Read Online The Pagan's Prize by Miriam Minger - Free Book Online Page A

sudden idea
came to him. His blood raced red-hot through his veins.
    By Odin, why had he not considered it before? For a
woman accustomed to giving pleasure to one man, whose name, then, would she
most likely cry out at the height of passion? Surely that of her lover, the
hated enemy with whom Rurik hoped to strike his furtive bargain.
    A jarring thud suddenly threw the two of them together.
As Rurik grabbed the startled woman to prevent her from falling, he realized
the boat was sliding against the wharf. Yet this time he didn't push her away.
He crushed her against his chest, his lust rearing inside him like a wild thing
set free. Why not both satisfy his need and aid his plan? He saw no harm in it,
and the quicker he got rid of this far too captivating wench, the better!
    Lifting her chin, Rurik brought his mouth down fiercely
upon hers, tasting her lips for the first time and finding them as warm and
soft and as sweet as he had imagined. He was not surprised when she didn't
struggle or twist to escape, instead leaning seductively into their kiss as
might any concubine.
    When she parted her lips, the moist tip of her tongue
touching his, Rurik groaned from the desire shaking him. By Thor, she was eager
and willing! Deepening his kiss, his hands slid down her back to squeeze her
bottom, and he lifted her against that rock-hard part of himself that ached for
the hot softness of her body—
    "Harrumph . . . forgive me, Lord Rurik."
    Arne's startled yet urgent voice broke through Rurik's
impassioned haze. "What is it?"
    "Armed guards, my lord, making their way toward
the boat. I suspect with the intention of boarding."
    Rurik eased his hold upon the woman. There would be
time . . . later.
    "Find the wench a hat, Arne, quickly!" he
ordered. "Her hair must be completely covered." While the Varangian
warrior dropped the tent flap to do his bidding, Rurik lifted the woman in his
arms and placed her on the furs. He took a moment to stuff her thick braid down
the back of her tunic, and noting her flushed cheeks and the anxious frown
between her brows, he sought to reassure her. "You must remain here,
little one, until I come for you. Do you understand?"
    To his surprise, she protested. "No, I want to
stay with you!"
    Rurik had no time to contend with this sudden and
wholly unexpected spark of spirit, although it boded well for her recovery.
    "You cannot, wench, it isn't safe. You must remain
inside the tent. Do not disobey me."
    He had spoken with such sternness that this time she
nodded, her eyes very wide. As Arne reappeared with a woolen cap, Rurik rose
and brushed past him.
    "Put it on her, then meet me outside," he
said grimly. "But stay close to the entrance, Arne. It seems our meek
little lamb has a mind of her own after all, and might think to join us."
    "She'll not get past me, my lord. Have no fear of
that."
    After casting a last glance at the woman, Rurik stepped
from the tent to greet the enemy warriors he surmised were there to check all
vessels docking at the wharf. It made sense in this time of war, and Chernigov
was the usurper Prince Mstislav's most recently conquered city.

     
    ***

     
    "For this hole we must pay thirty silver grivna a
night?" Arne held up a smoking lamp to better view the dingy interior of
the shack they had rented close to the main marketplace. Tattered furs hung
from two narrow windows, the only furnishings a dilapidated table shoved
against a planked wall and two benches. Cursing under his breath, the husky
warrior kicked at the filthy reeds littering the floor. "Smells of piss
and stale ale to me."
    "We're lucky to have it." Frowning, Rurik
ignored Arne's continued muttering. "The city is overrun with merchants
and Mstislav's retainers. If we hadn't chanced down this street as those other
traders were leaving, someone else would have slept here tonight."
    "Aye, and if the prince's watchdogs had only kept
us a while longer with their questions, we'd have missed the honor!" Arne
snorted in