Read Online The Viking's Captive by Sandra Hill - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Sandra Hill
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occasional snort of Rashid’s snoring was the only thing breaking the silence between them. Their eyes held the entire time as each weighed the other and wondered if trust could be given.
Finally he nodded.
She smiled widely—a big spontaneous expression of joy—and a hard core of something he could not name began to melt inside him. “I hoped you would agree,” she said, standing with a groan and pulling a long knife out of a scabbard at her belt. She was about to cut his ropes.
“Wait!”
Surprise flared on her face, and her smile faded. Odd how that latter affected him adversely! Her short-lived trust was replaced with suspicion.
“A truce goes both ways. You set
your
conditions, to which I agreed. Now I set mine.”
She still stared at him suspiciously, the knife poised in her hands. “I’m listening.”
Since she was standing tall over him, he had to crane his neck to look up at her. Shifting slightly, she adopted a legs-spread stance.
He hated that arrogant posture. Unfortunately, a familiar part of his body … one that had not been in use for an aeon or so … liked that arrogant legs-spread stance very much.
“If I am unable to help your father … if I try my best and ‘tis not enough”—he paused to quell memories of a time when his best had most definitely not been enough—“if he dies under my care, I want your promise that you will shield me with your own life. Rashid, too.”
She nodded. “‘Tis a fair request you make. I agree.” She started to relax.
“There’s more.”
She went stiff again, but kept her legs spread. Blessed Lord, if she only knew what her pose did to him!
“I want one night in your bed furs. Dusk to dawn. You, naked. Me, naked. Oh, do not be enraged without hearing the rest. You would not have to touch me, and I would not touch you … unless you asked.”
He saw anger in her fiery eyes, and hurt as well, as if his proposition offended her deeply. “Why?”
“Because I want to.”
“Nay!” she declared emphatically and stomped away, muttering something about “lying lackwit Saxons who think with their male organs.”
“Wisdom has two parts: one, having a great deal to say; and, two, not saying it,” Rashid proclaimed from inside the tent. Apparently, the snoring had been a ruse to cover his eavesdropping. And, apparently, he believed that Adam had said too much … too soon.
“She will be back,” Adam predicted, ever the optimist … or was that ever the egotist?
“Every ass loves to hear himself bray.”
“Rashid! Are you calling me an ass?”
“Nay, it is just that you bray overmuch. Comes from having an overlarge ego, I would say.”
I guess that answers my question about optimist or egotist.
Adam laughed, but only for a moment.
Tyra was returning. There was a glow of determination in her eyes, but her cheeks bespoke great embarrassment.
“I agree.”
“You agree?” That part of Adam’s body that had come to life miraculously of late now stood at attention. Talk about miracles! This one was better than any of Alrek’s, in Adam’s opinion.
“Under my conditions,” she added.
“Oh?” Adam tried not to sound as interested as he was.
“One night, and one night only. No touching.”
“Unless you ask me to … or unless you insist on touching me,” he quickly reminded her.
She glared at him as if to say
that
would never happen, but in truth she looked adorable when she glared athim. Mayhap he would tell her that … later. “And do not forget the naked part,” he threw in for good measure.
“How could I? There is one other thing. I agree to this suggestion, scandalous as it is, only if my father lives. If he dies, the pact is canceled.”
Adam wanted to argue, but, really, he had been only half serious to begin with … although the half that was serious was very serious. Besides, who wanted to sleep with a grieving woman?
He nodded his head.
Soon his ropes were cut and Tyra motioned to two of her biggest
Finally he nodded.
She smiled widely—a big spontaneous expression of joy—and a hard core of something he could not name began to melt inside him. “I hoped you would agree,” she said, standing with a groan and pulling a long knife out of a scabbard at her belt. She was about to cut his ropes.
“Wait!”
Surprise flared on her face, and her smile faded. Odd how that latter affected him adversely! Her short-lived trust was replaced with suspicion.
“A truce goes both ways. You set
your
conditions, to which I agreed. Now I set mine.”
She still stared at him suspiciously, the knife poised in her hands. “I’m listening.”
Since she was standing tall over him, he had to crane his neck to look up at her. Shifting slightly, she adopted a legs-spread stance.
He hated that arrogant posture. Unfortunately, a familiar part of his body … one that had not been in use for an aeon or so … liked that arrogant legs-spread stance very much.
“If I am unable to help your father … if I try my best and ‘tis not enough”—he paused to quell memories of a time when his best had most definitely not been enough—“if he dies under my care, I want your promise that you will shield me with your own life. Rashid, too.”
She nodded. “‘Tis a fair request you make. I agree.” She started to relax.
“There’s more.”
She went stiff again, but kept her legs spread. Blessed Lord, if she only knew what her pose did to him!
“I want one night in your bed furs. Dusk to dawn. You, naked. Me, naked. Oh, do not be enraged without hearing the rest. You would not have to touch me, and I would not touch you … unless you asked.”
He saw anger in her fiery eyes, and hurt as well, as if his proposition offended her deeply. “Why?”
“Because I want to.”
“Nay!” she declared emphatically and stomped away, muttering something about “lying lackwit Saxons who think with their male organs.”
“Wisdom has two parts: one, having a great deal to say; and, two, not saying it,” Rashid proclaimed from inside the tent. Apparently, the snoring had been a ruse to cover his eavesdropping. And, apparently, he believed that Adam had said too much … too soon.
“She will be back,” Adam predicted, ever the optimist … or was that ever the egotist?
“Every ass loves to hear himself bray.”
“Rashid! Are you calling me an ass?”
“Nay, it is just that you bray overmuch. Comes from having an overlarge ego, I would say.”
I guess that answers my question about optimist or egotist.
Adam laughed, but only for a moment.
Tyra was returning. There was a glow of determination in her eyes, but her cheeks bespoke great embarrassment.
“I agree.”
“You agree?” That part of Adam’s body that had come to life miraculously of late now stood at attention. Talk about miracles! This one was better than any of Alrek’s, in Adam’s opinion.
“Under my conditions,” she added.
“Oh?” Adam tried not to sound as interested as he was.
“One night, and one night only. No touching.”
“Unless you ask me to … or unless you insist on touching me,” he quickly reminded her.
She glared at him as if to say
that
would never happen, but in truth she looked adorable when she glared athim. Mayhap he would tell her that … later. “And do not forget the naked part,” he threw in for good measure.
“How could I? There is one other thing. I agree to this suggestion, scandalous as it is, only if my father lives. If he dies, the pact is canceled.”
Adam wanted to argue, but, really, he had been only half serious to begin with … although the half that was serious was very serious. Besides, who wanted to sleep with a grieving woman?
He nodded his head.
Soon his ropes were cut and Tyra motioned to two of her biggest
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