wood, his body so near, she could sense the heat of him.
Yes, I want you to stay. How she longed to lean on someone, to have him share her burden and help her overcome it. In this darkness, she was acutely aware of him. The heat of his skin allured her, making her want to rest her cheek against his chest, enclosed in his arms.
“There’s nothing you can do,” she said at last. “This is about proving I was legally married.” She wished now that she had never taken those vows with William. At the time, she had been young and naïve, believing every word he had spoken. But after he’d gone, she had learned to rely upon herself. She had grown stronger, realizing that her husband had abandoned her. Though it had hurt her feelings, she understood that she was better off without him. A marriage in name only was better than a husband who constantly belittled her.
And yet, within a single night, she had reverted to the weak woman she had been, blindly succumbing to a man’s seduction. It bothered her deeply that she’d let this stranger touch her as if she was a woman starved for affection.
“You are wrong, Juliana,” Arik said. “There is a great deal I can do before the moon grows full again. The gods sent me here for that purpose.”
She doubted if he could do anything at all to help. And yet…her own efforts had been unsuccessful. Was there anything to lose by letting him try? She was beginning to wonder.
“We will return to Hawthorne House at daybreak,” he insisted. “I will speak to your enemies and fight on your behalf.”
She half-imagined him wielding a battle-ax against the helpless butler, and the vision made her bite back a smile. “Even if we did go to Hawthorne House, the servants would turn us away.”
“Let them try.” He stood taller, and crossed his arms. The arrogant expression on his face was that of a man who believed he could conquer any enemy. “Or are you too afraid to fight for your son?”
It wasn’t that at all. She’d tried, truly she had. But with no means of proving herself to be the viscountess, she’d lost everything. “I don’t think there’s anything you can do.”
“You are wrong. Hundreds of men obeyed my rule in Rogaland. I went on many raids and defeated countless enemies.” He spoke with such confidence, he was beginning to sway her common sense. She had already tried everything else in her power.
This man claims he’s a thousand-year-old Viking. You’re losing your wits if you think he can help you.
“You don’t believe in magic or traveling through time,” she chided. “It’s not real.”
“I do not know what is real anymore,” he said, his arms closing around her. “But you are real. And so is this.”
His mouth drifted across her lips in the barest kiss, tempting her to open. She tasted the warm breath of his
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